HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-28 Water Board Minutes PHMINUTES
WATER BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FREQUENCY AND METHOD
OF CALCULATING THE POWER COST CHARGE
Hilo Operations Center Conference Room
October 28, 2008
PRESENT: Mr. Thomas Goya, Chairperson
Mr. Riley Smith, Vice - Chairperson (9:08 a.m.)
Mr. George Harai
Ms. Millie Kim
Mr. Bernard "Malu" Konanui
Mr. Francis Kuailani
Mr. Bryan Lindsey
Mr. Robert Meierdiercks
Mr. Dwayne Mukai
Mr. Milton Pavao, Manager, Department of Water Supply
(ex- officio member)
Mr. Quirino Antonio, Jr., Deputy Manager
Ms. Kris "Kanani" Aton, Public Information and Education Specialist
Mr. Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Daryl Ikeda, Chief of Operations
Mr. Clyde Young, Operations Division
Ms. Julie Myhre, Operations Division
Ms. Katherine Garson, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Mr. Jason Armstrong, Hawaii Tribune - Herald
CALL TO ORDER: 9:05 a.m.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: Good morning. I'd like to begin with reading a few things that were listed
for me. The notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii
Tribune- Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on October 5 and
October 7, 2008. I am Tom Goya, Chair of the Water Board; and the
members of the Water Board are as follows. Could you introduce
yourselves, beginning with Bryan.
BOARD MEMBERS: Bryan Lindsey, Francis Kuailani, Malu Konanui, George Harai,
Robert Meierdiercks, Dwayne Mukai, Millie Kim.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: And I'd also like the staff, beginning with you, Milton, to introduce
yourself.
STAFF: Milton Pavao, Quirino Antonio, Kanani Aton, Kathy Garson, Rick
Sumada, Daryl Ikeda, Julie Myhre, Clyde Young.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: And I guess, members of the public. Jason, the only one here. Jason?
J. ARMSTRONG: Jason Armstrong, Hawaii Tribune - Herald reporter.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: Well Jason, thank you for joining us this morning. We had hoped that
members of the public would at least come to see what the process is
about; and we thank you for coming and for giving the appropriate
information to our consumers. Thank you.
J. ARMSTRONG: You're welcome.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water
Board as provided by the Hawaii County Charter. Section 63 of Part III,
Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes, reads as follows:
"The board of water supply may fix and adjust rates and charges for the
furnishing of water and for water services so that the revenues derived
therefrom shall be sufficient to make the waterworks and water systems
self - supporting and to meet all expenditures authorized by this part; the
board may establish variable rates among the several districts of the
county, or among the areas served by the individual water systems within
the county, for the purpose of establishing charges as closely as possible
to the necessary amount required for the maintenance and operation of the
particular individual water systems; provided no rates and charges shall be
fixed or adjusted prior to the holding by the board of a public hearing,
public notice of which shall have been given not less than twenty days
before the date set for the hearing. The notice shall state the time and
place for the hearing and the proposed rates and charges to be considered
thereat. The time within which the notice shall be given shall be
computed by including the first day (the day of notice) and excluding the
last day."
We are here to receive comments or testimony on the proposed
amendment to the frequency and method of calculating the Power Cost
Charge. As stated in the hearing notice, all comments or testimony were
to be filed in writing before the time of the hearing or are to be presented
in person at the time of the hearing. We would like to follow this format
as closely as possible; however, because there may be some of you who
do not have any written statements but would like to testify or comment,
we would like to afford you this opportunity to do so but would like to
limit such presentations to five minutes because of the time element.
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The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Will you please
wait until you are recognized by the Chair; and for the record, could you
please step forward, state your name and the organization you represent, if
any.
Are there any individuals from the public willing to provide either written
or oral testimony at this public hearing? Hearing none, unfortunately, we
don't have anyone here. Again, Jason, we'd like to thank you for coming.
Although you didn't provide testimony, I'm sure that you will
communicate to the public why we are requesting this adjustment to our
water rates. At this time, I would like to entertain a Motion that this
public hearing be declared closed.
R. SMITH: So move.
D. MUKAI: Second.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: Riley moved; seconded by Dwayne. Any discussion? All those in favor
of the Motion say aye.
BOARD MEMBERS: Unanimous ayes.
CHAIRPERSON GOYA: Opposed? None. Motion carried.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:10 a.m.)
Secretary
The Department of Water Supply is an Equal Opportunity employer and provider.
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