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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0158.005 2024-2026i� O r a� 0 0 0 o n rD 00bi ,rt 00 O � o 00 �v N a, 0 rD N W O MA rD rD 0 0 n 0 0 n 0 I to Mission Statement TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY REGULATING THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, SALE AND SERVICE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS WHO WE -ARE We are a FACILITATOR and RESOURCE We • help businesses that: • make (i.e. Ola Brew, Kuleana Rum, 12 Island Distillers) • distribute (i.e. Odom Corporation, RNDC, Southern Glazers) • sell or serve liquor (bars, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, big box stores, neighborhood convenience stores) comply with applicable federal, state and county liquor laws • have a Director and office staff (20 positions total) that does the day-to-day operations of processing applications and doing regulatory enforcement. • have a Liquor Commission of up to 9 community volunteers that grants or denies applications for liquor licenses. • have a Liquor Adjudication Board of up to 5 community volunteers that determines if our liquor licensees have violated our liquor laws. • assist communities with liquor related issues. WHAT WE DO We do our job to get things done, keep the economy going, and provide our communities with opportunities. We do not do what we do for awards or recognition. We have less drama or tension than other jurisdictions within our agency, which helps keep us focused on the task at hand... providing fair services to the businesses and community if it involves the liquor industry. We are not big on self -promotion. WHAT WE DO LIQUOR COMMISSION • Our Liquor Commission meets every month to determine if businesses meet the legal requirements to have a liquor license. • Our Liquor Commission meets (has its required public meetings) alternatively in West Hawaii and East Hawaii for accessibility. • Our Liquor Commission balances the interests/concerns of the community and the business trying to get the liquor license when deciding to grant or deny a liquor license. • We are able to issue a liquor license within 3-6 months, compared to months/years in other jurisdictions. WHAT WE DO LICENSING & ENFORCEMENT STAFF • Our licensing staff assists businesses apply for a liquor license or permit. • Our enforcement staff assists liquor licensees keep their liquor license by providing education and information about the various liquor laws. • Our philosophy is voluntary compliance rather than punitive enforcement. WHAT WE DO LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD • Our Liquor Adjudication Board meets as needed to determine if a liquor licensee has violated our liquor laws, after our staff has completed a full and fair investigation. • We DO NOT measure our success by the number of citations or violations we issue or fines we collect. • Our philosophy is voluntary compliance rather than punitive enforcement. WHAT WE DO LEADERSHIP • The Department is a leader in the State regarding liquor licensing and regulation. • We are able to process license applications in months rather than years. • We provide guidance and input to assist the other counties resolve liquor related issues. • Our commissioners and members are prepared to review and consider liquor licensing issues based on the training and real world experience they are provided. WHAT WE DO LEADERSHIP - COVID Even when going through rough times like COVID, we were able to: • Hold the fees and costs down for the licensees. • Find ways to keep our licensees open and operating during COVID and immediately after COVID. • Draft emergency rules for "to -go alcohol" when dining -in was not allowed due to social distancing and COVID-19 requirements. • Draft the changes to the State liquor laws to make those COVID-19 emergency changes permanent. • Provide cleaning/disinfecting/sanitizing supplies, masks, gloves, sprayers to licensees so they could continue to operate safely during COVID-19. WHAT WE DO LEADERSHIP — NALOXONE n 2023, we partnered with the State Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, the Office of the Mayor, the Hawai' i County Council, and Kumukahi Health and Wellness Center to address the growing OPIOD overdose concern. • We provided over 700 free NARCAN doses to various bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs, and other establishments to have on premises in the event someone at their business suffered from an opioid overdose. • Unlike other islands, making NARCAN mandatory wasn't necessary on Hawaii Island because everyone agreed to prioritize public safety and ensure the well- being of patrons and communities. • This cooperative result is due to of our philosophy of working with our licensees for voluntary compliance. WHAT WE DO SUPPORT OF OTHER ALCOHOL AWARENESS & RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS We have provided school programs to educate students and parents about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. • Underage Drinking Prevention and Awareness Contest in partnership with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney • Hawai'i Island B. R.A.V. E. • We have provided career mentoring to high school students (i.e. Waiakea High School) instilling civic responsibility and respect for "Under 21, No Can." • Facilitated bringing the "Drive with Aloha" Mural Project to Hawai' i Island. (create awareness on impaired driving through the use of painted signs and murals). LIQUOR CONTROL BUDGET NUMBERS DLC Proposed Budget = $2,504,962 FY 23-24 FY24-25 FY24-25 ACT BUDGET ACTUAL (AS OWOF 4/8/25) TOTAL FY25-26 ESTIMATE WHAT WE DO TRAVEL & TRAINING Our travel and training planning considers MANY FACTORS. • We want to send all staff, commission, and board members to training. • Each travel request related to training is reviewed by both the Department of Finance -Expenditure Review Committee and then the Office of The Mayor The department strives to provide training to its members and staff consistent with current human resource practices of diversity and inclusion. Experienced (senior) members are trained in trends and changes to assist with adapting and productivity and also to train newer members. Less experienced members learn the overall framework and big picture at a steady pace so as not to overwhelm. Less experienced members learn from experienced members and by attending trainings. • The Department has utilized other methods of training, including webcasts, bringing trainers to us, and online training modules. This has been primarily for staff. • We have also been fortunate to have the Office of the Corporation Counsel provide training to our members and staff (i.e. new commissioner/board member training, sunshine law training, ethics training, liquor law orientation, investigative training). We will continue to use that resource. WHAT WE DO TRAVEL & TRAINING Our travel and training planning considers MANY FACTORS. • We want to send all staff, commission, and board members to training. • We consider the following (not listed in a particular order) when preparing our travel/training requests: o the training content/items covered o the schedules of the members o the schedules of the staff 0 office staffing and operational needs o the timing of conferences during the fiscal year o when members get appointed and confirmed o the trainers/instructors o the individuals' experience/familiarity o seniority, as a matter of protocol and feedback o all members have the opportunity to travel (as a matter of overall fairness) o cost