HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 067 04/08/2008 2006-2008
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE: April 8, 2008 Re: Comm. No. 1121/Bill 276
PLACE: Council Chambers
Ben Franklin Bldg, 2"d Floor
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
TIME: 1:00 P.M.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred
Communication No. 1121, regarding Bill 276, reports as follows:
Bill 276, transmitted by Council member Brenda J. Ford via Communication 1121 proposing an
Ordinance to Initiate a Charter Amendment to Article III, Legislative Branch, County Council,
Section 3-17, of the Hawaii County Charter 2000 (2006 Edition), Relating to the County
Reapportionment Commission, Amending Section 3-17 in its Entirety, Renaming it the
Redistricting Commission, and Establishing Appropriate Redistricting Criteria.
Committee Chair Brenda J. Ford relinquished her seat to Council member Bob Jacobson due to
the absence of Vice-Chair Dominic Yagong.
Council member Ford stated the purpose of this ordinance is to set forth the requirements of
redistricting to change the council districts boundaries and produce council districts of
substantially equal or as nearly equal in population as practicable. She reiterated the most basic
right of an American is the right to vote, and the rights to have an equal vote; to vote in a fair
election are basic concepts in American tradition and law. Council member Ford also added that
the attached booklet "How to Draw Redistricting Plans That Will Stand Up in Court" by Peter
S. Wattson, Senate Counsel - Minnesota, is the best short training course in redistricting she has
seen. Furthermore, her proposed charter amendment list changes that are Federal requirements,
which the current charter does not provide. She seeks the support of her colleagues on this
proposed bill.
Public testimony was presented in support of this proposed bill.
Discussion and comments among your Committee members such as: 1) "Section 3-17 (e)(2)(G),
regarding members registered with the same political party, it does not matter what group an
individual represent, 2) requesting pleadings and information from Council member Ford's
previous lawsuit on this issue be provided before the next meeting, 3) the merits of the proposed
bill being valid and would provide an improvement to the existing charter.
PWIRC RPT NO. 67
Page 2 Communication No. 1121 / Bill 276
Council member Ford agreed to provide amendments related to the Sunshine Law, address
Section 3-17(e) (2) (G) and transmit the minority report from her previous lawsuit related to
redistricting. She further stated that this proposed charter amendment is to allow the people to
decide if they want this change.
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose
and intent of Bill 276, and recommends passage on first reading.
dkr
AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted,
FORD X
HIGA X COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HOFFMANN X INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
IKEDA X
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X BRENDA J. F , CHAIR
PILAGO X
YAGONG X PWIRC REPORT NO. 67
YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED:
2
0MCE ° 1WORMATION ONLY
May 20, 2008 - Council Meeting (36 fission)
Action, Filed Bill 276 and PWIRC-67
PWIRC Report 67 transmitted the abo%4 bIU tar a oval.
Re: Bill 276/C-1121/PWIRC-67
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