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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM. 060 - May 23, 1979 '. Chairman Charter Review Commission County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Chairman & Members of the Charter Review Commission My name is Jean Eckert, President of the Business and Professional Women, Kona Chapter, P. O. Box 2239 , Kailua- Kona, Hi. 96740. I was present at the Charter Review Coiumission meeting held at Konawaena School on May 22, 1979 and present were seven members of our organization. Because of the large number ofpersons signed in to give testimony, we thought it best not to prolong the meeting and are expressing ourr recouiuiendations by letter. We endorse the recomwendations as submitted and attached to the Charter Review Commission by the West Hawaii Committee, Kona Coast Chamber of Commerice, Exchange Club of Kona, Kona Board of Realtors , Women of Hawaii for Better Government. P pectfully submitted, j / Tean�Fc President - Kona`Business & Professional Women Post Office Box 2239 Kailua-Kona, Hi. 96740 325-7669 LOA% NO. ( '-._ ;;{ T. ________ _ _ ,2,6 4 cst.1-iawaii,Today, Fiiday,1 Mayr4,•1979 PARTICIPATE I1COUNTYHAWAII ®F } . REVIEW CHARTER • HEARINGS 1 .. . _ , - , Written testimony will be accepted by the Charter Commission up-to May -29, 1979, " but we suggest that you make every effort to attend the 7:00 p.m. public hearings 1 in, the following locations: . • HONOKAA HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. MAY 8 KONAWAENA HIGH SCHOOL ' - WAIMEA SCHOOL MAY 15 CAFETERIA _ MAY 22 The Charter now in.":effect did address the problems of the:sixties, but now we need changes . :. to address,problems that come, with growth. Study: the following. figures for the .County of H.awai.i 'since:1968. * - ' - ' _ ;POPULATION. ... ... . : . . . . . . . . . . .:Increase'of 27%,. .I - " • BUT: : . NUMBER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES Increase of 65% I . •COUNTY OPERATING EXPENDITURES " - .. - . -I (Corrected for inflation) ..... . . . . . . .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:Increase of 100% • C00NTY DEBT SERVICE' ' .(Corrected,for inflation) " Increase of 120% 1 - THIS IS THE TAX CONSUMING'GROWTH OF BI`G GOVERNMENT IN OUR, COUNTY: 1 . MAKE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY(OF HAWAII BE MORE RESPONSIVE. - I QUESTION: WHERE AND HOW DO YOU MAKE..THE GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE? • . ANSWER: BY ATTENDING THE PUBLIC'HEARINGS TO BE HELD BY THE,CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND PROVIDING "INPUT"_..YOUR SUGGESTIONS SHOULD HAVE REASONS FOR•CHANGE. THE*CHARTER COMMIS- - SION MEMBERS-ARE DEVOTING THEIR>TIME,"ENERGY:AND EFFORTS,WITHOUT PAY: IT IS A,TIME CONSUMING JOBI,AND WILL BE'-THANKLESS WITHOUT-PUBLI-C RESPONSE.'WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE AN INTEREST AND MAKE.IT A.POINT TO ATTEND AND LET YOUR SUGGESTIONS BE HEARD." AS A PUBLIC SERVICE, THE UNDERSIGNED SUGGEST THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BE CONSIDERED: • ,. • 1. THAT THE COUNTY OF HAWAII HAVE 9 COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND THAT EACH COUNCIL • -" _ - ' DISTRICT ELECT A COUNCILMAN. NO."''AT LARGE"`COUNCILMEN. - - 2. RESTRICTIONS. ON GROWTH OF:COUNTY BUDGET, COUNTY DEBT AND REAL PROPERTY- - ' ' ' 3. ALL APPOINTMENTS OF MANAGING DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT HEADS-AND,CORPO . RATION COUNSEL MADE BY.THE:MAYOR .BE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL. ANY j - - REMOVALS,::AFTER.DU.E.PROCESS, BE -APPROVED/DISAPPROVED BY-COUNT.Y•000NCIL.• ; : 'i •4. IMPROVED DEPARTMENTALEFFICIENCY AND FISCAL CONTROLS. - ‘ ' - - ` ' - ..5., COMMISSIONS: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POLICE COMMISSION AND. THE PLAN,. ," 1 • . ' - NING COMMISSION, ALL OTHER COMMISSIONS PROVIDED BY COUNTY CHARTER BE : ;I •ELIMINATED. =:... 1 - - 6. VACANCY IN OFFICE,:'ARTICLE III, SECTION. 