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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 059 04/08/2013 (2012-2014) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: April 8, 2013 Re: Comm. No. 219/Bill No. 57 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawai`i TIME: 11:48 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 57, reports as follows: Bill No. 57, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford, via Communication No. 219 dated March 18, 2013, amends Ordinance No. 12-86, as amended, the Operating Budget for the County of Hawai`i for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. The amendment is as follows: From: 010.3609.09 Fund Balance Reserved for Liquor Control General $ 30,000 To: 010.251.5251.39 Public Programs General $ 17,500 010.251.5251.02 Travel/Conferences $ 12,500 These funds will be used to continue the Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco (DAT) Awareness Program for high schools and elementary school student-athletes, and for Commissioners, Board Members and staff to attend the 2013 National Conference of State Liquor Administrators' training to be held in Honolulu, June 2013. Liquor Control Director Gerald Takase appeared before Your Committee for questions. Mr. Takase informed the Council Members that the Hawai`i County Liquor Department administered the DAT program for approximately seven years. The program received Federal funds; however, the funding ended in 2012. He stated further that the department will fund the program this year through the Liquor Department's fine money, and noted that the department will include this program into next year's budget cycle. The DAT Awareness Program works with the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) and the school athletic directors and trains high school athletes to become student mentors. The athletes are trained as presenters and are given two to three days of training on alcohol, drug, and tobacco awareness and prevention. The mentors target fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. According to Mr. Takase, the FC Report No. 59 FC-59 Page 2 April 8, 2013 feedback received from schools is that high school athletes are close in age to the students and have a much greater impact on them; therefore, the schools feel it is important to keep the program running. Council Members Dru Kanuha and J Yoshimoto spoke in support of Bill No. 57. Mr. Yoshimoto stated that his son participated in the DAT program and felt that the program was good and the `message' the program brought forth, was being received. Council Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi also spoke in support of Bill No. 57. He would prefer using County funds to help subsidize County programs rather than the money going directly to the Department of Education(DOE) to run the workshops. Mr. Takase informed the Council Members that Honolulu will be hosting the 2013 National Conference of State Liquor Administrators' training, in June. He added that they typically budget for four staff members; however, in support of the Honolulu delegation, they would like to send as many staff as possible to help fill up open spots. Pursuant to Section 46-7, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, County departments must obtain the consent of the Council to enter into agreements with the Federal or State governments respecting action to be taken pursuant to any powers granted by law to furnish, expend, and receive any funds or other assistance connection with projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers. Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 57, and recommends its passage on first reading. sc AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted, EOFF X FORD x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ILAGAN X • KANUHA X KERN X /Th./0 / ONISHI X /// POINDEXTER x VALERIE T. POINDEXTER, CHAIR WILLE X FC REPORT NO.: 59 YOSHIMOTO x ADOPTED: APR 1 7 2013