HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0490.001 2010-2012DOMINIC YAGONG
Council Chairperson
Council District 1
Date: December 6, 2011
Hawaii County Council
County of Hawai`i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai `i 96720
To: Members of Hawaii County Council
From: Dominic Yagong, Chairperson
Email: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us
Phone: (808) 961 -8264
Fax: (808) 961 -8912
Re: A Letter to Bill Takaba to be Numbered and Distributed for Informational Purposes
Attached for your information is a communication to be numbered and distributed to all Council
Members.
Warmest Aloha!
DY/bc
Att.
Comm. No. 490•
Ref. To: P "ia Pd 604140
Ref. Date. (%c, - 71O1f
DOMINIC YAGONG
Chairperson
Hawai'i County Council
Hawaii County Council
County of Hawai`i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Sent via electronic mail only; no hard copy to follow
December 1, 2011
Mr. William Takaba
Managing Director, County of Hawai' i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Subject: WHCC — Construction Contract
Dear Mr. Takaba:
Email: dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
Phone: (808) 961 -8264
Fax: (808) 961 -8912
Pursuant to Section 6- 1.3(g) of the Hawaii County Charter, you are hereby requested to attend the
December 7, 2011 meeting of the Hawai'i County Council, and to provide the Council with an
update on the status of the construction at the West Hawai'i Civic Center (WHCC) and your plans
to complete construction at WHCC. Also, you are requested to bring with you to the Council
meeting all information and documents relating to this project for the Council's inspection,
including but not limited to the "punch list" of construction items not completed or accepted by the
Department of Public Works.
As you are aware, WHCC was opened for occupancy in February 2011. I am informed by you that
WHCC has not been accepted as a completed project and that there is a "punch list" of
construction items not completed or accepted by the Department of Public Works. On this punch
list of items is the state of the art audio -video system for the WHCC Council Chambers.
I understand that the WHCC Council Chambers audio -video system will allow for
videoconferencing and taping of Council meetings, and other county events, island -wide. It is also
my understanding that the Department of Public Works has been working toward the completion
of this system for one year. Despite their efforts, the audio -video system has not been completed.
As you are aware, to fulfill our charter mandated obligation to hold meetings in West Hawai`i, as
outlined in Section 3 -7 of the Hawai`i County Charter, the Council has, beginning in February
2011, been using the temporary "traveling" equipment that our offices used during Council
meetings held at the Sheraton Keauhou. This caused our offices to incur excess charges to
videoconference and tape the Kona meetings.
Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Letter to Managing Director William Takaba
Dated December 1, 2011
Page 2 of 2
I am very concerned about this matter. As you are aware, the Council approved the bond to pay
for the construction of WHCC. The taxpayers are paying in excess of $50 million for WHCC.
Despite this, there appears to be no sense of urgency to see this project through to completion.
Because I am concerned, I previously requested that you provide me with an update and plan for
the completion of the construction at WHCC and to provide me with all documents related to the
construction of this project. Although you acknowledge that the WHCC is not completed and that
the project acceptance process is ongoing, you have also told me that my concerns " .. are
absolutely without substance and merit." This response is an indication to me that you are not
taking my concerns seriously.
This matter should be treated very seriously and with the utmost urgency.
Please come to the Council meeting on December 7, 2011 prepared to provide information and
comment to the Council and answer the following questions:
1. What is the completion date for the installation, engineering, programming, testing and
training in the use of the WHCC Council Chambers audio -video equipment?
2. Are there other contract provisions for WHCC that are incomplete? If so, what are those
items, why are they not yet completed, and what is your plan for ensuring that these
construction items are completed so that the project can be "signed off' as complete?
3. When will WHCC receive final approval from the Department of Public Works and be
deemed complete by that Department?
There may be other questions related to this subject asked by the Council at this meeting.
Thank you in advance for your attention to my request.
S• cerely,
DOMINIC YAGON
Chairperson, Hawai'i unty CJJncil
DY /st
cc: J.Kawauchi, County Clerk
W.Kenoi, Mayor
W.Lau, Deputy Managing Director
W.Lee, Director, DPW