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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GOREDC 2021/09/07 2020-2022 Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development 14th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai i September 7, 2021 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, ORDER: and Economic Development was called to order at 11:01 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member (via videoconference from Waimea) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Absent& Excused: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) CHR. KIMBALL: Alright, we're going to go ahead and take things out of order to accommodate our nominee to the Merit Appeals Board. Mr. Clerk, can you read in Communication 376? COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the of Business: following item was taken out of order: GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 Comm. 376: NOMINATION OF KATE DE SOTO TO THE MERIT APPEALS BOARD From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 19, 2021, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: October 6, 2021 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) Vote on Comm. 376: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) appointment of Kate De Soto to the Merit Appeals Board. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Chung and David—2. Excused: None. Executive Assistant to the Mayor Pomaika`i Bartolome came forward and provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. CHR. KIMBALL: Mr. Clerk, okay back to Communication 366, please? Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: Comm. 366: ANNUAL REPORT OF SISTER CITY ACTIVITIES: JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2021 From Sister City Protocol Officer Jane Clement, dated July 30, 2021, submitting the above report pursuant to Hawaii County Code Section 2-166. Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to close file on Comm. 366. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. CHR. KIMBALL: Ms. Clement, I believe you are on Zoom or in Kona Chambers. There you are. Thank you. (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Jane Clement came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Page 2 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 MS. CLEMENT: Good morning, Committee Chair Kimball and members of this committee. For the record, I'm Jane Clement, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth and Sister City Protocol Officer for the County of Hawaii. I'm happy to present the annual Sister City's Activities Report for the fiscal year 2020-2021. The County of Hawaii has always maintained a very active Sister City Program, especially with our Japanese sister cities. We've always had student and cultural exchanges and reciprocal visits happening every year. As expected, the global pandemic has put a stop to all our sister city activities in 2020. As you can see in my report, not much was happening that year. As you know, maintaining a sister city relationship is challenging enough, and even more so when there is a change in Administration. You have to start the process over again of introducing a new Mayor, reestablishing points of contact and developing and cultivating that relationship. So when I came on board in March of 2021 and was given the opportunity to manage the Sister City Program, my first order of business was to reestablish connection with our sister cities right away. I'm happy to report that of our 11 existing sister cities, we have successfully reestablished connection with 10 of them. Over the past few months, Mayor Roth has had the opportunity to communicate by Zoom with the Mayors of Oshima Island, Kumejima Town, Nago City, Shibukawa City, and Sumoto City in Japan; La Serena City in Chile; Ormoc and Cabugao City in the Philippines. We are scheduling a virtual meet-and-greet with Yurihama Mayor in a few days, and I'm currently in touch with Gokseong, Korea to reestablish connection with them as well. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I could not reconnect with La Reunion, France. I will give it another try but will recommend dissolution of the partnership to this committee if I am not able to successfully communicate with them by this time next year. They have been inactive for more than five years. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the hard work, dedication and commitment of our local host organizations. Especially those that are keeping our Japanese sister city relationships alive and thriving for many years. With every change of Administration they have been the constant presence that kept the relationships going. I'd like to recognize them at this time. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii, Japanese Community Association of Hawaii, Hui Okinawa, Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii, and the Keahole Center for Sustainability, formerly Friends of NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory-Hawaii Authority). They have been the backbone of our Sister City Program. Thank you again for the opportunity to present before you today. Happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. Page 3 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you so much, Ms. Clement. Any questions? Council Member Inaba. MR. INABA: Aloha, Jane. Thank you so much for the comprehensive yet efficient update. And thank you for putting together with the Mayor's Office, a creative event a couple months back. As we move forward, what cities are we looking to establish connections with or how many, I should say, as well? MS. CLEMENT: We are always looking for opportunities for new partnerships. Right now our main focus is to reestablish connections with our existing sister cities and kind of get programs going again. A few months ago, we had an inquiry from Kelowna, British Columbia. They expressed interest in establishing a sister city relationship with us. I have not gotten any update from them yet but will update this committee once I hear back from them. MR. INABA: Thank you. And are we going to be reaching out or do you have a list of wish cities that we're looking to connect with? MS. CLEMENT: Not at this time, no. MR. INABA: Okay, when you do have that would you be kind enough to share that with this committee? MS. CLEMENT: Absolutely. MR. INABA: Thank you so much. Chair, I yield. