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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GREDC 2017/06/22 (2016-2018)Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development 7th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii June 22, 2017 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic ORDER: Development was called to order at 10:03 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kona, by Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Member Mr. Aaron Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Vice Chair Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee 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 in opposition to Res. 228-17 (Comm. 326), and came forward when called by the Chair: Romel Dela Cruz. Miriam S. Guerrero. Helen Sapla. Daniel Marcos. Frank Salamanca. Myrna Baptista. Melba Daak. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. (There were none.) GREDC-7 June 22, 2017 CHR KANUHA: Next up we have order of resolution. Mr. Clerk, please read in Resolution 228. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 228-17: APPROVES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SISTER -CITY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CABUGAO, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, PHILIPPINES AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, AND AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII TO ENTER INTO A FORMAL SIGNED AGREEMENT Authorizes the Mayor to formally establish this sister -city relationship, pursuant to Section 2-165 of the Hawaii County Code. Reference: Comm. 326 Intr. by: Ms. Poindexter Motion to Approve: Ms. Poindexter moved to recommend adoption of Res. 228-17. Seconded by Mr. Richards. CHR KANUHA: Ms. Poindexter, go right ahead. MS. POINDEXTER: Yes, we heard a lot from the testifiers on the importance for them, of the connection with Cabugao and Salomague Port, where the Sakadas came from. But more than just the Sakadas, there was so much more in the sister - city relationship to promote the trade tourism, agriculture, and education. And we've seen that throughout the years, so at this time though, after speaking with our Filipino historian, Romel Dela Cruz, when he read two of my whereas, he was concerned that I referred to "beautiful islands" and Cabugao wasn't consider an island, even if it was somewhat surrounded by water. Motion to Amend: Ms. Poindexter moved to amend Res. 228-17 with the contents of Comm. 326.1. Seconded by Ms. David. CHR KANUHA: Ms. Poindexter. MS. POINDEXTER: So basically, it's just some minor changes in there and just the language, so if you have any questions, I'd be able to answer that. Or we can call Mr. Dela Cruz up. CHR KANUHA: Okay, thank you. Council Members, on the amendment. Any other discussion? Ms. O'Hara, on the amendment. MS. O'HARA: The amendment is great and thank you, Romel for your attention to detail and you are a great historian on this particular piece of history. So thank Page 2 GREDC-7 June 22, 2017 you for catching those changes. And yes, I will fully support this. It makes so much sense for us to have this relationship and I look forward to meeting with more people from Cabugao. I did have the honor of attending the last event where the Mayor came, and we had a really great dinner and a really fun time. So I fully support this. Thank you. CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Council Members, any other on the amendment? Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Yes, on the amendment. I thank you for making those corrections, Mr. Romel, and I just want to say that I not only support the amendment, but I support this initiative because my grandfather came from the Philippines in 1904. So I really think this is a great idea to show solidarity with our Filipino community. Thank you and thank you, Ms. Poindexter very much. Mahalo. CHR KANUHA: Thank you. Any other discussion on the amendment? Vote on Motion to The motion to amend Res. 228-17 with the contents of Amend: Comm. 326.1 was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair Kanuha — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR KANUHA: Now onto the main motion as amended. Ms. Poindexter, did you want to? MS. POINDEXTER: No, if anybody has any questions or wants our historian to come back up here, it's up to you, so thank you. But I know that in the past, like Council Member Chung before, this past term, not the past term, but years ago, I know they had given support to the Sakada celebrations and stuff. So this has been going on for a while from past Councils, who have supported honoring our Sakadas and the positive impacts that they have made to Hawaii County. Thank you. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter. Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. First of all, if I could ask a question of Ms. Poindexter? Is this the first sister city, that if approved, will be established with the Philippines? Or do we have another one? Page 3 GREDC-7 June 22, 2017 MS. POINDEXTER: No, we have one more in Ormoc. That there I think is a Visayan province. Yeah, that was I think related to more geothermal and—thank you. MR. CHUNG: Anyway. As all of you know, I've been a strong proponent of the sister -city relationships, whether it be Philippines, Portugal, Chile, Japan, or Okinawa. I've consistently urged all of you to take advantage of this and go and show support. Go to the Philippines, or Japan, or whatever it is. We could get you know, it sometimes make for bad press, but it's very important. I really want to urge all of you to take advantage of this and show support of the program. If we're going to establish it, we have to be serious about it and there's nothing wrong. I mean I really think it's a positive thing. So I just wanted to make that encouragement again, and I want to thank Romel. I mean what a wonderful history he gave. I was riveted to his presentation, it was so interesting, the connection. But thank you very much, Ms. Poindexter, for bringing this forward. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Council Members, any other discussion? Okay. I'm fully supportive and I thank Ms. Poindexter, and I completely agree with Mr. Chung. The relationships that we have with our sister cities are extremely important, especially here in Hawaii where we have so much connection to a lot of places all around the world. So to really emphasize and promote these relationships, it really is a good thing. So I'm in full support of this and looking forward to building upon the relationships that we are creating and hopefully, we can promote again through these sister -city relationships a good advocacy with each other. Ms. Poindexter. MS. POINDEXTER: Thank you, Chair, for this last opportunity. I just wanted to say thank you to the Mayor's office, to Rose Bautista for working hard on getting the agreements and working with the Big Island Filipino Community Council and thank them for stepping forward to be the host for this. And so thank you to the administration for making this possible as well. Thank you. CHR KANUHA: Okay. Vote on Res. 228-17: The motion to adopt Res. 228-17, as amended to Draft 2, Draft 2 was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair Kanuha – 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 4 GREDC-7 BILLS FOR ORDINANCES: rMb-TUAIirrAZIN MEN 1: Approved: 1 June 22, 2017 CHR. KANUHA: Resolution 228 will move on to Council with a positive recommendation. The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) There being no further business, at 10:32 a.m., Mr. Richards moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair Kanuha — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. KANUHA: We are adjourned. Mr. ru Mamo anuha, Chair Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee DMK/j m JUN Z 8 2017 (Date) Page 5