Report Title:

Waimano Ridge; Task Force

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to support the Waimano Ridge Task Force for operating expenses and for a comprehensive master plan.  (CD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

810

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

C.D. 1

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO WAIMANO RIDGE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that good communication and relations between the state administration and the residents of the Waimano ridge community are imperative in planning the use of the state-owned lands in the Waimano ridge area.

     The legislature further finds that a new or updated

master plan for the state-owned Waimano ridge lands is necessary.  In the early 1990s, there was a collaborative government and community effort to establish a master plan for the Waimano ridge area.  This master plan was formulated by the department of health with community input and was designed to create a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano ridge lands would be community-friendly.  However, after the plan was developed, the State's economy took a downturn and the in-patient care facility on the Waimano ridge closed, which significantly affected the implementation of the master plan.

     In 2005, the legislature enacted Act 7, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, which required the department of health to give prior notice to the Waimano neighborhood board and the members of the legislature from that district and to obtain the approval of the governor for any use of state-owned land under the department's jurisdiction in the Waimano ridge area prior to use of the land.  Additionally, Act 7 required the department to prepare an updated master plan for the Waimano ridge lands.

     In 2006, the legislature and the department of health convened the Waimano ridge task force to improve communications and relations between the community and the State and to lay the groundwork for a new master plan.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to facilitate the establishment of a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano ridge lands will be community-friendly by funding the activities of the Waimano ridge task force and establishing a comprehensive Waimano ridge master plan.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the Waimano ridge task force operating expenses.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.