HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1479

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

Proposed

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HILO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DISTRICT.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State has a fiduciary duty to manage state lands in the best interests of the public by enhancing state revenues and promoting social, environmental, and economic well-being of Hawaii's people.  As the majority landowner in East Hawaii, the State has an enormous influence on the vision, economic development, and overall success of the East Hawaii community.

     The legislature further finds that, under current laws, many public land lessees face uncertain futures following expiration of their leases.  The legislature further finds that these lessees have little incentive to make major investments in infrastructural improvements or to ensure the long-term maintenance of facilities on the land.  As a result, the infrastructure and facilities on public lands in East Hawaii have been deteriorating in many locations.

     The legislature also finds that the Banyan Drive area on the Waiakea Peninsula in East Hawaii, Wailoa State Park, Wailoa Estuary, and the commercial leases in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area are currently facing this difficult challenge.  Due to the uncertainty regarding continued tenancy, improvements have not been made and infrastructure has deteriorated.  The improvement of these properties is important to creating and maintaining the economic vitality of East Hawaii.

     The legislature further finds that Hilo has the potential for increased growth that can improve workforce and affordable housing, parks and open space, public facilities, and commercial, industrial, and hotel facilities.  The purpose of this Act is to establish the Hilo community economic district to facilitate efficient and effective improvement, and economic opportunity, in the area.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 206E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"PART    .  HILO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DISTRICT

     §206E-A  Definitions.  As used in this part:

     "District" means the Hilo community economic district, excluding all lands owned or managed by the department of Hawaiian home lands.

     "Fund" means the Hilo community economic revolving fund.

     §206E-B  Hilo community economic district; established; boundaries.  (a)  There is established a community development district pursuant to section 206E-5 named the Hilo community economic district.  The district shall include the area beginning at the intersection of Manono Street and Kamehameha Avenue, extending south to Piilani Street, west to tax map key 3-2-2-031-001, extending south on Mililani Street to E Kawili Street, to tax map key 3-2-2-050-001, including all lands abutting or bounded west to east to Kanoelehua Avenue, all streets including Kuawa Street, Piilani Street, Hualani Street, Kekuanaoa Street, Leilani Street, E Lanikaula Street, and Kawili Street; from tax map key 3-2-2-031-001 inclusive along the coastline to Maile Street until its intersection with Kilauea Avenue and then to Aupuni Street and beyond to include the following tax map keys until intersection with Ponahawai Street:  3-2-2-013-003, 3-2-2-012-001, 3-2-2-012-016, 3-2-2-011-01, and 3-2-2-007-018; extending makai to tax map key 3-2-3-002-016, along the coastline and including tax map key 3-2-2-001-006 until intersection with Lihiwai Street; those lands bounded or abutting Lihiwai Street, inclusive through Banyan Drive until its intersection with Kamehameha Avenue; from Kamehameha Avenue at its intersection with Kalanianaole Avenue and extending east on Kalanianaole Avenue to include those abutting lands until tax map key 3-2-1-010-033 on the mauka side of the road and tax map key 3-2-1-01-1010 on the makai side of Kalanianaole Avenue, to include also any of those lands on Ocean View Drive makai of Kalanianaole Avenue and the lands mauka on Silva Street and Keaa Street; the lands within the Hilo airport area managed by the department of land and natural resources as identified on tax map key 3-2-1-12; and the lands abutting or bounded by Kanoelehua Avenue extending south to Makaala Street, then east on Makaala Street to Railroad Avenue then north on Railroad Avenue until Leilani Street and east on Leilani Street until tax map key 3-2-2-037-144, then west on Leilani Street until its intersection with Kanoelehua Avenue; and all those lands abutting or bounded by Pohaku Street, Kukila Street, Halekauila Street, and Lanikaula Street as identified on tax map key 3-2-2-58; on Kanoelehua Avenue heading north from Makaala Street those lands mauka including those lands on Makaala Street, Holumua Street, Pookela Street, Wiwoole Street, and Kawili Street as identified on tax map key 3-2-2-049 and 3-2-2-050; then all lands abutting or bounded on Kanoelehua Avenue North from Kawili Street and Manono Street until they intersect with Kamehameha Avenue.

