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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/2014 Public hearing transcript re BILL 2528 PUBLIC HEARING FEBRUARY 12, 2014 A public hearing of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by Mason K. Chock, Sr., Chair, Finance & Economic Development (Tourism / Visitor Industry / Small Business Development / Sports & Recreation Development / Other Economic Development Areas) Committee, on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at 1:35 p.m., at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Room 201, Historic County Building, Lihu`e, and the presence of the following was noted: Honorable Mason K. Chock, Sr. Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable Ross Kagawa Honorable Mel Rapozo Honorable Jay Furfaro Excused: Honorable Tim Bynum Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing on the following: "Bill No. 2528 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. B-2013-753, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAI`I, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2013 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2014, BY REVISING THE AMOUNTS ESTIMATED IN THE GENERAL FUND. (Office of Economic Development, Administration — Other Services, Kauai Historical Society Grant— $25,000)," which was passed on first reading and ordered to print by the Council of the County of Kaua`i on January 16, 2014, and published in The Garden Island newspaper on January 24, 2014. The hearing proceeded as follows: Mr. Chock: Do we have any members from the community who want to testify? EDUARDO TOPENIO, JR., Administrative Assistant to the County Clerk: Yes, Committee Chair. The first speaker is William Fernandez, followed by Reg Gage. Mr. Chock: Thank you. May you please come up, Mr. Fernandez? There being no objections, the rules were suspended. WILLIAM FERNANDEZ: Aloha Kaua`i County Council. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you. The last time I was here two (2) weeks ago, I told you about the excitement that our joint celebration is generating. PUBLIC HEARING 2 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 BILL NO. 2528 It is a celebration of the cultures of this island. Every day, I get people who talk to me about it being so great that we are honoring the different ethnic groups that have made this island a special place to live. I talked to Ernie over to the left about the Filipino community. I get calls from members of the Filipino community and Japanese community. We had a wonderful Okinawan celebration. The Hawaiian community is "gung-ho." The Portuguese community is going through their dance routines, songs, and are really excited to give this island a feel that each of our cultures are valuable and have made a great contribution to our island. I want to thank you for at least considering our request because I know it will be wonderful. If any of you attended our Okinawan Festival on January 18... I know Councilmember Yukimura was there and dancing with the group. It is a wonderful time for all of us to celebrate our cultures. That is all I have to say unless you have any questions. Mr. Chock: Okay. We have a question. Chair Furfaro: Bill, I really appreciate the fact that you are tying in all of the cultures on our beautiful island into this celebration, but I was the one who did the footwork for the grant here for this money. I think the piece that we need to really recognize in this money request is on May 13, this building is one hundred (100) years in operation. Last year, we kept it very low key and it was one hundred (100) years since we broke ground. Now, we are one hundred (100) years in actual operation. In fact, the building is the oldest operating County building in the State of Hawai`i for what it was originally intended. I really think that is the part of the message where the real focus is on with all of the other amenities and activities going on. I think I got that right. This is the celebration for the building. Mr. Fernandez: You are absolutely right, Jay. Mary Requilman... Chair Furfaro: She just walked into the room. Mr. Fernandez: Where are you, Mary? She is the one who is supposed to carry that oar. I apologize that I did not do a duality because she is supposed to be doing your part and I appreciate it very much. Chair Furfaro: Thank you. I do want you to know that we at the Council continue to take great pride in this building. We did not do a big celebration with the groundbreaking, but we did find all of the names for the original picture here from 1905 and maybe Eddie can share it with your group on one of these mornings when you come in for coffee. We have identified everybody. We are very proud of that. Mr. Fernandez: It is a reason to celebrate. Chair Furfaro: Yes. Thank you very much. Mr. Fernandez: Thank you, Council. Mr. Chock: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Mr. Topenio: The next speaker is Reg Gage. PUBLIC HEARING 3 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 BILL NO. 2528 REG GAGE: I do not believe that I could say anything because Bill has already said it all for me. Mr. Chock: • I am sorry. For the record, can you introduce yourself? Mr. Gage: My name is Reg Gage and I am a resident of Kalaheo. I have been a resident of Kaua`i since 1960. I was formally an Assessor for the Kaua`i County. This is not the first time I sat in this chair. I want to thank the Council for all of the support that you are giving to us now, the support that you have given to us in the past, and the support that you will give to us in the future. I want to particularly thank Jay Furfaro because I know Jay is an amateur Historian and loves to talk about this building and that is an essential component of our history presentation as the history of this building. We are asking for contribution to help the Society carry out its centennial of the County Building and also the centennial of the Kaua`i Historical Society. You guys are one (1) day ahead of us, if I remember. Your testimony is May 13 and I believe that the Kaua`i Historical Society came into being on May 14, so you are one (1) day ahead of us. We can all work together. Mr. Chock: Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Gage: Thank you. Mr. Chock: Do we have anymore registered speakers? Mr. Topenio: That is the last registered speaker. Mr. Chock: Would anybody else care to speak on this item? Please come up. MARY REQUILMAN: Aloha all. My name is Mary Requilman. I am the Executive Director of the Kaua`i Historical Society and I have been involved with the Historical Society for the last twenty (20) years. I think this is an opportunity for us to recreate history by enacting one hundred (100) years ago, which was the "Judge Dickey Ball." It was held right out here on our lawn. It is an opportunity to recreate our history, but it is also an opportunity to make history because we are going to be one hundred (100) years old— both of us. That only happens once in one hundred (100) years. I just see this as an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the wonderful things that we have accomplished over the last one hundred (100) years and move forward to the next one hundred (100) years. That is pretty much what I wanted to say. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Mr. Chock: Thank you so much, Mary, for all of your work and this great celebration. Mr. Requilman: Thank you. Mr. Chock: Chair, did you want to say something? Chair Furfaro: Yes. Since we have members of your board here, I think we also want to thank you folks for all of the work that you do in keeping our sense of place in order. It is so important— at least Grandpa Henry PUBLIC HEARING 4 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 BILL NO. 2528 used to say that it is extremely important to know where you came from, what part • of the island you are at, and to be a good steward. Although the name Lihu`e is not a name associated with Kaua`i. It is actually a name associated with the Wai'anae Coast. We are very delighted at all of your work. On•the first Friday of every month, we do a little tour of this building. Thank you for all that you do for us. Mr. Chock: Thank you. The meeting was called back to order, and there being no further testimony on this matter, the public hearing adjourned at 1:43 p.m. Respectfull submitte ----47."--.' / / E • . ARD 0 TOP � 'O, JR. Admin. rative A'istant t fi • County Clerk :cy