The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0052.000 1996-1998 Hawaii Stmt; Association G>< Counties Counties of Kauai, Maui and Hawaii, City 8. CY~tnty of Honolulu i u~~rq a o ~ v s~., December 24, 1996 To: James Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the Hawaii County Council From: AI Smith , Secretary-Treasurer Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) Subject: HSAC Executive Cam~nittee Meeting -December 11, 1996 The following highlights of the HSAC Executive Committee Meeting of December 11, 1996 are hereby submitted. The Secretary's Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of November 22, 1996 were approved and placed on file (attached for information). The Treasurer's Report for the month of November 1996 was approved and placed on file (attached for information). Under NACo Reports Second Vice President Kouchi reported that the two most significant issues at the NACo Fall Board Meeting were NACo's indebtedness on the NACo Building and discussions on the successor to NACo Second Vice President Dick Cecil. NACo continues to operate in a financially solvent manner and is applying some of its revenue towards the fulfillment of the indebtedness on the building. @ is projected that NACo vi!i~ sllartly be wrapping up the lawsuit that it is involved in that we will be able to clear the debt tvttttin the next two or three years. As to the vacancy of the NACo Second Vice President, a decision was made by the Board of Directors to wait until the general membership meeting in July and have an election for the first vice president slot, which would be Mr. Cecil's vacated seat, and also have an election for the second vice president, which would be the seat that would naturally would have opened up. A number of possible candidates, including HSAC President Mansho, have already been identified. A third item on interest is that Hawaii is looking at hosting a future NACo Annual Meeting either in July 2002 or July 2004. An event such as this will usually bring in about 5,000 delegates with spouses and children or about 7,000 or 8,000 people. President Mansho has been in touch with f~, . Comer. ?ta Ij Rel. 4bt Ref. Date ~ 2 6 1996 Chairman James Arakaki December 24, 1996 Page 2 the Governor's Office as well as the Waikiki Visitors Association. Hosting such a conference will run in the neighborhood of $250,000 to $400,000 versus the tremendous amount of revenue that would come in. Under WIR Reports, WIR Board Member Mansho indicated that the WIR is still in the process of formulating its legislative package. The WIR Board just met and it appears that it will be maintaining the same public lands home rule issues for county government. Under Unfinished Business, the 1977 HSAC Legislative Package, was deferred to the next meeting pending final action by the County of Hawaii. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next HSAC Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, 1996, 9:00 a.m., Honolulu Committee Room, Honolulu, Hawaii. Attachments HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REVENUES COLLECTED AND EXPENSES PAID Fiscal Period: November 1 through November 30, 1996 FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING DATE $64,611.85 This Year to Period Date Budget Receipts 001 Membership Fees $0.00 $28,000.00 $28,000.00 010 Conference Income $0.00 $6,283.96 $6,000.00 0301nterest Income $184.98 $676.70 $1,400.00 090 Miscellaneous $0.00 $100.00 $0.00 Total $184.98 $35,060.66 $35,400.00 TOTAL RECEIPTS THIS PERIOD $184.98 Disbursements Executive Committee 201 Travel $0.00 $159.00 $3,960.00 202 Auditing Services $0.00 $0.00 $4,500.00 203 Stationery $0.00 $719.08 $800.00 209 Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 Special Committees 301 Travel $0.00 $0.00 $1,320.00 309 Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $100.00 NACo 401 Travel $0.00 $1,320.82 $6,000.00 402 Promotional $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 403 Dues $0.00 $0.00 $18,992.00 409 Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 WIR 501 Travel $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 502 Promotional $0.00 $3,934.15 $25,000.00 503 Dues $0.00 $0.00 $2,200.00 509 Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Conferences 606 FY 95-96 Annual $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 607 FY 96-97 Mid Year $0.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 609 Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 TOTAL $0.00 $7,133.05 $66,372.00 TOTAL EXPENSES THIS PERIOD $0.00 FUND BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD $64,796.83 ~aWai i sty. e Association ~ f Counties Counties of Kauai. Maui and Hawaii. City 8. County of Honolulu a~~r .v .i w' °,4 ;s December 5, 1996 The Executive Committee Members Hawaii State Association of Counties Dear Sirs: Please find enclosed the report of the Association's revenues collected and expenses paid for the fiscal period November 1 to November 30, 1996. Very truly yours, AL SMITH Acting Secretary-Treasurer Hawaii State Association of Counties Enclosure O HaWai i Sta~~ Association Counties Counties of Kauai. Maui and Hawaii. City 8. County of Honolulu ~ HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES (HSAC) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING November 22, 1996 - Council Committee Room. - Honolulu, Hawaii I. CALL TO ORDER The HSAC Executive Committee was called to order by President Rene Mansho at 9:20 a.m. The following members pt~ent made up a quonun: ,.r: City and County of President Reae-Matisho : Honolulu Staff Elaine Leo - County of Maui First Vice President DennisTlakamvra: _ County of Kauai Second Vice President Ron Kouchi:?