MIN CHARTER 2018-10-12 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -4 October 12, 2018 Then our Water Use and Development Plan is a dynamic plan that we've coordinated. It's a State requirement, but basically it's a guidebook to make sure that the development water needs work together, again to ensure that we have long term sustainability of the resource basically. So that's it, Water Supply 101. Hearing no questions, thank you for your time. CHR. ADAMS: Thanks Manager Okumoto. Do we have questions for the Manager/Chief Engineer? Commissioner Galimba. MS. GALIMBA: Hi, thanks for coming in. So my first question is, one of the earliest pieces of testimony we received as a commission was from a man who was suggesting that we put into the Charter more demanding qualifications for people on the Water Board. I think they specifically were asking for, I think, an engineering degree, in relation to the pump failures that happened. So this person felt that the commission did not have the technical knowledge to be able to ask the right questions, basically, and help to direct the department appropriately. I think they were asking for at least one person on the commission to have, you know, very technical knowledge. What are your thoughts on that? Do you think that would be an appropriate amendment to the Charter, to ask for that in the commission? MR. OKUMOTO: Okay, thank you. Personally and professionally, I don't think that's required within the Charter. I've been with the department for over 20 years, and I've gone through numerous Water Boards. I think it's actually a benefit and you have a mix and you don't put certain requirements on the board members, because you have these varying perspectives that are all legitimate. We have technical staff on board. All we need is direction from the Water Board saying, "Hey, this is a priority. We want you to maybe seek outside professional assistance." Which is what we did with this last go around with the Kona situation. We do have from time to time some technical people on the board. It could be financial background, it's been legal background, it's also been engineering background. I've never seen it where one really showed to be an actual necessity to be identified as in a Charter amendment. I think overall as a body, when they all can collectively come together and work with the department, we've always come up with the appropriate solutions. MS. GALIMBA: Maybe a follow-up question to that. I think I'tn on some board where I don't have the technical knowledge when I come in, and it really helps to Page 26