HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 265 Draft 01 1994-1996RESOLUTION N0. 265 96
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A BIG ISLAND ACTION COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii is beset by health and social
problems at a higher rate than the other counties in the state,
including the state's highest rates of confirmed child abuse and
neglect, abuse of dependent adults, births to unmarried parents,
issuance of restraining orders against perpetrators of domestic
violence, attempted suicides, alcohol, and other substance abuse,
and mental health care recipients; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii also suffers from economic
problems such as the state's lowest per capita income, the state's
lowest average wages, the state's second highest unemployment rate
and the state's highest proportion of persons receiving
supplemental security income; and
WHEREAS, projected population growth in the County of
Hawaii, especially in the rural Puna district, and increased
unemployment due to the closing of sugar plantations threaten to
make the above listed problems worse; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii annually eapends substantial
funds for the implementation of standardized state-wide programs
in attempts to alleviate these problems on the Biq Island, yet i.s
experiencing virtually no success in reducing the numbers and
rates involved in the problems cited above; and
WHEREAS, at the present time, the state and federal
governments are cutting back on funding for programs dealing with
these problems and shifting toward block grant funding; and
WHEREAS, in this time of dwindling revenues, it is necessary
that governments maaimize the use and effectiveness of local
resources; and
WHEREAS, the present system provides little opportunity for
local input or direction in designing effective responses and
setting program priorities for the neighbor islands, which results
in frequent overlaps in contracted services contributing to
wasteful expenditures towards duplicated administrative functions
and on programs that have been improperly designed for such a vast
island of disparate rural populations; and
WHEREAS, a local, diverse umbrella group or 'council'
comprised of the many and varied organizations presently involved
in addressing these local problems would be more in touch with
specific community concerns and needs; and
WHEREAS, a staffed local council could better assess needs,
outcomes, and overlap of services and provide a better interface
with local funding sources such as the County of Hawaii, the
Hawaii Island United Way, and the Hawaii Hotel Association; and
WHEREAS, this umbrella group or 'council' could solicit more
funding opportunities, especially for federal grants targeted for
rural areas; and
WHEREAS, Senator Andrew Levin of the Big Island has drafted
Senate Bill 2213, amending Chapter 42D of the Hawaii Revised
Statutes, to establish a body to be known as the 'Big Island
Action Council' for the purpose of coordinating the design and
prioritization of all programs addressing the health and human
service problems of the County of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, this 'council' would be made up of persons who
reside in the County of Hawaii and are familiar with its problems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII requests the Legislature of the State of Hawaii
to enact Senate Bill 2213 introduced by Senator Andrew Levin
relating to the establishment of the 'Big island Action Council'.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of
Hawaii is hereby directed to forward true copies of this
resolution to the Honorable Ben Cayetano, Governor of the State of
Hawaii; the Honorable Stephen R. Yamashiro, Mayor of the County of
Hawaii; the Honorable Norman Mizuguchi, President of the State
Senate; the Honorable Joseph M. Souki, Speaker of the House of
Representatives; and the Honorable Donna Ikeda, Chairwoman of the
Senate Ways and Means Committee; the Honorable Lehua Fernandes
Sallinq, Chairwoman of the Transportation and Government Affairs
Committee.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 7th day of February , 1996.
INTRODUCF,iD BY:
COUNC ~~~ E , OUNTY OF HAWAII
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Reference C- 967 (]
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. rr~DS J~O