The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOMM. 063 mTHandMni mm WEST HAWAII COMMITTEE NORTH and SOUTH KONA POST OFFICE BOX 1761 / KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII 96740 May 26,1979 UT Hawaii County Charter Commission County Office Building Hilo, Hawaii • Gentlemen: As indicated to you on Tuesday night, May 22, this letter is to update ours of February 26: After discussions among ourselves, with others, and as a result of the opinions reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Charter Commission, the West Hawaii Committee has modified its previously expressed recommendations in some cases and has expanded the subjects we feel should be treated in a Charter revision. Specifically, the West Hawaii Committee recommends: I. ) MAYOR vs COUNTY MANAGER As expressed to you earlier and for the same reasons we see no reason to change the basic form of County Council/Mayor form of government. ITEMSCOVERED IN ADVERTISEMENT in West Hawaii Today, May 4/].].. (Copy enclosed) In general Items 1 through 7 of this ad are our reco- mendations. However, we offer some additional comments and corrections as follows: ITEM 1 ) Additional comment is that 1) the decrease in required campaign expenses and more intimate knowledge of district voters with candidates will lessen the possibility of "bought" elections; 2) 9 Councilmembers will provide chairmen for • major committees without multiple assignments - • thereby increasing Council efficiency by not overloading individuals and permitting them to do their "homework" in assigned committee areas; and,3) Enough members to function efficiently with a quorum in the absence of 1 or 2 members: 1 COMM. NO. C j ITEM 2) There is a misprint re EXPENDITURES FROM GENERAL FUND. It should read, "Must not exceed reasonably expected revenues(i.e. ,a balanced budget) and growth of expenditures not to exceed rate of growth of County economy as measured by the Gross Excise Tax Base ". DEBT. Note the phrase "Assessor' s Net Taxable Valuation of real property". This is an important definition in establishing a meaningful limitation on debt. ITEM 3) Again this puts some control over the quality of the administration in the hands of the people through the Council, by strengthening the Council vs the Mayor. ITEM 4) Reference is made to the "PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII",dated 3/13/79, which was presented to the Charter Commission in verbal testimony that date. This is still our basic concept of a streamlined administration. ITEM 5) The reduction in commissions will place the sole responsibility for policy determination squarely on the Council as is already stated in Section 3-1 of the Charter. At present, however, a great deal of this power is eroded by the multiple Commissions. Together with Item 4 this would create a balanced Council-Policy/Mayor-Administration government. An additional point is that the splitting of the Planning Commission into East and West Hawaii bodies is to obtain more knowledgeable and rational decisions in both areas. ITEM 7 ) It is of interest to note that the President of the United States has just reccomended such a law to the Congress, with a period of ten years between reviews. III. )ADDITIONAL RECCOMENDATION We support MR. J.Curtis Tyler,Jr's thoughts on a "Citizens Advisory Board" and reccommend Charter language whivh -2- 1 mandates the Council to create, and the Council and the Adminietration(through the Mayor) to work closely with and make annual reprts to, a "CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD". This board should have wide advisory powers concerning every aspect of County government. It is suggested that the members of this Board should be appointed by the Council, with each Councilmember appointing two individuals for terms of 8 to 12 years. As stated last Tuesday night, the objective of all the reccomendations of the West Hawaii Committee is toward a County Government : Representative of the People Responsive to the priority needs of the People More efficient We have appreciated the opportunity to contribute our thoughts to you who have been entrusted with the respon- sibility for reccomending Charter changes. We reiterate to you that we are always available to you for any questions or elaborations you require to further your efforts. We have been impressed with your objectivity,patience, and dedication and look forward to seeing the draft of your proposed changes, 1V�ery truly144-65,‘yours, William W. Moss,Chairman Charter Review Subcommittee WEST HAWAII COMMITTEE -3. 26—WestHawaiiToday, Friday, May 11,1979 : 7- NsafillimaJ - .