Thursday, October 25, 2007

Super Ferry fall out

Sad Sad day for Hawaii. Due to the Government not following the lay of the law we may risk loosing our new Super Ferry. The island meetings showed people don't want to open their shores to their neighbor islands.

Benefits:
Open trade and commerce between the islands for farmers/etc.
provide us with an alternate method to get on and off island.
handicapped people can travel with their electric wheel chairs.
you can save a huge amount of money shipping a vehicle interisland.
Horses can be sold and compete against the neighbor islands.

Negative impact:
No plan or area to stage vehicles and people coming and going on the Ferry.
To many cars on Big Island already, can't handle another 300 to 500 cars a day.
no camping areas for interislanders/ or residents.
no hiking trails except at the volcano national park.
Hawaii has agreed to pay 140 million to this project without the will of the public.
This should have had a infastructure rule in place prior to approval.

We really do want the Super Ferry, if only there weren't so many nay sayers.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

response to WHT 4/21/07 No split!

Why don’t we need another County!

Are you kidding? Our Council has great reasons why we don’t need another county.

We don’t have the buildings. Oh yea. We don’t have any buildings right now. We just rent on the west side while we spend millions and millions on renovating the old mall in Hilo. (We could have built a brand new building for half the price and created rentals to have pay for it, but no! let’s spend it on asbestos removal, etc….) NO BENEFIT to West Hawaii.

We don’t have the man power to run a second county. Oh yea. We have smart people in Hilo running our waste management straight into the ground. So Barbara Bell finally retires (should have been canned years ago) and who do we hire. Someone with an Engineering degree and experience working directly with a working waste management company. No a good friend of Harry Kim’s, and someone that has been around for awhile. Sure we need good people but not like this.

The water is being carried by Hilo. Give me a break. We just paid for our own water in Kona Coastview. The County is semi autonomous from the Water Department. That means they do what they want. FYI the Wells are paid for by the State of Hawaii and dedicated to the County to operate. If the Water Department was doing anything for us they would be growing the system buy helping provide water to so much of the island. The federal money IS there we just aren’t smart enough to work with the tax payers and government to make it affordable.

Stacy Higa says Hilo has carried the west side and now it is time for the other way around. Give me a break. There was no population on the west side for many, many years and they did a great job caring us as you can see with our ONE road around the island.

Our Mayor goes to Asia to help them with emergency planning. God forbid there is a real emergency because the blue evacuation signs will surely help thousands of people flee Alii Dr. safely. Honestly. Are we prepared?

The County Council is a JOKE. That is why I have bowed out. It is like talking to a brick wall. We really need a County for the people and by the people. We do need qualified people to operate the county. People with experience and just friends and family. We need County management of their own personnel. Not sleeping county workers at the old airport.

Until the next census is done and shows how many people are really living here we don’t have a chance. Until we elect Council members and a mayor that see the island as a whole we don’t have a chance. Until the people of the Island of Hawaii step up to the plate and become involved then we will continue to send all of our money to Hilo to spend as they see fit.

Ok so the head in the sand approach is much easier then fighting for equality. 70% of the taxes of this island are generated by the west side and what are we getting for our money? You tell me. Think about it while you are sitting in traffic.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Council Actions Delayed

