MIN CHARTER 2019-03-25 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

Home

Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing March 25, 2019 MS. RICE: Hi, Sally Rice and I am from the Kona district. MR. HOPKINS: I am Kevin Hopkins from Hilo. MR. HAMANO: I am Paul Hamano. I am from Hilo district also. MR. BERGIN: Billy Bergin. I was born in Hamakua but I live in Waimea. I am happy to be here. CHR. ADAMS: And I am Doug Adams from the Hilo district. Copies of the protocols for this public hearing are available at the registration table. To highlight just a few, I would ask you and I think most have done this, please register to testify at the registration table. I will stop what I am doing right now just to say briefly, obviously this is a little more of an informal kind of gathering than we have had in the past of course it is a public hearing, but to be consistent with all of the other public hearings that we will have, I will come off of my script that we are using right now, so just so we understand. I will call the speakers to the table. As you prepare to speak please state your name, any organization you are speaking for, and the relevant Charter section of proposed amendment you are addressing. Speakers will have up to a total of six minutes for their testimony. Speakers may testify once during this public hearing. To avoid the potential of Sunshine Law violations and to emphasize the purpose of this hearing, Commissioners shall refrain from making comments or asking questions of testifiers during their statements right? We good? Okay. I would ask all of us to please maintain an appropriate level of decorum during the hearing. We are all looking forward to providing an equal opportunity for all testifiers to make their statements. Finally, to provide some context for this hearing, allow me to briefly address the Commission's efforts to date and what follows. First, this is the fifth Charter Commission since the County Charter became effective 50 years ago. The Commissioners, all of whom are County residents and none of whom are elected officials by statute, were appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council at the end of June, 2018 and we have met at least once a month since July, often times more than that, to accomplish our mission as the Charter outlines it. Which is to study and review the operation of the government of the County under the Charter. We have done that by receiving information from County departments, the Mayor, and the Council as well as receiving over 500 communications from the public and the County. Second, since October, we have considered 27 different proposed Charter Amendments to include changing the structure of terms for Council members, Page 2