Story on Proposed Fees for Koko Head Shooting Complex

[hishoot]

Story on Proposed Fees for Koko Head Shooting Complex

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/1...-gun-range-fee

I would support a usage fee...while I do believe the city should fund and up-keep Kokohead (like the city does for other parks/recreation complexes) with the taxes we already pay...the reality is that shooters are a small minority and getting the city council to fund Koko Head for major repairs/upgrades is wishful thinking. I do believe, tho, that day to day operational costs should be funded by taxes. I agree with Gerwig and would like to see provisions in the bill that would setup a special fund(s-fund) that would dedicate the usage fees to Koko Head use only and not mix it with the general fund or other parks/recreation projects. It would be good to also see provisions in the bill that would guarantee the s-fund would be replenished within a fixed set of years in the event the fund is raided during tough economic times.

I'm OK with an hourly fee for walk-ins/visitors/causal shooters, however, an annual pass option for the avid shooters should also be considered.

-osamu


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[hishoot]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, Jan 22, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Subject: Opposing Koko Head Range Fees

22 Jan 2012
TO: All Members of the Puuloa Rifle & Pistol Club and Persons on the Wait List

1. See attached two City & County of Honolulu Bills pertaining to starting user fees for park facilities such as the Koko Head shooting range.

http://www.hawaiishooters.com/images/6l669lcc.pdf
http://www.hawaiishooters.com/images/6lpmsnp0.pdf

2. Retired judge Darryl Choy (an HHAA member), has reviewed those two bills. I am forwarding you his comments and recommendations for your info. Suggest that you all follow his advice and recommendations even though you may think that payment of a user fee might be OK. Contact the City Council Representative for your district/area via email and make your comments/ideas known pertaining to those bills.

3. Our thanks to Dwaine Hiromasa for sending us the copies of those two bills enabling us to see exactly what is being proposed to the City Council.

Les Tam
Club Secretary


Darryl Choy's comments and recommendations:

These two bills benefit the Kokohead shooters. It addresses the $15 per hour event fee now being imposed on all organizations.One bill says the fee only applies if the event is not being held during normal park hours. The second bill exempts 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from the $15 per hour fee.

It appears parks dir. Cabato's impostion of the $15 hourly fee has stirred up a hornets nest of protest. Considering the many organizations that use the City's 288 parks island wide. The senior citizen and youth sports groups must be up in arms.

The firearms community should support this. We should all send emails to all of the city council members supporting these two bills and objecting to all fees.

And keep in mind the proposed $7 per hour individual user fee for Kokohead is in the works as well.

As a shooter at the Kokohead Shooting complex I am sure you are aware that a number of proposals are in the works.

$3 to $7 per hour individual user fee at the Kokohead range
Current $15 per hour organization event fee at all parks (all matches and club events)
City bill 1-2012 seeking to exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations for the $15 per hour fee
City bill 60-2011 seeks to have the $15 per hour organization fee apply only to events that do not take place during normal park hours.

Numbered items 1 and 2 are detrimental to Kokohead shooters and should be opposed.

The notion that range user fees will be used to improve the range is naive. Doubtful the city will dedicate/ear mark these funds or place them in a trust fund. And even if they did they could sweep the monies into the general fund during a budget crisis. This has historically happen. On the state level the ear marked Hurricane fund was swept into the general fund to balance the budget.

Each of us pay property tax even when you are renting. Portions of this tax is suppose to go to Kokohead. If we start paying a fee, that part of our property tax will go to the other parks. Essentially Kokohead shooters will be singled out to pay for their own range while all the other park users will not. If the city wants to have all park users help, this individual fee proposal should apply to all parks including Waikiki, Ala Moana beach parks and all of the other 288 park facility island wide. Kokohead should not be one of the few parks subject to fees. (Hanauma Bay and Foster Botanical Garden are two City sites with a fee)

Gun guys should not be the city parks dept. ATM when ever they need more funding.

Below is the contact info for city council members. You can email your opposition to all Kokohead fees. Email council member in your district and cc all the others. In the subject write "Opposing parks and shooting range fees".

