HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN COUNCIL 2015/06/03 2014-2016HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
151h Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
June 3, 2015
INVOCATION: Pastor Bob Tominaga of Thy Word Ministries gave the morning's invocation.
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Hawaii County Council was called to order at
ORDER: 9:07 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mr.
Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair
Ms.
Valerie T. Poindexter, Vice Chair
Mr.
Aaron S.Y. Chung, Member
Ms.
Maile "Medeiros" David, Member
Ms.
Karen Eoff, Member
Mr.
Greggor Eagan, Member
Mr.
Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member (came in later)
Mr.
Danny Paleka, Member
Ms.
Margaret Wille, Member
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE:
PETITIONS,
MEMORIALS
CERTIFICATES
OF MERIT, AND
EXPRESSIONS OF
CONDOLENCE:
MR. MAEDA: Chair Kanuha, eight members present.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you very much. I think Mr. Onishi should be here
shortly. Mr. Paleka, may you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please?
The Chair directed the Council to the next order of business, Pledge of Allegiance.
(At this time, Mr. Paleka led the Council in the Pledge of
Allegiance.)
CHR KANUHA: Mahalo, Mr. Paleka. I don't see any certificates.
The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
Petitions, Memorials, Certificates of Merit, and Expression of Condolence.
(There were none.)
Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE 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:
Tommy Goya: Res. 192-15 (Comm. 318), in support.
(representing the Japanese
Chamber of Commerce)
June Conant: Bill 58 (Comm. 328), in support.
Lisa Andrews: Bill 58 (Comm. 328), in opposition; and
Bill 50 (Comm. 298), in support.
Bruce Mathew: Res. 199-15 (Comm. 326), in support.
(representing University of
Hawaii - Hilo)
Philippe Binder: Res. 199-15 (Comm. 326), in support.
(representing University of
Hawaii - Hilo)
CHR KANUHA: Mahalo, for both of your testimonies. Could you please stay in
case that any of the Council Members have questions? I'm going to try and hear
the resolution in the beginning. Thank you.
Okay, I'm going to see if there's anybody else wishing to testify here in Hilo. I'm
going to go to the other sites. Anybody else wishing to testify? Hearing or seeing
none, I will close public testimony and move on with the agenda.
APPROVAL OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Approval
MINUTES: of Minutes.
(There were none.)
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
(There were none.)
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Clerk, I'd like to take 199-15 out of order.
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Change Order of As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members,
Business: the following item was taken out of order:
Res. 199-15: AUTHORIZES THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF
RESEARCH SERVICES IN HILO
Provides $90,000 from the Research and Development Department to support the
development of renewable energy systems and emerging designs of distributed
energy on the Island of Hawaii.
Reference: Comm. 326
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to adopt Res. 199-15. Seconded by
Ms. David.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff, go right ahead.
MS. EOFF: Thank you. I just want to support this wholeheartedly, and I am glad
we're looking at it today. And, thank you for coming in and giving us some
information to encourage this initiative.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eoff. I also wanted to mention we have
Mr. Mende and Ms. Horike here as well, if any Council Members have questions
for them? Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a bunch of questions. If I could
have the director and also the faculty and university come up.
(Note: At this time, Deputy Research and Development Director
Donn Mende came forward to address the members of the Council.)
MR. ILAGAN: My first question is, actually, first off, this is great. This is
awesome that you're looking intoanyone, whoever—and I like the fact that
you're thinking about starting off with a certificate. Because sometimes what we
need to do is focus on justreally, it peaks a student's interest, and then them
knowing that they can achieve it then they might go into the Bachelor's degree.
But I wanted to ask you, what kind of jobs would a person who has these
certificates and bachelor would go into, like, currently within our local economy?
MR. BINDER: Where are the jobs?
CHR KANUHA: And please restate your name for the record.
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MR. BINDER: Sorry?
CHR KANUHA: Please restate your name for the record.
MR. BINDER: My name is still Philippe Binder. Thank you. The idea is that
this would be a highly, flexible certificate, and then a degree program with a
number of electives. So the students would receive core training in energy
science and energy policy. But then there will be courses that the students can
specialize, either in wind or biofuels or energy distribution and storage, so there
are a large variety of choices. But we know in real life, what happens is your first
job shapes what you do more than what you learn in school. You learn things,
and then you go to a job and they haven't taught you the things you're exactly
going to need there. So you have all the basics, and then you go and get on-the-
job training for whatever you need to do. So, the real answer is to try to have
students with good enough foundations and flexible enough that they can perform
well in any of these areas, including the ones they didn't think they were going to
get a job at.
MR. ILAGAN: I see.
MR. MATHEWS: I would just add that we've had feedback that a lot of firms,
larger corporations and things, have been hiring sustainability directors and
coordinators, but they're lacking expertise on the energy side, and that's, of
course, such a critical component of sustainability. So, we expect that there will
probably be more opportunities for people that need more expertise in the energy
side of sustainability. Because that's feedback that we have received, that many
of the existing degree programs on sustainability don't cover enough in-depth on
the energy side so they can't really make the contributions to the firms to be more
energy self-sufficient and sustainable in energy. Thanks.
MR. ILAGAN: That makes a lot of sense. And, Mr. Mende, how did this come
up? How did this discussion even start?
MR. MENDE: It kind of—it grew off of the relationship that we actually started
with ASU (Arizona State University), with our energy coordinator and university.
One of the partnerships, what we wanted to do was to consolidate resources and
then that energy science. Because I knowI believe that they are actually
starting a certificate program, too. And I think some of the distance learning
might be shared between the two facilities and institutions, so I think it kind of
came about that. And what better place, I mean, I feel that Hawaii as a state,
we're leading a nation, as far as renewable and sustainability efforts. And the Big
Island itself, we have so much potential to lead the country; that what better place
to have this type of, I guess, degree here with the UH (University of Hawaii) of
Hilo.
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CHR KANUHA: Your microphone, Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: I also wanted to know, where's the funding coming from?
MR. MENDE: This year's Energy budget. Thank you very much.
MR. ILAGAN: The elephant in the room is that I took $90,000 out of this budget
and put it into the Contingency Fund. So 1 -just to let you know—is this within
the budget? This fiscal year or next fiscal year?
MR. MENDE: Current?
MR. ILAGAN: Current.
MR. MENDE: Yeah.
MR. ILAGAN: Oh, okay. So that means there's still currently $90,000. There's
actually $180,000 in the Energy Sustainability budget, and you've got majority of
it. Half of it is actually going into your—so we're investing a lot into this
program, and good thing I didn't take it away last year. But, I just wanted to ask
these questions because I was curious. And on top of that, does this go into the
materials of the classroom or the faculty? Exactly how would this be used?
MR. MATHEWS: A portion of—it's going to cover lectures for courses that
UH -Hilo is currently lacking expertise in. As you already mentioned, some of it
is to have facilitate the distance courses from Arizona State, actually, bringing in
instructors from Arizona State. The first one is going to be offered this summer,
from Dr. Chris Maze, an energy policy course; and Jane Horike has the flyers on
that course. Some of it, of course, is going to involve a little bit of travel to visit
some of the programs and interact with people at Arizona State and Louisiana
State, and other schools that have specialized backgrounds in areas that we want
to combine together. But a lot of it is also to replace existing faculty. Like,
Philippe and Dr. Shihwu Sung, our new Biofuel Engineer, to replace their courses
so they have time to work on this, and get replacement lecturers for the courses
and buy supplies and things to get the program moving forward.
What we really need to do, as it's been mentioned, is get the certificate program,
the initial courses off the ground. Show that there is demand, the student's
interest, and then we can take that to the Board of Regents with the plan that's
concurrently being developed, to get a full -blow in bachelors and energy science.
I would say this to that the chancellor's option here, as his faculty retires, is to
broaden our faculty depth with replacement hiring in the new areas of energy
science. I'm having meetings with them later this month on that.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. Well, thank you.
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I have just one final question. This is not particularly this resolution. And my
question is, if you give me the leeway, what's the remaining $90,000 being spent
on projects? If the Council is allowing me to ask that question?
CHR KANUHA: No, that's not related to this resolution.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay.
CHR KANUHA: But you can ask what they're doing with, I mean
MR. ILAGAN: I think they're clear on what they're doing with this $90,000. I
really support this program. Education is the key for the future. I was just
curious what the other $90,000 is being used for this year since we're on the
topic.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Eagan. We can move on to the next Council
Member. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you and congratulations.
I fully support this resolution. Although, I have to applaud my colleague,
Mr. Eagan, for at least confessing about us swiping $90,000 from next year's
budget relating to energy sustainability. I mean, quite frankly, the three of us over
here were laughing because the irony, maybe even the poetic injustice of it all,
didn't escape us, and I'm sure it didn't escape anyone here. But the thing that
comes out in my mind, the question that I have, why can't the university fund
this? I mean, what's involved in all of that? I'm not saying, you know, I'm in
support of it, but what happens next year and the year after; and what's involved
in the two of you trying to get funding for this from the State?
MR. MATHEWS: Okay, so the challenge is that without being able to give
faculty, like, Dr. Binder and Dr. Shihwu Sung time to work on this, and the ability
to gather information and resources, to put together a quality program. It won't
happen. The thing is we're trying to do it concurrently as faculty retire; to do
replacement hiring in this area to support it. So the thing is, is that the university
cannot afford to give faculty release time for core courses. Like Dr. Binder's
physics course, they can't just cancel Physics. That's required by numerous
students. So, we need the funds to hire somebody else to teach Physics and things
as a temporary lecturer, while Philippe and other faculty are working on this. So,
its main course, bios. It also—the fact that some of the courses in the Certificate
Program can't initially be offered because we don't have the faculty on board to
offer it, so we're going to be relying on faculty from other universities to teach
those initial courses.
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MR. CHUNG: Right. So are these funds the entire funding source or is it a
portion of the funding source for the program that you guys are looking at?
MR. MATHEWS: It's pretty much the entire cost. I mean, because there's not—
I mean, the College of Agriculture could divert a little bit of its General Funds to
support, and we'll probably end up doing so. But we don't have a lot of
flexibility in terms of funding right now, that's our challenge.
MR. CHUNG: So this grant enables you to go ahead?
MR. MATHEWS: Absolutely. Because it won't happen without it. I mean, there
won't be anybody who'll have the time to work on it without—
MR. CHUNG: So then I get back to my initial question, what's going to happen
if we're not able to fund it next year?
MR. MATHEWS: If we're not going to be able to fund it, it's not going to move
forward.
MR. CHUNG: It's just not going to happen.
MR. MATHEWS: It's not going to move forward. It can't move forward without
the funding. We don't have any flexibility in the university right now. In terms
of lectures, they've cut us to bare bones, in terms of our budget to hire extra or
replace lecturers. In better years, we could of easily just said, "Okay, we're going
to give faculty release times using our own internal budgets to hire the lecturer
replacements," but we don't have that flexibility right now.
MR. CHUNG: And is it safe to assume that this is something that you would like
to see for many years and not just a one-shot, one-year deal?
MR. MATHEWS: Oh, that's absolutely the goal. I mean, the College of
Agriculture is broadening its mission. The faculty even endorses this completely.
They want to see this happen.
MR. BINDER: I don't know. If the question is, are we planning to rely on you
year after year, I think the answer is "no." If the question is, "Do we need this to
get started," the answer is "yes."
MR. CHUNG: Okay. Okay.
MR. BINDER: But I think as the program grows,—and as Bruce said, people
retire. There's actually someone in Physics leaving, and I am already discussing
with our Vice Chancellor having him replaced with someone more aligned
towards energy. As the students start coming, as the faculty start coming, we will
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become dependent of you. People will start writing grants and getting money and
all this. But, we need a little push at first.
MR. CHUNG: No, thank you very much.
MR. MATHEWS: I will just add that the engineering funds provided for the
State, pretty much covered the hiring of Dr. Shihwu Sung. And we're hiring a
second engineer now, an electrical engineer that will help support this program.
There will be a little bit of money in that, leftover after the two salaries, for
supplies. But the idea is that the University of Hawaii at Hilo can't really move
forward at this point. And time with an engineering programhopefully, this
will push not only the energy science degree coming forward, but eventually once
we hire people to support energy science, we'll have a critical mass to move
forward with an engineering program at UH -Hilo.
At the present time, we don't have the resources on the faculty side or the
laboratory side, to go to the Board of Regents and ask for an engineering degree
because it won't be a credible engineering degree until we get those requisite
resources.
MR. CHUNG: Right. And thank you very much for that explanation. I mean,
this is an all too familiar narrative for us because we're normally the recipients of
grants from above, Federal or State. It's kind of uncommon for this thing to go
back upwards. But like all grants, at some point they stop, right, and then what
happens from there? We just came across one of those situations a year or two
ago for us. But, thank you very much.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Yeah, all I wanted tobecause I deal with the Legislature a lot.
You guys need to go back and let the State people know, especially the
Legislature, that the County of Hawaii is helping out the State, okay. Because
the thing is, when we go up to ask for money, they always say, "Raise your
property tax." And that's what they tell us, if we want a certain program they tell
us that. So you need to go back, I'm serious, and relay this message to our
Legislature and also to, like, the Board of Regents and so forth. Let them know
that the County of Hawaii is helping the State out, and especially for a great
program that you guys are doing, right? Because without us, your guys program
wouldn't have happen. Correct? Because they're not supporting you guys, yeah.
So let them know, please. Because next year when I go upI want to make sure
that—when I tell them that we are helping the State out, okay.
The last thing I wanted to say is that, yeah, sorry we couldn't give you guys
$90,000 for next year because we took it out from the R&D's (Research and
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Development) budget on energy. But thank you and we support you. But let
them know, please. Okay, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah. And that's what I was going to touch on, too, so
thank you, Mr. Onishi for saying that about the State. Because the State awarded
a lot of money in `O`okala, for the dairy in `O`okala, and putting money into that,
where I feel that they should've been looking at the university. A lot of this
funding should have come from the Department of Agriculture and from the state,
so that kind of makes meI have a little yuck with that.
I totally support what you're doing, and I think it's desperately needed. It's a
dirty shame that the State didn't recognize that. That this is where we can grow
the opportunities for agriculture, so shame on the State. I say that publicly
because that kind of angers me, and I feel yuck with that.
With that being said, thank you for all that you do. I'm glad that I know that we
didn't raid all that money. Because I voted for that, to take $90,000; I was part of
that. But, I do really appreciate it.
So the tuition fees, that will probably—hopefully whoever signs up for certificate
courses, that will get put into a fund where that will help for the next year's
funding as well, am I correct? I'm hoping that you can lobby the university for
that; to say, "Hey, don't touch that money; put it right back into that program."
And if you need our help to help you lobby for that, I will definitely be willing to
do that for you. So, thank you so much. Oh, one more quick thing, Bruce
Mathews, Hamakua Sugar, any relations? No?
MR. MATHEWS: No.
MS. POINDEXTER: No. Okay, because I was going to go—we had a
Bruce Mathews. Okay, thanks.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter. Ms. Wille.
Point of Order: MR. ILAGAN: Point of order.
CHR KANUHA: Please state your point. Your microphone?
MR. ILAGAN: I disregard.
MS. WILLE: Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Wille.
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MS. WILLE: Okay. Anyway, I think it's great that we're helping to kick-start
your program. I think the bolder we can be and the more on the cutting edge, the
better. And I do agree, I mean, I totally oppose a lot of what the university is
funding in agriculture or funding in terms of all the GMO (Genetically Modified
Organisms), and not in terms of heirloom and our indigenous agriculture
programs on the same level and not taking care to protect those non-GMO farms
on this island, with trying to be, again, on the cutting edge of that area of a small
farm agriculture.
I am concerned, also, just in terms of the State, I'm working really hard in terms
of the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT), and that should be as a County area
of funding. And they came back to us and said, "Well, if the County of Hawaii
has so much money, that they just can hand it out to the university; why are you
coming to ask for more?" So there's aI think Ms. Poindexter pointed out there
are issues, as we see some of the way the State handles County funding to you all.
But none of that is taking away from supporting this.
I really encourage, where we can provide degrees, where people can come out of
school and have actually something they can really use, that they have a real tool
in their belt. And I think I keep pushing for South Kohala, that doesn't have the
one district in the State without really a public school, to do some kind of sort of
engineering or technical school. Where, actually students are coming out with
some kind of ability, job wise, or tie into your program. Also, I have been
working with Roger Harris, from west side.
My one concern, just on a program level, just working with all of the—trying to
make sure we didn't have an incinerator here, and that we're diverting as much as
we can over to compost agriculture. I think we're promoting that, and studying
the different types of alternative energy. For me, biofuels is on the dirtier end of
the clean -energy scope and it's taking away using food. Whereas, if you talk, like
listening to Dutch Kaiper and Jose Jun, just for this island, I'm not saying across
the board, doing the solar and wind, and pumped hydro, and those kind of things,
and not taking away from farms and food. I mean, every time we move
something over—burning food, basically, to provide fuel.
So I see that the number two faculty person that you said would be helping to
work on this is exactly—that's his area of expertise, and everybody uses their
expertise. If surgeon promotes surgery, you know, you do that.
So, I would prefer not to see this heavily, you know, that biofuel—sort of like the
promoted—as one of the top ways. I mean, if you go down that scope, all the
different alternative energy that's down here on the dirt end. So, the more you
can move up—okay, so that's just my little one-on-one level of thought. But I
would hope that perhaps during the time or after the next year you or if any
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students are involved could come back and sort of report to us where you are and
where you are in terms of funding and going ahead on this. So, thank you very
much.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Mathews and Mr. Binder, I'm fully
going to support this. I think it's a necessary part of our going forward in the
energy policy, and I think it's a good program. I'd like to see a description,
program description, if you would be so kind as to provide us?
MR. MATHEWS: We're working on it right now.
MR. PALEKA: Terrific. And as my colleague Ms. Wille alluded to, at some
point providing us some type of progress and what the program has accomplished
in terms of your goals and objectives. Because I'd like to see a return on the
investment and I think the return is the people you'll be educating. Actually, I
hope individuals that come into the workforce, with the tools necessary for us to
succeed, in coming up with good renewable energy projects, which I'm certainly
going to continue on trying to promote. But thank you very much for what you're
doing. And I am totally going to support this, being a graduate UH -Hilo, of
course.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Hi. Good morning and mahalo for your explanation. I am going to
support this program because I think it's very important. My only question is
with this $90,000 funding. Will the program be offered to students on the west
side at this point and time? Would this funding allow for that?
MR. MATHEWS: Well, that's been a concern of mine, the west side. We've
began preliminary discussions with Kohala institute, Noe Kalipi, about using that
facility as a way to offer courses over there, as well as in Hilo. So, those
discussions are under way.
MS. DAVID: I'm glad.
MR. MATHEWS: I recognize that. I'm a UH -Hilo alumni, as well, and I
recognize that we need to change our degree programs. We need to be much
more versatile. We need to better serve the island as a whole. So you have my
word, we'll try our best to reach that side.
MS. DAVID: Yes, I'm excited about that. Especially, with the OTEC (Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion), and that sort of energy capability and the learning
potential, yeah?
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MR. MATHEWS: Right. And there are opportunities at NELHA (Natural
Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority), as well. They've already had
preliminary discussions about.
MS. DAVID: Thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Eoff
MS. EOFF: Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, gentlemen and Mr. Mende.
I'm a very strong advocate for improving our renewable energy. We live on an
island. We have limited space, limited resources. And if we cannot be on the
cutting edge, we need to keep up with the rest of the world. We need to move
quickly, and that was, I guess, one of the reasons I didn't support taking any
money from our Energy Sustainability Fund the other day. But I hope that we
can, as the County partners with UH, I mean, yeah.
