HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0124.034 2004-2006 Ntv as yu
CONSI'ANCE R. KIRIU G~
C'ororn'C(erk
•V. ~
Oi~N~~'
County of Hawai `i
Office of the County Clerk
?5.iupuni Street
/6/0. /lawai'i 96770 `
Telep{mne: (808) 9G7-N255 Facsimile: (808/ 961-891? ~ _
March 30, 2005
TO: Gary S. Safarik, Chair ,
And Council Members
FROM: Constance' R. Kiriu~8~~
County Clerk
RE: Bill No. 42, Communication No. 124.24
Clerk's Office Questions
The Office of the Council-Clerk's budget was prepared and submitted in November 2004. I
anticipate any changes iri program direction made by this Council will be included in future
drafts of the operating budget. As an example, the appropriation for staff salaries and wages
should be revised given the changes in personnel and positions. With the initiation of
videoconferencing at council meetings, telephone charges will need to be increased. The
Waimea office rental payment must be added.
In addition, the following .answers are in response to questions posed in Communication
No. 124.24 relating to the Clerk's Office departmental review.
COUNTY CLERK
L Llow are the ne~~ offices in both Kona and Waimea N~orking out?
The Kona and Waimea offices provide a greater County council presence in our growth
areas, and bring tlhe representatives from each region closer to the citizens they serve.
The Kona office is, more centralized, is closer to other County services such as the Kona
Mayor's Office, and has ahighly-utilized conference room. We have also experienced
an enormous increase in foot traffic. The cost and logistics of placing a videoconference
system in the Kona Council Conference Room is also being explored.
The Waimea office officially opened in January. Council Member Hoffmann is also
aggressively pursuing expanding the services offered from the office to other county
departments and .agencies.
Comm. Na ~ • 3 T
Ref. To: P~~~ FL
R4f ^a~e MAR 3 1 70115
2. Are we still payinp;.for two offices !n Kona?
Yes. While there were several nibbles to lease the Lender's Document Building office
space, we have been unable to secure commitments from any of the interested parties.
The management company is currently in discussion with another individual.
3. Are we paying more for the new office in Kona versus the old once and how much more?
OFFICE Monthly Rent Electricity Telephone Janitorial Total Monthly
Lenders $2,066.30 Included +$200 +$110 $2,376.30
Kailua Trade $3,370.60 ±$300 +$300 +$192 4 662.60
VARIANCE +$2,286.30
4. The Waimea Office is an increase in expenses for the council. What are the acneal monthly costs versus
[he projected corts~?
Monthly Rent Tele/Fax Courier Janitorial Total Monthly
ACTUAL $1,187.49 +$300 +$120 $1,607.49
PROJECTED (05-06) $1,218.74' +$300 +$120 $1,638.74
5. When do we purge a registered voter?
Federal law requires voter rolls be purged when a voter has not voted after two federal election
cycles. The City wind County of Honolulu County Clerk's Office manages the statewide voter
registration system. The voter purge was conducted recently.
6. "I'he program goal~c include the improvement gfvo[er turnout. What can the department do to
improve the voter lUrnout ratio?
The Clerk's Office-Elections Division uses amulti-pronged approach to assist the State Office of
Elections improve voter turnout. The efforts include (1) increasing the number of election-day
polling places to place the facilities in convenient locations; (2) establishing convenient walk-in
absentee polling places; (3) publishing walk-in absentee polling places, dates and hours of
operations; and (4) making absentee mail applications available to voters at numerous sites
throughout the island.
Specifically, the Slate (1) maintains a website with, among other things, ballots samples, polling
place locations, and voter candidate profiles; (2) conducts a media campaign with radio spots
and newspaper acts about precinct official recruitment, voter registration, and absentee walk
voting; and (3) publishes a Hawaii Votes Voter Information Pamphlet.
While our focus h<~s been on openness and accessibility in elections, it has been shown that
successful voter turnout numbers are tied to interest in candidates and issues.
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Does not include possible increase in 'additional rental' (CAM).