-' Staff Cyndi Ayonon County of Hawaii Secretary-Treasurer Takashi Domingo Hawaii Alternate Al Smith Staff Gerald Mondea t ;l II. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES , The minutes of the October 25, 1996 meeting of the HSAC Executive Comrttittet`.tvete approved as circulated. , ' III. TREASURER'S REPORT The Treasurer's Report for the month of October 1996 was approved as circulated. IV. REPORTS A. Executive Committee Reports There were no Executive Committee Reports, B. County Reports There were no County Committee Reports. C. NACo Reports The Executive Committee was informed that there will be a NACo Board of Directors Meeting, December 5-7, 1996 in Arizona. Further that Jane Hague from King County, Washington will be a candidate for NACo Vice President and that the Vice President vacancy of Dick Cecil will also be filled at the next annual meeting. The candidacy of Rene Mansho for NACo Vice President is spll under consideration. With the resignation of Councilmembers Correa and Minatoya from NACo Steering Committees on Public Lands and on Environment, Energy, and Land Use, the Executive Committee reviewed HSAC's national representation. Historically, HSAC has attempted to place its members on those national committees which have the greatest impact on our State. HSAC will be recommending that Councilmember Smith and Kouchi be appointed to the Public Lands and to the Envirotunent, Enetgy and Land Use Steering Committees. D. WIR Reports Planning for the WIR Conference oa Kauai continues. Each island was reminded that the WIR Information Booth at the NACo Legislative Conference will be their opportunity to lure conventioneers to visit the outer islands. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. 1997 HSAC Legislative Program Policy Statement All four counties reported approval of the proposed 1997 HSAC Legislative Program Policy Statement. The Hawaii Council approved this item on August 23, 1996, the Maui Council approved this item on September 4, 1996, the Kauai Council reported approval of this item at the September 23, 1996 HSAC Executive Committee Meeting, and the Honolulu Council reported approved of this item (Honolulu Resolution 96-208, FD2) at this Executive Committee Meeting. The 1977 HSAC Legislative Program Policy Statement is officially adopted. 2 B. 1997 HSAC Legislative Package The purpose of this item is to consider and act on the items proposed by HSAC for inclusion in the 1997 Legislative Package. These items are discussed below; 1. Bill relating to public land liability immunity The purpose of this bill is to immunize the counties from liability for injuries caused by a natural condition of unimproved public property, even in the absence of warning signs and other public safety services. Maui County reported that this matter is scheduled for consideration on December 4, 1996. AU, other counties reported inclusion of this item. Action to include this item into the HSAC Legislative Package was therefore deferred until the next meeting. 2. $ill relating to preference to bidders on county contracts The purpose of this bill is to authorize the counties by ordinance to give preference for county public works projects to bidders who have successfully paid their applicable State taxes. As a result of discussions at the County Council level, two versions of this bill have surfaced. Version One, authorizes the counties to adapt "identical" provisions to those adopted by the State in the granting of a bidders preference. Version Two, authorizes the counties to adopt "similar" provisions to those adopted by the State. In discussion, it was pointed out that adoption of "similar" provisions' afforded the counties more flexibility in implementation. After granting up to a 15% preference to a vendor, the State recovers a portion of this preference from increased general excise taxes and possibly increased income taxes. Counties tray want to grant a smaller preference. It was also noted that island residents just starting out in the business will not qualify for a preference. An example was cited where on the island of Kauai, the low bidder to a State project, who also happened to be a new "kamaina" contractor, did not get the contract because of this provision. Counties may want the flexibility to protect against this type of exclusion. In light of these discussions and due to the fact that two of the counties did not consider the application of bidder preferences under these considerations, the Executive Committee referred the bill authorizing the adoption of "similar" provisions back to the counties for consideration. 