HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/06/2015 Department of Parks & Recreation 4/6/2015
DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET REVIEWS 2015-16
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION
Department of Parks & Recreation
Honorable Mason K. Chock
Honorable Gary L. Hooser
Honorable Ross Kagawa
Honorable KipuKai Kuali'i
Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura (present at 9:19 a.m.)
Honorable Mel Rapozo
Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro
The Committee reconvened on April 6, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Good morning. I would like to call back to
order the Budget and Finance Committee and the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Departmental
Budget Reviews. On the schedule today we will be hearing from the Department of Parks
& Recreation. As we do each morning, we will take public testimony. Is there anyone
wishing to testify? Mr. Mickens? We are on"Parks and Recreation."
GLENN MICKENS: Yes. Thank you, Arryl. Thank you B.C. For
the record Glenn Mickens. You have a copy...I hope you have a copy of my testimony?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Not yet.
Mr. Mickens: Oh.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: You can start though. You can go ahead.
Mr. Mickens: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will get it.
Mr. Mickens: Some months ago we were informed that the
leaky Kilauea Gym roof, had been turned over to Parks & Recreation from our Building
Division, who had the problem for about 15 years and could not solve it. It is still
mystifying why the can was kicked down the road to a Department that was not even
involved in the problem. However, even more mystifying is the fact when our Parks &
Recreation Director came before this Council some months ago regarding this roof problem,
he asked for another $150,000 to hire a consultant to tell them how to fix the roof. He
was asked if he ever contacted a local roofing contractor to address the problem and his
answer was no. Would a good roofer not have been the first person to contact to fix this roof
or what happened to the bonding company who was responsible for the job when the Gym
was built? It would be inconceivable that a roofer would hire a consultant to tell him how
to do his job. Whether it is a roof problem, an electrical problem, plumbing or any other
problem, no contractor is going to hire a consultant to tell him how to do his job. That is his
expertise and why he was hired to do the job and the major question of these budget
reviews is why no Councilmembers has used the hundreds of pages of audits that Ernie
Pasion did so well and ask the questions that are so relevant to funds that we need to
operate our government? In audit 11-02 of January 2012, the Building Division,
Department of Public Works, page 18. I hope you guys have probably read it, but may not
be familiar with that. If you turn to that page. "Findings 2" conditions noted in the prior
audit in October 2005 when the audit was first done have changed for the worst after
reviewing and evaluating the conditions noted in the Kilauea Gym Audit, about weaknesses
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in a pre-bid, bid, and contract documents, project policies and procedures and Division
procedures and operations, we conclude that conditions have changed for the worst. A, the
County's capacity to execute capital projects has decreased since the audit. B, the County
has not implemented key audit recommendations. The County has not reviewed and
adopted general standard specifications, policies, and procedures for construction projects.
Of the 97 recommendations in the audit report, 41 have still not been implemented and on
page 21, auditee response to finding, no response was received from the auditee in the
extended deadline and I cannot remember the eight audits, but the auditee has always
responded.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Mr. Mickens, your three minutes is up. You can
come back for three minutes more. Any other testifiers? Mr. Taylor?
KEN TAYLOR: Chair, Members of the Council, my name is Ken
Taylor. Over the weekend, I sent you some photographs of a County building in Santa
Barbara County. Primarily to show you the quality of landscape and maintenance that
has taken place there, compared to what we have here on the Garden Island. And I do not
know if you have had time to look at them, but for the people out there, this is some of the
examples. But there is more. This County building was rebuilt after earthquake knocked
down the old building back in 1926. The community is a tourist-oriented community just
like here, but the community takes the pride in the quality of maintenance of its parks and
street trees and all of the streets in the community are lined with trees that are maintained
properly. The County has a tree ordinance to protect large, beautiful trees, and again,
something that is missing here, we seem...good maintenance here seems to be taking a
chainsaw to them and knocking them down. I think there is a lot of room for improvement,
and the budget needs to reflect the maintenance quality. A few months ago, a couple of
months actually by now, I sat here and complained about the quality of the maintenance
around the building. And mysteriously two weeks later, the water truck was out on the
lawn watering, and then more recent, they were out there fertilizing the first time I have
seen fertilizing being done there in ten years, but it is certain likely it might have happened
before. I feel our complaining and raising issues is having a little effect, but there is big
room for improvement and especially we want to be a tourist-oriented community and we
want to be the Garden Island, let us take the reins and move in that direction. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify? Mr.
Mickens?
Mr. Mickens: Thank you, again, Arryl. Only have one closing
paragraph here. Again, the taxpayers paid big bucks to have these extremely well-done
audits compiled. So why are they not being referred to when departments come before you?
The questions and answers are all there. Some answered well and others like this Building
Audit, not at all. But again, Mr. Pasion did an outstanding job and again, I really hope you
have read these audits. I have read all eight of them, well. And there is some great
material in them, but the point of his doing it, I presume, you wanted him to do the audits
was to put efficiency and cost measures back in the budget. When you were quizzing these
Department Heads, these people to find out where our money is going? Look through these
things and ask them those questions. Would it not be logical? Anyway, I wish you luck
Arryl in ramrodding this thing. Thank you very much.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Mickens?
Mr. Taylor?
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Mr. Taylor: Chair, Members of the Council, Ken Taylor.
Along the lines of maintenance and quality of the manmade environment here on the
island, recently the State Department along the highway in front of golf course has done a
lot of cutting back and so on. And it is still a lot of weed and stuff that is hiding what we
claim to be a beautiful golf course and it is. But we should take a little more pride and I see
the golf course crews mowing all the way down to the highway at the entry, but after you
leave a couple hundred feet from the entry, in both directions, the weeds and things are
growing up inside the trees, and this is not sending a good message to visitors here on the
island. And I think we could do, again, a lot better. Once they are under control, it is not a
big maintenance problem to keep after them. But we have allowed it to get out of hand,
and take a little effort now, but after that, we have a beautiful spot right there. And send
the right message to the tourists. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify on
this matter? No? Seeing none, again, just for today's review, we will be taking Parks, the
Parks Department in the following order: Administration/Fiscal, Planning and
Development, Recreation, Beautification, Stadiums, Convention Hall, Wailua Golf Course,
and the Improvement and Maintenance Fund. So as Lenny comes up and presents, we will
try to keep our questions within these categories. We will have a little bit of time to ask
him general questions on his presentation, but let us try to keep the main discussion in the
categories I just mentioned. So with that, I would like to ask Lenny Rapozo, Director of
Parks & Recreation to come up and give us the overview and highlights for his Department.
LEONARD A. RAPOZO, JR., Director of Parks & Recreation: Good morning
everyone. For the record, Director of Parks & Recreation, Lenny Rapozo. Before we dive
into our presentation today, I want to introduce the staff that sits behind me, who really
puts...makes Parks & Recreation, the Department / organization, the functions, the good
work that we do from the communities, in spite of what some people say, these guys I think
have done a phenomenal job in making our Parks Department a better place and every day
they come to work, they try to make a difference in the job that they do for the community.
Sitting right here is our new Parks Maintenance and Beautification Chief, Vince Parangao.
He assumed the position earlier this year. Sitting in the back of course is Mr. Eddie Sarita,
our Convention Hall Manager. Next to him is Craig Carney, the Golf Maintenance...in
charge of golf maintenance and next to him is Lynn Kuboyama, our Fiscal Division. And
next to her is John Martin, who is responsible for the Permitting and Security Division
within Fiscal and he is here because he plays a very important role in permitting, and the
management of Parks security and the job that they do. Sitting next, with the maroon-
colored shirt is Cindy Duterte, our Recreations Division Chief and across the hall is William
Trugillo, the Chief of Planning and Development and of course my Deputy, Ian Costa, who
is not only the Deputy of Parks & Recreation operations, but also heads the golf course. So
Chair, I do not know if this would be the time to respond to the Kilauea Gym, but we can
take that up later, yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I know we talked about it last week and I know
William did a good job in saying that the leaks were stopped, but there are still some
repairs on the Gym and I do not know if Mr. Mickens can talk to William later.
Mr. Rapozo: He could have done that instead of taking up
some time. But that is okay. In the order in which we decided to go with the
Administration first, our Director's area. You all had a chance or should have gotten a copy
of our presentation. So really our presentation speaks for itself in terms of what we try to
accomplish from the Administration standpoint. So I will be willing to entertain any
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questions, but I think the...one of the main things we have done at the Administration
level since 2008, since we came on board; our Department has the passion to bring the next
level here for our kids, aside from the overall operations the Department. We see the need
to bring the passion to our kids in the form of recreation and sports. We continue to do that
by bringing higher levels of sports play and working with UH, to bring them here. It is the
University of Hawaii and not the University of Honolulu as some people believe. They
have opened their arms to bring our kids that type of level and also offer clinics to our kids.
What we are trying to do, as much as I enjoy my job and eventually I will be leaving this
job, we want to transition and continue that kind of work. So within the Administration,
we have looked to redescribe a position to carry on that work and continue to bring the next
level of play or the next level of whether it is the seniors or whether it is sports to continue
to do that work. We are moving forward now. We always talk about athletes and doing
clinics for athletes with rodeo, volleyball, football, soccer, or whatever. We now moving to
even bringing the next level to sports officiating, which is one thing we always talk about
having kids going to college and how can kids get children through college if the officiating
level is not best we can be or want to be? So as part of the Administration, we are moving
to that direction to try to take the lead to foster that development and have somebody
within our organization to continue that as we move on. So football of course is a big thing
on Kaua`i and we will do that with football and open dialogue with baseball and who do
they want to help the baseball program? Because I think a lot of kids from Kaua`i go on to
play baseball at the next level. We go to the clinics during the winter breaks and you see
how many kids attend the clinics at Kato and put on by the Correa family out in
Hanapepe...that is basically the overall for Administration. With that, I am open for
questions.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will take it...you do not have a presentation
per se? We will just take it through the Divisions.
Mr. Rapozo: Chair, my presentation is this. My
understanding was that people were supposed to go through it. Chair, I think we wanted to
stay away from the verbatim as we did last time.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Sound goods. We will go through the line items
and start with Administration/Fiscal. Do we have any questions from the
Councilmembers? Councilmember Kagawa?
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, just going through the standard question
that I have been asking on positions. So all of the positions listed are filled right now?
Mr. Rapozo: No. I am glad you brought that up, because you
should have gotten a report from Human Resources.
Councilmember Kagawa: Yes, we did get that, but I am just checking if
that is accurate?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. I think one...being in government for almost
26 years, I think one of the failures of government is that we rush into hiring just to fill,
because the threat that the legislative body will cut positions. I have always been a
believer if we rush to fill just to get a body in there, we do not and we try to do a thorough
job in hiring people and we end up with problems on the back-end. So the entry-level
positions, park caretakers and laborer positions those we generate listings every six
months. So those are easy to fill rather quickly. Other higher level positions, once we
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create them, have taken a little bit longer. For instance our Park Maintenance Chief came
on board a few months ago.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think we are going through the Administration
right now.
Mr. Rapozo: I am sorry, everybody is filled.
Councilmember Kagawa: The four positions?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And we have Fiscal too.
Councilmember Kagawa: And Fiscal as well?
Mr. Rapozo: We now have all the Rangers fully staffed. They
will be fully trained by the end of...actually they will be sworn in on Wednesday.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, what about that Permits Clerk that is
dollar funded. 1649.
(Councilmember Yukimura is noted as present at 9:19 a.m.)
Mr. Rapozo: That was done via the Vacancy Review
Committee. We went before the Committee. The incumbent that retired in December and
we went before the Committee and the Committee felt that we have some capabilities at the
neighborhood center where we were doing some permitting, camping, and facility
permitting. We are on a six-month trial basis to see the impact done at the neighborhood
center level. For now, the biggest impact is Lihu'e Neighborhood Center, because Lihu`e
Neighborhood Center was not issuing permits up until the dollar-funded. So there has been
some challenges. So that one was dollar-funded because we are trying to see if we can help
in cutting costs to meet some of the needs of the community.
Councilmember Kagawa: So the camping permits, like those at Anini,
those are still done here?
Mr. Rapozo: Can be done either at Kilauea or Kapa'a or at
Hanapepe, Lihu`e Neighborhood Center.
Councilmember Kagawa: We are not taking permits here at Moikeha?
Mr. Rapozo: No. No, that is where the clerk was.
Councilmember Kagawa: So they have to go to the neighborhood centers?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: And how is that? Are they all online, so they
know how much permits are...?
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Mr. Rapozo: They were doing them prior, with the satellite
sites and the prior Director, who is our Mayor now, wanted that reach out to the
community, in addition to what we have here. So they were doing that. Like I said, the
only real change of business has been at Lihu`e, because that window was open at Moikeha.
Councilmember Kagawa: All right. How much do we collect on the
camping permits, say for Anini?
Mr. Rapozo: You mean what we charge? Residents are free
and I think it is $5.00 for non-residents, $3.00. $3.00 for non-residents.
Councilmember Kagawa: $3.00 for non-residents. Are we looking at
raising that fee?
Mr. Rapozo: Definitely, we are putting together a package to
bring before you.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Good morning. Sorry for my delay.
Mr. Rapozo: Good morning.
Councilmember Yukimura: On permits, when people go to these different
neighborhood centers is there staff to process them quickly or what if the staff is working
on other things?
Mr. Rapozo: Established hours were already set, have been
set at each center. So let us say out in Lihu`e it is from 1:00 to 4:00. It is posted that they
do permitting, camping permits from 1:00— 4:00. So that is when they are issuing camping
permits.
Councilmember Yukimura: So that is when the staff makes permits a
priority?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And what were the hours in Lihu`e?
Mr. Rapozo: 7:45 to 4:30 or 8:00 to 4:00.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the number of hours that people could come
has decreased?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, but we increased the sites that people can go
to.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, if you live one place, the sites may not be
easy to access.
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Mr. Rapozo: The sites would be Hanapepe, Kalaheo, Lihu`e,
and Kilauea.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you can get permits for any park at any site?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And is there a way to reserve permits
electronically?
Mr. Rapozo: Not right now, but we are moving in that
direction, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that one of your goals for this year? So by next
budget?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. We have been working with our IT Division.
Everyone has been saying that it should be simple and easy, but that is not the answer that
we are getting. We want to do it online.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, what is your timeline for achieving it?
Mr. Rapozo: By fiscal year, next year.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Have you talked to DLNR where I
believe they do Statewide electronic permitting?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, we have and that is part of what our
program was. We are now able to do...I know we are not talking about Recreation, but
when we do the summer fun, it is all electronic, like before, when people stood in line at
5:30 in the morning.
Councilmember Yukimura: Good for you.
Mr. Rapozo: We have been doing that for a couple of years
and there were some challenges, but we seem to have figured it out. The one limitation
right now that has currently been told to me, and I have not gotten any updates since is
that they are not able to distinguish between types of fees.
Councilmember Yukimura: Between what?
Mr. Rapozo: Different fees. A resident currently is free. A
non-resident is $3.00. I go to Lydgate and you have $25.00 for a space, you have $75.00 for
the group camping. The system that we have tried to incorporate into our system does not
allow us to differentiate. We are trying to work on a system that allows that to happen, but
it has not occurred yet.
Councilmember Yukimura: You would think that...with information
technology that should be pretty simple.
Mr. Rapozo: We use the DLNR system to try to do the first
registration of Recreation when we did the summer fun. And opened at 8:00. You have
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800 guys at one time at 8:00 trying to register and the system collapsed. So that was some
of the bumps in the road. So they have improved, we have improved. And so we have been
able to overcome that for Recreation, but Recreation we had to adjust the fees. As I said, it
was only one fee. Whereas in the past, we had a sliding scale, if you had so many kids or
you were able to get...anyway, the difference in fees is something that has been a challenge
for us.
Councilmember Yukimura: You do not have different fees in Parks &
Recreation?
Mr. Rapozo: I just said we do, but that is the challenge, IT
cannot differentiate free, $3.00, $25.00, $75.00, it has to be one fee. Until they are able to
do that, we will definitely do that.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me, so in summer fun you do not have
that?
Mr. Rapozo: We had to modify our fees to reflect that.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: Good morning.
Mr. Rapozo: Good morning.
Councilmember Hooser: Just a couple of follow-ups on the camping
permit issue. I think from the questions and I have also gotten comments from the
community. So right now if someone goes down...comes down to Lihu`e to get a permit, they
are told to go to the neighborhood center?
Mr. Rapozo: They have been asked to go to the neighborhood
center.
Councilmember Hooser: How do they know that ahead of time?
Mr. Rapozo: Well, we did do a press release, and we have
signs in Moikeha and in our office.
Councilmember Hooser: When they go to the neighborhood center, it is
open from 1-4?
Mr. Rapozo: Neighborhood centers have it posted. Each one
is different, because of the activities that are going on at the neighborhood centers. So yes.
Councilmember Hooser: I guess my concern is that people go down and
they are frustrated, right? Or maybe they get off at lunch and run down to get a permit,
and then they got to go to one neighborhood center and find out these hours. So is there
any plans to...I mean, frankly, it makes more sense from the outsider and I know I do not
run the Department, but to have a central place that is open eight hours and everybody
knows to go there. Are there any plans to change this?
•
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Rapozo: In working with our Vacancy Review Committee,
this is a six month trial period to see what the impacts are. If we can save the position
with salaries and OPEB, because of our budget situation, then we try to do our part. But
again, the recommendation was that we try and do this and do a six-month review and see
what the outcomes are? And we have been taking notes or a log as to what the impacts
have been.
Councilmember Hooser: And at each location, are the hours of all
neighborhood centers available?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: If they go to Kapa`a, for example and it is closed,
is it posted somewhere?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: I know the neighborhood center managers are
busy doing what they do, and I have heard people say they tried to call and nobody answers
and they get voicemail. So they are frustrated. So it is a six-month review?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: Trial?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Rapozo?
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you, Chair and thank you, Lenny for
being here. So do you have those times available today?
Mr. Rapozo: I can give them to you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Each? So let us start with Lihu`e, what is
Lihu`e's hours?
Mr. Rapozo: I believe Lihu`e is 1-4. Most of the
neighborhood centers have chosen 1-4, because most neighborhood centers they have the
senior programs and the senior programs usually occur 8-12. So normally it is in the
afternoon, and that is on top of trying to return...
Council Chair Rapozo: If you can just go down the list.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. So for camping permits at Lihu`e, it is 1-4
Monday through Friday.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
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Mr. Rapozo: Kalaheo is 12-4 Monday through Friday.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Hanapepe is 8-12 Monday through Friday.
Council Chair Rapozo: 8-12?
Mr. Rapozo: 8-12. Kapa'a is Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays from 8-12 and Tuesday/Thursday from 8-12.
Council Chair Rapozo: So that is Monday through Friday 8-12.
Mr. Rapozo: No, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10-12, I
misspoke, I am sorry.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Kilauea is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 8-12
and Tuesday/Thursday, 1-4. The other facility permits are open...they can get it during the
course of the day.
Council Chair Rapozo: Which other facility?
Mr. Rapozo: Like if you need a neighborhood center, those
facility permits are available 8-4. Staff gets in like any other 7:45 to 4:30.
Council Chair Rapozo: So just the camping permits are restricted or
limited to these times?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: If you had the permits clerk back, the 1649, that
would be housed?
Mr. Rapozo: Would go back to Moikeha. And that would be
everyday 8-4 to come to the office and drop off moneys and that kind of stuff.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i?
Councilmember Kuali'i: Thank you. So my question...good morning,
Lenny and thank you for being here....is more general. On page 34 in your presentation to
us, you talk about challenges. And so here you were giving us the example of the hours
with the permit clerk. I wanted to ask in general, because it looks like you have more or
less kept the budget at the same level except for increases that was contractually obligated,
our obligation with positions. Where else might there be considering the budget challenges,
service-levels or hours of operations that have been reduced or are there?
Mr. Rapozo: Golf course.
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Councilmember Kuali'i: What is the change at the golf course? Just basic
hours?
Mr. Rapozo: We had to dollar fund positions over there.
Councilmember Kuali'i: How does that impact our service levels or our
hours of operation, or does it?
Mr. Rapozo: The job...the job that that person would have
done is not being met. So it affects the facility.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i, if you want to just say
the Departments that may have had an effect in the level of service and note it and when
we get to it, we can ask the specific questions on it. If there were other Departments that
might have had a change in the level of service, that we are providing, like the park
permits or golf course had a lot of dollar funded positions...
Mr. Rapozo: Permits and golf course and maintenance.
Councilmember Kuali'i: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Mr. Rapozo: Did I mention Recreation, because you
mentioned page 34, because the impact of this position impacts Recreation. Because that is
where permits are being generated now.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Chair. Since we are under...it is
weird because we have got Parks Security, Park Permits under "Fiscal' so I am going to ask
a question about permits at Anini Beach Park. So we had a fire, I believe, by the comfort
station, caused by people plugging in too many outlets into the County outlet.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: And those people, did we cite them?
Mr. Rapozo: My understanding that the guy ran away and we
never caught up with the guy.
Councilmember Kagawa: We saw evidence of burns?
Mr. Rapozo: The extension cord.
Councilmember Kagawa: Computers?
Mr. Rapozo: The extension cord got fried.
Councilmember Kagawa: So has that outlet be turned back on?
Mr. Rapozo: No. All of our parks we have turned off the
outlets and if people need it, like there was an Easter celebration at Kapa'a Beach Park
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yesterday, and they needed the outlet...they did free haircuts for homeless or disadvantaged
people, so we turn them on.