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Inaba. Anyone else? MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, please? CHR. KIMBALL: Yes, Council Member Villegas. And then we'll go to Council Member Richards. MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you. Aloha, Ms. Clement. I just wanted to touch base on—was it last year or the year before, prior Council Person Valerie Poindexter went on a trip to Portugal. And there was talk of creating a sister city relationship with the city that she visited there, as they had done a specific movie that included the Portuguese population, and history, and the descendants here on the Big Island. And she was included in that movie so she went and joined them for its debut. So I wondered if there might be an opportunity for continued reciprocity in that sister city opportunity. It seems very just relevant. Page 4 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 We have an incredible legacy of people from that heritage and that ethnicity here in the islands. And I know that Ms. Poindexter said that it was a really powerful trip with a lot of connectivity and a lot of really connecting features both in the similarities between Hawaii and this area that she was in. So, if you'd like I'd be happy to try and find some more information about that and I'm sure that Val would be happy to provide that as well, but it just seemed like a really—and the relationship there is established. The connection is there. MS. CLEMENT: Unfortunately, I don't have any information about that, so any information you can provide I'd be happy to look into it. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay fantastic, thank you. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Council Member Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. First of all, thank you, Ms. Clement for rekindling, reawakening the whole sister city thing. And I appreciate the fact that 2020 was a tough year. In July, I think it was the 26h, there was a hosting and Jane put this together. A hosting of the sister cities literally halfway across the world from Chile all the way into Asia. And I attended that event in Hilo. Jane, outstanding. Not only were you able to link the sister cities together, but the fact that everybody stayed engaged for the full, whatever it was, almost two hours. Again across the time zones. That was outstanding. And I think we as a Council, we as a County, need to really put the efforts in to connecting with our sister cities. Not just in name and not just in words, but in action as well, and hopefully we'll be able to again reestablish the in-person visits and the in-person hosting of our sister cities coming forth. The better understanding that we all develop as a community by interacting with these other sister cities, I tell you, it's a great way to go. So again, thanks to this Administration. I thank you, Mayor. I thank you, Jane for being the boots on the ground and getting this thing done. This is outstanding. Thanks. I yield. MS. CLEMENT: Mahalo. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you. MS. CLEMENT: And I wanted to add that I did not include that event on this report because this only covers through June 2020, and the event happened in July. But I'd be happy to answer any questions about that event. Page 5 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Ms. Clement. And thank you, Council Member Richards. Anyone else? Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Thanks Jane for being here. Like Council Member Richards I attended that event. And I just wanted to share a note that I got passed along from our sister city counterparts here. Specifically, Duane Mukai and Tommy Goya, who have supported so many of our sister city programs over in Japan. And they wanted to share. Jane has done a remarkable job under such challenging circumstances. The presentation that you gave at the Executive Center was just so inclusive. And as Mr. Richards mentioned, we had people across the globe, but one thing I did want to highlight is our sister city in Chile. They were up at 1:00 a.m. because of the time difference and they stayed. But what I do want to highlight for the rest of our entire island, why Jane is such a good fit. Jane took it upon herself, not only to reconnect with all of those sister cities, but she speaks second languages for them. And also learned Spanish so she could communicate better with our sister city in Chile. And so, I cannot express enough. What a wonderful fit Jane, you are, and the face for us in our Sister City Programs. And I hope that the Chair of this committee, you can bring Jane back and she could share that video that everybody watched that night which is also on our website. It really was well done, well put together. And it really did inspire us to reconnect with all of our sister cities across the globe. So thank you so much Jane. We want to invite you back and be able to share that video with us. Chair, I yield. MS. CLEMENT: Thank you, I'd be happy to. CHR. KIMBALL: Anyone else here in Hilo? Yes, Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. Aloha Jane. Thank you for the comprehensive report. One of the things your report talks about are art installations at our Hilo and Kona Airports. I'm just curious because our County has received numerous gifts from the various sister cities. Really beautiful artwork by local artists and students even. Just wondering if any thought or work is underway to install more of these really lovely pieces at more of our County facilities. Page 6 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 MS. CLEMENT: Yes, that is the plan. Well, we have display cases in Hilo on the second floor right across the elevators there. We have display cases, but it only provides information of our sister cities. It does not really display all the wonderful things that we've gotten from our sister cities as omiyages over the years including art pieces. And so that is the whole goal, to have more people actually see this and learn more about our sister cities. We've had conversations with Chauncey Wong Yuen, and he has graciously allowed is to put up a display case in both the Kona and Hilo Airports. And so we are in the process of putting that together. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, that sounds great. We also have a number of County Departments, offices around the island that I think would love being home to these beautiful donations. So thank you again for your hard work and consideration. Chair I yield. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. Alright, thank you again, Jane, for being here. And I hope you heard the request that we would love to have you come back and present that video. So my office will work with you to set up that in the future. And I just want to thank you for all that you're doing to rekindle and keep alive these sister city relationships. My daughter was able to take advantage of the sister city relationship with Yurihama and did an exchange program a couple of years back. She'll be excited to know that the Mayor is doing a meet-and-greet with them. And hopefully it won't be too long before we can give our youth this opportunity again to share and participate in these other cultures in the sister city relationships. So again, mahalo for being here. We really appreciate your time. MS. CLEMENT: Thank you, Chair. CHR. KIMBALL: Okay we'll go ahead and take the vote to close file on Communication 366, all those in favor? Vote on Comm. 366: The motion to close file on Comm. 366 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member David— 1. Excused: None. Page 7 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 CHR. KIMBALL: Moving on to Order of Resolutions. Please read in Resolution 190-21. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order RESOLUTIONS: of Resolutions. Res. 190-21: URGES THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE PURSUING LEGISLATION THAT ENCOURAGES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A CURRICULUM FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY AND INCLUDE THESE TEACHINGS AS A COURSE REQUIREMENT FOR EACH STUDENT BY 2022 Urges implementing a curriculum of practical courses in financial skills which would provide young adults knowledge of services and tools available to help achieve financial stability. Reference: Comm. 365 Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALII-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Motion to forward Resolution 190-21 to Council with a favorable recommendation. Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend adoption of Res. 190-21. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. CHR. KIMBALL: Council Member, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead. MR. KANEALII-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. This resolution is very straight forward, and I would think and I would hope very much supported by the Council. I watched the Legislature let this bill die in Conference this year, and I felt compelled to write this resolution just to offer some County support to any members of the Legislature who did want to see this move forward. And I do understand that it actually was opposed by the Department of Education. But I feel that given our economy during COVID, our reliance on tourism, our push towards a very technology-based financial system, our struggling families. I mean we have to do something to approach the situation from the source. And I think our keiki right now, teaching them financial literacy is how to start improving life in 10-20 years, and it's just that step forward. And so I want this just to be an urge to the legislation, exactly what it is, to let them know that, you know, if the members of this body feels so, that we'd like to see this being offered in our high schools. And I mean, I would say more. I would say down to middle school, if not, elementary school. We should be starting to teach people the Page 8 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 basics of financial literacy. But more so in our high school system as making this a requirement to graduate,that we understand basics in financial education. Just as a moment of humor, if you would, I just learned the other day that by making my kids as authorized users on my credit card account, they are able to gain my credit history. And simple things like that, and if you want to go further, you know how to understand and work in the stock market. How to gain or lose credit, you know, what it is that makes you credit worthy to buy a home. All these things should be forefront in education for our kids, especially here. So I'm hoping for everyone's support today, but you know, I'm not going to get into this too deeply. I just want to make sure that the DOE (Department of Education) and at the State level, they understand that, as I said, if we're willing, that this is something very important for our keiki across the State, and if not,just in our County. So I'm hoping for everyone's support today, and thank you for letting me speak. Mahalo. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Any discussion? Mr. Inaba. MR. INABA: Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder, for putting this resolution forward. As you know, education is my background, and it's unfortunate that, you know, this wasn't able to pass through the Legislature. It shouldn't require, in my opinion, the influence of prodding by government. This is something that our State leaders in education really need to consider, and I completely support the intention and what's here in the resolution and look forward to its transmittal to the department and to the Board of Education. Mahalo. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Inaba. Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Mahalo nui for putting this forward. I'll be supporting it. Just a couple of questions and comments. I think it's important to dig into why it didn't pass. I mean, it made it all the way to Conference, and there's a lot of work that goes into putting bills forward, advocating for them. So I think it's important to get to the core of why so that you're moving into the next session informed with that knowledge. So that's one thing. We just had a great presentation, as Housing Agency members of what's being stood up in the Financial Empowerment Centers. And so, I'd work parallel as, you know, work is being done to reintroduce this measure, look to find ways to integrate full `ohana engagement through the Financial Empowerment Center. Page 9 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 All the things you talk about in this resolution, bottom line, residents have to know. And so the Center is being stood up. It just makes sense, I think, to put your eggs in multiple baskets in this situation, so that at the end of the day, we're achieving what we're setting out to do, which is to insure that kids and `ohana are all getting that financial literacy. So I just offer that up and I'll be supporting it. Thank you, I yield. