OʻAHU VOTERS - VOTE YES ON CHARTER Amendment #3
We are urging Oʻahu voters to say “yes” to Proposed Charter Amendment Question #3.
Proposed Charter Amendment #3 is a ballot initiative which aims to expand the use of City Clean Water and Natural Land Funds (CWNLF) to allow 5% of the Fund to be used for stewardship of lands acquired through the Fund.
This proposal WILL NOT raise taxes for the residents or visitors of O‘ahu.
Voting yes for Charter Question #3 allows 5% of the Clean Water Natural Lands Fund (CWNLF) to be used for maintenance and management of the natural areas purchased through that fund. This will provide better access to the places we as taxpayers have protected, entice more organizations to pursue efforts to conserve natural lands, and assist organizations to restore and steward cultural sites, native species and entire landscapes. Currently, the CWNLF can only be used to acquire natural spaces, leaving few opportunities to provide for the perpetual care of these places.
While 5% is a small percentage, its impact for ʻāina stewardship is significant. As an example, this Fiscal Year the City allocated over $7.5 million to the CWNLF. If Question #3 is approved, just over $375,000 of that Fund becomes available for environmental restoration, public access, and infrastructure by agencies and nonprofits who are stewarding lands purchased and protected by the Fund. 95% of the Fund remains for vital land purchases and conservation easements. Without this 5% limit, HILT would not support Charter Amendment #3.
The CWNLF has supported the purchase and permanent protection of Maunawila Heiau Complex in Hauʻula, Hakipuʻu Ma Kai Loʻi, and is poised to support the protection of Waikalua Loko Iʻa in Kāneʻohe, and Palawai and Makaliʻi in Maunawili, Kailua. A Yes Vote for Ballot Question #3 means that after land is protected by purchase or conservation easement, its stewards have a chance for financial support to steward those lands and connect community to those lands through safe public access and educational programming.
History: In 2006, Honolulu voters approved the initial measure to set aside a half-percent of real property tax revenues for land conservation purposes of the CWNLF. A decade later, voters approved the creation of the CWNL Commission and approval process for allocating those funds. Use of these funds for maintenance purposes, should Question #3 be approved, would require approval from the commission.
More details about the proposed Charter Question #3 can be found in City Council Resolution 22-79<https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=14237>.
