MIN CHARTER 2019-03-29 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing March 29, 2019 Second, since October, we have considered 27 different proposed Charter Amendments to include changing the structure of terms for Council members, refining the process by which the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation mission is accomplished, adding disciplining options for the Council, the Fire Commission, and the Police Commission, establishing a Disaster and Emergency Fund, and modifying minimum qualifications for Corporation Counsel, the Fire Chief, and the Public Work's Director. Information on these proposals is available on the Commission website, the link to which can be found on the County's homepage. Third, we are convening six public hearings, one in each geographic district as identified in the County Charter. This is our second public hearing. We had our first last Monday in Kohala. Following these hearings, we have until the end of June to submit to the County Council a report on our activities, findings, and recommendations together with a draft of the Proposed Charter Amendments that have actually made it through second reading. Meaning that it has been approved three times. The Council has 30 days to return the proposals with any alternatives to the Commission, after which within a month, the Commission shall provide its final draft of proposed amendments to the County Clerk. Ballot language will then be developed by the Commission for submission to County voters for decision on the November 3rd, 2020 election ballot. Let me just rephrase, restate that, the decision on any amendment will be made by County voters, not by the Commission. At this time, I would like to take our first speaker. So if I could ask Annie Bosted and John Replogle to please come to the table and then Annie you would be the first one to speak. Again, I would ask you to provide your name, any organization you are representing, and the Charter provision or proposed amendments that you are speaking to. Mahalo. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ANNII- BOSTED: Proposal No. CA -9 and CA -18 in support and Proposal No. CA -8 in opposition. MS. BOSTED: Chairman Adams and honorable members of the Charter Commission, my name is Annie Bosted and I live in Ocean View. A huge mahalo to all of you for removing CA -7 and CA -16 from consideration. Future generations will owe you a great debt of gratitude for not gutting PONC which voters have supported in the polls at three elections. I am very much against Charter Amendment 8 and strongly favor Charter Amendment 9 and 18. Charter Amendment 8 removes an incentive for Council members to work for their constituents. Charter Amendment 9 and 18 are both amendments that will streamline PONC and make it more effective by correcting evident flaws. CA -9 Page 3