---:;'i r ,)• v .,•,0.-: . /1,)'.'. .ii- ,, F.I.,c•fi . _ ,• • , . „ PARTICIPATE: IN COUNTY HAWAII ';: CHARTER REVIEWPUBLICHEARINGS .,,,.. . , • ,, , ,, Written testimony will beaccepted by the Charter Commission up to May 29, 1979, LA but we suggest that you make every effort to attend the 7:00 p.m. public hearings :- '. in thefollowing locations: .• . ,. . . . , . , . HONOKAA .HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. MAY 8 KONAWAENA HIGH SCHOOL, WAIMEA SCHOOL • • •”OOOOO ••• • • OOOOOO .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 Hawaii since1968. : _.. - ': . - : . - - , •. ,. . . . . . . . , .POPULATION - . • Increase of 27°o . . - • • . - , . : • ' - ' ' •,BUT: , 1 ; •NUMBER.OFCOUNTY EMPLOYEES . -' . - • Increase of.65% COUNTY OPERATING EXPENDITURES 1 . . . . (Corrected for inflation) . - 'Increase of 100%- ' ' • , . • :''' - -. . . COUNTY-DEBTSERVICE . , - - . - . _ - • ,. • , . , . : • . , • . — • ' , .; ' :•. - (Corected fpr inflation) . - - , : , Increase of 1-20('/0 THIS IS THE TAX CONSUMING GROWTH OF BIG GOVERNMENT IN OUR COUNTY. , . . • . . MAKE.THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII BE MORE RESPONSIVE. , ' • • ' • . , . 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 ANL .. PROVIDING 'L'INRUT", 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' . JOB AND WILL THANKLESS WITHOUT PUBLIC RESPONSE. WE STRONGLY'RECOMMEND THAT YOU FAKE AN - • INTEREST AND MAKE IT A POINT 10 ATTEND AND LET YOUR SUGGESTIONS BE HEARD-. • . . . ' • .' ' : . . . - • AS:A PUBLIC SERVICE, THE UNDERSIGNED SUGGEST THAT THE I-OLLOWING•I1EMS 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. . . ' • . . , . . . • ' -; '. . ,- - ,a'. :ALL APPOINTMENTS OF MANAGING-DIRECTORS, 'DEPARTMENT-HEADS AND CORPO- RATION COUNSEL:MADE BY THE MAYOR BE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL. ANY- -' • . 'REMOVALS, AFTER DUE PROCESS, BE APPROVED/DISAPPROVED-BY. COUNTY COUNCIL: 4: IMPROVED DEPARTMENTAL.EFFICIENCY.AND FISCAL CONTROLS. - : - . , .- . . .• , - ---. . , • _. . • . . , - 5. COMMISSIONS: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POLICE COMMISSION:AND:THE PLAN- :— .. • 'NING COMMISSION, ALL OTHER COMMISSIONS PROVIDED BY COUNTY'CHARTER BE , - ELIMINATED.. 6. ,: • -, VACANCY, IN OFFICE, ARTICLE III, SECTION .34: REDEFINE. VACANCY IN. OFFICE TO 1 r, , - PROVIDE ACTION WHEN A COUNCILMAN IS UNABLE TO PERFORM OR ATTEND MEET-. INGSAFTER AN ABSENCE OF FOUR (4) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. • : . . . - ,- 7. SUNSET LAW BE INCORPORATED IN THE COUNTY CHARTER. -,.. , . , , • . . THE FOLLOWING IS ADDED EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE NUMBERED ITEMS, RESPECTIVELY; .- . .. . - ITEM 1: a) This will let' YOU elect YOUR Councilman-rather than have"him elected by -rest of the Island. Fact: In the last election; on average, 78°/a of the winning- : ' -. - : candidates' margins came from districts other than the one from which they. . . . . . were running. - • . . . . . • ••b) Because.of their being district elected rather than "at 1arge", councilmen will , - . -.' • . - . be truly knowledgeable of and responsive to their diStrictsineedis. . - . • ' , c) .You will have a larger 'choice of better candidates for councilmen as their - • , • _campaign costs will decrease because 'because the area they Will cam- , •• i _ 'paign in will shrink from Islandwide to district size. And you will be able to • . . . - know your candidates better because they will be campaigning at "hamel': • _, -, . . . ( . 1, ,-,:•-:-i,,.,:r,:.r - r ,-.7".•11z'7.-: ‹.•.; • 1}Mt-i .IH .AtIttlYI,ALIYO! BES'i ii`l)11 li: t.!ci if Ii./i :j \ •2*3).!_lii•-._%4 zusi,u 1.,-.,„,,,; , • ii.-,..;,-zz :-.,3 a 1.11 Ztil.4,2/V1.7.',ICLE,Z;1 yi 7"rir,-r'-,,P;ay.IZt..I.C..:.:1;ti... _a sa,...-.J-vai,"4.ge L.,,......•...1.,.......-....2, -.0.....1..z.z..a.:La.. .,aa G..1::.. f.: 4.-J.":0-72_11.___:.1.1 1,:::.*.:...;-....__: - .1;- .1:::::;-71-fn:‘-:'../ . \ . . • • . . - • West Hawaii Today, Friday, May 11,.1979-31 • _ _ e EilIMIIIIMINIIIMIIIIMIIIIMMEMAIMINY , . • - .. - . - - : . • In order to accomplish this direct election of 9 Councilmen, two things must take place: 1 ) an,interim solus _ ? . . tion for the 1980 election, and 2) a bermanent solution starting with the 1984 election. '---'• .,. - Interim Period: It is suggested that for the 1980 election,: the present four Representative p . . Districts be allocated the 9 seats as follows: • RepreSe,ntative 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. arid So, Kona) . _ . 