I understand that it's a State—and the State should step up, as well, but I think as
a County we should, also. Because I think we need to show our commitment as a
County, to find and explore and progress in this field. So, thank you all.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Council Member Chung had his light first.
CHR KANUHA: I don't know if he was—Mr. Chung, did you?
MR. CHUNG: Yeah. Thank you. Actually, something that Mr. Onishi and
Ms. Poindexter said prompted me to make a further statement. I had lunch last
week with a faculty member, and she was actually talking about a program that
she wanted to advance. Then we were just kind of throwing different things out,
and then she said really humbly at some point, because we're talking about
funding and talking to the governor about things, and I think this may relate to
your situation, too, she said, "I'm a scientist, I don't know much about politics,"
yeah? In that regard, I would ask you to hook up with Mr. Onishi, I mean, I think
that everyone here will agree that Mr. Onishi is our "go -to -guy" in terms of
connecting with State people.
I actually told this person, I said, "Did you meet the governor," and she goes,
"No, no." And I said, "Okay, you know what, I'm going to hook you up with
Council Member Onishi, and I'll bet you he can get you a sitting with the
Governor;" and he said, "Yeah, he can." I mean, it just shows that we're looking
at things from really two different perspectives, and it would behoove all of you
now to hook up with different people who can possibly get you that funding. It
would be a good investment.
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You guys also have two really good resources at the UH: Jerry Chang, former
legislator, and also your faculty emeritus, Mr. Gerald DeMello, yeah? They're
really, really good resources. So hook up with all of them, I think you guys can
get a real good game plan in getting funding, sustainability funding for your
program.
MR. BINDER: We have previous history. We know each other from the past, so
it would work out. Yeah, he was our daughter's basketball coach many years ago.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dean Mathews, I wanted to ask you, is
this degree program going to be under the engineering program or is it separate?
MR. MATHEWS: It'll be separate, initially. But the engineering faculty
members that we've hire from the small allocation, from the State for engineering,
will be major contributors to it. In fact, Chancellor Straney asked them to refocus
and prioritize the energy science and put engineering kind of on the back burner
until we have energy science moving forward. I think energy science will be a
way to help facilitate the advancement of engineering. Because with the hiring of
people who can support energy science, then we'll also have these people with the
expertise to advance an engineering degree, eventually. I think, what happened
was, is the university was too optimistic in terms of forming partnerships for
engineering, and then they hadn't really investigated what was needed for an
accredited engineering program, and crediting the Board for Engineering
Technology, known as—ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology) has strict minimum in terms of numbers of onsite tenure, track
faculty, laboratory and shop facilities. UH -Hilo wasn't in a position to meet that.
So even if they had the online and distance and components, we wouldn't be a
credible—and nobody wants to get a degree in an area that's not certified or
recognized by the crediting Board for that profession.
So I think, down the road engineering will happen but energy sciences will
happen first. I think the beauty of energy science is the versatility the students
will get. I mean, the biggest thing I'm hearing from employers is that academia
needs to change, We need to have students with better hands-on, more versatile
backgrounds, understand the current issues of the day and understanding the
policy dynamics. In fact, as scientists we feel, "Hey, we weren't really well
prepared." We could hardly get PhD. We understand politics and policy and
everything in science. In terms of getting your money and managing people,
involves politics and policy. So, we need to revamp what we do. And we're
thankful for everybody's support and comments.
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June 3, 2015
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you. I just wanted to remind the Council, in the previous
term we actually approved a resolution supporting the energy program, I mean,
not the energy, the engineering program, and that's why I was curious on what
had happened. And how does this play a role with that program?
But also, my last final comment, is that I feel like we're doing what the County
government should be doing, the fact that the County government is the lowest
form of government, closer to the people. We hear the issues, we hear the needs,
and we tend to start things. We can't sustain it in the long run, and that's where
the State and the Federal comes in. But the hardest part with politics is that,
who's going to take the credit? If you start it, does the County take the credit?
And I think we should stay away from who gets the credit because that's where it
gets muddy. If anything, when you talk to legislatures up there, just say you're
starting it. Don't say that it was the County's idea, and it was actually coming
from the students. We should start focusing on that, but I feel like the County
should start things. The hardest part is trying to have that continuing funds to
support your program sustainably. So I just want to say good luck. Keep
working hard for our future. And thank you so much for what you're doing.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Okay. One important question, when are you going from interim
Dean to regular Dean?
MR. MATHEWS: Well, I've heard once again that they're planning on
advertising the position sometime this year.
MS. WILLE: Really?
MR. MATHEWS: So I've been told that before.
MS. WILLE: Anyway.
MR. MATHEWS: But I'm thankful for the opportunity. And whatever happens
down the road, I'm just going to keep on plowing away and doing the best I can.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, okay. Well, thanks for all you do and I appreciate—you
know, Bruce helped me do a program. We ended up doing it together in
agricultural forum on different issues. And I assume you've sort of heard the
direction that we're going, in terms of doing more composting and trying to divert
food scraps from the landfill and get it out there. I hope you stay in touch with
that and see how that goes, and deal with global warming and drought, and all of
these things. So many of the little simple ways of doing it end up being—
relieving—not longer—to bringing in as much fertilizer and compost and
importing in.
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June 3, 2015
MR. MATHEWS: One thing I wanted to mention is that earlier you talked about
the dirty side of biofuels, and we do intend to stay away from that. You know,
what I feel, it's ridiculous to be growing corn for ethanol types of things. But the
sight of biofuels—Dr. Shihwu Sung wants to investigate, is biofuel crops that
could be grown on marginal lands, that aren't going to be used for food crop
production, and only looking at that side of biofuel cropping.
MS. WILLE: Okay, I'm glad to hear that. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other discussion? Okay, we can go to the
vote. Everyone in favor of approving Resolution 199-15 say "aye."
Vote on Res. 199-15: The motion to adopt Res. 199-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Thank you.
MR. MATHEWS: Thank you.
MR. BINDER: Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Okay. Mr. Clerk, let's just go to the top of the agenda,
Resolution 190-15
Return to Order The Chair directed the Council to return to the order of business.
of Business -
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
RESOLUTIONS: Resolutions.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
Res. 190-15: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM THE
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF TABLE TENNIS
SUPPLIES FOR THE KEKUAOKALANI GYMNASIUM
Transfers/appropriates $2,000 out and from the Clerk -Council Services —
Contingency Relief account (Council District 7); and credits the same to the
Department of Parks and Recreation, Recreation Division Other Current Expenses,
Educational -Recreational -Scientific S account (Table Tennis Supplies).
Reference: Comm. 314
Intr. by: Mr. Kanuha
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to adopt Res. 190-15. Seconded by
Ms. Poindexter.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion before I say something? Just real quickly.
I've been giving contingency funds to the Kona Table Tennis Club, and they've
been doing pretty well. It's a pretty big club now, actually, huge; and they do a
lot of programs with the kids, which I really appreciate. That's one of the main
reasons why I was giving funds from my district into this program.
So, this money basically will be used for their First Annual USA Table Tennis
Sanction, International Table Tennis Tournament, on August 16, 2015, and
basically they're going to use this money to purchase supplies such as score
boards, nets, and table dividing barriers. So, I ask for all of your support. And if
anybody in the public or you folks don't have anything to do on August 16th,
check it out. So, any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none, all in favor say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 190-15: The motion to adopt Res. 190-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Thank you, Council Members. Next
item.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
Res. 191-15: COMMITS TO FUNDING THE COST ITEMS AGREED UPON BY THE
EMPLOYERS AND THE HAWAII GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION (HGEA) UNITS 02, 03, 04 AND EMPLOYEES EXCLUDED
FROM THOSE UNITS FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD JULY 1, 2015,
THROUGH JUNE 30, 2017
Cost items are across -the board increases, step movements, change in stand-by
compensation, and lump sum payments for an approximate cost to the County of
$6,167,311.
Reference: Comm. 316
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to adopt Res. 191-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion? Ms. Wille, your microphone? And we also
have Ms. Sakamoto here from HR (Human Resources), if you have any questions.
MS. WILLE: Oh, okay. Yeah, I would like to—would you come forward? You
want to just introduce yourself?
(Note: At this time, Human Resources Manager Jenny Sakamoto came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
MS. SAKAMOTO: Good morning. My name is Jenny Sakamoto. I am with the
Department of Human Resources, and I'm the HR Manager for, actually, for the
Classification and Pay Section.
MS. WILLE: Okay. If you look at the report or the attachment, Recap 16-17
(FY 16 -FY 17), and it's a summary of the cost of the settlement, I just wanted to
know if I understand this, so it says "Recap of Additional Costs, are those
specific? And then it lists Bargaining Units, and I don't know what Bargaining
Units are those. Are those specific to the classifications that we're discussing
here, or are those, you know, other—police and fireman, or blah -blah, or
whatever?
MS. SAKAMOTO: No. The Bargaining Units that are listed here are part of the
HGEA (Hawai`i Government Employee Association), Bargaining Units 02, 03,
04. The other ones that are listed: 63, 84, and 31 are, I guess, positions that
follow those same Bargaining Units. They're just not included in the Bargaining
Unit.
MS. WILLE: Okay. So 02, 03 and 04 are what?
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
MS. SAKAMOTO: Those are those HGEA Bargaining Units that are included in
this resolution.
MS. WILLE: In this?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yes. And then 63, 84, and 31 are positions that followed
those Bargaining Units. So 63 follows Bargaining Unit 03, but they're excluded
from Collective Bargaining; 84 follows Bargaining Unit 04; and Bargaining
Unit 31 follows Bargaining Unit 4, but it's like in the excluded managerial area.
So they follow the contract provision, and their salaries will follow whatever is
negotiated. So, that's why they're included in this write-up.
MS. WILLE: Okay, so they are specific to these?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yes. Yeah, it's not including Police and Fire or any other
bargaining units.
MS. WILLE: Okay. So then, over on page two, I'm just trying to learn a little as
I'm going through this, so I understand a little better; for example, here it says,
down towards the bottom, "Certain fringe benefit costs, 31.85percent"; and then
right below that it has "Vacation, sick leave, and holidays, (21percent of the total
increase cost subject to fringe benefits)." So would that mean that, really, out of
all of the salaries that basically fringe benefits plus—does vacation, sick leave,
and holiday, are those included? No, they're not included in that. Do we add
those two numbers 21 percent and 31.85 percent to come out with the actual
additional cost over and above the salaries, straight salary?
MS. SAKAMOTO: I need to apologize because I did not prepare this document.
So I'm wondering if Finance can come help me here and answer this question.
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address members of the Council.)
MS. SAKO: Good morning. Deanna Sako, Director of Finance. So each time
we submit the cost and worksheets, they pretty much follow the same format, and
you'll notice that we list what the different increases were. But if you see the
certain fringe benefits, that's the bulk that are actually out-of-pocket fringe
benefits; the overtime, the ERS (Employee Retirement System), the
unemployment, all of those things. So when you see the bolded line "Increased
costs to be paid during fiscal years 2016-17," that's actually the out-of-pocket
costs we're incurring. The 21 percent for vacation, sick leave, and holiday is for
reference, just so you know that we do have to allow our employees to take the
vacation and sick leave time they earn on top of everything else.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
MS. WILLE: Okay. Say the last part, "Vacation, sick leave, and holiday," they
are, sort of—if you take vacation, okay you get
MS. SAKO: You get your straight salary no matter what. So if you take your
21 days of vacation, we're still paying you the same amount.
MS. WILLE: Okay, I see.
MS. SAKO: We're not incurring additional cost.
MS. WILLE: So is there—approximately 31 percent is the fringe benefits that
these positions are costing. That these additions
MS. SAKO: Well, additional amount on top of the
MS. WILLE: Additional amount on top of it?
MS. SAKO: Right.
MS. WILLE: So these changes—then the total increased costs for the changes
that we have here is $5,384,000.
MS. SAKO: But the out-of-pocket cost on this particular oneI think the one
you're looking at is Bargaining Unit 3, is $4,644,432. That bolded line.
MS. WILLE: Okay. So each one is—then the total increase then is back on that
page one here, where you have the increased cost total.
MS. SAKO: The $6,167,311 would be our total out-of-pocket cost over the two
fiscal years.
MS. WILLE: Over the two fiscal years.
MS. SAKO: And no one asked yet, but just to confirm, all these cost were
included in the budget that was approved on Monday.
MS. WILLE: Yeah. Okay, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Wille. And, Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Just a question regarding the settlement. Is it negotiated?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yes, it was negotiated and already ratified.
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June 3, 2015
MR. PALEKA: Okay, so a lot of work was already done to put these numbers
together?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yes.
MR. PALEKA: Okay. And I see Units 02, 03, 04 are White Collar, Middle
Management, and are exempt employees all covered under these agreements.
Great. I don't like to see when we need to go to arbitration. Great job from the
staff that represented the employer.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Paleka. Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL I just had a question. So Unit 13, will they be coming to us?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Unit 13's contract is current until 2017, so it won't be until
the next
MR. ONISHL Okay. And I see, like Unit 03—and so—that' s great. I mean,
because to me they're like the front -liner people in the County and they deserve
their raises, yeah. And this—we need tothat's all the clerks and all the lower
level positions; that they don't really—they never been taken care of in the past.
So, this is great for them. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Any other discussion? Okay,
hearing or seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Res. 191-15: The motion to adopt Res. 191-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Okay Mr. Clerk, Resolution 192.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
Res. 192-15: AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF A MONETARY DONATION OF
$17,586.55 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Donated by the Honorable Masamichi Miyawaki, Mayor of the Yurihama
Prefecture of Japan, on behalf of his government, to be used for the benefit of the
residents of Lower Puna who were affected by the June 27�h lava flow.
Reference: Comm. 318
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved adopt Res. 192-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion? Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I could have Finance and also Research
and Development come up, please? Also, I know the testimony was mentioned,
but I would just like to ask one more question. And the question is, what
prompted this Sister City to donate this funding? Do you know? If you could, I
know your name is still the same but if you could state your name and title for
me? Thank you.
(Note: At this time, Mr. Tommy Goya, representing the Japanese
Chamber of Commerce, came forward to address members of the
Council.)
MR. GOYA: Thank you again. My name is Tommy Goya. I've been a longtime
member of the Japanese Community Association and the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce, in the industry in Hawaii. Hawaii has been very generous in
tending to disasters on an international basis. In fact, this bracelet I'm wearing
was given to us by the Ambassador of Japan for our contributions that we made
from Hawaii Island to the Tohoku disaster. We've also made contributions to
our initial Sister City of Oshima Island, and I think Randy Kurohara made a
presentation of that donation recently. It's in the heart of everyone to be generous
in time of need. And I think this exemplifies the commitment of the Sister City of
Yurihama. We're very, very thankful for their 20 years of sharing aloha and
hospitality. Thank you.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you. I wanted to ask the administration receiving this
money, why did it go to Research and Development and how will this money be
used?
(Note: At this time, Deputy Research and Development Director
Donn Mende came forward to address members of the Council.)
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
MR. MENDE: Thank you, Council Member Ragan. My guess is, do we actually
have—we support the Mayor's office with the Sister City's efforts and we have a
relationship with the Yurihama people. So, notification was really unofficial. We
just got an email notification that they were doing this, and then basically wiring
instructions to wire it. We didn't actually find out about it until Treasury was
doing an audit of their checking account and noticed something hit it. I mean, I
already put them on notice, so they're looking for it.
As far as their use, I guess, ultimately it would be up to the Mayor. But my guess
is that because they requested, that it would be to benefit people affected by the
lava flow, that Civil Defense might, you know, get it to see. But yeah, as far as
there is no plan for the money as of right now, other than the request, that it would
be for the benefit of the people who are affected by the lava flow, yeah.
MR. ILAGAN: Finance, do you know how it's—has there been talk on?
(Note: At this time, Deputy Finance Director Lisa Miura came forward
to address the members of the Council.)
MS. MIURA: There has been no talk with us that I know of regarding this
funding. And, Director Sako just ran up to get some of her belongings to come
back down. We realized the money came in, but it is going to be up to the Mayor,
and our guess is the same; that it would go to the Civil Defense for the area of
lower Puna.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. Because there are some radios for CERT (Computer
Emergency Response Team), would be beneficial to fund. I'm just saying. It is
up to the Mayor, and I just want to mention that as an option. I was just curious.
And it sounds like you guys are still in the brainstorming stage.
MS. MIURA: Yeah. But we'll make sure it's used for lower Puna.
MR. ILAGAN: And I just want to thank the Sister City for this donation. I think
we should, as a Council, send a resolution or something to show instead of just
an acceptance, I think we should really show our thanks for them stepping up.
And I don't really know how—this is the first time ever we're probably doing it.
So, I would like to work with the Sister City to start something up since it is going
to lower Puna. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. I mean, you hit it on the head -on -the -nail,
or whatever. But it's going to lower Puna, so you're the representative of lower
Puna so I think you should be the one organizing that resolution.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
MR. ILAGAN: I will. Thank you.
MR. ONISHL So instead of looking at us to try and do that, I mean, God, and
then now you're asking for radios for them.
But, you guys just heard what Japan did for us. And then we get Council
members that talk about, like entertainment funds, or like Sister City funds.
Look, they do it to Hawaii. We've got to, like, give back too. But we want to
cut the funding. And the public, too, sometimes they talk bad about this and they
don't see, like, what happens. We come from a State of "aloha," right? Giving,
right? Accepting? But also, like to recognize, I guess, the fellowship and all of
that, right? That's what we promote. And then, we want to go back on the other
side and say, "No, we've got to cut all the funding for them; we cannot have this
entertainment; we cannot do this; we cannot do that because it's a waste of
money." But look, we accepting $17,000 from the Sister City.
And then, what is a good of a resolution, I mean, it's just a paper. We should be
sending them back something too in appreciation. Sending them flowers that's
grown in Hawaii, on this Big Island, you know what I mean? Anthiriums. They
love anthuriums, right? But that's the kind stuff that we've got to look at. We
cannot be just a person, or a state, or an island, and only take, take, take. We've
got to be able to give. So I'm hoping that, Council Members, we realize what is
happening today and what we've got. And don't be cutting any kind of funding
from either the Mayor's office or also from the Council. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm kind of troubled by the fact that
we really don't have any use for the money right now, I mean ostensibly, I guess,
yeah, and hopefully we can find a use. But, Donn, either you or Lisa be able to
provide an update as to how those monies are used? Because if they can't be
used, I think we should, just maybe, send it back to them with our thanks, you
know, so that it's not an insult. But, we don't want to fabricate a use for it if there
is really no use. I guess timeliness was everything in this, yeah? There was a
time when we really needed that money, but I think the time has come and gone.
But piggy backing on what Mr. Onishi said, quite emphatically, and I'm not going
to be demonstrative as he was, but I really want to stress the importance of the
Sister City relationships. It's something that is provided in the Hawaii State
statutes, how these things are established. And we have to try to promote them as
best we can, you know, funding, allowing. But, I can only speak in terms of the
relationship we have with the Japanese cities. Because, of course, I think we have
with Germany, yeah? We have one with Germany, we have several with China,
some with Korea and Philippines, but I can only speak about the Japanese
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
experience. I've been told on many occasions, and I think everyone has heard,
that whenever you're hosted by people from Japan, whether in a business context
or something else, you can never return the amount that they provide. You just
cannot because they go over the top, and they really, really try their best. The
same can be said here.
