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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0834.000 2004-2006 .1r or Harry Kim •J= William Takaba Mm'ol' Duct for Nancy E. Crawford ~i'C Depuir Du'eelor County of Hawaii Finance Department 25 AupLill i Street, Room 118 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 (808) 961-8234 • Fax (808) 961-8248 April 17, 2006 Stacy K. Higa, Chairman and Members of the Hawaii County Council Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Operating Budget The State of Hawai'i, Hawai'i Tourism Authority has authorized $60,000, through its Natural Resources Program, to the Department of Research and Development for the start of a Waipio Park Ranger Pilot Program. With the Waipio Valley being a very popular tourist destination, the County will be using the grant funds to develop, plan and implement a one (1)-year pilot program to contract rangers to staff the county park at the Waipio Scenic Overlook to monitor commercial and visitor activity, report any illegal activity to law enforcement, serve as educational resources for the public, enhance the visitor experience, and protect the environment. Enclosed is a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawai'i, Hawaii Tourism Authority. Also enclosed is a bill for an ordinance amending the Operating Budget by appropriating this Waipio Park Ranger Pilot Program grant. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Department of Research and Development. William Tak a Director of Finance APPROVED: C J~1u Harry Kim Mayor Comm. No. 3 Enc. Ref, To:_ cc: Research & Development Ref. Date6 3~~ obi a7a) Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Form #:B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Research & Development DATE: April 10, 2006 STAFF CONTACT: Beth Dykstra PHONE: 961-8035 A. REQUEST: To authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) for a Natural Resources Program contract in the amount of SIXTY THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($60,000.00) to develop, plan and implement a one (1)-year pilot program to contract rangers to staff the county park at the Waipio Scenic Overlook to monitor commercial and visitor activity, report illegal activity to law enforcement, serve as educational resources for the public, enhance the visitor experience, and protect the environment. B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): Waipio Valley is a popular tourist destination. Destructive and illegal activities in the valley and at the scenic overlook have increased over the past few years and concerns have been raised by community members, park staff, and landowners that these activities are damaging the environment, creating safety hazards, tarnishing the visitor experience, and offending the host culture. At risk are heiau and other cultural and historic treasures; and the fragile environment is also at risk Complicated issues of access and of assigning oversight for public activity on private land in the Waipio Valley, and within multi-jurisdictional areas, has been debated for years. At this point, stakeholders have yet to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution; therefore the proposed program in which Rangers staff the scenic overlook and serve aas educators to the public will stem the tide of more damage. This pilot program strives to ensure the safety of all visitors and residents at Waipio Valley; enhance the visitor experience by providing education about the area's natural and cultural histories and resources; enhance the reputation of legitimate businesses in the tourism industry; and enhance the appearance (e.g. cleanliness, overall maintenance) of the County Park located at the Waipio Scenic Overlook. The natural environment is the valley's primary draw for visitors. Rangers will promote environmentally sensitive behavior among all park and beach users and all visitors to the Valley. There are three primary expected outcomes of this pilot: (1) An educated resident and visitor base will protect the natural and cultural resources of the Waipio Valley; (2) Visitors will have an enhanced visit because they will learn about the cultural and natural history of the area; and (3) There will be enhanced safety for visitors and residents. SIGNED:` c~ DATE: APR 1 2 2n Depart@nt Head GRANT SUMMARY (Supplement to B-52, Request for Council Action Type of Grant Appropriation being re uested: (New or an additional appropriation) ® New (for this fiscal year period). OR ? Additional appropriation (to an existing grant); Is a draft agreement attached? Has the original grant notification been transmitted to © Yes ? No Council? ? Yes ? No Name of Grant Program: Waipio Pilot Ranger Program Grantor: Hawaii Tourism Authority County Grantee Department or Agency: Research & Development for Parks and Recreation County Grantee Contact Person: Beth Dykstra Phone Number: 961-8035 Amount of Grant: $60,000.00 Grant Period (Commencement & Completion): May 2006 - May 2007 Purpose of Grant: Develop and implement a one-year pilot ranger program at Waipio Valley County Match required?: ® Yes ? No If yes, Matching Amount? $10,000.00 Budgeted in account# : R & D 161., 161 .01 In-kind? Explain: $50,000.00 - interpretive consultation and development of educational materials by Bishop Museum and Sea Grant; survey development and analysis by UH Manua, supplies and field equipment by Kamehameha Schools and Department of Public Works, safety and enforcement training by HPD and DOCARE; volunteer time donated by Waipio Circle Explanation: County's personnel requirements: Amount of new position(s)? Qty: Permanent: ? Temporary: Duration: Full-time: ? Part-time: Time Element: Qty: 1 Contractual: ® Explain: R & D will contract with community-based group to develop and manage the pilot program Explanation: Additional Comments about Grant: B-52 Grant Summary Form ? LINDA LINGLE ~;i~ Governor x i REx D. JOHNSON Hawaii Tourism Authority are,ment end Chief Executive Officer Yb yw 1828 r'J f d11' Hawaii Convention Center, 1601 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu. Hawaii 96815 Telephone: 18081 973 2255 F O G H Website: www.hawaii.gov/tourism Fax: (808) 973-2253 February 2, 2006 The Honorable Harry Kim Mayor, County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mayor Kim: We are very pleased to inform you that your proposal for the "Waipio Park Ranger Pilot Program" was awarded $60,000 through the Hawaii Tourism Authority's (HTA) Natural Resources Program. Please note that the review committee was specific in its support for the program for the Waipio area only. This award is not intended to support the Kahaluu Park effort. However, for your information, The Kohala Center's program for "Saving Kahaluu Bay" was funded and we encourage your staff to work with this organization as they move forward. We are very excited about this new Program and look forward to working with you and your staff to implement your project. We are currently drafting the contract between the HTA and the County and will get a copy of that to you as soon as it is available. To assist us with expediting this process, would you please submit the following to our offices to the attention of Robbie Kane by February 24, 2006: 1. A revised project budget reflecting the award of $60,000 (versus the $129,500 you had requested) including a breakdown of how you plan to use the HTA funds within your project budget; and 2. A revised narrative reflecting the program for the Waipio area only. Thank you once again for your enthusiastic support of this program and partnership. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either Muriel Anderson at 973-2269 or Robbie Kane at 973-2262. Sincerely, Rex D. Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer cc: Beth Dykstra, Grants Specialist