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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: October 1, 2013 Re: Comm.No. 427/Bill No. 130 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 8:34 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance,to which was referred Bill No. 130, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 130,transmitted by Council Member Brenda J. Ford, via Communication No. 427 dated <br /> September 4, 2013, amends Chapter 24, Article 8, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, <br /> as amended), relating to designated parking at County facilities. <br /> The bill redefines the responsibility of the Public Works Director to comply with existing conditions; <br /> eliminates the monthly rental charge paid by County employees and officials for parking stalls at the <br /> Hawaii County buildings; establishes priorities for assigning reserved parking spaces; and eliminates <br /> any shifting of reserved parking privileges. <br /> Public Works Director Warren Lee and Deputy Public Works Director Brandon Gonzalez appeared <br /> before Your Committee for questions. Director Lee related that approximately $5,000 a month is <br /> collected in parking fees from the Hilo County Building,the Aupuni Center, and the West Hawai`i <br /> Civic Center. Parking shortages continue. Director Lee attributes this parking challenge to increases <br /> in County staff. In an effort to mitigate this challenge, reserved stalls are available for rent,parking <br /> meters are utilized, and a Parking Control Officer is employed to oversee appropriate use of stalls. <br /> The Council shared their concerns regarding parking rates, equitability of the issuance of reserved <br /> stalls chronologically versus by seniority, and budgetary impacts to the Department of Public Works. <br /> Discussion about parking solutions included decreasing the ratio of employee to publicly available <br /> parking stalls, auxiliary parking, constructing more stalls, re-striping, installing more parking meters, <br /> and reducing the rental charge fee per parking stall. <br /> Finance Director Nancy Crawford appeared before Your Committee for questions. Council Member <br /> Ford inquired about the real property tax fees collected since July 1, 2013, and its potential use for <br /> defraying revenue lost from the elimination of parking stall rental charges. Director Crawford replied <br /> that the real property tax increase was incorporated into the current balanced budget, and maintained <br /> that it is reasonable to have reserved parking. <br /> FC Report No. 96 <br />