People like from Hikaho, Yurihama, Sumoto, they come here every year and they
infuse a lot of money into our economy. They bring students. They bring
business leaders on a regular basis. The public doesn't see that kind of stuff And
we haven't been returning that favor, I mean, so what Mr. Onishi said, we cannot
just take, take, take. And I've have discussed this with our Chairman, the
importance of establishing or reestablishing our commitment to the Sister City
relationships. I think even Ms. Wille has seen the benefits of that with the Cherry
Blossoms and all of those things out in Waimea. I know it's been a favorite
"whipping boy" during this past budget, the Sister City relationship and the
accounts related thereto. But I would say we really should try our best to go and
make sure that these relationships are reaffirmed. I will just make that request of
our Chairman and Vice Chairman and everyone else just go and support these
things. Visit them, if possible. Thank you
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah. And this donation, how wonderful. Because I think
the foresight by honorable Masamichi Miyawaki, the Mayor, it wasn't just about
the immediate, what was happening immediately then, at that time; but, I think,
the foresight was knowing that there was economic devastation to follow.
So working with our Council people from Puna, both Council Member Ragan and
Council Member Paleka, I'd like to see them work with administration and R&D,
or the Mayor's office. Looking at the best possible use for that donation, whether
it's to rebuild economically, and the monies remain in R&D, or if they see it
better fit to help with Civil Defense with radios or whatever that is. But I think
that was a wonderful foresight on our Sister City to see that there will be some
type of economic devastation. They were thinking ahead, so I want to thank them
for that. So, mahalo.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Yeah. I've actually been a strong proponent of Sister City
program, and especially the six—they're in Japan and working on adding an
additional one, which is where the first Cherry Blossom Festival is held each year,
in Japan.
I did seek to maneuver some of the funds, but that was because I'm opposed to
abuse of those funds and not because—anything to do with disregard of the
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Sister Cities. Also, to allocate,—some of what I was doing, was trying to
allocate so that we would have additional travel funds and ability to do this. I
know that I worked with Art Taniguchi, when we both spoke at the Cherry
Blossom Festival. And then I was invited over to the Consulate of Japan and
worked with them on a ceremony, in terms of the Cherry Blossom, honoring
them over there.
I think, just in talking to those involved, one of the problems is always that
they tend—those towns or entities tend to give much more and we don't.
They're like—at the legislative functions, they're providing gifts. They're
providing scholarships without that return.
I knowI worked with J Yoshimoto and just trying to—how can we get more
partnerships? I've been concerned. I felt some of those funds have been used
more as "slush funds" and not really beingI haveI don't feel that they have
always been well accounted for. Out of what we spent last year on Sister
Cities, how many of you know what we did with that money? I don't. I don't
think that we're—we need to be more accountable, so I think we all have the
same interest at heart.
And certainly, for me, Waimea is where the Emperor—and emperors have
said—it's like a very important location. It's the only place, other than passing
through Honolulu, that they stopped in their last international tour. And the
stable—at the Emperor—were designed after those at Parker Ranch, and
brought the paniolos over there to help train their folks. And then Waimea was
the first places, after Washington D.C., that really developed on the Cherry
Blossoms. So just in terms of tourism, generally, I know on a State level, it
always seems to me that pursuing more of the Korean or Chinese tourist trade,
that our island, most specifically, has a closer relationship to Japan, in terms of
some of that history, but also in terms of the connectivity to nature and the
elements. So, I think we're all supportive and I think we can all do more and
want the funds used appropriately.
I do think there is plenty of use in lower Puna for the funds, just talking to
people down there. There's still a lot more that's needed in there. There's also
a lot more, what can be done in terms of prevention, including the relay
stations, and some really developing, whether it's radios and other supplies, so
that people are right there able to help them. Okay, thanks.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, this is the last I'm going to speak.
But you know what the problem is, is that it was mentioned about abuse or—
you know how, and I hate to bore you guys over here but, Council Members,
like all my years that I've been on the Council, I've never seen one Council
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Member go on a Sister City trip and that's the sad part because we're not
building that relationship. And one of the problems, and I hate to say it, is the
press, because they're the ones that write in the articles in the newspaper, how
bad it looks, and stir up all this commotion within the public. But they don't
realize—like I'm hoping that the press will be printing that Japan, this Sister
City, donated $17,000. I hope it's a headline, saying that this is what they did
for Hawaii County because, you know, we don't get that positive things. We
always get negative stuff, right?
And then, I mean, Council Members want to cut from the administrative side
and boost up our DAEs' (District Allowance Expense) so that we can travel to
these situation? We're supposed to be working hand-in-hand. Because in this
relationship with Sister City, it's basically the Mayors get in hand -and -hand.
Right, Mr. Mende? It's not Council Members. It's like the Mayor. That's
what they honor. And then we tag along, because then we show support to the
administration and to that foreign country that, "Hey, we all believe in you
guys and we want this relationship," right? But if we would go—we're not
going to get as much, I guess, attention if the Mayor went, and that's where the
relationship—that's where businesses come in.
As Mr. Chung mentioned, even like educationI mean, look, I'm trying to
help St. Joseph School to get more international students there, to help with
their enrollment because they're the ones that are going to be paying the big
bucks, and that helps the local kids to get the subsidies. But people don't write
that kind stuff People, they don't—public don't know. But that's the kind of
situations that that's what we have to take advantage of, of how our
relationships are. So, I'm hoping in the next years to come, Council Members,
going change their thinking and realize how important Sister City is and
relationships.
Like I said, in the beginning of my first time I went, Hawaii, everybody knows
is for "aloha," right, and that's what we're supposed to be giving. But, don't
take from Peter. And we going pay to us, and then we're going to get that
advantage. But sorry you guys have to hear this, but I had to say something.
Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: No, I just wanted to say very heartfelt thank you to the Mayor
of Yurihama in his kind donation. And, Sister Cities is important, very
important, and I am glad my colleague brought that up. I'm not going to say
what I intend to do, in terms of developing Sister City relationships. I have my
own ideas, but I'll keep them to myself.
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June 3, 2015
I know when I travel, and I travel a bit back and forth between some places that
are considered like my second home, internationally, and I hope to develop that
type of relationship. And for the Mayor and any other representatives of our
County that go out and reach out—and I challenge any of us to go out and do
that. No talk. Do it. I like see. Easy for talk, go do it. I'm willing to go on
my own dime, yeah? But Sister City relationships I know are very important.
My grandfather formed a couple of them with Pasadena and de Safi, Germany.
The street named after him, so remember that.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung, and then I'll come to Mr. Eagan.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. One thing I have to say about
my colleague, he says what's on his mind, I guess, yeah? No political
correctness with him, but there is some truth to what he says and it's kind of
interesting. Because as far as I know, Mr. Onishi never went on a Sister City
trip; but I also know this, because I've seen him and I've seen others and I can
speak for myself, whenever these people come over he's there giving omiyage,
and I have to suspect that it's on his own dime, because I know whenever they
come I give them from my own pocket, too. It's not from any P -card or any,
you knowI'm not seeking reimbursement or anything like that. And this
thing becomes very expensive because Big Island Candy is not cheap, okay?
So having said that, I think Mr. Paleka brought it up too, the real high-profile
guys that these guys want to see are the Mayor and the Chairman. Let's face it,
right? I would again urge our Chairman to make the first move, and he has my
backing all the way because it's so important. They want to see these people.
The Mayor, I think, has not—maybe he's been to a Sister City. Maybe once or
twice I think during his six years, yeah? He's only hosted them. But from my
understanding, he only gone to about two, and I know he's really been wanting
to go, but looks like maybe not now. But, please, Mr. Chairman, if you could
make an effort? Just be the—take the first step and then we can follow along.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask you a question.
Because we currently have $10,000 in our funding for Sister Cities, I would
like to write up a resolution and thank them for this donation and also present
gifts of "thank you" to the Sister City. But, I wanted to ask your permission to
be able to touch the $10,000 to use to pay for the expenses for that package.
CHR KANUHA: We can discuss that at a different time. I think it would be
appropriate right now to just say mahalo to the Sister City giving us this donation.
MR. ILAGAN: But that's what I'm trying to say, is mahalo.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
CHR KANUHA: The details of what you're talking about isn't within this
resolution currently, so that can be discussed at a different time.
MR. ILAGAN: Well, just for my remaining minutes I just wanted to start up
this care package and I would like to get some input from the Council. And the
direction I'm headed is to create a reso. and put a package to send to our Sister
City. And the expenses, I would like to use our Sister City's funding.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Eagan, you can definitely talk to me right after this
resolution and we can definitely make that happen.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. Well, that's the permission I need and I just
wanted to make sure that I'm able to do that, and that's the plan. Thank
you.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Wille, can you wrap it up, please?
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I can wrap it up. I just want to mention that the County
and we have organized on County level and individual level, giving relief
efforts to locations in Japan. And, for example, what was one of them, Oshima
was the most recent, and acting with aloha. I think it is good, and I appreciate
that you want to recognize that, Council Member Eagan. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, thank you. I'm going to end debate and just say for
myself "mahalo" for everybody's comments. Of course, mahalo for this
amazing donation on behalf of our Sister City to our island, and to the folks in
need in Puna, especially. This is why Sister Cities are so necessary to keep.
And to further enhance, as Mr. Chung detailed with me previously, I've also
spoken to the Mayor of how we can further the Sister City relationships in the
future; because it was important to me, it was important to him, and it's really
important as you can see here to our island. So again, a big mahalo to them.
We can discuss how we can say a "mahalo." A further "mahalo" instead of
just words, but we can figure that out at a later time. But thank you,
everybody, for your kind comments. Mr. Clerk, on the motion to approve
Resolution 192-15? Oh sorry, all in favor say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council -15
Vote on Res. 192-15
(Adopted)
The motion to adopt Res. 192-15 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, we can do
Resolution 193-15.
June 3, 2015
Res. 193-15: AUTHORIZES THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS (DLIR), PURSUANT TO HAWAII REVISED STATUTES
SECTION 46-7, FOR A WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY
ACT (WIOA) GRANT
Provides $1,521,232 from DLIR to the Office of Housing and Community
Development's WIOA program to assist adults, dislocated workers, and youth to
increase their employment retention, earnings, skills, and literacy.
Reference: Comm. 319
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to adopt Res. 193-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion, Council Members? We have Office of
Housing here, as well, if you have any questions. Okay. Oh, Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you. If I could have the director and administrator come
up? This has always been in the back of my mind, how our government and
different agencies should partner up with the university to have the academics
transition into the workforce. Just today we had funding allocated to support a
program in energy, and I wanted to know has there been that bridge with the
workforce program and academia?
(Note: At this time, Housing and Community Development Administrator
Susan Akiyama came forward to address the members of the Council.)
MS. AKIYAMA: Hi. Good morning. My name is Susan Akiyama. I'm the
Administrator for the Office of Housing. Yes, there has been.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
First, if I can back up just a little bit so I can connect this transition. The
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is an Act that was just recently
signed into law by President Obama and supersedes the formerly Workforce
Investment Act, so you've heard me come before you to talk about that.
So, this law is replacing that law. It's an employment and training program,
and one of the criteria is, like you're asking, is to connect the educational
system to these programs. So one of the ways that it does that is, from a higher
administrative level, it requires that the university, the community colleges,
and the DOE (Department of Education) are at the table, members of this board
that oversees the policies, the development of policies for this program.
MR. ILAGAN: Really, stirs in my heart, how my vote for the President really
paid off because something like this is a vision that I wanted to see for a long
time. And we've been going to a lot of graduations at the colleges this month,
and seeing all the graduates with their degrees, and what's next for them, it's
frightening. But I'm glad to hear that the government is shifting gears to move
towards that direction. And thank you for administrating it and making it
happen.
MS. AKIYAMA: You're welcome.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Eagan. Any other discussion? Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Yeah, I would just like to say thanks, Ms. Akiyama, for your
department's hard work, and first of all getting these funds, these grant
opportunities for our Workforce High Innovation. Thank you very much.
MS. AKIYAMA: You're welcome.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Paleka. Any other discussion? Hearing
and seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Res. 193-15: The motion to adopt Res. 193-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ilagan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, can we go down to Resolution 200?
Ms. Akiyama is here for that, as well.
Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objections from the Council Members, the
of Business: following item were taken out of order.
Res. 200-15: AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A MULTI-YEAR
MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT
FOR THE KALOKO HOUSING PROGRAM, NA KAHUA HALE O ULU
WINI AS OFFERED THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DATED
APRIL 15, 2015
Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a three-year agreement with the option of two
one-year extensions to hire a contractor to provide property management and
social support services.
Reference: Comm. 327
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to adopt Res. 200-15. Seconded by
Mr. Onishi.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff
MS. EOFF: Kaloa, since you're here, would you mind coming up? First of all,
I'd just like to state that I think the Ulu Wini Housing is an awesome project
and you're doing a really great job keeping that community intact and uplifted.
I think the additions you've provided there have really been helpful, and it
shows us how important it is to provide a safe place for these families and what
can come, you have that. But if you could explain a little bit, I don't want to
take too much time.
(Note: At this time, Housing and Community Development Specialist
Kaloa Robinson came forward to address the members of the Council.)
MR. ROBINSON: Explain the resolution?
MS. EOFF: Yeah.
MR. ROBINSON: What we're asking for in the resolution is for the, again, as
it states, a three-year agreement for a new property manager and social service
provider, with the adoption of two years, two one-year extensions; and the
reason being, is because the current contract is terminating. It's ending its
tenure at the end of the month, so that's why this resolution is needed.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you.
MR. ROBINSON: Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like what Council Member Eoff
mentioned with Ulu Wini, I've been talking to social services individuals. I've
learned to accept the fact that it's a great model that can be implemented
throughout the island, and I wanted to invest some time to look into that and see
the possibility on the east side. I've just been using my time elsewhere. And I
really want to say "thank you" for making that happen. I'm hearing great stories
and appreciation from people around the island, so you're doing a great job.
MR. ROBINSON: Thank you, Councilman.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other? Oh, Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you. Is this for Ulu Wini?
MR. ROBINSON: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: So I see they have Hope Services over there, right?
MR. ROBINSON: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: So they're going to be changed now?
MR. ROBINSON: Yes, they are one of the applicants for the current proposal.
MR. CHUNG: Oh, it's just a new proposal?
MR. ROBINSON: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: Every so often? I see.
MR. ROBINSON: Yes. Yes, yes.
MR. CHUNG: Okay. I just wanted to say it's a wonderful program. I go
there about once a month, whenever we're in Kona.
MR. ROBINSON: Oh.
MR. CHUNG: I mean, I got some stuff I've got to do over there.
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Hawaii County Council -15
MR. ROBINSON: Yeah.
MR. CHUNG: But I think it's wonderful. Really, yeah? So,
congratulations.
MR. ROBINSON: Thank you.
June 3, 2015
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Any other discussion, Council
Members? Okay. Hearing or seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Res. 200-15: The motion to adopt Res. 200-15 was carried by the following
(Adopted) voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Thank you. Is it alright with you guys if we
take a quick recess? Ten minute recess.
Recess: At 10:40 a.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 10:50 a.m.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, we are coming out of recess. And, Mr. Clerk, can we
also take out of order Bill 54 since we have Ms. Akiyama here?
Bill 54: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants — Housing Choice Voucher Program
account ($500,000); and appropriates the same to the Voucher Rental Subsidies
account. Funds would be used towards rental assistance for eligible program
participants.
Reference: Comm. 317
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 54 on first reading. Seconded by
Mr. Onishi.
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Hawaii County Council -15
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion? Mr. Eagan.
June 3, 2015
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a real quick question. Just wanted
to ask. So this is increased amount from the Federal Government, and I just
wanted to ask the reason why the increase happened.
MS. AKIYAMA: Actually, what happens is the Housing Choice Voucher
Program budget year is a calendar year, where our budget is a fiscal year. So
what happens is when we do our budget for Section 8. It's an anticipated
amount, so this is basically an adjustment for the actual funding we got.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. So, it wasn't an increase. It's just an adjustment?
MS. AKIYAMA: Yeah.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you for that clarification.
MS. AKIYAMA: Okay. No problem.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other discussion? Okay hearing or seeing
none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Bill 54: The motion to pass Bill 54 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ilagan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Next one, we can go to 56. Oh sorry,
we'll just do 55 and then we can go down.
Page 34
Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Bill 55: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Appropriates revenues in the Private — Miscellaneous Private Contributions
account ($17,586.55); and appropriates the same to the Miscellaneous Private
Contributions account. Funds donated by Sister City Yurihama Prefecture
(Japan) would be used for the benefit of the residents of Lower Puna who were
affected by the June 271h lava flow.
Vote on Bill 55
(Approved)
Reference: Comm. 318
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 55 on first reading. Seconded
by Mr. Paleka and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, Bill 56.
Bill 56: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants — Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA) account ($1,521,232); and appropriates the same to the
following accounts: WIOA — Administration Planning 2015-16 ($152,121);
WIOA — Adult Program 2015-16 ($495,316); WIOA — Dislocated Worker
Program 2015-16 ($405,276); and WIOA — Youth Program 2015-16 ($468,519).
Funds would be used to assist adults, dislocated workers, and youth to increase
their employment retention, earnings, skills, and literacy.
Reference: Comm. 319
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 56 on first reading. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff
Page 35
Hawaii County Council -15
Vote on Bill 56
(Approved)
June 3, 2015
MS. EOFF: This is just a companion to a resolution we have already discussed.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing or seeing
none, all in favor say "aye."
The motion to pass Bill 56 on first reading was carried
by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, Bill 57.
Bill 57: AMENDS CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 39, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE
1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE FEDERAL
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA)
PROGRAM
Amends the Hawaii County Code to reflect the provisions of the WIOA, which
supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, to take effect on July 1, 2015.
Reference: Comm. 325
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Vote on Bill 57: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 57 on first reading. Seconded
(Approved) by Mr. Paleka and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Clerk, can we go to
the top of the agenda Resolution 194-15.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Return to Order The Chair directed the Council to return to the order of business.
of Business:
Res. 194-15: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM
THE DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PARK
FACILITIES IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Transfers/appropriates $400.73 out and from the Clerk -Council Services —
Contingency Relief account (Council District 3); and credits the same to the
Department of Parks and Recreation, Transfer to Capital Project Fund -General
account (Discretionary Projects -Council District 3).
Reference: Comm. 320
Intr. by: Mr. Onishi
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 194-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHI: Just asking for your support. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none,
all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Res 194-15: The motion to adopt Res. 194-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, Resolution 195-15.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Res. 195-15: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM
THE DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT FOR AN ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHT
ON KING AVENUE
Transfers/appropriates $2,500 out and from the Clerk -Council Services —
Contingency Relief account (Council District 3); and credits the same to the
Department of Public Works, Transfer to Capital Project Fund -General account
(Street Light Installations Island wide — King Avenue). Funds would be used for
a light fixture and an electrical connection for King Avenue in Hilo.
Reference: Comm. 321
Intr. by: Mr. Onishi
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 195-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Just asking for your support again. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none, all in favor
say "aye."
Vote on Res 195-15: The motion to adopt Res. 195-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, Resolution 196-15.
Page 38
Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Res. 196-15: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM
THE DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN
COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Transfers/appropriates $15,500 out and from the Clerk -Council Services —
Contingency Relief account (Council District 5); and credits the same to the
Department of Parks and Recreation, Transfer to Capital Project Fund -General
account (Discretionary Projects — Council District 5).
Reference: Comm. 322
Intr. by: Mr. Paleka
Motion to Approve: Mr. Paleka moved to adopt Res. 196-15. Seconded by
Mr. Onishi.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Yeah, this is just some funds appropriated to get some projects
done and I ask for your support.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Paleka. Any other discussion? Hearing
and seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Res 196-15: The motion to adopt Res. 196-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, Resolution 197-15.
Page 39
Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Res. 197-15: APPROVES THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES (HSAC)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SLATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016
Requests the Council's approval of the following slate of HSAC Executive
Committee Members and their alternates for the term beginning July 1, 2015:
Michael P. Victorino, President (Gladys C. Baisa, Alternate); Dennis "Fresh"
Onishi, Vice President (Daniel K. Paleka, Jr., Alternate); J. Ikaika Anderson,
Secretary (Joey Manahan, Alternate); and Mel Rapozo, Treasurer (Ross Kagawa,
Alternate).
Reference: Comm. 323
Intr. by: Mr. Onishi
Waived: GREDC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to adopt Res. 197-15. Seconded
by Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Yes. Council Members, you guys are going be shocked, but I
am requesting that we vote this down and the reason is that through
discussionI was looking at our minutes and it's not stating in our HSAC
minutes about our discussion about this. But this is kind of, and I hate to say
itCouncil Member Victorino was pushing this for some reason—and I don't
see what the rush is. So I asked them to have a meeting during the HSAC's
Conference so we could get the memberships, I guess, advice or comments
about what they felt. And the thing is this only serves just the officers but
doesn't say any terms of how long each member is going to serve at that
position. And the reason why they wanted to switch it or why he wanted to
switch it was because of the terms. He's saying that, Maui, because they're in
the—treasurer for so long, needs to be like a rotation. So I asked them, "Okay,
what will be the terms of rotation?" And he said "Oh, we'll work it out later."
So basically, he just wants to push position -wise now and the term later. And
I'm like "No." To me, that's not right. So I'm just asking my colleaguesI
mean, and it's up to you folks what you want to do but I will not be supporting
this. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, what an odd situation this is.
I'm just wondering if I could ask Mr. Onishi a question.
CHR KANUHA: Please?
MR. CHUNG: Instead of voting it down, could we just defer it?
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
MR. ONISHL Well, they need to get, I guess, either yes or no, but before the
conference.
MR. CHUNG: Why?
MR. ONISHL Because that's when it's going to be voted on. But then, the
thing is if we vote it down because you need all four counties to approve. If
we vote it down, we stay at the same positions; so Maui still stays the treasurer,
Kauai stays at the President, okay. So, we need to take action. Either we
going say, yes, we approve the slate; or no, we're not going to approve the
slate.
MR. CHUNG: So what's the current line-up?
MR. ONISHL It's like Kauai is the President, Big Island is the Vice President,
Oahu is the secretary, and Maui is the treasurer.
MR. CHUNG: Do you have any idea what the other counties are going to
be doing?
MR. ONISHL I know Honolulu, through the discussions we had at the
meetings, they're kind of like neutral so they're going to accept. Kauai was
kind of like, "Well, if it has to be, it's going to be," right? Because in one way
the treasurer's duties are very, you know, takes a lot of time, right? So they're
going to get to know what the system is and so forth. And so that's why, too, I
was talking about the term part. If you get two years in each position, by the
time you learn what the treasurer's got to dobecause, especially even like for
us, we don't have a staff that—like, Maui has—where they are totally separate.
Like, they have a staff that attends every HSAC meeting and they take care of
all the HSAC stuff For us, it's going be your staff.
Now, what if, say you do not return back to the Council, then who takes over?
So then, there's a training process again, right? But t just to answer you, that's
what the feeling is.
MR. CHUNG: So you're not going to be getting Boston Red Socks
tickets anytime soon then?
MR. ONISHL Never got them anyway. Never got a baseball anyway.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I first saw this I was shocked,
that's why I was waiting until the discussion. But, I can see why. I used to be an
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alternate for HSAC and used to go to the meetings. And, I'm going to definitely
defer my vote to Council Member Onishi. I understand that when you go to these
meetings, there are a lot of things that happen in these meetings. Like just
missing just one meeting, it's hard to even see the whole picture. I'm going to
trust your judgment and vote your recommendation and definitely support you in
the action that you're looking to move forward. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can I ask Mr. Onishi a question?
Mr. Onishi, is this—what they're doing right now, is this like a normal process of
electing a new board?
MR. ONISHL Not really. I guess, changing the slate.
MS. DAVID: Right.
MR. ONISHL The only other time it changed, when Council Member Pilago
see, Big Island was always the secretary and Oahu was the Vice President. So
when I got in, in my first term, we were the Secretary. But then, when in my
second term, Council Member Pilago became HSAC representative, he went up
and he told them he's not going to be the Secretary anymore. He kind of, I hate to
say it, threatened that Big Island was going to pull out of HSAC. And so Oahu,
which isCouncil Member Stanley Chang said, "Okay, you know what, Oahu
will take over the Secretary and you can become the Vice President," and that was
the only time went changed.
When I first got in, I asked Maui—see, when I first got in, I felt we should
have a rotation but Maui always said they wanted to be the Treasure because
they said of all the work that got to be done, da, da, da, this and that. So I said,
"Okay, fine," and so—yes, that's it.
MS. DAVID: So this change, and I definitely will defer to you also because
you're the one that goes and attends these meetings and stuff, and I just needed
to know whether this was outside of the normal
MR. ONISHL Yes.
MS. DAVID: It is outside of the normal situation?
MR. ONISHL Yes.
MS. DAVID: Okay.
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MR. ONISHL And then, like I said, there's not even like any discussion or any
agreement among the Executive Board to decide what is the term.
MS. DAVID: And who—how do you guys vote on this, I mean?
MR. ONISHL Usually, within executive, that we've got to agree and we've
got to have something written up, and then this is going to be proposed at the
General Session. At the HSAC conference.
MS. DAVID: So will the general membership be able to weigh in?
MR. ONISHL Oh, yes. Yes.
MS. DAVID: I see. Okay. So in the meantime then, I think I'll defer to you.
MR. ONISHL Yeah. Okay, thank you.
MS. DAVID: Alright.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. I don't know who was first over here, but I'll go
with the nearest to me. Ms. Eof£
MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you. And I do remember that year when Mr. Pilago felt
that there should be a rotation rather than the same island having the same
position. But stated in this reso, is that the By-laws do require that before May 30
of each year, the slate shall be submitted; which we've done, right? And then at
the HSAC annual meeting coming up, is when it's confirmed? So isn't this
consistent with that process then? I mean, we're not confirming anybody. We're
just confirming this as the slate to be decided on?
MR. ONISHL Correct. Yeah.
MS. EOFF: So are you objecting to this line-up?
MR. ONISHL Yes.
MS. EOFF: Because there's nothing specifying how the rotation was suppose to
occur?
MR. ONISHL Yes. Yes.
MS. EOFF: So how are you going to fix that by the time it needs to
be?
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June 3, 2015
MR. ONISHL No. So, what's going to happen is we'll continue with the same
slate as before and then once we come up through discussion on how everything
is going to work out, like what the terms is going to be, what the rotation is going
to be. Because then every island, if you look at it, it's basically Oahu, I mean,
I'm sorry, Kauai and Maui going to switch but Big Island is going stay the same.
So, to me it's everybody should be rotating.
MS. EOFF: Right. There's no method to this rotation.
MR. ONISHL Right. So that's why I'm saying, that's why I told them to hold
up, to wait and let's get everything down first, right? Everything written up, and
then we can come to the Council and approve.
MS. EOFF: Because then there would be a reason for the rotation, right?
MR. ONISHL Correct. Yes.
MS. EOFF: Because the term, it seems like shall be like one year because every
year you have to
MR. ONISHL Yeah, but basically—like they want toyou kind of stay in your
certain position.
MS. EOFF: So you rather set a term and a method for the rotation?
MR. ONISHL Correct.
MS. EOFF: Okay, I understand.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Ms. Eof£ Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, and I'm going to defer to Council Member Onishi,
as well, and support that, not submitting this. But for clarification, should the
others agree? It has to be unanimous in order for it to go through, right?
MR. ONISHL Yeah, like a super majority.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, at the super majority. Okay. So if we vote it down,
that means it will not go through. So, thank you very much. I am definitely
supporting that.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I definitely agree there should be terms and how it's figured
out. I mean, I feel that—nothing against you, I feel we ought to be having terms
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and we ought to be having a rotation—and that wasbecause we don't. I saw it
to have at least have the funding for travel for Steering members in one way or
another, and I failed on every one of—everything I tried to get in that way. I
don't think we should be appointing the same member all the time, and I don't
think it should all be same inclination. Anyway, so partI'm saying—along
that line, and I think the same thing that is going on here.
I think that Fresh does a great job, but I think he does a great job without HSAC.
And, I think HSAC has overall done a poor job. So, I'm not criticizing him. But
I read the minutes and I see what is happening, and I feel that in fact it's been
harmful to getting the TAT (Transient Accommodation Tax). In other words,
where my interests are, I feel—and also the people on it, certainly in terms State
issues and that are on the other side of the table constantly, from some of the
issues that I worked on. So, yeah, I definitely agree. I appreciate your thinking
this through, and so thank you very much.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Any other, before I go to the second
round? Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I've just got to
echo what Ms. Wille said. Is that, HSAC—and at the last meeting, last couple of
meetings I told them that our batting average, I hate to use sports, is that we're
like passing legislation that, you know, we come with a HSAC package, we're
batting point zero one zero (.010). I mean, it's like really
CHR KANUHA: Point zero one?
MR. ONISHL Huh? No, point zero one zero. But I mean, like this past session,
we had—like in six bills, none of them passed through the Legislature, but there
was one that passed. But was—like the Legislature, one of the Senators or
whatever, yeah, I think was the Senator, rewrote our bill and that's how it got
passed; and was just about clarifying the 48 hours for separation in domestic
violence. But we had a bill, and then they deferred it and they wrote up their own,
and they passed that. So we need to take credit on that one, but it wasn't even our
bill.
But, you know—so I told HSAC that we need to look at talking to the
legislatures, to find out what kind of bills they're passing; and maybe we should
support them and have the County support their legislation. Because the way
we're doing things now, they aren't listening to us. I mean, they not even—not
one, I mean—and I hate to say that. So in one way—like, Ms. Wille is right,
HSAC hasn't produced anything. But, we've got to be there to lobby. Like, for
example, you said the TAT, we've done that. But the last couple of sessions we
decided that we're not going to touch that because that's a hot issue with the
legislatures at, you know, at the State Capitol. So we don't want to get them
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uptight where they're going to take away more money from us. So, we want to
kind of keep it status quo and look at other options of how we can generate
revenue.
But, you're correct. HSACI mean, like I said, the batting average is point zero
one zero (010), or could be less than that. But, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Any other discussion?
Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: This kind of just spurred my thoughts. And I just wanted to lay
down some observation. One is, Council Member Wille mentioned that Council
Member Onishi is effective at what he does and that's probably because he's been
in this position as the HSAC representative or our intergovernmental rep and he's
been in it for quite a long time. And normally when you have somebody in there
with the skills capable of doing what he's supposed to be doing, he will be
effective or she will be effective. So now we're kind of proposing a rotation, and
that provides consistency. Or, does it not? I don't know. I'm just saying.
The other part is Mel is now the Chair for the Council. Will he be more effective
as the Chair for Kauai and also be the HSAC President? I don't know. I'm just
laying that out. It's something to consider since I was hearing what some of the
Council Members had to say. And I will still continue to vote "no" for this as
Council Member Onishi suggested and recommended, but I just also wanted to
share with you the conflicting philosophies that I'm kind of hearing.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I recognize that. That having some longer term, and maybe
having it four years. But it also means—as much as I love Fresh, we don't always
agree, okay? Just not all the time. When I go to the Legislature, who's often on
the opposite side? His brother.
So I just want to say that some of my interests that I think are really important,
such as Home Rule issues, I'm not sure that Fresh is out there batting in the same
way, but just as on manyI mean, I was just in the Ag Advisory Committee.
You know they take turns, and what they say is—this way we always know that
we have to be representing each of our different interests. It's not something
locked in. So when you all only vote, you know, one way—and in fact Danny is
also not always on some of my State issues. We always agree except for State
issues. So I feel—then I'm trying to look at how
In terms of even our budget, and getting money for different ones, I started
thinking, okay, maybe we ought to—be more money, say TAT, and then I
could—you know, on working on that. Then I thought, "Well, actually Greggor
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has things that are really passionate for him," and that it shouldn't be just carving
out one thing. And that since we don't have someone there representing us, a
County, I mean, like where they're letting us know what's going on. So I know
individual private people is always telling me who goes to some of the
meetings—we're really getting left out. We don't have someone that even lets me
know at least two days ahead that the compost bill is coming up, you know, not
even like that. So I think—so I just wanted to explain how I see that.
I think without having any kind of rotation or further representation, and not
providing for the rest of us to go and I was going to—okay, I'm going to the
HSAC meeting even though it means I've got to spend $700 on my own, and I
went home and said, "I don't have that to do," and I canceled it.
So, I just think there are countervailing issues, but I justI think that we areI
mean, not only do I think that HSAC was zero, I mean, I think it was negative.
mean, some of the things that happened. I got confronted, well, but why
shouldn't HSAC support this? Or, they're going against it, especially on the
TAT. So, it's actually been harmful.
Anyway, I just wanted to weigh in and explain how I saw that. And I think that I
would likeI feel Fresh's thing—and one person effective, and I don't want to
depreciate any of that.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: I am going to support my colleague's recommendation, and I
will state for the public the reasons why. HSAC is a vital part, not only because
of the slate. Like they were saying, in terms of referring to it as a batting average,
that's not the only thing that HSAC does, it's the relationships that develop; that,
to me, are more important. I think we're in a good position now with the recent
realignment of the Senate, up in the legislature. I feel confident going into the
next session. You know, just knowing the dynamics regarding what we do—and
our relationships we develop with our legislative representatives in the State. So I
am definitely going to support Mr. Onishi's recommendation. And thank you for
all that you've taught me, Fresh. Mahalo.
MR. ONISHL You're welcome.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not trying to insult anyone,
particularly, you know, especially Mr. Onishi or Mr. Paleka. But of all the times
that I served on Council, I've always believed that HSAC had no relevance. I
have to be real honest. And I think now, what—Mr. Onishi just brought it up,
really underscores this whole thing; it's because of some dysfunctional aspects
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they have over there. You know, I really don't know what to say. You know,
I've never attended any HSAC meetings or functions in all the years that I have
been on the Council because of that attitude that I've had towards that body. And
maybe I am being unfair, but any organization that bats .010—and just forI
mean, Ms. Wille kind of looked at me when you mentioned that, but that's a
baseball term, right? If you bat 300, that means theoretically you'll have three
hits out of 10 at bats, which is good. So when you get .010, that's less than one
percent. That's horrible, right? And if they're graded that way, I mean, oh my
goodness, they've got to pick their fights a little better I think. But, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Onishi, can you finish this up?
MR. ONISHL Yes. I just want to clarify. HSAC has never been against the
TAT, we just never took the stand in supporting or not supporting it for the past
two sessions, okay. Because we felt that we shouldn't be telling them what to do,
because then either they can—it can back fire on us, where they might take away
more, and so forth. So we took advantage when speaker's say, during his opening
speech two years ago, saying about County should get more TAT. So that's why
we pushed on that part, is to jump on the bandwagon with the speaker. Like
Mr. Paleka said, yeahI mean, all I'm just saying, was that on the legislative
side, of when we go to the Capitol when we do our HSAC package, we're not
doing good. But other than that, like building relationships, getting more
information, it's okay.
It's really good to get the Council Members together so we can talk story. Find
out what the issues on each other's island is, and how you can learn from that.
That's great. But it's just the legislative side, when we go to the legislature, that's
a totally different problem that HSAC has. That's why I suggested to them that
we should at least jump on the bandwagon of, say a senator or representative, on
their proposed bills, and we support them. That way I think we would do better.
Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Okay, end debate. And I'll also
defer to the wisdom of our HSAC representative on this one. Okay, all in favor of
Resolution 197-15 say "aye."
Vote on Res 197-15: The motion to adopt Res. 197-15 failed by the following
Failed voice vote:
Ayes:
None.
Noes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
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CHR KANUHA: Motion fails. Okay next item, Resolution 198-15.
Res. 198-15: AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF A MONETARY DONATION OF
$100 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Donated by Annie Y. Tanaka to be used for Memorial Day festivities at the
West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
Reference: Comm. 324
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved adopt Res. 198-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff
MS. EOFF: I just like to say thank you to Ms. Annie. I don't know her, but she
obviously wants to support our veterans and I appreciate that.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, she's from my district. And just a big mahalo goes out for
all efforts. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm just kind of curious, what
happens when people donate these things? I mean, what happens next? Do we
issue a thank you letter from the Council?
CHR KANUHA: Yes, we do. We form a letter, and I sign it on behalf of
Council as a mahalo.
MR. CHUNG: Alright. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none, all in favor say
aye.
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Vote on Res 198-15
(Adopted)
The motion to adopt Res. 198-15 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Okay, Mr. Clerk, Resolution 201.
June 3, 2015
Res. 201-15: AUTHORIZES THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE (HDOA), PURSUANT TO HAWAII REVISED STATUTES
SECTION 46-7, FOR A COFFEE BERRY BORER PESTICIDE SUBSIDY
GRANT
Provides $450,000 from HDOA to the Research and Development Department to
offer subsidies to farmers who purchase pesticides to combat the coffee berry
borer.
Reference: Comm. 329
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved adopt Res. 201-15. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff
MS. EOFF: I'm just going to state that reason many of these resos today were
waived from my committee and straight to Council was because we need to spend
the funds before the end of the fiscal year.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eoff Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Yes, can we get R&D (Research and Development) to come up,
and also our ag specialists? I want to say we need to really, really thank
Chairman Scott Enright. I was hoping that he was going to be here. Because I
told you folks, well, I told Glenn at our meeting, when he told us about the funds
that I really wanted him to be here because I really wanted to recognize him
because he has given the County of Hawaii some money from his department.
And this is one of—to me, that I seen the most that he has given. So did you folks
get in contact with him? You guys can introduce yourselves.
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(Note: At this time, Deputy Research & Development Director
Donn Mende and Agriculture Specialist Glenn Sako came forward
to address the members of the Council.)
MR. MENDE: Yeah, we actually had conversations with him. But, yeah, he
wasn't able to come down.
MR. ONISHL Okay. Good, good, yeah, I mean, at least you folks invited him to
come. Because I really wanted him to come in front of Council and congratulate
him on how he's helping us; especially, with the problem with the invasive
species, because he's the one that had gotten us money last year for the fire ants.
For Parks and Recreation, right? And now, he had this money that he wanted to
turn over to R&D. And maybe, Glenn, you can explain a little bit more what this
money will be used for?
MR. SAKO: Thank you. It's going to be a subsidy program, in which these
funds are coming from the Pesticide Use Revolving Fund. And there was a bill
that was—and that was Act 105. That was in the State legislature. What it did
was it provided for funding for a program manager that will be overseeing this
subsidy program, and we expect this program to run about four years; and
basically allowing the coffee farmers to have the cost of purchasing a fungicide to
control the—that will help control the coffee berry borer and offset the cost of the
material.
MR. ONISHL Right on. And so I'm hoping that, Council Members, that we vote
this approval. And then if you do see Chairman Enright, you know, really thank
him for his support for the Big Island. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Yes, aloha and thank you. I do really want to thank Chairman
Enright for this. The coffee berry borer is definitely a very serious problem and
mainly for the many small farmers that are trying to maintain their farms. And
the cost of this, of the pesticides—there's a few methods of doing this. So this is
the spraying method, I assume?
MR. SAKO: That's correct.
