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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCA-31 Department of Agriculture and EnergyPROPOSAL NO. ________ (For Commission Use Only) 2009-2010 HAWAI‘I COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL FORM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Name of Commission Member:______________________________________________ 2. If applicable, list the charter provision(s) to be deleted or amended: 3. Provide a brief description of the purpose of the proposed charter amendment; include a description of the issue the proposal would address: 4. If the proposal is based on a provision(s) in the charter or law of another jurisdiction, name the jurisdiction and, if possible, attach a copy of the relevant provision(s). 5. If the proposal is based on any written materials you have, please attach a copy with a citation to its source. See reverse side Form CA-1 Revised 4/2/09 1 of 2 6. Attach the text of the proposed charter amendment in Ramseyer format (see below). Ramseyer Format, if proposing: Amendments to Existing Charter Provisions Any language being proposed to be added to the Charter shall be underscored. Any language being proposed to be deleted from the Charter shall be [bracketed]. Replacing Existing Charter Provisions in their Entirety Clearly indicate the article(s), chapter(s), and/or section(s) of the Charter to be proposed to be deleted, and provide the text of any provisions proposed to replace the deleted material. New Charter Provisions Provide the text of the new provision(s) and, if possible, indicate where in the Charter the new material should be inserted. Form CA-1 Revised 4/2/09 2 of 2 The purpose of the proposed charter amendment is to enhance economic development in the county by fully realizing the potential for agricultural development and energy production on the island. Hawai’i County is home to an agricultural industry that includes dairies, ranching, farming, orchard crops, ornamental flowers and nurseries, and relatively abundant natural resources. In order for the industry to act as an economic engine for the island, county resources must be re-allocated and focused on the enhanced production and consumption of locally produced agricultural products, which will increase employment, personal income, business income, and tax revenues. Similarly, the county has a wealth of potential alternative and renewable energy sources including hydroelectric, OTEC, solar, wind, bio-fuels, and geothermal. However, these resources are not being developed, employed, or added to the existing power grid in a way that reduces, in any meaningful way, the island’s dependence on imported fuels for power generation. The county has the opportunity to coordinate the development of these resources with the goal of significantly increasing the use of renewable sources and reducing energy costs for residents, commercial activities, and county government, which will increase employment, real personal income and business income, and reduce government sending on energy. CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I: Section 1. Article VI, Hawai‘i County Charter, is hereby amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately numbered and designated to read as follows: “CHAPTER __ DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY Section 6-__.1. There shall be a Department of Agriculture and Energy consisting of a director, the necessary staff, and an agriculture and energy commission. Section 6-__.2. Statement of Policy. The Department of Agriculture and Energy is established to foster economic development and enhanced food security by establishing policies, allocating resources, and advocating for sustainable growth of agriculture, control of invasive species, and responsible production of energy. Section 6-__.3. Director. The director of agriculture and energy shall be appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the council, and may be removed by the mayor. The director shall have had five years of administrative experience in a related field. Section 6-__.4. Powers, Duties, and Functions. The Department of Agriculture and Energy shall establish policies, allocate resources, and advocate for the growth and economic sustainability of agriculture and the responsible production of energy in the county, and exercise other functions prescribed by ordinance. Section 6-__.5. Agriculture and Energy Commission. There shall be an Agriculture and Energy Commission consisting of nine members who shall be appointed by the mayor and approved by the council. One member shall be a resident of each council district. The terms of the members shall be as prescribed in Sec. 13-4. The Agriculture and energy commission shall advise the department on economic development of agriculture, control of invasive species, energy production and consumption, and other issues related to the functions of the department, and shall exercise any other powers related to the functions of the department that may be delegated to it by ordinance.” Section 2. The revisor shall renumber charter chapter numbers, section numbers, and cross references pursuant to amendments approved by the electorate that replace existing or newly-enacted charter provisions. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect upon approval by the electorate.