HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 28 2020 Meeting Minutes
County of Hawai‘i
OFFICE OF AGING
Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
Minutes
October 28, 2020 Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-3872
Phone (808) 961-8600 ⬥ Fax (808) 961-8603 ⬥ Email: hcoa@hawaiiantel.net
West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740
Phone (808) 323-4390 ⬥ Fax (808) 323-4398
Hawai`i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. An Area Agency on Aging
William H. Farr
Executive on Aging
Harry Kim
Mayor
Call to Order: Michelle Hiraishi (Chair) called the meeting to start at 10:09 a.m.
Members Present: Susan Shirachi (Secretary/Treasurer), Linda Gonzales, Byron Yogi
Members Excused: Pamela Punihaole (Vice Chair)
Members Unexcused: None
County Staff: Angelic Malia Hall (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Christina Raine (Office of Aging
Administrative Assistant), Charline Blanco (Office of Aging Committee Clerk)
Guests Present: None
Topic/Agenda Item Discussion Action
1. Welcome and
introductions.
Roll call conducted, members
acknowledged their presence.
Quorum met.
2 Approval of the
August 19,2020
Meeting Minutes
Motion made to approve minutes
by Member Shirachi, and
Member Yogi seconded. Motion
passed (4 ayes, 0 nays).
3. Public Testimony
on Agenda Items.
4. Old Business
Annual Report to the Mayor, review and
approve.
No public testimony.
Chair Hirashi unable to have a
draft for this meeting but will
have draft of letter to Mayor Kim
on November 18, 2020.
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5. New Business
Mayor’s Committee on People with
Disability Proposed By-Law revisions.
Housing subcommittee report
The Executive Committee
submitted the proposed version to
the Committee as a whole.
Motion passed (4 ayes, 0 nays).
County Attorney Hall concurred
with the proposed changes
suggested by Committee attorney
Yoshimoto (clarifying language
to Article VI, Article VII)
Motion to approve made by
Member Shirachi, and the second
by Member Yogi.
Motion passed (4 ayes, 0 nays).
Chair will be updating the bylaws
with the approved revisions
effective October 28, 2020.
Minutes will remain as formatted
until the new committee is
appointed by the Mayor. The
committee Secretary will be able
to assist the committee clerk with
formatting of the document.
Committee Administrative
Assistant will be providing a
timeline and deadline rubric for
the new committee members. The
agenda is required 6 days prior to
the meeting date, and the meeting
minutes must be posted 40 days
post meeting.
Housing options for low-income
and affordable housing was
shared by Member Shirachi.
Digital copies of information that
is currently available in Honolulu
and in Hawaii island. Honolulu
was explored as possible models
for consideration for Hawaii
county. The largest housing
resources for persons with
housing insecurities living in
Hawaii county are through Hope
Services.
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Budget Report (item moved out of order)
The beginning balance was
$2912.00. As of end of the first
quarter, the remaining balance is
$2566.01. For future meetings,
the budget report will be as a
standing agenda item.
Clarification about the use of the
committee funds to conduct
committee needs survey. The
concern of getting surveys out to
the community members who are
most impacted by the issue (e.g.,
volcano, lava, etc.). The costs
affiliated with this survey can be
as flyers for distribution.
Administrative staff reminded the
members of the process and
guidelines for County funding
requests that are related to the
purpose of the committee. Such
approval processes may include
additional County department
approval.
In the past, there were efforts on
awareness and committee
existence at local events that
targeted communities of persons
with disabilities. Chair Hiraishi
supported the concept with the
shared understanding that the
event is planned and vetted
through the committee. Member
Yogi mentioned that he was
approached by a community
person to the possibility of
funding by the committee to
support their community event as
a collaborative effort. Although
funding may not be possible, the
committee can be supportive, but
it would be based on a case-by-
case basis. The matter would also
need to be reviewed by the
Committee’s Deputy Corporation
Counsel. For funding discussion
purposes, the item should be
disclosed for public awareness.
The committee agreed to
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formalize the process if there
should be future requests by the
members. Member Shirachi will
draft amendments to the by-laws
for next meeting consideration.
7. Announcements
Member Yogi provided flyer and
information for a caregiver’s
support as a musical/respite
event. The event is called
Caregivers’ Delight on November
7, 2020 from 1 to 3 pm via Zoom.
Special musical numbers will be
provided by vocalists by
international singers from the
U.S., Germany, and Philippines.
Chair Hiraishi will be distributing
the Disability and
Communication Access Board’s
warning reminders for
reserved/handicapped parking
violators. Further discussion and
notices will be occurring at the
November 18, 2020 committee
meeting. A copy of ACT 087 will
be shared with Office of Aging
staff, and a summary of the latest
changes were shared by staff with
members. County Attorney Hall
reviewed the County coverage
depending on duties and action
taken by the member in regard to
the distribution of the warning
notices. Members were reminded
by Chair Hiraishi of the role and
the precautions of members in the
sharing the notices to the public.
8. Vox Populi (Voice
of the People)
This agenda item is for public
discussions that are not included on the
posted agenda.
No member of the public present.
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9. Next Meeting November 18, 2020, 10 am to 12 pm at the
Aging and Disability Resource Center,
Hilo, HI 96720
Members who are not able to
attend the meeting should notify
the Committee Clerk and as a cc
to the Chair.
Chair Hiraishi reminded members
that if they wish to be considered
for membership in the Mayor’s
Committee, the members need to
reapply to the Mayor’s office.
Mayor Kim’s term of office ends
on December 7, 2020 at 12 noon.
10. Adjournment Member Shirachi made a motion
to adjourn, Member Yogi
seconded the motion. Motion
passed (3 ayes, 0 nays). The
meeting adjourned at 11:25 am.