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came through the county council method. In 2006, there were five amendments that were <br />proposed, all came through the county council. Prior to that, it was 2000, the year of the <br />Charter Commission. <br />MR. LINGER: How many were proposed? <br />MR. HOOKANO: Those were the Charter Amendments that were proposed. With the <br />initiative petition, it goes through the Council, and the Council will approve it through an <br />ordinance. So, it would come through that way. But, other than the Charter Commission <br />route, the initiative petitions do go to the Council for final approval. <br />MS. JARMAN: But, the initiatives don't amend the Charter; they amend the County Code. <br />MR. HOOKANO: Right, it's not really an initiative in the same sense as an initiative <br />petition. <br />MS. JARMAN: If the public wants to amend the County Code, they use the initiative <br />process, if they want to amend the Charter, they use this process. I went over this provision <br />with Pat Nakamoto, the Elections Administrator. When we were talking, particularly for the <br />amendments that occur by petition, that if we could make that procedure the same as we <br />made for recall, and the same as we made for initiative and referendum. It's really <br />unrealistic. This basically says they would have to examine 20% of the signatures of 20% of <br />the people who are registered to vote. Then, it gives them 20 days of work to do that. But, <br />they really can't look at signatures. Signatures are on micro - fiche, because that's what they <br />do with our registrations forms. So, if we could make this more consistent, she said she <br />would be willing to work with our counsel. I would be happy to help too, to try to make that <br />language consistent with what we are proposing for the others, if the Commission is <br />amenable to that; just so we are consistent and they know what to do and everyone knows <br />what to do consistently across the board. I think that is also what Ms. Hecht was suggesting. <br />I think the only question might be - -and then we could bring that up at the time - -is what <br />percentage of voters do we want. There may be a different percentage you would want for a <br />recall, versus a charter amendment versus an initiative, in terms of making it harder or easier <br />for the public to get something on the ballot. But, I think we could do that in a discussion. <br />We can keep it at just 20% and again, make the procedure the same. <br />MR. SHUMWAY: I would say that's a good idea. What do we need to do in regards to <br />that? <br />CHR. HAITSUKA: Do we have a motion? <br />MS. JARMAN: I guess we would make a motion to have our counsel - -and I'd be willing to <br />do it, if no one else wanted to, we don't really need an ad hoc committee - -and have Pat <br />Nakamoto draft some language that we could bring forth at the next meeting, would be my <br />suggestion. So, I'll make that as a motion. <br />26 <br />