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MR. NAHALE -A: On that note, for me, the balance -- -this section right here is just a budget review process. As being interpreted, I think it is unnecessary. If the concern was to be able to have programs reviewed more critically, then we may have to talk about giving the Council some authority to mandate something be done by a timeline. In my mind, that would be a two thirds vote kind of a thing. It would have to be something a little heavy. If that's the intention of this section of the Charter, that we can get critical reviews, then I think it needs to be amended; otherwise, removed. CHR. HAITSUKA: Mr. Ashida. MR. ASHIDA: Thank you. Is Mr. Shibata saying that in order to have the Legislative Auditor's office do anything, it requires a resolution or initiation by the Council? Is that what you said? CHR. HAITSUKA: Mr. Shibata. MR. SHIBATA: The Legislative Auditor's office comes up with an audit plan. We submit that to the Council to have it approved. In this plan it shows what departments or what audits we need to conduct throughout the year. If the Council feels that there is a need to come up with a resolution to have us conduct an audit - - -if they submit a resolution and that resolution passes, that allows us to go into that department. We would also have to look at our scheduling to see if we can fit that audit into our plan. MR. ASHIDA: I guess, Mr. Chairman, I'm astounded by this revelation, because when I voted for this when this was presented to the voters my understanding was that the Legislative Auditor's office is independent. To me, it is skewed enough that they are hired exclusively by the Council, that the Administration has no input in the hiring of what may be argued as a political appointee. If the Council has to pass a resolution in order for an audit to occur, then they could effectively block an audit of themselves or any agency on the legislative side. What if the Administration or somebody wanted to say, "We think the Council should be audited to see if they're wasting taxpayer resources by spending meeting time deliberating on issues which they really have no jurisdiction over." Then the Council could say, "No, I don't think we are going to pass a resolution to do that." Maybe that's beyond the scope of this, but since we are in a mandatory Charter review year, now what the voters passed in 2008 is fair game. By all means, please notify me when that's going to be heard by this Commission, because I have some serious, serious issues and concerns by what I heard today. CHR. HAITSUKA: Alright, thank you. Mr. Hookano, that section is one of the sections we haven't included in our - -- MR. HOOKANO: That's right. That section falls under -- -that Charter Amendment amended Article III, so that's actually under discussion today. I think at the last meeting our Secretary, Karen Eoff gave you guys that amendment. It was covered during the last meeting. 16