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<br /> Whereas: The methodology for the determination water restriction status for any <br /> <br /> community is not consistent or explained to the general pubic; and <br /> Whereas: The Department of Water Supply has no fair and consistent, publicly <br /> approved methodology for prioritizing the County's water needs and the allocation of the <br /> Department of Water Supply's resources; and <br /> Whereas: The effects of various proposed County water projects on Native Hawaiian <br /> water rights is unknown; and <br /> Whereas: The Department of Water Supply has not adequately planned for future <br /> agricultural water needs in North Kohala; and <br /> Whereas: The current Hawaii County Water Use and Development Plan (February, <br /> 1992) identifies 97.2 million dollars worth of projects in Hawaii County in need of <br /> upgrades to meet basic water quality legal standards; and <br /> Whereas: The Department of Water Supply has provided no alternative plan for <br /> upgrading North Kohala's water system to minimum legal standards except to build a <br /> projected $80 million pipeline to export at least 20 million gallons of water per day from <br /> the district; and <br /> Whereas: The Department of Water Supply has no requirement in their planning <br /> process to provide water services utilizing aleast-cost approach; and <br /> Whereas: The Department of Water Supply plans to raise the County's water rates <br /> without justifying to the public what the revenues from these increased rates are to be <br /> utilized for. <br /> Be it resolved: That the Hawaii County Green Party supports a change in the Hawaii <br /> County Charter which includes the following: <br /> 1) The Department of Water Supply shall be required to do an integrated resource plan <br /> with full public participation for the entire County and review or update it every five years <br /> with full public participation in the planning process; and <br /> 2) The Water Commission members shall be elected by the voters of each of their <br /> respective Council Districts in non-partisan elections and the campaigns will be publicly <br /> financed; and <br /> 3) The Manager of Department of Water Supply shall not be required to be a registered <br /> engineer; and <br /> 4) The Department of Water Supply shall come under the general supervision and <br /> control of the County Council. <br /> <br />