THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

76

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FOLLOW-UP AUDIT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF STATE BOATING FACILITIES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

 

WHEREAS, small boat harbors and boating facilities are part of the State's ocean recreation and coastal areas programs established in chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and are managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (boating division); and

WHEREAS, the proper operation and maintenance of small boat harbors allows the public to benefit from the State's natural resources by engaging in recreational boating, commercial and personal fishing, and maritime-related business operations; and

WHEREAS, residents and visitors alike use boating facilities to participate in ocean-based activities such as yacht races, canoe regattas, ocean swimming, and surfing and board sailing contests; and

WHEREAS, inadequate management of state boating facilities has been a recurring problem, as cited in Auditor Report No. 01-09, "Audit of the Management of State Boating Facilities by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, the Auditor's audits of 1993 and 1998 also attest to the problem of inadequate management, which changed little in the 2001 audit; and

WHEREAS, boating program's mismanagement and neglect deteriorated boating facilities to the point where their continued use threatened public safety; and

WHEREAS, of all the State's small boat harbors, perhaps the best known is Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu; and

WHEREAS, the Ala Wai Harbor facilities are practically dysfunctional and the State is losing revenue from fees accordingly; and

WHEREAS, the Ala Wai Harbor facilities, like many of the State's other harbors, need major repairs; and

WHEREAS, the 2001 Auditor's report also found that the boating division lacked adequate controls to ensure the accuracy and integrity of its financial affairs, such as determining the cost of operating its boating facilities; and

WHEREAS, in response to the 2001 Auditor's report, the Legislature enacted Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, codified as section 200-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow for private financing of small boat harbor improvements by execution of a capital advancement contract between the Board of Land and Natural Resources and a private party; and

WHEREAS, Act 259, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, appropriated the sum of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2002-2003 for repair and maintenance of small boat harbor facilities; and

WHEREAS, in spite of the 2001 Legislature's efforts to rectify the problem of repair, maintenance, and management of the boat harbors, problems continue to persist; and

WHEREAS, the administrative creation of a citizen advisory committee for each small boat harbor may be one solution to the problem; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a follow-up audit to the 2001 Audit of the Management of State Boating Facilities by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Report No. 01-09), particularly as it applies to the Ala Wai Harbor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor evaluate and make recommendations on the feasibility of forming an advisory committee for each small boat harbor to advise the State on the proper management and maintenance of the harbors, including the make-up of the advisory committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor report findings and recommendations to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Auditor.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

State Small Boat Harbors Audit