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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0684.013 1998-2000 JNSY%OF ~'!h• ° ~ William G. Davis Stephen K. Yamashiro Managing Director Mayor Henry Cho +j•:; ~ r;?~~~` Deputy Managing Director ,tE•OF•MF•~ ~IIlt2~~~ ~t~~~Itt 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 (SOS) 961.8211 Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite t03 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 329-5226 Fax (808) 326.5663 May 24, 2000 _ : _a The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman And Members of the County Council County of Hawaii Hilo, HI 96720 SUBJECT: Bill 218, Draft 3, Capital Budget for FY 2000-2001 Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members: I am requesting that you reconsider your action of May 15, 2000, and reinstate the project identified as East/V11est Hawaii Office Renovations, Phase II with an appropriation in the amount of $6,000,000 in the Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. Please reinstate this budget item for the following reasons: • The renovation of the Penney's Building will enable the County to consolidate its offices and provide for efficient and effective service to the public. We intend to relocate the Real Property Tax Division, Driver's Licensing, Auto Registration, Treasury, the Department of Civil Service, Fire Department Administration, the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works to the Penney's Building. This relocation will result in increased efficiency and convenience to the public. • The completion of the renovation of the Penney's Building would provide permanent offices for Fire Department administration, which was temporarily relocated due to the Alenaio Stream Flood Control project. We have deleted our $7,000,000 request to build a new Fire Department administration facility and have incorporated this project into the renovation of the Penney's Building. We must establish a permanent facility for the proper administration of the Fire Department, and we believe the Penney's Building would provide a convenient and central location for the administration of our Fire Department. Comm. No. ~ro: ttet'. Date MAY y -1 Page 2 May 24, 2000 Capital Budget Request • We intend to relocate our offices at the Hilo Lagoon Centre, including the Corporation Counsel office, to the County Building. With the relocation of our Hilo Lagoon Centre offices, we can begin to liquidate this space to assist in paying off the cost of the Penney's Building renovations. • The project will also include the relocation and consolidation of Planning Department and Department of Public Works offices (now spread out on two floors of the County Building) at the Penney's Building. This will enable Planning and Public Works to work side-by-side in a coordinated effort to deliver services to the public, such as subdivision approvals. • The Penney's Building will provide much-needed conference and meeting rooms not presently available in the County Building. • The Penney's Building will make space available for new departments now being considered by the Charter Commission. • Moving forward with the Penney's Building plans will provide an opportunity to upgrade the electrical system of the County Building to meet our growing computer and telecommunications needs with minimal disruption of services to the public. • A lease with the Family Court of the Third Circuit has been signed, and the judges and staff are awaiting the completion of a more secure facility that will meet their space requirements. • Completion of the Penney's Building renovations will fulfill the County Council's commitment to the Hawaii Shima Japanese Immigrant Museum for a five-year license as set forth in Resolution No. 152-99 (Draft 2). Please consider in your deliberations that we have deleted the portion of this project that included the closing of Aupuni Street and the construction of an elevated public promenade between the County Building and the Penney's Building. We will leave the decision about this phase to future administrations. Page 3 May 24, 2000 Capital Budget Request We firmly believe this project will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of County government and will increase convenience for the public we serve. We ask you to reconsider your previous action and reinstate this necessary project as an integral component of the Capital Budget for FY 2000-2001. Thank you for your serious consideration of this request. Sincerely, ephen K. Y ashiro MAYOR