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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-14 Redistricting Commission Agenda Packet Hawaii County Clerk's - 10/08/2021 08:58:40 AM BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOW O��'!'�F�4i�, MEIZHU LUI Chairperson 4�•• � ,4 DWAYNE YOSHINA JENNIFER YADAO JAMES HUSTACE STEPHANIE BATH Vice Chairperson AINA AKAMU STEPHEN LOPEZ �TF•OF•N�'� 2021 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION AGENDA October 14, 2021 9:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 5th Session Pursuant to the Governor's most recent proclamation, in order to minimize physical contact, maximize social distancing, and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, this meeting will not be open to the public for in-person attendance. This session will be held by interactive video conference through the Zoom platform. Public Viewing The public may observe the meeting by viewing a live stream on the Commission's YouTube channel at: haps://www.youtube.com/channel/IJCYzBy9MDfzQXm2ygg2sklag. Note: if technical difficulties disrupt the livestream, the meeting may continue Providing Oral Testimony: The public may provide oral testimony via videoconference through Zoom. Email redistrictingcommission@hawaiicouniy.gov or call 808-961-8020 no later than 12 noon, Wednesday, October 13, 2021. When a request is received, Commission staff will provide information on how to access the meeting through Zoom, along with brief instructions. Written Testimony: To ensure timely delivery to Commission Members prior to the meeting, written testimony must be submitted before 12 noon,Wednesday, October 13, 2021 by: (1) email to redistrictingcommission@hawaiicoun ov, 2) facsimile to (808) 961-8673, or(3) mail to Redistricting Commission, Office of the County Clerk, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720. All written testimony, regardless of time of receipt, will be part of the permanent record. Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Hawai'i County Clerk's - 10/08/2021 08:58:40 AM 2021 Redistricting Commission—5' Page 2 October 14,2021 ORDER OF BUSINESS CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (Testimony will be taken only on items on the agenda and will be limited for a length of time determined at the discretion of the Chairperson, not to be less than three minutes per item.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES COMMUNICATIONS Communication 15 From Ms. Sumera-Lee: submitting resignation from District 3 seat(portion of South Hilo, portion of Kea`au) of the Redistricting Commission. and Communication 15.1 From Chairperson Kossow and Vice Chairperson Hustace to Mayor Roth requesting the Commission District 3 vacancy be filled. Communication 17 From Elections Program Administrator Patricia Nakamoto: for review on information requested regarding the processing for counting inmates. Communication from Deputy Corporation Counsel Diana M. Mellon-Lacey: advising the Commission of their authority and parameters to adjust census data in redistricting map considerations. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. Communication 16—From Commissioner Lui, outreach to Native Hawaiian population during redistricting process 2. Discussion on placing Kalapana and areas of Lower Puna into Council District 4. Requested by Commissioner Bath. 3. Review of Alternate Plans submitted. The Commission may review, discuss, and consider any alternate redistricting plans received from the public pursuant to Hawaii County Code Chapter 36, Article 5. 4. Review of Draft Plans. The Commission may review, discuss, and consider any redistricting plans submitted by Commissioners. 5. Discussion on budgetary means for advertisements and value of social media presence for Commission activities. Requested by Chairperson Kossow. Hawaii County Clerk's - 10/08/2021 08:58:40 AM 2021 Redistricting Commission—5' Page 3 October 14,2021 6. Projecting dates and times of Commission meetings for remainder of term. Requested by Chairperson Kossow, the Commission may review, discuss, and establish consensus on proposals for scheduling regular session meetings up until dissolving. REPORTS REFERRALS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability,please call 808-961-8020 as soon as possible, preferably by October 12, 2021. If a response is received after October 12, 2021, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled. Commissioners may also be present at the Kona Council Chambers, West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A. Commissioners may also be participating via attendance through videoconferencing by the Zoom platform. COMMUNICATION 015 (received 2021-10-01) Redistricting Commission Attn: Dennis Kauka (County of Hawaii) Re: Redistricting Commission District 3 To Whom it May Concern, Aloha, It is with deep regret that I am so sorry to inform you I am unable to comitt to the Redistricting Commission at this time. I have had something urgent and unfortunate happen and I must resign immediately. This resignation comes with great saddness. I was deeply honored to be nomininated for this role in our community and I hope one day, I am able to represent our district and our community, at another time. Mahalo for the opportunity. Sincerely, 73-�- Breeani Sumera-Lee Hilo Hawaii 96720 BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOW Chairperson JAMES HUSTACE [rice Chairperson COPY 2021 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, HI 96720 October 4, 2021 RE: Redistricting Commission vacancy Dear Mayor Roth: COMMUNICATION 015.1 MEIZHU LUI DWAYNE YOSHINA JENNIFER YADAO STEPHANIE BATH AINA AKAMU STEPHEN LOPEZ i� On October 1, 2021, the District 3 (portion of South Hilo, portion of Kea`au) representative on the Redistricting Commission submitted her immediate resignation due to