2009-03-19 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 7 March 19, 2009 Following the vote, Chairwoman Fox informed the members of the Korean War Veterans Organization that were present, the committee agrees that the memorial needs to be done, and agrees with the design, but opposes the location site as Liliuokalani Gardens because we've only been given one location which is Liliuokalani Gardens. According to the letter Managing Director Bill Takaba sent to Mr. Montague, this project including its design and location must receive the approval of the Mayor's Veterans Advisory Committee. This committee does not approve the location, it approves the design, but does not approve the location. Chairwoman Fox said a letter will be sent to the Mayor from this committee informing him of the committee's decision. A member of the Korean War Veterans stood up from the back of the room and spoke. He said you mean to tell me that only a handful to say yes or no. Yes we had 10,000 signatures on a petition signed by the people, but you mean the people who signed the petition had no say in that. He said he thinks that's very wrong. Chairwoman Fox said your organization went to the Mayor, the Mayor said he agrees with it providing these six things. #1 was: this project including its design and location must receive the approval of the Mayor's Veterans Advisory Committee. That is this committee and we received lots of communication from organizations around the community and we've had a few of them speak here, and we've made our decision on what we found. We think the memorial is a wonderful thing, we just don't think it needs to go to Liliuokalani. The same member again responded that he knows that, but what he's getting at is the 10,000 people that signed the petition. Chairwoman Fox said she can't answer that, KWV organization went to the Mayor, this is what the Mayor sent. The member said so its up to the Mayor right, is that what you mean? Chairwoman Fox said the Mayor said the criteria has to be met and then it has to go to the County Council. Well KWV didn't meet the criteria as far as the location, come back and give us a different location and we'll go from there. Okay. Member responded okay and said thank you. Chairwoman Fox said committee would send a letter to the Mayor to let him know how we voted. The members of the Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee recommends that the Korean War Veterans organization look for an alternate site.