1999-10-27 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 10-27-99Page 12 of 48 get rid of it, moving more to treating it as resources and trying to re-use as much as possible, and I guess, it’s more a psychological benefit than anything. And a disadvantage to that, and I think the major one, would be probably a de facto tax increase because unlike the Wastewater Division, Solid Waste is heavily subsidized by the General Fund, so if they were to stand alone, the tipping fees would have to be raised very substantially. The whole system would have to be changed. Likewise, anytime you’re forming a new department, I think, administration costs would be increased also. If it was joined with Water Supply, perhaps the administration costs would stay the same, but I think, if you were going to join with Solid Waste, they would probably increase. RAY: All right, so we’re going to open it up for discussion now. I guess, Milton, if you could come up to the table. PAVAO: If I may, just one point. Mr. Boucher made mention that many states has combined water, sewer, electricity, and that’s true. And it’s like the way we feel with EPA. EPA sends down mandates without looking at the uniqueness of our state, and more so, this island. This island is so unique that it doesn’t follow the regular pattern of any other place. I’ll give you an example. We’re responsible for the entire island’s water supply, yet we have 24 separate systems, that’s not connected, because the island was derived from plantation camps, and these camps are spread throughout the island. So, we’re far different than the so called mainland cities, and by the way, the Oahu Board of Water Supply did attempt a merger with Wastewater, I don’t know how many years back, and not to contradict Mr. Boucher, but it didn’t even last six months, and it has to do, I’m sure, with the uniqueness of the place we live. We have systems so far apart that there’s no practical way we could connect them with a pipeline because it would cost millions. So, you’ve got to recognize the uniqueness that we have. Even with the sewer system, there’s camps so small that you’re not going to put a sewer system. It’s just the way the island is. We’re unique, and that uniqueness should be recognized when something like this is proposed. RAY: Questions? George. MARTIN: Yes, I’ve got one comment, actually a question/comment. Jiro, it’s directed toward you. With your concern for billing, if we, the Commission, were to put forth a proposal to the general public that, in fact, Water would take up the billing, not merge, but just the billing fact, and again, I’ve dealt with Mr. Pavao in the past, and I know he’s a man of his word. I’ve got no problem with that, but he won’t always be in this position, so I can understand what you’re saying, that when he does go, the next manager may not have the same ideas and agree upon certain issues, so if we were to put that in the Charter some place, that yes, in fact, the billing were to be undertaken, and I don’t even know if we have the ability to do that, but would that suffice your concern? SUMADA: I think that would address, probably, the major impetus for that, of why we’re proposing this, but there are other benefits that could be achieved. MARTIN: Sure, I can see and I can hear that. SUMADA: But I think, yes, to answer your question. MARTIN: The second one is, from what I’m hearing, the politics, and everybody knows it’s not good to lay that billing responsibility with that body because everybody wants to get re-elected so they’re not going to raise the prices, so a Commission would possibly be in order. But if a Commission were to be brought forth, now it’s back to you, Milton, would you still be willing to undertake the billing, no matter what the cost would be set forth. In other words, with what you’re saying, and I think that would be the only mechanism that I see to have people pay is, okay, you don’t pay this bill, your water’s going to get file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 10-27-99.html7/1/2011