Comm No 0029.39 - Testimony - CA-13 - Use of Special Funds in Times of Declared Emergency

Home

From: Donald Rudny <mkea13800@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 7, 2019 10:30 AM To: Charter Commission Cc: Kim, Harry; Poindexter, Valerie; Chung, Aaron; Lee Loy, Sue; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; David, Maile; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Villegas, Rebecca; Eoff, Karen; Richards, Tim Subject: Re: CA -13 Aloha Charter Commissioners, I wish to provide written testimony on Charter Amendment 13 recently proposed. I oppose this amendment as it will potentially affect land purchases that would be in process in times of a declared emergency. If I understand correctly, the Mayor would have sole authority to borrow money from the PONC fund for up to five years. We have had a number of emergencies the past few years, and given the bleak predictions of future weather patterns in the Pacific and the uncertainty of Kilauea, we are facing almost continuous annual emergencies. With a five year window to repay the PONC loan, it is conceivable that it will never be paid back. I understand the concern over the time gap for State and Federal emergency assistance, but it certainly doesn't take five years. Sixty days should be sufficient if you elect to go this way, but why consider this at all? State and Federal emergency funds are significant, and my understanding is that the County already has an emergency fund established called the Disaster Relief Fund. Perhaps you should consider an amendment to guarantee a minimum annual contribution similar to the PONC. I suspect that the citizens would approve something like that. The PONC program, as was apparent from the recent outpouring of concern over CA -7, has significant support from the people of the Big Island. There certainly are ways to improve the process, but depleting the fund for whatever reason will drastically impact the effectiveness of the program. As I pointed out in prior testimony, given the significant financial resources available to the Big Island through the GET and TAT, it is difficult to understand the desire to tap this relatively minor source. I again respectfully request that you reject CA -7 and CA -13. Mahalo for your time and attention. Don Don Rudny P.O. Box 106 Pepeekeo, HI 96783-0106 1 Comm. No. 29.39