HomeMy WebLinkAboutBIL 199 Draft 01 2010-2012 G ,.4o,e7 Os....
COUNTY OF HAWAII - STATE OF HAWAII
4rE O;'N�� BILL NO. 199
ORDINANCE NO.
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE THAT FINDS AND DECLARES THAT A PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS AND MAKES AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION
OF $200,000 TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Emergency Ordinance. The Hawaii County Council hereby finds and declares
that a public health emergency exists necessitated by the fact that 16% of the residents and
26.6% of all children under the age of 18 residing in the County are food insecure and do not
know from where and when their next meal is coming and pursuant to Section 3-11, Section 10-
8 and Section 13-23 of the Hawaii County Charter (2010 edition) and Section 2-210 of the
Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), finds that there is an immediate need to
address this county-wide issue by making an emergency appropriation to alleviate hunger in the
County of Hawaii.
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to Article XIII, Section 3-11, of the Hawai`i County Charter
(2010 edition), and pursuant to Article X, Section 10-8 of the Hawai`i County Charter (2010
Edition) and 2-139 of the Hawaii County Code makes an emergency appropriation to The Food
Basket, Inc., Hawai`i Island's Food Bank in the amount of $200,000.
SECTION 2. Findings and purpose.
The Hawai'i County Council finds that:
The current economic downturn has caused a substantial increase in the number of families and
individuals seeking food assistance and a significant decrease in donations of food and money.
The Food Basket, Inc. serving as Hawai`i Island's Food Bank has determined that 20% of the
County residents use the Food Basket on a continuous basis and reported a 41.6% increase in
services accessed, from 619,344 in 2010 to 876,679 in 2011.
The County of Hawai`i 2011 year end unemployment rate was 9.5%, per the Hawai`i State
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. This figure does not include those
who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, can no longer claim any benefits and are not
included in the current unemployment percentage. Further, these figures do not reflect the
number of residents who are "under-employed" in the County, and have continuous difficulty in
meeting basic living expenses.
The United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service reports that
the County of Hawai`i had a 2010 child poverty rate of 24.5%.
The emergency is not area specific, it is County wide. The Annunciation Food Pantry in Waimea
has reported a 131% increase in total individuals served from 5,565 in 2008 to 12,853 in 2011.
On a year to year basis, The Kona Meet & Eat Soup Pantry has reported a 181% increase in
meals served from 598 in 2010 to 1,680 in 2011. The St. Michael's Food Pantry in Kona has
reported a 96% increase in meals served from 1,179 in 2010 to 2,309 in 2011. The Paradise
Church of the Nazarene in Puna has reported an 11% increase in meals served from 438 in 2010
to 486 in 2011. The Living Waters Food Pantry in Hilo has reported a 57% increase in meals
served from 124 in 2010 to 195 in 2011.
Medical personnel and agencies attest that the lack of adequate and nutritious food resources for
families and individuals result in an increasing impact on already strained medical facilities and
services placing additional burdens on taxpayers.
The Food Basket, Inc. serving as Hawai`i Island's Food Bank is the sole island-wide non-profit
food network that collects and distributes nutritious food to low income families, the ill and
disabled, senior citizens, children's programs and other charitable non-profit organizations and is
an organization whose programs yield direct benefits to the public and accomplish public
purposes, as set forth in Chapter 2, Article 25, Section 2-137, Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005
Edition, as amended).
The Council recognizes the need to address this public health emergency by assisting with
immediate efforts to alleviate hunger. An emergency appropriation is necessary to take every
step necessary to ensure that the health of our residents is not compromised by the lack of
nutritious food.
The purpose of this emergency appropriation ordinance is to appropriate $200,000 in funding
pursuant to Article X, Section 10-8, of the Hawai`i County Charter (2010 edition) from the
Disaster and Emergency Fund for the purpose of a grant to The Food Basket, Inc., Hawai`i
Island's Food Bank pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 25, Sections 2-210 and 2-139, Hawai`i County
Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended).
SECTION 3. Powers Granted. The County Council of the County of Hawai`i, hereby
appropriates $200,000 for the fiscal year 2011-2012 from the Disaster and Emergency Fund to
Account No. 010.101.5101.32 to The Food Basket, Inc., Hawai`i Island's Food Bank to provide
food to the hungry people of the County of Hawaii.
Said funds shall be utilized as a grant made pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 25, Section 2-139,
Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) and is subject to Chapter 2, Article 25,
Section 2-138, and 2-139(b), Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended).
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SECTION 4. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance, or the application thereof to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications of the ordinance, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION 5. Duration. This ordinance, including any amendments made after adoption,
shall automatically stand repealed as of the 61st day following the date of adoption of the original
ordinance.
SECTION 6. Effective date. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.
, Hawai`i
Date of Introduction:
Date of Adoption:
Effective Date:
Introduced By:
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