HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP RAWEEMC 012 2022/02/22 2020-2022REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, WATER,
ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
DATE: February 22, 2022
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 616
Your Committee on Regenerative Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management,
to which was referred Communication No. 616, reports as follows:
Communication No. 616, transmitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated January 31, 2022,
submitting ,for the Council's review and confirmation the appointment of Stephen Lopez to the
Water Board pursuant. to Section 6-10.2 of Hawaii County Charter.
A motion to move Communication No. 616 to full Council with a positive recommendation was
made by Council Member Holeka Inaba; seconded by Council Member Susan Lee Loy.
Nominee Lopez introduced himself to Your Committee, noting at one time he was the Deputy
County Clerk for the County of Hawaii when Council Chair Maile David was a Legislative
Assistant for then Council Member Angel Pilago. Nominee Lopez also shared that his Business
Management degree and his career in Information Technology allowed him to streamline process
any challenges or matters through decision making, and he will bring that perspective into public
service as well.
P6maika`i Bartolome, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth, introduced nominee Lopez to Your
Committee and shared of his outstanding community service on Hawaii Island and his
willingness to serve on such an important board. If approved, nominee Lopez would serve a term
ending December 31, 2026.
A consensus of Your Committee inquired as to why nominee Lopez chose the Water Board to
serve on and nominee Lopez replied that water is life, and it is important to preserve and
perpetuate this living source of water continually. He also shared that he was not yet familiar
with County of Hawaii Water Use and Development Plan nor has he had training on Native
Hawaiian rights, but feels that his current understanding of the importance of anchialine ponds
along the coastline, and the critical aquifers on island would also help him in this role on the
Water Board in protecting this precious resource for generations to come.
Council Members Aaron Chung and Susan Lee Loy both encouraged nominee Lopez to
familiarize himself with the water rights of lessees on Hawaiian Home Lands and the water
service provided by the Department of Water Supply, as the matter has been of great importance
in the past and may remain so going forward.
RAWEEMC Report No. 12
RAWEEMC-12 Page 2 February 22, 2022
Your Committee on Regenerative Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management
is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication No. 616 and recommends
confirmation of the appointment of Stephen Lopez to the Water Board.
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Respectfully submitted,
141918 U I INN R 101043I l _ VIG
AGRICULTURE, WATER, ENERGY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
HERBERTW.M.,,D
RAWEEMC REPORT
ADOPTED:
AYES NOES ABS EX
CHUNG
x
DAVID
x
INABA
x
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER
x
KIERKIEWICZ
x
KIMBALL
X
LEE LOY
x
RICHARDS
x
VILLEGAS
x
Respectfully submitted,
141918 U I INN R 101043I l _ VIG
AGRICULTURE, WATER, ENERGY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
HERBERTW.M.,,D
RAWEEMC REPORT
ADOPTED: