HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-28 Water Board Public Hearing Minutes re: Power Cost Charge
MINUTES
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
PUBLIC HEARING ON POWER COST CHARGE
November 28, 2017
West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Russell Arikawa, Vice-Chairperson
Mr. William Boswell, Jr.
Mr. Nestorio Domingo
Mr. Leningrad Elarionoff
Mr. Eric Scicchitano
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager-Chief Engineer, Department of Water
Supply (ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Ms. Brenda Iokepa-Moses, Water Board Member
Ms. Kanoe Wilson, Water Board Member
Mr. Bryant Balog, Water Board Member
Mr. Craig Takamine, Water Board Chairperson
Director, Planning Department (Ex-Officio Member)
Director, Department of Public Works (Ex-Officio Member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Jessica Yeh, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Department of Water Supply Staff
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms. Kaiulani Matsumoto, Administration Division
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Candace Gray, Assistant Waterworks Controller
Mr. Clyde Young, Operations Division
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr. Warren Ching, Operations Division
(Vice-Chairperson Arikawa called the public hearing to order at 9:45 a.m.)
Vice-Chairperson Arikawa: 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 Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald and
West Hawai‘i Today on November 2, 2017.
Good morning. My name is Russell Arikawa, Vice-Chairperson of the Water
Board. Will the members of the Board please introduce yourselves, starting with
Bill?
Board Members: Bill Boswell, Eric Scicchitano, Nestorio Domingo, Leningrad Elarionoff.
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Vice-Chairperson: Thank you. The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this
Water Board as provided by the Hawai‘i County Charter. Section 63 of Part III,
Chapter 54, Hawai‘i 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
Power Cost Charge. The Department recommends decreasing the Power Cost Charge
from $1.73 to $1.62 per thousand gallons to reflect the decrease in 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? 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.
W. Boswell: So move.
N. Domingo: Second.
Vice-Chairperson: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those in favor
say “aye.”
Water Board Members: Unanimous ayes.
Vice-Chairperson: Opposed? (none) Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.)
___________________________
Recording Secretary
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