MUNICIPALITY OF YONA
Ken Joe M. Ada, MPA
Mayor
Mayors' Council of Guam
Konsehe/on Mahot Guahan
P. 0. Box 786 Hagatiia, Guam 96932 / 265 Sister Eucharita Street, Yona, Guam 96915
April 6, 2015
TO:
The 33'd Legislature of Guam
FR:
Yona Mayor Ken Joe M. Ada, MPA
RE:
Re-assessment of population densities relative to the Mayors
and staffmg patterns
Hafa Adai! It is with great joy and honor that I am writing you. I am very grateful for the service
that you have given to serve our island and the people of Guam. 1 am writing you only at my
capacity as a concerned citizen and Yona Mayor. My view and opinion does not reflect the
views or opinions Mayor's Council of Guam (MCOG) and other Mayors, but a foresight that l
would like to share with you.
I want to voice my concern and challenge you to take action in re-assessing both land mass and
population densities to reflect on the budgets that are given to each Mayor. It is because there
has been no action taken on the subject matter that we as a people and the Government of Guam
are not maximizing our full potential both financially and economically by providing the
finances and staff support where it is most needed. We all know it is the right thing to do.
You may have had some Mayors voice their concern as to needing more help in the form of more
workers and or a Vice Mayor representative in their respective villages. Although I do not have
a Vice-Mayor in Yona, l know it is time. Given that Yona holds the third largest land mass, I
have been making do with what l have. But also know this, based on my estimates, Yona stands
to see a population increase of approximately 300% within the next l 0-20 years, this information
is made evident in the new developments of Pago Bay Estates, Decha Farms, Leo Palace Resort,
and Texas A&M within the village of Yona.
According to some of my colleagues, many attempts have been made to rectify the problem.
More specifically, 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2011, each of these legislative bodies during these times
visited and had dialogue, however none of which came the conclusion of how to rectify the
disparities relative to population and village mass.
Some villages may have a population of20,000 +residents and is seen to be the same across the
board in the eyes of the Government of Guam in terms of Government employees assigned to
each jurisdiction and land mass e.g., One village has a population of 8,000 and another has
1,000, there is !.19__gimparison between both villages relative to their land mass, because one is
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much larger than the other and yet, they still have the same budget and same amount of
employees across the board, BUT the smaller village has a Vice Mayor and the Larger does not.
I am asking you as my Senator and the 33'd Legislature of Guam to please re-visit and take action
on the antiquated Government practices of our island and reform them to build a better island
where it is financially sound meets logical best practices.
I do not have the best solutionis f()r the problem, but I know as a lawmaker, you have both the
resources and capacity to make the best decision possible for our island.
l will respect your decision making, trust in the Lord tor HE makes all burden light. And
remember, it the great Creator who bestowed upon you to be his servant as a Senator, use this
opportunity. "It is important to take advantage of an Opportunity of a Lifetime in the Lifetime
of the Opportunity."
Thank you tor your time and consideration, should you have any questions, please feel free to
contact me at 789-1525/6 or 797-6072. May God bless us all'
Doc. No. 33GL-15-0335