2014-02-26 Minutes Salary Commission

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NEW PARKS/VENUES (see attached list of proiects With each new park or venue come continuous meetings with legislators, communities, architects, contractors, and many others to make sure we meet the needs of the communities. Each community on the island has their own special or unique needs that we do our best to satisfy. These processes can take months to years. Making connections with community leaders is essential in progressing forward with each project. As projects move forward manpower needs must be determined for each area and justifying those needs are planned, reviewed, and approved by the directors. Additional parks recently opened or opening in the very near future include: Pahoa District, Pahala Gym, Waimea District, Kealakehe Regional, Kohanaiki, and Ooma. We are in the midst of creating a partnership with the State regarding some of their parks on the Big Island, which may cause increased manpower needs, permitting upgrades, etc. CIVIL DEFENSE/EMERGENCIES The Director and Deputy are directly involved with all emergencies. They are one of the first ones called to man and assist at Control Centers established in both East and West Hawaii. Parks and Recreation plays a key role in opening and maintaining evacuation shelters, evacuating the elderly, road closures, beach park closures, and clean-up. They report, manage, and advise all of our staff, as needed, during emergencies. DIVERSITY/COMPLEXITY The department consists of the following divisions: Office of the Director, Elderly Activities, Parks Maintenance, and Recreation. The sections consist of Aquatics, Culture and Education, Golf Course, Panaewa Recreation Complex, Hoolulu Complex, Planning, and Fiscal/HR. The makeup of the department is so wide-ranging and the vast knowledge one must gain regarding the individual aspects of each division requires austere diligence and determination. We are always under public scrutiny. The ability to reach out to people, communities, and organizations are crucial. The department manages most of the County's assets (buildings, parks, golf course, drag strip, skeet range, open -space, etc.). People might counter that our budget is smaller than other departments, which is true. But what needs to be understood are that all of the decisions associated with a small budget and the second largest department very often requires doing more with less. Decisions for the allocation of resources are often made under duress based on necessity with the desire to grant the wishes of each patron you serve. Creating partnerships, searching for grants, and community service programs are just a few initiatives that bring us closer to the goal of meeting public demand for services and facilities. These partnerships are formed by going out to the public and finding those that want to give back to the island through their time and efforts.