A bill to establish a special fund for the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park became law without Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s signature, after facing opposition from city administrators who contend that no extra money would be generated through creating the fund.
Caldwell, at a news conference Monday, announced that he supports park maintenance and improvements but said that creating special funds sets a bad precedent.
"There is no difference," Caldwell said. "It’s not like they’re getting more money or money was taken away from them."
The fund would dedicate revenue generated by user and other fees toward the upkeep and improvement of the 288-acre soccer park. Bill 40, introduced by City Council Chairman Ernie Martin, passed its third reading unanimously earlier this month.
Revenue generated from groups who use the park is collected in the general fund. City administrators prioritize funding for new facilities and capital improvements for its nearly 300 named parks.
According to the Mayor’s Office, in fiscal year 2014 the Waipio park generated about $86,600 in revenue but cost about $635,000 to operate.
Several user groups have maintained that revenue from the special fund is meant to supplement, not replace, city funds for the park, adding that establishing a separate fund would allow the park’s projects to bypass the lengthy capital-improvements approval process.
"I understand that there’s some opposition to the creation of special funds," said Scott Keopuhiwa, president and executive director of the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association. "(But) we’re never getting ahead. We need to improve the park if we want to continue to attract these types of events."
Martin added that revenue from the Waipio park fund could be used to add more restroom facilities and level some of the playing fields.
"It was never intended that the fees would be sufficient to maintain the park," said Martin, pointing out that money from the special fund should be used for improvements, not the day-to-day maintenance of the park. "That’s a misunderstanding of the fund itself."
A similar bill to create a fund for the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park became law without Caldwell’s signature last month. But Caldwell insists that creating a separate fund would not generate any additional money for the park.