Councilmember Kagawa: So basically we have shut down all of the outlets,
but we can turn them on if we need to.
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Kagawa: And that is on a case-by-case basis?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, as an as-needed basis.
Councilmember Kagawa: So basically, if people need power, they need to
bring a generator.
Mr. Rapozo: Either bring a generator or let us know, so we
can turn it on for whatever function they are having.
Councilmember Kagawa: Like campers, if they camp and they want to
bring a generator to keep their rice warm or something?
Mr. Rapozo: This is where we have gotten comfortable, yes?
When you go camping you are not supposed to bring a generator, you are supposed to learn
to cook rice on the stove like our grandparents had taught us. Actually generators are
illegal in Anini Beach Park because of the noise. There are quiet ones. If they are using
one and it does not affect other campers...
Councilmember Kagawa: You are trying to keep the peace like noise wise,
by disallowing the big Honda ones with the buzzing sound.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: So a follow-up question, too. I think one of the
problems that we would never...I mean, I know it is not an easy solution to solve the
homeless problem. From what I have been told by regular campers, they say it is the same
group that was occupying the same area. And I think they had a rotation of people
applying for permits. So it was not the same exact person grabbing that recurring permit.
So basically they were there the whole time, the same spot and those were the people that
they believe were plugging into the outlet when it burned. So it was a large group. I do not
know if comprising more than ten people, but do we have some kind of way of having the
Parks guys makes sure it is not the same guys using the same area...almost like they are
living in that area? I think it should be everybody should have a chance to share the park.
Mr. Rapozo: And Councilmember Kagawa, I am not sure
where you got your information from, but John folks do a really good job and if you came to
get a camping permit, they ask who is in your party? Adults need to provide some sort of
identification and they need to know how many kids and who the kids are and what their
ages are? When the rangers go out and it is on the permit, they ask, right? So if you
come in and I know what you are saying and John's guys do a good job with the homeless.
They use somebody else's days. You are allowed only so many days to camp in our Parks
per year
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Kagawa: So there is a provision?
Mr. Rapozo: Right. So if I use my 60 days and this guy's
name has to be on the list of this other person. If he already used up his days, this guy
would not be placed on his permit. So when the rangers go, they know...they know the guys
in the park. The rangers are out there long enough and know who is homeless and who is
going from place to place. They know the players.
Councilmember Kagawa: I want to compliment them, too. Very difficult
job that keeps getting tougher. Lucy Wright Park, do we allow camping in Lucy Wright
Park?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: So if kids wanted to play a pickup game of
softball, they cannot because the tents are all over there?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Kagawa: But Lucy Wright Park is a small baseball or
softball park right? So is that...do you think that is something that we should relook at
whether we should allow camping?
Mr. Rapozo: We have not been asked for a need for more
parks space for kids to practice in the Waimea area. If that need arises then definitely we
would look into that.
Councilmember Kagawa: For me, some of those people camping are
homeless and I do not believe homeless residents in Lucy Wright Park is appropriate.
Mr. Rapozo: You are right, it is not. They are smart and go
out to the gully way and it is not part of the,park and rangers cannot cite because it is not
their jurisdiction and it is Public Works. Public Works does not have the ability to do that.
It is a never ending battle over there.
Councilmember Kagawa: I thank you for your work. I think that is a
separate item we can discuss later.
Mr. Rapozo: The rangers, for what it is worth, they have a
really tough job. As you said, we just went into an area right below Hanapepe Heights,
where there was illegal camping, parts of parks lands. Because it was unusual, I went with
our rangers and luckily, having spent some time in the prison system, the person had some
mental health issues, severe. Our rangers have not really been trained to deal with that
and now they are getting training for that. Being in the prison system, I was able to help
take care of the situation. That is the kind of stuff these guys come up with and they have
to deal with. And they do not get enough credit for the job that they do, considering the
total area that they have to cover and the amount of manpower that they have.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, just to reminisce, Lucy Wright Park when
myself and Ken and Vince were young, we used to play T-ball in Lucy Wright Park and the
field was outstanding. Once in a while a player would hit it over the fence and lose the ball
in the water. That was the excitement.
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Rapozo: That is big time.
Councilmember Kagawa: I say that I really thought that Lucy Wright
Park, there, we lost a good opportunity. It was a nice park to play baseball in.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question from Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: I just wanted to clarify...sorry. So when you get
a permit for a pavilion, you also have to ask to have the outlets turned on?
Mr. Rapozo: Not pavilions, but like Kamalani, the group
camping, we knocked it off, because the homeless guys plug in. Some of the facilities, when
they were built, and for these reasons at that time, never had this problem. It is on the
same circuit as other stuff. So there are some places that we cannot turn off plugs without
affecting other things, whether it is the lights in the restrooms...and until we change that,
that setup, then some places you need to let us know. Other places, we have no choice, but
to leave them on.
Councilmember Chock: Okay. So whenever you come in and apply, you
let them know.
Mr. Rapozo: Just ask and we put it on.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Coming back to the permits vacancy issue, how
much are we saving by removing this position?
Mr. Rapozo: Salaries alone?
Councilmember Yukimura: No, everything.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I do not know if you have that information
readily available. Just looking at the list of salaries, you can kind of see that it would
probably be in $30,000 range, but with the benefits, I do not know if you are using a certain
percentage as a calculation?
Council Chair Rapozo: Mr. Chair, on the sheet that the staff provides, it
is listed as $48,209.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that salary and benefits?
Council Chair Rapozo: That is just the salary. So you figure another
50%.
ERNEST W. BARREIRA, Assistant Chief Procurement Officer/Budget Chief: Good
morning, Councilmembers, Ernie Barreira, Budget & Purchasing Chief. The calculation...if
April 6, 2015
Department of Parks & Recreation (ss)
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a position is eliminated or dollar funded, it is base salary. Right now that is going to
change depending on the assessment that we receive from the State, 47.1% for fringe and if
this employee was absorbing medical cost an additional $6,000 is all reflected as the total
savings when the position is not filled.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Mr. Barreira: You are welcome.
Councilmember Yukimura: So it was $49,000?
Council Chair Rapozo: If you look with benefits about $53,672.
Councilmember Yukimura: So it is about $75,000 plus $6,000 if the health
benefits involved?
Council Chair Rapozo: No it is $48,209, and then social security is
$3,700. So total is approximately $53,000 total. Salary and benefits.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you. $53,000 possibly plus
$6,000 more?
Council Chair Rapozo: Let us just say $60,000.
Mr. Rapozo: Actually, it is going to be less.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question, Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Yukimura: Why would it be less?
Mr. Rapozo: The incumbent in the HGEA bargaining unit was
retired and at the end of the step moment. Movement. This would be an entry level at
SR11 would be more reflective of a base salary of $31,286. But I think Council Chair
Rapozo is right with the number.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question, Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: Just briefly on the issue, so if there was a clerk
at the window, and that would be their primary job is waiting for people to come?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: Are they doing other things while they are
waiting for people to come? Supporting the office in other ways?
Mr. Rapozo: That was a pretty busy window.
Councilmember Hooser: So the person at the window was pretty busy?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. What I would do with this clerk is probably
upgrade the position to possibly do special use permits as well. So if there was time, the
primary function would be permits and secondly would be use permits.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Hooser: At the neighborhood centers, there are set hours,
is there someone sitting there in an office behind the window at set hours?
Mr. Rapozo: Or nearby.
Councilmember Hooser: They are out working on the property so...
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: So the public would go there and look for the
person? Then they would stop what they were doing and go over and issue a permit.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: From the public's perspective, it is much easier
to go to the window and somebody is there all the time.
Mr. Rapozo: We have seen an increase with our rangers.
They issue permits on-site. They know who the tourists are, who the families are, and they
do not automatically cite unless they know you are homeless and you are always there and
doing what you are doing. But we do issue permits in the field as well.
Councilmember Hooser: And the neighborhood center were issuing
permits prior to this?
Mr. Rapozo: Right, for those same hours. In order to do an
accurate review of what the impacts were, we try to keep everything the same. We kept
everything the same in terms of hours. So hours that were given to you is hours prior to
losing the clerk. So what is the impact? To see by losing the clerk, what the impact was to
current operations? Already we can tell you that the operations at Lihu'e Neighborhood
Center were impacted because they were not done there before and everybody went to
Mo'ikeha. During the six month review, we kept everything the same to see if volume went
up, what the feedback is, a lot of complaining and then...to get the impact of losing the
position.
Councilmember Hooser: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question. Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Lenny, how far away are we from
electronic permitting? Is that a question to ask IT?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Another question on the electricity, we do not
charge for electricity?
Mr. Rapozo: No.
April 6, 2015
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Council Chair Rapozo: Is that something that we can consider? I think
even at the trade show or County Fair, if you want electrical outlets you pay extra, a small
fee to help. Is that something that we have looked at?
Mr. Rapozo: Again, I am not sure how we would measure it.
Council Chair Rapozo: It would be a flat fee, you wanted an outlet,
$10.00, you want two outlets...you do not pay for the usage, but pay for the outlet,
something to consider.
Mr. Rapozo: We could consider that.
Council Chair Rapozo: The reason I say that is when you find somebody
using the outlet without paying for it, you can actually charge them a penalty, and you
know, a fine for violating the terms of the permits. I am just thinking ahead, because as I
know that...and maybe the first outlet is free, you know? For the true...I agree with you,
camping is camping, but that sure comes in handy. Something to think about, a way to
recoup some of the electrical costs going forward.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I commend you for thinking about if you were to
have a permit clerk upgrading so they would also handle other permits. Because to me,
that kind of cross training is really useful. So I think that is good. I want to go to...and
also, the training of the rangers to deal with mental health constituents is also really
commendable. Good for you on that. When you say "we can turn electricity on as-needed"
who determines what is "as-needed?"
Mr. Rapozo: The user would tell us if they need electricity.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you are counting on legitimate users.
Mr. Rapozo: If you come in for a permit, you will be
legitimate.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. And you would not think you would have
abuse problems with permitees?
Mr. Rapozo: We hope not. We hope that they are doing it
with the intention that it is for their function.
Councilmember Yukimura: The electricity to be turned on and off, I know
you have one instance where you are doing things remotely. But that would take a Park
Ranger or a Park Caretaker?
Mr. Rapozo: A Park Caretaker would turn it on. If tomorrow
we had a permit, depending on the time and the caretaker on duty, they would turn it on.
Councilmember Yukimura: I have some other questions.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I have a quick question on the Permit Clerk. I
know we have been pounding on it and I will get my question out of the way, too. You
currently have a Permit Clerk? Are they too busy to be the central location again?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. The intent of her being hired or that
position being hired and all right, I should not be using gender reference. It is classified as
a Permit Clerk, but her primary function is different from the window function. When we
came before the concessionaire and peddlers ordinance and she helps maintain the permits
for concessions within our Parks. And when we have to amend and move forward to
authorize...we are still in the process of authorizing all of the activities in parks in terms of
making money, that is her function. She was the backup to this other guy, when he was
sick or on vacation, she would help out or going to lunch, she would go to help out. Now
that is gone, her function now is solely permitting and concessions, which is a big task in
itself.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Do we have any other positions, I guess, in the
building, that people can go to as far as somebody can get cross-trained on being the central
location for those permits and maybe other functions in the County?
Mr. Rapozo: Well, we always hope that we could, but
currently what every individual is hired for, that would not be their primary function. They
had some other primary function, because that could become...you know, we had a sole
position for that. That is all the guy did for eight hours, because he had that much work
that we could justify a position like that. We lost...not lost...we dollar-funded the position
to help the budget. And Lihu`e Neighborhood Center has to pick up some of that slack.
And all the other neighborhood centers are going to have to pick up some of the slack. So
they are being asked to do more, but still getting the same that they had. So again, when
we cut, there are impacts to the community.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Your Permit Clerk who does concessions and
administers the concessions and peddlers ordinance, she does not do window work?
Mr. Rapozo: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: You did close window?
Mr. Rapozo: We did close the window.
Councilmember Yukimura: So how does somebody wanting a concession or
peddler permit get a permit?
Mr. Rapozo: The clerk at the window was not part of the
concession or peddlers ordinance.
Councilmember Yukimura: Understood.
Mr. Rapozo: That is something that they were coming to our
office and has a whole different set of requirements that we have to do.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is just different logistic-wise?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: They make an appointment and come into the
office?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there any way some of that can be done
electronically or maybe it is already being done?
Mr. Rapozo: She needs to collect the moneys and record the
permits.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. That is it for the permits.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on the Administration and
Fiscal? Councilmember Yukimura?
Councilmember Yukimura: Lenny, so you know your mission statement is
kind of broad. It says promoting and enhancing the quality of life for residents of our island
home. I just wondered if Parks would be open to specifying something that relates to
Parks?
Mr. Rapozo: We can. We have such a different array within
our Department. So I thought it needed to hopefully capture it all.
Councilmember Yukimura: I looked up in Wikipedia and a mission
statement is a statement of purpose of a company's organization and reason for existing
and written declaration of an organization's core purpose and focus that normally remains
unchanged over time. So I am thinking maybe something like a...but something that refers
to Parks. I understand how...
Mr. Rapozo: The definition would fit and everything would be
really broad. We could go back and forth about it the rest of the day.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I rather not...
Councilmember Yukimura: Why is every Department putting in their
mission statement? Properly crafted mission statements serve as filters to separate what is
important from what is not. Clearly state which markets will be served and how. And
communicate a sense of intended direction to the entire organization.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, how about you and
I...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Sorry, let me interrupt.
Councilmember Yukimura: If there is no purpose to a mission statement,
then do not put it in. But if there is a purpose, then let us be clear.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will leave it at that.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I do not believe this is the place to come up with
a mission statement.
Councilmember Yukimura: Absolutely not. I just asked if Parks would
consider it.
Mr. Rapozo: We would be open.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Kamalani campgrounds, how is that going?
Mr. Rapozo: Very good. It is busy. Boy Scouts troops go
there. I really like the group camping. I think it is a great bargain. Families use them.
Just people...
Council Chair Rapozo: Camping pads are all in good shape?
Mr. Rapozo: They require maintenance every so often.
Council Chair Rapozo: We have that under control?
Mr. Rapozo: It is apparent when that was developed that
parking may be a challenge and we still have not opened all the sites. We have two-thirds
open, John? Yes, two-thirds and because of the parking, us, Kaua`i people, all our aunties
and uncles go to the beach and spend the day, but they like to go home and shower and
sleep in their own bed. During the day, parking was not going to be...
Council Chair Rapozo: And Hanama`ulu is done right? No more
camping?
Mr. Rapozo: Right if now we still close the gates. There were
groups that have helped to maintain the park and we have allowed them. The motorcycle
club comes in July and we allow them and tell them we are locking the gate at 10:00 and
come back to open it at 6:00 and they are okay. Guys who want to leave after that, they
park outside. So for the most part, camping has been suspended.
Council Chair Rapozo: Kamalani, they do not issue permits onsite?
Mr. Rapozo: No.
Council Chair Rapozo: So what happens if they come across campers at
Lydgate?
Mr. Rapozo: We either educate or cite.
April 6, 2015
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JOHN MARTIN, Department of Parks & Recreation: John Martin, Department
of Parks & Recreation. When campers are found at the Lydgate campground without a
permit, because our Rangers do not have access to our reservation system, what we will do
is refer them on to another campground such as 'Anini, Anahola, or Salt Pond where we do
not have assigned sites. So the reason why we do not want to issue anything on-site at
Lydgate because they cannot check the availability while they are in the field, is that site
may already been reserved by someone else that could be arriving later in the afternoon or
evening.
Council Chair Rapozo: It would not be that difficult for the Ranger to
have a sheet, right? Of reservations? Like a daily...? I am not sure what time they start
work, but to have a week or two weeks' of reservations?
Mr. Martin: They would need a daily printout.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes.
Mr. Martin: Something that they could get after 4:00, when
the office is closed. That would really be the only way they could do it. They do have access
to computers at three satellite offices at Kapa`a, Kilauea, and Kaumakani but that would
involve them going to that site, logging on and checking the system so they could do a
printout, but they would have to wait until after 4:00 to do it.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question? Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilnember Kagawa: Thank you. John, so there is no way, with their
iPhone or something, get on the County...?
Mr. Martin: At this time, no.
Councilmember Kagawa: County website?
Mr. Martin: Because the rec track system that we use for
reservations, it is primarily on the County's servers. It is not something that can be
accessed through the internet at this time.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is it not the person who has the reservation, do
they not have to put it up somewhere on the tent that they have a reservation? Should
somebody at the tent, at the campground not have a reservation to show proof that they
have a reservation?
Mr. Martin: They do. When they pick up their permits they
are issued two copies. One is the backup copy. The second copy is placed in the plastic bag,
clear plastic bag and they are instructed to attach that copy to the outside of their tent,
preferably down on one of the corners and when the rangers come through, they can check
the permit without disturbing them.
Councilmember Kagawa: So I guess my question is why, if they do not
have a permit, why would we refer them to another campground? They do not have a
permit to camp, right?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Martin: There are times that people just forget to put it
out and we have to stop and ask.
Councilmember Kagawa: That was the purpose of telling them to make
sure that you have this permit at all times, because that was your way of getting the park
security to know who is camping? Since they do not have a printout or online way to look at
it, right?
Mr. Martin: That is their main way of checking. The only
location we would ask them to leave is Lydgate, because it is assigned spots. All the other
parks we could issue them right there on-site.
Councilmember Kagawa: Could issue permits?
Mr. Martin: That is correct.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: On the question of checking availability of sites
electronically, I mean, the water meter readers...well, now they are doing all of that
electronically. Whether it is by iPhone or some kind of device, we can access County
servers, you know?
Mr. Rapozo: Not the rec track.
Mr. Martin: Not the rec track system.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that technical obstacle that cannot be
overcome?
Mr. Martin: Correct. It is like a program that has to be
installed on your computer. As far as I know, it is not available for smartphones at this
time, or even tablets for that matter. If we had, say for example, laptops, we could possibly
do it. But then there would be the connectivity problem. If you are in a remote location
where you do not have access to WiFi or cable internet whatever, you will not be able to get
in. Because the information as far as the availability and permits are all stored on the
County's server and not the individual units themselves.
Councilmember Yukimura: You had something in the report about one place
being WiFi accessible now, is it the Convention Hall?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: How many sites are at Lydgate, reserved sites?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Martin: Right now we have...the group camping area,
which will hold a maximum of 200 people. We have the 5x5 sites which is sites 10 through
14. And then on the 20x20 sites, they are done along the beach, we have sites 18-25.
Mr. Rapozo: And ADA.
Mr. Martin: And I am sorry, we also have three ADA sites.
Councilmember Hooser: 18-25, that is 7, 4, 11, about 20 different?
Mr. Martin: Roughly.
Councilmember Hooser: And I was encouraged when IT comes to talk
about that because it is my understanding that if it is accessible from a laptop, a
smartphone you can also do it, but maybe that is a discussion for IT, because I agree, we
should I be moving in that direction.
Mr. Rapozo: John, how many Rangers do we have?
Mr. Martin: At this time we have eight Rangers on the road.
Mr. Rapozo: Including yourself?
Mr. Martin: Including myself would be 9.
Mr. Rapozo: 9 laptops and 9 servers.
Mr. Martin: Three will be sworn-in Wednesday and be on the
road April 12th.
Councilmember Hooser: Thank you very much.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: You said this is just Administrative and Fiscal
and personnel is next?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Administration and Fiscal is what we are going
over right now.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is all together? While John is up here, may I
ask some questions regarding Park Rangers?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. How many parks are served by the Parks
Rangers? In the report it says we have 70 parks total. You guys have to cover all 70 parks?
Mr. Martin: We cover all 70 plus parks. We do not cover
every single one every single day, but we do cover all of them.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Yukimura: Because I kind of happened upon the park at
Weliweli recently and it is a large space, but I am not sure how much usage it gets
compared to say Anini or even next door at Po`ipu Beach Park. So I presume you focus
your efforts on the parks where there is a lot of people, where there is camping, where there
is probabilities of needing enforcement, et cetera?
Mr. Martin: Correct. In fact, I have put together a list of all
of our parks and listed each one with the frequency that they should be checked by our
staff.
Councilmember Yukimura: Good for you.
Mr. Martin: There are certain parks that should be checked
by them at least once a day. Other parks that should be checked every other a day. And
other parks such as Weliweli, at least once a week.
Mr. Rapozo: Also, remember now, we have dedicated Rangers
given to us, that wanted to focus on concessions and peddlers. And so although we are
looking at nine, there are certain Rangers that were given to Parks and we want to fulfill
the intent of managing peddlers and concessions in Hanalei and the different places that
we have lunch wagons and stuff along those lines. And they also get asked to do some of
the stuff by John, but their primary focus is that.
Councilmember Yukimura: There should be some thought that peddlers and
concessions actually raise money and so you know, for...or they should. And they should,
like vacation rentals, pay for their way in how we set the fees.
Mr. Rapozo: The fee was $100.00 per permit per month.
Councilmember Yukimura: You are looking at your fee schedules, right?
Because I mean, the fees need to be reasonable, but if they are causing additional
regulatory needs in the County, we should look at least at minimum they need to pay for
that. And I know it is still probably goes into the General Fund, but in terms of revenue-
balancing and I am hoping that your Department looks at that. And so I really commend
you for setting up standards like that for the different kinds of Parks. And there are some
parks that need almost 24/7 coverage and others that are daytime parks mainly, right?
