Legislative Findings and Intent

I Liheslaturan Guåhan hereby finds and declares:

(a)that there is a need to enhance economic activity on Guam by attracting financial, transshipment, telecommunications, manufacturing, assembly, industrial, aviation and other activities conducive to economic development and promotion in order to provide a stronger, more balanced and stable economy,. and that in order to ensure greater accountability, and to maintain the checks and balances system that is fundamental to our government, there is a need for legislative oversight and approval of certain critical decisions regarding the military and Federal property being returned;

(b)that the economic well-being of the people of Guam and the public and private business resources of Guam provides unique economic opportunities for the redevelopment of the Ship Repair Facility, the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center and other facilities within Naval activities on Guam slated for closure; COL120106 CH. 78 REFUSE PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER MILITARY BASES

(c)that public and private partnership is essential for successful redevelopment of these military bases, and thus the need to create a business-management type entity with board members, management and staff experience in financing and property management, and in attracting new business prospects;

(d)that an interim reuse and broad-based planning committee is needed, and as such will differ markedly from the establishment of a permanent base reuse organization whose focus must be on developing and managing the >Real Estate,= attract private sector industrial clients, work with Federal agencies to accelerate the environmental clean-up and permitting process, maintain the roadways and common property, and provide for the business-like operations and financing of a major real estate holding;

(e)that planning, re-planning, rehabilitation, redevelopment and other preparation for reuse of military bases and military base property are public and governmental functions that cannot be accomplished through the ordinary operations of private enterprise because of the provisions of Federal law that provide for the expeditious and affordable transfer of military base property to an entity established by local government, and the necessity for requiring the proper use of the land to best serve the interests of Guam and its people;

(f)that there is a need to provide financing mechanisms and subsidies essential for successful long term redevelopment;

(g)that it is the intent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan to establish a permanent and legal multi-jurisdictional collaborative structure, and to authorize a redevelopment entity capable of developing, implementing and managing reuse strategies, rooted in reality, but focused on opportunities and providing for a consensus outreach and open public planning process that guides and coordinates conversion activities, and promotes economic redevelopment at these military base properties; and

(h)that the best instrument, both for completing the plans for the reuse of the former military facilities and properties at Apra Harbor, and for implementing these reuse plans is the Guam Economic Development Authority, because it is a public corporation, with its own budget, independent of taxpayers’ funds, COL120106 CH. 78 REFUSE PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER MILITARY BASES directed by a board of directors made up of local businessmen and women, and established to assist in the implementation of an integrated program for the economic development of Guam. This public instrumentality is best able to develop an effective reuse strategy that will achieve the objectives of this Article, which are to both create and maintain employment, provide economic opportunities for private businesses, facilitate the continued operation and expansion of seaport facilities, and generally to take maximum advantage of Federal laws and regulations allowing costfree conveyances of surplus property and facilities for public benefit and economic redevelopment purposes.