HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 071 Tarleton, COctober 8, 2009
ALOHA COMMISSION CHAIRMAN Edmund Haitsuka and COMMISSION MEMBERS David Fuertes, Daphne
Honma, Casey Jarman, Guy Kaulukukui, Jamae Kawauchi, Joseph Kealoha, Alapaki Nahale, Susie Osborne, Todd
Shumway and Scott Unger
Thank you for serving on this very important commission to update our Hawaii County Charter. Please consider the
following amendments when making your decisions on how to update our county charter:
I SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:
4-Year COUNCIL TERMS
2% FOR THE LAND FUND- other counties have this funding set aside as part of their charter so citizens
can count on funds being available to acquire access to beaches and mountains, preserve culturally
important land areas and sites, beaches, coastal area, agricultural lands, protect natural resources, significant
habitat or eco-systems, water quality and water systems, including buffer zones. This would remove this
funding from yearly budget wrangling and have the funds available to attract matching funds.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS- I support this amendment because it gives the
council members the right to nominate people for boards and commissions, the Mayor can give comments
and the public has a time to weigh in. Council members know who is qualified and involved in their
districts. All board member applications should be available to the public at least 30 days prior to
submission to the Mayor for approval
I support open and transparent government as proscribed by the Sunshine Law #92F-2 Uniform Information
Practices Act.
I further support suggestions as follows:
Require that all Board meetings be listed on the County’s Calendar that is made available on the internet and
provide a link to the Board’s agenda.
Require that proposed board members swear an allegiance to serve the interests of the community without
regard to personal self interests, business self interests, or special interests related to either of their personal
or business self interests.
Require disclosure of potential conflicts of interest at board meetings in advance of the item on the Board
agenda.
Require that meetings of the County Council, the Planning Commission, and the Charter Commission be
live broadcast, or at least made available by internet “on-demand” link within 24 hours of the meeting
Require that all development approvals be reviewed by the CDP action committees – which is what is
supposed to be happening now.
Require that the make up of the Planning Commission and the CDP action committees be broadly
representative of community interests including environmental and socio-cultural interests.
Require that a separate attorney be appointed to represent the County Council (legislative branch) and be
independent from Corporation Counsel who is part of the Mayor’s cabinet.
Mahalo!
Catherine Tarleton
p.o.box 384896
Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738