HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1062.005 2014-2016 William P. Kenoi
Duane Kanuha
Mayor a'4 r - ` Director
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Deputy Director
West Flaunt' Office 2016 NOY —2 AN 9: OY I.:.c1 uawannnree
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole I l wyO �• I OI Panahi Street,Suite 3
Kailua-Kona,Ilawai'i 96740 County of$Hawaii Hilo.Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)323-4770 Phone(8081961-8288
Fax 008)327-3563 PLANNING DEPARTMENT tax(808)961-8742
MEMORANDUM
November 2, 2016
TO: COUNCILPERSON DRU M. KANUHA
I ' AN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
,
FROM: 1 17, • NE KANUHA
PLANNING DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: BILL NO. 242, DRAFT 2 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16,
OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION AS AMENDED),
BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO IMPLEMENTING
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILANCE PRINCIPALS FOR THE LONG
TERM WELL BEING OF THE COUNTY AND ITS INHABITANTS
Please allow me to weigh in on the most recent draft of proposed Bill No.242.
I apologize for not commenting on this bill sooner, but the intent and purpose, let alone the
implementation of the proposed bill is so far out of touch with governmental reality that it is
difficult to even know where to start in providing commentary on it.
While we have many, many questions, clarifications, comments, and recommendations with
respect to the content of Communication No. 1062.2, there are two overriding themes that should
be put into perspective.
A major component that is incorporated into the proposed bill is the "Aloha + Challenge", a
statewide initiative that is described in Communication No. 1062.1.The "Aloha + Challenge'
initiative was launched in July, 2014 by the administration of former Governor Abercrombie, the
four other County Mayors and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The "Aloha +Challenge"
is a statewide commitment to achieving six interconnected sustainability targets by 2030 in clean
energy, local food production, natural resources management, solid waste reduction, smart
sustainable communities, and green workforce and education. All of these initiatives have been
launched except for smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education which are
programed to launch in 2017. h
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Memorandum
Councilperson Dm M. Kanuha
November 2, 2016
Page 2
There are four agreed upon implementation strategies, which collectively result in a review and
reporting of progress to achieve the "Aloha+ Challenge" milestones annually to the participants
respective legislative bodies (emphasis added).
That being the case, Bill 242, Draft 2 is essentially repetitive and duplicative of the "Aloha +
Challenge". Furthermore, to be consistent with the intent, purpose, and participation in the
"Aloha + Challenge", should not be designating the Planning Department as the coordinator of
the annual sustainability reports, since that role is already assumed by the respective offices of
the Mayor in each county.
As you know, a Statewide coordinator was hired and staffed out of the governor's office.
Similarly, Hawaii county had a coordinator hired and staffed out of the Department of Research
and Development. That role has since been assumed by the Mayor's office.
Finally, to even attempt the implementation of any level of sustainability planning in the subject
areas stated in Division 2, (a) and (b) of the draft bill without an integrated effort by the rest of
the major stakeholders throughout the State would be an unachievable task. The "Aloha +
Challenge" already incorporates and provides for the participation by other Statewide
Stakeholders.
There are so many similarities between the proposed bill and the "Aloha+ Challenge" initiative
that the bill is unnecessary and redundant, and therefore,having it adopted would serve no useful
purpose.