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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GOEAC 2024/09/16 (2022-2024) Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs th 39 Session West Hawaiʻi Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi September 16, 2024 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Operations and ORDER: External Affairs was called to order at 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Cindy Evans, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Cindy Evans, Chair Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kānealiʻi- Kleinfelder, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of FROM THE business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Kristie Duarte: Res. 630-24 (Comm. 1043), in support. Shana Kukila: Res. 630-24 (Comm. 1043), in support. Chuck Flaherty: Res. 610-24 (Comm. 1016); (representing Sierra Res. 630-24 (Comm. 1043), comments.. Club, Hawai‘i Island Group) CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, I would like to move out of order and hear Resolution 630-24. GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, of Business: the following item was taken out of order: Res. 630-24: APPROVES THE HAWAIʻI COUNTY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AND PRIORITIES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2025 HAWAIʻI STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE Includes proposals relating to the regulation of tobacco products, State land use boundary amendments, denitrification in individual wastewater systems, and regulating midwife licensures, and 10 policy priorities relating to: (1) increasing funds for emergency preparedness; (2) extending the County surcharge of general excise tax; (3) lowering the cost and expanding the availability of insurance for homeowners and businesses; (4) advancing the timeline and providing more funding for cesspool conversions; (5) workforce development; (6) regulating agricultural tourism; (7) expanding access to midwifery licensures; (8) game management of wild ungulates; (9) promoting producer responsibility for solid waste; and (10) prioritizing and promoting safe routes to school. Reference: Comm. 1043 Intr. by: Ms. Kimball (Note: Comm. 1043.1 from Council Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz dated September 11, 2024; and Comm. 1043.2 from Council Chair Heather L. Kimball dated September 11, 2024, transmitting proposed amendments to Res. 630-24, were circulated.) Motion to Approve: Ms. Kimball moved to recommend adoption of Res. 630-24. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. CHR. EVANS: Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I’ll speak to the main resolution in a moment, which is our procedural step to pass potential legislative items to the HSAC (Hawai‘i State Association of Counties) Executive Committee for consideration in the HSAC package. But before I do that, I’d like to actually introduce the amendment that’s in your folders. Motion to Amend: Ms. Kimball moved to amend Res. 630-24, with the contents of Comm. 1043.2. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. So, what you see before you in this amendment is a proposal to move some of the items that were listed as legislative priorities to the actual bills. The reason for this is we are on a strict timeline with this resolution. Page 2 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 And in order to meet the deadline for referral, we had to put it through with the legislative priorities, but we were able to complete the bills before the hearing today. One of them in particular is in the amendment, it’s Number 6, the draft bill to extend the County surcharge of the general excise tax to 2040. And I wanted to invite our Mass Transit Administrator up to just share a few words about how important the GE (General Excise) surcharge has been to the County with respect to Mass Transit. (Note: At this time, Mass Transit Administrator Victor Kandle came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. KANDLE: Thank you. My name is Victor Kandle and I’m addressing Madam Chair and the Members. I’m the Administrator of the Mass Transit Agency. I’ve been here with the County for just over a year, and I’ve learned a lot about the community and the needs of the community; and a little bit of the history in regards to some of the needs and how they’re being met today. With the funding having been sourced in the Highway Division previously, our budget was pretty limited. And when this got converted over it allowed us to expand our services a great deal. So, I wanted to just touch on what I see is being a great need in the community. And when I think about the needs of the community, I think about the most basic needs as far as transportation. All over the island, I see that people are in need of that transportation. And I know for a fact that at this time, we’re well short of meeting that need, in spite, of a lot of effort and work to get there. Our budget has probably doubled in about four years, and that’s allowed us to start programs such as the Shared Ride taxi, free fare for the bus for both fixed route and paratransit. It’s let us work with Vanpool for people who are grouping together to carpool from their home to their work. We’ve been working on the Last Mile, First Mile concept with HIBIKE; that’s in place. We work currently with Robert’s as our vendor for all of our operations, including equipment operators. It goes on and on. All of the things that have been allowed to happen over the last few years because of this. When I look to the future and I think of the mandate to be looking at converting our fleet to zero emissions, that’s a monumental need and it’s an expense that really isn’t even accounted for in the current budget. So, I think when I look to the future that’s an ongoing expense that we’ve committed to. I could probably go on, but I think I just want to go back to what I said at the beginning, and that’s learning about our community and what the needs are in how I personally feel like, it’s difficult with all of the challenges that we have in place. Page 3 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 I’ve really taken to heart, the need of a lot of people. People in my community that live next to me. I recently had made a change in one of our routes and was surprised that even though it was a low number of people on that route that we made a change, it directly affected people who depended on that transportation. And I think of how critical it is for these people to be able to get from point A to Point B and get their children to school on our transit system, etcetera. And I’m open to whatever questions. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you so much, Administrator. So, again, this is in the amendment, one of the bills that we’re adding that was a legislative priority, but now it’s actually in a bill template. And those of my colleagues that were here on the Council when the GE surcharge was passed, you know, it was a battle, but it has definitely had a significant impact on our community and the ability to provide public transportation. So, look for your support adding this extension bill. The other two bills have to do with a request to increase the timeline for certain Priority One, Priority Two cesspools and provide funding resources for folks to do that conversion. And then, the third bill has to do with regulating Agricultural Tourism. This has to do with enabling the County to put restrictions with respect to overnight stays on agricultural properties, which we don’t have the authority to do. So, I ask for your support with this amendment, and then when we get back to the main motion, I will be happy to discuss the other pieces of legislation. Thank you. CHR. EVANS: Okay, do we have any further discussion? In Hilo, does anyone want to weigh in? Hearing none, then in Kona, we have Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes. I suppose this is to the maker. Just concerned, or actually more of a process question. One of the testifiers testified in support of the addition of another piece of legislation and the removal of one of the pieces of legislation on this list. And I just was asking for clarification, as I don’t believe— I think the timing for any additions or removals is passed. Is that correct? MS. KIMBALL: May I respond Chair? CHR. EVANS: Yes, please, Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: We will need to pass this out of Committee today and send it to Council, at which point, additional amendments could be made, such as it was suggested by the testifier. We would then have to waive our rules so that we could continue to move it on. We do have to get it passed and out of our hands by the next Council date. Page 4 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 MS. VILLEGAS: Okay, thank you for that. I yield. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, we have a motion. All in favor? Vote on Motion The motion to amend Res. 630-24, with the contents of to Amend: Comm. 1043.2 was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. Excused: None. MS. KIMBALL: Chair, alright, back to the main motion. And Council Member Kierkiewicz has some additional amendments too, just to make folks aware. But I did want to just run through the list real quick of the other items. So, we have under the bills to be submitted, the preemption with respect to tobacco products. This is a resubmittal from last year. The draft bill with respect to the boundary amendments, that was the one that was brought up as a potential concern. There’s a lot of interest in having a process that does not involve Land Use Commission for the County to make certain Land Use Boundary amendments from Ag to Rural on smaller lots. I will say that I don’t think we’ve arrived at the perfect solution for this. But that’s something that we would like to have a process for at the very least. The next item is with respect to denitrification. This is a bill that we did try to get through again last year. It has to do with ensuring that where people are still putting in septic systems. These are coastal areas and areas with particular porous substrate that they do have denitrification attached with those that does add a nominal cost to the system. But in areas where we’re having rapid development, like Miloliʻi, we are not going to be able to get a wastewater system in place as quickly as the development is happening. So, this will at least prevent some nutrients from getting into the nearshore waters. I’ll leave the midwifery licensure to Council Member Kagiwada. That was one of her submissions. And that covers the bill. I will yield the floor at this time, but happy to take questions in more detail. And I know, like I said, Council Member Kierkiewicz has some additional legislative priorities to add. I yield, Chair. Page 5 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 CHR. EVANS: I suggest we take up the amendment. Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KAGIWADA: Chair, can I just quickly jump in. There’s a couple sentences on Item 4, just to finish that out, so that we can move on. CHR. EVANS: Member Kagiwada, please. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. You heard the testifiers on the bill. Really, this greatly affects our County. I’d say to a greater extent even other counties, in that we have so much rural land, and so many folks giving birth, that are very far away from our hospitals. And so, we also want to make sure that people have their native and customary practices that they can be part legally of their birth plan and practice. We want to make this easier to licensure everybody but also to include those that haven’t been able to access the licensure process in the past. So, looking for people’s support on this. Thank you, I yield. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you so much. Motion to Amend: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to amend Res. 630-24, with the contents of Comm. 1043.1. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. EVANS: Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. We have a really excellent list of legislative priorities that the counties would consider advocating for once the session starts. I wanted to offer up three additional priorities for counties to advocate for. One of them being support for food security and access to locally produced foods. At last week’s Planning Conference, I was able to moderate a conversation about sustainable food systems on Hawai‘i Island and across the State. And some really excellent recommendations came out from these folks that have dedicated their lives to ensuring that here on Hawai‘i Island, we are becoming more food sustainable. So, Representative Kirstin Kahaloa was in the room, and she really appreciated what she heard, so we can count on her and our Senator Tim Richards to be advocating for supporting those who nourish us and nourish our communities. So, wanted to elevate that as a priority. We’re also realizing what we’ve known and need to increase support for public safety; particularly around access to mental health resources. I recently had a conversation with Chief Judge Administrator Bob Kim to talked about how the judiciary could support the efforts of the Council and Prosecutor’s Office in establishing community courts on Hawai‘i Island. Page 6 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 I’ll be inviting Council Member Kagiwada into these conversations because I know she expressed interest in wanting to have this model available to folks in her community. I’ve also alerted our Judiciary Committee Chair, Representative Tarnas, about our interest to do something like this on Hawai‘i Island. So, just trying to make sure all of the stars align in that regard. And so, adding support for mental health resources, community court to this package is essential. Finally, I think we all we all have heard about squatters in our various communities. It’s hard to really identify what we can do here on the County level. There might need to be some changes within the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. And so, not quite sure what a bill would look like at this point, but did want to elevate this as a concern for all of us, County and State, to start taking a look at. So, happy to answer any questions folks might have. But do appreciate everyone’s favorable consideration to add in these priorities to our share of legislative agenda. Thank you. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. In Hilo, any member comments, questions? MS. KAGIWADA: Chair. CHR. EVANS: Yes, Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Just a couple of quick comments. Very supportive of 11 and 12. Interested in 13 or the third one you talked about; yeah, not really visualizing what that might look like. I was just wondering if you had a champion at the State level that’s expressed interest in this or just any thoughts on what you might be thinking there. Because I’m just trying to wrap my head around what that might look like. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair, if I might. CHR. EVANS: Yes, Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I’m having meetings scheduled with members of our West Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Island Bar Association to understand. Residents on this island are having a very difficult time with folks that should not be on their properties. We also have more than 40 percent of our properties owned by non-Hawai‘i Island residents. I have on a weekly basis, folks calling me saying, there are people that should not be inhabiting properties, homes, next door to me. The activities that they are engaging in are detrimental to the character of our neighborhood, are detrimental to businesses. So, it’s really about ensuring that we are holding property owners accountable for the kinds of activities that are happening on their property. Page 7 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 There’s obviously going to be extensive community consultation around what those solutions could look like. But right now, we are brainstorming what exactly we would like to do based on what is happening on the ground. