HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 037 2019/11/19 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: November 19, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 613
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 9:09 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 613, reports as follows:
Communication No. 613, transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim on October 31, 2019, submitted for the
Council's review his nominee for the Water Board, Benjamin Ney of Council District 9. The
communication noted that Mr. Ney is a Licensed Plumbing Journeyman/Contractor and small business
owner with approximately 15 years of experience. A lifelong resident of Hawaii Island, Mr. Ney is a
member of the Lions Club and has previously served on the North Kohala Community Development
Plan Action Committee.
Appearing before Your Committee was the nominee, and via videoconference from Hilo, Mayor's
Executive Assistant Rose Bautista to introduce him. Mr. Ney thanked Mayor Kim for nominating him,
stating that he very much wanted to fill the vacated position. He went on to discuss how water is a daily
necessity and that Hawaii Island was fortunate to have access to clean water, applauding the
Department of Water for their good work. He stated that he was interested in utilizing his time in this
capacity to address the challenges of an aging infrastructure, and to work on being progressive and
aggressive with new technologies to avoid costly incidentals. He appreciated that customers have
affordable rates and wanted to keep it that way with proper investments.
Council Member Herbert M. "Tim"Richards, expressed his support for the nominee, stating that he
knew Mr. Ney, and he believed him to be a good fit for the Water Board.
Committee Vice Chair Susan Lee Loy thanked Mr. Ney, and wanted to understand his experience with
water at the state level and as it relates to the Commission on Water Resource Management, given his
role as a plumbing contractor. Mr. Ney stated that he has generally dealt with water from an end user
perspective of the customers he has served and advocated for. He stated he had gone to the Department
of Water in the past to raise concerns from clients around good water use practices, extra allowance of
water,pricing controls, and so forth. Vice Chair Lee Loy expressed her appreciation for Mr.Ney for his
viewpoint and stated she wholeheartedly endorsed him.
Council Chair Aaron Chung brought up that he had once served Committee Vice Chair Lee Loy's
district and wanted to discuss the ongoing situation with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and
water service. He explained that water departments in the state had been "running interference"with the
Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which makes clear that water is to be free for Hawaiian Homesteads.
PC Report No. 37
PC-37 Page 2 November 19,2019
He noted that it was argued, with rationale coming specifically from Honolulu, that water was in fact
free, and charges only reflected the cost of water service. Chair Chung also pointed out that with this
3
logic, everyone on Hawaii Island was being afforded the same benefit. Mr. Ney responded that he
would be representative of everyone, and that he would never have considered serving on the Water
Board if it was without the mindset of serving community. The possibility that Hawaiian Home Lands
3
could potentially develop their own water sources, which could serve as an avenue to get more
qualifying individuals onto Hawaiian Homesteads, as well as a revenue generator if sold, was brought
Up-
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked Council Chair Chung for his thought provoking
sentiments. She thanked Mr. Ney for his tenacious work ethic, commitment, and willingness to serve.
She also appreciated his expressed desire to stay ahead of the curve to make investments today that will
be critical for the future. Mr. Ney pointed out that the community deserves the "best bang for their buck"
from organizations that"run off of tax dollars."
i
The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a positive recommendation and
passed unanimously with nine "ayes."
Planning Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz notified Mr. Ney that he was not required to appear at the full
Council meeting on December 4, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 8-2 of the Hawaii County Charter, the Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of
Council, a resident of each Council District to serve on the County of Hawaii Water Board.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication No. 613, and
recommends confirmation of the appointment of Benjamin Ney to the Water Board.
ck
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG x
DAVID x CO MITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x PC REPORT NO.: 37
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: DEC 0 4 201