MS. DAVID: It's a fungicide, a spraying method.
MR. SAKO: It's a fungicide.
MS. DAVID: I see. How will this program work? As far as farmers, would they
have to apply for it? Would they?
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MR. SAKO: They will have to, I guess, register with the State as being a
participant in the program. When they purchase the material, they will keep
the receipts and turn it into the program manager. That has to be hired yet for
this program. At which time it will be—then, in the first year, they will have
75 percent of that cost refunded back to them. Which, that refund goes down to
50 percent later on.
MS. DAVID: So the upfront costs that they would have to pay, would be
approximately what?
MR. SAKO: I'm not familiar with the cost of the fungicide.
MS. DAVID: Okay. So the details then of this program would be—how would it
go out to the farmers so they would know that this is available and they can
participate?
MR. SAKO: We will work with the coffee associations on this Big Island. And
just to let you know that it will also be available—because this is a State program.
There are some coffee producing areas on Oahu that has the coffee berry borer,
and they will also participate in the program. But the bulk of the coffee farms are
on the Big Island.
MS. DAVID: Yes, I agree. Okay, I'm very interested in the details. And if you
could provide my office with any details as they come up, I do really appreciate it.
Thank you very much.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. David. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you. Mr. Sako, can you explain to me how a pesticide
combats fungus, because you use fungicide and we see pesticide.
MR. SAKO: Okay. I'm sorry, I used the wrong term. In this pesticide, what
they're doing is they're using a fungus called Beauveria bassiana, and what it
does is it will infect the coffee berry borer and, I guess, kill it.
MR. CHUNG: So it's a pesticide that has one of its ingredients or one of
its components, a fungus?
MR. SAKO: That's correct.
MR. CHUNG: It's not a fungicide then?
MR. SAKO: Yeah. I'm sorry, I gave you the wrong term.
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MR. CHUNG: No, no, no, I was just kind of wondering about that. So you know
these pesticides, over the last several weeks we heard testimony; a lot of
testimony from the public relating, you know, objecting to the use of herbicide,
you know, specifically "Roundup." But then, you know, during the course of
these discussions they talked about pesticides, and then even further they talked
about the decrease in the honey bee population. Is there any correlation between
uses of pesticides from your perspective?
MR. SAKO: The use of pesticides to bring down the honeybee population?
MR. CHUNG: Yeah.
MR. SAKO: There's no doubt that if a producer uses it improperly, perhaps
applying at the wrong time of the day when the honey bees are most active, they
would be affected by it.
MR. CHUNG: But in your estimation, and I don't know if you are really the right
person to ask, but is that, in your mind, the reason for the huge decrease? I think
it's like a 40 to 60 percent decrease worldwide of the honey bee population?
Generally, those that are being produced by humans, yeah, not the natural ones.
MR. SAKO: I have no ideas as to what's causing that.
MR. CHUNG: Okay, thank you. But it's going to help the farmers; right?
MR. SAKO: Sure.
MR. CHUNG: Yeah.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Chung. Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just also wanted to mention, I want to
thank R&D for your guys quick work. Because we met, what, three weeks ago,
Glenn?
MR. SAKO: Yeah, about there.
MR. ONISHL Little over three weeks ago, about this funding. And today, we're
listening to it and we're approving—accepting the money from DOA (State
Department of Agriculture), right? So, I want to thank you guys on working very
fast on getting this thing together.
Also, at our meeting we were promised that we're going to be getting another
$100,000 for Parks and Recreation, to battle the little fire ants, yeah. So that's
going to be coming up soon. But thank you very much.
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MR. SAKO: Well, if I could also add, Jane Horike has been a big help in helping
us to get—move this forward.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I've been reflecting all through the issues
that we have been going through, and I honesty feel—Council Member Wille and
I, we're very passionate on ag, and we have that in common. We want to see ag
successful. We just have different, I guess, ideas or methods. And I wanted to
hear from Council Member Wille, because here we are approving $450,000. And
the Budget session we had a $30,000 line item. This is a pesticide, the other one
is an herbicide. They're all chemicals. And I just want to know, is thisI just
want to understand, is this something that you see, Council Member Wille, as the
right direction for agriculture?
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Eagan, I don't know if that's an appropriate question for
this specific thing. I think we can talk about the bassiana, or whatever this
Beauveria bassiana is, and the money that's being given to or the money that's
being donated, but I don't think it's appropriate to ask about something in a
previous Council.
MR. ILAGAN: So the reason why I ask is we're at the Council chambers and its
where debates happen, it's where ideas is formed; and to understand each side of
the issue, this is going to help out the coffee industry, and accepting this donation
will definitely make sure that their industry survives or grows. And I'm just
curious—the other side—and I think the other side should be brought up. There's
only one side right now and that's accepting the funds, so that's the reason why
I'm asking. And I am curious on what the answer might be, just for me to
understand the other side of the issue.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, I don't know if there's another side to it, but
MS. POINDEXTER: Well can I?
CHR KANUHA: Wait, wait, wait.
Point of Order: MS. POINDEXTER: I just want a point of order.
CHR KANUHA: No, no, no, he can—Council Member Ilagan has a concern.
He stated his concern. I'll allow Council Members to
MS. POINDEXTER: Point of order. Can I state my point of order?
CHR KANUHA: What's your point of order?
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MS. POINDEXTER: Okay, we're right now talking about—we're on that topic,
where we're discussing the coffee borer being—what Council Member Ragan is
talking about, and he said it himself, this is where debate should take place; but
then bring up something, or resolution or something that you want to debate on or
something, but I don't think this is the avenue. And we're opening it up to so
many different things besides what the issue at hand is, you know, we're talking
about your beliefs. I don't believe that we are sticking to the subject item. And I
think we're going too much in general terms and this is going to open it up to all
different sides ofI believe in GMO, not GMO, whatever.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter; which, is what I told him in the
first place. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Just very quickly. And we can blame it on Mr. Chung because
he's the one that got us off kilter. So I just want to point this out, and we all let
that slide.
I don't know about this herbicide, fungicide, whatever it is, so I really can't
answer a question on that. I think when the head apiologist or whatever she is
called, came here, she made the point that in terms of glyphosate. That that
has—it's having a very significant impact. So on that, I'm knowledgeable; on
this, I'm not so I don't want toI'm not going toI have no idea on a case-by-
case basis. Anyway, so I will just leave it at that. Yeah, I don't want to get
into—think it is appropriate to get into a bigger debate on this.
So I'm glad that you're able to help out and help the farmers, and I will leave it
at that. I don't know anything about this particular one. Or, I haven't heard
anything particularly negative about it. So, I've sort of looked on the internet
and didn't see anything that popped up. I popped up other things on the
honeybees, particularly the glyphosate, neonicotinoids or whatever it's called,
are the two that really come to mind. So, okay. Thanks.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Yeah, I guess I'm going to ask the ag guys a question. So this
fungus or this pesticide containing the naturally occurring fungus Beauveria
bassiana, you have case studies showing it's efficacy, where it's been successful?
MR. SAKO: I have not researched the efficacy of this Beauveria bassiana. I do
know that it has been cleared for—used to affect the coffee berry borer, and as
such we are limited in, I'm going to say, insecticides that might have coffee on
the label, which is a requirement.
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MR. PALEKA: Okay. So my main concern, I guess having heard your
response, isso we're not necessarily guinea pigs, I mean, this product has been
used before in other areas?
MR. SAKO: Yes. And in fact we've had—this product has been used in
Hawaii in previous years. As far back as I can recall three or four years already
that it has been used.
MR. PALEKA: It has been shown to be effective in some places?
MR. SAKO: That is correct. Yeah.
MR. PALEKA: Okay.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan, you want to end it off?
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And Council Member Paleka went to the
direction I was going to. Because Council Member Wille brought up a good
point, I don't know anything about this pesticide. And we should be asking you
the questions, what are the environmental impacts if this pesticide were to be
used? I think you went into detail on it, but do you have any additional things
that you would like to share?
MR. MENDE: Yeah. Just one real quick thing I wanted to share. That it is a
naturally occurring fungus and we do have it here. But one of the reasons is that
commercial coffee farmers, if they plan to sell their coffee in the grocery, they
can't cultivate it themselves, so that's why—because I guess it is classified as an
insecticide.
MR. ILAGAN: See, education like that is helpful for not only the public but for
us, knowing there are differences in pesticides, and some are toxic, some are not.
And I think that education should be furthered. It should be brought up. Should
be on this Council floor. And we have to be cautious, we have to. That's why
Council Member Paleka referred to me. He's wiser than I am. I'm still the
young one here. But, thank you for what you're doing and I really appreciate
you helping the agriculture industry. And I feel like you're doing your job as an
ag specialist very well, so thank you for doing that.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Eagan. I'm going to end debate and just
basically say mahalo for your hard work. And Jane, back there, big mahalo.
Also, as Mr. Onishi said, thank you to Scott Enright from the State DOA for
giving this to badly needed areas of the island, for the coffee berry borer. I know
when I was working for Kamehameha Schools several years ago, this was one of
the main subjects. Most of their lands in Kona are full of coffee, and the farmers
were devastated by the impacts of CBB (Coffee Berry Borer). This was one of
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theBeauveria bassiana was the product that came out to help them, and it was
extremely effective. And I don't know all the details exactly of how it affects,
possibly the organic farms or any of that, but the effectiveness of that, you know,
it really helps out but it also—what was hard for the farmers was the surrounding
areas, the people who weren't using these traps and this type of pesticide for
their farms. So, that's a whole different story. But just again, big mahalo to all
you guys. Okay, Mr. Clerk—oh sorry, on the motion to approve. Everyone, all
in favor say "aye."
MR. CHUNG: Mr. Chairman?
CHR KANUHA: Yes?
MR. CHUNG: Can the record just reflect that my vote will be a "kanalua aye?"
Vote on Res 201-15: The motion to adopt Res. 201-15 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
(For informational purpose, Mr. Chung voted "kanalua" then "aye.")
CHR KANUHA: Make the record show that Mr. Chung's vote was "kanalua
aye." Thank you. And that's nine in favor. And can we do the adjoining Bill 59?
Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members,
of Business: the following item were taken out of order:
Bill 59: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Appropriates revenues in the State Grant – Coffee Berry Borer Pesticide Subsidy
Program account ($450,000); and appropriates the same to the Coffee Berry
Borer Pesticide Subsidy Program account. Funds would be used to offer
subsidies to farmers who purchase pesticides to combat the coffee berry borer.
Reference: Comm. 329
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
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Vote on Bill 59:
(Approved)
Return to Order
of Business:
BILLS FOR
ORDINANCES
(FIRST READING)
Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 59 on first reading. Seconded by
Mr. Paleka and was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Can you be on the microphone,
please?
June 3, 2015
MS. WILLE: When we do Bill 58, I would like to have somebody here from
Public Works, but I just don't know what—and I see people here, and I don't
know what everybody's here for. So if we could just in terms of lunch and our
planning.
CHR KANUHA: I'm assuming everyone's here for Bill 58.
MS. WILLE: Is there somebody?
CHR KANUHA: Okay, they'll be coming. And I think that if there's any other
questions for all the other department
MS. WILLE: Okay.
CHR KANUHA: I think we can do those first before you have any questions for
Public Works.
MS. WILLE: Okay. Okay, thanks.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Clerk, Bill 58.
The Chair directed the Council to return to the order of business.
The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next Order of Business, Bills
for Ordinances (First Reading).
(Note: Several items in this category were taken up previously, out of
order.)
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Bill 58: AUTHORIZES THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF
THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING ALL OR A
PORTION OF THE COSTS OF VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS;
FIXES THE FORM, DENOMINATIONS, AND CERTAIN OTHER DETAILS
OF SUCH BONDS AND PROVIDES FOR THEIR SALE TO THE PUBLIC;
AND AUTHORIZES THE TAKING OF OTHER ACTIONS RELATING TO
THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE BONDS
Authorizes the issuance up to $99,750,000 in general obligation bonds, which
includes $750,000 for the cost of issuance, for those public improvement
projects authorized under Ordinance No. 14-82 (Capital Budget for Fiscal Year
2014-2015).
Reference: Comm. 328
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 58 on first reading. Seconded
by Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Ms. Eoff Or, do you want to start discussion
or?
MS. EOFF: Thank you. Finance Director, would you please come forward?
We did have a quite lengthy discussion during committee, and I think most of us
are pretty clear on what this bond authorizes and how the bond works, but is
there information you would like to provide to us to include it now?
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward
to address members of the Council.)
MS. SAKO: No, I think it's just—there's just a lot of projects, and I think a lot
of the departments would like to finish in the next 18 months or so. And most of
them do need some of this funding to able move forward and enter into contracts
to complete the work, so it is a good time to issue bonds. The rates are really
low, and it would keep us—this bond issue will also keep us well within the
15 percent of expenditures that GFOA (Government Finance Officers
Association) recommends, so I think it's a good time to issue bonds. Thank you.
MS. EOFF: Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eoff Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Oh, I
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CHR KANUHA: Oh, okay. Any discussion, Council Members?
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I'll go then if—I'll go ahead.
CHR KANUHA: Okay.
MS. WILLE: Yeah. I guessI don't know, I was trying to text Dave to ask him
to call Public Works to come. So maybe if Sherry or somebody could do that for
me, I would appreciate it.
MS. SAKO: I was just going to say I think most of the departments were
monitoring, so they should be walking over, hopefully.
MS. WILLE: Oh, okay. So perhapsClayton, maybe you can come forward
first? Then, if you want to, both introduce yourself?
(Note: At this time, Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma
and Park Planner James Komata came forward to address members of
the Council.)
MR. HONMA: Hi. Clayton Honma, Director of Parks and Recreation.
MR. KOMATA: James Komata, Park Planner for Parks and Recreation.
MS. WILLE: Okay, just a couple questions. On the Kalo Gymnasium project,
can you just tell me a little bit whatI know the Mayor mentioned this to me,
and that and he wanted to do this but I didn't fully understand what was
involved.
MR. KOMATA: So the Kalo Gym is a gym that's under construction at this
point, the campus of—on Kalo's campus in Waimea. The agreement that we're
working out with Kalo is that the department would manage the use of the gym
in cooperation with the school's use, and what we're doing is we're proposing to
do the interior improvements. The school is building the exterior shell of the
gym. So it's a partnership agreement to get something in place for both the
school as well as the community, that end of the—primarily that end of Waimea.
MS. WILLE: And I know I've mentioned this, I think, to Clayton the other day,
I'm just getting calls from North Kohala and what's coming on North Kohala,
and then about the band stand, are there any—and there was somebody testified
today on that. In other words, out of this supplemental or this bond issue, what is
there for North Kohala, and that there's not a lot specific. But perhaps we could
just run through what there is, if there is anything for North Kohala? And then,
specifically, in terms of the bandstand, I know I told you up there that my
thought was we were going to be repairing that and that we had funds from a
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June 3, 2015
previous year that would help to repair it, but now I think there's a sense that we
can't repair it. And, I'm not sure what the funds that were going to be used for
repairing it will now be used for.
MR. HONMA: I believe currently, Council Member Wille, is that we have the
stage area that we're roofing, and we're doing improvements to the stage area in
front of the gym. We also have a pavilion going up. We're doing the roof of the
gym as well, too, and that is ongoing. I believe it's almost done, in fact.
We also did the score board recently. And we are doing the courtroom
building's roof that we received from the State or the Judiciary building's roof,
actually we received from the State.
MS. WILLE: That's good.
MR. HONMA: So those are the ongoing projects that we have in North Kohala
going on right now. I believe in the previous bond we might have had like
$2 million for projects up in just the Kohala area in itself, and that's where the
funding is coming for all of these ongoing projects that we currently are doing
currently.
MS. WILLE: Right. And I guess just to—on the bandstand we were going to
repair that, but it's in such bad shape that the sense is that we need to tear it
down.
MR. HONMA: Remove that. Absolutely.
MS. WILLE: And the money that we had to repair it probably isn't sufficient to
build a new one. So, we will probably need to figure out how we can come up
with the funds for replacing a structure there?
MR. HONMA: Yes. Whatever we had for the Kohala projects all came from
that $2 million that was appropriated and funded previously, so that is kind of
moved around to where—like the judiciary building came into us, where we're
using that to do the roof of the particular building currently. So, all of the funds
that was from the original $2 million are being spent on the current projects that
you see in front of us.
MS. WILLE: Okay, so we don't have money left on that $2 million?
MR. HONMA: No. I don't know what the status is and where we're at,
and how much we have left from the $2 million.
MS. WILLE: Okay. Thank you. I'll hold on there. I don't know if you want to
have—like have other questions, but there for other divisions. So I'll yield if
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there are others who want to speak to these directors. Might be better, time
wise.
CHR KANUHA: Okay. Thank you, Ms. Wille. I think we could do that.
Council Members, anybody have any questions for Department of Parks and
Recreation? I think—Mr. Chung, any for Parks and Recreation?
MR. CHUNG: No, not for them.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say how much I
appreciate the Parks and Recreation because of what the Bond Float has provided
for the future of lower Puna, especially, specifically in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
We had a testifier who—in the previous year, we tried to get that CIP (Capital
Improvement Project) funded, and of course it failed, and I believe we had three
Council Members supporting it. And I've got to say thank you to the Hilo
Council Members that did support that. I just wanted to mention all the
testimonies that I've gotten today is all in support of the park, and that's—every
single one for this Bond Float. So, that's how much I feel like this is needed.
And I was going to make an amendment, to add construction into this; not just
planning and design. But I felt the importance of getting the land dedicated to
the County was first a priority, before any construction money were to be asked.
I just wanted to relay that to the Council. Because when the land will be, or if it
does, that's a big, small "if' actually, a very small "if," because I'm hoping to
push that through. I do want to look into trying to get the construction funding,
either matched by the State or the County. Somehow funded.
And I just want to thank Parks and Recreation. Because not only did they
support this, I came into their office with the intention to just have a five -acre
park in HPP (Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision), to have walking facilities
visible, but they came up and looked at the bigger picture. They recommended,
and I agreed, to have a 20 -acre park, and doing it in phases. And it makes sense,
because not only there's no facilities there—and HPP, that's developed. There's
12,000 people currently living there. Eleven thousand four hundred four
(11,404) was the 2010 census; that is five years ago. I can only imagine the
population growing. And the number of percentage of children and adults and
seniors there, which is pretty much everyone for this recreational facility. So I
just want to say thank you for that vision, because I was thinking small just to get
something but you advocated for something a lot bigger, and will definitely help
out everyone, so thank you. And, thank you to Finance.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. I'll just go with Mr. Chung.
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MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, I spent the better part of
this morning replying to emails from people from Hawaiian Paradise Park, who
were urging the passage of this measure; and I made it a point, I made it a point
to tell them that their Councilpersons, Mr. Eagan and Paleka, made it amply clear
to all of us that the importance of this project, even if it's at the inception stage.
But thank you to the two of you. You guys have been very helpful to me in
getting a better picture, a better handle on the projects that I want to see advance.
But if I could call on Deanna, please?
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. CHUNG: I'm okay with all of these projects. The question I have has to
do with fiscal impacts, yeah. Specifically, what's going to be the debt service
annual to the County and whether it's built into our Operating Budget for next
year?
MS. SAKO: We did take this into account. But one of the things that has
changed in the last few years, when we passed this authorization, when it's
passed in two weeks, hopefully instead of going right out and issuing bonds for
$99,750,009 we will issue our BANS as we need it. That's our Bond
Anticipation Notes.
MR. CHUNG: What is that again?
MS. SAKO: It's Bond Anticipation Notes. We call them BANS. And the bank
or other sources of financing—and it's actually at an extremely low interest rate.