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much, and I can see how this is kind of springing from some of the legislation you brought forth earlier about making sure we had contacts for all properties on the island. So, understand that, but with this one, I think yeah, there are lots of ways it could go. So, looking forward to seeing how it might play out in what we could and should be doing around this. So, thank you and looking forward to learning more. I yield, Chair. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Here in Kona? Nothing here. Anyone else in Hilo? Seeing none, hearing none, we have a motion on the floor. Wait a second. Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, I just wanted to mention that as it relates to—I do not support, I have challenges with removing the State Land Use Commission from participating in our agricultural. I think there still needs to be that oversight. MS. KIMBALL: Chair, this is not part of the amendment. CHR. EVANS: We have three items that have been added in the amendment offered. MS. VILLEGAS: Got you, confused myself there. Got yah, sorry. CHR. EVANS: No, we can go back to the main. Okay, so we have a motion on Communication 1043.1, all in favor? Any opposed? Vote on Motion The motion to amend Res. 630-24, with the contents of to Amend: Comm. 1043.1 was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. Excused: None. CHR. EVANS: Now we’re back to the main motion. Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, you know, this is a big and predominantly great packet of legislation that will be sent forward. And basically, what we’re saying is we approve of these things to be prioritized as a whole. Unfortunately, I find, and we Page 8 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 found this in other pieces that come before us for other projects that there are certain things within it that I don’t have full agreement with. One of them is No. 2, and I appreciate the efforts being made to try and tap dance on a razorblade on how we mange boundary amendments from Agricultural to Rural districts and whatnot. But I feel pretty strongly that we’re opening a Pandora’s box that we’re not aware of, the long-term consequences of that. I’ve seen too many examples of even the current system being manipulated to the special benefit of certain people at the expense of authentic agricultural usages. So, I have some concerns on that, but I just wanted to put that out there even though I am aware that as a package it needs to go together. I do appreciate the bringing forth, Council Member Kierkiewicz of your legislation increasing food security and access to locally produced food. So, I have questions about how that’s counterintuitive to have pieces of legislation where one foot might threaten that, and one is asking for the people to be able to perpetuate those activities. My other concern with the package is the inclusion of—some constituents have come to me with concerns about the denitrification option. I am no expert in this, but the concerns were that this would add a $5,000 expense and still not bring the desired solution. So, I’m just stating that out there for the record. But as a whole, I will be supporting this package moving forward. I want to thank the testifiers who came to us today advocating for midwifery and moving forward with allowing women to practice what women have done for millennia. So, anyway, I yield. CHR. EVANS: Any further discussion? Okay, Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you to Members Kimball and Kierkiewicz and to the body. I just really appreciate a very holistic approach at the Legislature. I mean, I’ve done this a number of times in the past, and we’ve seen some of it getting picked up and others haven’t. But what I really do like about our Hawai‘i Island Package it that it presses on all the important pieces of our island and highlight them. Specifically, what I do like is, you know, the idea of expanding our GE tax. I just think about where we were just a few short years ago with our transportation, and it really did transform our transportation system here on Hawai‘i Island. Page 9 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 I think it is a great model that we should take up to the legislators and demonstrate how the money was really effectively put to good use along with transforming our communities. In addition to the food sustainability and security piece, I think that really does go nicely hand-in-hand with our land use designations. I think it creates a beautiful picture of home rule. Oftentimes to take that big, large step from Ag to Urban is very challenging, but with the small parcel sizes and going from Ag to Rural and partnering that with our food sustainability goals, is a perfect marriage. So, to everyone who contributed to this package, I really do look forward to what good things we can do in the next Legislative Session and in full support of this package. I yield. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, I just wanted to thank everyone for putting this package together. It is very holistic, and I think it’s great to send messages to the Legislature like what our interest area is. I’m not sure I totally support every single one of them. Having three new bills at the last minute where we’re not getting any input and testimony from the public, I always wonder about process and making sure we have transparency to the public. But it’s got a long ways to go, and it is part of a bigger package of all the counties coming together and determining priorities. So, appreciate everybody’s work. We have a motion on the floor, all in favor? Any opposed? Vote on Res. 630-24: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 630-24, as (Approved) amended to Draft 2, was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. Excused: None. CHR. EVANS: Okay, let’s go to Item, No. 6, Communication 1030. Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Page 10 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 Comm. 1030: NOMINATION OF BIRK BILLINGSLEY TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 28, 2024, requesting the Council’s review and confirmation. Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 1030. Seconded by Ms. Villegas. Vote on Comm. 1030: The motion to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Birk Billingsley to the Veterans Advisory Committee was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. 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. Comm. 1031: NOMINATION OF KEN HOYLE TO THE KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 28, 2024, requesting the Council’s review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: October 11, 2024 (Section 13-4(k) Hawaiʻi County Charter) Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 1031. Seconded by Ms. Villegas. Vote on Comm. 1031: The motion to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Ken Hoyle to the Kailua Village Design Commission was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. Excused: None. Page 11 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 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. Comm. 1032: NOMINATION OF RICK PORTER TO THE FIRE COMMISSION From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 28 2024, requesting the Council’s review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: October 11, 2024 (Section 13-4(k) Hawaiʻi County Charter) Motion to Close File: Ms. Galimba moved to close file on Comm. 1032. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. Vote on Comm. 1032: The motion to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Rick Porter to the Fire Commission was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. 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. Comm. 1033: NOMINATION OF CHARLA THOMPSON TO THE KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 28, 2024, requesting the Council’s review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: October 11, 2024 (Section 13-4(k) Hawaiʻi County Charter) Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 1033. Seconded by Ms. Villegas. Page 12 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 Vote on Comm. 1033: The motion to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Ms. Charla Thompson to the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Evans – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder –1. 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. Comm. 1034: NOMINATION OF DOUGLAS UMEMOTO TO THE HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated August 28, 2024, requesting the Council’s review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: October 11, 2024 (Section 13-4(k) Hawaiʻi County Charter) Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 1034. Seconded by Ms. Villegas. (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Pomaika‘i Bartolome came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. BARTOLOME: Actually, unfortunately, over the weekend, I received an email from Mr. Umemoto, who said that he had accepted a job, and because of that, he’s not able to serve. So, I will be submitting a withdrawal this afternoon. Thank you. CHR. EVANS: Thank you. So, Mr. Clerk, should I put forward a motion to withdraw the nomination? MS. LEE LOY: Chair, prior to the motion to withdraw, if I could speak on the matter? CHR. EVANS: Please, Member Lee Loy. Page 13 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Just an offering to the Administration, there is a Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) that actually allows for any individual who wants to serve in a capacity on a board or commission to work with the employer. So, I know that this individual made a choice about his employment. I have no idea what other things are in play, but I never want us to discourage a possible candidate that because they’re working, that they would be unable to serve. And I’ll be more than happy to share that HRS with the Administration in an effort to find and fill these positions that they can’t be penalized. The employer cannot penalize them for their willingness to serve. It’s kind of no different than, you know, going to court and serving on jury duty. But I just wanted to offer that as an option, and maybe in your rolodex there to, you know, talk to certain candidates, because I know that oftentimes, they’re like, “Oh but I’m busy working when they meet.” So, thank you for allowing me to share that. Thank you, Chair. Point of Order: CHR. EVANS: Mr. Clerk, Point of Order. Advice? MR. HENRICKS: So, in the past, the Administration has determined the candidate or nominee determined that they’re unwilling or unable to serve, we just ask the Administration to draft a memo to clearly and officially withdraw the nomination. So, it’s not to unintentionally have the person approved due to the time constraints, and as Ms. Bartolome indicated, she’ll be issuing that memo this afternoon. So, Mr. Inaba just needs to withdraw his motion, and the matter would be disposed off the agenda. Withdraw Motion: Mr. Inaba withdrew his motion to close file. Withdraw Comm. 1034: Chair Evans announced the withdrawal of Communication 1034. