1999-12-04 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 12-04-99Page 12 of 39 RAY: Opposed? 2 COMMISSIONERS: Nay. RAY: Two? HERKES: I just want to point out that the two Kona people voted for this. While you’re saying Kona will be against it, we both voted for it. RAY: That’s good. KUROZAWA: I want to say something real quick. I did vote for it but, my feeling about these things, is that the people should vote, and I don’t want to stonewall things as a Commissioner, thinking even if they’re going to vote against it, that’s fine. But I think the people should have a say. HIGASHI: Opportunity to vote, yes. SANTANGELO: The question is, I voted, not based on what a few people are, maybe, going to come in here and beat up on it. I think the good doctor stated it very clearly. But, as we go along, if other information comes up, this isn’t written in stone yet. Or is this pretty much we’re going to put this up and we’re going to fine tune it? RAY: I think this is the strong will of the Commission at this point, to put this up, and that’s the way it should be presented. HIGASHI: That’s right. RAY: I don’t think we should be willy nilly about things. BESS: Exactly. Bite the bullet. SANTANGELO: I’d like to make a quick comment then. If you’ll look at it, where it points to the terms of Council members, it should say - second line - One member shall be elected from each of the six ‘single’ member districts. That should be put in there, and then later on, it says for member elected in the six ‘single" member districts, because it states ‘at- large’ but it doesn’t say ‘single’ member, and that’s going to be a big thing when it comes to perception. RAY: Okay, as with everything else, I think we’ll have to have our attorney - so maybe Roland can get together with Chris and get him to come up with some proposed language that we have in the file, that exactly reflects the best language. HIGASHI: And it also reflects that we’re using six State House of Representative districts as a guideline, if it’s lawful, so that we don’t have to wait for the Reapportionment Commission. RAY: Okay. Marni. HERKES: My feeling, on these votes, is that if we’re voting for or against it, so long as nothing else comes up on it, so that if we want to take it up again, then we can vote again. It’s just like everything else. You can change your mind. Right? RAY: Right. We will have final votes, officially, on all of these. Okay, good. Making some progress. On non-partisan, I think it was agreed that we don’t need to revisit that at this point in time. Term limits, as a separate ballot amendment. Do we have any discussion on that? HIGASHI: We yield to you. You had some strong feelings on that. HERKES: My very strong feeling is that term limits are up to the electorate, and I don’t like government meddling in my opportunity to elect, or not elect, an official. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 12-04-99.html7/1/2011