HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0010.016 2012-2014 DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI �JMty N^cf k�b. PHONE: (808)961-8396• +'V l�//4
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HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 7, 2014
TO: J Yoshimoto, Chair
And members of the Hawai`i County Council
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FROM: U Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Council Member
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Hawai`i State Association of Counties Special Executive
Committee Meeting for January 15, 2014.
Attached for your review are the minutes of the Hawaii State Association of Counties
Special Executive Committee Meeting, which was held January 15, 2014, in Honolulu.
Please place this item on the next available Committee agenda.
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Att.
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Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. Da ]Date FE 1p �
Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC)
Counties of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii & City & County of Honolulu
MINUTES
SPECIAL HSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
January 15, 2014
Honolulu Hale, Committee Meeting Room
Honolulu, Hawaii
L CALL TO ORDER
The HSAC Executive Committee was called to order by President Mel Rapozo at
3:25 p.m. The following members comprising a quorum were present:
County of Kauai: President Mel Rapozo
County of Hawaii: Vice President Dennis "Fresh" Onishi
City and County of Honolulu: Secretary Stanley Chang
County of Maui: Treasurer Michael Vtorino
Others Present: Councilmember Karen Eoff, Hawaii County
Councilmember Valerie Poindexter, Hawaii
County
Councilmember Tim Bynum, Kauai County
Councilmember Riki Hokama, Maui County
Nadine Nakamura, Kauai County
Gerald Rapozo, Kauai County
Patsy Rapozo, Kauai County
Shawn Hamamoto, City and County of
Honolulu
Joyce Olivera, HART
Honolulu staff Andrew Sekine
Honolulu staff Brandon Mitsuda
Honolulu staff Lyndsey Garcia
Kauai staff Ashley Bunda
Maui staff Kimberly Willenbrink
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Committee approved the agenda,
OCS/01241 4/02:.05/CT
III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Discussion and consideration of a proposal relating to the General Excise Tax
(GET) to be included in the 2014 Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC)
Legislative Package.
Kauai Councilmember Bynum spoke in opposition to the proposal.
Councilmember Bynum stated that he agrees with Kauai Councilmember JoAnn
Yukimura regarding the Executive Committee taking a position on an issue that
was not discussed by the councils. Councilmember Bynum also stated that the
GET is insidious because it taxes everything, including food and rent, and is not
an appropriate tax for the funding of county services.
Councilmember Bynum distributed communications dated January 14, 2014,
from Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura to HSAC members.
Hawaii Councilmember Poindexter stated that the issue is not TAT vs. GET.
Rather, the issue is homerule, and under the bill the counties are given the
opportunity to decide whether or not to implement the GET.
Responding to comments by Treasurer Victorino, Councilmember Poindexter
clarified that she supports the approval of the bill.
Responding to comments by Treasurer Victorino, Councilmember Bynum noted
House Speaker Joseph Souki's remarks regarding the lifting of the TAT cap and
stated that HSAC supporting increasing the tax burden on Kauai's workers would
be an uncomfortable precedent.
Vice President Onishi noted that the TAT bill is not part of the HSAC legislative
package because Kauai Council did not approve of the inclusion of the TAT
proposal. Vice President Onishi stated that HSAC should join the mayors in
supporting the GET proposal,
Secretary Chang stated that he supports the bill because of the homerule issue
and because it would bring in revenue to the counties,
President Rapozo stated that the bill is not part of a trade-off, and HSAC has a
duty to protect the counties. President Rapozo stated that the GET burden
would be borne by both residents and tourists, and it is a tool that the counties
would have available to use if they deem it necessary.
President Rapozo stated that HSAC per its bylaws may add items to its
legislative package after the start of the legislative session.
President Rapozo stated that he disagrees with Kauai Councilmember
Yukimura's statement in her communication of January 14, 2014 that HSAC has
not done its homework on the GET issue.
The Committee approved the inclusion of the proposal relating to the General
Excise Tax (GET) in the 2014 HSAC Legislative Package.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Treasurer Victorino stated that he has received excellent comments from House
and Senate legislators on the January 14, 2014 HSAC luncheon.
President Rapozo and Treasurer Victorino recognized the presence of
Councilmember Hokama, who will be leading NACo. President Rapozo also
recognized the presence of Nadine Nakamura, Kauai County Managing Director.
Councilmember Hokama reminded the members of the legislative conference in
March 2014 in Washington DC. Councilmember Hokama stated that issues to
watch include the federal budget, CDBG, municipal bond taxation, transportation
cutbacks, and the reauthorization of MAP-21. Councilmember Hokama stated
that the counties have two powerful tools that can be used to move the nation
forward: planning powers and zoning powers.
V. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Very tr ly yours,
STANLEY CHANG
Secretary
Hawaii State Association of Counties