HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 032 Draft 01 2002-2004 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 32 03
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A VETERANS ADMINISTRA'CION (VA) S'fATH I TOME
FOR LONG-TERM VETERANS CARE 1N THE COUNTY OF HAWAII.
WHEREAS, the number of our aged citizens continues to grow throughout the nation, the
State of 1 Iawai~ i and the County of I lawai~i, and as reported by the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau,
25% of the residents in the County of l lawai~i were over 55 years of age with 14% being 65
years of age or older; and
WHEREAS, there are over 11,"767 registered veterans in the County of }Iawai'i and over
100,000 registered veterans in the State of Hawai' i; and
WHEREAS, there are tour (4) long-term care facilities within the Hilo area that are at
96.8% capacity, thereby exceeding the minimum 95% capacity threshold established by the State
Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) in its document titled HaH~aiY Health
PerJi~rmunce Plan; and
WHEREAS. due to insufficient bed space, long-term elderly patients frequently occupy
acute hospital bed space causing patients to at times be held over in the I~lilo Medical Center-
Emergency Department until a bed becomes available, causing inconvenience to the patients and
financial hardship to the I Iilo Medical Center: and
WHF,REAS, the l i.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Hawai' i Health
System Corporation (HHSC) reported to the U.S. Congress Senate Appropriations Committee
theirjoint recommendation inclusive of costs, that the Hilo Medical Center Campus is the most
optimal location fora 100-bed VA State Home Project; and
WHI?REAS. the Hilo Medical Center Foundation has conducted focus group studies that
indicate the complete support of business leaders, civic leaders, and other opinion leaders in Hilo
for this project, and have therefore begun a signature and awareness campaign to demonstrate
public support of the VA Home throughout the county and the State of Hawaii: and
WHEREAS, the cost of the 100-bed VA State Home is approximately $24 million, of
which the VA pledges to pay 65% of the cost of construction to include all equipment,
furnishings and interior decorating/design, provided that funding of the remaining 35%
($8.4 million) is confirmed from another source other than the VA: and
WHEREAS, the VA State Home will create an economic value to the County of Hawaii
during construction by possibly creating 200-300 jobs in the construction industry, and 100 to
150 permanent positions in medical and support staff for the VA State Home after construction;
and
WHEREAS, the VA State Home will create an educational value in conjunction with the
University of 1-Iawai'i School of Nursing and other clinical/professional fields by providing
students ahands-on experience in geriatric nursing in partnership with the new facility; and
WHEREAS, the VA State Home on the Hilo Medical Center Campus is currently ranked
#4 on the VA approved funding list for allocation of money in the FY 2003; and
NOW, THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAF I that the Hawai' i County Council strongly urges the Hawai' i State Legislature to
appropriate $8.4 million for the VA State Home project to satisfy the VA's requirement that 35%
of the anticipated $24 million project be provided by a source other than the federal government.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii is
directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of the
State of Hawaii, the Honorable Robert Bunda, Hawaii State Senate President, the Honorable
Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, the State Legislature and the
Honorable harry Kim, Mayor of the County of Hawai' i.
DATED: , Hawai' i this day of , 2003.
INTRODUCED BY:
COt1NCIL MEMBER COUNTY OF HAWAI' l
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES Nrn.s ni3s I~:x
Hilo, Hawaii ARAI{AEtI
CIIUNG
I herch~ certily that the li~regoing RI;SOLII"IION was by I~:I.ARIONOFI~
the rote indicated to the right hereof adopted b}~ the COUNCII. of the
County of flawai'i on HOLSC}IUfI
JACOBSON
LEI"fF1EAD-"IY)DD
ATTEST: REYNOLDS
SAFARIK
TYLI?R ~
Reference: C - 7 4
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUT[ON NO.