HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 291 05/01/2006 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: May 1, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 825/Bill No. 268
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 10:18 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 268, reports as follows:
Bill No. 268, transmitted by Council Member K. Angel Pilago, via Communication No. 825, dated April
13, 2006, seeks to initiate a Charter Amendment to Article III, Section 3-7, of the Hawaii County Charter
2000, relating to meetings.
This measure proposes to amend "Article III, Section 3-7. Meetings; Rules and Journal; Voting
Quorum." of the Hawaii County Charter (2000) and require an equal amount of county council meetings
between East and West Hawaii to assure fair and equitable access for all citizens to our government by
Democracy.
Effective January 1, 2001 a charter amendment provided that the county council meets at least quarterly
in North or South Kona. Today, rapid growth and development increasingly affects the quality of life of
citizens in the districts of Ka`u, South Kona, North Kona, Waikoloa, Kohala and Waimea. Citizens of
these West Hawaii districts have expressed a strong and far-reaching desire for increased constituent
participation, citizen involvement, and commitment to the democratic processes of county council
meetings. Public opinion reminds us that effective debate, resulting in positive decision-making requires
personal interaction among decision-makers and citizenry who will ultimately be impacted by such
decisions.
Your Committee heazd testimony in favor ofthis measure.
Some members of Your Committee were concerned about the added administrative and operational costs
of the operations of the aforementioned measure, while other members felt that this should be placed on
the ballot.
For informational purposes, Council Chair Stacy K. Higa and Council Member Fred Holschuh voted
kanalua twice.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 268 and recommends it
pass first reading.
smc
Hues NOES A&E ass Respectfully submitted,
ARAKAKI X
HtcA X COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
HOFFMANN X
HOLSCHUH X
IKEDA X '
ISBELL X t~
aACOSSOH x VIRG IA ISBELL, CHAIR
PILAGO X FC REPORT NO. 291
SAFARIK X ADOPTED:
OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: May 17, 2006 -Council Meeting (37`h Session)
Action: Filed Bi11268
FC Report 291 transmitted Bi11268 for approval.
Re: C-825/BILL 268/FC-291