2022-COH - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

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Major Initiatives For the Year Public Safety — Groundbreaking for the new Joint Police/Fire Communications Center in Hilo took place in October 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2024. The Police Department assumed the animal control services function during the fiscal year and dealt with 2,162 animals including cats, dogs, fowl, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, fish, rabbits, and guinea pigs. The Hawai' i Fire Department proceeded with the replacement of Chopper 2, which is expected to arrive in the summer of 2023. The new medical helicopter is an Airbus H125 that was purchased through generous donors via the Sayre Foundation. A new information and technology position was established for the Department, which has been tasked to bring the Department into the digital age by deploying mobile data terminals in the response vehicles and will later include GIS mapping data for command decisions and the streaming of live data to the responders. Public Works —Over the past fiscal year the Department of Public Works (DPW) completed major projects in our community including: • The Ali `i Drive Culvert Replacement, valued at $12 million, was completed in July 2021. The project included the demolition and reconstruction of a concrete culvert bridge. The new structure provides a wider stream flow opening, a longer span, with 16 -foot wide travel lanes and two 7 -foot wide sidewalks. It was also a project of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). • The Mamalahoa Highway Widening, Mud Lane to Mana Road, valued at $19.6 million, was completed in September 2021. The project created turn lanes at side intersections and included grading, paving, retaining walls, and installing pavement markings and signs. It was also a STIP project. • The Kilauea Avenue Rehabilitation, Wailoa Bridge to Pu` ainako Street, is valued at $12 million, was completed in June 2022. The project included pavement rehabilitation, installing pavement markers, striping, and traffic detectors. It is also a STIP project. Culture and Recreation - The Department continued to complete the ADA transition plan and completed accessibility improvements to the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens and Equestrian Center, Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium, Na`alehu Park and Community Center, Pahala Ballfield Facility and Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. For the Future Public Safety — The Police Department's major initiatives for the future include improvements to its facilities and initiating construction in progress projects, such as a new Kea` au Police Station, expansion and improvements to the Kona Station and replacing the PGV radio site and other towers. -3-