Support Kaneohe Bay Regional Council

The following resolution asks for the repeal of the HB586 C.D.1 which will sunset the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council as of June 2010.

Whereas: the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council was established to:

1. Facilitate the implementation of the Kaneohe Bay Master

2. Plan Review and periodically amend the Master Plan

3. Serve as a central coordinative clearing house of public and private activities in Kaneohe Bay

4. Facilitate productive interaction between users of Kaneohe Bay and the general public

5. Recommend research, studies, data collection and planning of activities designed to provide additional information on Kaneohe Bay.

6. Advise the State and County on matters regarding the use of Kaneohe Bay.

7. Develop short and long term goals based on the Master Plan

8. Educate the public and users of Kaneohe Bay about problems and programs in the Bay.

9.Serve as a public advocate

10 Initiate and maintain contact with public, private, county and state organizations, agencies and individuals engaged in activities in the Bay

11. Establish a Kaneohe Bay fishing panel to monitor fishing activities in the Bay.

Whereas HB586 C.D.1 sunsets the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council as of July 1, 2010

Whereas the Department of Land and Natural Resources in mandated by HB586 to continue to exercise full force and effect with respect to all plans, programs, or other policies adopted by the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council

Whereas the Department of Land and Natural Resources has been severely impacted by budget cuts to the point where it can barely maintain current key programs.

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council has contributed thousands of hours of volunteer effort to developing and implementing plans for Kaneohe Bay.

Whereas the history of planning in Hawaii is that plans are developed only to sit on book shelves and be ignored.

Whereas plans, to be meaningful and useful, must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council serves as a voice for the Ko`olaupoko community

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council is an advocate for plan updates and implementation

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council is a model for community based management

Now be it resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board supports the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council and believes its functions are important to Kaneohe and Kaneohe Bay.

Be it further resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board recommend the repeal of HB586 C.D.1 and that this resolution be transmitted to our windward legislators and the Governor Lingle.