Mr. Martin: Correct. And the other thing we factor into the
check-in is the types of activities that go on there. Whether it be community-based
activities such as sports, parties, things like that. Or in other cases, where we have illegal
types of activities that are going on, where we may need to have more presence of the
Rangers.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. And where there are potential illegal
activities, I presume you work with the Police Department?
Mr. Martin: We always do.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Good. And I read about how the Park
Rangers are really serving not only an enforcement role, but in a really big educational role.
You mentioned here how they help warn visitors of when it is dangerous to get into the
April 6, 2015
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water. I think I will leave it at that. I have some questions about Park Rangers' challenges
on page 7 of your narrative. May I?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo has a question and we can
go back.
Councilmember Yukimura: Sure.
Council Chair Rapozo: My question is on pay. Is that consistent
throughout the State?
Mr. Rapozo: Actually, Kauai is one the few islands that have
park rangers. Not all islands have park rangers. Kauai and Maui has. The Big Island
was interested in doing that and I am not sure how far along...they have changed directors
there.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do they come under the same collective
bargaining agreement? Are they like the Police?
Mr. Rapozo: No HGEA, Unit 3.
Council Chair Rapozo: How is our pay in relation to Maui?
Mr. Rapozo: They are the same. As part of the HR, we have
to try and get them to be the same.
Council Chair Rapozo: And the progression from Parks Security Officer
I to II, how many levels or grades do you have?
Mr. Martin: Right now just two.
Council Chair Rapozo: I and II.
Mr. Martin: I and II, II is the working supervisor.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is you?
Mr. Martin: No. That would be Scott Nakata.
Council Chair Rapozo: So as I see here Parks Security Officer II, okay.
And that is about what the pay?
Mr. Martin: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do we have problems recruiting for those
positions?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: How long do people stay there before we leave?
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Mr. Rapozo: We had a quick turnover last year, but for the
most part, the group has stayed. They have stayed, considering some of the conditions, yes.
When we get the list, we are very selective. They may make the list, and when we do the
interviews, sometimes they do not meet what we feel is...what we would like to see in a
ranger. So we have to wait until the list expires to go out and recruit again. Sometimes
that is sometimes a hard position to fill.
(Councilmember Hooser is noted as leaving the room at 10:11 a.m.)
Council Chair Rapozo: I would think so, because I think I figured out it
comes out to about $16.00 an hour. And I will say, two times I had my truck in the park,
unloading at the Houselots Park. And two times, two different rangers showed up. And I
was not just hanging out. I was unloading for a party. But you know how you kind of
leave the truck there? And two times the ranger came up, and asked me politely to move
my truck. And so they are doing their job. I was very happy. He was very polite and very
professional. The last one happened last year and the guy said I did not know it was you.
It should not matter if it was me or not and he did not care and said please and I said
thank you for doing your job and we left. I just wanted to say that, because not everybody
is nice especially camping without a permit and these guys have to approach it. If it is
working and the salary is good, that is fine.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Rapozo, they told their boss,
boss, you have to get your truck out of here. And they were serious, they were not playing
around. Thank you very much, exactly.
Council Chair Rapozo: I am happy for that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, congratulations on hiring the first two
female staff park rangers.
Mr. Martin: Thank you.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is a good sign. So I am looking at the issue
that I think we talked about last year, which was the Toyota Prius that was swept off the
road during heavy rains. Do we have...we are self-insured. So the only way that we would
get a replacement is by this Council budget process. And the decision was made, I guess at
the administrative-level, not to ask for a replacement?
Mr. Martin: Correct. We are going to try the...there is a
motor pool that was established.
Councilmember Yukimura: So this is going to be a motor pool?
Mr. Martin: We are part of the program. We are going try it
out and see how it works for us.
Councilmember Yukimura: Gosh, but do you not need a car every time you
do your job?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Martin: We do. We are not assigned to an office. Our
office is the parks. So we are basically on the road from the time we start work.
Councilmember Yukimura: Your car is your office.
Mr. Martin: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: I am not sure how it would work in a motor pool.
Mr. Rapozo: We have had the discussions, Councilmember
Yukimura, okay? We will just leave it at that. We are going to try to make it work.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up. I know Police is looking into doing
personal vehicles, was that an option...I am not sure if it saves costs.
Mr. Rapozo: We have never looked at personal vehicles.
Councilmember Yukimura: You what?
Mr. Rapozo: We have not looked at using personal vehicles.
Councilmember Yukimura: That sounds like a thought though.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It may cost more money.
Councilmember Yukimura: It may be, but if you look at it, you will be able to
let us know. It is like looking at the alternatives that you have, right? May I continue
then?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So I am forgetting the details about that
incident, but I am just going to ask, if there is an accident report filed, yes?
Mr. Martin: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: I would just like a copy of that report. That is it.
Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions for Administration or Fiscal?
Councilmember Kagawa?
Councilmember Kagawa: I just wanted to clarify, John, because I
counted...I was confused a little bit, the Parks Security Officer I count seven...I counted
seven plus you. Eight.
Mr. Rapozo: There is a II. John is the coordinator.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. There are nine. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? If not, we will move on to
Planning and Development.
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Mr. Rapozo: Planning and Development is our CIP arm in
Parks and Recreation. And anything that is...what we consider a high-cost item in repairs,
that would need their help and their expertise in moving projects, that is the Planning and
Development Division. We provided a listing of all of the projects that they have been
working on over the past fiscal year and continuation on from previous fiscal year moving
forward to next fiscal year.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, of the three positions, are they filled?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, they are filled. The last time we were here
last year was when we filled the last one, which was the Park Planner.
Councilmember Kagawa: And so what is the Park Planner's function? I
know planning future parks or future things that they want to do, but what else do they do?
Mr. Rapozo: She is also working on the program of identifying
all of the assets and asset management program and a maintenance program. Having
worked or contacted the vendors, and looked at different vendors to do what we need to do.
So that we can best prepared for budgeting as we need to reroof certain facilities this next
year. So we can plan or resurface, or it pops up electronically. When was the last time that
toilet was fixed? Or when was the last time that toilet was broken or whatever it is...or
replaced? Stuff of that is the nature. She has been working on that and doing contract
project management work as well. So she has been working on all of these things and also
she was formally with SHPD and having her on-board has been a real asset to the
Department.
Councilmember Kagawa: Speaking of restrooms, I visited one that was in
pretty bad shape at Kaumakani Park and the restrooms are really old and obviously at
some point we have to tackle it. So what is the status of Kaumakani Park restroom?
Mr. Rapozo: Kaumakani, we had a funding problem there.
We were trying to get in with CDBG funds. And we were working really hard and thought
we had it covered. And we had the costs coming in higher than what CDBG was able to
provide for us. They needed to spend some money from their side obviously with their
programming need and we were not able to connect and meet so we could benefit both
programs. So that one we had to pull back and we have to look at something else.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is the structure sound enough?
Mr. Rapozo: I think we were going to replace all of it.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: What happened to the CDBG moneys?
Mr. Rapozo: Ask CDBG, you need to ask Housing.
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Councilmember Yukimura: It went back to CDBG?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: How much was it?
Mr. Rapozo: $70,000 about. But our costs for the project were
higher.
Councilmember Yukimura: I noticed there is no narrative for Planning and
Development. Or am I missing something?
Mr. Rapozo: There is no narrative. I think the projects speak
for themselves.
Councilmember Yukimura: Which projects?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Starting on page 36.
Councilmember Yukimura: So these are the pictures? Oh, wait...okay. I see.
Successes and achievements. So is this not the Division that is working on parks facility
assets?
Mr. Rapozo: I just explained that to Councilmember Kagawa,
yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. And the projection is for it to be completed
by the end of this fiscal year?
Mr. Rapozo: The system to be in place.
Councilmember Yukimura: The system to be in place. So that means the
software to be in place? You have the software in place? And what you are doing...
Mr. Rapozo: The last time we spoke Councilmember
Yukimura, I told you we are looking into what possible systems were good? How would it
benefit us?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: We worked from that and met with the
consultant and we are pretty comfortable with what we can provide with this consultant.
What we are going to be able to get out of it so we have not finished our analysis of the
whole program. But we are moving in that direction. I told you we would be ready to be
implemented by December of this year. And I think we will be hopefully done before that.
Councilmember Yukimura: Great. So when you say "implemented" there
will be an assessment of the conditions of the different parks?
Mr. Rapozo: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then the projected needs and costs?
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Mr. Rapozo: Right. And we have done some work already, if
you remember our budget presentation last year? When the Mayor went...folks from our
Department, Fiscal, Attorneys...we all went from one end of the island to the other end, to
every park facility to do total assessment. All of that was listed and we have most of that
information. So that is part of the needs that we had placed in the system.
Councilmember Yukimura: Did you visit all 70 parks?
Mr. Rapozo: More than 70, remember?
Councilmember Yukimura: I remember...
Mr. Rapozo: The neighborhood centers. And more than 70.
We visited every one. You should have come with us. We started at 5:30 in the morning
and were done at 6:30 at night.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you, the last time we do it, let me know.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, you and I will go together.
Council Chair Rapozo: It will take three weeks...
Councilmember Yukimura: I would surrender to Lenny. And take me where
he wanted to. Lihu`e County Ballpark office flooding mitigation, can you explain what that
is about.
Mr. Rapozo: The Lihu`e Ballpark, there is an ADA ramp that
connects from the Ballpark to the Lihu`e Baseball...they have a lease agreement with us.
(Council Chair Rapozo is noted as leaving the meeting at 10:23 a.m.)
Councilmember Yukimura: Which is the ballpark? Which one?
Mr. Rapozo: The baseball. Lihu`e Baseball Park, is that what
you are talking about?
Councilmember Yukimura: I am reading page 37 of "successes and
achievements."
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Lihu`e County Park office flooding
mitigation.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that the park right here?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. So I was describing from the park to Lihu'e
Baseball League's...they have a lease agreement with one of the portables. When it rains
and there are heavy rains, water would go down that bridge, that connects with the ADA
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bridge and the water would get into the bathroom and just make a mess. So we looked at
possibly...or we have done some work before it gets there, kind of like a French drain is
better way to describe it.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where are the office areas? Oh, into office areas.
Mr. Rapozo: The office is the old portable that they use. We
consider that office for the Lihu`e Baseball League.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see, so it is right across...
Mr. Rapozo: It is not County offices, but a lease agreement
with the Lihu`e Baseball League that they took over one of the portables that they maintain
on their own, including the bathrooms.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is the area that is flooded?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Your bike path sign replacement, what is
that about?
Mr. Rapozo: Signs along the path that need maintenance and
replace their metal. So it is ongoing replacement.
Councilmember Yukimura: That was done by this March? Or it is scheduled
to be completed?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, are we done?
WILLIAM TRUGILLO, Chief of Planning and Development: We are organizing to
get it done.
Mr. Rapozo: We are organizing to get it done.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: We hoped to get it down done by March. We are
trying to move away from metal and work with wood to see if it has better results. We have
to dig the hole and cement it.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you ever talk to the City and County with
their experience with metal plates in ocean areas versus wood? Does somebody have the
experiences to draw on?
Mr. Rapozo: You mean City and County of Honolulu?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. We have not spoken to them, but we have
looked at wood on our island. We looked at treks and thought wood would be a better fit.
We have replaced some of them.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Yukimura: One would think so.
Mr. Rapozo: But actually it is not working. So now we are
looking towards aluminum.
Councilmember Yukimura: Very good that you are looking at what would
work better and last longer. Okay. And then you say challenges, Lydgate main pavilion
roof construction costs exceeded budget. So did we have that in the CIP and then withdraw
it or what happened there?
Mr. Rapozo: Let me ask Will to come up to answer your
question.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Mr. Trugillo: For the Lydgate main pavilion, since we were
there during reconstruction/renovations recently to look at the roof and when we went out
to bid, the early estimates from potential contractors was far less than what the actual bid
came in at. So we ended up pulling the bid back out and canceling it. And so that is being
looked at for next fiscal. It was not an urgent matter, where it was a health and safety
concern. So in looking at the funds, we are going to go back out next time.
Councilmember Yukimura: So it is not in this year's?
Mr. Trugillo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is in this year's?
Mr. Trugillo: It is not in Fiscal Year 2016's CIP.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see. So you got some informal estimates and
put it out to bid in that way, but then the actual bids came in higher.
Mr. Trugillo: Correct, much higher.
Councilmember Yukimura: Much higher. What do you attribute that to?
Did the prices skyrocket all of a sudden? Or they just gave us really informal bids?
Mr. Trugillo: It was really informal; it was just ideas of what
they thought it would come in and once they put pen to paper, it came out much higher. I
do not know how much was timing of construction work was busy then? I do not think it
was materials though.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because of that though, we are losing a year now,
right? And so I just wondered if there was a better way to test our estimates before we go
out to bid? Do you consult with the Building Division? They should by now be able to
eyeball something and say this is really off'?
Mr. Trugillo: We definitely talk to them in terms of specs and
scope of work and rough estimates for budgeting purposes of how much things will be?
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Councilmember Yukimura: Because you have including an in-house
architect, you do have some people in Buildings who are contractors, who should be able to
maybe help you do a better assessment.
Mr. Trugillo: Yes. And we definitely, like I said, we have gone
out to potential bidders and Building has definitely been helpful and Keith Suga has been a
great help in terms of getting resources, too.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I am not sure if this is the place to ask this
question, but is the Adopt-a-Park and Ho`olokahi Program managed by this Division or the
Maintenance Division?
Mr. Rapozo: That is managed by our...sorry, that is managed
by our Convention Hall Manager.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay. I will ask my questions then. Because
you did list the success of Peter Rayno Park here, but the funding and management of that
was in the...as you were just saying Convention Hall?
Mr. Rapozo: So what happens is through the Ho`olokahi
Program, we provided the grant money to them and William's Division helped with the
overall construction management of the project.
Councilmember Kuali`i: The other one on page 16 that says, Successes
and Achievements under the section on Adopt-a-Park, Ho'olokahi Program, is number four,
ongoing support efforts to rehabilitate Kaneiolouma Heiau? Is that coming under...
Mr. Rapozo: That is under Convention Hall.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa?
Councilmember Kagawa: William, I wanted to check on the status to
request the senior softball team wanted to put dugouts and an outfield fence for Hanapepe
Park softball field?
Mr. Trugillo: I am sorry, you are referring to the new softball
field that they just resurfaced?
Councilmember Kagawa: Yes.
Mr. Trugillo: The one right outside of the stadium?
Councilmember Kagawa: Yes. I think they had a contractor, Tony
Melchor, who would be overseeing the labor and they wanted to...so everybody knows Tony
is a great contractor and I guess he wanted to do the dugouts. They wanted to do the
April 6, 2015
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dugouts, and I believe the outfield fence and I was wondering if they work through you or
Eddie?
Mr. Trugillo: Speaking for the Director as to how he will
handle distributing the work, I would be happy to talk to them.
Councilmember Kagawa: They have not approached you yet?
Mr. Trugillo: They have asked us for different copies of the
dugout plan and potential files and I know they have talked to our Maintenance Division
and Stadium crew what they can and cannot do. I definitely want to be involved in the
conversation because mostly that area where the softball field is also the parking lot for
football and also the ADA parking for football and we also have ideas of a new ticket booth
and food booth in the area and want to make sure that everything lines up before we put
concrete down on the ground.
Councilmember Kagawa: I will forward you Pat Baniaga's number, and if
you can call him, because he said they are ready to go. Thank you for the Hanama`ulu
senior softball pavilion and storage room. I understand they did a tremendous job. And
just was talking to the head guy and he says they ran out of moneys and wanted to do the
outfield fence. So again, is in a one through Eddie or you guys?
Mr. Trugillo: Right now, we are talking to them about closing
out that original grant that they had, making sure all of their financials balances out and
that project gets closed out before they ask for more and that would definitely be between
Lenny and Eddie...
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for Planning and
Development? Seeing none, we can move on to Recreation.
Mr. Rapozo: For Recreation, we wanted to play a short video
as to what their program has accomplished the last fiscal year. Scott, if you could please?
Thank you so much. And then we will be open for questions.
Recreation video played.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you for the video. That was a nice change
of pace. I was going to request next year you do all of your Departments with music videos.
Mr. Rapozo: Everybody is going to be pissed off at us. As you
can see, that is the fun part. I mean, we are here to talk about stuff, and in our office,
Cindy's guys are out there making it happen and it is a combination of not only the
Recreation Division, but Parks Maintenance and it is a collaborative effort with the
Firemen getting involved. With the senior programs, we have snowbirds that go to our
senior programs and make it a point to come here and join the senior programs. I have met
somebody from Minnetonka, Minnesota and he was involved with recreation for 30+ years
and he is quite impressed and never saw any place that takes care of our seniors and we
should be proud how we take care of our kupuna. The kids, it speaks for itself. And Cindy's
guys do an awesome job and make kids happy and provides a place for parents to drop off,
then when you go out for...try to get into a summer program, for instance, we look at 800
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participants, 800 plus whatever it is. It fills up within 9 minutes of the computer opening
up at 8:00 and it speaks volumes to the types of service that we provide. In Kapa'a, we
could probably add more over there, but funding challenges, employee challenges, yes? So
this is always an incredible video that Cindy's guys put together. We talked about impacts.
This Division has probably been impacted the most within the last four months. Every
time we have a vacancy in Parks, I can truly tell you as the Director, as the leader, I look at
the overall operations to see if it can be improved? Or maybe we have to change the
position? What do we have to add? You know, and this year, when the Lihu'e
Neighborhood Center Manager left to continue her education, I looked at the operations.
And Kaua`i's community is changing. For instance, especially in Kaumakani, the
plantation is no longer a big part of Kaumakani and it led me to believe that probably the
program has changed. And it did change. Less people that we are serving, but yet the
Kaumakani Neighborhood Center is very busy with other senior needs and just in terms of
the community itself has changed. It led me to look at where else has it changed? How
could we be more efficient? Well, it boiled down between Kaumakani and Koloa. We made
the change and I am happy that the staff responded and with some questions and
resistance, because people get used to doing the things they do. The Kaumakani Manager
was asked to assume Koloa as well as Kaumakani. She is at Kaumakani part of the week
and she is at Koloa part of the week. The Koloa Manager was reassigned to Lihu`e. And
that has been a big change for her, because she was used to being in Koloa. On top of
which, we dollar-funded the other permit clerk and now she has to assume permitting. So
in terms of impact, this Division has been impacted the most within the last four months.
We are looking at government service and trying to streamline government services as best
as we can. And being in government long enough, I have never liked to eliminate a position
and would rather dollar fund it, because again, the community is going to change.
Hopefully within the next year, Public Works is leading the CIP projects and we will have a
Hanalei Neighborhood Center and we will probably have to staff it in Hanalei and maybe
that is where one of the dollar-funded positions will be. I believe we will need to do that.
So this Division has been impacted the most. We talked earlier about the Administration
doing youth programs and bringing all of these events; this is going to be part of Recreation
and we looked at one position in Recreation and we have the personnel in Recreation right
now to redescribe the position to take care of these events. So when this Administration
moves on, we think it is a good, positive thing for our kids on the island and in the
community itself. That that type of events will continue to happen. With that being said
and with the video that was provided, we will entertain questions at this point.
(Council Chair Rapozo is noted as present at 10:40 a.m.)
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Just a follow-up on the discussion about the
Kaumakani-Koloa person?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: If the person is at Kaumakani today, is
somebody...are users allowed to use Koloa?
Mr. Rapozo: Of course. It is just more coordination in terms
of getting keys to them and stuff like that.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. So the use is still occurring?
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Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: We are entrusting community people to do the
opening?
Mr. Rapozo: I think the big change is the senior programs.
And that community has just changed, Kaumakani and Koloa, interestingly. Was
surprised in Koloa, more geriatric, older bunch and the senior program in general is
different from when we grew up. They are more active. They are not the typical seniors
who go to the center to make ikebana or make sushi or knitting. Senior badminton goes on
Wednesdays. Senior softball, you know what I mean? So they have Water Zumba. They
still have a small, small section, but in trying to streamline government and making it
more efficient, which is the job that is entrusted upon me to look at combining two centers
into one. It is great that Sandra has stepped to the plate and accepted the challenge and
from what I know has been doing very, very well.
Councilmember Kagawa: I just wanted to thank Recreation and you for
your leadership with the summer fun. I grew up, every year I was a summer fun attendee
growing up. And the memories of having that and having the adults watch you when your
parents are at work is unbelievable. I want to thank you guys for continuing that service.
As far as our Parks, the conditions of the Parks is something Kaua`i can be proud of.
Because even when our Parks are...some of them are not up to maybe par with another
park in Kaua`i, when you go out and play outer island teams, you can see that Kaua`i's
parks are by far better than any other island. So we excel in that area. And so that is the
next section, but the things that we do with our senior centers and like you said, the
summer fun and the condition of our parks, we really are, I think, above any other island
and I think we should be proud of that.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you Councilmember Kagawa for saying
that and also to Recreation's credit, aside from the kids and providing this safe
environment, a lot of the kids that work, that is their first job experience. Then they are
promoted to supervisory experience. So the Recreation Division not only has to provide the
service, I want to call it a "service" but the oversight and guidance to the young kids, this is
their first work experience. And they have to deal with coming to work on-time. They have
responsibilities. They are going to learn interactions. Plus they have to be responsible for
the kids. And I have seen a lot of these kids end up going towards the early childhood
education, and some become teachers. You know, I think it is an incredible overall
experience and it takes about a staff of 144 to run the summer fun program with the kids.
