2006-04-07 TAinaloa - Laserfiche WebLink

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SIRACUSA:Yes. ALAMEDA:Okay. Commissioner Graham, any thoughts? No? GRAHAM:No. ALAMEDA:How about this side? Commissioner Galdones? GALDONES:There being no further discussion, Im prepared to make a motion if youll entertain -. ALAMEDA:Sure. GALDONES:Id like to make a motion that we support the proposed settlement. WATANABE:I second. ALAMEDA:Motion made by Commissioner Galdones, seconded by CommissionerWatanabe.Discussion?CommissionerGraham. GRAHAM:Well,IhavetoacknowledgethatIthinkthethreeattorneyssitting in front of me here probably know a good deal more about this issue than I do so its difficult for me not to go along since theyre all in agreement. But I sense that theres sort of, to use a crude word, kind of a gaming going on; and when theres a gaming going on that I dont know too much about, I feel reluctant to join. So I feel like my duty is to the people of Puna and my duty is to doing things in a proper way. And, to me, for the Judge to say that a charge to the developer of less than $1 million, or half a million, or even less than a half a million, as Ms. Leithead-Todd indicates is possible, is really at odds with the facts of the case, even though I certainly can understand theres merit that the existing conditions may also be at odds with the facts of the case as being too much. So I dont feel proper juggling the future of a golf course for the people of this district based on a settlement that a Judge may impose without the factual basis that we have. So I just am too uncomfortable to go along with this settlement. ALAMEDA:Other Commissioners, discussion? Commissioner Iwashita. IWASHITA:I just want to say I share Commissioner Grahams concerns. I understand that, you know, settlement is not being imposed by the Judge. I think all the parties and, for the record, Id like to say all the Commissioners have given consideration of this settlement in utmost good faith in, you know, trying to resolve it in the best way we feel is possible for the County as well as the developer. And, again, you know, I tend to agree with the Directors impressions and opinions about whether this golf course ultimately will be built. But, on the other hand, you know, I guess if you want to call it the risk that if it actually gets built then, you know, the County has really got the short end of the stick on all of this. So, I just want to make a record that thats, you know, I share Commissioner Grahams concern; and Im all for settling cases --. 23EXHIBIT D