Even if some council members maybe anti-gun a lot of opposing emails will give them second thoughts and could have them back off. Email email. Numbers count.
Darryl

The nine councilmembers, each elected from one of Oahu's nine separate geographic districts; for a term of two or four years, make up the City Council.

District 1 - Tom Berg
Ewa, Ewa Beach, Honouliuli, West Loch, Kapolei, Kalaeloa (Barber's Point), Honokai Hale and Nanakai Gardens, Ko'Olina, Nanakuli, Wai'anae, Makaha, Keaau, and Makua.

Phone: (808) 768-5001
E-mail tberg@honolulu.gov

District 2 - Ernest Y. Martin

Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole, Waikane, Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, and a portion of Heeia.

Phone: (808) 768-5002
E-mail emartin@honolulu.gov

District 3 - Ikaika Anderson

Waimanalo, Kailua and most of Kaneohe.

Phone: (808) 768-5003
E-mail ianderson@honolulu.gov

District 4 - Stanley Chang

Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhemina Rise, a portion of Kapahulu, a portion of Kaimuki, Diamond Head, Waikiki, and a portion of Ala Moana.

Phone: (808) 768-5004
E-mail ccldistrict4@honolulu.gov

District 5 - Ann Kobayashi

A portion of Kapahulu and Kaimuki; Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, Mc Cully, Kakaako, and a portion of Ala Moana and Makiki.

Phone: (808) 768-5005
E-mail akobayashi@honolulu.gov

District 6 - Tulsi Gabbard

A portion of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Liliha, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Kalihi Valley, and a portion of Kalihi.

Phone: (808) 768-5006
E-mail tgabbard@honolulu.gov

District 7 - Romy M. Cachola

A portion of upper Kalihi, Kapalama, Palama, Iwilei, Kalihi Kai, Sand Island, Mapunapuna, Airport, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Aliamanu, Salt Lake, Foster Village, Stadium and Halawa Valley Estates.

Phone: (808) 768-500
E-mail rcachola@honolulu.gov

District 8 - Breene Harimoto

Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Halawa, Aiea, Waimalu, Pearl City, Pearl City Peninsula, Seaview, Crestview, and Waipio Gentry.

Phone: (808) 768-5008
E-mail bharimoto@honolulu.gov

District 9 - Nestor R. Garcia

Waikele, Waipahu, Village Park, Makakilo, Kunia, and Mililani Town.

Phone: (808) 768-5009
E-mail ngarcia@honolulu.gov

[Jarruz]

Actually fully agree with you there, I wouldn't mind a fee espicailly if it creates the possiblity of expansion and better facilities. I'd also do an annual fee.

Also extended hours sounds good

[hishoot]

From the Puuloa club list -- update on fees...

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FYI: Two bills regarding the parks and range passed first reading yesterday Jan. 25 by the city council.

60-2011 restricts the $15 per hour organization event fee to those events that take place out side of normal park hours.

1-2012 would exempt sec. 501(c)(3) non-profits from the $15 hour organization events fee

Both bills would appear to favor shooting sport organizations.

The Parks Dept's proposed $7 hourly individual user fees is pending. The word is this fee can be imposed by Park rules without council approval. However the Parks Dept must have a public hearing. The authority for the Parks Dept. to impose fees by rule was in some city law and passed by the council some time ago. Some council members are considering repealing this authority.

It would seem emails opposing fees at Kokohead maybe having an effect. If you have not emailed your opposition to range fees please do so. Email all the council members

emartin@honolulu.gov
tberg@honolulu.gov
ianderson@honolulu.gov
ccldistrict4@honolulu.gov
akobayashi@honolulu.gov
tgabbard@honolulu.gov
rcachola@honolulu.gov
bharimoto@honolulu.gov
ngarcia@honolulu.gov

and also the mayor: mayor@honolulu.gov

[HawaiianSouljah]

We already pay a fee. It's called taxes.

[hishoot]

Judging by the condition of Koko Head....doesn't seem like your taxes are ending up maintaining the complex. Paying fees to a dedicated s-fund for Koko Head would at least keep our money at Koko Head.