RES 733 Draft 01 2016-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) Counties of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and City & County of Honolulu RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO EMPLOY LIFEGUARDS AND TO PURCHASE A LIFEGUARD TOWER AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT FOR KUA BAY AT KEKAHA KAI STATE PARK. WHEREAS, Kua Bay at Kekaha Kai State Park (Kua Bay) in North Kona, is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and currently does not provide lifeguard protection; and WHEREAS, lifeguards (water safety officers) act as primary responders for onshore emergencies, provide injury control, and dispatch ocean rescue services to address dangerous incidents in nearshore waters, where the majority of ocean recreation activity takes places; and WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Department of Health, Injury Prevention and Control Division and the Hawaii Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division;. have reported that from 2008 through 2018, there have been more than three fatal drownings; three near drownings;: 10 spinal cord injuries, as well as cardiac arrests, shark sightings; other serious.; and minor injuries, and numerous distressed swimmers at Kua Bay; and WHEREAS, skilled -lifeguards, appropriate rescue equipment, and a lifeguard tower to provide adequate field of sight, are all essential to save lives and prevent injuries a the heavily -visited Kua Bay; and WHEREAS, West Hawaii residents have repeatedly voiced strong concerns regarding the alarming number of reported and unreported incidents which have occurred at Kua Bay; and WHEREAS, annual operational costs to employ four lifeguards at Kua Bay as estimated by the Hawaii Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, would total $321,696 (salary and benefits of $80,424 per lifeguard, to staff a two person lifeguard tower, seven days. per week)r and WHEREAS, the start-up costs for equipment as estimated by the Hawaii Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, for Kua Bay for the first year would total $80,000: $60,000 for a lifeguard tower (one-time, start-up costs); $8,000 for an all -terrain vehicle (to be replaced every four years); $8,000 for radios (to be replaced every four years); $3,000 for rescue equipment (bi-annually); $1,000 for personal protective equipment (annually); and WHEREAS, the total for operational costs, together with start-up costs of equipment for the first year is $401,696, with an annual budgeted amount of $325,696 for three years thereafter; and -- - EXHIBIT A