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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PSC 2019/02/04 2018-2020CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: Present STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: COMMUNI- r A TTnNc Committee on Public Safety 3" Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii February 4, 2019 The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Safety was called to order at 9:05 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair. Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair Ms. Karen Eoff, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. (There were none.) CHR. VILLEGAS: We'll move on to Communications, Mr. Clerk. The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. Comm. 76: NOMINATION OF ROBERT M. YAMADA II TO THE FIRE COMMISSION From Mayor Harry Kim, dated January 16, 2019, submitting for the Council's review and confirmation the above nomination. Requires Council Confirmation by: March 1, 2019 (Section 13-4(1), Hawaii County Charter) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Robert M. Yamada II to the Fire Commission. Seconded by Mr. Richards. PSC -3 February 4, 2019 (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Rose Bautista came forward to introduce and provide a brief narrative of the nominee to the members of the Committee.) CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you Ms. Bautista. Mr. Yamada, would you like to share anything or say anything before I open the floor to the Council Members? MR. YAMADA: Well, I'm an advocate for the Hawaiian Kingdom, but I see service on this commission as not in conflict with my belief. And the reason for that is, before the takeover, there was the Police Department; there was the Fire Department all serving under the Hawaiian Kingdom. And when the overthrow happened, the transition from Hawaiian Kingdom to Territory of Hawaii was pretty much seamless because those people that served in their capacity were asked to pledge their allegiance to the territory. So, they existed before the overthrow and they existed after the overthrow. So, I see my participation here as not being in conflict with my belief. I just wanted to be up front about that. CHR. VILLEGAS: Great. Thank you Mr. Yamada. Do any of the Council Members have anything to say to Mr. Yamada? Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, and thank you, Bobby, for being here. And I appreciate you putting that on the table. We've seen you advocate here before us in the past. And so, I really appreciate you kind of putting in the lane that this commission really has a function separate and apart from some of the advocacy positions you've taken in the past. So, I really do appreciate that. For the rest of my colleagues, I've known Mr. Yamada 20 -plus years. He's from the homestead. He's very intimate with the community, and as you can see, is able to maintain a level of integrity, but also be forthright with his views and his positions. So with that, I'll yield the floor. Thank you. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Council Member Lee Loy. Would anyone else like to say anything? Council Chair Chung. MR. CHUNG: And first of all, thank you for at least giving that explanation, you know, right off the top. I kind of disagree with your assessment, though. That's my personal opinion. You have your opinion. I think the position that you've taken in the past is inconsistent with serving on a commission or board that falls within the auspices of the County of Hawaii. But, having said that and since you have the endorsement of Ms. Lee Loy, it's consistent in your mind. That's really all that matters. If you want to work within the context of our framework, that's fine with me. I'm not going to use that against you, but I just wanted to state for the record, I think your explanation is inconsistent in my opinion, in my humble opinion. Thanks. Page 2 PSC -3 February 4, 2019 CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Chair Chung. If there are no more questions, thank you, Mr. Yamada, for your willingness to serve. Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Chair, and maybe this is more a question for Ms. Bautista. I just wanted to understand Ms. Bautista from a vetting standpoint, is this the type of questions that is being asked of our applicants, because the last thing we want to create is any awkwardness for people who want to serve our community, but understand the framework of the Charter and an oath that we have to take, not only as policy makers but as decision makers down at the board levels. I really want to hear how that vetting process happens. MS. BAUTISTA: First of all, excuse me, I'm recovering from bronchitis. First of all, we do research. We ask people as to who this individual is. Okay, I don't go around askingI mean we Google them, number one. If anything negative comes up. We do that, we do background checks on them. If anything negative comes up, we'll do more vetting. We'll really look into that. But as far as Mr. Yamada was concerned, nothing negative came up. Nothing came up on his position with the Hawaiian Kingdom. I wasn't aware. I've asked people if they knew anything about Mr. Yamada. None of that. I asked members of the Japanese community; the Hawaiian community. They were all positive. Nothing surfaced in terms of his political status with the Hawaiian Kingdom. Had that come up, it would have been another vetting process. That was brought up to me after the decision was made. So, sure we look at everything, and that is a concern for us. But in the end, it was the Mayor that makes the decision. The Mayor contacts the applicant to get things cleared as to whatever those hearsays were, and he makes the ultimate decision, as it was in this case. Thank you. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. MS. BAUTISTA: I hope that answers your question. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah it does, and maybe that's just one more checklist you guys need to consider while we go through these applicants. Because it's hard enough to fill these boards and commissions. And the time away—and you know, with Mr. Yamada, he's retired. I've actually known him for a long time, not only personally, but professionally. And you know, it's really sad that maybe a little more due diligence would kind of sidestep some of the awkwardness that's being felt right here, right now. So, with that Mr. Yamada, thank you for being here. Thank you for your honesty and your integrity. MS. BAUTISTA: I just want to add, we do our best to make sure we can prevent any type of hostility, negative feelings that come before the Council. And I think Page 3 PSC -3 February 4, 2019 we do an awesome job in terms of vetting the individuals. And you're right, it's not simple to get applicants to apply to these boards. And it's not easy to vet all these individuals to come to this board. So, I just wanted to let you guys know what it takes and the process it takes to get good qualified individuals to all the boards and commissions. And then, I ask members, like all of you, if there's anything you guys want to say about it; I mean, if you have any opinion, feel free to call my office. Let me know if there's any negative opinion, positive, what have you, and I'd appreciate it because it's a whole effort by everyone, I believe. So again, I just wanted to put that out. Thank you. CHR VILLEGAS: Thank you, Ms. Bautista. Chair Chung. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, thank you. And I don't think anybody here is questioning Mr. Yamada's integrity. Even if we have differences of opinions doesn't necessarily mean the two sides don't have integrity, right? And I fully expect you Mr. Yamada to do your best within the framework of what's provided for in the Hawaii County Charter in exercising your duties to the best of your abilities and for the sake of the County. You know, I'm just wondering—were you approached by the Administration, or did you on your own submit this request? MR. YAMADA: On my own, I did that. MR. CHUNG: I'm kind of curious, you know. You have Fire Commission first; second, Police Commission; third, Transportation Commission; and the fourth, the Water Board. And this is a discussion that Ms. Lee Loy and I have had over the past several months, you know, because actually I think the Water Board might have been kind of good for you, given the position that you have taken. Because we've always talked about that issue about water free of all charge that's contained in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which seems to be a real sticking point throughout the State. And you know ironically, even if I did say that I think your position with Hawaiian Kingdom and taking this position with a County Board might be inconsistent, I think it might be interesting if you were on this board actually. You know, the Water Board, for the reasons that I just mentioned. So, you might want to think about that later on if something opens up. MR. YAMADA: Well, it's a list and one of them had to be number one. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, but I just think number one should have been the Water Board. MS. BAUTISTA: That's true. MR. YAMADA: They all could be number one as far as I'm concerned. Page 4 PSC-3 February 4,2019 MR. CHUNG: Alright. CHR. VILLEGAS: Alright, if there are no more questions, thank you Mr. Yamada, appreciate your willingness to serve. Council Members, all in favor of the motion to recommend confirmation, please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 76: The motion to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) appointment of Mr. Robert M. Yamada, II to the Fire Commission was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Poindexter, Richards, and Chair Villegas—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. VILLEGAS: The nomination of Mr. Robert M. Yamada, II, moves to Council with a positive recommendation. Mr. Yamada you are not required to be present for the final confirmation at full Council in two weeks. Thank you for being here today. MS. BAUTISTA: Thank you. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Ms. Bautista. Okay, I seen no further business, can I have a motion to adjourn? ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 9:19 a.m., Ms. Poindexter moved to adjourn the MENT: meeting. Seconded by Mr. Richards and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Poindexter, Richards, and Chair Villegas—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Approved: a h., 9 MyRe ecca 'llegas, Chai (Date) Public Safety Committee RV/dt Page 5