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STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS <br />MARGARET WILLE <br />(At this time Margaret Wille came forward to address members of the Charter Commission.) <br />Margaret Wille testified via videoconference from the Waimea Council Office. She <br />commented on Communications 258, 256, 256.1 and 259. <br />Regarding Comm. 258, the Proposed Ballot Questions, Ms. Wille made suggestions for <br />the order of the ballot questions. She commented that because there are 19 proposed <br />charter amendments, that the order in which they appear on the ballot is important and that <br />the same order in which they will appear on the ballot is how they should appear on the <br />public educational material, in order to facilitate voters finding the CA's of interest to <br />them when they enter the voting booth. She suggested that CA's that are of more general <br />"public interest" come first, but not starting with the most controversial complex land fund <br />question. The amendments that are more "esoteric" or housekeeping, and /or not easily <br />understood unless you have studied the issue should follow and be grouped according to <br />similarity of issues. In particular she would start with CA -9 (Electronic notice of meetings <br />to the public), CA -26 (Conservation of natural and cultural resources) and CA -15 <br />(memorialize Land Fund allocation). She pointed out Levi informed the Committee that <br />the CA numbers of the proposed amendments would not be included on the ballot, so <br />there will not be confusion with putting the amendments in a different order on the ballot. <br />Regarding Comm. 256 and 256.1, the Report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Education, <br />Ms. Wille suggested that Commissioners use the Community Development Plan (CDP) <br />Action Committees and Steering Committees (and the Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 <br />Committee) as the appropriate forum for any face -to -face presentations. She noted that <br />Larry Brown, in the Planning Department's long range planning division should be <br />contacted. He does an excellent job with the Puna CDP and their web site. Larry Brown <br />could contact the others who are involved with the other CDP Action Committees and <br />Steering Committees. It is important to do this sooner than later so as to get on the agenda <br />of the various groups, since they usually only meet once a month. She explained these <br />groups are focused on interaction with the community and are particularly appropriate <br />because they have a diverse make -up (versus representing one special interest). This brings <br />in a cross section of opinions and concerns and is already in place with a broad community <br />network, email and otherwise. In contrast, she urged the committee not to spend their <br />limited energies holding their own community meetings or going to groups that represent <br />any specific interest group. (Versus going to certain special interest groups e.g. the <br />Chamber of Commerce). <br />She also encouraged using the internet and popular Big Island blog sites to post <br />educational materials. She added that Big Island Video News or Osira Communications <br />could film a presentation at a Commission meeting for the Commission's own website so <br />that folks could watch the presentation at their leisure. (A member of the Commission <br />asked Ms. Wille to submit these suggestions in writing.) Ms. Wille noted that students <br />can also be more creative and schools could be included in the educational process. <br />2 <br />