unforeseen, personal circumstances. As Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission, we Fespectfully urge that you execute the necessary steps to f ll this vacancy without delay. Specifically, we humbly ask that you work swiftly to submit a nominee to the County Council by October 15, 2021, so that they may consider a confirmation at their November 3 meeting. Any action on this matter that can reasonably be completed sooner is welcomed. We recognize that there are procedural elements internal to the Council that affect the timing of a nomination and are prepared to work with the Council Chairperson in seeking expedited accommodations at any level feasible. We also acknowledge that the proper vetting and selection of a suitable appointment to this Commission requires your significant evaluation. It is imperative, however, that all measures be taken to seat a replacement in as short an order as possible. Section 13-4(e) of the County Charter states that "(a)ny vacancy occurring in any board or commission shall be filled for the unexpired term. " As you may be aware, the Redistricting Commission is unique in that it will dissolve after completing and submitting its redistricting plan, which, per the Charter and unless extended, must be filed by December 31. Due to the protracted delay in receiving data from the U.S. Census bureau that was fundamental to starting our duties, the Commission is already facing daunting time constraints. Redistricting Commission Page 2 October 4, 2021 To maintain its critical timeline, our Commission diligently continues with its proceedings of assessing and establishing map boundaries for each council district. The nature of work that the Redistricting Commission is tasked with makes it especially critical that all nine of the island's council districts be fairly and adequately represented in its composition and deliberations. Neglecting to pursue all possible means for replacing this vacancy — with a sense of urgency -- would be a disservice to the current residents of Council District 3 and the community at -large. Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedication to ensuring that the public is well -served. We look forward to your appointment. Respectfully, Bronsten-Glenn Kossow Chairperson James Hustace Vice Chairperson c: Members of the Redistricting Commission Pomaika` i Bartolome, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Jon Henricks, County Cleric Lee E. Lord, Managing Director Maile Medeiros David, Council Chairperson Susan L.K. Lee Loy, District 3 Council Member B K/JH/dkj r BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOW Chair person JAMES HUSTACE Vice Chairperson 2021 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION DATE: October 4, 2021 TO: Bronsten-Glenn Kossow, Chairperson C: members of the Redistricting Commission Commission staff FROM: ;'-A4eizhui Lui �� t` ; :':'., : I' s } COMMUNICATION 016 MEIZHU LUI DWAYNE YOSHINA JENNIFER YADAO STEPHANIE BATH AFNA AKAMU STEPHEN LOPEZ SUBJECT: outreach to Native Hawaiian population during redistricting process While there is a good process of District meetings to solicit public input, 1'd like to propose that the Redistricting Commission make a special effort to include more Native Hawaiians in the process. Given that this is perhaps the most important "community of interest," the fact that Native Hawaiians are over -represented in terms of poorer economic and health conditions, that solutions and programs are often not culturally appropriate, that their voices are too often marginalized, coupled with the fact that the population is scattered throughout our Districts, 1'd Iike to propose that we do specific outreach to Native Hawaiian community members and leaders. 1 don't know if or how the 2011 process took Native Hawaiians into account, and would like to know what was considered then in the drawing of the current map. it is important that Native Hawaiians are represented in as best a way as possible in a new map. Please place this item on the October 14, 2021 agenda for discussion. Thank you for your consideration. ML/dkjr f1cm,ai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer JON HENRICKS County Clerk COMMUNICATION 017 AARON BROWN Deputy County Clerk OFFICE OF THE CO UNTY CLERK Elections Division County ofHawai `i Hawai `i County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 2021 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION To: Bronsten Kossow, Commission Chairperson From: Patricia Nakamoto, Elections Program Administrator Date October 6, 2021 Chair Kossow and Members of the Redistricting Commission, The following information was received from the Census Bureau via the Hawaii State Data Center Research and Economic Analysis Division, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. This information addresses the process for counting inmates. The prisons are designated as a Group Quarters (GQ). For the 2020 Decennial each GQ self- reported their counts for the Decennial using administrative records. The preferred method was for each GQ to submit the data electronically. If the GQ was unable to submit electronically, then the GQ could have submitted the data to a Census Taker. The count would be associated with the address of the GQ itself. The information received from the Warden at the Punahele Street address "a census taker was given access to individuals to complete census forms". This sounds more like our current survey, GQ. GQ falls under the American Community Survey. It's a monthly survey, prisons and college dormitories often fall into sample a few times a year depending on the size of their population. There were 514 individuals counted in correctional facilities for adults in Hawaii County. cc: Dennis Kauka, Redistricting Secretary Redistricting Commission Members Hawai'i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.