Honolulu City Council Policy Resolutions

(Link to original Word Processing Version)

ESTABLISHING A CITY LAND ACQUISITION POLICY.

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu faces uncertain economic conditions as a result of factors both internal and external to Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, these factors have a negative effect on the City=s revenues; and

WHEREAS, the City has experienced greatly increased capital budgets over the past several years which will result in higher future costs, such as nearly doubling the City=s debt service payments by 2006; and

WHEREAS, anticipated lower revenues combined with increased operating expenses could force a choice between increased real property tax rates or severe cuts in City services in order to balance the City budget; and

WHEREAS, included in recent executive capital budgets was significant funding for land acquisitions; and

WHEREAS, although acquiring land for governmental purposes benefits Oahu=s citizens, it also increases the City's operating expenses and the debt service burden, both of which the City is already hard-pressed to meet; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a City policy regarding funding requests for major land acquisitions to ensure that such requests are in accordance with the City=s priorities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that it hereby establishes as City policy that appropriations for acquisitions of land over one acre in area shall be made by the Council, whether by condemnation or negotiated purchase, in accordance with the following order of priorities:

1.    To protect the public from unsafe natural conditions or environmental hazards;

2.    To provide for necessary public and transit system infrastructure;

3.    To develop necessary government buildings such as fire and police stations;

4.    To develop parks in areas with limited existing park facilities;

5.    To develop parking lots where necessary;

6.    To land bank for future park use; and

7.    To protect open space using conservation easements;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that every proposal brought before the Council to acquire land over one acre in area shall state which of the above priorities the proposal is addressing; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Mayor.

                         INTRODUCED BY:

                        

                        

                        

                        

                        

                        

                        
DATE OF INTRODUCTION:
                        

        
Honolulu, Hawaii                    Councilmembers


(OCS/011703/MG)


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