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<br />REGULAR SESSION MINUTES <br />DECEMBER 19, 2025 <br />HAWAII COUNTY BUILING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS <br />25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1401,HILO, HI <br />CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL <br />Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 9:05a.m. <br />Present:Rick Robinson, Chair <br />Wendy Botelho, Commissioner <br />Arthur Buckman, Commissioner <br />Lloyd Enriquez, Commissioner <br />Eileen Lacerte, Commissioner <br />Jacob Tavares, Commissioner <br />Bernadette Urban-Smith, Commissioner <br />Greg Yamada, Commissioner <br />Absent:John Bertsch, Vice Chair <br />A quorum was present. <br />Also present:Reed Mahuna, Interim Police Chief <br />Chad Basque,Assistant Chief <br />Sherry Bird, Assistant Chief <br />Scott Amaral, Major <br />Edwin Buyten, Captain <br />Tuck Loy Aurello, Captain <br />Denise Laitinen, Public Relations Officer <br />Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br />Michelle Simmons, Human Resources <br />Charisse Correa, Secretary <br />STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS <br />Roger Christieaddressed the topics of cannabis and COVID, referencing a U.S. <br />Supreme Court conference involving alleged surveillance of his cannabis ministry and <br />violations of privacy rightsunder state and federal law.He discussed the historical <br />use, and long-term social harm.He urged reconsideration of cannabis prohibition and <br />suggested HPD support legislative reform. He referenced existing religious-use <br />protections, the “lesser magistrate doctrine,” and stated that homes and property should <br />be treated as sanctuaries. He cited the 2008 voter-approved low-enforcement-priority <br />cannabis ordinance and invited the Commission to an event on January 8 at the Arc of <br />Hilo. <br /> <br />