We have two overlapping shifts and they take them out on excursions on Wednesdays. It is
a true testament to Cindy's Division and what they do.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, has the Boys and Girls Club as they have
grown with helping with after school hours, has that helped relieve some of the need for us
to, I guess, expand the summer fun?
Mr. Rapozo: I believe it has. They have taken some pressure
off of the wait-list and how many kids do not get in, but yes, it is really good that the Boys
and Girls Club is here together with us.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think that is good when we get those people
that specialize in that area to expand as well. So I think that can be a good combination.
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Mr. Rapozo: You are right, Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions from the Councilmembers?
Councilmember Kuali'i?
Councilmember Kuali`i: My question was along those lines. Because you
had said that the summer programs fills up in 9 minutes.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kuali`i: But we are maxed out at how many we can
serve? And we serve them, I know, with our staff obviously, but only at our neighborhood
centers? Where is it?
Mr. Rapozo: Approximately 800 children throughout the
island. We predominantly use the neighborhood centers, but we also use Wilcox School.
We have two sites in Lihu`e. Lihu'e Neighborhood Center and Wilcox School. And at King
Kaumuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Sorry?
Mr. Rapozo: And Koloa School as well.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Koloa School as well. Do we have any ability to
expand? I mean how many people are we turning away? Do we have any idea?
Mr. Rapozo: I could tell you in Kapa'a, we could probably take
another 100 kids easily. Again, it is the site, and the oversight.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And the parents need to bring them to the site
and pick them up from the site?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kuali`i: If one site fills and the parent was able to take
them to another site where there is space, they could?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. We put out a wait-list. So over the years
Cindy's guys have experienced that. Throughout the summer, if Lihu'e Neighborhood
Center has 90. You are not going to have 90 every day. But pretty close to it. 80 plus every
day. So they look at that and they may...we may take a couple more over there. Because
not every day you will have the same amount.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I would say thank you also. Because I know our
families find it is one of the most important programs that we do provide. The only other
question that I feel is related is the line items special projects for $35,000 and it talks about
a pre-kindergarten...is that also the summer session? And for the younger kids? Do we
subcontract?
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Mr. Rapozo: We provide a grant. And the Mayor is real good
about that and he really supports that and encourages that. That is one of those that he
wants in the budget that we contract out with Good Beginnings and Child & Family
Services that provide...if you read in our narrative, we take from ages 5 through 11.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Right.
Mr. Rapozo: That is pretty much kindergarten through 11
years old, which is just before middle school. So this captures the kids prior to that, before
that.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So a portion of that 800 kids?
Mr. Rapozo: 800 is just the County's portion. That granting is
separate.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And it is during the summer and for the younger
kids?
Mr. Rapozo: Pre-kindergarten.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Do you know how many kids we serve?
Mr. Rapozo: I do not have that number.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And do you also know if we provided more
funding could we cover more kids? Are kids being turned away for that?
Mr. Rapozo: That would be the program's decision, because
we provide the funding for the program.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Can you find out?
Mr. Rapozo: They did not expend all our moneys and so we
will adjust appropriately.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions? Council Chair Rapozo?
Council Chair Rapozo: Follow-up on that. I had that highlighted as
well. Do we get a report from those organizations?
Mr. Rapozo: We do. It is part of the grant.
Council Chair Rapozo: Can we get that?
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Council Chair Rapozo: We will send it over.
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
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Council Chair Rapozo: Thanks.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura?
Councilmember Yukimura: In the first paragraph, well first of all I want to
thank Cindy for this PowerPoint presentation. I think it is the highlight of our budget
hearing. It really does show how marvelous our programs are, in reaching and touching the
lives of seniors and keiki and everybody in between. Really fine programs. Thank you for
all the work. And then on page 27, your top paragraph talks about how you recruit
instructors, coaches, officials, and volunteer assistants, which in and of itself is a great
thing. A lot of work. And also a testament to the people in our community who step
forward to do all of these roles. I just wondered whether you have looked at the issue of
positive coaching and whether there is any training offered along those lines? I know that
Pop Warner was doing it under our Chair's leadership actually. And wondered if that is
anything that...
Mr. Rapozo: We are part of the coaching alliance program.
Councilmember Yukimura: You are?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. We were.
Councilmember Yukimura: You were?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. Maybe Cindy can explain. They are talking
about positive coaching. Are we still part of that?
CINDY DUTERTE, Recreation Division Chief: Thank you, it has to do with our
staff, they are awesome and the clientele, the seniors and the youth, they give us so much.
We give them a lot, but they give us a lot back.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is the way it goes, the circle of giving and
receiving. And you facilitate that in your kuleana, thank you. I wondered if positive
coaching is brought in at all to our activities under Recreation and you mentioned it is done
through the Boys and Girls Club.
Ms. Duterte: Boys and Girls Club has a positive coaching
alliance that they do annually. You mentioned Pop Warner, they do their own. The only
program that we run, we have coaches for the youth basketball program with their
basketball clinics and the Termite clinics. We work hand in hand with the coaches. Not
doing the positive coaching alliance workshops, but they are pretty much repeat coaches.
They have been with us for a number of years. When new ones come in, they mentor the
new ones so talk about full circle, it goes full circle. We have a good team out there.
Councilmember Yukimura: When I was at the Waimea Town Celebration, a
couple of months ago, I at one the booths there was this brochure and it was basketball...I
think. They are associated with a national organization, but do clinics during the summer,
what is it?
Ms. Duterte: Is it YBA? I think it is Kaua`i Basketball
Association.
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Councilmember Yukimura: I thought it was NBC.
Mr. Rapozo: NBC, Josh Burton's group.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, I think he was the one manning the booth,
but I picked up this wonderful manual for positive parenting out of principles of positive
coaching and I ordered a dozen just to give to my friends because it has such wonderful
principles.
Ms. Duterte: Good, I will do some research on that.
Councilmember Yukimura: Builds really resilient kids, apparently and
comes out of evidence-based, so comes out of a lot of research. Anyway, I just thought the
more we incorporate that and I really commend our Chair, who did that in Pop Warner.
Ms. Duterte: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Councilmember Yukimura: It affects so much in terms of how we support our
young people. May I continue, Chair or was there some follow-up?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: No follow-up. Okay. I have a question with the
sewer for the line item. We had a big number last year and we have reduced the numbers.
In the past the numbers have been small, were we going to do a big improvement on the
sewer line item?
Mr. Rapozo: That is the result of continuous operational
changes within our organization that that is there for sewer charges, as well as pumping at
the different neighborhood centers for events.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It is in Recreation. Sewer number was $44,000 I
think. That relates to just you pumping?
Mr. Rapozo: This is our cost...it went down.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: In past we were asked to pay for the pumping
and Public Works was taking care of it. But we have not had to pump, or do what we
needed to do in the past. So we have lessened that. We think we can live with this.
Ms. Duterte: Yes, a lot of the centers are in the sewer system.
So we found that we did not need that much allocated.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, we hooked up recently or did we always
have it hooked up?
Mr. Rapozo: It was more for emergencies and we padded it for
emergencies and so we are hoping that we can live with less that fiscal year.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I have seen that we spent $1,800 so far.
Mr. Rapozo: We are trying to reduce that.
IAN K. COSTA, Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation: Deputy Ian Costa. There
are only a couple of centers that have individual wastewater systems. Most of them are
served by sewer.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: This is for neighborhood centers?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where you have put in Ha'ena Park bigger leach
fields, there is no connection because it is apples and oranges?
Mr. Rapozo: Different Division.
Councilmember Yukimura: Different Division. Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think we are at a good stopping point and take
a 10-minute caption break and we will be back on Recreation.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 11:00 a.m.
The Committee reconvened at 11:12 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back, we are going to pick up where we
left off on the Recreation Department. Any questions? I have another question. For Other
Services bus service I think that is used to transport the kids around for summer fun?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, once a week, usually Wednesdays we give
them an excursion.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We are using outside contractors?
Mr. Rapozo: That is what we are using.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I wonder if we have available Kauai Buses that
we can use?
Mr. Rapozo: Cannot.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, just checking. On the Other Commodities,
that is for summer fun meals, was there anything else in that line item in prior years?
Mr. Rapozo: No, I do not believe so.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It is almost double last year.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think our year-to-date encumbrance is almost
over it. You might not have the same page number.
Mr. Rapozo: We are talking about 67.00, is that what you are
talking about? Summer fun meals, we are asking for $32,500.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes. In the past we had $65,000 budgeted, and
year-to-date we have $56,000. I will let Cindy speak to that.
Ms. Duterte: The reason for the decrease is that more of our
sites are qualifying for USDA reimbursements, good and bad, you know? The good is that
we will get reimbursed for these meals, where otherwise we would have to pay the 100%.
Sadly though more of our communities are falling within the poverty status that they
qualify for free or reduced meals.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: I think is like out of 11, nine sites or ten sites
now?
Ms. Duterte: Yes, we have the nine...only one...only Kalaheo
did not qualify. Every other site qualifies for USDA reimbursement.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. That makes a lot of sense now, after
looking at the numbers. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Even as we are meeting the need to cut costs
with Federal subsidies is a good thing.
Ms. Duterte: Yes, the need to continue the lunches in this
program, it is a long day and these lunches are really helpful.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: I think what Cindy is also saying is that the bad
shows what our community is faced with, our island community.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. So it is one out of how many sites out of
how many summer fun sites?
Ms. Duterte: Nine, only Kalaheo did not qualify for USDA.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Follow-up on the summer fun. This year we are
on the shorter summer, all of the schools, because of Legislature's mandate for more hours.
How is the summer fun program running?
Ms. Duterte: We are still running the six weeks. This year we
are starting on June 14th and ending July 24th.
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Councilmember Kagawa: So basically you guys are covering the whole
summer period.
Ms. Duterte: Yes. I think the two weeks...when school gets
out, there is two weeks before we start, but when we stop, they will jump right in to school.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think school ends on the 7th so there is a one-
week break.
Ms. Duterte: I think it is the 4th or 3td.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Maybe for elementary.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Under challenges you talk about summer heat at
the centers and saying sharing the facility with summer enrichment programs is always a
challenge. Is that related to the heat or just having everybody there?
Ms. Duterte: Just having everybody there. We have been
doing it for so many years now, that they prepare themselves for it.
Councilmember Yukimura: The seniors?
Ms. Duterte: The seniors.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because that is their adjustment, yes.
Ms. Duterte: And the good thing is that some of the
neighborhood centers have done intergenerational activities with the kids and they look
forward to that, you know?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Ms. Duterte: And they even bring in...Lihu`e, for example, does
bingo and they provide prizes for the kids and serve them hot dog and a little snack.
Councilmember Yukimura: I thought...I distinctly remember the picture of
the seniors helping the kids with bingo and saying that is such a wonderful thing. Because
the seniors have so much fun for them to be able to share that with the kids is great. We
have things like fans to help?
Ms. Duterte: Yes, we do and last year we bought more fans.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, because last summer was really hot. This is
not necessarily for Cindy, but on the Kaumakani Gym floor that was damaged by a
rainstorm in December of 2013, how did this happen?
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Mr. Rapozo: We had that big rain that was the same time our
vehicle was washed away.
Councilmember Yukimura: So there was flooding?
Mr. Rapozo: There was flooding and what we did to rectify the
situation, Public Works created a berm so the water is diverted away from facility. I think
it was an incident related as opposed to having it every year. It just somehow went into the
Gym and damaged the floor. The consultant that is helping us with the Kilauea Gym
recommended that we just do not touch the Gym floor and let it buckle and dry out and do
whatever and see what happens and then go in and repair it. So now we have waited that
period and are moving forward with repairs.
Councilmember Yukimura: During the period, are you keeping people from
the area.
Ms. Duterte: Half of the day is blocked off. Half of the day is
workable.
Mr. Rapozo: So there is some...what do you call it? Zumba
activities and physical stuff going on.
Councilmember Yukimura: In doing the berm, I guess I am just thinking
that is also an obstacle for people walking, especially seniors.
Mr. Rapozo: It is at the back of the Gym, so we mitigated it
and I think it will be better.
Councilmember Yukimura: Great, thank you. And then on the swimming
pools, you are saying that the number of public users at swimming pools have increased
dramatically over the years. And this has this increased overtime costs and pool closures?
That is at the best of bottom of the page 34 on your narrative. How does it cause closures?
Mr. Rapozo: If someone is assigned to work the pool on that
day and calls sick and does not show up for work because he is sick or whatever, overtime is
offered to the rest of the staff. If nobody takes the overtime, then we have no alternative,
but to close the pools.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see.
Mr. Rapozo: It is not something that I can go down a list of
other Division people to fill it.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because you need a trained...
Mr. Rapozo: They need certification. And we do not have an
on-call pool of people to respond.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Would lifeguards be available to do that type of
position?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Rapozo: They would and they could, but again, it is a
different department, so we are crossing over.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can we not crossover? I have seen a lot,
especially under this Mayor, a lot of crossovers.
Ms. Duterte: We understand Councilmember Yukimura that
they also have a shortage themselves.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Ms. Duterte: So to pull from their department would be
almost, almost impossible.
Councilmember Yukimura: What about, like I know in your Transportation
Agency, we have a list of people who are part-time.
Mr. Rapozo: We do not have those on-call. Transportation
has an on-call list.
Councilmember Yukimura: We cannot create an on-call list from the private
sector? As long as we qualify them and create a position?
Ms. Duterte: I suppose we could look at doing something like
that.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. I mean, because there is the non-profit pool
with the Y, and there might be some people who are qualified to do that kind of work. It
would have to fit with collective bargaining and all of that, but as a way to keep our pools
open with the ever increasing demand. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any questions from the other Members?
Councilmember Yukimura any further questions?
Councilmember Yukimura: No, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. We will move on to Maintenance.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Park Maintenance as we discussed
earlier, impacts to Park Maintenance. We have had additions...additional responsibilities
with the new maintenance of the Civic Center. Through the Vacancy Review Committee
and through working with other departments we have picked up other facilities to
maintain. And so, we had done all of this with the current staff. So they have been tasked
with picking up additional responsibilities with current resources that they have. And in
one case now that we have assumed Transportation, the maintenance of their facility...
They had their own at one point and that incumbent has moved on and they have asked us
to pick that up. It is probably cheaper that I pay overtime once a month for maintenance
than to hire another body to maintain the additional responsibilities. That has been the
maintenance impact that they have had. But a highlight from them is I think for the first
time in a very long time and I think Councilmember Kagawa can attest to that, because he
was there on the day, within this Division, there are other sections within this Division.
And we have come together as all players on the playground playing together and especially
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was highlighted when we renamed the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. In getting that
thing ready the week of, you had Park Maintenance there, you had Beautification guys
there, and you had some people from the west side there to focus on getting the facility
ready for the dedication and the ceremonies and everything else, and the football game that
occurred on Saturday. For me, I am proud, because I think up until now most our
Department has been basically silos, where this is their function and in this instance,
when we needed to get things done, they all came together and worked together and that is
a tribute to the leadership in that Division and the change in attitude of that Division and I
will not say we are perfect, but have come a long way in making that a better Division in
terms of Park Maintenance and Beautification. We are still working with Human
Resources and this Council gave us two positions for the bucket truck. We purchased a
chipper and have that on-hand and have gone through trainings. This bucket truck goes
10' taller than Public Works' bucket truck. So in developing the position description and
again, we are just about ready...I am satisfied with the description, the position description
that has come out. It was a lot of discussion with Human Resources. And Human
Resources has done an excellent job in going Statewide, and trying to...I want...because we
are 10' taller than any place else on Kaua`i, and in thinking to make sure that we cover
everyone within the bucket and not just trimming trees. So the bucket truck driver is
responsible for the tree-trimmers up in the bucket trimming trees, but also we have
something taller that maybe the electricians can get in and use the bucket truck to get to
higher lights in our parks that normally we contract out. But I wanted to make sure it
encompasses the scope of position, yes? And to make sure if I need to clean a gutter at the
golf course or at the neighborhood center, I want to make sure that the position is able to
cover things that may not be the focus. And so Human Resources has been very good and to
get that rating as high as possible, given the height of the truck and given the tree-
trimmers that will be in the bucket, the most pay that they are entitled to by the work of
the job that they are going to do. Also in our County, this is the first time we have
dedicated tree-trimmers. Public Works had them, but in the past they were what is called
"TANF" workers, temporary as needed function workers. The position description was just
finished and we will be moving forward with recruitment of this. So the bucket truck work,
we have people that have trained with Public Works and have trained with the tree-
trimmers of Public Works and our County trainer has trained our guys that they have done
some emergency work. So we will be moving forward with recruitment in-house and within
the County first to see if they want to be part of that crew that is under the supervision of
the Parks Maintenance Chief. That is the impacts that I have with that Division.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will take Maintenance and Beautification
together that...that is how it is in the presentation. Any questions regarding Maintenance
and Beautification. Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: So the two positions Lenny are the Aerial Truck
Operator and the Tree Trimmer Helpers. So we have two Tree Trimmer Helpers, so three
positions.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: I was wondering if there are jobs that are outside
of the parks that need to be done that are the County's kuleana, will those workers be able
to help?
Mr. Rapozo: I want them to be able to on an emergency basis,
because I think in parks I have testified before and I still believe, and the previous
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Maintenance Chief George Alghren and I did a tour, about two and a half years now, in
emergency work just within parks. So the crew itself is going to be busy. General
maintenance of all trees within parks we have projected to be every seven years, every tree
within parks will be maintained. Roads has a crew, but as I mentioned they are temporary
as-needs positions.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you expect cost-savings because we used to
contract out?
Mr. Rapozo: The cost savings will be realistically in liability
which will be lessened for the County. We have had a lot of hurt people within parks.
Councilmember Kagawa: So will this truck be able to reach the coconut
tree's height or no?
Mr. Rapozo: That is one through the various Konno decisions
that will be contracted out and not fall under this?
Councilmember Yukimura: So we will continue to contract out the coconut
trees to the specialists who do coconut trees?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you, Lenny for your presentation so far
and all Departments. I wanted to also recognize some of what you talked about with the
training. Particularly I know there has been a lot of focus and concern about the County's
use of herbicides and fertilizers and I see you have decreased some of this in the budget this
year and kind of resorting to the use of hand tools and so forth. So I am assuming that is
going to take a hit on your labor as well, on the cost of hours and so forth. Just wanted to
get more of an insight how you are adjusting to that?
Mr. Rapozo: We are also using cheaper products. We are
using cheaper products. It may not have the same immediate effect or long-term effect, but
again, we are tasked with meeting a percentage of cuts that need to balance the budget. So
we are trying to be creative in trying to do that.
Councilmember Chock: What kind of cheaper products is it?
Mr. Rapozo: Instead of Roundup, which has some of the same
principles, I cannot remember...what was the name of that? Lynn? Instead of Roundup,
what did we go to? Honcho.
Councilmember Chock: Honcho. And we are doing more by hand?
Mr. Rapozo: As we can.
Councilmember Chock: I see. Thank you.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I might have missed it when you were answering
questions to Vice Chair Kagawa. But I was looking at the vacancy report and the tree-
trimmer helper and aerial truck operator, they were both vacant as of March 24th for 274
days each. And under "status" it does not say...I mean with budgeting it says "funded" but
are these currently being recruited for? Has an offer been made? Has someone been hired?
Mr. Rapozo: As I was answering Councilmember Kagawa, we
looked at the positions and you wanted to go through the positions and make sure that
position that it covered more than just tree-trimming, that if I needed to clean a gutter that
that aerial truck operator can do that. If we need use, the bucket truck because it goes 10'
higher than Public Works and electrician has to check a light you...
Councilmember Kuali`i: You are rewriting the position?
Mr. Rapozo: Working with Human Resources and going back
and forth to meet the need. As I prefaced earlier, one of the failures of government, and I
have been working in government for 26 years is that we rush just to fill it before coming
up here and being scrutinized for not filling. I think we do a better job of trying to make
sure when we fill it, we will get the needs that we want to and get the right person in there
to do the job.
Councilmember Kuali`i: But let us not misinterpret rushing to fill, 274
days is like ten months. It is a long, long time.
Mr. Rapozo: It could be a position for 20 years and not fulfill
what the County really needs. So I think the long-term effect is more than 274 days.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And groundskeeper position was vacant for 761
days.
Mr. Rapozo: That might be the dollar-funded position.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So it is now becoming funded?.
Mr. Rapozo: No, I think it is still dollar-funded. Is it?
Councilmember Kuali`i: Dollar-funded, correct. And the heavy truck
driver is also dollar funded for 823 days?
Mr. Rapozo: Is it dollar-funded?
Councilmember Kuali`i: Yes. Are those positions that you do not need?
Mr. Rapozo: I am not saying that we do not need and I do not
believe in eliminating positions, but as changes come up and reasons why they are dollar-
funded...the days do not affect me. You can tell me it will be dollar funded next year
maybe.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I will just say it will come back to us eventually,
but I put the question forward to the Mayor and Nadine, when they were up here, that I
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kind of wanted that description of all of the vacancies, all of the position changes, two to
three sentence justification what was dollar-funded and why? What was eliminated and
why? And I know we probably have that information from the Vacancy Review Committee,
but that will just help and I think it will all come over. I am looking for that as well.
Thanks.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Lenny, of the dollar-funded
positions that you folks have in your Department, has any of those positions been used...
