HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-22 Water Board Meeting Minutes MINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE
August 22, 2023
West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona,Hawaii
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Steven Hirakami, Chairperson
Mr. Stephen Kawena Lopez,Vice-Chairperson
Mr. Michael Bell,Water Board Member
Mr. Thomas Brown,Water Board Member
Ms. Julie Hugo,Water Board Member
Mr. Michael Pono Kekela,Water Board Member
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto,Manager-Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply(ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Ms. Kea Keolanui,Water Board Member
Mr. Benjamin Ney,Water Board Member
Mr. Keith Unger,Water Board Member
Director,Planning Department(ex-officio member)
Director, Department of Public Works (ex-officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Diana Mellon-Lacey, Deputy Corporation Counsel
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY STAFF:
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Candace Gray,Waterworks Controller
Mr. Gregory Goodale, Chief of Operations
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr.Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
Mr. Alvin Inouye,Water Operations Superintendent
Ms. Sunshine Carter, Private Secretary
Ms.Nora Avenue, Recording Secretary
(Chairperson Hirakami called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.)
CHR. HIRAKAML I'm Steve Hirakami, Chairman of the Board. At this time, I'd like the secretary to
call roll.
MS. AVENUE: Mr. Bell.
MR. BELL: Present.
MS. AVENUE: Mr. Brown.
MR. BROWN: Here.
MS. AVENUE: Ms.Hugo.
MS. HUGO: Here.
MS. AVENUE: Mr. Kekela.
MR. KEKELA: E6
MS. AVENUE: Ms. Keolanui
MS. KEOLANUL (No response.)
MS. AVENUE: Mr. Lopez.
MR. LOPEZ: Yup.
MS. AVENUE: Mr.Ney.
MR.NEY: (No response.)
MS. AVENUE: Mr. Unger.
MR. UNGER: (No response.)
MS. AVENUE: Chair Hirakami.
CHR. HIRAKAML Here.
MS. AVENUE: Chair,you have six members present with three being absent, Ms. Keolanui,Mr.Ney,
and Mr. Unger.
CHR. HIRAKAML Thank you. Notice of this Public Hearing was published in both Hawaii
newspapers on August 1, 2023.
The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water Board as provided by the
Hawaii County Charter,and as part of Hawaii Revised Statutes,this Board is allowed to adjust rates up
or down so that we be self-sufficient and be able to carry on consistent water distribution on the Island of
Hawaii. With that being said,I didn't see any protestors outside to testify,but do we have any public
testifiers?
MS. AVENUE: We have none, Chair.
CHR. HIRAKAML We have none. Okay, so we'll be discussing the Power Cost Charge adjustment,but
actually it's very favorable because it's going from $2.70 to $2.64 per thousand gallons. At this time,
because we don't have any testimony,I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing be closed.
MS. HUGO: So move.
MR. KEKELA: Pono, second.
Page 2 of August 22,2023,Minutes of the Public Hearing on the Power Cost Charge
CHR. HIRAKAML Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of adjourning say"aye." (Board
unanimous "ayes.) Any opposed? (None). We are adjourned.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:48 a.m.)
Page 3 of August 22,2023,Minutes of the Public Hearing on the Power Cost Charge