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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.000 2004-2006 ? VOI N4_ Harry Kim ~'•'•y~ ~ ~~~~V Dixie Kae[su Mayor ~ Alunugrng /hrri for • Peter L. Hendricks i'•. °i• Urpu~~ llunagn~y /hrrc:or Q~•0, •N';Mr County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilq Hawaii 96720 (808)9fi1-8211 Fax (808)961-6553 December 14, 2004 The Honorable Gary Safarik, Chairman, and Members of the Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Chairman Safarik and Members of the County Council: SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, 2005 In preparation for the 2005 State legislative session, we have prepared and would like to share with you our legislative priorities for the coming year. Included are CIP and other financial support requests, requests on County issues, and other requests. We are not restricting our support to only County projects, but have listed projects that we believe are important for all of our island's people. The priorities below and attached were developed after conducting an evaluation of needs with County departments, and reviewing the recommendations of the Hawaii County Council. Priority Projects A complete list of our legislative priorities is attached. Of highest priority are the following: Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Test and Production Water Well Planning, design, and construction: $4,333,000 At present, no water systems exist over a stretch of 40 miles, from South Point to Ho'okena, the entire southwest portion of Hawaii County. The population relies on catchment and very expensive water-hauling. Ocean View alone has over 10,000 subdivided lots. Using State funds, a consultant was hired to develop a Ka`u to South Kona Water Master Plan. The Water Master Plan proposal is to develop a water source (well and reservoir} in the region to supplement, rather than replace, catchment, and reduce hauling costs. We are asking for $4,333,000 to allow the County to assist the communities in this large region by drilling a test well, and when successful, completing a production well and reservoir. Comm. No. ~fT~- P. To: _ Luu~ n:. i'OtB Hmva~7 Corinty ~s an eyua[ oppormnu}~ promder and ernployec The Honorable Gary Safarik, Chair Page 2 December 14, 2004 Puna Recreational Complex Planning, design, and construction: $8,000,000 The Puna Recreational Complex will include agym/community center, soccer/football field, baseball field, comfort station, parking area, and picnic pavilions. It will serve as a multipurpose district park for the fastest growing district in Hawaii County. There is a severe shortage of recreational and community facilities in the underserved Puna district, and this complex will serve the many needs of varied age groups. The gym/community center will house active recreation programs as well as cultural activities, classes and educational programs. This new complex will be constructed adjacent to Fire and Police Stations in a convenient location for easy public access. Locating both Fire and Police Stations with 24 hour staffing within close proximity will serve to provide not only increased public safety, but will hopefully curb the problem of vandalism as well. As the soaring Hawaii real estate market drives the price of home ownership higher each month, Puna has become one of the only affordable options for many people to live. This means the rapid population growth of the past twenty years is expected to continue and even increase. There is an immediate need for construction of a gym and fields to meet the existing demand as well as the anticipated needs of the growing community. Design and construction of Puna Recreational Complex is expected to cost $8,000,000, and State funds are being requested for this project. Coqui Frog Eradication Program State Share: $2,000,000 Funding for this program is needed to implement the Mayor's Declaration of Emergency of April 12, 2004. Since first sighted here in the early 1990s, coqui frog infestations have been rapidly multiplying on the Island of Hawaii with over 150 established coqui frog sites confirmed at present. We are experiencing a substantial adverse impact on our environment, our economy, and our quality of life from the coqui frog. A multiple-agency effort (including state, federal and county resources) has been established to work with communities and assist them in addressing coqui frog infestations in their areas. However, there is no dedicated funding at any level to implement a comprehensive control/eradication plan. The funds requested would be used by the State Department of Agriculture and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement a control and eradication effort on Hawaii Island. Other Information Status of West Hawaii Infrastructure For the past four years, our priority list has included major road projects in West Hawaii. Although one of the County's highest priorities is to catch The Honorable Gary Safarik, Chair Page 3 December 14, 2004 up on infrastructure in rapidly growing areas of the island, we are currently addressing the funding of infrastructure needs, such as roads in West Hawaii and other parts of the island, through the issuance of County bonds. The road