3-5: REDEFINE VACANCY IN OFFICE TO . • PROVIDE ACTION WHEN, A.000NCILMAN IS.UNABLE TO PERFORM OR ATTEND MEET- - 1 - INGS AFTER AN ABSENCE OF<FOUR (4) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. 7. . SUNSET .41/1f..BE.'INCORPORATED,IN THE COUNTY'CHARTER.- , THE�FOLLOWING IS ADDE• D EXPLANATION.OF THE ABOVE NUMBERED ITEMS, RESPECTIVELY: - • - ITEM 1: a). " This,wi.Il:let YOU elect;YOUR Councilman-rather"than have him elected by the . rest of•the Island.:Fact: In the last election, on average,-78% of-the winning candidates :margins came from -districts other than the onefrom which they _, were`running. b) Because of their being .district elected rather-than:"at large", councilmen will be't.ruly knowledgeable of and responsive_to their districts' needs. c) You.will_have a lcirger choice of better candidates for councilmen as their campaign costs will decrease because because the area will cam- - •paign in will shrink from IsI'andwide to.district size. And you will be able to , . . - know your candidates better because they will be campaigning at "home". -- - _ - '... -- ---- - = - -- --- -j _._. _ _ ___ 2_ • iNiii.i, Yfirit . ,'-;sAri'l .rt1-0•E'eg?i V(.4i ,::aVi'---i-••: , * , ....— , . . i•-oti .. v,•:4' • f 1;.-7 ':Asia PW 'F.6-V----4'n - - . , . . , . . . • • . . * . , amr-'. . i. • ,n 'W egtilOrairT0114;Friday;May'4,f1.979=31- • " _ . . _ _- •In order to accomplish this direct election of:9 Councilmen, two things must take place: 1 )•an interim solu- tion for the 1980 election, and 2) a permanent solution starting with the 1984 election. .. Interim Period: It is suggested that for the 1980 election, the ,present four Representative ' -i • , • if • . Districts be allocated the 9 seats as follows: . , . - Representative.District 1 . (South part of So, Hilo, Puna, Ka'u • , . 2 to.be elected.. • , . - ?_ . , , Representative District 2. (City of Hilo) • 3 to be elected. _ . - • Representative District 3. (No...Hilo, Hamakua, No: Kohala) ., • ,. • 2"to be elected.- , ( Representative District 4. (So. Kohala, No. and So. Kona) 2 to b,e elected. , , . , . .., , Permanent: A Reapportionment CommiSsion should be convened within 6 months after re- . . . •. . • • sults of"the 1980 census are-published, and every ten years thereafter,. to-appor- .. tion the County into 9 equal Council Districts, with one cOuncilarrin to be elected from each district for a four year term, on a staggered basis. _ . -. ,• - , ,. f ; , • - -. - ITEM 2: EXPENDITURES FROM GENRAL FUND: Must not exceed 1 % of assessed value,,and.groWth - , , . • - growth of expenditures not to exceed tate-of growth of County economy as measured by the • - . - - - Gross Excise Tax base • - 1. . . . . • • . ';,. i DEBT: Net Bonded Debt not tb:exCeed5% of the Assessors Net Taxable Valuation--of real:pro-, - •.- • -.k i - . -- . - .. - Petty in the CoUntY. Also, all GenerCilObligCitiOn Bonds in excess of $500;000 in fiscal•year. • - . •••• -. - must be approved by vote.offthe 'electorate ' .. '- ' -- - • • : ' ':' . - - • i .•' *. ' --• RESIDENTIALPROPERTY TAXES:Total Tax not to exceed I% of and growth •:'. , ' ''::. . • ,_ .. , . . „ . • - of assessed value not to exceed. 2% per year, except when properly is sold. When sold, pro- perty . . •' • . ' ': . "- • : assessment goes to:inarketvalbe'and is taxed"accordingly. . -: ... ..- ,'• .., ..„ .- , . ' ' I.: c,.. . ' - - INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM: Article X1,.Section-11-2 County Charter: Remove present re- : ' .', • 1 - • strictions on Initiative•and:Referendurn.: This will return power of control of expenditures to . . , - •' ' • - - ' ' . ; . the people and not leave it with ci,Self-•;petpetuatinggoverntrient.. . , • - 1 1 •• .. . _ "These fisCal:firriiicitions!Will limit the growth of BIG GOVERNMENT to reasonable levels con-:: ". : •,,: . . current With•the•COUntY groWth:-While.they are not drastfc,limitations, they Will;force.the Coun- cil and Mayor to choose more carefully their priorities for expenditures: And the removal of ,--• :. - ' " : '1 ' 'restrictions on Initiative and Referendum will put final authority on fiscal matters in the -hands -- ... •-• :-. - . of the•people;.Which is whereit belongs: j• -; ,., ,• !' •-, .