2018-09-27 (draft) Cost of Government Commission minutes

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Cost of Government Commission September 27, 2018 meeting minutes DISCUSSION OF RESPONSE TO COMMUNCATION FROM CHARTER COMMISSION The Commission agreed to accept the response letter as drafted by Chairperson Jones dated September 26, 2018, with the following insertion: “In addition, we recommend that Departments who receive recommendations from this Commission provide a written, formal response to the Mayor’s office and County Council detailing progress and/or issues with said recommendations within six months of the report date.” SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Culture and Recreation The Subcommittee has not yet received a response from the golf course on a suggested fee schedule. The Commission may need to consider developing its own recommendation for rate changes. The idea on whether a municipal golf course would be more profitable in Kona but determined that there is less maintenance in Hilo and would have to compete with the resort courses on the West Hawai’i side of the island. An inquiry was made on if the County Council needs to improve all fee increases. Corporation Counsel indicated that most do. The Subcommittee reported that the golf course has 13 groundskeepers and it was described as pristine. By contrast, the zoo has 1. The Subcommittee is interested in figuring out a way to possibly level the playing field over the 2 large recreational areas. The Subcommittee indicates their findings that the zoo is largely dependent on the “Friends of the Zoo”, a nonprofit established to promote the zoo and assist with its needs. The “Friends” provide almost everything, including cages, equipment, food and volunteers. A suggestion is if the Friends organization can take over the zoo from the County in a contract form. The Subcommittee describes the current zoo condition as poor. Health, Education and Welfare The Subcommittee intends to meet with the Housing Administrator and Executive from the County Aging office to gather information and will report on their discussions. Public Safety & Miscellaneous The Subcommittee inquired on issues with the County building division and its permitting process. 2