projects listed in prior years are being accomplished now with County funding. That is why this year's legislative requests do not include funding for Kona roads as in the past. However, we do continue to support the State Department of Transportation in its County of Hawaii projects, and will urge the legislature to provide the needed funding for State projects such as the widening of Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway to the Keahole Airport and improvements to State Highway 130 in Puna. As regional community development plans are completed, we will be seeking state assistance in future years to implement the major infrastructure needs identified in the plans. Large Capacity Cesspools State agencies will be approaching the legislature for funding to replace large capacity (or "gang") cesspools. An EPA mandate requires the closure of all gang cesspools by April 5, 2005. Of the over 1,600 gang cesspools in the state of Hawaii, it is estimated by the EPA that over half serve state or county facilities. Replacement of these large capacity cesspools with approved waste disposal systems is a huge and costly undertaking. The County of Hawaii has been coordinating entities in several areas of the county to expand our sewer system to allow state and private facilities to connect to a county sewer rather than be responsible for their own septic or treatment system. The County of Hawaii strongly supports the requests of state agencies for funding this federal mandate, whether it be for connection to a county sewer line or development of individual septic or treatment system. I thank you for this opportunity to present our Legislative priorities to you and for your support at the Legislature. My staff and I look forward to working with all of you in the years ahead. Alo C~~~ arry Kim MAYOR Attachment Attachment COUNTY OF HAWAII LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, 2005 The Hawaii County administration will request support from the Hawaii State Legislature for the following: Capital Improvement Projects 1. Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Test and Production Water Well. Planning, design, and construction: $4,333,000. 2. Honokaa Pool. Repairs and replacement: $2,500,000. 3. Mahukona Boat Ramp. Improvements: $2,000,000. 4. Multi-Purpose Senior Center, Kailua-Kona. Planning and design: $500,000. 5. Police Telecommunications Upgrade to 700 MHz. Planning, equipment, facilities improvement, consultant, and project management: $24,000,000. 6. Puna Recreational Complex. Planning, design, and construction: $8,000,000. Other Financial Support 1. Coqui Frog Eradication Program. State share: $2,000,000. 2. Roads-in-Limbo Program. Partnership project with State to address improvements to government roads: $2,000,000. Issues 1. Department of Water Supply. Revise various sections of Chapter 54 to improve efficiency and maintain consistency with the Hawaii County Charter. 2. Solid Waste. Amend HRS Section 342H, making it a felony to unlawfully dispose of more than one cubic yard of solid waste. 3. Purchasing. Revise HRS Section 103D to exempt vendors of small purchases from having to obtain a tax clearance, DCCA certificate, and DLIR certificate showing that they are incorporated or organized under State law, or registered to do business in the State. 4. Lifeguards. Repeal the sunset dates in laws that presently provide limited immunity regarding warning signs and lifeguard services at State and County beach parks. 5. Fines and Forfeitures. Allow counties to receive a portion of fines and forfeitures. Other 1. Kona Community Correctional Center. Funding for the Department of Public Safety to plan, design and construct a correctional facility in West Hawaii. 2. Department of Water Supply. Funding for CIP projects requested by the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply. Attachment 3. University of Hawaii-Hilo. Funding for program and CIP projects requested by the University of Hawaii-Hilo. 4. Various State Departments and Agencies. Funding for replacement of large capacity cesspools. DONALD IKEDA Phone: (808) 961- 8261 Cuanciluu,mber Mtr os p~~ FAX: (808) 961-8913 tP~;~~ kid~q. OF ~M',N~ Cnuivlr of Nnuai'i llaw'ai'i Counh~ &~il~ling 2~ At~puni S1reeL Saito 20l Hilo, Hawaii 9C?'0 January 6, 2005 Gary Safarik, Chair Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Subject Communication 2005 Legislative Priorities Pursuant to Resolution No. 04-04, Section l (g) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of Hawaii, this written request to waive the attached communication is being submitted. This communication from Mayor Harry Kim lists the legislative priorities for the 2005 legislative session. [n reviewing this request, timely approval is crucial. However, if this request is denied, for whatever reason, I understand the matter shall be referred to the Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations for placement on its future agenda. Donald Ikeda, Chair Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Approved/Date/Waive to Council: Disapproved/Date/Refer to PW[R: Gary a ~ ri Chair Gary Safarik, Chair Hawaii .ounty Council Hawaii County Council Nuuni'i (~nunn~ is rm lx/ual Uppornnulp Prnridcr and F.nzplm~er