2018-05-24 Cost of Government Commission minutes

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Cost of Government Commission May 24, 2018 meeting minutes PRESENTATION BY DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON COST- SAVING MEASURES BY THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I Due to ongoing response efforts from all County departments for the Puna eruption events, staff was not available for the presentation. Commissioner Buehler motioned to postpone the item. Commissioner Hopkins seconded. Motion approved unanimously by voice vote – 8 ayes, 1 absent SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PREVIOUS COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONS Due to ongoing response efforts from all County departments for the Puna eruption events, Roy Takemoto was not available to present the summary. Commissioner Buehler motioned to postpone the item. Commissioner Hopkins seconded. Motion approved unanimously by voice vote – 8 ayes, 1 absent DISCUSSION ON IDENTIFYING AREAS OF FOCUS FOR COST OF GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS  Commission members discussed concerns over the impacts of the Puna eruption events to the work they are tasked with. The Commission falls under the Office of the Mayor/Management, which provides staff support and other communication assistance. Staff from the Office have been assigned indefinitely to various tasks in response to the emergency status, which has made it difficult to continue with addressing the Commission needs. Additionally, the County’s immediate emergency and long-term relief responses are widespread covering all departments and agencies. During this time of uncertainty for the County in its assistance to eruption-impacted residents, requests to departments and agencies for information and presentations will be difficult and responses will likely not be timely. County resources will also be minimal for the foreseeable future. While these current issues may not be the case for all County Boards and Commissions, the nature of the Cost of Government Commission makes it susceptible to being impacted. Commissioners commented that they understood the County’s status in relation to the Commission. They expressed their intentions are not to be disruptive to the County’s emergency response efforts but need to consider how to balance the needs of carrying out the Commission’s work in a way that’s manageable for personnel.  Deputy Corporation Counsel Ronald Kim advised the Commission to consider the following options: - request the Mayor to issue a Proclamation suspending the Commission’s work until an applicable time and extend the eleven month deadline for it to submit a report of recommendations - amend meeting schedule to convene less frequently, possibly once a month instead of twice 2