HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0384.000 1998-2000 OJ
ty~O` N,w~`
Phone: 808 961-8264
DOMINIC YAGONG ( 1
Counci7niembcr FAX: (808) 969-3291
~srir ~~e
~~•j
os'di ,
COUNTY COUNCIL
Coarnty of Haeuaii
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hnwnii 96720
ra
~7 to
O~ ~
z~ ~ m
ui C,
o-~
~ 3
June 1, 1999
z
y
~
' cn
' N
The Honorable Mayor Stephen Yamashiro
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Deaz Mayor Yamashiro,
In my mind, the Department of Water Supply (DWS) was the key player in the transition
move to consolidate County Services to the JC Penney Building. They brought with them
a budget of $3.5 - $4 million dollars to retrofit and renovate their portion of that building.
The decision to purchase a separate building, thus pulling the DWS out of the
consolidation plan was a major financial mistake. It also defeated the whole "public
purpose" of consolidating public services under one roof by allowing DWS (you can't get
more public than that) to get away. In speaking with a member of the Water Commission
that was part of the negotiating team, they "could not wait any longer for you to make a
decision." It is my understanding that the purchase price of the new DW S home was $3.6
million. The financial burden of the ent're P nev
nro_~ect now rest with the capitol and
operating budget of the County of Hawaii.
It is also my understanding that there is a dispute with the existing contractor that is
replacing the roof of the JC Penny Building. Is the county responsible for paying an
additional $300,000.00 to remove asbestos in the building? Wasn't asbestos removal
identified as part of the RPP? Was the scope of the work not clearly identified by our
consultants in the planning and design phase? The county tax payers should not bear the
cost of this additional charge in removing the asbestos. Q~~(
Comm. No. ~~T
File No.~MA _
Ref. ^10: ~ ~ G
Ref. Date JUL 1 5 1999
Page 2 - Consolidation plan
With the mounting cost ofyour consolidatiott plan, as well as our difficult financial state,
we are at a juncture of uncertainty. Please answer the following questions:
1. How are we going to pay for this consolidation project?
2. What is the cost of this entire consolidation project, including the cost of retrofitting
and renovating the existing County building to accommodate departments moving in to
that building?
3. What is the cost for the transition to physically relocate from one buildmg to another?
4. What is the savings to the County in terms of yearly rental, lease, common area charges
of those services (Real Property, Fire Administration) that are currently not located in the
County building?
5. We are currently in spaces that we own at the Lagoon Center (Corporation Counsel,
Civil Service, Liquor Department, Aging). is the saving's on common area charges truly
significant that it justifies a consolidation move?
6. Is this consolidation plan a high priority, in your mind, in terms of what the people
really want and need?
I understand that the State Judiciary Department is in negotiations to lease about 20,000
square feet of space within the JC Penny location on an interim basis. It is also my
understanding that their original plans included tearing down the JC Penny Building, and
build their Judiciary building at the corner of the parking lot. It is also my understanding
that the JC Pemmey location was identified as the number one choice ascertained during the
site selection process.
What happens if the Legislature does fund the purchasing of this location, and the original
plan to tear down the JC Penny Buildmg dislocates our County departments? All that
renovation investment, as well as transition investment would go down the drain. The
state paying a purchase price would not be a reprieve for the county tax payers, because
we are the state tax payers also! We would be back to square one, with the purchase price
paying to find a home for our dislocated departments. I'm concerned that this whole
project could rum in to a boondoggle, and it is looking more and more like a bail out of
the JC Penny Building.
Mayor Yamashiro, your vision to consolidate County services for the people's
convenience has tremendous merit. The problem is, everyone is in the dark regarding this
project. Speaking with your county officials, they all say you need to speak to the Mayor
because be is personally handling the negotiations. Please fill the Council in on what you
know, and help us understand the positive aspects of this project as well as the financial
obligations this Couucil will inherit long after you leave office next year.
Page 3 -Consolidation plan
I strongly suggest that yow office hold an evening informational meeting at the County
Council room, and invite the public to hear yow plans regarding this issue. We should
invite the State Judiciary to this meeting, and have them present their short and long term
plan in conjunction with this location. Before we invest anymore money into this project,
the public should know where we are in terms of negotiations with the state. The public
needs to know what you are thinking, and where we are headed with yow plan.
Warmest Aloha,
(11 ~
g Iii J
Dominic Ya ?I
Councilmember
cc: Chairman James Arakaki
All Councihnembers