     (b)  The authority shall serve as the local redevelopment authority of the district.  In addition to any of its other duties under this chapter, the authority's duties relating to this district shall include:

     (1)  Providing leases in accordance with section 206E-C;

     (2)  Working with federal, state, county, and other agencies to ensure infrastructural support is provided for the district; and

     (3)  Improving the infrastructure necessary to support the implementation of the district.

     (c)  Seven additional voting members shall, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, be appointed to the authority by the governor pursuant to section 26-34 to represent the district.  These seven members shall be considered in determining quorum and majority only on issues relating to the district and may vote only on issues related to the district.

     §206E-C  District guidance policies; lease restrictions; revenue, income, and receipts.  (a)  The district shall be used for economic purposes including hotel, resort, commercial, and industrial uses on lands that are currently under lease, available to lease, or able to be improved for lease.  Lease restrictions pursuant to section 171-36 shall apply to leases negotiated by the authority for land within the district.

     (b)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including section 206E-14, the authority may grant leases to any person if the authority finds that the lease is in conformity with the community improvement plan.  Leases issued by the authority shall contain:

     (1)  The specific use or uses to which the land is to be employed;

     (2)  The improvements required; provided that a minimum reasonable time be allowed for the completion of the improvements;

     (3)  The rent, as established by the authority or at public auction, which shall be payable not more than one year in advance in monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual payments;

     (4)  Adequate protection of forests, watershed areas, game management areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and public hunting areas, where applicable;

     (5)  Reservation of rights-of-way and access to other public lands, public hunting areas, game management areas, or public beaches, where applicable, and prevention of nuisance and waste; and

     (6)  Other terms and conditions as the authority deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this part.

     (c)  All revenue, income, and receipts of the authority for the district shall be deposited into the Hilo community economic revolving fund.

     §206E-D  Hilo community economic revolving fund.  (a)  There is established in the state treasury the Hilo community economic revolving fund, into which shall be deposited:

     (1)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including section 206E-16, all revenue, income, and receipts of the authority for the district;

     (2)  Moneys directed, allocated, or disbursed to the district from government agencies or private individuals or organizations, including grants, gifts, awards, donations, and assessments of landowners for costs to administer and operate the district; and

     (3)  Moneys appropriated by the legislature.

     (b)  Moneys in the fund shall be used only for the purpose of this part; provided that       per cent of all revenue, income, and receipts generated from land leased or managed by the department of land and natural resources within the district boundaries, as described in section 206E-B, shall be transferred to the special land and development fund.

     (c)  Investment earnings credited to the assets of the fund shall become part of the fund.

     §206E-E  Rules; adoption.  The authority shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to carry out the purpose of this part."

     SECTION 3.  Section 171-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is created in the department a special fund to be designated as the "special land and development fund".  Subject to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, and section 5(f) of the Admission Act of 1959, all proceeds of sale of public lands, including interest on deferred payments; all moneys collected under section 171-58 for mineral and water rights; all rents from leases, licenses, and permits derived from public lands; all moneys collected from lessees of public lands within industrial parks; all fees, fines, and other administrative charges collected under this chapter and chapter 183C; the portion of revenue, income, and receipts of the Hawaii community development authority for the Hilo community economic district designated in section 206E-D; a portion of the highway fuel tax collected under chapter 243; all moneys collected by the department for the commercial use of public trails and trail accesses under the jurisdiction of the department; transient accommodations tax revenues collected pursuant to section 237D‑6.5(b)(5); and private contributions for the management, maintenance, and development of trails and accesses shall be set apart in the fund and shall be used only as authorized by the legislature for the following purposes:

     (1)  To reimburse the general fund of the State for advances made that are required to be reimbursed from the proceeds derived from sales, leases, licenses, or permits of public lands;

