REP GOEAC 134 2026-05-19 2024-2026

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GOEAC-134 Page 2 May 19, 2026 individual. She added that this legislation won't take effect until a new Mayor is elected, therefore it won't be impacting the current administration. Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz said that she wanted to see an organizational chart about what levels the Mayor and County Manager would be at and what the chain of command would be in this scheme. She asked questions about budget and protocol on who gets what role within that process, especially if there were a difference of opinion. She stated that she thinks it may be a bit rushed to put on the ballot this year and asked what outreach to community may have already been done. Member Kimball shared an organizational chart to help clarify the roles, and discussed some different scenarios on how things could play out. She said that the language in her bill are in alignment with our current budget and also include an intention that the Mayor and County Manager work together to develop the budget. She agreed that this changes the role of the Mayor in a significant way, and that it is more than just a "pretty face" but can help set overall vision and also take some of the pressure and administrative function from that one individual. Member Kimball said that she has done lots of outreach within her own community on this idea, but would want to do similar outreach around the County on this to help refine the idea and answer questions. Committee Member Michelle M. Galimba said that she has heard feedback from members in her community who have lived in counties where this was the norm and want a similar model here. She added that it is important not to take our structures for granted and be motivated to figure out better systems of how to do things. She said that our current systems do not incentivize long-term decision making and planning, but rather short-term solutions. Member Galimba mused that this probably wouldn't pass the electorate this year, and she wasn't certain that this is the best way to address the structure issues that exist in our current systems, but that it was a good place to start the conversation. Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked about each agency being operated by someone chosen by the County Manager and if that means they are hiring the department heads. Member Kimball said "yes," and the department heads who are not mentioned within the legislation would continue to be appointed by the Mayor. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder brought up concerns that the four Council Members and the Mayor appointing a person that they can work with at that point in time and then years later it may cause some issues with future Council Members or Mayors not being aligned with the County Manager. He also brought up the fact that our current Mayor isn't in favor of this legislation and would veto it, Member Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder inquired if they could still make the deadline to get it on the ballot. Member Kimball explained that they would just barely make it for the deadlines for the ballot, and it may require a special meeting to override a veto if one were to occur. County Clerk Jon Henricks said that their deadline to transmit the language to the state for the ballot amendments is around August 20th, therefore creating a deadline for the Council to get any Charter amendments finalized by July 30th to get their proposals through. Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba questioned having the Mayor represent both themselves and the Council in external affairs. He said his preference is to have the Council represent themselves. Member Inaba said that he doesn't believe it doesn't give enough of an idea of what GOEAC Report No. 134