2000-04-29 Charter Commission Minutes

Home

Transcript of Meeting of April 29, 2000Page 14 of 64 RAY: John. SANTANGELO: I don’t know if this needs to be said enough but for me, it needs to be said more and more because I agree with this political subdivision as we grow. But we have the supremacy type of attitude and in law, in that things come down from State, and we are a county at their permission, and that’s all we can be. And so this will be solved on the State level. Your Council, and Mr. Tyler and myself and many others, held this view that we were, and he still is, your first level of advocacy, but it will be done at the State level so whatever you do, don’t let yourself be distracted at the County level. It is a State thing and it’s got to be changed there, and then we can just go for it. RAY: You know, we’ve got to keep all this on the record so I’d really like follow the testimony. If you’d like to come up, Sandra. SCARR: Yes. It seems to be that there are some things that the County can do to address the issue of planning on a more local level, and address the issue of budgeting for zoning, and so forth, on a more local level without even formal incorporation. The West Hawaii Office of the Mayor, and the office is very small. The Council people have even less support. If West Hawaii citizens are to have their Council members as their first line of representation, which I think we all feel they are, they need more support, and that is something that the County can address. The County can provide some planning advice over there. The County can provide even more of a Planning Office over in West Hawaii. More infrastructure in Public Works. We could have more local say in what happens to us, and we need more support for our Council people to be able to be effective representatives. We don’t have enough government over on the West side, and I think you can see that, as a County, you can address that. RAY: Thank you. Brenda Ford, followed by Judy Graham. FORD: I’m Brenda Ford. I live in Captain Cook, and I’m going to be speaking in two parts. The first part, I’m representing Plan-to-Protect Kona, which is a 501-C3 organization dedicated to sustainable environment, agriculture, development. And I am going to be reading into record a letter that was provided by the President of our organization, Duane Erway. And then after that, I’d like to speak for myself. Aloha Members. Plan-to-Protect is a non-profit 501-C3 organization dedicated to sustainable planning and use of resources. Our supporters are interested in a quality, sustainable life for themselves and their children. Accordingly, our remarks are confined to those specific topics within the scope of our purpose. The numbers below correspond to the specific topics numbered by the Charter Commission in your draft document. 1. Plan-to-Protect, that is PTP, has not developed a position on this topic. 2. At-Large Council Seats: PTP respectfully requests the Charter Commission to drop the proposal for adding three "at large seats". Because there are many more people in Hilo, the proposed change would unfairly switch the County Council balance of power to favor East Hawaii in land use decisions. In addition, the cost of a winning campaign for island-wide elections would be $100,000 to $200,000; a sum difficult to raise without substantial contributions from the very people and organizations who can and will profit from decisions file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 04-29-00.html7/1/2011