MIN CHARTER 2019-02-08 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -8 February 8, 2019 many other community service organizations that depend on County funding. To say that this two percent amount which will if in the Charter would be a mandatory budget amount, that this would not negatively affect other higher priority County programs would be wrong. It is the County Council that is charged with prioritizing where County funds should be spent, where they have debate and public input, and the right of the public to vote members out should they disagree with budgetary policies. The Council needs the flexibility to determine budgetary needs on a yearly basis without their hands being tied by a mandatory budget set aside that is nowhere else in the Charter. So, the bottom line I believe, is really while we have a spirited debate about how much is too much for the mandatory PONC fund, we nevertheless should allow the voters to decide this Charter question. I ask that we not take away the public's right to vote on this very important Charter Amendment. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Roehrig. MR. ROEHRIG: Thank you. After the last meeting we had and listening to Toni Withington and Mr. Fijimna from North Kohala, it took me back 35, 40 years after we moved here from... I moved here from Honolulu, and we used to go hike along the coastline there, camp, hotels weren't there except Mauna Kea, now the Mauna Lani we go camping at Mauna Lani before there was any hotel there. Now you can't even hike along the coastline. I would go surfing with my boys there in front of the Mauna Lani and the security would come and kick us out of the water. So, I realize yes, it is conservation, but as someone commented here, you can do away with that and put hotels up and keep people away from the ocean period, or along the coastline, so although 1 don't think you can make this amendment because I think it is against the rules of Robert's Rules of Order, I agree to leave the PONC fund the way it was at two percent. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Rice. MS. RICE: 1 will vote yes on this amendment which is Commissioner Leithead- Todd's amendment to increase the amount of money back up, but in my opinion it is putting a patch on CA -7 which is, as Commissioner Hamano has said, was not the intent of it. 1 think that we have a perfectly good piece of amendment in CA -9 and CA -7 should probably should stand on its own two feet at the original amount of money that was put in it. But, as 1 say, I will vote for this amendment. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Hopkins did you have a previous comment? Page 32