REP RAWEEMC 012 2022/02/22 2020-2022

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, WATER, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DATE: February 22, 2022 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawaii TIME: 10:00 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Comm. No. 616 Your Committee on Regenerative Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management, to which was referred Communication No. 616, reports as follows: Communication No. 616, transmitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated January 31, 2022, submitting ,for the Council's review and confirmation the appointment of Stephen Lopez to the Water Board pursuant. to Section 6-10.2 of Hawaii County Charter. A motion to move Communication No. 616 to full Council with a positive recommendation was made by Council Member Holeka Inaba; seconded by Council Member Susan Lee Loy. Nominee Lopez introduced himself to Your Committee, noting at one time he was the Deputy County Clerk for the County of Hawaii when Council Chair Maile David was a Legislative Assistant for then Council Member Angel Pilago. Nominee Lopez also shared that his Business Management degree and his career in Information Technology allowed him to streamline process any challenges or matters through decision making, and he will bring that perspective into public service as well. P6maika`i Bartolome, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth, introduced nominee Lopez to Your Committee and shared of his outstanding community service on Hawaii Island and his willingness to serve on such an important board. If approved, nominee Lopez would serve a term ending December 31, 2026. A consensus of Your Committee inquired as to why nominee Lopez chose the Water Board to serve on and nominee Lopez replied that water is life, and it is important to preserve and perpetuate this living source of water continually. He also shared that he was not yet familiar with County of Hawaii Water Use and Development Plan nor has he had training on Native Hawaiian rights, but feels that his current understanding of the importance of anchialine ponds along the coastline, and the critical aquifers on island would also help him in this role on the Water Board in protecting this precious resource for generations to come. Council Members Aaron Chung and Susan Lee Loy both encouraged nominee Lopez to familiarize himself with the water rights of lessees on Hawaiian Home Lands and the water service provided by the Department of Water Supply, as the matter has been of great importance in the past and may remain so going forward. RAWEEMC Report No. 12