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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0722.019 2016-2018Murashige, Laura From: Carol Ignacio <Carol R.Ig nacio@sharecare.com > Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2018 5:51 PM To: Council Testimony Cc: Carol Ignacio Subject: Support Bill 102 Attachments: BZP Support Letter re Hawaii county bill 102 -2018 Draft 2pc.docx final.docx --Please ensure Councilmembers receive this testimony, Than so much. Carol R. Ignacio I Government and Community Affairs Manager COP CID W : 808-564-4763 — M : 808-202-4958 — carolr.ignacio@sharecare.com CD Blue Zones ProjectRI My RealAge is 3.10 years younger. What's yours? Take the test now! Follow us on Facebook I Instagrarn I bluezonesproject.com q'O 1 OOMM. No. Ref. To: Ref. Date wf.> Fi BLUE ZONES PROJECT' by HEAt:i'HWAY5 .................. February 2, 2017 Honorable Finance Chair Maile David and Councilmembers, Subject: Support Hawai'i County Bill 102 — Built Environment The Blue Zones Project is at work in your community and county -wide, linking people, places and POLICY to make healthy choices easy choices. Improving our Built Environment is a way to formalize a commitment to designing streets for all users to support walking, biking and public transit that, in turn, supports healthy choices and lifestyles. Hawai'i County Council's Finance Committee, chaired by Council member Maile David, will hear testimony on Bill 102 to establish a one-half percent (0.5%) general excise tax increase, and use the surcharge for operating or capital costs of transportation within the county for systems, including public roadways or highways, public buses, pedestrian paths or sidewalks or bicycle paths. Increasing the GET has significant implications for all, and especially low and moderate income households. But we suggest reviewing the attached about our county's Hele On bus system, which many view as a critical link for low and moderate income families who rely on public transportation, employment for many, and for reducing dependence on personal vehicles, use of fossil fuel, and thereby diminishing our island's contribution to global warming. Using the GET increase to help improve Hele On is just one possible way this tax increase might be used. 1111e ur esu rting this: increase° with the provision than the funds be 9 g .: ..pp or ` o operating or capital costs for transportation. Blue Zones Project strongly supports Bill 102 Draft 01 2016-2018 and asks your support for the Bill's passage out of the Finance Committee. We have an exciting opportunity to improve the built environment for this place we call home and love! Thank you for your consideration in supporting this bill. Carol R. Ignacio I Government and Community Affairs Manager W: 808-564-4763 — M: 808-202-4958 — caroir.ignacio@sharecare.com Blue Zones Project`' My Real Age is 3.10 years younger. What's yours? Fake the test now! Follow us on Facebook I Instagram I bluezones roject.com Copyright © 2014 Blue Zones, LLC and Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved. bluezonesproject.com Consultant unveils draft of master plan for county bus system By NANCY COOK LAUi R West Hawaii Today I Wednesday, J nUt 24, 2018, 12..05 am A consultant's description of the county Hele-On bus system Tuesday was certainly no surprise to regular bus riders — it needs a lot of work. "Your transit system is in dire straits.... It is not in a good place," said Cheryl Soon, of SSFM International. "Your buses are broken down.... You're hanging by a thread." Soon unveiled to the County Council Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit the first draft of a master plan, saying the county has a long way to go. The 10 -year plan includes more buses, more routes, more personnel and a Kona maintenance base yard. And, of course, more money. Council members seemed to favor the plan, but some were worried about the costs. "I think it's a great plan," said Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter of Hamakua. Poindexter said she welcomes public input about the plan. "How we fund it and what the people's thoughts are" are priorities, she said. "We know that the price tag is really big." Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha was hesitant about using property taxes to pay for the system. "I want to make sure my community, which is paying the most, is getting a hell of a good system," Kanuha said. O orati'n cash vsiauId. a u from .86 r�1lirap: this r to 1 ::3 pion dr n the r f tw p g., y oars than: 'i.° million: :after that r��n to8 nziion .in��the � Cath gar:. Cp iti° ex enses' y $ . y p p account for a,:n ther $4.3. rnoll�nn to � m�il�on: l= Vires br rYg jr� just $ milli:on, -afigure -tontultents hope can do able: to 6.million by :.�a Copyright © 2014 Blue Zones, LLC and Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved. bluezonesproject.com