Position numbers used for contract positions or for other purposes?
Mr. Rapozo: Not in my Department, no.
Council Chair Rapozo: So all the dollar-funded has remained dollar-
funded.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, and that is because of operations within the
organization. Let us talk about for Beautification. When the gentleman retired from
Beautification, I looked at the capacity of what he was performing at that level and what
the crew was doing and apparently the crew was doing more than what the person was
performing at. So I made the administrative decision that we dollar-funded that position,
because if the crew could work at that level without having this guy doing whatever he was
doing, they should continue that level and did not need the extra hand. It would be nice to
have, but there is a difference between the need and the want. So I think that was dollar
funded for over two years, 800 whatever days it has been.
Council Chair Rapozo: Going on three.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. We are picking up other responsibilities.
The Civic Center, the landscaping there is different from that time. We have been asked to
pick up at Transportation. The Police substation out at Kapa'a Armory; we have been
asked to pick that up and you see how big the armory is? That is when they got the
substation. We are at that point we may need that body to come back in, but we are trying
to work with what we have to work with to get the most efficiency out of that particular
section. Again it goes down to the boys and girls who work in that section who are stepping
up and maintaining those facilities. So that is what is happening and I believe that is
where being in government long enough, we eliminate, then we are stuck.
Council Chair Rapozo: I guess it goes back to what was mentioned
earlier in the budget regarding the Vacancy Review Committee. We need to start looking
at not just vacancies, because in that case you just brought up, where after he retired, then
we realize that he really was not needed. We should be picking that up earlier.
Mr. Rapozo: I am not saying he was not needed, but the level
of...
Council Chair Rapozo: He did not really impact the output?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, capacity. We look at capacity.
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Council Chair Rapozo: We see that Countywide. You get people that are
just not doing it. And that is why I think the evaluations, all of that is very, very
important. But more importantly is as we review the size of government and I am hoping
that the Cost Control Commission can take a look at that is not just the vacancies. Because
we want to know if, in fact, every work group, if you will, or one section, is actually
performing, all members are performing to where they are supposed to be performing? And
hopefully we can expand the duty or the function of that Committee. Because when the
position is vacant, yes, it is a good opportunity, but we should also be looking at the field
position to make sure that everybody is doing their work. I am not sure how you fit that in
that Committee, but that is something that we have to look at. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions from the Councilmembers?
Councilmember Yukimura?
Councilmember Yukimura: So I commend you for thinking really carefully
about the job description for the tree crew. There is going to be three of them.
Mr. Rapozo: Three of them.
Councilmember Yukimura: So salary wise is $124,000 approximately. And
I do remember that you and George had thought through how much...what kind of work
you would get out of...? And so you are thinking that it would...that every seven years then
you would have a preventative maintenance kind of tree-trimming?
Mr. Rapozo: Every seven years we estimate that every tree in
parks should be touched for maintenance.
Councilmember Yukimura: Not just touched. They would be completed and
they would be maintained.
Mr. Rapozo: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: In terms of trees, right?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: That would be their special function?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: If they do other things, there is going to have to
be some real management of how they are allocated. Because they could spend their whole
time probably answering demands or requests from other departments and other agencies.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes their primary focus is parks.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. And is that how the other counties handle
trees?
Mr. Rapozo: George had an arborist certification and based on
his knowledge, I relied on his knowledge.
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Councilmember Yukimura: Well, I have always thought we could really use
some arborist expertise. So I am glad...
Mr. Rapozo: It is a hidden talent that I do not share, because
everybody would want to borrow him.
Councilmember Yukimura: You should because City and County does an
incredible job of maintaining their trees. Okay. On electricity and water, if I may
continue?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you have a breakdown by site so that you can
identify where there might be some leak? Some extraordinary use? Some potential
problems?
Mr. Rapozo: Each Division Head that has utility bills that
come to them, so in this case, if we are talking about Park Maintenance, yes, Vince...they
review the utility bills and you know utility bills have these spikes and whatever?
Councilmember Yukimura: It comes in the form of a graph?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. So that would give an indication why are
we higher than normal? In one incident recently, we are asking the Water Department
for a credit is that they thought was the high increase of water was related to usage.
Come to find out we had a very large water break, because it was at a very popular comfort
station. So they do the investigation. And those are very tough because it is a sand
kind...they do the investigation and find the leak and take care of it.
Councilmember Yukimura: So you do have site by site information?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Based upon water bill or electric bills.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. I would like to see that and I will ask for
that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: On the electricity bill, we have a huge reduction,
is there a reason for the large reduction?
Mr. Rapozo: It is terrible, yes?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It is good, but I want to be sure that we are not
going to see a large increase.
Councilmember Yukimura: We could.
Mr. Rapozo: Working with OED and William's guys have
done a good job in their development. We are still in the process of converting all of our
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facilities to bird-friendly lights. And I think Councilmember Yukimura had mentioned
earlier that some lights we can now turn on and off with our cell phones, the new
technology and we recently tested that technology with the Lihu`e Tennis Courts and it is a
good technology that we are moving forward with lighting that we are doing. In one of the
contracts we are going to go back and put the same technology in. Now we have more
control as to the light users. Even if Councilmember Kaneshiro has a softball game at
Koloa Park, now we can do it online. Maybe you use it this Monday, next week Tuesday
and this week Thursday from say 6-10. We will put the lights on when it gets dark, 6:00
and two hours later this flashing red light will come on and you have to press the button to
show the system that you are still using that park. As opposed to in the past, we did not
have that technology. Before that we did not have that and it would run until it 10:00
and knocks often. So the lights that we are using requires less electricity to use them and
are more energy efficient lights. So out of a bad thing, a good thing happens. I always
believe that and that is some of the reasons for the decrease in usage of lights. I guess I am
saying something wrong because Ian is here too.
Mr. Costa: Deputy Director Ian Costa. I played a significant
role in doing this maintenance budget, and I got...besides some of the things that Lenny
just mentioned, we had to cut supplies. So herbicide got significantly cut and I had to go
through the electricity actual usage and wherever we had budgeted more than we had
actually been using I had to cut in order to meet the 7% directive. So I just needed to say
that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I appreciate that. I just want to make sure of the
reason for the reduction.
Mr. Costa: We have in the way of fixtures, but also it has
been reduced.
Mr. Rapozo: It is a combination of things and Ian did do that,
but in looking at the graph that I asked OED, Ben Sullivan to provide. Because Parks has
been working to reduce utility costs, electricity regardless of the mandates that we have.
In 2013, we started in July about 120,000 kilowatts per month and then we go down during
the holiday season, and then we end in June at 100, between 125,000 kilowatts. 2014 we
started off at a high of almost 135,000 kilowatts per month and we ended the year in June
at about 110,000. So you see the reduction and it goes like this, again because of the
winter. We have blackout periods in winter. Now we do not turn lights on at all for
what...three months almost. And now in Fiscal Year 2015, we started at 110 roughly
kilowatt hours per month and currently until February, from January through February,
constantly at 90,000 kilowatt hours per month. And Ian did make some cuts yes, but I
think part of it is our big numbers that we spend is on lighting for ball fields and stuff like
that. I think tennis courts and basketball court and you know what? You go Saturday
night and check out Isenberg Park. There are a lot of people there. They did a good job.
They put bleachers over there, and so it is a good fit. We want to provide that and get
better efficiencies with the utilities.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I appreciate the measures you are taking to be
more efficient with lights because I know I have heard people say in past, there are park
lights on and nobody is in the park. So I appreciate what you are doing and it should be
reflective in the costs moving forward. Councilmember Yukimura.
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Councilmember Yukimura: I love that you refer to kilowatt usage rather
than moneys and one reason why the electricity costs will be lowered this year is because of
the price of oil is below $50.00 a barrel or something. So there will be a drop in costs just
due to that, but if you are actually dropping the kilowatt usage, then you are really making
progress. Is that something that you submitted to us or can you?
Mr. Rapozo: No, I did not.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can you give to staff to make copies? That is
good news and great that you are tracking that. Do you have something similar with
water?
Mr. Rapozo: Not with water bills.
Councilmember Yukimura: What Council Chair actually suggested with
electricity and outlets in your development of fees, you might want to look at water usage
as well whenever it is extraordinary water usage? Sometimes the waterparks I think, the
water equipment that is used for those water features, water recreation would use more
than a normal user of a park, right?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes and again this was back in maybe the late
1990s, when I was the guy who went to Parks and said I want to put a water slide for my
daughter's birthday party and they said cannot because of the water. And all of these
features come with about how much you use per gallon or how much it is going to be? So at
the time I went to the Water Department and got the numbers and I am sure we could do
the same thing with these. But at the time, something like $20.00 max, it was like $15.00
and I was willing to give Parks the $20.00 to have it. For those kinds of costs, Parks at the
time did not administer the fee.
Councilmember Yukimura: The frequency though is more now, frequency of
use. And I am guessing that the cost of water is going up, too.
Mr. Rapozo: Probably.
Councilmember Yukimura: Lucky we do not live in California, because we
would not allow it. It would just be to calibrate it according to like you have been in all of
these things described evolving with the use, evolving with the changes in our society. It is
just a suggestion.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I just noticed in a few Divisions there was
funding for a line item called "tractor and other heavy equipment" and now it is all down to
zero. If a project like the Adopt-a-Park Hanama`ulu project that the Hillsiders did, needed
assistance from County with that type...how would that be paid for?
Mr. Rapozo: It is not...what you mentioned is if we have to
buy new equipment. Is that a lease? It should be a lease that you mentioned or a
purchase? What page?
Mr. Costa: It says tractor mower, that is a purchase?
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Councilmember Kuali`i: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Those are leases. Once the leases, we pay off the
lease, it becomes ours.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: In the other scenario, when we offer a grant to a
community organization that is all-inclusive. They will go out and find the means to the
tractor that they need. That would be part of the Ho`olokahi grant, I will throw out the
number of$80,000 with the materials and they have the volunteer labor and have to rent a
machine...if we have to donate the machine, it is all-inclusive of the grant and where we are
trying to close out the grant.
Councilmember Kuali`i: That is under the Convention Hall Division?
Mr. Rapozo: Ho`olokahi.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So here in the line item that is construction that
went down from $83,000 to $32,000...that is for?
Mr. Rapozo: Anything within Park Maintenance that needs to
be constructed. We are hoping that a lot does not break because as you can see we took out
$50,000 for construction.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, I think as the popularity of the senior
softball has kept going on and seeing a lot of parks improving, up to top-level, like Kapa`a
Ball Park and we have young girls who have starting to organize at 5, 6 years old and I
have been flooded with calls about sharing space and about the mound or no mound and I
am wondering if at some point we are looking at temporary mounds.
Mr. Rapozo: Like portable mounds?
Councilmember Kagawa: Yes. So I am wondering at some point we are
going to look into maybe getting a few of those and seeing how those work? I cannot see if
the seniors are using it almost every day, I cannot see us scraping down mounds, but I do
not want to see the seniors have exclusive use and when the seniors are done and we have
open space we cannot have the youth jump in as well? At some point, we have got to
maximize the use, whether it is young old or whoever using the parks and I wonder if the
portable mounds is perhaps an option?
Mr. Rapozo: We were just thinking about it a couple of weeks
ago. In addressing the parks space, that has become more and more of a challenge.
Believe it or not, 21 years ago I started the Junior Olympic program with the girls'
softball, me and Sam Arashiro. Cindy Duterte sat on the initial Board, Audrey Bonilla sat
on the initial Board, and Ron Victorino was on the Board, and we started that program for
the girls. One thing about the girls' softball program, the numbers are not consistent island
wide. This year we are experiencing park problems out in Kalaheo and in Lihu`e because
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the numbers are big. Past years, those numbers have dropped. So to share with the boys,
it is not a problem, but it takes more effort and John does an awesome job. Kalaheo,
thank goodness that the Kalawai baseball guys are open. If it is a designated softball
diamond, the girls should have preference there or the seniors should play there.
Isenberg, you have the seniors and adult leagues going on and figuring out what we are
going to do with our keiki. Initially, Peter Rayno Park was a baseball field. For the longest
time it was not really being used that way and the Hanama'ulu Hillsiders had taken it and
brought it to the level of a softball field. So now it has been more softball than baseball. It
is a real balancing act. For the first time in Kapa`a, we are having challenges with the girls
softball, because their numbers are big. It is a good problem to have. That means our
youth are in positive environments, but it is for us to try and make it work. You are right,
we need to look at getting a portable mound. When they have the bash at Isenberg, they
build the mound and take out the mound. Now we have winter baseball. Baseball used to
be a spring sport and now you have the mound between the girl's pitcher mound and
seniors' mound and it is a problem for pitching forward or pitching back. So that is
something that we need to look at. I agree with you a portable mound to get something
that is decent and Mr. UCLA would probably have his own idea about portable mounds and
I would be willing to hear what he says...not on-camera, but to the side. Councilmember
Kagawa, we have a good problem, but it is still a problem nonetheless.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I just wanted to say that I love the idea of a
portable mound. Because it will really increase the flexibility of our fields, right? That is
really good. You know you cite successes and achievements with more, new professional
equipment, which is mostly smaller equipment which was deferred in the past. I am really
glad for because I that we have to give our workers the proper tools. I just wondered how
we keep track of them and maintain them? Is there a system for that?
Mr. Rapozo: Every Division is responsible for their own
equipment. Vince is responsible for the maintenance of the equipment within his Division.
Whatever maintenance that needs to be done...if it is small equipment, it is turned into
Transportation's shop that does it and if it is larger equipment, it is turned over to the
motor pool, Public Works to do.
Councilmember Yukimura: So people sign out and they return and they are
properly maintained?
Mr. Rapozo: Depending...if it is a riding mower after so many
hours of use they are maintained. At the end of the day, they should be washing it,
cleaning it, and making sure there is gas and oil and daily maintenance stuff is taken care
of and after so many hours of use it is taken to the shop and that is what should be
happening and I know Vince is on it.
Councilmember Yukimura: So there are standard operating procedures that
all the users are trained in?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
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Councilmember Yukimura: Because I remember years ago, we were having
trouble with our heavy machinery. It was partly due to user error because they were not
properly trained and actually that was the genesis of our training position that Steven has
been in for a long time.
Mr. Rapozo: If they think some of the repairs are due to
worker abuse, retraining is in order and Steven retrains. Our Mayor has been real good,
now that we have caught up, in the past I did not think Parks Maintenance has commercial
grade equipment, they had stuff that we would use at home...our Mayor has recognized the
need to move towards commercial type equipment. It is more expensive but over the time,
we get our money's worth.
Councilmember Yukimura: As long as we take care of it and use it properly.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. In your challenges you talk about
how helpful it would be to equip our workers with County-issued cell phones or truck-
mounted or hand-held radios. Do you know how other parks departments operate
throughout the State?
Mr. Rapozo: Again it is want and need. What we find is not
so much the daily occurrence, but moving into natural disasters, communication becomes a
problem and everybody is calling each other about the tsunami that is coming. So hand-
held radios might be a better way of doing it.
Councilmember Yukimura: So would that not be a perfect thing for FEMA to
fund?
Mr. Rapozo: Possibly.
Councilmember Yukimura: And I mean, I think if you develop a proposal and
I would check with other places to see how they do it in the State or in the country?
Because just as you speak, I am thinking that would be logical to have it in a closet
somewhere, but come natural disaster time, everybody gets one. It becomes at least an
emergency communication system that you pull out for times of emergencies. And I know
there would be tie-ins with the 800 MHz upgrade we are doing in Civil Defense.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you.
Councilmember Yukimura: And I want to commend you, Lenny, for the
statement you made about the vandalism. I thought it was really good to bring it to the
community's attention, and I know earlier, last week, somebody...I guess when we were
talking about CIP, talked about the measures that you are taking. I know our Chair talked
about...several Councilmembers talked about getting the Police involved. But do you see
this problem being solved? Because it is not the only place. I think your press release said
it accounts for a major portion of our maintenance?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes and it takes time away from what our guys
could be doing. On an area needed, at one time Puhi, we had a big problem with Puhi, the
community helped. As soon as it got graffitied, it was repainted to show that we are not
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going to let them do it. Right now the hot place is Kapa'a by...behind the softball comfort
station.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that by the skate park, right?
Mr. Rapozo: By the skate park, basketball, and again, we rely
on our Rangers to go out at night to make periodic checks on who is there and I will say this
because one of our Rangers caught people smoking pakalolo and wrote a report...I just saw
that. I just got back from vacation last week and that is an ongoing problem. In that
particular park, we hope to deal with it in a fashion that I would not like to say on-camera,
but we are going address it very shortly.
Councilmember Yukimura: You actually solved the Puhi problem?
Mr. Rapozo: I do not know if it is solved forever. But you talk
to the kids in the park and that is what I did in Kapa'a and seemed like it kind of escalated.
Because you kind of know...you kind of talk to kids and they kind of know what is going on
over there. Even in Hanama`ulu, we had that problem for a while, not that the Hillsiders
adopted the park, they talk to the kids and there is no graffiti problem in Hanama`ulu,
Peter Rayno Park.
Councilmember Yukimura: They see their grandpas doing all that work.
That is wonderful.
Mr. Rapozo: A lot of that is juvenile-related. Our adults in
the community know where their kids are at night.
Councilmember Yukimura: And was that marijuana case a juvenile-related?
Mr. Rapozo: It was adult males according to what I read this
morning.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think a careful analysis of the source is a good
idea.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I have a question on other rentals. A major
portion of that amount is for portable toilets.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Have we already looked at...I do not know about
putting in permanent toilets, we are not always have to bring out the portable ones if there
was an analysis done for that?
Mr. Rapozo: You know, funny you should mention that,
because I do not know at what point in our lives government became responsible where
people go to the bathroom. When I was younger, if I went to a beach that did not have a
bathroom, like Wailua, your mom or dad would say, "bathroom run" and you would jump in
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the car and come back. Today, the public demands portable toilets and we put them along
the bike path, we put toilets. At special events, the County has provided portable toilets for
special events. With that respect, the contract is what it is. We could put up bathrooms.
There is environmental permitting that goes into a lot of it. And the cost of not only the
bathroom, but the ADA access to get to that bathroom would also have to be addressed.
Yes. The cost analysis is there and we are currently looking at that...there are some
bathrooms with ADA-compliance that we had to eliminate some stalls and me and
Councilmember Yukimura have gone around and around with that. We looked at procuring
a contract for a floor print for small, medium, and large bathrooms to make those
adjustments. Those can always be improved.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I appreciate that and I was not sure where the
portable toilets were going and if we have a park facility that we are bringing portable
toilets to, that might be a facility to put in a permanent bathroom. Along the walking path
and stuff, maybe the solution is to keep portable toilets. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: We do not have a lot of portable toilets along the
path, right? For the purposes of the path? These are only special events.
Mr. Rapozo: There is one right by Mailihuna and right by
Kealia off of Kealia point. There is one by the Kapa'a Neighborhood Center to help with the
Neighborhood Center.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is why I always wondered why we could not
have a separate entrance to the Center?
Mr. Rapozo: We worked with Public Works to do an
additional one. I am not too sure where that project is right now.
Councilmember Yukimura: What about the idea of opening the side door?
Mr. Rapozo: When we have the kids in there, and where the
current bathroom is, there is really blind spot. You cannot see who goes in and the kid goes
in at the same time. We want to stay away from having to escort every child that has to go
to the bathroom with the children's programs going on. So that is the reason why we left
the portable toilet out there. So users of the path can use the portable toilets until we come
across another solution.
Councilmember Yukimura: So even the other bathroom that is really close by
is the public bathroom is the swimming pool bathroom. I mean, there are two bathrooms
really close that are permanent bathrooms.
Mr. Rapozo: Like I said, Councilmember Yukimura, I do not
know when it became government's responsibility to provide easier access to public
bathrooms.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is a given in these days, because we do not
want people...well, first of all, the population growth on this island, you could go and hide
behind a tree, you know, maybe a couple of decades ago, but it is not appropriate anymore.
We have more people. We want to facilitate the use of the path or places for people to be
and where they are, they have the have bathrooms.
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Mr. Rapozo: So can I increase my budget for portable toilets?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think we will need an analysis first.
Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can you give us a breakdown on the portable
toilets budget on how much is used for special events and how much is used on a daily
basis, like the one you pointed out, thanks for pointing it out. Because it was not in my
conscientious, the ones along the path that are 24/7?
Mr. Rapozo: If you want numbers, we will have to do the
research for you.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, please.
Mr. Rapozo: So you are talking about group 1 and group 2?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, unless there is a group 3, too. Like
Councilmember Kaneshiro, I am just trying to figure out, you know, how we are using these
moneys? Or what the need is? What is nature of the need? For special events I agree you
need them for special events. You are not going to build a permanent bathroom for special
events. But to think about some permanent access to a permanent bathroom for things
that are 24/7, I think is something we might want to look at.
Mr. Rapozo: And the maintenance costs that comes with
cleaning those bathrooms 24/7?
Councilmember Yukimura: Absolutely, I bet it is cheaper than portables.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not know.
Councilmember Yukimura: But if not, show us. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. As far as the portable toilets, at
what point does...or have we looked at doing that in-house? So we buy the toilets? Is that
what you just asked? You said you wanted real ones, right?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Me, too, but I think that is quite expensive.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me, go ahead.