     (2)  For the planning, development, management, operations, or maintenance of all lands and improvements under the control and management of the board pursuant to title 12, including but not limited to permanent or temporary staff positions who may be appointed without regard to chapter 76; provided that transient accommodations tax revenues allocated to the fund shall be expended as provided in section 237D‑6.5(b)(5);

     (3)  To repurchase any land, including improvements, in the exercise by the board of any right of repurchase specifically reserved in any patent, deed, lease, or other documents or as provided by law;

     (4)  For the payment of all appraisal fees; provided that all fees reimbursed to the board shall be deposited in the fund;

     (5)  For the payment of publication notices as required under this chapter; provided that all or a portion of the expenditures may be charged to the purchaser or lessee of public lands or any interest therein under rules adopted by the board;

     (6)  For the management, maintenance, and development of trails and trail accesses under the jurisdiction of the department;

     (7)  For the payment to private land developers who have contracted with the board for development of public lands under section 171-60;

     (8)  For the payment of debt service on revenue bonds issued by the department, and the establishment of debt service and other reserves deemed necessary by the board;

     (9)  To reimburse the general fund for debt service on general obligation bonds issued to finance departmental projects, where the bonds are designated to be reimbursed from the special land and development fund;

    (10)  For the protection, planning, management, and regulation of water resources under chapter 174C; and

    (11)  For other purposes of this chapter."

     SECTION 4.  Section 206E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The authority shall consist of the director of finance or the director's designee; the director of transportation or the director's designee; a cultural specialist; an at-large member; an at-large member nominated by the senate president; an at-large member nominated by the speaker of the house; provided that membership for Heeia district matters include three representatives of the Heeia community development district, comprising two residents of that district or the Koolaupoko district, which consists of sections 1 through 9 of zone 4 of the first tax map key division, and one owner of a small business or one officer or director of a nonprofit organization in the Heeia community development district or Koolaupoko district, nominated by the county council of the county in which the Heeia community development district is located; provided further that membership for Kalaeloa district matters include three representatives of the Kalaeloa community development district, comprising two residents of the Ewa zone (zone 9, sections 1 through 2) or the Waianae zone (zone 8, sections 1 through 9) of the first tax map key division, and one owner of a small business or one officer or director of a nonprofit organization in the Ewa or Waianae zone, nominated by the county council of the county in which the Kalaeloa community development district is located; provided further that membership for Kakaako district matters include three representatives of the Kakaako community development district, comprising two residents of the district and one owner of a small business or one officer or director of a nonprofit organization in the district, nominated by the county council of the county in which the Kakaako community development district is located; provided further that membership for Hilo district matters include seven representatives of the Hilo community economic district, four of whom shall be residents of the district of South Hilo nominated jointly by senatorial and representative seat holders representing the district of South Hilo, three of whom shall be nominated by the council of the county of Hawaii and all of whom shall be individuals who reside or work within a one-mile radius of the district boundary established under section 206E-B; provided further that the director of planning and permitting of each county in which a community development district is located or the director's designee, who shall serve in an ex officio, nonvoting capacity; and the chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or the chairperson's designee, who shall serve in an ex officio, nonvoting capacity.

     All members except the director of finance, director of transportation, county directors of planning and permitting, and chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or their designees shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34.  The two at-large members nominated by the senate president and speaker of the house and the [nine] sixteen representatives of the respective community development districts shall each be appointed by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted for each position by the nominating authority specified in this subsection.

     The authority shall be organized and shall exercise jurisdiction as follows:

     (1)  For matters affecting the Heeia community development district, the following members shall be considered in determining quorum and majority and shall be eligible to vote:

         (A)  The director of finance or the director's designee;

         (B)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

         (C)  The cultural specialist;

         (D)  The three at-large members; and

         (E)  The three representatives of the Heeia community development district;

          provided that the director of planning and permitting of the relevant county or the director's designee shall participate in these matters as an ex officio, nonvoting member and shall not be considered in determining quorum and majority;

     (2)  For matters affecting the Kalaeloa community development district, the following members shall be considered in determining quorum and majority and shall be eligible to vote:

          (A)  The director of finance or the director's designee;

         (B)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

         (C)  The cultural specialist;

