2000-04-29 Charter Commission Minutes

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Transcript of Meeting of April 29, 2000Page 30 of 64 proposal. Now, in this venue that I’ve just mentioned, again, what Chris is saying could be talked into the 18 months and maybe nothing would come out of it. All I’m saying is give the opportunity to the voters, because we’re not going to make the decision. All we’re going to do is put it forth on a ballot. The proposal would be pretty simple, so put together the ad hoc committee to address the potential problem. As Chris is indicating, he doesn’t see there is a problem, and maybe I’m using the wrong word when I say that there’s a problem. Let’s say it’s an issue that should be addressed. And if nothing comes out of it, then it would be nothing to put on the ballot 18 months down the road. But if, in fact, there was, it gives them time to address the issue. That’s all I’m saying. RAY: Any other questions in regard to George’s proposal? Sue. IRVINE: I guess I wonder if we have the power to do anything but amend our Charter, or were we thinking of making this a Charter Amendment, adding something to our Charter saying there will be an ad hoc committee set up? MARTIN: I believe we do, but I’m sure Chris would give us a rendering decision on that. YUEN: Just speaking generally, certainly the Charter Commission can establish Commissions that would have certain responsibilities. For example, there’s a proposal for a Cost-of-Government Commission, so there is the power to do that. I am just, perhaps, looking forward at the end of the process. As far as the Charter being the structure and function of the County government, and how that is set up, there is really no issue to be dealt with there on the structure and function of County government insofar as how it relates to either Hawaiian homes land or Hawaiian issues generally. These are all matters that are within the State Constitution, the State Statutes, Federal Statutes, and Federal Constitution. RAY: Anymore comments? Okay, so I guess we’ll mull on that and see where we go with it. SANTANGELO: And stay in contact. Give John a call. PRANKE: I appreciate your comments. Mr. Martin and Mr. Yuen weren’t at the Volcano meeting where I suggested - I didn’t write up a proposal for this - that the Charter Review Commission should be a standing Commission, and that would give us the time to work on those things. Rather than forming an ad hoc Commission, let’s have a standing nine-member Charter Review Commission, perhaps adding it in with the Reapportionment Commission under the County Council, and just let them work on these things over the time. As you know, you don’t have enough time here every ten years to take care of everything. MARTIN: I agree with that comment that there should be some sort of a formula that would allow, but I think there is, in fact, with the Council members in having the ability, they could write up legislation and have it implemented every two years. But this one here, again, is a separate and different issue in that it may be mulled over at times but nothing done about it. If you have an ad hoc specifically for one issue, then I think it puts a little bit more emphasis to get whatever needs to be gotten done. RAY: Anymore response on that? We’re going to take a five or ten minute break right now, a little break. RECESSED The Chairman called a recess at 11:28 a.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 11:38 a.m. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 04-29-00.html7/1/2011