REP GOEAC 053 2025-07-08 2024-2026

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DATE: July 8, 2025 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 9:00 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Comm. No. 334Bill No. 64 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Bill No. 64, reports as follows: Bill No. 64, introduced by Council Member Holeka Goro Inaba via Communication No. 334, dated May 27, 2025, amends Article VI, Chapter 2, Section 6-2.2, of the Charter of the County of Hawaii (2024 Edition), relating to the Director of Public Works. Bill No. 64 replaces the requirement that the Director of Public Works must be a registered professional engineer with the requirement that the Director has a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, public administration or a related discipline, or a degree in law. It adds the requirement that at least two of the five years of required administrative or managerial experience must be in public works or construction, or a related field. This bill was previously heard and postponed on June 17, 2025. Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting of June 17, 2025 Member Inaba began by sharing that this is a copy of Bill 244 from 2022-2024 and was originally introduced by Council Member Aaron Chung. Member Inaba said that initially, he was not in support, but due to the current difficulty in fulfilling this position he is now in favor of this proposal to open the position to different candidates. Member Inaba stated that he wanted to avoid a drawn -out political discussion and that he hoped that Council could make a quick discussion on this bill to move it forward. Member Inaba called upon Managing Director William Brilhante to provide insight from the Administration. Mr. Brilhante said that the biggest impediment to finding a qualified director for the Department of Public Works (DPW) has been the requirement of the candidate to be a registered professional engineer. He reminded committee members that this is a proposed charter amendment and ultimately it will be up to the public to vote if they support this change in qualifications. He mentioned that while this won't help with their current search, it will make things easier in the future if it passes. Finally, he mentioned that two other Counties, Maui and Kauai, have removed this requirement from their minimum requirements for this position. Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz said she was in support when Council Member Chung brought this forward and watched prior administrations struggle to fill this position. It would expand the pool of candidates for the Administration to consider. She reiterated that they would GOEAC Report No. 53