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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
31 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PUUWAI MOMI AND WEST OAHU ASSET MANAGEMENT PROJECTS (KNOWN AS AMP 30 AND AMP 44) TO COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE OF STATE OPERATED AND PRIVATELY OPERATED PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTIES; AND TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FUNDING LEVELS, MISMANAGEMENT, AND TENANT AND VISITOR ACTIONS TO THE FAILURE TO MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR THESE PROPERTIES.
WHEREAS, in December 2008, federal and state class action law suits were filed on behalf of residents of two of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's largest and oldest public housing properties; and
WHEREAS, numerous problems and safety concerns were cited by residents, including but not limited to:
(1) Disabled or missing fire alarms;
(2) Corroded garbage chutes, which are inoperable and backed up with rubbish;
(3) Pest infestations;
(4) Elevators in a continual state of disrepair affecting the mobility of residents; and
(5) Lack of compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act regarding accessibility for residents who have mobility problems; and
WHEREAS, many of these problems are long-standing; and
WHEREAS, management of public housing properties is performed by Hawaii Public Housing Authority staff in some locations and by private companies under contract at other locations; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is extensively audited and monitored by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the year 2008 inspections by the Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed that four asset management projects failed to meet federal requirements for physical condition of the projects, including two managed by private contractors and two managed by Hawaii Public Housing Authority staff; and
WHEREAS, the Authority has instituted a new maintenance program at Palolo Housing and Kuhio Park Terrace, and Kuhio Park Terrace contracts are currently being reviewed and reissued; and
WHEREAS, the State has an obligation and duty to provide public housing facilities that are properly maintained to ensure the safety and well-being of facility residents; and
WHEREAS, while the Hawaii Public Housing Authority has embarked on a "turnaround plan" to address the backlog of repair and maintenance problems at public housing facilities throughout the State, correcting current deficiencies will not necessarily lead to improved ongoing maintenance; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a review of the performance of the management of the Puuwai Momi and West Oahu asset management projects (known as AMP 30 and AMP 44) to compare the performance of state operated and privately operated public housing properties; and to determine the relative contributions of funding levels, mismanagement, and tenant and visitor actions to the failure to meet performance standards for these properties; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in addition, the Auditor is requested to undertake a broader review of the process by which the Authority currently evaluates management and maintenance contracts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary legislation, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Human Services, the Director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and the Auditor.
Audit; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Two HPHA Projects