Council Chair Rapozo: Let us say you do a cost analysis, let us use the
last five years or last ten years since we started putting those things up. There has got to
be a point where it is probably cheaper to do it in-house. I do not know. Once we own it, we
just hire a few people to maintain it, because every year, we are paying quite a bit of
money. And the other question is on some of these, although the structure, the toilet itself
is temporary or it is a portable. But it sits there 24/7, right? Like the path, the Kapa'a
Neighborhood Center. How do we get around the ADA requirements on those?
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Mr. Rapozo: We provide an ADA...
Council Chair Rapozo: So all the ones that we have are ADA complaint?
Mr. Rapozo: Not all. But we provide maybe a regular and an
ADA-accessible one.
Council Chair Rapozo: From wherever it sits?
Mr. Rapozo: The path.
Council Chair Rapozo: They can get right on it?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Thank you. I just used one at the MS
Walk the other day. You probably used it too. You are young, you could probably hold it.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I walked past it.
Council Chair Rapozo: It was actually pleasant. I was shocked and I
hesitated to open the door, but it was actually pretty pleasant.
Mr. Rapozo: That is the challenge when you have a contract is
that you have to be on them to make sure it is maintained. And at Waioli Park in Hanalei,
part of the lease agreement, we cannot build anything there. So we put a portable toilet for
soccer, so that the kids can use it and they allowed us...and at the end of it, we removed it.
Councilmember Yukimura: I am glad you brought that up.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: In our CIP discussions I asked your staff whether
you had explored my suggestion of making the Hanalei Courthouse bathroom open from the
outside?
Mr. Rapozo: We talked about that during our discussions
about the Hanalei Courthouse and if you remember we were going to adjust the hours of
operations, so staff was there. Until 5:30 p.m. I think we agreed. Do you remember the
discussions with Hanalei? And by 6:00, they should be able to go home and go to the
bathroom.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is pretty expensive to pay for staff to be
there to keep the bathrooms open.
Mr. Rapozo: No, this was regular business so that we can
modify the hours of operations to accommodate that.
Councilmember Yukimura: As you talked about Koloa having a different
elderly clientele and usage, I had questioned whether you had assessed the need for a
conventional neighborhood center or whether that community might be one of those
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evolving populations? That you would have different kind of usage and i.e., not necessarily
assume a regular conventional neighborhood center? But to tie it to staff, to me, would not
be as flexible as just having an outside entrance that people could use during off-hours. So
I hope that that will be looked at carefully and not tied to staffing.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for Maintenance?
Beautification?
Councilmember Yukimura: I have a question and Lenny, I should know this,
but can you point out the difference between Beautification and Park Maintenance in terms
of function?
Mr. Rapozo: Park Maintenance takes care of parks.
Beautification takes care of County facilities such as the front lawn. The front lawn is not a
park. They come and cut the grass. They take care of the Civic Center, outside of the
Police stations, County facilities, that is the function of Beautification.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. That is a budget of about
$500,000? So they do a lot of travel, right? Because they have got to go from site to site to
site.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And they have to bring their trailers with the
mowers and stuff like that.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: If we do not have any further questions, I think
we will take a 1-hour lunch. We will be at a good stopping point before we start Stadiums.
Any further questions? We will take a lunch break and be back at 1:20 p.m.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 12:17 p.m.
The Committee reconvened at 1:23 p.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back from lunch. We are on Stadiums.
And Convention Hall. We are on Convention Hall. Councilmembers, any questions for
Convention Hall?
Councilmember Kagawa: I do.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Hi Eddie. No vacancies, right? The three
positions? Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i
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Councilmember Kuali`i: So I had alluded to it earlier with Lenny, but my
questions were around Adopt-a-Park and the Ho`olokahi program and during the CIP
budget, I mentioned that the several different districts, the Waimea district did not have
funding and I think it had to do with special funds in the district, and development funds,
but I want to see that the Waimea district also has funding. So I will probably be
proposing some funds to be...because you have both approximately $100,000 per district,
which I guess is the Department's funds and then another averaging about $30,000 per
district, that is in that grant fund, which I guess is the Ho`olokahi program. I see it is there
for the four other districts, but I wanted to see it was there for the Waimea district as well,
unless you do not want it or do not think that there has been a report what has been
happening over the last couple of years with the Adopt-a-Park and Ho`olokahi...how it is
being spread out across the five districts? Again, just wanting to make sure that if a group
from Waimea or Kekaha wanted to step forward and do what the group in Hanama`ulu did,
that they would not be denied just because there were no funds in the pot. So what do you
think about that?
EDDIE SARITA, Convention Hall Manager: I am sure you read the
presentation. However, you know the Ho`olokahi program for the last, I would say the
last ten years we have not had dedicated funding per se. The projects that you have seen
happen recently were all done through the park trust fund. And they were individually
funded with the cooperation and assistance of the Director of Parks & Recreation. The
Ho`olokahi program is not funded as it was in the days of that time when the Mayor Bryan
Baptiste, who initiated that fund at that time. By the time I came on-board, the funds
dedicated for each district were largely depleted. And we did not have major funding
projects funded through the Ho`olokahi program. When I came on-board, we did two
pavilions. One at Koloa and one at Kapa'a New Town Park. These were funded by the
Council individually. And not exactly the Ho`olokahi program and since that time there has
been no replenishment of funds that were first initiated by then Mayor Baptiste.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So it is my understanding that the Parks
Improvements Fund, special fund puts aside moneys for each district, each year. And that
is how you are getting the $100,000 from inside the Department, and then $30,000 average
that you are giving grants for, correct?
Mr. Rapozo: That is the source of funding.
Councilmember Kuali`i: The reason there was no line item for the
Waimea district was because the source was not there. So if we wanted to do...if the
community came forward with a Ho`olokahi request for the $30,000 pool that you have in
all the other districts, you do not have it in Waimea?
Mr. Rapozo: We would have to look at different funding
sources from a different account if we had it available.
Councilmember Kuali`i: As a Councilmember, I will propose that we put
$30,000 from the General Fund to give Waimea district an equal amount as all the other
districts have, should in the next year a group come forward to help.
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Because that is maximizing the community's
efforts stepping forward.
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Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Okay. Thank you. One other...I can wait.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. So a project such as I was talking to
William about the Hanapepe dugout request with the team under Pat Baniaga and the
contractor is Tony Melchor and William said they needed to submit plans and you cannot
just build.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: So is working with them, but where would that
funding come from? Like Councilmember Kuali'i...
Mr. Rapozo: The trust fund would be a good one.
Councilmember Kagawa: Would $30,000 be sufficient for materials?
Mr. Rapozo: Probably not.
Councilmember Kagawa: For the fencing and dugout materials?
Mr. Rapozo: Probably not. I believe the pavilion in
Hanama'ulu was about $80,000, I think.
Councilmember Kagawa: The covered dugouts are smaller than the
pavilion?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes but it requires site work, concrete work, and
the pavilion is open and we would have to close it and adding fencing.
Councilmember Kagawa: So maybe we can work with...I can do that as a
follow-up and we can find an estimate for that cost.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Would that be after they approved
the plans...come under Eddie?
Mr. Rapozo: The way we work it, Eddie would provide the
agreement through the Ho`olokahi program, but the actual oversight of the project and the
construction part of it, Planning and Development would do that, because those are the
guys who work with the contractors and know whether or not they are meeting the specs?
So it is a coordination between those two Divisions.
Councilmember Kagawa: The fencing for Hanama`ulu Park, for the
seniors, they said they wanted...
Mr. Rapozo: Permanent.
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Councilmember Kagawa: Outfield fence.
Mr. Rapozo: Permanent.
Councilmember Kagawa: They wanted permanent?
Mr. Rapozo: Right now we have a breakaway, and the
community, somebody went over there and cut a nice big hole in the centerfield fence. So
they are looking to do permanent.
Councilmember Kagawa: So the parks still has to approve whether you
want it permanent too? Because that limits the use?
Mr. Rapozo: We want to work with them and we understand
that they care for it and the Hanama`ulu community needs. So we will work with them and
look at different entry points, gates, so when the school uses it for parking they have access
to the area. So yes, we will work with them. We needed to finish the first grant first and
let us clean that up.
Councilmember Kagawa: Finish one at a time?
Mr. Rapozo: And then move on.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think they said they are finishing up the sink or
something like that.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, so the grant itself, we need to make sure
that all receipts check out with what we gave them in terms of the total package.
Councilmember Kagawa: I would just like to again commend Parks and
Ho`olokahi for that kind of facility they say labor was at least equal to the cost of the
materials and is a tremendous asset to the community. Thank you for your work with
community. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Questions for Convention Hall? Council Chair
Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you, and thank you for being here. Eddie,
thank you, I mean look at your budget. Three positions you have. You, maintenance, and
janitor. All the other Departments you have secretary, clerk, and you do it all by yourself.
Thank you. It is a heavily used place as well. Thank you very much. And to your crew. I
think I asked this question last year and maybe we have to be reminded, but security guard
services for weekend events, do we recoup that from the users?
Mr. Sarita: It is not included in the usage price. I have had
to budget that separately, because it is not...it is not like in past, where we could include it
into the price, but I am considering it in the future, when we do proceed with the rate
increase. Like other facilities, we make it an add-on to the fee.
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Council Chair Rapozo: So right now, somebody rents the Convention
Hall, they pay for the use of the hall?
Mr. Santa: That is correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: But they do not pay for the security?
Mr. Santa: No.
Council Chair Rapozo: We do?
Mr. Santa: Yes, we do.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. And I think last year I brought that up.
Mr. Santa: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: And why would we not charge the user?
Mr. Santa: What we want to do is in the future to make it an
add-on, you know? Like, for example, the Veterans' Center on Kapule Highway.
Council Chair Rapozo: You have no choice.
Mr. Santa: They charge and fee and it is added on, whatever
the cost for two security guards are added on.
Council Chair Rapozo: Right and you do not have a choice. You cannot
bring your own security. You have to hire their security. You have to hire their cleaning
crew.
Mr. Santa: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: And you have to use their chairs and tables, just
like the Convention Hall, we have to use your cleaning people, the maintenance and the
security, we are paying...we are paying a private...I am assuming that we are paying a
private contractor.
Mr. Santa: Right.
Council Chair Rapozo: To provide security.
Mr. Santa: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Where does the liability lie though in that sense
if we are paying and not the user?
Mr. Santa: When we go out to bid for the contract, they are
required to provide a $1 million liability coverage for which the County is an additional
insurer.
Council Chair Rapozo: But we are paying that...not the user?
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Mr. Santa: We pay the contractor, but he provides the
insurance.
Council Chair Rapozo: Correct. But we do not charge of the user
anything for security?
Mr. Santa: No.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Does every event at the Convention Hall require
security?
Mr. Santa: Yes. We need security, because in the past we
have gotten issues with parties and people becoming rowdy and I have been challenged by
people who obviously had a good time. Number one, they do not want to go home. Number
two, they want to consume whatever beer is left, and number three they are just looking for
a fight with anybody. And as a result, the janitor does not want to work at night and I have
to go in and make sure we are closed. In a way once they know who I am, then they tone
down, but I have had a couple of cases where I have been personally threatened with people
wanting to beat me up.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: So all birthday parties and everything have
security?
Mr. Santa: Once they see the security, I can assure you
there is no rowdiness going on, but they are all on their best behavior.
Council Chair Rapozo: This one says weekend events only. But it is for
any event?
Mr. Santa: Yes. It is mainly for the parties, graduation
parties, birthday parties, anniversary parties, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you. I was just inquiring about the
Creative Technology Center and I know it seems to me that they have determined that they
want to have it on-site. It is a 30,000 square foot state of the art facility. My question
about is securing funding?
Mr. Rapozo: They are going to secure the funding to build it.
Eventually we will come here with the proper documents for a licensing agreement...I am
sorry?
Councilmember Yukimura: It is on the agenda for Wednesday.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: So we will have a chance to look at that more on
Wednesday.
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Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: Good.
Mr. Rapozo: So they will be using our land. They are going to
build a building and everything and get some improvements to the Convention Hall,
because it is directly related.
Councilmember Chock: That is great news. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question? Councilmember Yukimura?
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. Eddie, I want to compliment you,
too. Not only do you have a very small staff, but your accomplishments and achievements
every year are quite remarkable. And I was there at the Sound of Music when the system
broke down, I think it was the lighting system. Here, this past Fiscal Year, you found a
permanent solution to it. As you point out, the show could not go on. It was canceled for
that night because we had to fly somebody in the next day. And you figured out a way to
handle this problem. It is really good problem-solving. Very excellent. I know year after
year, you keep taking care of the place. So thank you for that. I want to ask about your
exhibit hall sound system and acoustics? That is also a wonderful response to a problem
that has affected users consistently. And so thanks for paying attention to that and finding
a solution. I just wondered if we have been able to address the flushing of the toilet that
interrupts events?
Mr. Santa: Truthfully, we cannot...we cannot eliminate it
entirely, because you would have to undergo major construction. It is a built-in feature for
the exhibit hall restroom. For some reason when it was built in 1970, they felt that was the
best type of toilet for it. So it has a large sucking sound. So the only way to diminish the
sound is to have the doors closed. It cuts it down substantially, although you still can hear
a faint sound, you know? But if they keep that door closed and as a result, I took off the
door stoppers, so they have to close the doors. Once you do that, you will not be disturbed.
Councilmember Yukimura: And it is not possible to install a different type of
toilet?
Mr. Santa: No, because you would have to tear down the
walls, because it is built in the walls. There is, but just a toilet that is directly connected to
the sewer system, into the wall. When you depress the handle, it just sucks everything
down. It is not...it is efficient in waste disposal, but it creates a loud noise.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, well that is the problem of single-purpose
planning. You do not address the other issues that I have to address. Thank you for the
explanation anyway. And then the new conference room that you have developed with an
outside entrance, I think that is very innovative, too. And hopefully we will take note of it
when we do our bathrooms, too.
Mr. Santa: The contractor started work today.
Councilmember Yukimura: Wonderful. Wonderful. I think you really are
going to...you are optimizing the use of a hall that is so used already. Thank you. I have
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your list of the renters and users of the Convention Hall...that is okay. If I think of my
question, I will follow-up in writing. With respect to the Creative Technology Center it does
appear to be win-win as the Parks Director has mentioned. As I remember, Mr. Tang
explaining there is going to be some ability to improve our system as well in the
auditorium. What kind of improvements are going to be involved?
Mr. Santa: Mainly, I am looking at improvements on the
back stage, behind the stage, the supporting areas. Right now those areas have not had
attention in renovation, we directed all of the efforts into the audience areas, the theater
itself. And somewhat on the stage, but the side areas and the back areas, the support
areas, restrooms particularly, are still not the best, in the best shape, you know?
Sometime it is kind of embarrassing if you have a high-profile performer to come in and
have to sit down in those restrooms. It is a little degrading, I think, in a way, but that is
what I am trying to see if we can improve on? And then it will also serve as a better
attraction for more high-end users to want to come here and perform at the Convention
Hall.
Mr. Rapozo: Can I add that the improvement of the sound
with the staging and curtains and the way the sounds bounce off.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think the way we record, too, right?
Mr. Rapozo: All of that is included and for a hardened facility
that is also an evacuation site during a hurricane, if you have ever been in the auditorium
without air conditioning it is pretty stifling. So as parts of the big addition we worked with
Man to have a generator on-site for emergencies, so at least when people are in there we
can at least get air-flow in there. That is a big one for us. The other improvements again
would be lighting, the sound, stage, and putting different barriers on the stage itself, to get
a better effect.
Councilmember Yukimura: It sounds like a real win-win and it is exciting to
think that we will have this Creative Technology Center capacity, as well as improve our
Convention Hall capacity.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Separate topic. So I am not sure where the
moneys show and maybe it is just all CIP, but the number 4 item on page 16, where you
talk about successes and achievements. It talks about the rehabilitation of Kaneiolouma
Heiau in Po`ipii. Is this in the Parks Department or is it in Economic Development?
Mr. Rapozo: The moneys are from Economic Development and
to better answer your answering of how Ho`olokahi works. Eddie would be the community
point of how we deal with different organizations doing Ho`olokahi projects. We just
reference whatever account that is and that money came out of OED, but Eddie serves as
the community point of where the interaction and the grant comes into play and he
facilitates the grant, but the funding comes from whatever source.
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Councilmember Kuali`i: So this is another example community-driven
programs going after Ho`olokahi grants. Is the County part of that or do we have anything
to do with the land there?
Mr. Rapozo: It is Parks & Recreation. It belongs to Parks &
Recreation. We manage it. We manage it.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So it is under restoration or rehabilitation now,
but one day, will that be considered a County park?
Mr. Rapozo: It is considered a County park.
Councilmember Kuali`i: It is.
Mr. Rapozo: We have the executive order. It is a stewardship
agreement between us and Kaneiolouma. Whatever happens in the park, they work with
us to okay, and then OED provides their funding. They are the funding mechanism, they
are a non-profit organization. So the funding is then through them and there is checks and
balances in terms of making sure that the grant has all of the proper documentation for the
project.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I have not been out there in a while, but the
years I did visit you would not know it was there because of the koa bushes. Is there any
kind of signage as far as this project is undergoing and it is of cultural significance? And
we are doing the Kaua`i Nui Kuapapa.
Mr. Rapozo: It is not something that...it is done in a
traditional way. There is signage there, but this is a heiau area and be respectful, but
nothing to glamorize it. But if you go online, and you Google, you will see it is been
cleared, totally cleared.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I just wanted to add so on Maui, in Lahaina, they
have Friends of Moku'ula and they are restoring this culturally significant site there. I
think when we get to the point where we can all start talking about it, we can probably help
them raise the moneys that they need to do even more. Since the County has already
invested and started to move forward, I think even in a respectful and sensitive way
about who can go on the site, and when and how, but ultimately as a public, County park,
we would have to move in that direction.
Mr. Rapozo: We already had some discussions that we are
moving towards that point.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Thank you.
Councilmember Yukimura: Did we cover Stadiums already?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Eddie was around so we went to Convention Hall
first. We will get to Stadiums. Any more questions for Convention Hall? Council Chair
Rapozo?
Council Chair Rapozo: It is a follow-up because you mentioned the $1
million insurance policy for the security company and I sent over a communication
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regarding the MMA event and I got the response that I just saw this morning. I am trying
to figure out what was...I guess the nexus for that one event, MMA event, we bumped the
thing up to $8 million? I checked with the other counties, no one does that. Everyone
charges $1 million.
Mr. Rapozo: I think the initial...and I do not know where the
other counties are having those events. Initially we used to have events at Hanapepe
Stadium by a different promoter. When this promoter first came in and wanted to do the
event, it was our first time. We have since scaled it back and it is now $2 million and $4
million and knowing how to handle that type of event...it is unbelievable. I know
Councilmember Yukimura was at one of those events. It was really eye-opening to see who
attends and the other side of it, in the event at the Convention Hall served alcohol. They
had a beer garden and we regulated they could only stay there and not be inside. But just
the nature of the event and the Convention Hall, we just had gotten new seats and we are
doing what we doing and just wanted to have assurances in case something did happen, any
kind of liability, that we had enough backing to cover it. It was my call as Director and
with the meetings with Risk Management and Attorneys that brought us to that decision
and put in place what we understand and not every place does that in terms of having
waivers signed and County indemnifications and people being on-site, and ready and able
to handle any other kind of situation that would occur, security was beefed up a lot and we
made all of these determinations based on the type of activity on what potentially could
have happened.
Council Chair Rapozo: I do not know anything about the last event. I
was actually on O`ahu for a funeral and a promoter from O`ahu when he found out I was
with the County, he asked me that question, how come it is $8 million I said I do not know.
Mr. Rapozo: It was, but now it is back down to $2 and $4
million.
Council Chair Rapozo: What is the $2?
Mr. Rapozo: We do general $2 million and $4 million
aggregate. Did the promoter also tell you that we only want Kaua`i promoters?
Council Chair Rapozo: No.
Mr. Rapozo: I will share that with you, since you are County
and says it sounds like you are discriminating and sounds like you have to be Kaua`i. I
made it that you have the required licensing to rent out the Convention Hall. How long has
MMA been around? Think about it, it has been around for a while. How come they have
not come to Kauai to promote it?
Council Chair Rapozo: Because the $8 million policy.
Mr. Rapozo: The MMA events have been going on for years,
but now we have a Kaua`i guy who does a really unbelievable job at the event, with the
flashing, it is a production. Okay? He sells the place out, sells out the beer garden, sell the
1,095 seats out and now some other guys want to do promotions here? If you are from
Kaua`i and something happened to the facility, you will walk around Kaua`i and people are
going to know that you damaged the facility and you are going to be responsible for it. I
am not trying to discriminate.
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Council Chair Rapozo: Lenny, that is what you are doing right now. I
think we ought to be careful, because that is what you are doing because it is a County
facility.
Mr. Rapozo: That is right.
Council Chair Rapozo: It is no different than alumni football from the
mainland doming over here and holding a football event. It is no different. I do not see
how...and again, I do not know this promoter. I met him at a funeral and somebody told
him I was a Councilmember and he asked me the question. I have no clue and have not
gone to an MMA fight and what is nexus? I am glad to hear it is $2 and $4, but if you look
at economic development and if they come from Honolulu or wherever, I do not know how
we can exclude anybody. I guess I will send something over to the County Attorney, but I
really do not see how we can say that Convention Hall is only for Kauai people.
Mr. Rapozo: For me the decision was made based on the
County of Kaua`i's best interest. I do not want somebody from off-island to come here and
damage the facility and they are gone and we have to chase them.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is why we have insurance.
