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CHAIRMAN SAKATA: Any other questions? <br /> MR. GARCIA: One more thing. Probably, maybe, <br /> some of the confusion might arise with the terminology "Research <br /> and Development. " As I mentioned in my first visit with you, <br /> we serve several functions. One big function that we serve is <br /> the area of economic development and promotional effort of the <br /> big "Big" of this island, this county. The research part is <br /> where we do some of the information gathering and information <br /> generating in supporting some of the activities of the county. <br /> These are two functions that we serve within the department. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: Anyone else? <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Mr. Chairman. Mr. Garcia. If <br /> there should be a merger of these two departments , could you <br /> have one division in the Planning Department as a research arm <br /> and have one administrative head and you can continue to function <br /> as you are now in this department? Can it function? <br /> MR. GARCIA: Well , like I say, when we are <br /> talking about promoting and I use this term in a real broad <br /> sense, "promoting". . .I think it has to be free and clear of any <br /> regulatory involvement. I think if there is a tie in say, R & D <br /> functions with the Planning Department, I think there might be <br /> some credibility that might be arising with some of this promotion <br /> effort. I think this would be a real credibility problem that <br /> might arise. One of things that we did early-on was try to <br /> get information on the economic development programs, for example, <br /> that is going on in the various states. In many of these states <br /> and in many of these counties , it ' s a separate function that ' s <br /> a separate department or agency within that county or state <br /> promoting that particular jurisdiction. So, I still believe, <br /> firmly, that it should be two separate departments. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: You still didn ' t answer the <br /> question. Can you function even though you are mergedIf you <br /> separate the, you know, bring :;in' over the R & D group into the <br /> Planning Department and let that group continue to <br /> MR. GARCIA: This is what I am saying. I think <br /> we would lose a lot of credibility if we did that, for one <br /> thing. I think if. . .and this is my observation, it may not be <br /> correct but, I think, if there is a merger that would take <br /> place between R & D and the Planning Department, some of the <br /> functions that we are currently doing in the Department of <br /> Research and Development would drop down at a low level as <br /> compared to some of the planning functions that are ongoing <br /> within the Planning Department. So I think it would play a <br /> lesser role within the Planning Department as far as same of <br /> the other ongoing functions within the department. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: That can happen <br /> MR. GARCIA: Yes, I think this would be a very <br /> real happen. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: But it can work in merger. You <br /> still haven ' t answered that. Yes or no? <br /> -10- <br />