HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.052 2006-2008 Testimony against Bi11345 City 8c County of Hawaii Council Meeting February 07, 2007
I am against Bill 345 stating that a group of not more than eight unrelated persons, plus
any program staff living in a facility licensed by the DOH and the amendment "if more
than one dwelling on a lot the number of unrelated persons in each dwelling shall not
exceed five, plus any program staff." At this juncture I wish to request that the Chair
summarize Bi11345 with the pending Amendment introduced by Councilperson Ford at
the Council Meeting held on January 19, 2007 after I have finished my Testimony. It
should be noted that according to Roberts Rules of Order in the matter of tie votes in
which a pure majority is required the motion on the floor is killed. If eight is the answer
than the Council should come to a consensus that eight unrelated persons per Tax Map
Key with no exceptions, as a limit of clients in the Group Living Facility. The number
eight seems to be the magic pill to the proponents of Bi11345. We no longer will be
subject to a suit from the Fair Horsing people with the eight clients per TMK.
Safeguards such as following DOH Rules & Regulations, proper licensing, adherence to
all Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions of the Subdivision, facility is properly staffed
and reviews on a timely basis of the Group Living Facility where the clients are youths
and adults with drug, alcohol, mental and sexual problems.
Who is driving the bus? I bring this question up as many of you are aware of House Bill
No. 722 Title: County Ordinances Invalid; Minimum Separation of Facilities. Phis Bill if
passed into law states any county ordinance that prohibits a group living facility
providing for the health care needs of individuals from being located with any specified
distance from another group living facility that does not provide for the health care need
of individuals shall be void as against public policy. How do you as individual Council
members or the Council feel about this H.B. No. 722? I was shocked and surprised as I
got involved with Bill No. 345 the State DOH can dictate who are to be my neighbors
and I am powerless to object. With the passage of H.B No. 722 I may be surrounded by
Group Living Facilities. I have seen over the past four years that the State Government
has been micro-managing the four Counties in the State of Hawaii in the areas of
highways, land management, education, environmental issues and other areas that
directly impact us residents of the C&C of Hawaii. Do you see a further encroachment of
the State in the affairs of this County? Will the Mayor and County Council play more of
a caretaker role in the operations of the C&C of Hawaii? I fumly believe that the Big
Island is unique in our land area, climate, people, economy, communities, and history.
We should take control of our destiny. I call upon you the members of the Council take
the Big Island to a leadership position that says to the rest of the State that we are
different and show that we are independent thinkers.
Summary: Current status of Bi11345 along with Amendments currently being discussed
or any new Amendments that may be brought to the floor. What is your position on H.B.
No. 722 and your opinion of the encroachment of the State in the affairs of the CBtC of
Hawaii?
Hiroshi Kozohara
P.O. Box 52
Kurtistown, HI 96760
Comm. No. ~ ~Z'
Ref. To: f%~-
Ref. Case