Mr. Rapozo: I have to chase them for the insurance. If you
are from Kaua`i...
Council Chair Rapozo: Eddie said he just goes to a party here, a regular
party and he gets threatened and they do not leave.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: So that comes with the territory, I guess.
Mr. Rapozo: To fix the thing, and knowing how we have to go
about maintaining and what we have so far, I felt it was in the best interest of this County
that is the decision I made.
Council Chair Rapozo: And that was with the County Attorney?
Mr. Rapozo: Discussions with the County Attorney.
Council Chair Rapozo: The former County Attorney?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. His team.
Council Chair Rapozo: I think we are treading on very thin ice...
Mr. Rapozo: I think it was in the best interest.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is fair, Lenny. And I can respect that, but I
just likewise, we cannot be discriminating, because it is a County facility, a public facility
and if you are applying that standard to the stadium, if you apply...the bash...if you apply
that to any of these State tournaments that come here and use our facilities, I just do not
want to get sued.
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Mr. Rapozo: Based on the activity, that is why that activity
was asked for that insurance.
Council Chair Rapozo: Staff, I will send that question over, because
there has to be a legal nexus. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will stick to the budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: It is the budget because we are talking about the
insurance premium and we are talking about...we are talking about the use of the
facilities. We are excluding a big component.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not think we are excluding, but just go get
somebody...
Council Chair Rapozo: Everybody except people from Kaua`i, which I
think is dangerous.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Further questions on the Convention Hall? I had
a quick question, the water bill increase, we are paying to irrigate the Hardy Street
improvements? I just got laughs.
Mr. Rapozo: We are in ongoing discussions with Public Works
and that is what their intentions were. We are just being prepared in case we have to aim
in that direction.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: For me, I was thinking how far do the
improvements go out here? Are we setting up irrigation at the Convention Hall?
Mr. Rapozo: We are hoping that will change.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any further questions for Convention
Hall? No? Okay. We will move to...Convention Hall?
Councilmember Yukimura: On the water thing, you are hoping it will
change, the Convention Hall will not be responsible for the Hardy Street water?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Have you talked to Ed Tschupp about using R-1
water from the Lihu`e sewage treatment plant?
Mr. Rapozo: Is it available at the Convention Hall?
Councilmember Yukimura: I do not know.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not think it is available at the Convention
Hall.
Councilmember Yukimura: We were just downstairs during lunch talking
about the South Kaua`i Community Plan and you can bet that in California, they are
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thinking about this a lot; but using R-1 water for things like landscaping and stuff. And
you have to create two different systems.
Mr. Rapozo: We are working with them for the Waimea
Canyon Park to get that established there.
Councilmember Yukimura: All right.
Mr. Rapozo: So we are aware of R-1.
Councilmember Yukimura: I do not know who takes...I think it is in your
budget for the Ahukini gateway, right? All of the landscaping at the airport.
Mr. Rapozo: And the golf course uses the water from the
Lydgate sewage treatment plant.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Rapozo: So where we can, we do.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think it is going to be coming and you are not
that far from the sewage treatment plant. So you just might stay in touch with Ed Tschupp
and see when that might be breaking in terms of a system like that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: This is more of a comment than a question or we
could just have the grass grow and not irrigate it. You see it along the highway. I do not
think...
Councilmember Yukimura: You see it in front of the County building.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The grass grows, when it is dry, it dies, but it
rains again. We will move on to Stadiums. Any questions regarding the Stadiums?
Councilmember Kagawa? Did you want to say something first about Stadiums?
Mr. Rapozo: Other than we recently redesignated the Kapa'a
New Town Park as the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. That is now being considered a
Stadium complex as opposed to a park. That is the only change that we have had in that
Division.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Lenny, any vacancies under Stadiums
employees?
Mr. Rapozo: Currently there is no vacancy, but the Hanapepe
Park Caretaker II is temporarily being assigned to the west side supervisor's position.
We will be recruiting for the west side supervisor's position and that will become available
for internal recruitment.
Councilmember Kagawa: So there was some movement in our current staff
that created that vacancy?
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Mr. Rapozo: We had two, one passed away and that created a
vacancy that we filled. Vince was the west side boss and he was promoted. The TA comes
from the stadium...he is the senior guy.
Councilmember Kagawa: Understood. So Hanapepe is operating with one
less right now?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. One short.
Councilmember Kagawa: So we are filling that?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Before football season? Maybe?
Mr. Rapozo: Hopefully.
Councilmember Kagawa: Hopefully, thank you. Last question, this
concern kind of came up that the County employees noticed and brought it up to my
attention, I guess we open up the stadium really early in the morning, Vidinha stadium,
6:00.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, sometimes the boys start work.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think there was some concern that said is it
proper for the stadium to be opened up as a facility for the homeless to come and shower
and what have you? And my feeling is that that is not the purpose of the stadium. The
stadium is for people who want to walk the track, jog, change, shower before they come to
work, fine. But as far as a regular place to bathe and what have you, I kind of disagree.
Do we have a count of how many individuals showing up every morning are waiting for that
place to open to bathe?
Mr. Rapozo: I do not know about people waiting, but I share
the same agreement with you. It is not a community bathhouse. It is a place for the users
of the facility. So I share that same thing. Unfortunately, the boys, if they see them, they
will ask them to leave, but they are not readily looking for them. Because they do have
other priorities that they need to focus on. The comings and goings, we have had some
incidents where homeless people are locked in there and I get calls from the Police
Department with people yelling "help, help." They got locked in the locker room thinking
that they can hide and then later on get out. They do not know our staff locks the front
doors. So I have to go down at night with Police assistance to get them out. That is another
ongoing system. They are putting their personal items in lockers and staff is instructed to
cut the locks and it is not a community bathhouse, but the facility for users, I agree.
Councilmember Kagawa: The second question is how many people
actually go, normal people jogging earlier? I am thinking if it is under five people actually
going early in the morning, perhaps when the workers go in, do not open the bathroom until
the lunch crowd goes in and works out? Has thought been given to doing that? And that
way it will train them that it is not going to be open for their use exclusively at 6:00 a.m. or
what have you?
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Mr. Rapozo: We do not keep track of who comes in and goes. I
am sorry to tell you that, because the boys come in and they go out and do whatever they
have. I know there are some people that start before them and walk the parking lot. I
know some people have to use the bathroom as soon as the place opens.
Councilmember Kagawa: Right.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not know how we could really curtail...I do
not know how many people from the homeless community are still going there. I am sure
there must be, because people would see them, yes?
Councilmember Kagawa: I heard just for your information, I have heard
there is a homeless community right behind our house in Molokoa.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Just to follow-up on the question about Vidinha
Stadium. Are there people who might jog or run in the morning and then take showers
there?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: There are. So there are people who use the
showers.
Mr. Rapozo: Before work, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Just in terms of the organization do, these
three stadiums and the personnel who work there, are they managed by one person in
charge of stadiums? Who are the park caretakers accountable to?
Mr. Rapozo: Each stadium has a Park Caretaker II which
would be a working supervisor. Each stadium is under the different area supervisors.
In this case Bryan J. Baptiste facility and Vidinha facility would fall under the east Parks
Maintenance and Beautification Supervisor. Hanapepe Stadium falls under the west Parks
Beautification and Maintenance Supervisor and they fall under the Division Chief of Park
Maintenance and Beautification.
Councilmember Yukimura: Which is Vince.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions from the Members?
Council Chair Rapozo: I have one real quick, the scoreboard, Lenny.
We are going to address that this year?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. Will is gone.
Council Chair Rapozo: Did we buy new ones?
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Mr. Rapozo: We bought new ones for football, for Vidinha,
yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Thank you. The black background?
Mr. Rapozo: The white is a little difficult.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes. It is a good scoreboard, but hard to see.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not know if it is good. We have had a lot of
maintenance problems since I came to the Department.
Council Chair Rapozo: I mean as far as...when it works I should say,
when it works. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The electric and water bills increased
significantly. Is there a reason for the increase?
Mr. Rapozo: Electric and water bills?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: They are both up over 50%.
Mr. Rapozo: We are thinking that BJB would now become a
stadium.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: What was that? Bryan Baptiste?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. If you notice above that the personnel...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Currently the water and electric for the Bryan J.
Baptiste Stadium is going to parks? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So did it go minus somewhere else in the budget?
Mr. Rapozo: It should have...no, it did not.
Councilmember Yukimura: It does not? It did not? Does it come under
Parks Maintenance?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. I need to check that. It should have...it
mentions stadiums over here. That is why.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Parks and Recreation Maintenance, the electric
and water went down significantly.
Councilmember Yukimura: And we got the explanation for that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I thought it was because we were saving
electricity. I think it is because we are shifting it to another area.
Mr. Rapozo: Right. It should have gone down.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will pose it as a question and you can clear it
up later.
Mr. Rapozo: Parks Maintenance went from $167,000 to
$92,000. The water went from $310,000 to $267,000.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So technically everybody, as I believe I know
Transportation did, should have dropped their electricity bill just because of the cost of oil.
You know? I do not know if that happened very deliberately. We will send it as a question.
Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will send it as a clarifying question on the
electric and water bill, between the two, what are the changes? Any further questions for
Stadiums? No other questions. We will move on to the Wailua Golf Course.
Mr. Rapozo: Ian oversees the Wailua Golf Course and he will
handle the golf course.
Mr. Costa: Following Lenny's lead I was not going to read
through the narrative, but I wanted to ask if I could show a couple of videos in the first
one is sort of a documentary of the John A. Burns Tournament that we hosted for the
second year and it does document the importance of Wailua hosting. I will not play the
whole video, but just the beginning part.
John A. Burns Golf Tournament video clip was shown.
I asked Scott to stop it, nothing against Pono, but it goes on for a while after this.
This was a video that was recently shot through our promotional efforts with Economic
Development.
Wailua Golf Course promotional video clip was shown.
So the Kaua`i Visitors Bureau is going to use this video to help marketing. Our only
main comment that came back to the person that made it is that we need to change the
voice to a local non-Australian-accented voice.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Unless they are showing it in Australia.
Mr. Costa: True.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you for the video again. You have two out
of nine departments with a video. We have to have an exciting video next year.
Mr. Costa: I wanted to put that upfront and I asked Scott to
hand out an outline of...I guess in Fiscal Year 2015 a grant was given to Economic
Development to help promote the Wailua Golf Course. That is an outline of what it is that
they are doing and this video is one of those. This is a draft video. So it has not officially
come out yet.
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Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Was the goal of that video to try and attract the
tourists to come and play, come and visit Kaua`i?
Mr. Costa: Yes. If you look on the handout, we have joined
the Kauai Golf Co-op, which Kauai Visitors Bureau...
Councilmember Kagawa: My suggestion would be that you should have
gotten a video of the follow through swings of myself, Councilmember Rapozo, and
Councilmember Kaneshiro, because then you get to thinking that anybody can golf.
Those follow-throughs are too nice out there. You guys picked good golfers. I love that
collegiate tournament. There was some concerns brought up by the community. Because
during those days we do not collect our normal rounds of golf.
Mr. Costa: We close the course for four days.
Councilmember Kagawa: So how much revenue do we lose in fees
collections roughly per day?
Mr. Costa: I can get you that and February is typically our
highest month.
Councilmember Kagawa: I guess some of the concerns, they just wanted to
know how much we give up? And then they said why cannot schools like BYU at least pay
for the greens fees and the golf cart? Why do we have to make it free? I told the public it is
probably because if we do not waive something, they might not attend the tournament.
Mr. Costa: Actually it is not free and I have it to explain
that every year to UH. Lenny makes it a priority...actually we pick up the tab.
Councilmember Kagawa: We, the County picks up the tab?
Mr. Costa: Yes as one of our special projects.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. So it is shown...
Mr. Costa: Or least the fees and golf carts.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is that shown as revenue for the golf course? No?
Mr. Costa: Yes, by virtue of us paying, yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. If I can get in a follow-up what the...
Mr. Costa: I have thought about that too and never posed
the question, but it sure would be better for us if UH possibly could consider even doing it
in March. February is our peak.
Councilmember Kagawa: And if can I can get the total for the four days,
because non-golfers are concerned about the $1 million that we subsidize and there are four
days of golf that are given up during that time and that could close the gap a little bit. So I
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just wanted to know what the figure for those four days of loss revenue was. Thank you
Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Other questions from the Members? Council
Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: When did we start the credit card processing?
Mr. Costa: September of 2014.
Council Chair Rapozo: How is that going?
Mr. Costa: People love the convenience. I am not sure if it
increased by 10%. I know the people who buy monthly cards like all of us, they prefer to
use their credit card.
Council Chair Rapozo: I am talking about for the tourists.
Mr. Costa: The numbers have not come in quite yet to see
the real difference, but my sense is there is an increase in visitors.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is what the intent was for the visitors
coming in and did not have cash and had to leave.
Mr. Costa: Wailua is always historically people go there in
the morning, the locals play, and by 11:00, it starts...the windows are wide open, but now I
think you are going to find tourists checking in until about...and there is a little line at 2:00,
waiting for twilight rates. So probably until about 3:00. So yes, I think it has. The
numbers do not quite tell it yet.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Mr. Costa: But certainly the convenience to the regular
patrons, yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. Those were nice videos. Especially
the promotion, it made even me want to play golf. I mean, it makes you realize what a
beautiful course we have.
Mr. Costa: Yes. And you know, historically we have not
promoted the course. I guess over the last couple of years I have been working more and
more...and giving money to the Office of Economic Development for that purpose has really
helped us.
Councilmember Yukimura: Did that come from the Golf Fund? I mean from
the golf budget or from Economic Development's budget?
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Mr. Costa: Economic Development. That was part of the
grant, I believe.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Are we tracking whether it is going result
in more golf or more play or more fees?
Mr. Costa: As soon as we get it out, yes. We will begin to try
and track that.
Councilmember Yukimura: How are you going to track it?
Mr. Costa: I am not sure.
Councilmember Yukimura: You might want to ask Sue Kanoho how they do
that?
Mr. Costa: We are working with Sue right now and Nalani.
Councilmember Yukimura: We used to track by saying which...there were
response cards, this is back when they were doing fax-backs. People called for people and
you asked them what ad they saw? It would be good to track that. Are you offering
discounted fees?
Mr. Costa: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Because that is really not possible unless
the Council approves that, right?
Mr. Costa: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Are you looking at the fees schedule to see
whether it is working or you need to lower or raise certain classes of fees?
Mr. Costa: I am working with the Administration to propose
an amendment to the fees, not a drastic increase, but I just need to spend a couple of
months doing outreach with the Kaua`i Golf Association and others. I think the biggest
part of the people who play golf or the rounds of golf that I believe we need to try and
capture is the play of monthly cards. We may sell as an example, about 5,000 cards, for
instance and that will generate about 20,000 rounds. So rather than raise the cost of the
monthly card, a minimal charge on each round would make a huge difference.
Councilmember Yukimura: You are planning to propose...just like Mr.
Santa is planning to propose some fees?
Mr. Costa: Yes, we went through that exercise. I have gone
through that exercise as well.
Councilmember Yukimura: What exercise? The fee examination?
Mr. Costa: Revenue enhancements and I have a preliminary
fee amendment that I cannot share yet.
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Councilmember Yukimura: Sorry.
Mr. Costa: That I cannot share yet.
Councilmember Yukimura: Of course, I just want to know the timetable. So
you would be proposing that some time in this fiscal year?
Mr. Costa: Yes. I hope to get it through the Mayor, to
Council within two, three months.
Councilmember Yukimura: Two to three what?
Mr. Costa: Months.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Follow-up question. Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Follow-up question. I have this monthly card
here, and I will show it for the cameras, this is what it looks like. It costs $60.00 a month
for unlimited play. So the thought, if I could refresh what he said perhaps $1.00 or $2.00
fee for round would be assessed as well. So you said 5,000 of these cards are sold a month?
Mr. Costa: That was not an exact number, but it is a fair
comparison if we sell 5,000 cards, it generates roughly 15,000 to 20,000 rounds.
Councilmember Kagawa: Because I do not think there are 5,000...
Mr. Costa: No.
Councilmember Kagawa: If we could get that number, that would be
helpful. Another thing, if I can ask, one of the people that, of course besides Art Fujita, who
has spoken to me and former Councilmember Bob Yotsuda...I was wondering if you could
ask Art, if he is not on KGA, to be included in discussions with the Mayor? Because former
Councilmember Yotsuda is very wary about the concerns about how much we subsidize and
he realizes that playing with the fee structure, in recognizing that Kiahuna and Puakea
have lowered their rates to be more competitive with Wailua and there is a fine line to how
much you can play with those rates before you start losing players.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: And if you can work with them and involve them
with strategies, because I think they have a lot of knowledge to share. I think that would
be an easy sell to add a dollar...because what is a dollar per round, or even $2.00 per round?
But it certainly needs to be thought out before we implement. That way, at least if it does
not work, we can say we have worked with some of our experts, who have the knowledge
and we tried this out. But certainly there are ways to, like the monthly card for me it is a
disservice, because I barely play. I play like maybe four times. So maybe buying the
monthly card saves me $10.00-$20.00 and I would still buy the card. There are some
players that play 20-25 rounds per month.
Mr. Costa: Right.
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Councilmember Kagawa: And certainly I think you are tapping into an
area that we could be missing out, because at $20.00-$25.00, they are saving $1,000 per
month in green fees.
Mr. Costa: Right.
Councilmember Kagawa: I like the plan of trying to play with the fees.
You might want to look at even asking Bob folks for some advice on the twilight play as
well. I see a lot of tourists who look like they are beginners experiencing Wailua.
Mr. Costa: Along with that exercise, I did look at the other
counties, as well as the resort courses; the choices on Kaua`i. And you know, we are still
quite a deal. And so a minimal increase to me is reasonable. Inflation, everything costs
more, but we do not want to scare players and turn players away. It is a real balance. The
key is to keep the course filled with as many players as possible.
Councilmember Kagawa: The easy thought was we talked about raising
the non-resident play. And that is what Bob guys say, be very careful.
Mr. Costa: We saw that.
Councilmember Kagawa: Because once you go to that number that is too
high, they will go to Kiahuna, Kauai Lagoons, or Puakea.
Mr. Costa: In 2009 we raised that out-of-state daily rate, I
believe to $80.00. And within the next year, we lowered it back to $60.00. It was a big
drop-off.
Councilmember Kagawa: I do not know if you agree or disagree with me
that one of the reasons why it is difficult to compare 20 years ago, 30 years ago, when we
were self-sufficient with golf, compared to now where we are subsidizing $1.2 million,
whatever. The difference was we did not have Kiahuna and Puakea. So you have basically
more options for the tourists and we are all fighting after that tourist market to make us
money.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: That is why it is hard to compare, like breaking
even back then and breaking even now, right?
Mr. Costa: Right and hopefully through our marketing
promotion, as well as playing up the reputation of Wailua I think tourists will come. They
want to get a taste of the local course as well.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. The goal is obviously we want to
subsidize the golf course as least as possible, yet we want it to remain high-quality.
Because once that goes down, we will lose big time. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
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Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Thank you Ian for being here. So
the out-of-state resident pays $60.00 a round?
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: $60.00?
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is with a cart or not?
Mr. Costa: Without.
Council Chair Rapozo: What do they pay with the cart?
Mr. Costa: $20.00.
Council Chair Rapozo: So they pay $80.00 for the round? And our
residents pay $60.00 a month and they can golf as much as they want?
Mr. Costa: They have to pay for the cart too.
Council Chair Rapozo: So the $60.00 is just for the golf?
Mr. Costa: Actually, $60.00 regular resident. Then there is
a senior card, which I believe is what? Age 65? If I am not mistaken. That is $45. And
then we have a super senior, which is 75 and they pay $26.
Council Chair Rapozo: I know that we talk about this as well every
budget and, in fact I think we have had you here off budget to discuss the golf course.
There is going to come a point and I understand outreach is good and I think it is
important. But there comes a point where we have to figure out where that point is? And I
think that it would be very fair that if the card had punch cards. So the card gives you "X"
amount of free included rounds and if you go beyond that, there is a fee. And it may be a
discounted fee or whatever it is. But I do not know what percentage of those cards of each
of those categories that you talked about, how many rounds, average rounds per card we
actually are seeing? I do not know if there is any way...I would assume.
Mr. Costa: I would just take the total cards sold divided by
rounds played.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do we have that data?
Mr. Costa: The totals.
Council Chair Rapozo: Total rounds with the cards?
Mr. Costa: Yes. Actually I think...well, I will send it again.
All of the revenue summaries I submitted last year, they have a summary of rounds played
under each category.
Council Chair Rapozo: Of each card?
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Mr. Costa: And there is another summary of monthly card
rounds for each category.
Council Chair Rapozo: Because I think for the guy, like Ross,
Councilmember Kagawa, he gets a good deal because he saves money, but the person who
golfs 20-25 times, beyond the deal stage, it is now a steal and at some point we have got to
balance it.
Mr. Costa: For the super seniors, seniors, it is good for them
to get out and get exercise.
Council Chair Rapozo: I agree and believe me, I am not saying that we
raise the prices and I still want to honor the card, but giving them "X" amount of rounds per
month.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: But the problem that I hear from people that
they get a hard time to get out in the morning.
Mr. Costa: Yes, in the morning. And checking into the other
counties, I believe we are the only County that does not have some kind of a limit on that
card. I think Honolulu you cannot use that card on weekends.
