Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.29.22. COG Commission Minutes - Approved COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES / September 29, 2022 INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): ZOOM WITH IN-PERSON LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY PER AGENDA \[2:00 pm\] \[1\] CALL TO ORDER, QUORUM Chair Konowicz called the meeting to order with quorum. ATTENDANCE Present: D9 Michael Konowicz, Chair D1 Neal Herbert, Vice Chair D2 Mathias Kusch D3 Chantee Shiroma D4 Maddie Green D5 Shannon Matson D6 Kenneth Obenski D8 Karie Wakat Excused: D7 Daniel Malakie III Additional: Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel Robert Command, Office of the Mayor Jeannie Miskovich, Commission Secretary Pomaika’i Bartolome, Office of the Mayor \[2:02 pm\] \[2\] STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None \[3\] COMMUNICATIONS None \[2:04 pm\] \[4\] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2022, MEETING Comm. Obenski moved to approve the September 22, 2022, COG Commission Meeting Minutes Comm. Wakat Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous 9/22/2022 Meeting Minutes Approved \[2:08 p.m.\] \[5\] DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND DECISION ON THE FINAL REPORT FORMAT Discussion: Chair Konowicz went over the submitted report format Comm.(s) Wakat, Herbert, Kusch commented in agreement with the format MOTION: Comm. Obenski moved to accept the submitted format as a template for the 2022 Cost of Government Commission Final Report Comm. Kusch Seconded the Motion Discussion: Report will be sent through Keyra Wong, Corp. Counsel, for spelling/grammar, non-substantive editing Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous Motion to accept the submitted format as a template for the Final Report Passes \[6\] DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND DECISION ON A RECOMMENDA- TION THAT THE ROLE OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR BE REDEFINED \[2:17 p.m.\] Testimony: Public oral testimony (Debbie Hecht) Discussion: Commissioners discussed the checks and balances in place to filter political appointments of Department/Division Heads, the role of Mayor, County Council, and best practices to keep continuity across administrations. This type of recommendation would require County Charter amendments –and a legislative review to identify all additional charter amendments necessary. Bobby Command commented on Hawai‘i County history: Hawai‘i County had a system of a Board of Supervisors with the Chair as de facto Mayor, until 1968, when the present system was chartered. MOTION: Comm. Obenski moved to include a broad recommendation in the report that the role of the Managing Director be redefined. No Second / Motion dies Discussion: Comm. Herbert suggested tabling the issue until the 10/6/22 meeting MOTION: Comm. Herbert moved to table the discussion on recommendations regarding the role of Managing Director to the 10/6/2022 meeting Comm. Matson seconds the Motion Discussion: Comm. Kusch commented that the commission could recommend the subject for a future Cost of Government Commission to take on. Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous Motion to table the Discussion, Review, and Decision on a Recommendation that the Role of the Managing Director be Redefined to the 10/6/2022 meeting passes \[7\] DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND DECISION ON A RECOMMENDA- TION THAT A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (CO)BE ISSUED WITH EACH REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION Discussion: Comm. Wakat – Clarification as to land or buildings- and whether recommendation is exclusive to secondary real estate only? Chair clarifies. Comm Kusch raised hesitations for many reasons - older homes, challenging socio-economic concerns, expenses to administer such a program, and the recommendation would make housing even more expensive. Chair Konowicz commented that the fees would cover any expenses and raised a public safety issue. Comm. Obenski commented that the recommendation would contribute to further housing shortages and is over aggressive; Comm. Wakat suggested the CO recommendation be applied outside of the main population. MOTION: Comm. Obenski moved to let the recommendation die/ No Second \[3:07\] Discussion: Comm. did not show support to move the recommendation Forward. If a commissioner wants to revive the issue later, it can be placed as an agenda item at a later meeting. \[3:10\] \[8\] STATUS REPORTS OF PERMITTED INTERACTION GROUPS 8(a) BUILDING DIVISION – Comm. Herbert status: No report – The PIG is working on format 8(b) INFORMATION TECH. - Final report submitted. \[3:13\] MOTION: Comm. Obenski moved to accept the final IT Report Recommendations Comm. Kusch seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous Motion to accept IT PIG Report recommendations passes 8 (c) DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – Final Report Submitted (attached) \[3:20\] MOTION: Comm. Matson moved to accept report recommendations as put forth with final fine-tuning in final draft Comm. Herbert seconded the motion Discussion: Keyra Wong briefly re-stated the points of the Konno Decision. Comm. Matson re-stated the importance of wastewater, looking at Oahu County \[3:35\] Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous Motion to accept DEM report recommendations as put forth with final fine- tuning in final draft passes 8(d) COUTY-WIDE FLEET ACROSS FUNCTIONS- No report submitted 8(e) BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS (B&C)- The B&C PIG presented its findings and recommendations, which will be deliberated and decided upon at the October 6, 2022, meeting. \[3:42\] Discussion: Chair Konowicz described model of administration for the Boards and Commissions in Kauai County. \[9\] STATUS REPORTS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS ON PRIORITY FOCUS AREA, SUGGESTED SAVINGS/EFFICIENCY AREAS AND REVENUE GENERATION Discussion: Comm. Herbert submitted three reports (1) Vehicle Registration (2) Personnel and (3) Volunteers (attached) MOTION: Comm. Wakat moved to forward Comm. Herbert’s three focus areas into the final report Comm. Obenski seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous \[3:50\] Motion to forward Comm. Herbert’s three focus reports to the final report of the Commission passes \[10\] DISCUSSION ON ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA Discussion: Chair Konowicz commented that Hawai`i Police Department has a dedicated Public Information Officer (PIO) position, Hawai`i Fire Department and the Civil Defense Agency do not have PIO positions, or position budgets. The Commission could consider a recommendation to add POI positions to these Departments for direct communication during public emergencies. \[11\] ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting of the Cost of Government Commission will be October 6, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. \[3:58 pm\] \[12\] ADJOURNMENT Comm. Wakat made a Motion to Adjourn Comm. Herbert Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m. *****