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GOEAC-15 Page 2 February 4, 2025 <br />are three vacancies within OSCER and that she will be looking at adding people to her team that <br />have some of the technical knowledge she may be missing. <br />Ms. Acasio stated that from listening to the meetings that formed this office, the intention of <br />Council Members was clear that OSCER was about collaborating with the other Departments to <br />achieve goals of sustainability and that she will be keeping that focus top of mind. She <br />mentioned that even while some federal funds for various projects might be frozen there is still <br />much work that be done on collaboration and education within the Departments as well as with <br />the public. <br />Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz mentioned that the Sustainability Committee is housed <br />in the Department of Research and Development and that they haven't been able to spend much <br />time supporting it and wanted to know how Ms. Acasio felt about potentially housing that <br />Committee in OSCER instead. Ms. Acasio said that it makes sense to her to transfer it to <br />OSCER. Member Kierkiewicz also suggested involving young people by getting some fellows to <br />assist in OSCER. <br />Member Kierkiewicz asked what the top three goals would be for this office. Ms. Acasio <br />mentioned waste management, including solid waste and cesspool conversion. Her second <br />priority was to work with Destination Management and Hawaii Tourism Authority to <br />collaborate on reducing waste and energy consumption within the visitor industry. <br />Committee Member James Hustace asked Ms. Acasio to speak about costal protection and <br />impacts from storms and sea level rise. Ms. Acasio said that she would be working with the <br />departments within the County that are already doing work on these issues to find out what they <br />are doing and how to support that work with best practices. <br />Member Hustace questioned whether Ms. Acasio has any ideas regarding mass transit and <br />transportation issues from a sustainability standpoint. Ms. Acasio shared how important she <br />thinks that including discussions about transportation be an integral part of the General Plan. <br />Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi asked Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen to verify <br />if Ms. Acasio meets the qualifications as set forth in the County Code. Ms. Schoen said that she <br />believes the Mayor's Office believes that she does, which is why she is present today to answer <br />questions and that ultimately it is up to the Council to determine if the nominee does meet the <br />criteria within the Code. <br />Member Onishi asked Ms. Acasio to discuss the responsibility of Banyan Drive potentially being <br />transferred away from the State and what that looks like, especially with potential for sea -level <br />rise and the necessity of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being conducted in that area. <br />Ms. Acasio said that she just read that bill and that she agrees with an EIS and large-scale <br />scoping being conducted before additional resources and development is planned for that area. <br />Committee Members Rebecca Villegas and Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder spoke in favor of the <br />appointment. <br />GOEAC Report No. 15 <br />