So when we get to a certain amount of BANS, then we'll actually go out and
issue bonds; at the same time, we'll be looking at refunding opportunities.
We're watching the market. And so I'm not sure how many millions of dollars
we'd be issuing in bonds the next time we go out. So we have a significant
amount of bonds that are authorized but unissued, and that's why we have so
many debt service percentages. BecauseI should have brought my capital
budget.
But we have one number for what it actually is now. Which, with the budget as
passed, it would be 7.78. If we issued every single bond that's been authorized
to date, before this it would be 12 percent. That was in the capital budget. And
now if we add this in, if we were to go out and actually issue every single dollar
worth of bonds, we would be at 13.81 percent. We don't anticipate issuing all of
these bonds in the coming fiscal year, but we have taken all of that into account
when we prepared the budget.
MR. CHUNG: As you related, this is a favorable bond market right now?
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MS. SAKO: It is. The rates are low right now.
MR. CHUNG: Okay. Good, good, good. And how's the construction industry
right now? I meanbecause, you know, what happens if construction is really
high? Then it raises the cost, right, of these projects?
MS. SAKO: Unfortunately, yes. The construction industry is improving, which
we're all very thankful for, but we are noticing an increase in our cost of projects
that we're bidding out. But we also got very favorable rates when the economy
was very poor and we were still doing jobs, so we did have a benefit. But we are
going to be paying higher rates now that the industry is wrapping up again.
MR. CHUNG: I mean, would it be possible? Because, I mean—you know, a lot
of times I think governments try to use these types of bond issuance measures to
fill in gaps, right? You know, if construction is low and they come in with these
things to infuse it into the economy, but right now it's kind of coinciding with an
optic in construction. I'm assuming then that you guys will try to keep that in
mind, though, in keeping the cost low and integrating into the whole construction
scheme?
MS. SAKO: I think each department is kind of factoring that in as well as
working with each of the contractors to keep costs at an appropriate level.
MR. CHUNG: Right. Okay. And then, I guess second to the last question,
maybe, how is it going to affect our bond rating?
MS. SAKO: Right now we were evaluated in the last few months by Fitch,
one of the bond rating agencies, and we were able to maintain our rating. I think
they are looking upon us very favorably right now. They know we'll be coming
into the market to issue additional bonds. It's not a secret. I mean, when we go
in for one, they're obviously aware of the projects we have on our capital budget
that would be coming up in the future.
MR. CHUNG: Right now we're at a minus or something, or what?
MS. SAKO: Double A minus (AA-)
MR. CHUNG: Double A minus, okay. And then after this, what? I mean, if
you had to take a guess, still AA-?.
MS. SAKO: Oh, yeah. Our hope would be to maintain or slightly increase, yes.
MR. CHUNG: So that's terrific, right?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
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MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. Okay. Well, you know, I just wanted to make a
comment. That I believe that this is a good thing and I support it 100 percent.
just had to make sure that, you know, from the fiscal standpoint we're a -okay,
and it seems that that's the case. And I think upon completion of all or most of
the projects we're going to see a dramatic change in the landscape of our island
for the better, so I want to thank you, thank the department, thank the Mayor,
thank the Council for hopefully moving this measure through. Thank you.
MS. SAKO: Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. I want to give Ms. Wille back the
floor to finish up your the first round.
MS. WILLE: Okay. Yeah, maybe both Warren Lee and—I'll start with
Warren Lee. Director Lee, can you come forward?
(Note: At this time, Public Works Director Warren Lee came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. LEE: Good morning. Warren Lee, Director of Public Works. Good
morning.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I just have really a couple quick questions for you. On the
Mamalahoa Highway, Route 19 improvements, I'm assuming that—my
understanding is that is the—we're going out towards Mud Lane.
MR. LEE: Yes, from Mana Road to Mud Lane.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, okay. Because what I'm trying to do is trying to say, we
use this—that we still would have some of the $10 million that's left for Waimea
to use in center Waimea traffic; in other words, we use this money out of this
bond for Mamalahoa, and you were thinking that we have to use the rest of the
$10 million bond to do this project. So I guess I just want to say, you know, I've
got my eye on some of that $10 million. Trying to work out center Waimea.
Anyway, that's my hope.
MR. LEE: Right now, the remaining balance in the $10 million is a little less
than $3 million.
MS. WILLE: Right.
MR. LEE: And we also have another project on the Mamalahoa Highway,
which is to reconstruct the roadway from just about Kamamalu up to
Aiona Court, where the subgrade is failing and is very poor, and that's
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estimated to be $4 million. So the plan was to use the remaining bond money,
the $10 million bond money, for the Mamalahoa reconstruction, yeah.
MS. WILLE: Okay, that's what I didn't want to hear. Okay. You answered my
question.
MR. LEE: And you're very welcome.
MS. WILLE: On the drywells, in general—you know, I just bring this up. There
was someone who was here, a Susan Fisher. And I actually got an email from
her today, just talking about the extent that we can promote using retention
ponds, rather than drywells, and I don't know to what extent we're pursuing that.
But, in other words, requiring detention (sic). Where, we could do so rather than
more drywells, which are then generally—or a lot of them have been running
down and ending up in the coastal waters. But since it came up in discussion
yesterday, I wanted to bring it up and just mention it to you. I don't know
whether we are doing that. We are promoting those. They're certainly much
less expensive in the long run.
MR. LEE: Well first of all, a drywell normally is located along a drainage route
or swale. Along the side of a road to collect the runoff from the roadway, from
the asphalt concrete pavement or the concrete pavement. A retention pond is
generally used in areas where there is a termination of a drainage system, like a
drainage ditch. So, the collection area of the flood waters or the drainage water
is much bigger than a drywell. A drywell could collect the runoff from maybe,
as an example, maybe an acre or so; whereas, a retention pond would be
designed for something to cover maybe a 100 acres.
So, there's a different use for a retention pond. If you put in retention pond
instead of drywells along the roadway, then you're going to have a very long run
to collect or you're going to have many retention pond basins to do the
equivalent of a drywell. For example, when we had the Waikea Uka flood back
in the early 2000's, one of the recommendations after, and we're going through
the study right now with the Army Corp of Engineers, is to install a retention
pond higher up in Waiakea Uka so that you control the water, the flood waters
coming down to Palai, or going down to four -mile bridge or even below into the
Waiakea area. So retention ponds have a different use than drywells. Again,
retention ponds are generally much, much larger than a drywell.
MS. WILLE: Yeah, I think this was in Kamuela View Estates, where they did a
series rather than putting in dry wells. Anyway, thank you. Now, do you want
me to go on and ask questions of others, or do you want to—okay, that's what I
want
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Okay. Greg—thank you, Director Lee. And Greg Goodale, if you could come
forward, and also Dora. If you want to both just introduce yourselves?
(Note: At this time, Solid Wastewater Division Chief Greg Goodale and
Wastewater Division Chief Dora Beck and came forward to address the
members of the Council.)
MS. BECK: Dora Beck, Wastewater Division Chief.
MR. GOODALE: Greg Goodale, Solid Waste Division Chief
MS. WILLE: Okay, thanks. Dora, can you just give me a sense of—in your
mind, I'm not saying you will have it exactly, but sort of what percentage of our
wastewater needs you'll be able to take care of out of this bond?
MS. BECK: Okay, I see of the five projects. I would say in terms of the
importance and need of it, I would say 95 percent. Probably close to 100 percent.
MS. WILLE: What was that?
MS. BECK: Probably close to 100 percent because these are all needed
projects.
MS. WILLE: These are the key ones. There's not something—oh my gosh, if
we could only get such -and -such on here to do. So, you feel pretty good about
what we're going to accomplish on this bond?
MS. BECK: Yes.
MS. WILLE: Okay. Okay, I'm really glad to hear that. I mean, I can remember
hearing a couple years ago—and that list and what we had. Okay, thank you.
And, Greg, so I don't know if you could give a little more specificity. We are
just on the Solid Waste projects. In terms ofI know we met the other day in
terms of the lineup and what needs to be done at the different Solid Waste
stations, transfer station. And is that in terms of the repairs and recycling? Is
that sort of the focus here, is upgrading the different—at least some of the
transfer stations?
MR. GOODALE: So you're referring specifically to theI mean, we've got the
money that's in there, being requested for improvements to transfer stations.
MS. WILLE: Yeah.
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MR. GOODALL So what we're looking at—for at least part of that, we still
have some sites that are needing infrastructure repairs that are required just to
keep the sites functioning for refuse collection. But we are anticipating utilizing
percentage of that money for improvements to the site, for recycling and reuse
for the sites.
MS. WILLE: Okay.
MR. GOODALL So some of it like I said, is just for infrastructure repair.
Basic.
MS. WILLE: I know there's a wall. Is that okay?
MR. GOODALL Yeah. There's a few sites. That we still have some of those
types of issues to deal with.
MS. WILLE: Okay. So this should help in terms of like getting the compost
bins in, at least a couple of the places. Or the money that's in here, in the bond
or not?
MR. GOODALL Nothing to do with compost specifically, but for green waste
collection.
MS. WILLE: Okay, What would this take—how many—once these funds are
used for whatever, how many of the sites will we have, transfer stations will we
have? The greenwaste collect—bins?
MR. GOODALL Well, I think as you and I discussed, the first priority sites that
we have are getting this site at Waimea established and then a site at Volcano
established. Beyond that, I couldn't tell you specific because it really just
depends upon what it takes to get the basic infrastructure repairs accomplished.
MS. WILLE: Okay. So that's going to be your focus, right?
MR. GOODALL That's the priority of infrastructure.
MS. WILLE: That's what I'm trying to just clarify. Okay. That's good. I think
I'll let any others—if there's something that's missed like—come back.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Before we go on, we're going to have
a recess for a little bit to change the tapes. So, we'll do a brief recess.
Recess: At 12:13 p.m. the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 12:20 p.m.
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June 3, 2015
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Council Members. Calling all Council Members. We
are coming out of recess. And I think we were going to go withI think
Mr. Onishi was next, actually. Okay, we'll go with Ms. Eof£
MS. EOFF: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, before I ask a couple of
specific questions, I wanted to just mention many of the projects that we're
talking about today, it will be funded through this bond we've discussed in
length, during our Special meetings, regarding the Capital Improvement Projects
that are being proposed in the budget; so it's been a very interesting exercise.
And as Mr. Chung I think stated, if we are able to complete many of the projects
listed here, by issuing this bond we will see a big difference in our health of our
island and improvements to, especially our parks.
If you look at the breakdown of the projects, there's almost half the bond, or
more than half of the bond is going towards Parks and Recreation, so that should
show quite a big improvement in that level of service for our communities.
Parks and Recreation have left, but I just wanted to tell them thank you very
much for all of the work that they are going to embark on to bring all the
different parks, all of the different improvements to the different parks around
the island. I know Kealakehe Regional Park is a very big project, and I'm very
thankful for that one.
Regarding Public Works, if Mr. Lee doesn't mind, I just wanted to ask a couple
of questions about the ongoing work on Kaiminani Drive. So that's been a very
long and expensive project, and this bond is going to fund Phase IL Is that going
to finish the entire reconstruction of Kaiminani?
MR. LEE: No. Phase II is, well, the second of the last of the two currently
planned improvements to Kaiminani Drive, and that takes you down to
Ane Keohokalole Highway, which ties into the community college. There is
a Phase III, we're considering; which is to redress the portion from the
Ane Keohokalole Highway down to Queen Ka` ahumanu Highway. But the
question that we are asking ourselves now is, "Should we do this in time for
the opening of the college or should we do this after the completion of the
widening of the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway," which normally goes in at
least 30 yards from the intersection up Kaiminani, so you want to make sure
there is a smooth transition. So the question is—we'll probably let them do
Queen K (Ka`ahumanu) first, Council Member, the widening, and then finish up
what we call Phase III. So this bond money would be used for some of the
Phase II work, if there is a significant change order.
MS. EOFF: Okay, yes. As you know, I've talked quite a bit about
Ane Keohokalole Highway. So I'm very, very happy to see this listed here,
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the Phase III of Ane Keohokalole Highway, which will go from Hina Lani to
Kaiminani.
MR. LEE: That is correct, yes.
MS. EOFF: And hopefully, within the next few years and concert with the
opening of—or the construction more of the Palamanui development, we will see
this road completed. Because if and when it is finished, we would have a
complete alternate route from Kona, from town, from Kailua-Kona through
Henry Street, all the way to Palamanui, and then, like you said, right down to the
airport. Using Kaiminani to Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway is a direct. And
through Palamanui, I think, too, has an exit that could take people to the airport.
So I think, and talking to Mass Transit, this would be an excellent alternate route
and could become a bus route as well, as part of our plan fora Master Plan for
Mass Transit and bus routes throughout the island, I think this is a very important
link. And I just thank you, for adding this. And I look forward to seeing the
beginning of the work of Ane Keohokalole Highway, Phase III.
MR. LEE: Thank you.
MS. EOFF: And before you leave, before I relinquish or—yeah. I just wanted to
tell you this is a totally different topic, but just a quick mahalo for working with
me on—and all of us on the renaming of the fund in yesterday's budget
breakdown regarding
MR. LEE: That was certainly a team effort.
MS. EOFF: Yeah, vegetation control. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Are you finished Ms. Eoff, or did you have other
questions?
MS. EOFF: So I should ask Environmental Management to come up at this
time? Okay. Well, Dora's gone. But, she was actually very, very helpful. I
have a lot of concern from people in my community regarding the wastewater
treatment plant at Kealakehe. And it's been an ongoing project, and it hasn't
moved fast enough for a lot of people's comfort level; and we are concerned,
very concerned. But Dora hasI think with this bond, and I guess it's just the
time, but she has given me a breakdown. A timeline and a breakdown for
actually bringing the wastewater treatment plant up to where we will be able to
get the re -useable water, and that would be kind of in concert with being able to
use it on landscaping at the Maka`eo and other projects that can commit to taking
the water. So I'm just reallyI guess the Ane Keohokalole Highway and
Wastewater Treatment Plant are the two biggest projects that I'm trying to
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birddog in my district. They're both very, very expensive projects, but I'm
thankful that we're moving on both of those. So, that's it.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eof£ We'll have a second round after the
first round. So, Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I just wanted to say, you know,
coming from Recreation, 21 years with the County, this is the most awesome
Mayor that we have and with the administration, on seeing facilities, from like
Parks and Recreation to Public Works, to the Fire, to Mass Transit. It's
unbelievable because it was all needed, especially like in Parks and Recreation.
The years that I've been there there were like no increase of renovations, or new
facilities, or even like playgrounds. So I'm really, really happy that the Mayor,
with his staff, had a vision in protecting our kids and also protecting the seniors.
I guess a question, too. Like what Mr. Chung had mentioned about, you know,
like construction time. Because now the economy is good. But you've got to
look back, like in my first and my second term, the Council wasn't very friendly.
And so for them, the administration, to try to pass these bonds was really hard.
I remember one term, where one of the Council Members out in Kona wanted to
build this South Kona Police Station, and just strictly for that. So one of the
Council Member Ikeda and myself figured that hey, since she's putting in that,
we should kind of put in other projects island -wide, and so that's what we did.
But that was the only bond that was initiated by the Council, the rest was all by
administration. But like I said, they had to kind of watch because the Councils at
that time weren't really friendly with the administration. So I want to thank you
guys for working so hard and to getting these projects that are needed for the
community.
And as was mentioned, that, yeah, after these projects are done, this island is
going to look much better. The services are going to be better, right? So I'm
hoping that everybody appreciates this. And now we've got to just make sure
that we take care of it, and just don't let it get all—like how Waiakea Rec. was,
where the roof was leaking. Then that created the ceilings to fall, and water
dropping into 55 -gallon drums, and little swimming pools, and so forth, you
know, we don't want to get to that level. But I appreciate all your guys' hard
work and a lot of great projects. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Council Members, on the first round.
Okay, second round. I'll just go with Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you. And following up on Mr. Onishi's last statements,
Deanna, and this is not going to change my vote or anything like that, but if you
could give us a better picture on what we would be looking at, and I know this is
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a tough question to answer, but in terms of repair and maintenance now. I mean,
in terms of what we have right now total inventory and what we expecting to
have upon full build out, what kind of impact are we looking at?
MS. SAKO: Maybe, I'm not sure I fully understand the question. But I know
what—
MR. CHUNG: It's not an easy one.
MS. SAKO: I know at one time there was a long list of repairs needed to all of
our park facilities as well as others. And I think Parks and Rec. has been doing a
great job of doing a lot of repairs while incorporating ADA (American and
Disabilities Act), and hazardous materials, and other things all at the same time.
So, they've been working really hard to get all of that done. So I think the repair
portion has come down, but I couldn't give you an exact figure of what's left out
there to be done.
MR. CHUNG: Yeah, yeah.
MS. SAKO: But much of the funding frequently goes in for Parks and for Public
Works; as repairs and maintenance, so that they do have bond money to do the
repairs that are important so that it doesn't get to the state that some of our
facilities were in.
MR. CHUNG: Right. But it is going to have a significant impact down the line
right, nonetheless, yeah?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: It's something we have to deal with when itas long as
everybody knows, I mean forewarned, that we're going to have to deal with that,
assuming some of us are still around. Hopefully, for Parks and Recreation we
can get some stewardship, voluntarism.
MS. SAKO: Yeah, they really work hard on their Friends of the Park program,
to get community organizations to help do some of the repairs. And they provide
the materials.
MR. CHUNG: That's really important. Okay. Thank you, Deanna.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Council Members? Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you to Director of Finance and
also Director Lee for working so well with us, in getting the projects that—we
feel we need in our areas, but not only for us. And also for Director Tiffany Kai,
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June 3, 2015
in the back, in getting the Master Plan, going ahead. I mean, it's really nice
we're able to work together and get these improvements. And, really, it's going
to affect how this County moves ahead.
I'm glad they brought up the question in terms of maintenance, as we move
forward. It's a consideration that's very important. So I think we have toin
thinking ahead. Keep that in mind, and have that as a consideration for
maintaining all our facilities. But thanks again to the administration staff
Mahalo.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Paleka. Any other discussion?
MS. WILLE: General discussion?
CHR KANUHA: Yeah. This is on the second round.
MS. WILLE: Yeah. You know, I do feel strongly that we need to do better
partnerships, community working on the parks. I mean, I think that was largely
what I was getting at in terms of the golf course, you know, getting events and
membership drives and not—my purpose was not to be charging people higher
amounts. I think that it's true, not just golf courses, but whether it's the tennis
courts, or each sport.
And also—but there are problems I know in North Kohala. Working at
Mahu-kona, there was a lot of effort to work on volunteer projects and do repairs
of the grills and all of that. And yet, it was—they were told "no." They couldn't
for a long time. It took a long time to work it out. And a lot of resentment in the
community because they couldn't use—the park area was unusable, and yet, there
was all this interest to help. So it's an area that I feel that we need to work on.
And maybe when Council Member Onishi finishes here, he could sort of oversee
that on the island, in his time. I mean, he had 21 years in this area. And getting
the groups together to work on the new clubhouse and golf course, and I am sure
you would be able to raise a lot of funds. But I just want to say that it is an area
that I think that it's sort of working out. How you do the liaison there, and with
the community, and with liability. Anyway, it caused a lot of upset with people
that couldn't use the park, and yet were willing to be available as volunteers. So I
want to stress that as we're putting in all of the capital improvements, how do we
build the partnership around each of these in each community? Okay since I
didn't get an opportunity to say it yesterday for some reason, I'll leave it at that.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Any other discussion, Council
Members? Okay, I'll end debate and briefly say that I am fully supportive of this
issuance of the bonds. As said earlier, excellent time to invest in our County
infrastructure. And, you know, it's basically an investment in the infrastructure
that touches each and every one of us. This is island -wide. It touches every
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June 3, 2015
single district, so I'm fully supportive of this. It's necessary to do it now. I
totally agree with that. Within the guidelines explained earlier by Mr. Chung,
it's going to be under 15percent, which is within the guidelines. So I feel that
we're in a great position to do this now, and hopefully we can see the outcomes
of this. I mean, hopefully our residents, our constituents, will feel the outcomes
of what we will be doing today and the next couple of meetings by passing this
through.