Council Chair Rapozo: We give up a lot of revenue.
Mr. Costa: I believe they limit the number rounds. What
was also interesting, we are the only...well, us and Honolulu that have a resident rate,
which is a Hawaii resident rate. But the County of Hawaii and the County of Maui, they
are Maui resident rate and Hawaii resident rate, and then you pay non-resident.
Council Chair Rapozo: The reason for that is that the Kauai people pay
property taxes and others do not subsidize the course.
Mr. Costa: I see the logic there. I am pointing out that our
rates allow Hawaii residents.
Council Chair Rapozo: And maybe that needs to be changed. Thank
you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you. Hi Ian. One of the things we were
talking about is last time you were here is about how to increase the tournament plays,
because that is where you can really generate some income. How have we done there in
terms of increases?
Mr. Costa: Actually, I am not sure that tournaments
generate...because they really tie up the whole course.
Councilmember Chock: Right.
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Mr. Costa: They generally pay a set rate, the resident rate.
Councilmember Chock: That is not what we are promoting?
Mr. Costa: I think it helps get Wailua out there, and bring
return players, but most tournaments, other than specialty tournaments like UH, or even
some pro-events and that is another thing I need to do is send out some invitations to the
LPGA, PGA, to invite them to look at bringing some tournaments. That does not
necessarily help the revenue per se. I mean the only free play, if you look at the ordinance
is PGA players, which those are the people that can afford to pay.
Councilmember Chock: Right.
Mr. Costa: But it does sort of promote the course and
maintain the mystique, which draws people to the course.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: In terms of what we charge at the golf course, do
we charge others for other athletic activities, tennis courts? Soccer, football, baseball?
Mr. Costa: Thank you for asking. I guess I have always
tried to preface this presentation by saying that Wailua is Kaua`i's only public golf park.
No, we really do not, but we did do a comparison of what it costs. By way of personnel,
electricity, utilities, for maintaining our other play fields and stadiums. Roughly it is about
$1.7 million. Then I look at comparison in acreage, total acreage of all of these play field
and it is about 150 acres...Wailua is 180 acres.
Councilmember Hooser: So we pay about $1.7 million to maintain our
other sports fields? And they total about?
Mr. Costa: Softball, soccer, and football.
Councilmember Hooser: And our costs to maintain the Wailua Golf
Course?
Mr. Costa: It is $2.2 million.
Councilmember Yukimura: $2.3.
Councilmember Hooser: So it costs about $2.3 to maintain the Wailua
course and it costs $1.7 to maintain the other facilities?
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: I think it is just good information as you
mentioned, for people to put it in perspective. We charge for some and we do not charge for
others.
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Mr. Costa: Yes, we did do the summary and if you want, I
could submit this in a follow-up, too. It just lists all the different play fields and the
personnel costs and utilities.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. Thank you very much.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I just wanted to say I love the general trend of
this conversation, and I have not even said a word except right now. I am really delighted.
I want to ask you about your improvements on the repair and replacement of aging and
failed potable water lines. Is that something that you have done or you are going to do?
Mr. Costa: We do have a budgeted amount of CIP $20,000
and I did put together a bid ready to go when we went to certify funds and rechecked our
estimate, actually that is...we did not go out because it is not enough. And I even looked at
repackaging the front 9 versus the back 9. But we need to find some more money before we
do that.
Councilmember Yukimura: This is the second incident today where there
was recalculation and stoppage of a project due to an estimate that is not workable; that
does not do for good flow of your projects. So you have this...is this in the budget for this
year? Or not?
Mr. Costa: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: Now you also have upcoming initiative, replace
existing potable water lines serving the remote...
Mr. Costa: That is it.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is the same thing?
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And how many feet of line are you replacing?
Are you replacing the whole system? Because it must be pretty old.
Mr. Costa: Yes. Initially the plans were done I could not say
it replaces the whole system. It replaces what goes out on to the golf course. Not what is
realistically a spider web under the parking area and clubhouse which should be replaced
at some point.
Councilmember Yukimura: The reason you are not doing it is because it is
too hard of a project?
Mr. Costa: No, I guess it just requires two to three times as
much. We have to tear up the parking lot and we have to repave everything.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you have as-builts?
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Mr. Costa: No, there are the original clubhouse plans, which
are the only as-builts we have. But I have, using other methods, tracked the lines that go
out and how lines have been changed or added. So there is no accurate set of plans.
Councilmember Yukimura: If these lines are deteriorating, there is going
to be leakage that we will be paying for on an ongoing basis until we fix it.
Mr. Costa: There is a potential for that, yes. As was the
case last year when we did find a spike or see a spike in the water bill and then found that
leak, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: How much did that cost us, until it was found?
Mr. Costa: I think about $6,000, $8,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: Total or per month?
Mr. Costa: I think it was about three months, that it slowly
increased until we fixed it.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. Okay. Well, if it is an aging system and it
is going to continue to get greater and greater that we are going to get this kind of leakage.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So it seems like somewhat of an urgent problem,
but you are only looking at a portion of it and not the spider web under the parking lot and
the buildings?
Mr. Costa: I guess the part of the rationale there was that
out in the remote areas of the course, it is harder to detect a leak or find evidence of a leak.
Councilmember Yukimura: So might it not just be cheaper to get...or in the
long run, cheaper to get a consultant to scope out the whole work and then...even if it is by
phases to do it and consider trenchless work? Or maybe just reinstall, so you do not even go
under the parking lot?
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: You just exempt the whole area under the
parking lot and detour around it with a new water system? I mean, that kind of analysis.
Mr. Costa: That is the approach you would take is not to
replace pipe for pipe, but actually put a new system of pipe in, such as we were going to do
on the golf course portion. And tie in where you know you can tie in.
Councilmember Yukimura: So what is the most cost-effective way of getting
that plan?
Mr. Costa: I am not sure...which plan is that?
Councilmember Yukimura: The plan to do this work?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Costa: Update my estimate for repairing the line on the
course, as well as do an estimate for replacing the parking lot, building area. I mean,
clearly, areas within the building. Well, are likely not feasible to dig up. And I think given
the upgrades within the last 20 years to the bathrooms, upgrades that I did to the
restaurant, I think for the most part, the clubhouse is really the infrastructure that feeds
those. I can work on figuring out what those costs would be at least in the parking lot area,
but I believe we are looking at $60,000 for the...a minimum of $60,000 for the golf course
area and least that much...probably double within the pavement area.
Councilmember Yukimura: So $180,000 total?
Mr. Costa: Probably.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is going to come from a General Fund,
additional subsidy to the Golf Fund?
Mr. Costa: Unless we can find some other means.
Councilmember Yukimura: What is your timetable for doing this? It is not
proposed in this budget, so you will wait for the following Fiscal Year 2017 to propose in the
budget?
Mr. Costa: I am actually working with Keith, to see if there
is a way to at least put these plans that are prepared out to bid? And find a little bit more
money to subsidize the $20,000 to at least do part of the course.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. We have talked to Parks and Buildings
about having a preventative maintenance plan that keeps our facilities in good shape on an
ongoing basis rather than waiting for a crisis and then having to do reconstruction or
replacement. Does the golf course have such...I guess they are calling it an assets
management plan...does the golf course have one?
Mr. Costa: Not at this time.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there any plan to do one?
Mr. Costa: Yes, within the Department, with the asset
management of all our facilities.
Councilmember Yukimura: You do not have that in upcoming initiatives, but
if you are planning to do it, is that something that will be done this year?
Mr. Costa: I am not sure.
Mr. Rapozo: As we previously discussed, for the record,
Director of Parks & Recreation, Lenny Rapozo. Everything with the assets management
plan we hope to complete by starting to get off the ground by December of this year as I had
mentioned earlier to you. That will be the whole Department.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. So included in this asset management
plan that you are developing will be the golf course?
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And that will come to us at the end of this year?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Very good. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kuali'i?
Councilmember Kuali`i: Just quickly, back at fees and charges. When
you said there was an increase to $80 and you found that was a bad thing and you had to go
back down to $60. What year was that?
Mr. Costa: 2009 is when it was...
Councilmember Kuali`i: 2009.
Mr. Costa: The ordinance was amended to set the fees in
1980 and in 2010 back.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So since 2010, no changes?
Mr. Costa: Correct.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So as a part of your...because the golf fee rate
review potential amendments, are you looking at anything that would impact the upcoming
fiscal year? Are you reviewing it now? Can we expect anything soon?
Mr. Costa: Yes, I hope so. It will impact this fiscal year.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Can you then as part of the work that you are
giving us information back, provide a historical analysis of the fees and charges from the
past, that goes at least before 2009, so we can see where the change happened?
Mr. Costa: Yes. And to clarify, not the current operating
budget, but this budget we are looking at.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Yes.
Mr. Costa: As far as being impacted.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Yes, July 1St and forward. Which if the fees
change, we would have more revenues and less of those subsidies potentially.
Mr. Costa: That is my intent.
Councilmember Kuali`i: So give us the historical analysis. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Ian, let me do some simple math in
my question. If you have 100 players from the mainland, pay...say the group, Bob Yotsuda
and Art Fujita folks say that you know the mainland rate is too high? We will go down to
$50.00 and you get 100 players a day, who are going to start playing at $50.00 and leave it
at $60.00 now and based on our average, I do not know what the numbers and I want to see
the numbers, but say we have 60 per day playing at $60.00, by lowering it, it could possibly
make $2,000 a day more.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: If we are saying there is a lot of empty space in
the afternoon, then I am saying the only way to raise revenue...it may not be to increase
every rate. Maybe the mainland rate has to come down? As I said we have Kiahuna and
Puakea who are fighting for those dollars. If it is cheaper to go there, they are going to go
to Puakea or Kiahuna. You know what I am saying?
Mr. Costa: I do and thank you for bringing that up.
Councilmember Kagawa: Let us keep that option open.
Mr. Costa: We are the highest.
Councilmember Kagawa: I am just saying that we have got to find a way to
maximize the play and maximize the numbers because that is our bread and butter, it is
our money-maker and you, Lenny, the Mayor, to come down from $60.00 and try and see if
we can up the play. Until we know what the actual average day play is, then it is hard to
guesstimate what kind of...
Mr. Costa: I will resend the up-to-date revenue summaries.
Councilmember Kagawa: The second thing is when did we stop giving
the...getting the golf balls, driving range golf balls revenue?
Mr. Costa: That was when we put out the bid for the new
proshop?
Councilmember Kagawa: That was?
Mr. Costa: It started effective August of 2014.
Councilmember Kagawa: So that is how much a month, about?
Mr. Costa: At the time, prior to putting out that bid, the
revenue ranged from between $5,000 to $7,000 a month.
Councilmember Kagawa: So $60,000 to $70,000 a year of golf ball revenue?
In closing I just want to say, you cannot only criticize the golf course because three years
ago when I came on, we had a proshop that was closed and a restaurant that was closed.
And man, you guys did a really great job in not only getting...you guys had to play around
with the bids and in the process fixed up a lot of things that were oil traps or whatever that
were just in bad shape. I want to commend the work that you have done in the kitchen.
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Costa: Our concessionaires are doing well. They have
healthy businesses because they benefited from bidding at a time following the economic
downturn...nobody else was bidding. The prices were as low as they have been.
Councilmember Kagawa: At some point, we may get a better price for
when the bids are up?
Mr. Costa: Which will be at least for the restaurant and the
proshop roughly in three years.
Councilmember Kagawa: In three years.
Mr. Costa: The golf carts I believe are coming up in about
two years.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for the golf course?
Councilmember Yukimura?
Councilmember Yukimura: Is not it true that we could attract more of the
regular non-resident players if we freed up some of the primetime?
Mr. Costa: I am not sure how true that is. I am sure we
could gain some customers.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean if you are charging them the prime rate,
would you not give them primetime?
Mr. Costa: During the week days, that is not as much of an
issue as it is on weekends. Simply because the weekend tee times for clubs are set in
advance through the Kauai Golf Association.
Councilmember Yukimura: So that the clubs that pay the least money are
having the primetimes? And therefore, people who want to pay the regular fee do not have
those times?
Mr. Costa: Well, I think that is part of the discussion we
need to have with the clubs and the old timers.
Councilmember Yukimura: If you are talking about increasing that higher-
paying customer, is that not something that you have to look at?
Mr. Costa: Yes. I think another avenue that I need to look
at it is a trend, is to enlist services or companies, like Golf Now. Where you book your tee
times online. They at least claim they can increase our revenues 15-20%. They serve all of
the other courses on Kauai, except Kukuiolono, but all the resorts' courses. So visitors,
when you book your trip six months ago, you could actually plug in and book your tee times.
If you go online to look at Puakea, Princeville, it is all booked up.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, if that is standard practice, then the
clientele are used to that kind of convenience.
April 6, 2015
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Mr. Costa: I need to work with Purchasing to see what kind
of procurement obstacles that we have because all they asked for return for that service is
give them one time a day.
Councilmember Yukimura: They probably assume primetime goes to prime
payers. I am assuming that is how it happens with most golf courses, so they are probably
used to that framework.
Mr. Costa: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? I have a quick question.
In "other services" we have tree-trimming $62,000, is that something that could be
replaced with the new tree-trimming positions.
Mr. Costa: That is coconut trees. The Wailua Golf Course is
full of trees that have not been cut for 20, 30 years plus. So I am trying to get our crew to
Wailua, but that is for coconut trees.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: So all the trees in the budget are coconut trees?
Mr. Costa: Yes, because we cannot bid the trees that were
historically cut by personnel.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Sounds good. Any further questions for Golf
Course? No? Let us move on to our final item Improvement and Maintenance Fund. I
think it is on the last page. It is just a lump sum.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes. Prior to last budget, it was a special fund,
but the last budget it was put in as part of our budget at the end of the...at the end of our
budget as a way to access those moneys.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. It is on page 325. Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there any narrative that goes with this?
Mr. Rapozo: I did not prepare a narrative, no.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there a proposal of the projects that are going
to be done this year?
Mr. Rapozo: We are still working on ongoing projects such as
the Spouting Horn concessions. We want to redo the Spouting Horn vendor booths and we
were expecting it to cost about $400,000. $100,000 for the design work that is out to bid or
has been awarded and $300,000 we think it will cost for construction. The rest of those
moneys we have left there to do other maintenance as they come up and we talked about
possibly doing some fencing. We are still working with completing some fencing from this
fund.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
April 6, 2015
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Councilmember Yukimura: The Spouting Horn booths are the most pressing
of repair problems of Parks?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, definitely, they are weathered and need to
be replaced. And there are...I do not want to use the term "slum lord" but they need to be
replaced. It is a new five-year agreement and these people are generating revenue for the
County and we should move to replace those booths.
Councilmember Yukimura: How much are they generating a year?
Mr. Rapozo: They are the largest paying concessions for the
Department of Parks & Recreation.
Councilmember Yukimura: How much are they generating a year?
Mr. Rapozo: $400,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: A year?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So if you have a list of ongoing and proposed
projects, can you submit that to us?
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Just for clarity purposes there are two amounts
in this. Is it $296,422 for special projects Parks Repair and Maintenance Fund and
$296,447 or am I reading it wrong? I got it. The dollar-funded amounts ended up making
the total a little higher.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes.
•
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: So we are basically looking at $296,419 number.
On page 325. Any further questions? Councilmember Kuali'i?
Councilmember Kuali`i: So why...at some point, like in 2014 there was a
change? This used to be under CIP or General Fund? I mean 2015-2016 we see a $300,000
line item, but in 2014 is $2,000, 2103, is $100 it is a significantly lower amount. So I am
assuming maybe repair & maintenance from other funds prior?
Mr. Rapozo: All of the moneys generated in this fund was set
up to go to Parks maintenance. And up until last fiscal year, the requirements for use of
the funds, the checks and balances were the Mayor and the Finance Director. The
ordinance was changed by this body, so now it is part of the budget process. The bids that
we currently now hold, the bids are about half of what we used to get. We currently get
about $24,703.88 per month. If you times that number by 11, it is kind of what we get per
year.
(Councilmember Kagawa is noted as leaving the meeting at 3:07p.m.)
April 6, 2015
Department of Parks & Recreation (ss)
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Councilmember Kuali`i: The last part of the question, because when I was
asking the questions about Adopt-a-Park and the Ho`olokahi program, are any of those
funds for those purposes in this line item?
Mr. Rapozo: What I have tried to do with these funds is to
take care of the Spouting Horn Po`ipu area needs, yes. We did some of that with
Kaneiolouma, some of the funds, previous projects with Kaneiolouma came out of here. The
rest of the maintenance I have been using these moneys as if we had no other source of
money. These funds were leveraged in the previous two budgets to help the General Fund
with their needs to alleviate some of the R&M in Park Maintenance and some of the needs
of Recreation. Some of the moneys came out of here. So this is something that the balance
eventually would need to meet the $271,000 that we get every year, and that is how this
money has been used in the past and currently is ongoing being used now. It is important
to note that they are the largest concessions that the County has, that we need to make the
place nicer and more inviting for them to come and buy stuff there or when people want to
rent.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So if the Spouting Horn booth replacement is
going to take $400,000, or you said $100,000 was for design?
Mr. Rapozo: Design.
Councilmember Yukimura: 25% was for design? That is really high. Did you
hire somebody?
Mr. Rapozo: It went out to bid, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And $300,000 is going to be for construction?
Mr. Rapozo: That is what we anticipate, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where is the money, because this only has
$300,000?
Mr. Rapozo: We have it set aside in here. I do not think...I
am not real sure what your numbers are, but my balances are prior to...what my
unassigned balance looks like at June 30th is almost $700,000 with the incoming revenue
now. And what the unassigned balance from what I have from July 31, 2014 was $420,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: And so why is that not in the budget?
Mr. Rapozo: Between July 2014 until today, some of these
moneys have been expended and they have gone down. I think what is happening, I am
not real sure if the additional $271,742.68 has been added into this. Which would be what
the total of revenue that we would generate from the lease of these booths at the end of
June 2015.
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Councilmember Yukimura: Why would they not be in there? Should they not
be revenues...part of the revenues in our budget? Can we have Finance give us some input
on this?
KEN M. SHIMONISHI, Director of Finance: Aloha Councilmembers, Ken
Shimonishi, Director of Finance. So what happened was when we looked back at the
ordinance, you know, the initial Spouting Horn or Parks Improvements Maintenance
Revolving Fund was setup and the language in there included these funds are appropriated
upon receipt. That ordinance was in 2008, I believe. And then in May of 2013, Ordinance
No. 941 was then passed by the Council, requiring the funds or the fees and revenues to be
placed back into the operating budget ordinance. So as of May 2013 and prior, whatever
funds had accumulated and approved by the then Director of Finance and the Mayor
toward these projects were held aside and anything going forward we have now included in
the operating ordinance. So what you see in the operating ordinance in front of you now is
the actual current revenues that we expect to collect for this year going forward. The
$296,000. And what Lenny is referring to are moneys that he had already gotten approval
for to fund some of these projects going forward. So there is a little bit of...I think
miscommunication on where the funds were and how they got there previously to what we
are looking at within the budget for 2016 going forward.
Councilmember Yukimura: So then there of all the projects approved prior to
May of 2013 or March of 2013, we would like an accounting of what has been completed and
what has fallen off the charts? And what moneys are not assigned to a project, unless they
have been reassigned and then I think I need a legal question as to be reallocated by Parks
or the ordinance needs to be appropriated by the Council?
Mr. Shimonishi: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. So Ken, will you be providing that?
Mr. Shimonishi: I will work with the Parks Fiscal staff who has
those numbers prior to May 2013 and after.
Councilmember Yukimura: So basically...there is about $700,000 that came
before the ordinance. That is still unexpended.
Mr. Shimonishi: That is likely, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. And so this $296,000 is the new
revenues that have come in since that ordinance.
Mr. Shimonishi: It is the revenues that we are projecting to
receive.
Councilmember Yukimura: For this year.
Mr. Shimonishi: For this coming year.
Councilmember Yukimura: All right, I am sorry, go ahead.
Mr. Shimonishi: That is all right.
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Councilmember Yukimura: These are projected revenues.
Mr. Shimonishi: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: What happened to the other revenues that have
been created since March, 2013.
Mr. Shimonishi: That can be provided with the projects' list you
are asking for in terms of what is the fund balance? What was collected since then? And
what has been expended since then? Because this is the second year, I believe, that we
have now included this money in the operating budget.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean, because those moneys, any money...any
revenues produced since the ordinance need to be part of this budget.
Mr. Shimonishi: And I guess it is the question of...well, I will just
say that we will provide the fund balance that is available for Council's discretion.
Councilmember Yukimura: Appropriation.
Mr. Shimonishi: Appropriation.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Shimonishi: And provide the accounting between prior to May
2013 and after May 2013. Because again, that is where we are saying after 2013, which is
when the ordinance passed would be at discretion of Council to do the appropriations.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on the Improvement and
Maintenance Fund? If not, I think we are going to end for today. So thank you again.
Thank you Parks and Recreation for being here and thank you, Councilmembers. I would
like to recess the Departmental Budget Reviews, and we will reconvene at 9:00 a.m.
tomorrow and will be here for the Fire Department and Police Department.
Councilmembers, and B.C., we will start at 8:30 a.m. as the Mayor will be doing a
Proclamation to recognize National County Service Day of Recognition that was requested
by Councilmember Kuali'i. So 8:30 a.m. here tomorrow. Okay? Thank you.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 3:16 p.m.