HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 032 Draft 02 2002-2004 ~~OLUTION NO. ~ 0:~
Draft 2
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) STATE HOME
FOR LONG-TERM VETERANS CARE IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII.
WHEREAS, the number of our aged citizens continues to grow throughout the nation, the State
of Hawaii and the County of I-Iawai'i, and as reported by the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, 25% of the
residents in the County of Hawaii 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 Hawaii and over
100,000 registered veterans in the State of I~awai'i; and
WHEREAS, there are four (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 Hawaii Health Performance 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 Hilo Medical Center-Emergency
Department until a bed becomes available, causing inconvenience to the patients and financial hardship
to the Hilo Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Hawaii Health System
Corporation (HHSC) reported to the U.S. Congress Senate Appropriations Committee their joint
recommendation inclusive of costs, that the Hilo Medical Center Campus is the most optimal location
fora 200-bed VA State Home Project; and
WHEREAS, 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 200-bed VA State Home is approximately $45 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% ($16 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 Hawai' i School of Nursing and other clinical/professional fields by providing students a
hands-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
HAWAII that the Hawaii County Council strongly urges the Hawaii State Legislature to appropriate
$16 million for the VA State Home project to satisfy the VA's requirement that 35% of the anticipated
$45 Inillion 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, Hawai' i State Senate President, the Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker of
the State House of Representatives, the Statc Legislature and the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor of the
County of Hawaii.
DATED: Hilo ,Hawaii this 8th day of January , 2003.
INTRODUCED BY:
4`__
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUN OF HAWAI' I
C CIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS Ex
H110, Hawal`1 ARAKAK[
CHUNG
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ELARIONOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by tl:e COUNCIL of the }IOLSCHUH
County of Hawaii on January 8 , 200 3 X
JACOBSON X
LEITHEAD-TODD
ATTEST: % ` REYNOLDS X
i SAFARIK X
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A y, TYLER X
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Reference: C-74.1/P-Council
COUNTY CLERK ' CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. (Draft: 2 )