So, mahalo to the Mayor for making these projects available to the community,
and mahalo to obviously Finance and the rest of the departments for fulfilling
your obligation to the island residents. So, thank you. Okay, Mr. Clerk, we can
do a roll call.
Vote on Bill 58: The motion to pass Bill 58 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Council Members, if it's alright with you, I
would like to continue and move forward. I've got to get back to Kona as early
as possible, so let's just go—and we have things back here that we can nibble on.
But, Mr. Clerk, can we move on to—what are we on?
MR. MAEDA: Bill 61.
CHR KANUHA: Bill 61
Bill 61: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Increases revenues in the Transfer from General Fund account ($5,000); and
appropriates the same to The Food Basket Inc., Miscellaneous Contract Services
account (grant to The Food Basket, Inc. – District 8). Funds would be used
towards warehouse improvements and equipment at Na Kahua Hale O Uluwini.
Reference: Comm. 331
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
Waived: FC
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Motion to Approve
Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 61 on first reading Seconded by
Ms. David.
CHR KANUHA: Ms. Eoff
June 3, 2015
MS. EOFF: Thank you. This was my contingency funds, but because of the
route it's taking it had to come back again, and go into a housing fund. That's
what we see here, before we can use it for the purpose I wanted it to go to
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eoff Any discussion? Okay, hearing or
seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
Vote on Bill 61: The motion to pass Bill 61 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, and Chair Kanuha — 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Wille —1.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Mr. Clerk, next item
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
THE DAY Order of the Day (Second or Final Reading).
(SECOND OR
FINAL READING):
Bill 35: ADOPTS A PAY PLAN FOR PERSONS EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY
OTHER THAN THOSE WHOSE PAY IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR,
DESIGNATES PAYROLL PERIODS, PAY DAYS, PRESCRIBES
REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO OFFICIAL FIDELITY BONDS, AND
REPEALS ORDINANCE NO. 14-84 AND ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO,
SAID ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE SALARY ORDINANCE OF
2015
Incorporates the scheduled increase to minimum wage effective January 1, 2016,
into the proposed Salary Ordinance of 2015.
Reference: Comm. 205
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
First Reading: April 15, 2015
Postponed: May 6, 2015
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
(Note: There is a pending motion by Ms. Eoff and duly seconded by
Ms. David to approve Bill 35.)
Comm. 205.2: From Council Member Greggor Eagan, dated May 13, 2015, transmitting
proposed amendments to Bill 35.
; and
Comm. 205.3: From Council Member Greggor Eagan, dated May 13, 2015, transmitting a
proposed amendment to Bill 35.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Okay, open for discussion. Pending
motion, Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to make a motion on
the floor to amend Bill Number 35 with the contents of Communication 205.2.
Motion to Amend: Mr. Eagan moved to amend Bill 35 with the contents of
Comm. 205.2. Seconded by Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. There's two sections on this amendment.
The first section is what we discussed. Of what I've heard, the Council
suggested last meeting, and it eliminates all the steps and just leaves one pay step
which is going to be effective for CA -1 and CLA-1, which are the Council Aid
and the Legislative Assistant positions. And the second section is dealing with
just housekeeping. It's taking out some language that doesn't need to be there,
and can be eliminated and won't affect any changes in the salary pay. So those
are the two sections, and if you have any questions I'm here regarding this.
Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Eagan. Ms. Eoff.
MS. EOFF: So, Mr. Ilagan—may I ask a question?
MR. ILAGAN: Yes.
MS. EOFF: In your Communication 205.2, by striking all of the different steps,
just leaving the highest, that would mean that would be the only salary?
MR. ILAGAN: Correct.
MS. EOFF: For incoming Council Aide or Legislative Assistant.
MR. ILAGAN: Correct.
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MS. EOFF: Yeah. You know, I understand this was very hard to make fair.
And this is one way of doing it, declaring everybody that works in these
positions is at the same pay level. But somehow I still can't wrap my moral
mind around that because I feel like when a person is a brand-new employee,
that there's a period where I don't think they would be actually deserving of the
same pay as someone who has worked in the job for many years. And although I
see you're trying to solve one problem, I feel it may create other problems
among the staff, among morale. Just in general, in a perceptional way, why
would somebody who steps into a job being paid the same as the person who
may have been working there as many as six, seven, eight even more years, if
they've been here through different Council people, which is the case with some
of our staff that's here. So, I know we need to discuss this further.
But I've been thinking about it a lot. I've watched the discussion that we have
had. And I remember the long discussion we had last term, kind of with some of
the same issues. Some of the things you're doing here, I do agree with. There
are parts that can be removed, not needed anymore, and I can support those kinds
of amendments. But changing our whole structure to having only one set salary
for everybody is—right now I'm not sure whether I can support that or not, let's
say. But I just wanted to make it clear that is what you're doing here, right?
Okay.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Eoff. Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, I'm not supporting this too because I remember a
lot of the discussion last term. And what this does, is the people who are coming
in—and we experienced that. I know my staff did and had to rely on other staff
You know, I've got to say thank you to Darlene because she really had helped
my office a lot. And, to me, that was unfair if they're getting the same wage,
because she spends, besides her own work, somebody has to train these new
staff So I like what we had discussed on the previous term. And what we had
discussed before, that there will be merit increases. Because I believe that, you
know, maybeI have an amendment coming through that I'll talk about, and
why, and we can discuss that.
But, you know, when you look at what the current pay is right now for a CA -1,
which the entry level people will come in at, is $33,096, and with this going
through, it increases it to $38,304, giving some of them a 15 percent, almost
16 percent wage increase; so we're giving a wage increase of $5,208. Then we
look at the Legislative Assistant, $42,720 , then up to $49,476. That's a $6,756
pay increase, when they even haven't been here not even a year. A year makes
in December.
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So I think, for me, when we talked about it last term, we said there needs to be a
method to the madness. And so I'm going to be putting forward an amendment
that will have the guidelines that Council Chair Kanuha talked about, not being
able to make a decision, because there are no guides—there is no specifics to
how to do it. So I think what we're missing are the guidelines that we should've
had in there, on the last term, when we discussed it. And I regret not doing that,
because when we discussed it the last term, we agreed that's what we're going to
do to standardize things. So when Council Chair Kanuha took office, and I
remember speaking to this, as well, we honored what the previous Council did,
but it wasn't in writing. So how he started off, because we said we're going to
start it off that way, because we have to have a starting point, or there's still
going to be the madness.
So, I am not supporting this because I don't think it's fair. And I think we need
to look at what we're doing—instead of trying to do amendments at this time, I
thought we had initially agreed to pass this Salary Ordinance—and we had time
later—because time is of the essence for the budget on the minimum wage
increases, and this is desperately needed. And I think this—what we're talking
about now, and all of the amendments, should be in a longer discussion that we
can all be able to wrap our heads around this and get it done right. And do it
before December, because December is when we make our annual—that term
comes up and we can decide on something then. But trying to rush it in, to
include it on this, this is a disservice to all employees. I think it's unfair and it's
not equal; and I think we're trying to rush this through, and it's not okay with
me. So, I'm not supporting this. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Could I just ask Ms. Poindexter, where is this amendment that you
have, or you're just thinking about it?
MS. POINDEXTER: No, I have a floor amendment coming. It was passed out
on a "pinkie."
MS. WILLE: Oh, this is it. Okay, this is yours.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, but I haven't made it yet. So we're not on that yet.
CHR KANUHA: Well, I'm going to give leeway into discussing all these
communications, because they're all pretty much talking about the same thing so
I think it's okay. But right now we're currently on Communication 205.2.
MS. WILLE: Okay. I was confused whether
MR. ILAGAN: Point of procedure.
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CHR KANUHA: Yes, Mr. Eagan?
Point of Procedure: MR. ILAGAN: Would you like me to withdraw this? And then on the main bill,
can we just reference all this?
CHR KANUHA: It wouldn't matter because I'm giving the leeway to talk
about it.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. Sure, I just wanted to give an option.
MS. WILLE: Okay. I appreciate where Council Member Eagan is going, just
because I do think these wages at that end are very low. So even when we're
talking about how much percentage raises, if you're really, really low, asking for
a percentage just makes it not quite as really, really low. Anyway, I just want to
say, I understand where he is coming from. I feel that with our salaries, too, I'd
like to see our salaries raised, even if we got a little percentage raise.
I do alsoI'm open to what let me just say, Ms. Poindexter, I wasn't sure if
you were referring to this amendment or you had another amendment that you
were working on, a supplemental amendment. You know, I appreciate this
because it's just clear cut. There isn't—we put a lot on our chair. And I think
the more this discretionary thing, and this discretionary thing, the more clarity
the better here. So I lean in favor of supporting Ms. Poindexter. And I'm going
to stop because I think she should really have the opportunity to make—
MS. POINDEXTER: I'm okay.
MS. WILLE: You're okay—to speak on it. She refers in it to certain steps for
the CA (Council Aide). And then, like I said, Step A for the CA -1, so it's
somewhat—you have to read this in combination with the documents. I would
probably still be comfortable making these a little bit higher. But I appreciate
the clarity, and I think it's helpful.
So, I still want to listen to hear what anybody else says. But again, I think that
it's important for us to respect that the role of the Chair is difficult, particularly
in this area, and that doing things on a case-by-case is not easy. And at the same
time, where one wage scale for everyone, no matter how long they have been
here, is also, I think, isn't as fair as well. So, I lean towards what Ms. Poindexter
has but I still think they're a little low for me. Anyway, I'm going to yield. I
just want to hear if anybody else has comments.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Mr. Paleka.
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MR. PALEKA: I'm going to be supporting the one pay because I put a lot of
weight on the equal work for equal pay. And also, if you want to compare pay
rates, when we look at unit two, three, we just mentioned today, they got
negotiated. They had a significant pay rate pay increase. We can do that when
we address, or if we address, the pay Ordinance again, which I foresee in the
future.
But basically, when you look at our entire employee workforce for the County,
the trend is with these Bargaining Units; and this is all employees, also the
exempt which fall under contracts, that are guided by contracts negotiated with
our Collective Bargaining Units. They've all either compressed themselves,
where it's in the trend of equal work for equal pay. And that's the goal, is to
have people that man the position to be paid equally.
MS. WILLE: Not steps.
MR. PALEKA: Not steps. If we were all aware of that, which is the trend, and
if you want me to bring up union representatives or HR staff to echo that fact
then why we keeping these steps, why should we go along with keeping steps,
keeping people bringing them in at a lower rate? I would always advocate on
paying your workforce well. Giving them the benefits that I believe they so
rightfully deserve because they work hard for us, not that mine should be more
deserving of someone else's, because I believe they do the same job. Some will
do more than others.
Now, another aspect. If you're going to bring an employee, and this is private
and public sector, if you're going to expect people to come in at a certain level,
entry level, then you better have minimum requirements. We don't have that in
this, yeah? Educational requirements, no more, we don't have any. Experience,
where? So let's say you're going to base a rate or have a scale, to me that
doesn't make sense and it's not fair. That's more so not fair. If you would bring
that to any 20 Collective Bargaining Unit, they'd laugh at you, you're crazy.
That's where I'm coming from. The people that do this every day in Collective
Bargaining, and negotiate contracts for all our workforce, that's why I support
my colleague's amendment. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Yes. Hi. Thank you. I really have to agree that this one rate pay
rate scale is basically—it doesn't allow an incentive for our staff or address the
fairness of it all. I think in—and even the private sector, there is some sort of
system or guideline that when you begin a job, if you're experienced in the job,
you do have—you are allowed to get a higher pay if you have some experience.
And I know it's not comparing the private sector to this because we are at will,
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but even so someone has to take the burden of training someone; and when you
train someone, you take away time from that person's workday.
I'm really torn by this because I think when I first started there was an unwritten
guideline. That you're going to start at this level; next year, if your Council
Member feels that you have done a good job, he will request that you get a
movement. So when they give you your employment package, you look at this,
and you go, "Wow, if I am here for at least the full eight years," you have the
possibility of advancing, as opposed to looking at something, and this is my
thought, in your employment package you see this is my starting pay and this is
the pay I will get, whether I'm here one year or eight years. I'm not sure. For
me, I'm not sure. I don't see any incentive in learning something new and
progressing in that manner. And I would feel uncomfortable in getting the same
pay as somebody that's been here for eight years or even more—and have earned
the experience.
And I understand what you're saying. Truly, I really do Mr. Paleka but, for me, I
just can't convince myself, in my own mind, that in a balanced environment of
fairness and staff morale that a one salary would be a fair thing. I'd like to hear
Ms. Poindexter's explanation and everybody else's thoughts. But I think—
And, the Council Chair is probably not the one to make the decision, on whether
somebody isor appoint anyone to a step movement. I think it has to come
from the Council Member, requesting that the Council Chair approve it based on
what they feel their employees deserve and when they deserve it.
I think—maybe I'm looking at Ms. Poindexter's amendment proposal. Every
two years, it was annual for us. We had annual reviews as opposed to every two
years. As opposed to term, yeah? So an annual review, I think, is pretty fair, and
I'm not sure in an annual review how many levels you might be able to increase
your staff I mean, if we set guidelines that you can only go to the next step, then
so be it. But I think that, for me, that's the more fair approach, and that's my
opinion. Mahalo.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Onishi.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can I have someone from HR please
come up? If you could introduce yourself?
(Note: At this time, Human Resources Manager Jenny Sakamoto
came forward to address the members of the Council.)
MS. SAKAMOTO: Hello again. Jenny Sakamoto, from Human Resources.
MR. ONISHL Yeah, I'm sorry, where you guys got to sit in through all this in
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MS. SAKAMOTO: No problem.
MR. ONISHL I don't know how many meetings. You know, but like we always
said, I mean, this should be taken up on a separate time. Because, all you folks
need to do is get the minimum wage, right? Or, for whatever—
MS. SAKAMOTO: Well, it's not just the minimum wage. It's a pay plan for all
of those who are not in Collective Bargaining.
MR. ONISHI: Right.
MS. SAKAMOTO: We can't pay them otherwise.
MR. ONISHL Right, but then like what we discuss is separate. Like a different
issue, basically.
MS. SAKAMOTO: Well, it's one portion of the Ordinance.
MR. ONISHL Yeah. I know. But that we can take up on our own time instead
of wasting your time. But my question was, how many unions have the same
contract, or kind of like the same contract on their pay, like UPW (United Public
Works)?
MS. SAKAMOTO: You mean where they just have one salary?
MR. ONISHL Right. Correct.
MS. SAKAMOTO: I think it's only UPW.
MR. ONISHL So the rest of the unions that the employees in the County have
all this pay scale?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yep. But that's all through Collective Bargaining.
MR. ONISHL Correct. Yeah, but I just wanted to kind of get that out; it's just
basically just one union that's doing that, but everybody else is kind of like
having this pay scale, yeah? But thank you. Thank you for coming up.
You know, I still—like I mentioned before, I believed in—we needed to have
our staff, like, at pay scales. Because of like what's mentioned by other Council
Members, about the experience. And, to me, if someone's here like for eight
years, they should be making more than someone who just came in, like a year
ago, right?
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So, I know where you folks are coming from but I still cannot support this.
Because we have worked on this from last term and even before that. And so
everybody is never going to be happy.
Like mentioned too, was that if you folks are going to do this, you've got to look
at the future too, because to me you should have something in there like for the
next year; because they're going to be stuck at this $38,000 for the CA -1. I
mean, there's no future plans. Like I recommended at the last meeting, was that
look at having, like for future raises. And, you still need the Chair involved
because he takes care of the budget. So we cannot over exceed what we are
projected or what we have. So that's where he has to control where the salary is
going to be, right? So, I guess I still got to stick to what I always was
supporting, and that is with the pay scales. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you Mr. Onishi. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I credit everyone, Ms. Poindexter
and Mr. Eagan, for trying to come up with something that they believe is fair.
And, quite frankly, it's quite—you know, in concept it's pretty difficult to
distinguish which is more fair than the other. So, nobody's really going to be
happy.
I was inclined to go with Mr. Eagan's amendment earlier, over the weeks that
this has actually unfolded, but I've decided I'm not going to vote for any of the
amendments and just going to vote to keep it as is.
I think all of you know that I have consistently, at least over three or four
measures, tried to protect, or I don't know if you would call it protecting, but try
to advance the discretionary power of our administrative head on several other
measures. I would hope that each of the individual Council Members, and try
and make a request to the Chair for a raise, because of course we all want to give
raises to our workers, but we would be guided by our own good conscience, too.
I haven't asked for any raises, right? My guy would actually benefit from both
of these amendments. Well, one of my guys anyway. So, I'm just going to vote
to keep it as is. And I'm going to trust in the discretion and decision making
ability of our Chair, come hell or high water. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, I just want to say thank you Council Member
Onishi for clarifying that on the unions. Because I did negotiate a unionILWU
(International Longshore and Warehouse Union) contract. Was still—and the
newly—and it's still in steps and grades. And the reason for that and the reason
why I agree, when I had to manage that CBA (Collective Bargaining
Agreement), was that there was room for merit increases. There was room for
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longevity increases. There was room for the cost of living increase, which was
an annual. But, you had your merit increases. And that's why I tried to put
something—some guidelines in place. That, I say, we can work on at a later time
and talk about what kind of merit increases that we could give our staff It
doesn't have to be this great stuff, but we could develop our own and pass it.
But what incentives, I don't know who mentioned about incentives, that I think it
was Council Member David—but we need those incentives in place. And I think
right now, at this very moment, it's not the time for us to be bumping up and
shooting off with this big amount of increases. Because it's not just a salary that
it affects, because it affects the TDI insurance (Temporary Disability Insurance).
Am I correct with that, when I say it affects more than just increasing
somebody's salaries? Because there are other hidden costs that will rise, am I
correct? Like TDI insurance, because it's based on quarterly payout of—oh
there's Deanna. Because I know when we used to put the Salary Plan together
we'd show people, this is what your salary is, but these are the hidden benefits
that doesn't show up in the dollar amount. But, look at the bottom amount that
we're paying out for you.
MS. SAKO: Yeah. So there are other costs, especially ERS (Employees
Retirement System), which is up to 17 percent or so of the salary, as well as
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) and other types of cost, so there will
always be fringes that are a percentage of salary. So those would go up, as well.
MS. POINDEXTER: Right, so I just want us to be very mindful of that. And I
think that we have a lot of time, up until December, to start working on a good
benefit package, if you want to call it a benefit package. Or, looking how to put
those guidelines in place to give merit increases, or cost of living increases, or
just the basic—other—based on evaluation.
So, I would like to say let's not work on this now. Let's vote it in as it is. And,
we have time to discuss this, because now is not the time to be giving raises. I
think it's at the annual point, where December, when we first came in. So, I
don't agree with that happening now so I'm definitely not supporting this. But if
other people are going to support something, then I'll read in my communication
at some point. So, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Paleka.
