HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-22 Minutes of Public Hearing of Power Cost ChargeMINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POWER COST CHARGE
COUNTY OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
January 22, 2019
Department of Water Suply, Hilo Operations Conference Room, 889 Leilani Street, Hilo, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. William Boswell, Jr., Chairperson
Mr. Eric Scicchitano, Vice -Chairperson
Mr. David De Luz, Jr.
Mr. Kenneth Sugai
Mr. Leningrad Elarionoff
Mr. Nestorio Domingo (9:46 a.m.)
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water
Supply (ex -officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. Bryant Balog, Water Board Member
Mr. Craig Takamine, Water Board Member
Ms. Kanoe Wilson, Water Board Member
Director, Department of Public Works (ex -officio member)
Director, Planning Department (ex -officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Mr.
Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel
DEPARTMENT OF
WATER SUPPLY STAFF: Mr.
Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms.
Nyssa Kushi, Information and Education Specialist
Mr.
Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Mr.
Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller
Mr.
Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr.
Clyde Young, Operations Division
Mr.
Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
(Chairperson Boswell called the Public Hearing to order at 9:45 a.m)
Chairperson Boswell: Good morning. I have an agenda to read from. I'll stay on script. 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 25, 2018.
Good morning. My name is William Boswell, Chairperson of the Water
Board, and will the members of the Board please introduce themselves?
Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the January 22, 2019, Public Hearing on the Power Cosi Charge
Board Members: Leningrad Elarionoff, Eric Scicchitano, David De Luz, Jr., Ken Sugai.
Chairperson Boswell: 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 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 $1.94 to $1.89 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?
Secretary: No, Mr. Chair.
Chairperson Boswell: There being none, I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing be
closed.
Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the January 22, 2019, Public Hearing on the Power Cosi Charge
Mr. Elarionoff: So move.
Mr. Sugai: Second.
Chairperson Boswell: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those
in favor say "aye."
Board Members: Unanimous ayes.
Chairperson Boswell: Opposed? (none) Motion is carried. Thank you.
C. Masuda: Mr. Chairperson. May we let the record show that as you were reading the
introductions, Commissioner Domingo also appeared, so is part of the voting
record.
Chairperson Boswell
N. Domingo
Yes. Good morning.
Good morning.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:49 a.m.)
Recording Secretary
(Minutes approved at the 2/26/19 Water Board Meeting)
Page 3 of 3 Minutes of the January 22, 2019, Public Hearing on the Power Cosi Charge