3 3. Bill relating to the establishment of a State emergency management, preparedness, and assistance trust fund This proposal was approved for inclusion by both Kauai and Oahu. Maui County indicated that this bill will be most likely filed on December 4, 1996. Hawaii County did not approve this bill. There being no unanimous approval, this item was dropped from the 1997 HSAC Legislative Package. 4. Bill relating to the financing of the convention center/revenue sharing The purpose of this bill is to restore the potential loss of any transient accommodations tax revenues currently received by the counties with the State's general excise tax revenues. The Executive Committee had no objection to changing the title of the bill for purposes of clarity. Maui County reported that this matter is scheduled for consideration on December 4, 1996. A11 other counties approved this bill for inclusion. Action to include this item into the HSAC Legislative Package was therefore deferred until the next meeting. 5. Resolution supporting legislation proposed by the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the State Department of Public Safety for the regulation of products containing ephedrine by the State. Hawaii County did not approve this resolution. Hawaii County submitted that, while not against this legislation, HSAC should concentrate its efforts on priority issues such as the TAT and beach liability. There being no nnAnimous approval, this item was dropped from the 1997 HSAC Legislative Package. 6. Resolution supporting legislation proposed by the Nazcoties Enforcement Division of the State Department of Public Safety for the regulation of products containing gamma hydroxybutyrate by the State. Hawaii County did not approve this resolution. Hawaii County submitted that, while not against this legislation, HSAC should concentrate its efforts on priority issues such as the TAT and beaoh liability. There being no unanimous approval, this item was dropped from the 1997 HSAC Legislative Package. 4 C. HSAC Task Force on Tele-Health Services The purpose of this item is to act on the resolution establishing an HSAC Task Force on Tele-Hcalth Services. This resoludoa deals with the provision and extension of tele-medicine and tele-health services to the rural communities and the neighbor islands. System is ongoing on the island of Oahu. Hawaii County did not adopt this resolution. The matter of extending tele- medicine and tele-health services to the rural communities and the neighbor islands will be leR to the individual counties. 17. Video Conferencing of HSAC Executive Committee Meetings Members were reminded of the video conferencing orientation and practice session at the State Video Conferencing Centers on each island on Monday, November 2S, 1996 at 10:30 a.m. E. State/County Fiscal Relationship Task Force The purpose of this item is for President Mansho to report on the State/County Fiscal Relarionship Task Force meeting held on November l2, 1996. Minutes will be provided. Next meeting not scheduled. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. A New Bill for Inclusion in the 1997 HSAC Legislative Package The purpose of this item is to consider a bill relating to a general excise tax (GET} reimbursement for county agencies for inclusion in the 1997 HSAC Legislative Package. Your Executive Committee received testimony from Lowell ICalapa of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii on this matter. First, the counties cttrreatly pay a 4% premium on their operation. The counties should be relieved of this additional burden. He indicated that in prior years, Tax Review Commissions have made this recommendation to the State. This bill proposes to reimburse the counties for the General Excise Taxes paid by the counties in all business and sales transactions with the private sector. Second, this bill attempts to illustrate that the counties aze taking a hit in terms of the 4% they pay and if the TAT revenues to the county arc reduced, the counties will take a double hit. 5 Finally, this bill attempts to show that what the counties are asking for in terms of the TAT subsidy bill is "manini" in comparison to what this reimbursement bill would be and how much it is costing the counties. The Executive Cotz1mittee recommends that the counties consider his bill for inclusion in the 19971ISAC Legislative Package. VII. COMMUNICATIONS The following communication was placed on file: 1. From the Financial Services Center, NACo, to President Mansho, dated October 21, 1996, regarding NACo's Financial Services Center News. VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. HSAC Second Vice President informed Executive Committce the Kauai has just approved a bill requiring that public buildings be built with hardening measures for emergency purposes. Information on this matter will be shared with the other counties, 2. _ Next meeting: 10:00 a.m., December 11, 1996, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Kipu Room. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting of the Executive Committee was adjourned at 10:56 a.m. Very truly yo s, TAKASHI OMINGO Sscretary•Treasurer Hawaii State Association of Counties 6 TOTgL P.07