Point of MR. PALEKA: Just a point of clarification and I'll ask the question of HR
Clarification: (Human Resources). Okay, there was a point brought up. I had stated that the
trend was that the pay rates were being compressed, okay, because UPW has one
pay scale. Now, in the history for HGEA (Hawai`i Government Employees
Association), for example, have they moved in the direction of compressing their
schedule? Yes or no?
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MS. SAKAMOTO: I'm sorry, I don't know the history. But I don't think that
they have been compressing, maybe just one of the Bargaining Units but I
don't think most of them are. In fact, I know one that expanded steps, which is
Unit 13.
MR. PALEKA: Unit 13?
MS. SAKAMOTO: Yeah. Maybe Unit 2 might have, but I don't think thatI
think it's always been up to, like Step L.
MR. PALEKA: Shall I go get a contract? An HGEA contract for you?
MS. SAKAMOTO: I don't know how far back you're going.
MS. SAKO: I think some of our confusion is what you mean by "compressed."
MR. PALEKA: Okay.
MS. SAKO: But if it's just to go the one step system
MR. PALEKA: Right.
MS. SAKO: Unit lis the only unit we have right now like that.
MR. PALEKA: That's one.
MS. SAKO: If it's to bring them closer, together I would have to do an analysis.
MR. PALEKA: Okay.
MS. SAKO: I don't know of the top of my head.
MR. PALEKA: Okay. They are, that's my—having reviewed the contracts
okay, for HGEA. If anyone wants to discreet, I can show them the contracts.
But that's the trend, is to pay people equally. That's my thing.
Now, in terms of pay raises, we're not offering pay raises at this point. We're
not changing the pay scale, right?
MS. POINDEXTER: Are you asking?
MR. PALEKA: No, I'm just saying. No, we're not changing the rate. We're
reducing to one, the highest level. We're making it one pay rate for all. I mean,
for some, if they're not getting paid at that level, they would, in essence, be
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getting a raise, or being paid equally what the other individual is getting paid. I
mean, to me that's fair, the fairest. I mean, if we want to increase the salaries of
one, we should do for all. That's all I'm saying, yeah. I'll leave it at that, I
mean, I'm open to consideration.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Can I ask you a question? Are we budgeted for in what the
budget that we passed, if we went with Mr. Eagan's proposal, do we have those
funds covered?
MR. MAEDA: We actually budgeted our CA positions at the highest level just
in case of any issues such as this.
MS. WILLE: Okay. Like I said, I don't mind the steps but I feel like we're
starting too low. I mean, I can't survive on what we get paid, so I do have a
problem with that. I don't know, Council Chair, would you mind saying how
you feel? I'd like to follow up, but I'd like to hear what you have to say before
II'm really conflicted about this. So, I appreciate hearing from you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you.
MS. WILLE: And then can I have the floor back after you speak?
CHR KANUHA: If it's okay with the rest of the Council Members, I'd just
noyou know, we've dealt—this is the same thing that happened last year. It
took us months to figure out how to do this, and it's obviously an issue we can't
figure out. I see both sides of the argument. I'm agreeable to however the
Council wants to make it. I justI, in the beginning, needed some guideline
because there wasn't a guideline. We had a makeshift guideline somewhere out
in space, of what we decided that we're going to do, and that's how I originally
made the decision for the steps. That's originally how I thought, and what we
decided last year was the amount of years of service.
MS. WILLE: And is that in there now?
CHR KANUHA: No, it's not in there.
MS. WILLE: Okay.
CHR KANUHA: That's why it was difficult. You know, when Council
Members asked me for a step increase for their staff, I don't have any guidelines
to go off of because it's not specifically said within this ordinance. So I basically
been denying any step increases because that was what—that was the
understanding of what the last Council wanted to do.
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MS. EOFF: Until a year came by.
CHR KANUHA: Until a year came by, so that's where we're discussing now.
Preferably, I see where the discussion is going. We can—it's half, half, six -
three, or whatever it is. I don't see us getting anywhere with this discussion.
And to be honest, I would rather hold any communication off to another time.
That we can really discuss it further, and really set the guidelines, and I'm open
to that. Like, I completely see Mr. Eagan's point. I see Mr. Paleka's point. I see
Mr. Onishi's point. I see everybody's point. I just need—we obviously need to
pass this because everybody in this section needs to get paid.
So, I'm okay. I'm perfectly fine with holding off any amendments and going
from there. But to be honest, this is a decision of the Council. And I'm glad for
this discussion, I just need to know where to go from here. And that's why you
guys need to tell me how I need to proceed. So, Ms. Wille.
MS. WILLE: Right. Some even the current situation isn't really great because
that's what we're struggling with. It's not there.
I do have some trouble putting things off because then they don't end up coming
back. I mean, they don't. And, I'm torn between these. I like having some
steps, but I think the current rates are too low. I'm probably going to go support
Mr. Eagan. Okay.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Ms. Eoff was next.
MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you. I would just quickly agree that at this point we
could withdraw the extra communications, pass the Salary Ordinance, and
thenI actually would have to have a discussion myself with HR because I
don't know whether it has to be codified. If we have internal guidelines, we
were dealing with, they weren't written but they were known. I mean, we all
knew. Even our HR person here asked me at one time, she said it was just about
time I could consider giving my staff a raise. But then a complete year hadn't
gone by, but I was getting prepared for it. She should have let me know. So it
was sort of unwritten but known by most of us, at least, hat each year if we
wanted to raise the staff then it could be done. So I don't know if it needs to be
codified into the Salary Ordinance, or if we just need an administrative in our
booklet which, I think, that is the job of the Chair. And like Mr. Chung said, our
higher-up, Clerk's office staff, to put together these guidelines. I don't even
know if it's something we have to vote on.
But, I think we do need to pass this today. I don't know if we're going to get
anywhere keeping debating it, where none of us are able to convince anybody of
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anything. So I would conquer with you, Mr. Chair, that it may be better just to
pass this as it is today and then come back with some solution to our dilemma.
Because I think you found yourself in a difficult position because you said "no"
to a request, but you were operating under a guideline that you assumed was
correct, but there was no verification of it anywhere. I understand the problem
that this has caused.
And if we go with something, like Ms. Poindexter is suggesting, I would say not
two years but every year there is an opportunity for a step. And if we're going
with the trend of compressing, I mean, we already have all bypassed the first few
steps of the Council Aid position anyway, so we're already compressing our
steps. So anyways, I think it's become probably more of a problem than it really
is. And increasing the minimum is also a possibility here, given the trend and
the cost of living increase. So anyways, thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Thank you Mr. Chair. Why are w even having salaries?
Because we have expenses to be able to live where we live. West side is a lot
higher. East side is a little bit cheaper on the general side.
Now, an incentive monetarily, I don't think that's why we're even here, let alone
our staff I don't think we can give them $100,000, and that's really what
incentivized them to help the public. I think their incentive inside, is they want to
help. I see it in a lot of the staff here. And no matter how much money we give
them, they're going to work as hard as they work. I want to be able to give them
a comfortable wages, so they're not thinking about all of the expenses they have
to incur, and that's one of the things that will help them help the people.
And I've listened to the Council and made many amendments. Last meeting I
condensed it to four. That was not what the Council wanted, so I moved to what
the Council wanted. Here I am.
Now, regarding this, Council Member Poindexter's amendment, all CA -1 and
CLA-1 employees hired after July 1, 2015, will begin their initial employment at
Step E, which is going to be for Council Aide, and Step A for CLA (Council
Legislative Assistant). Now, what if I hire someone who had previous
experience? Do they initially start at Step E or Step A, because that's where they
begin the initial appointment? Does that—will that happen according to this
language? And then every two years then the credible service kicks in? That's
what it looks like.
One of the things I want to really focus on, and we need to take action, is provide
just a salary where our staff is comfortable. Wherever they are in the west or
east side, so they can help.
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And let me just explain to you what my staff is going through. Just my staff.
They went through the tropical storm and the lava. They're on their own. over at
the Pahoa old police station, and there's homeless that comes through the door.
There's one time, one of the homeless who normally comes in takes a flyer then
leaves, was all blooded -up, and then said, "Oh come see me at 7-11." I mean,
this is normal by the way. Another guy came in raised a rock to my staff
Should we have hazardous pay then? I'm not asking for that. I'm just asking
I'm not even raising any of the salary. I'm just setting it to the highest, which
each of our staff is entitled to.
So I just wanted to share that whether they come in without no experience, their
incentive is not going to be because they're going to pay me the next year or the
second year.—their incentive is seeing the smiles of the people that they help.
And for us to be able to set them in a comfortable salary, so they can do more for
our community, I feel that's the best way to go.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Eagan. Ms. David, I think your light
was on before.
MS. DAVID: Yes, I just want to make one final comment. And I think I
like the idea of moving forward with this, and not making any changes
until I think we can come to some form of a consensus, because it seems
that we are, going in different directions, and we're very passionate about
our positions on this.
I understand Mr. Eagan's point. If we keep our staff all at the one rate,
and he has valid arguments for this fiscal year, come the next fiscal year
are we going to say that we need to increase our salaries again, and for
every year we're going to have to increase our budget to allow for raises?
So, there's a lot of other things that I have to consider in my mind; but for right
now, I think the the most sensible thing that I think I can support is just move
forward with this bill and really think about the rest of—how to organize the rest
of this difficult situation. Mahalo
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: Oh, me again. All right, I was just reviewing the contracts. And
I just got a text, too, HGEA Units 2, 3, 4 don't have step movements right now,
renegotiation and reinstatement affect. And when I look at their contracts.
MS. WILLE: I couldn't hear you. If that was meant for us to hear, I couldn't
hear you.
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MR. PALEKA: Yeah. When I'm reviewing the contracts, it's movement up and
the pay increases, I mean, they got some good pay rate for 14. Unit 13, sorry,
four and four and a step movement. So, they're all moving up the scale. In fact
one them, they had to increase one step, M, in Unit 3 or Unit 2. No, Unit 3, but
they all moving up the ladder and getting rid of the really—the bottom side of the
schedule doesn't re -apply because everybody's going up, right. So that's what
we're doing here, is moving everybody up to the top and get rid of the bottom
side.
But what I'm saying is, when you look at the contracts, it's for equality and
moving toward equal pay. I mean, if we're going to go—if you coming here, you
get one pay rate, and then more years of service you get—I mean, I not entirely
opposed to that, but then I would say we got to base something on minimum
requirements then. I mean, unless we're minimum—"at will" employees. But if
you want to set standards on pay rates, then should have minimum requirements.
And if that's a "no," then we should pay them the same then, f no more minimum
requirements. That's my logic to it.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Chung,
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Chairman for allowing me to speak again.
There's a lot of good points here, and a lot of philosophical issues being brought
up. But let's see how this whole thing started. Okay, my understanding is one
Council Member approached the Chairman for a raise for his or her employee and
was denied for whatever reason, so now here we are, because of that; right? And
now it becomes—it's being characterized as a "all or nothing" kind of situation,
when yet the door is still open for that person, he or she, to go and talk to the
Chairman again and start up the conversation. It does not preclude—by me
saying today "no" and keeping it as is, it does not preclude that person or other
persons from getting raises, okay, so that's the bottom line. And, you know, I've
made this comment to Ms. Wille on several occasions, when she brings up her
resolutions urging the Mayor to do something, right, and I have consistently said,
"Can't you just go and talk to the Mayor, he's only a few steps away from us?"
Well, the same thing holds true for here. Cant this is even closer from us to the
Mayor. So can't we just kind of discuss this thing? I mean, I have to believe that
having gone through this exercise over the last month and a half, maybe people's
opinions and philosophies or approaches have changed over that course of time
and I think it might be a good time for that person, he or she, to go and talk to the
Chairman again. Maybe something productive can come out of it. That's my
thought, anyway.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Onishi, last comments.
MR. ONISHL Thank you, Mr. Chair. Because I really wanted to call for the
question, because I mean we've talked about this too much. I just want to say we
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as Council Members are the employer of our staff We're like their bosses. So
each Council Member has your standards of who you're going to hire. I mean,
we're not just pulling these guys out from the sky. You're the one that is making
the decision; okay, I want to hire this person, I want to hire that person for the
positions. So, I don't think we need to have like a standard. It's your standards
that they going to have to work to. And so, like I said, it's like we need to get like
entry level. You started this, and as the years go on then you get your raises,
right? And I'm going to just stick to that. Thank you.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Onishi. Briefly, Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: Oh, it will—it's brief. I did send a memo. I did request. I was
that Council Member who asked and was denied. And then I asked during this
session, and I'm guessing the silence is denial, I'm not sure. But that'sI went
through the process. So I just wanted to let you know, I did address what your
concern is, Council Member Chung. Go ahead.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: I didn't want to mention your name. I knew—of course it was
you. But what I'm saying now is maybe go through the process again. There's
nothing like dialogue. And, I think, hopefully something has come of this entire
ordeal that we've been going through over the last few weeks, and I think perhaps
the Chair might be more inclined to listen to your concerns. Because—and we've
all weighed in on this thing, and a lot of good points have come out as a result.
So maybe, just talk again. That's all I said.
MR. ILAGAN: I'll do it a third time.
CHR KANUHA: Okay. Mr. Clerk, I'm going to call the question on the
amendment.
MR. MAEDA: We're voting on the motion to amend Bill 35 with
Communication 205.2. Mr. Chung?
MR. CHUNG: No.
MR. MAEDA: Ms. David?
MS. DAVID: No.
MR. MAEDA: Ms. Eoff?
MS. EOFF: No.
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MR. MAEDA: Mr. Eagan?
June 3, 2015
Point of MR. ILAGAN: Just point of clarification. This is a vote for the question, right?
Clarification:
CHR KANUHA: No. This is calling the vote, sorry.
MR. CHUNG: On the amendment, right.
CHR KANUHA: Yeah.
MS. POINDEXTER: On the amendment. He calls for the
MR. ILAGAN: Okay, you didn't call for the question?
CHR KANUHA: I'm calling the vote.
MR. ILAGAN: Okay. Just procedure wise, did you call for the question?
Because call for the question, you need a vote to call for the question. Are we
voting for the amendment?
MS. POINDEXTER: He's the Chair.
CHR KANUHA: I'll take away—well, it wasn't even seconded, so I'll
call for the vote. Call for the vote on the amendment.
Vote on Motion The motion to amend Bill 35 with the contents of
to Amend: Comm. 205.2 failed by the following roll call vote:
Failed
Ayes: Council Members Ilagan, Paleka, and Wille – 3.
Noes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Onishi,
Poindexter, and Chair Kanuha – 6.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: So, motion fails. Mr. Clerk, I'm going to call the vote on
Bill 35.
Point of MR. ILAGAN: Point of procedure. You've got to either call the question or
Procedure: because I've got to—we're on the bill right now.
CHR KANUHA: Yeah, it's been the—we've been discussing this whole bill the
whole time.
MR. ILAGAN: There has to be a motion to call for the question.
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Hawaii County Council -15 June 3, 2015
CHR KANUHA: Okay, Ms.sorry. Ms. Poindexter.
Motion to Call for Ms. Poindexter moved to call for the question. Seconded
the Question: by Mr. Onishi.
MR. KANUHA: It's been moved and seconded. Mr. Clerk, on the Call
for the Question.
MR. MAEDA: Excuse me, who was the second?
CHR KANUHA: Yeah. Mr. Onishi.
Vote on Motion to Ms. Poindexter moved to call for the question. Seconded
to Call for the by Mr. Onishi and carried by the following roll call vote:
uestion:
(Approved) Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Onishi,
Poindexter, Wille, and Chair Kanuha — 7.
Noes: Council Members Ragan and Paleka — 2.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Okay. Vote on the main motion.
Point of Information: MS. WILLE: Point of information, just say what the main motion is.
CHR KANUHA: Main motion is to approve Bill 35.
Vote on Bill 35: The motion to pass Bill 35 on second and final reading was
(Adopted) carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Motion passes. Okay, next
item on the agenda.
MR. MAEDA: We're on Bill 48.
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Hawaii County Council -15
June 3, 2015
Bill 48: NAMES A COUNTY PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY AT
KOHANAIKI, DISTRICT OF NORTH KONA, COUNTY OF HAWAII, AND
AMENDS CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 8, SECTION 15-68.1 OF THE HAWAII
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY SCHEDULE
Names the beach park located at Kohanaiki, North Kona, the "Kohanaiki Beach
Park."
Reference: Comm. 284
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
First Reading: May 19, 2015
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 48 on seconded and final reading.
Seconded by Mr. Onishi.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion? Ms. Eoff
MS. EOFF: I just want to say this is a much better bill to pass. This is a positive
bill, and I'm so happy that I got to introduce this at Kohanaiki Beach Park to the
schedule of parks. And thank you very much, Council Members, for all of your
support and indulgence.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Ms. Wille,
MS. WILLE: I know this is very controversial, but I will be supporting it.
CHR KANUHA: Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: I just to add to the conversation. No, I'm definitely supporting
this but conversation is always good.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Mr. Eagan.
MR. ILAGAN: I have an amendment. No, I'm just joking. I do support this.
What I was going to do is, clean up the amendment. That's what it was, so just
letting you guys know what I was trying to do.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none, all
in favor say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council -15
Vote on Bill 48
(Adopted)
The motion to pass Bill 48 on second and final reading was
carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan
Onishi, Paleka Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Next item.
June 3, 2015
Bill 50: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Appropriates revenues in the State Grants — Abandoned Motor Vehicle Tires
account ($45,000); and appropriates the same to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle
Tires. Funds would be used towards abandoned motor vehicle tire disposal fees
and to assist programs that promote the removal of these tires.
Reference: Comm. 298
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
First Reading: May 19, 2015
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 50 on second and reading.
Seconded by Mr. Paleka.
CHR KANUHA: Any discussion? Mr. Paleka.
MR. PALEKA: I just hope this is enough, you know, considering the amount of
abandoned vehicles. And, hopefully, just to keep in our minds that should we
need additional funding when it comes up, I hope everyone supports that measure
if need be. But, thanks again.
CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Paleka. Any other discussion? Hearing or
seeing none, all in favor say "aye."
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Hawaii County Council -15
Vote on Bill 50
(Adopted)
The motion to pass Bill 50 on second and final reading was
carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, Ragan,
Ragan
Onishi, Paleka Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Next item.
June 3, 2015
Bill 51: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 14-81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2015
Increases revenues in the State Grants — Department of Health — Tobacco Sting
Grant account ($12,000); and appropriates the same to the Department of
Health — Tobacco Sting Grant. Funds would be used to prevent the sale of
tobacco to minors.
Vote on Bill 51
(Adopted)
Reference: Comm. 299
Intr. by: Ms. Eoff
First Reading: May 19, 2015
Ms. Eoff moved to pass Bill 51 on second and final reading.
Seconded by Mr. Onishi and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Council Members Chung, David, Eoff,
Ragan
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter, Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR KANUHA: Motion passes. Mr. Clerk, before we, did we get everything?
MR. MAEDA: Yes, Chair, we've got all our items today.
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I Iawaii County Council -15 lune 3, 2015
REPORTS: The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Reports.
(There were none.)
REFERRALS The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Referrals
FOR EXECUTIVE for Executive Session.
SESSION:
(There were none.)
OTHER The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Other
BUSINESS: Business.
(There were none.)
ANNOUNCE- The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
MENTS: Announcements.
(There were none.)
CHR. KANUHA: Thank you. Motion to adjourn, please?
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 1:37 p.m., Mr. Paleka moved to adjourn the
MENT: meeting. Seconded by Mr. Onishi and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, David, Eoff, (lagan,
Onishi, Paleka, Poindexter Wille, and
Chair Kanuha — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANUHA: Weare adjourned.
Council Approval:
JUL 0 7 2016
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C TY CLERK
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