HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0091.042 2022-2024 P/Coun (
Dill 22
COMM.9
From: susanblueyes2-gs a r,
, Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:46 AM "' c-71
To: Council Testimony ,
Subject: HOLD Bill 22 until critical changes/additions are made, please!
e.)
Aloha Council Members,
I and others conditionally supported Bill 22, but the conditions were not met.
Please included the following:
1. Oversight Committee of 1 resident from each district selected by their Council rep -not a
Board or Commission (Structure)
2. Responsibility for HUMANE Animal Population Management (Charter Responsibilities)
3. Laws 4-14 c, 4-20 a-b, 4-21 a-b, 4-22, change hold times for abandoned or stray animals to
10 days. Reduce the kill-rates.
4. Monthly Reporting Requirements for animal control services and operations for
transparency. (Charter Responsibilities)
I strongly believe that putting a new agency in place before making critical changes will NOT change
anything. There will be no improvement in services AND it will cost more tax-dollars. The new agency
will cost an estimated $2-3Million more annually and without a change in the laws, the service will be
the same. This is egregious.
When reading Bill 22 carefully, it states that the mandate/charter for this new agency are the State
HRS laws for animals and the HCC county code, Chapter 4 for animals. Since that is their mandate,
the new agency will only provide what those laws mandate. No change!!!
Additionally, because the staff is basically untrained by national standards, the delivery will be the
same. Furthermore, because the staff will now be civil servants (union labor), it will cost more. I and
others propose that there at least be a plan, made public, to change the laws, get personnel trained
and implement national standards by a certain timeline.
TRANSPARENCY IS STILL A MUST!!!!
So far, the County has not provided those plans or any indication of moving in that direction. We have
local experts who have presented to the previous administration. These plans were reviewed and
approved by local AND national animal welfare nonprofits. Why has the County not even invited them
to the table? It appears these decisions were made without our knowledge and definitely without our
input.
WHERE'S THE TRANSPARENCY?!
Trust is broken, so many of us in animal advocacy want changes or a strong commitment of changes
prior to Bill 22 being passed.
Please hear my plea and follow-through with what was stated would be done to make this Bill 22
workable and not just another secrety seedy money grift!
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, Q
Comm. No.
1 Ref.To: P council
Ref. Date FEB 2 2, 2023
Susan Bambara
Kurtistown
2