HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 152 2018/11/01 (2016-2018)REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: November 1, 2018 Re: Comm. No. 1146/Res. No. 739-18
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 1:15 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 739-18, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 739-18, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, via Communication No. 1146
dated October 16, 2018, creates three Water Safety Officer II positions for the Hawaii Fire Department.
This resolution requests to establish three Water Safety Officer II positions based on an increase in the
number of beach patrons at Hapuna Beach Park, to ensure the ongoing safety of visitors and lifeguards.
These positions would be funded through a State grant.
Fire Chief Darren Rosario gave a brief summary of where these three Water Safety Officer positions
will be situated. He noted that the Fire Department has been going to the legislature over the past
decade to increase coverage at Hapuna Beach as well as other beaches along the Kona Coastline. This
year the Fire Department was successful to reach out to the Department of Land and Natural Resources
(DLNR) to help fund three additional positions and stated that Hapuna Beach has always been short in
positions, and of the three towers, only two are staffed with lifeguards. He also commented that in the
last fiscal year they had over 830,000 attendees to the beach park and that water safety officers
performed 70,000 preventative actions of which 65 were significant rescues. Chief Rosario commented
that Hapuna Beach is most known for rescues involving spinal injuries.
Council Member Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III commented that Hapuna Beach is in his district, and
expressed the importance of taking care of the community and visitors.
Council Member Karen Eoff inquired whether the legislature approved these funds, to which
Fire Chief Rosario responded that this was actually a direct budget increase from DLNR.
Council Member Dru Mamo Kanuha asked whether these three positions would fulfill what the Fire
Department needs for Ha- puna Beach. Chief Rosario replied that it will bring the department up to the
standards they are looking for, and added that the department also has their rescue water craft located
between Ha -puna and Spencer Beach.
FC Report No. 152
FC -152 Page 2 November 1, 2018
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 739-18, and
recommends its adoption.
dmm
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
MAILE DAVID, CHAIR
FC REPORT NO.: 152
ADOPTED: NOV 2 0 2018
AYES NOES ABSEX
CHUNG
X
DAVID
X
EOFF
X
KANUHA
X
LEE LOIS'
X
W HARA
X
POINDEXTER
X
RICHARDS
X
RUGGLES
X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
MAILE DAVID, CHAIR
FC REPORT NO.: 152
ADOPTED: NOV 2 0 2018