2025-12-15 Liquor Commission Minutes Hilo (Special Meeting)

Home

Waltjen: So, one goal is to find ways to improve our services to the licensees and the general public, like building upon our existing web services, so I would ask the staff to see if they have any ideas. But I have one idea in mind where I would want to work towards our Department accepting credit card payments over the phone. Right now, our licensees can make payments of their percentage fees and their renewal fees online but you know, it incurs a 5% service fee on top of the 2.5% credit card fee, so you know trying to mitigate that. And you know, we do have a few of our permits and fees that are not online, such as our transient vessel permits and solicitors' permits. So, in those instances they need to mail us the check before we can issue them their license, so figuring out how we can incorporate that with credit card payments over the phone is something that I'll look to work with Finance on. Second goal would be to focus on the Department, you know trying to figure out, is it building or maintaining the morale within the Department? Because I think that's very important. I'll get a better sense of that I hope once I meet with them one-on-one, get some open dialogue with them. But you know, our Hilo office and our Kona office are on opposite sides of the island, so I do sense that there can be disconnect between the staff. And like any relationship whether personal or professional, you always have to try to figure out ways to have connectivity and growth with this. So, what I would look toward is maybe going back to having in -person meetings between the Kona investigators, the Hilo investigators, obviously Brandon, Administrative Officer and the Licensing Division. So, I think it'll be a great time for us to kind of share experiences, you know ask questions, give updates, just to have that we're all on the same team kind of mentality. Okabe: No. 7, what is the best way to motivate an employee, and why do you believe this method is effective? Waltjen: So, I believe being genuine, empathetic, and flexible builds trust, respect, and loyalty which in turn I believe motivates employees to always try to do their best. Recognizing their contributions and hard work through you know, words of affirmation like giving them praise and recognizing it. It takes little to no effort but it truly goes a long way and you know, you can see just by their expression or their body language when you give them kudos, or you give them acknowledgement and you know it builds them up, yeah. Supporting their professional growth by taking into consideration their suggestions and actually implementing them if it makes sense for the Department's overall goals. But I think doing that gives them a sense of ownership of what their job is and what their purpose is in their job. Empowering them by giving them the tools to be successful and effective in their job is also very important, as well as being supportive and available to them you know, whenever they need to toss some ideas, if they have a question, you know I think that's very important. And I know that these methods work because as a Licensing Officer and supervisor, these are the things that implement as a supervisor to my team members. MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING SPECIAL MEETING - MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 - HILO PAGE 19 OF 35