- - . . . ... . • . . .-- . . , ITEM 3: - . No additionaltOMMentS: -. ',•-' : ' --: • •: • sf:: : ,. . _ • _ •„ . , • , ... . . . - - ' . • ITEM 4:. RecoMMendOtion•is.made that County Managing Director supervise and be responsible for the .- •,i • . . •.. - following departments Department otPlanning, Research and Development; Department of , . • . .• - .PUbliC W,orks";.:(Water,•:ParkS.and Recreation,) and Corporation Counsel. (Water Department • „ :',,, • '. : • • . •• • . .. '..' . •--..i now autOnomOus, Would be placed with the Department of Public Works. ). • : - . - ,'; -`,,':` - - .• -: DeputyManagingDirector to supervise and be responsible for Department of Public:Service •, r.," .--:.:i . • '.. ,- • -.Li. • - :.,,' . • „' .. '•• . ..(Fite,,..S-afety, Mass TransitandCivil Defense), Department of Public Affairs: (Personnel, .Liquor) • , , ,i.i . - `: -1. . , :-. : -,•: : , -Hawaii. Development, Housing and Community Development, Manpower Resources, Office , , •. • • : : , -... . • * 1 . of-Aging,. and-Band.. . , '.. r •:, :: • :-:.•- ' T •- i - ' . • . , . . .. , .. ,..' - .• • -•, .. ' .-: ;. ..• .., --::Deputy Managing Direttorlo supervise and be responsible for Department of Public Service,' _ . : . . - • : ..,. ,• • I. ..;,,•': . :-: - , (Police.; Fire, Safety, Mass Transit and Civil Defense), Department of Public Affairs (Personnel, .: ; . .,••:i - ..- . ,. . ... ... -... , • . liquor), Hawaii Development, Housing and Community Development, Manpower Resources, •-•:-,..: •!- '.2•;.",, • - •'• '. " :-• :•-• •,' ::: , : .-. ,-;• ,-!.., -11Office of Aging, and Band: :• • *. . .. 1 • ' = :-. - •••., •• ._ . _ - • ,,,.: - , . • '.. -,, '' : ..:::- . ,•• . .. ITEM 5: Members of the Police. Commission to be appointed from residents Of. each.•of,the=rine:.(9) dis- tricts. The Planning Commission to have a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and be composed of 21. :`: .';:: - •-• . • . ... . , , . ., .. , . ... :.,;:.. :....i ...:.: - ..:. . -- .., , . • .:.-. . . • , .. two commission bodies, one Commission'to consist of residents from and represent 'East Ha waii and the second 16 consist of residents from and representing West Hawaii.. •• - • 1- -• c.-,. . -,,!: .,_ . . . . . ., • •••• i.: : • .- : • ITEM 6: - No additional comments.' -• - -, • : . !; • ' • : : • ''. " "-- .. • - 1 _ ..- -_- r • . . . .,.: . ... . . - ' ..; ::"--. , : • .-. . • ITEM 7: Sunset-14:1Wis ci,,ProCedUre-.for perfod.iCrezieW.Of programs.to evaluate which should be • : ' ;=. con- tinued: or eliminated .: ' . :•- . .. :: , • ., • - : '1 _ _ . , • -. -T.! _ ' f r. . '.. ,. . • r, . . • . .. - .- . I n , . • . ., r... .. • • • • : •. • ..' . , • . . • V • • . , • ' . ' . • • • • Listedabove someofthe items that require attention and correc:tiV e measures to be tOken. .You• may . , . .• have others and we strongly. recommend that you 'take ,on interest in the County of Hawaii Charter Review and let the Charter Commission know your desires.. 1.- •:•••••• ' . . i:i , . . „.. _ . . . . The above provided as a PUBLIC.:SERV10E by the UNDERSIQNED. . _.. • : ,: " , .1- - - , : . • . • • .j.f 1 • • ._.• . • . . . • . . . . . , , • , . . ., • • _ " •:' . 1 . , .. . - ' KONA COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • : •' : ' • ,WESTHAWAII COMMITTEE _ , : • ''. 75=5742 T Kuakint..Highway • • 1 - • .: ' • • • . Post Office Box 1761 .: • • • • .; . •f . . - ,, - • . Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 • - . • : • •• ,•, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 : ' ''.,1 •- -] : Telephone 329-1758 - , , • - . :- „ - :•:, 1 ‘ . , • . . .. : EXCHANGE CLUB OF KONA - ; ' ,- • . KONA BOARD OF REALTORS • t) . . . . . • . •. ' . WOMEN OF HAWAII FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT : . . • . . . _ . , • • - 1 , . . . . . ,- . ,. • - - • . - - . .. , ,_ , " ' • ,. • — . - \• ,, \ ' ...s . .. .,, • ., I — . , . 1