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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0143.063 2014-2016PIPCO Wil, 20 k)At)Y- ►4.6 Murashige, Laura ,., w -c') From: Stephanie Bath <stephbath@icloud.com>-� Sent: Monday, May 04, 2015 12:02 AM t To: Council Testimony Subject: Budget 2015-16rn v P Aloha,' I am Re sending this testimony along with my other testimony. This testimony goes into greater detail in the matter relating to CL and overlaying. Please amend the MTA budget to include immediate implementation of hub and spoke bus service in Puna. Please amend the budget to include PW funds to explore the viability of proposed CL options for Puna and alternative locations. Sincerely, Stephanie Bath Begin forwarded message: From: Stephanie Bath <stephbath ,icloud.com> Date: April 24, 2015, 4:21:50 AM HST To: counciltestimony_ghawaiicounty.gov Subject: County budget Dear Madame chair and council members, In February I was run over by a truck. For this reason I have been unable to testify in person. Due to this tragic event in my life I have been given an opportunity to view things through a different lense, that of a disabled Hawaii County resident. As I have been following the finance committee on line a number of thoughts have come. 1. I am impressed with the spirit of this Council. There is a civility and spirit of genuine co- operation present.Thank you!!! 2, As each department comes forth I see issues and goals that are shared. I have resided in Kurtistown, Puna,since 1981. ' L4" 3 Comm. No. Puna is a vast district. Ref. To: V L #,f. Date MAY U11 Lull Transportation Seniors, disabled and youth are unable to access programs,recreation, sports events, shopping, even doctors appointments due to lack of sorely need bus service This is also true for the work force. Routes and schedules do not serve the public. My heart goes out to those in Kau as they are even more isolated. Solution In addition to funding the long overdo Hawaii Island mass transit plan, It is time to invest is a computer program and MTA staff needed to establish viable routes and schedules which actually serve the public. These routes would be integrated into the hub and spoke mass transit model as adopted by ordinance in 2008 (puna community development plan ) by this body, Without this in place the County is setting itself up for lawsuits by disabled and the general public. There are environmental justice issues that clearly have not been addressed. Funding one project can implement goals of many county agencies and departments: Example One aspect of the PCDP currently being worked on by the PCDP action committee subcommittees) Is connectivity. Proposed connectivity locations have been determined which will create road redundancy to Puna subdivisions. (To date no funding has been set aside to acquire them.) As chief Kubojiri confirmed yesterday Connectivity locations (CL) will assist in reducing response time of emergency responders from one subdivision to another. This will maximize the time and resources of the department and officers. During this finance committee meeting ,there has been discussion about youth at risk, seniors and disabled communities CL can create a way where hele- on feeder buses and coordinated services can actually transverse adjoining communities to service the transportation needs currently not being met. Parks and ree can explore, now, acquiring adjacent lands to develop Linear parks within communities as sighted in the PCDP. (Regional parks are great however residents must travel to get to them. ) We have already discussed issues related transportation. These CL parks can have modest buildings constructed as meeting places for things such as hi/ pal, seniors activities,CERT , disaster distribution points when needed and so much more. CLs can be buffered with lands acquired with open space funds Insuring places for nature with walking trails etc to be preserved. I have just focused in on one project whose lead department is public works and planning. Can you see how with some correlation on the part of departments ,budget resources from one department can complement the wants of another department? Ultimately fewer dollars are needed to implement delivery of services and level of services to the public is increased. Again,Environmental justice concerns are addressed. It is my recommendation to the Council that the budget be amended to fund staff that can organize department projects and goals with the intent of overlaying them with other departments. Whenever a project is proposed the department making the request can site one or two projects that will benefit other non department projects. We can get so much more achieved as we do this. The more departments the project overlays the more priority it takes.:)))) What did the mayor say??? Together we can, The people of Hawaii need this approach right now!!! Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Bath Disabled resident ( healing in process)