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COUNTY OF HAWAII �•� �',= '%_ . STATE OF HAWAII
•RESOLUTION NO. 663 18
(DRAFT 2)
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
TO INCLUDE IN ITS 2019 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, A RESOLUTION URGING THE
LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO EMPLOY LIFEGUARDS AND TO
PURCHASE A LIFEGUARD TOWER AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT FOR KUA BAY AT
KEKAHA KM STATE PARK.
WHEREAS, Kua Bay at Kekaha Kai State Park(Kua Bay) in North Kona, is under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and currently does not
provide lifeguard protection; and
WHEREAS, lifeguards (water safety officers) act as primary responders for onshore
emergencies,provide injury control, and dispatch ocean rescue services to address dangerous
incidents in nearshore waters, where the majority of ocean recreation activity takes place; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i State Department of Health, Injury Prevention and Control
Division and the Hawai`i Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, have reported that from 2008
through 2018, there have been more than three fatal drownings, three near drownings, 10 spinal
cord injuries, as well as cardiac arrests, shark sightings, other serious and minor injuries, and
numerous distressed swimmers at Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, skilled-lifeguards, appropriate rescue equipment, and a lifeguard tower to
provide adequate field of sight, are all essential to save lives and prevent injuries at the heavily-
visited Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, West Hawai`i residents have repeatedly voiced strong concerns regarding
the alarming number of reported and unreported incidents which have occurred at Kua Bay; and
WHEREAS, annual operational costs to employ four lifeguards at Kua Bay as estimated
by the Hawai`i Fire Department, Ocean Safety Division, would total $321,696 (salary and
benefits of$80,424 per lifeguard, to staff a two person lifeguard tower, seven days per week);and
WHEREAS, the start-up costs for equipment as estimated by the Hawai`i Fire
Department, Ocean Safety Division, for Kua Bay for the first year would total $80,000: $60,000
for a lifeguard tower (one-time start-up cost); $8,000 for an all-terrain vehicle (to-be replaced
every four years); $8,000 for radios (to be replaced every four years); $3,000 for rescue
equipment (bi-annually); $1,000 for personal protective equipment(annually); and
WHEREAS, the total for operational costs, together with start-up costs of equipment for
the first year is $401,696, with an annual budgeted amount of$325,696 for three years thereafter;
and
WHEREAS this resolution supports the intent of Resolution No. 49-17, adopted on
pp P
January 25, 2017, that urges the Hawai`i State Legislature to appropriate funds to employ
lifeguards and to purchase a lifeguard tower and rescue equipment for Kua Bay at Kekaha State
Park, as well as HB 14 and HB2044 introduced in January 2017 and January 2018, respectively,
which State bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, however, were not
scheduled for hearing; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
approves for inclusion in the 2019 Hawai`i State Association of Counties' legislative package, a
resolution urging the legislature to appropriate funds to employ lifeguards and to purchase a
lifeguard tower and rescue equipment for Kua Bay at Kekaha Kai State Park.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the State Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, Speaker of the State House of
Representatives, Scott K. Saiki, the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, and to the President and
Secretary of the Hawai`i State Association of Counties, Dru Mamo Kanuha and Stacy Crivello.
Dated at Hi 1, , Hawai`i, this 5th day of September , 2018.
INTRODUCED BY:
c\r ,„,... it,
CO CIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANUHA
County of Hawai`i on September 5,__..2018 X
LEE LOY X
O'HARA X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
RICHARDS X
RUGGLES X
8 0 1 0
Reference: C-1035.2/Waived GREDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 663 18
(DRAFT 2)
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