2021-12-09 Redistricting Commission minutes (9th Session)

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we're looking at these political divisions for the island and the County here, the number we're targeted is 22,232. Really the ethical question is, what is a good number to represent? It's really a bigger question, and maybe one that needs to be delved a little bit further into. Like what is that perfect number for a representation ratio for a Council Member? So,just putting that out there. Thank you. KOSSOW: Ms. Lui. LUL Just one last consideration as well. I listened to Brenda's concerns which I hadn't thought about. Usually, the decision-making bodies have an odd number of people in them so that it doesn't come to a tie. So, that's just another consideration. Would we ask for eleven (11), as opposed to ten? I yield. KOSSOW: Thank you, Ms. Lui. Any other discussion? (No response.) Okay, without any other discussion or motions, I'm going to move over to agenda item number 3. Mr. Kauka? KAUKA: New business number: 3. Review and discussion of County Charter and Code sections that relate to redistricting The County redistricting process is guided by County Charter Section 3-17 and Hawaii County Code Chapter 36. Commissioners may discuss their experiences working within the parameters of the language from these documents and consider making recommendations to appropriate entities or individuals for proposing any legislative amendments that could improve the redistricting process, including, but not limited to, the timing and content of public hearings. KOSSOW: Thank you, Mr. Kauka. I'm going to pass this over to Mr. Hustace who introduced this agenda item. Thank you, Mr. Hustace, for adding this on. KAUKA: Chair, sorry for interrupting. But before that,just want to state for the record that Commissioner Ah Nee has now joined us. KOSSOW: Thank you very much. Mr. Hustace. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. I know there's probably—and I'd like to hear some of the thoughts from my fellow commissioners about the process we've been through. I mean, we still have a little bit more to go, but this is something we can keep talking about. I just wanted to offer some thoughts on this. In ten years, this body, this Commission, may have a different suite of technology. I think from the previous Commission, we've had definitely a leg up with the software that we've been given to utilize for the purpose of redistricting. I think unfortunately in our case, we saw the census data quite late in our tenure here. That was a bit of detriment to the whole process, and I think it really kind of waylaid our work a bit in trying to get going and moving on things. We've received some testimony and I appreciate the testimony at the top of the meeting here. Some of the thoughts I've had on the public hearings, and I'd welcome thoughts on this because the 12