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

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Cost of Government Commission September 27, 2018 meeting minutes Roy Takemoto from the Mayor’s office advised that they are on track for April 2019 to allow applicants to submit totally online, including plan reviews and have the ability to “shop” concurrently to all reviewers at the same time with their comments. Part of the problem identified is that plan reviewers would make comments on a building plan and an architect does not respond to each, which has wasted time. The intent now would be to have everyone on track whether response were received or not. The insertion of a proposed resubmittal fee will also discourage inadequate submittals. A Subcommittee member remarked that he was told by an anonymous source that the County police department looked at savings funds by using a County owned fleets instead of officers’ private vehicles. Mr. Takemoto said a report was conducted on this comparison, which has positives or negatives but concluded the private may actually be savings. A request was made for the report and staff will look to obtaining and providing to the Subcommittee. It was determined that this Subcommittee can include planning and zoning matters. Sanitation and Waste Removal Subcommittee Member Hopkins sent an initial email was sent to Peter Boucher, identified as the former superintendent of Sewer & Sewage Disposal program of the Wastewater Division at Hawai’i County, to identify potential opportunities to either increase revenue or cut costs within that area. It was specifically noted that the operating budget appears to indicate that the Solid Waste program received only a State grant. The Subcommittee requested Mr. Boucher provide his perspective on how the program is set up, corresponding administrative policies and procedures in implementations, and current conditions and constraints. Members of the Subcommittee felt that Mr. Boucher may have a particularly valuable insight compared to members of the current Department of Environmental Management administration. Subcommittee Member Woo mentioned consideration that the County charges no fee for dumping. She said that in some municipalities, a fee is charged on the utility for residents. Commissioner Allen noted that the concern, in Puna at least, would be that if a fee were enacted, a likely consequence would be illegal roadside dumping. Questions would include how a fee rate would be structured. For example, would this be by vehicle? Comments were also made by Commissioners on how best to implement any added revenues needed for environmental management services. What should be considered is “user based”; for example, should money be collected from people who contribute to trash more or widely spread in the form of increasing property taxes. 3