2018-09-26 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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• In concluding, there is a mishmash of policies and agencies, and the effective management of the ocean and its resources is not occurring. If our policies were implemented with the Public Trust Doctrine in mind, we would not be in this situation today. To the extent possible within the law, this County must assume responsibility and control of its water resources and their beneficial uses. It is a big order and a costly one. • To continue down the road we’re on is creating a huge liability to the economy and lifestyles of the island. Our bays are impaired, and at some point they will impact the tourist resources this island depends upon. We need to be willing to invest in our ocean to protect it. • Guiding recommendation: In order to protect ocean and fresh water resource values and institute resilience to climate change, the County of Hawaiʻi must attain comprehensive integrated policy and pragmatic leadership for the well-being of the island. The policies of the past are a prescription for grave economic consequences and resource degradation and scarcities. The security and welfare of the people are at stake. Inaction is not an option. Chair Bennett said he realizes much of this is outside the very limited scope of the EMC, but its limited scope is part of the problem. Though DEM is moving in the right direction, what it does is a small piece of the water quality pie. A lot of the problem is with the state and federal government. He plans to write up his report as succinctly as possible and share it widely with the mayor, council, and elected representatives to see if movement can be made. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Request from the Hawaiʻi County Charter Commission for the Environmental Management Commission’s input on how the County Charter affects its role and operations within the County, and any proposals it may have to amend the Charter. Chair Bennett said the Charter Commission wanted EMC’s input a month ago, but Hurricane Lane came and scheduling was disrupted. He proposed that, with the EMC’s approval, he could give a brief version of his water quality presentation to the Charter Commission. The commissioners were provided a handout of Chair Bennett’s “Proposed Draft Language for Charter Amendments,” which was condensed into two proposals. The first proposed language is: Shall a Department of Water be created in the government of Hawaiʻi County? The Departments of Environmental Management and the Department of Water Supply shall be merged to provide sustainable water management for multiple uses, including drinking water, water for reuse, and sustainable practices to assure the economic and environmental sustainability of the County’s people and resources.