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minutes 03-25-00Page 17 of 34
<br />the responsibilities, initially for them to do the work, so the advisory body comes in, the non-paid advisory body from the
<br />public, and actually tries to lock into the vision that they should be responsible for, the island at-large.
<br />RAY: Sue, you finished?
<br />IRVINE: I think so.
<br />RAY: Okay, Daryl, you had a question?
<br />KUROZAWA: Yes. Keiko, I just had a quick comment and a question regarding the issue of the at-large. And just to let you
<br />know, being from West Hawaii, we commented that we knew there’d be a lot of opposition from the West side, mainly
<br />because of the history of the at-large seats here. But, the one issue that came up, and I think one of the reasons the four-year
<br />term was tossed around, was there’s always a concern right now that because the Council members have two-year terms, and
<br />there’s a potential that in one year you can have all new Council members, which we’ve had, and so you have a group of
<br />inexperienced people trying to learn their job. It may take the six months or a year to do that, and just when they’re starting to
<br />get into the process of learning, or becoming a very efficient Council member, then they’re up for re-election, and they may
<br />be either gone, or they’ll be campaigning the last year. So, the thought on that was to give some stability to the Council and
<br />maybe having more experienced people there for a longer time period.
<br />RAY: Keiko.
<br />BONK: Did Peter want to comment on that?
<br />RAY: Well, you go ahead. He addressed it to you, and then Peter can.
<br />BONK: Okay.
<br />P. MARTIN: Yes, it seems to me that you could think about having four-year terms for the entire Council and staggering the
<br />elections, so that as you get new people in and learning, you still have a core, or a cadre, of people who are experienced and
<br />are knowledgeable, so that you would have more continuity and you would never find yourself with all new people at one
<br />time.
<br />BONK: There’s down sides and upsides to the four-year term thing. The problem with that is the people voted many, many
<br />times, and if you can’t hear the people vote after how many times we put this on the ballot for two-year terms, then we have
<br />problems. No matter what we think, two-year terms, that’s what the people want. Now, I know the pros and cons because
<br />I’ve been there too with John Ray. Two-year terms come around really fast. However, there is something really good about
<br />two-year terms coming around very fast for elected officials and that’s the fact that they can never slack. They have to be on
<br />the ball all the time. That’s good for the public. It’s given us a lot more vocal accountability from Council member to their
<br />districts. I think it has in the last ten years. But, the Mayor’s the one, the Administrative body whoever it is, is supposed to be
<br />the one showing the continuity. They’re the ones that are supposed to be carrying through on the projects that the legislative
<br />body puts to law. And that’s where, I think, the problem’s breaking down, not so much the Council bodies coming in - Well,
<br />they probably could be doing more legislative work, but that’s something that has to be cleaned up with the Administrative
<br />body as well. So the people have spoken, whether you like it or not, and if you take it one more time to them, I think it’s
<br />going to be pretty nervy.
<br />RAY: Thank you. Patti Barry, followed by Shannon Rudolph.
<br />BARRY: Thank you. My name’s Patti Barry. I am from Oceanview. I’m speaking for myself. Good morning. I am a friend of
<br />Jim Otterson’s and support his ideas, and plan to do some expanding on them, which I have some of my own.
<br />I have reviewed the proposed County Charter Commission changes to the Charter. Although they are possibly a step in the
<br />right direction, I find many flaws. I appreciate all your efforts.
<br />Most cities/counties in the United States over 45,000 population utilize the Council/Manager form of government. This
<br />system combines the political leadership of elected officials and the managerial expertise of an appointed, professionally
<br />trained, local government manager. The Council members are the county’s policy makers, elected by popular vote, to be
<br />responsive to citizens’ needs and wishes. They focus on short-term goals, major projects and long-term considerations such
<br />as capital improvement projects, land use development, and capital financing and strategic planning.
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