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. (Note: Items in this category were taken up previously, out of order.) Res. 610-24: REQUESTS THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE COUNTY CLERK TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE COUNTY WEBSITE TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Seeks improvements to better enable the public to view and track legislation and other relevant information. Reference: Comm. 1016 Intr. by: Ms. Evans Page 14 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 Relinquish Chair: At this time, Chair Evans relinquished the chair to Council Member Inaba. ACTING CHR. INABA: Alright, at 10:00 a.m., I’m assuming the Chair. Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 610-24. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. ACTING CHR. INABA: Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you very much. I’m asking for your favorable support of this. It’s coming from a place of serving as State Representative and looking at the effort put in by the public access—to really build a website that that was very user-friendly and offered information to the public that was really readily and easily available to them. When I had this idea, I called up Mr. Ewbank, who’s here today. If you’d like to come up to the desk here. I asked him what he thought about the ability to develop something like what they have on the State’s website. I also talked to the County Clerk and asked him, you know, about putting something together that we put on our website that would really make it so easy for people to follow bills, legislation, and resolutions; the introducers; the votes; where it sits on dates. Click on it and you’ll get to the bill. I mean, there’s just so much, that it was so easy to follow legislation, that I really was hoping that we could develop that transparency and easiness of the public to be able to access this. And both of them felt that it was possible. So, with that, I would like to turn it over to you, Mr. Ewbank. I think you’ve been working on it already. So, please tell the Council about your thoughts on this. Thank you. (Note: At this time, Information Technology Director Robert Ewbank came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. EWBANK: Absolutely. Council Members, good to see you all again. When Council Member Evans came and introduced this to the department, I thought back and thought you know, this couldn’t be possible within the department without the support of the Council in previous requests that I’ve made for positions that I’ve requested. So, I really want to thank, not only Council Member Evans, to put staff into this proof of concept. We’ve gotten that staff. We have a Web Administration staff in house now, which shows that the support is here. We don’t have to go outside to get this taken care of. We can take care of it inhouse. But that’s thanks to the rest of the Council here for our previous work. Page 15 GOEAC-39 September 16, 2024 Council Member Evans has also stated that we’ve already started, and we have. Now, but we want to do, we’ve reached out; of course, we’ve received Council Member Evans’ concept and ideas, took that into account, we’ve also worked with the County Clerk staff and gotten ideas from that perspective. And not only that, I’ve reached out to some members of the public, friends, family, etcetera, who would commonly look at this information and asked, “Can you tell me where you would find this on the County site?” Nobody really could. So, this is an excellent opportunity to make this transparency and make these tools available to the general public and can be accomplished within our own staff at DIT (Department of Information Technology). MS. EVANS: Okay, thank you, I yield. ACTING CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Evans. Checking over in Hilo, any discussion? MS. KIMBALL: Vice Chair Inaba. ACTING CHR. INABA: Yes, go ahead, Council Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. Thank you, Director, for being here and your enthusiasm for Council Member Evans’ resolution. Just wanted to also suggest as you are doing this work, that you engage in some community outreach and feedback on the website. I think, in my time period on the Council, I’ve seen stuff that works for me, works for my staff, but then I talk to members of the community, and it doesn’t work for them. So, I think there’s a real need for some diagnosis here directly with the citizenry side. Just encourage you to take some time to do that. Thank you. ACTING CHR. INABA: Mahalo, Council Member Kimball. Thank you, Council Member Evans for bringing this forward. There’s a motion on the floor, all those in favor of forwarding Resolution 610-24 to Council with a favorable recommendation, please say, “aye.” Any opposed? Vote on Res. 610-24: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 610-24 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Acting Chair Inaba – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kāneali‘i-Kleinfelder – 1. Excused: None. Page 16 GOEAC-39 September 16,2024 ACTING CHR. INABA: That brings us to the end of this agenda. Mahalo. ADJOURN- Seeing no further business, Acting Chair Inaba adjourned the meeting at MENT: 2:16 p.m. Approved: Ms. Cindy EVans,Ch 'r ate) Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs CE/dt Page 17