A proposed charter amendment creating a Building Department will not appear on the November ballot, after the County Council last week killed the measure.
Council members agreed the current Building Division, under the Department of Public Works, has had a rocky history recently, with long delays in a permit process that analysts have called the most cumbersome in the nation. The problematic transition to an online system has only exacerbated the situation.
“Over time this process has gotten more cumbersome, more inefficient, more expensive and just way more bureaucratic,” said Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz. “Over multiple years with multiple administrations there have been attempts for reboots, but the fact still remains Public Works is just way too massive.”
But a majority of the council balked at the price tag — including office space in both east and west Hawaii and 14 new administrative and oversight positions, all costing about $7.4 million to get it started and then about $2.1 million annually — to create a whole new department that might not solve the problem.
In addition, said Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance, the county may be able to create the department by ordinance, rather than go the charter route.
Previous departmental changes, such as when the Department of Environmental Management was spun off from Public Works, were done by charter, giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.
But charter language seems to indicate it’s not necessary: “The activities under the direction and supervision of the mayor shall be distributed among such agencies established by this charter or as may be established by ordinance of the county council. New functions may be assigned by the mayor to existing agencies,” the charter states. “The powers, duties and functions of the department of public works shall be prescribed by ordinance and shall be exercised and performed by the department.”
Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball suggested the county auditor or the Cost of Government Commission compare the cost to the benefits of pulling the division out as its own department.
“It’s a rare case when more administration actually makes things better, more bureaucracy,” she said. “I’m not convinced this is the solution to the problem that we all agree we have.”
The council ultimately voted 3-5, with Kierkiewicz, Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung and Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy voting yes, with Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder absent.
Other charter amendments had better luck.
A measure increasing the membership of the Board of Ethics will be on the Nov. 8 ballot, after passing its third and final reading on a 7-0 vote, with Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder and Richards absent.
A measure adding investigations of reports of fraud, waste and abuse within county operations as an authorized function of the county auditor passed its second of three readings on the same vote.
A measure establishing a youth commission that would integrate its ideas and perspectives into county government, passed its second of three readings on an 8-1 vote, with Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder absent.
A measure requiring midterm County Council reconfirmation of county department heads who are appointed by the mayor was amended and postponed.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
