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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND <br /> INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> <br /> DATE: March 11, 2008 Re: Comm. No. 1056/Bi11257 <br /> <br /> PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa <br /> 78-128 Ehukai Street <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br /> <br /> TIME: 9:30 a.m. <br /> <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred <br /> <br /> Communication No. 1056, regarding Bi11257, reports as follows: <br /> Bi11257, transmitted by Council Member Pete Hoffmann via Communication No. 1056, dated <br /> February 27, 2008 proposed a bill for an ordinance to initiate an amendment to Article XI of the <br /> Hawaii County Charter (2000), relating to initiative and referendum. This bill would repeal <br /> Article XI in its entirety and replace it with new language. <br /> <br /> Committee Chair Brenda J. Ford relinquished her seat to Vice-Chair Dominic Yagong. <br /> <br /> There was no public testimony presented on this proposed bill. <br /> <br /> County Council Chair Pete Hoffmann thanked the League of Women Voters who diligently <br /> <br /> worked closely with the County Clerk on bringing this forward and spent long volunteer hours to <br /> <br /> make it user friendly, as well attempting to address the difficulties in the initiative and <br /> <br /> referendum process in the Hawaii County Charter. This is a great example of citizens moving <br /> forward and taking initiative on proposed legislation which this county should consider. In <br /> summary, Mr. Hoffman encourages his fellow colleagues to review and offer comments on this <br /> issue. Furthermore, he stated that floor amendments will be introduced in this meeting. <br /> <br /> Debbie Hecht and Marion Wilkin representatives from the League of Women Voters, appeared <br /> before your committee offering a brief presentation on the proposed bill. Ms. Hecht stated that <br /> <br /> the petition initiative and referendum process protects the right of citizens to establish laws. <br /> <br /> Furthermore, the League of Women Voters worked with members of the 2% Land Fund <br /> <br /> campaign to rewrite Article XI with clear, unambiguous language, and provided guidelines in <br /> <br /> chronological order to ensure the process is fair for all participants and citizens of the county. <br /> County Clerk, Casey 7arman, commented that it was a pleasure to work with the group and they <br /> worked well together despite disagreements. The result of everyone's efforts is the creation of <br /> the proposed bill before the committee. <br /> PWIRC REPT.: 60 <br /> <br />