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. Council Member Villegas or Council Member Richards, anything from Kona or Waimea? MS. VILLEGAS: No, thank you. Just that I support the resolution and I'm very grateful for Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder taking the initiative, recognizing something that unfortunately fell before it crossed the finish line and kind of picking it back up, dusting it off, bringing to our attention so that we as a Council have an opportunity to confirm our support and to provide the recognition, and ideally the momentum necessary to cross the finish line in the next session. So thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, thank you. You know, I'm going to be supporting this but I really wish there was more teeth. If you want this body to get behind you and have the Legislature support this, I wish there was a little bit more actionable things. And as Ms. Kierkiewicz mentioned, working in parallel with some of the organizations out there that are looking at financial literacy. Maybe encourage a poll survey, because we hear it, but it would be nice to attach data to it like we've seen in other resolutions being presented before this body in the past, where there's some back-up support on why we are as a body encouraging the State to pick this back up. You know, we go through the process of writing this up, putting it on the agenda, and it would be wonderful if it was attached with some meat. And you know, we all understand the need for financial literacy and getting our youth prepared for the future. Oftentimes there's barriers just within their household that the adults don't understand the financial literacy piece. And so if there was some way to attach that information prior to getting it to Council, I think it would be more of a powerful statement. I would encourage that as the maker of this resolution, to back it up on why we support this, rather than just rewrite what's out there and existing. That's my thoughts. If there's a way, I mean justI want us to speak with a powerful voice, especially if we're taking this to encourage the Legislature to do things. But I will be supporting it at this time. I yield. Page 10 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Lee Loy. Council Member Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. Yeah, I support this measure. You know, financial literacy is so important. I think as most of you know, I work with wayward—well not just wayward kids, but a lot of children. And many of them come from unfortunate circumstances and are of the lower socioeconomic rungs, and they don't have, you know, the parental guidance on this kind of thing. And so what happens is a lot of times, they have to go to independent living to get the necessary skills. So this would be a good thing. But my question, though, so that we understand, you know, where the—you know, what we're up against. If, you know,the maker could just tell me, what was the Department of Education's reason for opposing this? MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: It actually died due tosorry, it didn't get Finance release. It didn't get released from Finance at the State level. So it's interesting that it died at Conference. It went to cross-over and came back, died at Conference, but wasn't or didn't get the release from Finance. And I just know that the Department of Education opposed the bill. MR. CHUNG: Okay, so we don't know what their reasons for opposing MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'll have to dig a little bit further. MR. CHUNG: And then with regard to because I think in order for us to, you know, try to make a concerted effort in addressing a situation, we've got to know where everybody stands on the matter. And of course, there's two sides to all of this, too. But and when you say now that is didn't pass Finance, was it the Finance Committee? Because it went to Conference, then it must have passed Finance Committee. I don't want to get all caught up in this thing. I just wanted to know what the Department of Education's objections were. But okay, maybe we can find out later. Thank you. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Chung. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, would you like to respond? No, okay. Any other questions, comments? Thank you all for the discussion. I also will be supporting this resolution, although I think there is merit to what Council Member Lee Loy is saying about putting some statistics behind this and maybe making it a more complete package. Page 11 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 Our children is the first generation that are expected not to do as well as their parents, and there's also a greater movement from traditional employment to the gig-work economy. And we're in the gig-work, you've got to do your whole business plan. You've got to do the marketing, and the finances, and the taxes. And so I think there is even greater than when we were growing up, a need for financial literacy as part of the core education that our students receive in the K (Kindergarten)through 12 process. So thank you for putting this forward, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Thank you all for the discussion today. Look forward to maybe some additional information coming to us at the Council. Yes, quickly. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: If I could, like any legislation put before us, you know, if you have ideas for amendments, I'd be open to seeing them. I think at the end of the day,just providing the State with a little bit of a push from the County is sometimes all it takes. And this taskforce was started in 2015; came back with their findings and yet here we are 2021, six years later still letting bills die in Conference. So, it did, my staff is texting me. It did pass Finance, but it wasn't Fin-released. And so, I would like as well to know a little bit more about what happened in those meetings and why it was allowed to die. But ultimately, you know, back to the main point, it's just like we've just got to push this. And it doesn't make sense. I mean I've gotten a number of emails just saying, "Yes, this makes sense. Why haven't we done this in the past? What's the delay?" I'm going to have to agree. If not now, then when? So mahalo, Chair. CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Alright, we'll go ahead and move to forward this to Council with a favorable recommendation. All of those in favor? Vote on Res. 190-21: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 190-21 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member David— 1. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) Page 12 GOREDC-14 September 7,2021 CHR. KIMBALL: I'll take a motion to adjourn. ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 11:34 a.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kimball— 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member David— 1. Excused: None. CHR. KIMBALL: We are adjourned. Mahalo. Approved: /.144tviv Cfivalc(L,e 9/Z(Ved Md Heather L. Kimball, Chair (Date) Government Operations, Relations, and Economic Development Committee HK/dt Page 13