IMPORTANT COUNCIL ACTIONS DELAYED

THE AGENDA HAD 9 ITEMS THAT REQUIRED A 2/3 VOTE TO PASS (6 of 9 members)
5 MEMBERS - HOFFMANN, PILAGO, JACOBSON, YAGONG, AND FORD
STAYED FOR THE MEETING TO CONDUCT BUSINESS
4 MEMBERS - HIGA, IKEDA, YOSHIMOTO, AND NAEOLE
LEFT MEETING CAUSING 9 ITEMS TO BE POSTPONED
NO VOTE TAKEN CAUSES DELAYS IN SERVICES ISLAND WIDE!
PROJECTS POSTPONED:
HILO LANDFILL RELOAD FACILITY - POSTPONEMENT COST THE TAXPAYERS $168,000
LA'IOPUA CONNECTOR ROAD PROJECT
WEST HI EMERGENCY SHELTER
PUBLIC WORKS TO DEVELOP 20-30 YEAR STRATEGY FOR ROADWAYS
FUNDS FOR EARTHQUAKE DAMAGES
FACILITIES FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION IN THE PUNA AREA
KULAIMANO PARK EXPANSION
ESTABLISHING SCENIC CORRIDORS
TO CLARIFY:
CHAIRMAN HOFFMANN AND COUNTY CLERK CASEY JARMAN NOTIFIED ALL COUNCILMEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF ON 2/12/07 (10 days prior to meeting date) THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN MEETING SCHEDULE.
THE CHANGE WAS TO ALLOW ALL COUNCILMEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE BLESSING FOR THE EXPANSION OF PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU (City of Refuge) NATIONAL PARK AND TIME TO ATTEND MAYOR KIM'S "STATE OF THE COUNTY" ADDRESS TO THE KONA-KOHALA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE NOTIFICATION, WHICH CAME ON 2/12/07 ALSO ASKED COUNCILMEMBERS TO CONTACT THE CLERK IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS AND THANKED EVERYONE FOR THEIR COOPERATION.
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO SERVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS...
THEIR VOTES ARE VITAL TO THE WELL BEING OF THE COUNTY.
NO VOTE, NO GRUMBLE!!!
YOU CAN
WRITE WEST HAWAI'I TODAY AND/OR HILO TRIBUNE HERALD NEWSPAPER TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING COUNCIL BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ONLY NEEDED A MAJORITY VOTE (5 of 9 members)
RES. 41-07 URGES LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT PUBLICLY FUNDED ELECTIONS
Passed
Ayes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford, Yagong
Noes: Ikeda
Absent: Higa, Naeole, Yoshimoto
RES. 46-07 RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE FISCALLY PRUDENT IN CONSTRUCTING THE WEST HI CIVIC CENTER.
This Resolution is being introduced by Councilman Ikeda requesting the Council to delete several components (the Kids
play area, the Community Amphitheater and the Museum from the West Hawai'i Civic Center plan proposed by the
Administration. Mr. Pilago voted against this resolution because he supports the administration's efforts to create a
"Community Center" and "Gathering Place" rather that just a government building.
Failed
Noes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford, Yagong
Ayes: Ikeda
Absent: Higa, Naeole, Yoshimoto
RES. 47-07: CREATES A WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN KONA OCEAN VIEW PROPERTIES
Passed
Ayes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford, Yagong, Ikeda
Noes: None
Absent: Higa, Naeole, Yoshimoto
BILL 19 (DRAFT 3) PROVIDES TIMING FOR DEPOSITS FROM 2% OF PROPERTY TAXES INTO THE OPEN SPACE FUND
Ayes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford, Yagong
Noes: None
Absent: Higa, Naeole, Yoshimoto, Ikeda
Thank you for your interest and participation in County Government
Angel, Isaac, Maile and Karen
Councilman K. Angel Pilago
Council District 8, North Kona
808-327-3642
kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us

Monday, February 19, 2007

Council Meetings come to Kona.

COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN KONA
February 21st and 22nd
Show your support for
having Council meetings in West Hawai'i.
Please attend the meetings below at the
Sheraton Keauhou.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, February 21st
8:30 AM - PUBLIC WORKS
10:00 AM - PLANNING
2:00 PM - FINANCE
3:30 PM - HUMAN SERVICES
Thursday, February 22nd
8:30 AM - ENVIRONMENT
9:00 AM - PUBLIC SAFETY
Also Thursday...
1:30 PM - COUNCIL MEETING starts after lunch to allow Council members to attend the blessing for the acquisition of Ki'ilae @ Pu'uhonua o Honaunau starting at 10:00 am and the Kona Kohala Chamber Lunch w/ keynote speaker Mayor Kim.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
<>
OPEN ATTACHED COMMITTEE INDEX FOR AGENDA AT A GLANCE
FOR COMPLETE AGENDA CLICK LINK TO COUNTY WEBSITE/AGENDA
http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/council/agendas_and_actions.htm
THERE ARE 37 ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMITTEES.
SOME OF THE ITEMS OF INTEREST TO KONA INCLUDE:
8:30 AM - PUBLIC WORKS and INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
COMM. 163 (RES. 69-07):
APPOINTS KENNETH GOODENOW AS THE DEPUTY COUNTY CLERK
COMM. 164: (RES. 70-07):
APPOINTS COLLEEN SCHRANDT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR
Testimony for Public Works Committee should be addressed to
Chairperson Brenda Ford and Committee Members
And sent to:
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Or FAX to
961-8912
10:00 AM - PLANNING
COMM 156: (BILL 44)
CHANGES THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION FROM AGRICULTURAL - 1 ACRE (A-1a) TO
OPEN (O) AT PUUANAHULU, NORTH KONA, HAWAI'I, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY 7-1-5:9 AND 7-1-7:44-47 (Planning Director Initiated) This is a down-zone and is a condition of a previous change of zone at Pu'uanahulu. The Open space will allow for a community park and related recreational facilities as well as an already approved golf course. Although the Council approved the resolution to not re-zone in North Kona until the CDP is adopted...this one is OK because it is a public benefit and down zones the property involved.
COMM. 181:
REVIEW AND COMMENT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON A DRAFT ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT PROCEDURE REQUESTED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL (2004 - 2006 term) Presentation by Chris Yuen, Planning Director, explaining why the Planning Commission voted to send a DENIAL or NEGATIVE recommendation to the Council for the draft bill introduced by Mr. Higa last term. The Planning Commission and the Planning Director are recommending that the Council adopt a modified version that would change the procedures for making General Plan Amendments. Mr. Yuen will ask for Council's support for Planning Director's draft bill which makes changes in the procedures that will allow for clarity and simplicity
BILL 345 (DRAFT 2):
RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY
This Bill has been referred back to Committee for review.
Testimony for Planning Committee should be addressed to
Chairman K. Angel Pilago and Committee Members
And sent to:
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Or FAX to
961-8912
2:00 PM - FINANCE
COMM. 169: (BILLS 45, 46, & 47)
WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT FOR NORTH KONA SEWER AND EFFLUENT REUSE UPGRADE
COMM. 171: (BILL 49)
KEALAKEHE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AERATION UPGRADE PROJECT
COMM. 183: (BILL 55)
ESTABLISHES KAILUA VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Testimony for Finance Committee should be addressed to
Chairman Dominic Yagong and Committee Members
And sent to:
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Or FAX to
961-8912
COUNCIL MEETING
1:30 PM- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd
1:30 PM STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON RESOLUTIONS
3:00 PM STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILLS FOR 1ST READING
4:30 PM STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILLS FOR 2ND READING
IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA:
RES. 41-07 URGES LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT PUBLICLY FUNDED ELECTIONS
This resolution got a negative recommendation from Public Works Committee, although Mr. Pilago voted in support
Ayes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford
Noes: Higa, Ikeda, Naeole, Yagong, Yoshimoto
RES. 46-07 RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE FISCALLY PRUDENT IN CONSTRUCTING THE WEST HI CIVIC CENTER.
This Resolution is being introduced by Councilman Ikeda requesting the Council to delete several components (the Kids
play area, the Community Amphitheater and the Museum from the West Hawai'i Civic Center plan proposed by the
Administration. Mr. Pilago voted against this resolution because he supports the administration's efforts to create a
"Community Center" and "Gathering Place" rather that just a government building.
The resolution gets a negative recommendation
Noes: Hoffmann, Pilago, Jacobson, Ford, Yagong, Yoshimoto
Ayes: Higa, Ikeda, Naeole
RES. 47-07: CREATES A WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN KONA OCEAN VIEW PROPERTIES
Residents of Pu'ukala Road, Kona Ocean View did a great job giving testimony in support of this resolution and it passed out of Committee unanimously in support!
BILL 19 (DRAFT 3) PROVIDES TIMING FOR DEPOSITS FROM 2% OF PROPERTY TAXES INTO THE OPEN SPACE FUND
This is the second and final reading of the Bill. It passed first reading unanimously. Draft 3 clarifies the timing for deposits in an interest bearing account.
BILL 42 : NAMES THE PARK IN PUALANI ESTATES SUBDIVISION THE "WILLIAM CHARLES LUNALILO PLAYGROUND"
To see Council Index - Open attachment below:
<>
For complete agenda, click on link below:
http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/council/agendas_and_actions.htm
Written testimony should be addressed to Chairman Hoffmann and Council Members
Email to
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Fax to
961-8912
Testimony given in person is the most effective!!! Please try to attend!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Testimony given in person is the most effective. Please try to attend!!!!
Call our office for any questions.
Thank you for your participation!
Angel, Maile, Isaac and Karen
Councilman K. Angel Pilago
Council District 8, North Kona
808-327-3642
kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us