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

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -8 February 8, 2019 Commissioner Ha;nano. MR. HAMANO: Thank you Chair Adams. Again, I would refer to Director Yee's comments made to our Commission, that while we did have spirited positive debate, that did not want to lower the PONC mandatory amount from two percent to one percent, I think there is a vast, at least equally silent majority that you know, would want, you know, fiscal responsibility to be placed with the County Council and the you know, Finance Director, and you know, to have them prioritize and decide you know, what is the correct amount. Now it still you know, authorizes a mandatory one percent amount which is you know, about three million dollars, so you know again, since the amount right now is two percent and the proposal here is to lower it to one percent, again I say we will allow this to go forward and we allow the public to decide you know, whether they wish to maintain the two percent or whether they wish to lower it to one percent. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Rice, MS. RICE: I will vote no on CA -7, Draft 2 because in my opinion it shortchanges our children and our grandchildren by severely decreasing our opportunity to keep and restore our island's irreplaceable lands, and we have a very complete and good piece of amendment in CA -9. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Galirnba. MS. GALIMBA: So I also will be voting no. No surprise there, but I just wanted to make a few comments. One of them of course is to note that we got quite a few emails from students over the last few days and I have to admit like I was crying because it was so beautiful to have those kids having that kind of connection to their island, their `aina and their place. It is like an investment you know, to have that kind of care for the environment and we need that so badly because we are going to places where that is just going to priceless so to me this fund is very well spent, it is a huge investment on things that you can't see but are just priceless and I also wanted to recall something that a testifier, Gail Byrne mentioned, which was the rural economic development that this fund creates, especially in the rural areas outside of Hilo, like Ka`u, it is just, it is huge to have this fund to help our communities. That's all. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Commissioner Roehrig. MR. ROEHRIG: Do I have to incorporate what I already said? I don't want to repeat it. CHR. ADAMS: For the record it is incorporated. MR. ROEHRIG: Thank you. Page 35