2 to be elected. Permanent: A Reapportionment Commission should be convened within6 months after re- ' - sults of the 1980 census are published, -and every ten years thereafter, to appor-. tion the County into 9 equal Districts, with one councilman to be elected . . ' . , :from each-district for a four year term, on a staggered basis-. , . , ITEM.2:, EXPENDITURES FROM GENERAL FUND: Must not exceed 1.% of assessed value, and extra , -growth of expenditures not to exceed rate of growth of County economy as measured by the ( . , Gross Excise Tax base. . . . . , • DEBT: Net Bonded Debt not to exceed 5% of the Assessors Net Taxable Valuation of.real ' , t•- . ' . • , pro- perty in the CoUnty, Also, all General Obligation Bonds in excess of $500,000 in fiscal year - c , . . - • :must be approved by vote of the electorate. : . ' . , - . • ' • .. ' :.• RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES. Total Tax not to exceed 1 %.of assessed value, and growth . . - -, „.., •• of assessed value not to exceed 2% per year, except when property is sold. When sold, pro- perty assessment goes to market value and is taxed accordingly:, • . ' . .. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM: Article XL-Section 11-2 County Charter: Remove present re- _ strictions on Initiative`and Referendum. This will return power of control of expenditures to . , . . . the people and not leave it with a self-perpetuating government. • . • : These fiscal limitations will limit the growth of BIG GOVERNMENT toreasonablelevels con-. . . current with the County growth. While they are not drastic limitations, they will force the„Coun- . . CH and MOyorto'chooe more carefully their priorities for expenditures. And the removal of . , - . restrictions on Initiative and Referendum will put final authority on- fiscal matters in the hands . . . . of the people, which is where it be-longs. •- . , . • .. . . ITEM 3: - No additional cominents. . . , - • . . . , • ITEM4: Recommendation is made that County Managing Director supervise.and be-responsible for the . . -. . „ : : i:'.• following departments: Department of Planning, Research and Development; Department of ., . • Public Works, (Waiter, Parks and Recreation;) and Corporation Counsel.' (Water Department , . , ; . now dutonomOus. Would be placed with the Department of Public Woi-ks. ) . . • Deputy Managing Director to supervise and be responsible for Department of Public Service, . . . ., . ' .. . . • , so (Police, Fire, Safety, Mass Transit and Civil Defense), Department of-Public Affairs: (Personnel, . • ; , . , .. . • ) , . . Liquor), Hawaii :Development, Housing and Community Development, Manpower Resources, •'` . .• : Office of Aging, and Band. : ' - - . . ' • • , - Department of Finance and Purchasing be responsible to Mayor and Council, All purchases :. .- - will be requisitioned from Finance Department. • • . - - - . .- • - . ',.. .:--- , . .:, ' ' : j • :: - Reason: This reduces Department .Heads from. eleven to six, and strengthens the . . . ., lines of administrative authority: . . . _ ITEMS: " 'Members of the Police Commission to be appointed from residents of each of the nine (9) dis- tricts The Planning Commission to have a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and be composed of . ' ,‘• '• . i , two-Commission bodies, one Commission to consist of residents from and represent East Ha: .,f, • - , waii and the seconcl to consist of residents from and representing West Hawaii. _._ . _ . ..: ' . , -.ITEM 6: - No additional 'comments. --- .. . ,, . . . , • , - . _ . . . . . , ‘ ITEM 7: : Sunset Law is_a procedure for periodic review of programs to evaluate which should be con- tinued or eliminated: - . , :.: • ;, t ..- ' . • t . , . • . . , . . . , . . Listed above are some of the items that require attention and' corrective measures to be taken. You may ' j• ! have Others and we strongly recommend that you take an interest in the County of-Hawaii Charter Review _ •,,. - and let the Charter Commission know your desires'. • , . , . The above provided as a PUBLIC SERVICE by the UNDERSIGNED. . . • . . , • . - _ . • . ; - s KONA COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEST HAWAII COMMITTEE ., . 75-5742 T Kuakini Highway Post Office Box 1761 •• . Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 ' • - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 . . _• ' k .. Telephone 329,1758 , . (. - • ?, . , • EXCHANGE CLUB OF KONA • . . \ • KONA BOARD OF REALTORS .., . . . . ., . . . WOMEN OF HAWAII FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT • . . . • • • • -"1,o;,:-, •,,,,,,,::,.,,.?; ,..,i,,,:.-:. ,:-1 3;1,', .j . . , rrsor,„•:,:--: - . • • E''.:i::'.4: :,:II 1 5...:3, ii7e"E. 1 r.I • ' - - . • , . ,