HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-23 Water Board Public Hearing Minutes MINUTES
WATER BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE POWER COST CHARGE
West Hawaii Civic Center, Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona
August 23, 2011
PRESENT: Mr. Dwayne Mukai, Chairperson
Mr. Robert Meierdiercks, Vice-Chairperson
Mr. David Greenwell, Board Member
Mr. Ken Kaneshiro, Board Member
Mr. Bryan Lindsey
Mr. Delan Perry, Board Member
Mr. Art Taniguchi, Board Member
Mr. Milton Pavao, Manager-Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply
(ex-officio member)
Mr. Quirino Antonio, Jr., Deputy
Mr. Richard Sumada,Waterworks Controller
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Kathy Garson, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Mr. Larry Beck, Engineering Division
Ms. Julie Myhre, Energy Management Analyst
Mr. Alex Frost, Department of Research and Development
Ms. Chelsea Jensen,West Hawaii Today
Mr. Steve Dearing
Mr. Russ Robinson
Mr. George Wilkins
Mr. Ken Kawahara
Mr. Steve Bowles
Mr. John Richards
CALL TO ORDER: 9:55 a.m.
CHAIRPERSON: Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed new cost of
Power Adjustment Clause please come to order.
The notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune-
Herald and West Hawaii Today on July 31, 2011.
Good morning. My name is Dwayne Mukai. I'm the Chairperson of the
Water Board, and will the members of the Board please introduce
yourselves, from my left to my right? Mr. Kaneshiro?
(Messrs. Kaneshiro, Greenwell, Meierdiercks, Taniguchi, Lindsey and
Perry introduce themselves.)
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:
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"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 Power Cost Charge, from$2.23 to a range of between $2.23 and
$2.65. The Department recommends increasing the Power Cost Charge
from$2.23 to $2.31,based on the July 2011 calculations of 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 limit.
Mr. Meierdiercks,the Vice Chair, would be our timekeeper, so when you
have one minute remaining, he will put up a sign, and he'll put up a Stop
sign when your time is up. I'd also like to remind you,please, if you have a
cell phone or a pager, please turn it off or put it on mute.
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, actually sit the table here, state your name and the
organization you represent, if any.
Is there anyone here to provide oral testimony? For the record, please state
your name and organization, if any.
Is there anyone here for the public testimony?
SECRETARY: Mr. Chair, we have no one signed up for this.
CHAIRPERSON: And no written testimony?
SECRETARY: Not for testimony at this Public Hearing.
CHAIRPERSON: Okay. There being none, I would like to entertain a motion that this Public
Hearing be closed.
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MR. MEIERDIERCKS: So move.
MR. TANIGUCHI: Second.
CHAIRPERSON: Moved by Mr. Meierdiercks, and seconded by Mr. Taniguchi. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, we'll call for the question. All those in favor,
signify by saying "Aye." Opposed, "Nay"? Motion is carried. Okay.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 10:00 a.m.)
Acting Secretary-Administrative Assistant
The Department of Water Supply is an Equal Opportunity employer and provider.
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