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Jtl?~.~F!!Vir: <br /> G~.' • <br /> Dixie Kaetsu <br /> <br /> Harry Klm ~ Managing Director <br /> Mayor <br /> , Barbara Kossow <br /> ~r>F~`F_w,Pd Deputy Managing Director <br /> ~DUUtp Df ~A~U~I`l <br /> Mailing Address: 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-821 l Fax (808) 961-6553 <br /> Location: 891 Ululani Stract • Hilo, Hawaii <br /> December 20, 2006 <br /> .7 <br /> The Honorable Pete Hoffmann, Chairman C?,~ o <br /> and Members of the County Council ~ ~ ' <br /> County of Hawaii <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Re: Veto Message - Bi11258 Draft 6 c~ <br /> Relating to Animals ~ ~ " <br /> Deaz Chairman Hoffmann and Council Members: <br /> Pursuant to Section 3-12 of the Hawaii County Charter, I am vetoing Bi11258 Draft 6 and returning <br /> it to you. <br /> Before going into specifics on why I cannot approve this bill, I must acknowledge the numerous <br /> parties including the Police Department, Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii Island Humane Society, and <br /> the County Council who have been working for years to try and address various concerns related to <br /> animal control. This sort of cooperation is very much appreciated. <br /> Bi11258 Draft 6 is being vetoed because the agencies that would be responsible for enforcing the <br /> provisions of this law have indicated that as written, sections are unenforceable and may be <br /> constitutionally vague, particulazly in relation to the definition of animal nuisance. In addition, the <br /> bill mandates that all police officers, from the Chief on down to patrol officers, have the <br /> responsibility of seizing any unlicensed dog found running at large, then selling or killing said <br /> animal. The Police Department is strapped for personnel, and making this a mandatory function will <br /> take away from more critical enforcement activities and exacerbate the current shortage of officers. <br /> The bill also does not address the issue of the amount of fines for violations, which was one of the <br /> issues that parties working on animal control were trying to address. <br /> I do hope that the parties involved will continue to work together to craft a piece of legislation that <br /> will address issues such as barking dogs and vicious dogs in a manner that will satisfy the needs of <br /> tAAhe community and can be supported by the agencies who will be responsible for enforcing the law. <br /> /I <br /> arry Kim <br /> MAYOR <br /> Comm. No. I ~_Z <br /> cc: Lawrence Mahuna, Police Chief Ref. To: <br /> Jay Kimura, Prosecuting Attorney Ref. Uote <br /> Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. <br /> <br />