MIN CHARTER 2019-06-21 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -11 June 21, 2019 MS. TODD: Further elaborating that you know, I think it envisions that one, the Council would propose amendments in an open meeting, that is followed by the public, and if it is transmitted to us, it is part of our agenda, it is attached as a report, so that's available to the public in advance of our meeting. So there is no surprise to the public as to what we may be discussing. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. So in Hilo, we understand that process? Okay, it looks like we do. Great. And we understand it here? Okay great. Are there any other items in this particular section on Agenda Items for Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting? Yes, Commissioner Galimba. MS. GALIMBA: Just a question about that. We are supposed to have like an analysis of the financial impact of Charter amendments, is that... when does... does this affect this set of proposals, or not, and when would that happen? MR. HENRICKS: When the proposals are final. The Charter itself requires that the Director of Finance, or the Finance Department, creates or does a... what they are called, Fiscal Impact Analysis for each proposal. It is their responsibility and there is a prescribed timeframe in the Charter itself. It is within a certain amount of days prior to the general election. So that would be their responsibility which makes sense. MS. RICE: Has that been published? How did the public find out about it? MR. HENRICKS: So what the Charter says right now essentially is that it is on the website of the County and is... can be and should be... it is available for inclusion in any voter educational materials, so if this Commission, if they are available, and you know, for that opportunity and the Commission would like to include that as a part of its educational... I believe that would be appropriate. It would be a decision of the Commission to do so as a part of its effort to provide information to the public so the public can make informed decisions if that is possible, but otherwise, it will be on the County's website and then it will be available for use by, I believe, you know, any governmental or non-governmental operation that is providing voter education. MS. RICE: So on the voter education, how does that proceed? MR. HENRICKS: We have requirements to publish the full text of the ordinances with summaries. CHR. ADAMS: Proposals. Not ordinances, but proposals. MR. HENRICKS: Proposals, of the full text of the proposals with the summaries, certain amount of days before the election as well, and then you know, Page 25