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<br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell reported the following on vehicle take home policy: <br /> <br />· Hawai‘i Revised Statutes is specific to Government Motor Vehicles and the <br />use thereof. <br />· It is very specific, very clear reading and gives fine guidelines and exemptions <br />for departments to follow. <br />· In relation to the Police Department, research shows it is cost effective for <br />police officers to have their own vehicles. Seventy-one percent of officers in a <br />recent survey indicated it means a lot to them and gives them incentive to <br />stay in a very high pressure job. There are no resources to have <br />neighborhood police stations keep vehicles parked; this is confirmed in a <br />2002 article in the Honolulu Advertiser and a February 2012 article in the <br />West Hawai‘i Today. <br />· In relation to the Finance Department, Nancy Crawford and Deanna Sako <br />were very helpful and genuine in saying they have a clear policy within their <br />department; however, there are some issues they are revisiting. The <br />department might have had a few instances where the policy may not have <br />been followed but it probably was a unique circumstance. They are aware of <br />the perception that there’s a problem and are dealing with it in-house. The <br />Finance Department has a pool system and looks like they are trying to get <br />more specific and revise forms to make sure they are updated. <br />· In relation to the County Council and speaking with Dru Kanuha, he gets a <br />$500 a month stipend for driving. <br /> <br />Ms. Maddox noted that by Mr. Mitchell talking to the Finance Department, he had <br />an opportunity to interface with multiple departments. Ms. Maddox and Ms. Kelly talked <br />to the Police Department and will also have some input on vehicles. She noted that in <br />talking to the Finance Department regarding vehicles, it crossed over into other <br />departments <br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell stated a key item in regards to his research on the vehicle use policy <br />derived after talking to the Finance Department. Our County’s issue pales in <br />comparison to Maui. Maui is in a difficult situation; several articles stated vehicles were <br />not being used correctly. Maui recently visited this item in 2013 beginning in January <br />through March – unmarked county vehicles were being used. They clarified their <br />procedures and in doing so estimate a savings of $33 million; this is an issue being <br />discussed on other islands as well. Maui is looking to have a surveillance system, a <br />tracking system for their county vehicles. He would like to view the comprehensive <br />county vehicle use program that Maui just brought in because they brought down the <br />county vehicle usage by 52%, a savings of $33 million. The Maui Department of Water <br />Supply thought this was really an issue because when there waterline breaks, <br />employees need to get in their cars and access large parts of the island. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell stated Hawai‘i County in April of 2012 bought five Chevrolet Volts, <br />the electric hybrid vehicles. The Mayor wants everyone to use these vehicles, to test <br />them, log where they drive, how the car drives and miles driven. These cars can get <br />plugged in at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center and takes about three hours to charge; the <br />installation station was paid for by a grant. The vehicles costs $47,000 each and the <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />