MIN CHARTER 2019-04-02 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission —Public Hearing April 2, 2019 MS. ZELKO-SCHLUETER: Good evening. Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter from the Hilo district. MS. TODD: Good evening. Bobby Leithead-Todd from district two in Hilo. MS. RICE: Sally Rice, Kona. MR. HAMANO: Paul Hamano, Hilo. MS. GALIMBA: Michelle Galimba from Ka'u. MR. BERGIN: Billy Bergin from Waimea (inaudible). CHR. ADAMS: And I am Doug Adams from Hilo. So copies of the protocols for this public hearing are available at the registration table or the area right there as you walk in. To highlight just a few. We ask that you register to testify at the registration table, or the area there. I will call speakers to the table. As you prepare to speak, please state your name, any organization you are speaking for, and the relevant Charter section or 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. 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 have met at least once a month since July to accomplish our mission as the Charter outlines it. 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 County. 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 Page 2