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ELEMENT 4. PUBLIC SERVICES & FACILITIES. <br />Article 1. General. <br />Section 4-1-1. Findings and purpose. <br />Public services and facilities are fundamental to the health, safety, and daily functioning <br />of Hawaii Island communities. County -provided services such as public safety, solid waste <br />management, parks, and civic facilities support quality of life, enable economic activity, and play <br />a critical role during emergencies and disasters. The availability, condition, and location of these <br />services and facilities directly affect response times, access, operating costs, and public <br />confidence in government. <br />As Hawaii Island continues to change, the demand for public services and facilities will <br />also evolve. Population growth patterns, geographic constraints, aging infrastructure, fiscal <br />realities, and exposure to natural hazards all influence how services are delivered and how <br />facilities perform over time. Deferred maintenance or poorly coordinated investment can <br />increase long-term costs, reduce service reliability, and limit the County's ability to respond <br />effectively to both everyday needs and emergency conditions. <br />The County is responsible for managing a wide range of public assets and services in a <br />manner that is practical, efficient, and responsive across urban, town, and rural communities. <br />This responsibility includes maintaining existing facilities, planning for future needs, <br />coordinating with land use and infrastructure decisions, and ensuring that services are accessible <br />to residents throughout the island. While some related systems are managed by State or federal <br />agencies, County services and facilities must be planned with awareness of how those systems <br />affect local operations, access, and public safety outcomes. <br />This element establishes policies and actions to guide the planning, operation, <br />maintenance, and improvement of County public services and facilities. It focuses on facility <br />stewardship, public safety and emergency readiness, solid waste management, and parks and <br />recreation, with an emphasis on reliability, access, coordination, and long-term public value. <br />Together, these policies are intended to support everyday community needs while strengthening <br />the County's capacity to serve residents during periods of growth, disruption, and recovery. <br />Section 4-1-2. Goal. <br />Provide safe, reliable, and accessible public services and facilities that equitably serve all <br />communities and support the well-being of Hawaii Island residents. <br />26 <br />