         (D)  The three at-large members; and

         (E)  The three representatives of the Kalaeloa community development district;

          provided that the director of planning and permitting of the relevant county and the chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission, or their respective designees, shall participate in these matters as ex officio, nonvoting members and shall not be considered in determining quorum and majority;

     (3)  For matters affecting the Kakaako community development district, the following members shall be considered in determining quorum and majority and shall be eligible to vote:

         (A)  The director of finance or the director's designee;

         (B)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

         (C)  The cultural specialist;

         (D)  The three at-large members; and

         (E)  The three representatives of the Kakaako community development district;

          provided that the director of planning and permitting of the relevant county or the director's designee shall participate in these matters as an ex officio, nonvoting member and shall not be considered in determining quorum and majority[.]; and

     (4)  For matters affecting the Hilo community economic district, the following members shall be considered in determining quorum and majority and shall be eligible to vote:

         (A)  The director of finance or the director's designee;

         (B)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

         (C)  The cultural specialist;

         (D)  The three at-large members; and

         (E)  The seven representatives of the Hilo community economic district;

          provided that the director of planning and permitting of the relevant county or the director's designee shall participate in these matters as an ex officio, nonvoting member and shall not be considered in determining quorum and majority.

     In the event of a vacancy, a member shall be appointed to fill the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment within thirty days of the vacancy or within ten days of the senate's rejection of a previous appointment, as applicable.

     The terms of the director of finance, director of transportation, county directors of planning and permitting, and chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or their respective designees shall run concurrently with each official's term of office.  The terms of the appointed voting members shall be for four years, commencing on July 1 and expiring on June 30; provided that the initial terms of all voting members initially appointed pursuant to Act 61, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, shall commence on March 1, 2015.  The governor shall provide for staggered terms of the initially appointed voting members so that the initial terms of four members selected by lot shall be for two years, the initial terms of four members selected by lot shall be for three years, and the initial terms of the remaining [five] members shall be for four years.

     The governor may remove or suspend for cause any member after due notice and public hearing.

     Notwithstanding section 92-15, a majority of all eligible voting members as specified in this subsection shall constitute a quorum to do business, and the concurrence of a majority of all eligible voting members as specified in this subsection shall be necessary to make any action of the authority valid.  All members shall continue in office until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified.  Except as herein provided, no member appointed under this subsection shall be an officer or employee of the State or its political subdivisions.

     For purposes of this section, "small business" means a business which is independently owned and which is not dominant in its field of operation."

     SECTION 5.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 6.  To effectuate the purpose of this Act and to ultimately transition the redevelopment authority of the Hilo community development economic district to the county of Hawaii, the Hawaii community development authority established pursuant to section 206E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall engage in discussions with the county of Hawaii to determine the feasibility of the county of Hawaii:

     (1)  Assuming redevelopment powers and duties over the lands within the Hilo community economic district as a redevelopment area pursuant to chapter 53, Hawaii Revised Statutes; or

     (2)  Establishing a special improvement district, pursuant to section 46-80.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that encompasses the lands within the Hilo community economic district, as established under section 2 of this Act, to provide and finance supplemental maintenance and security services and other improvements, services, and facilities within the special improvement district as the council of the county determines will restore or promote business activity in the special improvement district.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017, and shall be repealed on:

     (1)  June 30, 2037;

     (2)  The inclusion of the lands within the Hilo community economic district, as established under section 2 of this Act, within a redevelopment area pursuant to chapter 53, Hawaii Revised Statutes; or

     (3)  The establishment of a special improvement district, pursuant to section 46-80.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that encompasses the lands within the Hilo community economic district, as established under section 2 of this Act,

whichever occurs first; provided that upon repeal of this Act, sections 171-19 and 206E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act.

 



 

Report Title:

Hilo Community Economic District; HCDA; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the Hilo Community Economic District as a community development district located in East Hawaii under the Hawaii Community Development Authority.  Establishes the Hilo Community Economic Revolving Fund.  Appropriates funds.  (Proposed SD1)

 

 

 

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