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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-26 Water Board Public Hearing Minutes re: Power Cost ChargeMINUTES WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE POWER COST CHARGE Department of Water Supply, Operations Center Conference Room, 889 Leilani Street, Hilo, HI January 26, 2016 PRESENT: Mr. Craig Takamine, Chairperson Mr. Russell Arikawa, Vice -Chairperson Ms. Brenda Iokepa-Moses, Board Member Ms. Susan Lee Loy, Board Member Mr. Jay Uyeda, Board Member Ms. Kanoe Wilson, Board Member Mr. Keith Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply (ex -officio member) Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy Mr. Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head Ms. Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel Ms. Kanani Aton, Public Information and Education Specialist Mr. Clyde Young, Operations Ms. Judy Hayducsko, Operations Ms. Nancy Cook Lauer, West Hawaii Today Mr. Chad Funasaki, N&K CPAs, Inc. Mr. Ryan Iwane, N&K CPAs, Inc. CALL TO ORDER: 9:46 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 December 6, 2015. Good morning. My name is Craig Takamine, Chairperson of the Water Board, and will the members of the Board please introduce themselves, starting from my right? (Ms. Lee Loy; Mr. Uyeda; Mr. Arikawa, Ms. Wilson and Ms. Iokepa-Moses 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: "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 Page I of 2 Public Hearing Minutes re: Power Cost Charge 1-26-16 js 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 this 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 comment or testimony on the proposed amendment to the Power Cost Charge. The Department recommends decreasing the Power Cost Charge from $1.85 to $1.81, to reflect the decrease in the Department of Water Supply's power costs. 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. 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. Is there anyone here to provide oral testimony? If so, for the record, please state your name and organization, if any. There being none, I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing be closed. MR. ARIKAWA: So move. MS. LEE LOY: Second. CHAIRPERSON: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those in favor say "aye." Opposed? Motion is carried. Thank you. (Public Hearing adjourned at 9:49 a.m.) Secretary Page 2 of 2 Public Hearing Minutes re: Power Cost Charge 1-26-16 js