CAFR 2012 Final with Opinion (2)

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For the Future Public Safety—The Hawai'i Police Department held the On-Site Assessment by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), on August 5-8, 2012. On Saturday,November 17, 2012,the Hawaii Police Department marked an historical event when it was awarded a full three-year accreditation by CALEA. This process, which began in early 2004, is a tribute to all of our employees, both civilian and sworn, who collectively are bound to adhere to over 400 plus required standards. What accreditation means for the Hawai'i Police Department is that the public can now be assured, based on an independent review, we are indeed a department that adheres to standards that are sensible, professional and ethical, and in keeping with a 21 st century law enforcement agency. The Hawaii Fire Department is working to obtain two new Fire Pumper Apparatus with County funded leases. A new Fire Tanker Apparatus also will be secured primarily with Community Development Block Grant funds. These replacements are important to the continuing effort to provide apparatus that meets current National Fire Protection Association safety guidelines. The Kawailani Fire Station relocation planning and design will be initiated. In this period of economic recovery the Fire Department is striving to continue to provide needed services to the Hawai'i County residents and visitors. Public Works —Two connector road projects in Kona will be underway in mid-2013. At an estimated construction cost of$14 million,the Laaloa Avenue Extension Ph 1 in North Kona will connect Laaloa Avenue with Kuakini Highway. The Federal Highway Administration is helping to fund the following two road projects on the island. The first is the Kaiminani Drive Roadway Improvements in North Kona at an estimated cost of$10 million and the second is the Kamehameha Avenue Reconstruction project in South Hilo at an estimated construction cost of$13 million. Planning—The National Historic Preservation Act has charged the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources with the monitoring of Hawaii's natural and cultural resources. The Planning Department has begun the process of staffing the Hawaii County Cultural Resource Commission as-well-as assisting the mayor's office in seating commissioners. This commission will review, comment and may include granting permits on all County projects, taking into consideration the cultural and historical significance of island wide sites and surroundings. The County of Hawaii will be hosting the Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials in September 2013. This conference is for all planning commissions, planning directors and planners for all counties within the State of Hawaii in addition to most of the industry including architects, surveyors, major land owners and developers. -4 -