Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout 01/23/2013 Special Council Meeting-Interviews SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 23, 2013 The Special Meeting of the Council of the County of Kaua`i, was called to order by the Council Chair Jay Furfaro at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 8:37 a.m., after which the following members answered the call of the roll: Honorable Tim Bynum (present at 8:41 a.m.) Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable Ross Kagawa Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura Honorable Mel Rapozo (excused) Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura (present at 8:38 a.m.) Honorable Jay Furfaro APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Ms. Nakamura moved for approval of the agenda as circulated, seconded by Mr. Kagawa, and unanimously carried. INTERVIEWS: BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY: • Ross A. Nakashima — Term ending 12/31/2015 Chair Furfaro: For the first interview, Ross Nakashima, • Board of Water Supply. Good morning, Ross. ROSS NAKASHIMA: Good morning. Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much for being here and stepping forward to serve in this position. I would like to ask you if I can, ask you to give us a little overview of your foundation and reasoning for wanting to serve. Mr. Nakashima: Your question is why I am willing to serve? Okay. I understand. I have been asked many times over the years to serve on a Board or on a Commission and I have always felt that I did not have enough time to do it. This time when I was approached, they told me immediately do not answer. Let me explain to you what this is about, what you need to do, and what your responsibilities are. They said that it would only require regular meetings once a month during the day on a Thursday 10:00 a.m., maybe a couple of hours. I said I can do that because I am normally out of town about half of the time. I live on Kaua`i. This is my home. But I am only here probably fifteen (15) days a month. I do not believe in committing to do things that you cannot follow through on. I always try to do a good job if I am going do it. If I cannot then I need to let them know immediately. I bought a business on the Big Island. I spend almost half the time there and that is the reason why I could not serve previously. Now I am semi-available. Special Council Meeting 2 January 23, 2013 Interview Chair Furfaro: Would you say the initial setting up of your business, coordinating facilities, stocking general supply items...the bulk of that work is complete for you on the Big Island now? Mr. Nakashima: It was...I actually bought the business in 2004. I went through that whole process and then the recession hit. We had to do a lot of adjusting. We made a lot of changes and that really took a lot of time. I feel like we are pretty much on track now. Chair Furfaro: Members, questions? Councilwoman Yukimura. Ms. Yukimura: Thank you, Mr. Nakashima, for your willingness to serve and also for this insight about not wanting to take on something if you do not have enough time to put into it. That is a very admirable way of living, I think. I am not sure though that just two (2) hours a month is the full picture of the work of the Board. Mr. Nakashima: Well, he said that is the part that I really have to commit to...is to be present at those times. The Thursday schedule works for me because normally I would be out-of-town...I would probably leave on a Sunday and come back on a Wednesday or Thursday. Ms. Yukimura: That is good because I think, just like for our Council work,there is just a lot of prep reading the agendas and asking questions ahead of time if you can. Then sometimes there is follow-up, perhaps not as much for a Water Board member. But it is a huge enterprise and of all the Boards and Commissions, you are actually the Managers...I mean you are a Managing Board, not just an Advisory Board like a Board of Directors. Mr. Nakashima: I can spare that time. I just cannot be present on Kaua`i. Ms. Yukimura: Okay. That is good. Then you said my work experience may be useful in advising and directing government. I believe that there is a lot to be learned from private sector participants. I just wondered, what kind of skills you think you can bring to the Water Department? Mr. Nakashima: Well, actually I started or acquired several businesses in my career. When you have a business you need...of course it is different if its private enterprise. But you really need to understand how it works and what drives it...the drivers and being able to have people focused on the right areas. I think at times especially when someone has been doing something for a long period of time they kind of lose perspective because they are routinely doing a lot of that work. I guess it takes people from the outside to help remind you or keep you back on-track. Ms. Yukimura: You are absolutely right. That it is easy to sort of just fall into the rut of things and not think outside of the box. Okay, thank you. Mr. Kagawa: Hi, Ross. You have a wonderful first name. Mr. Nakashima: Thank you. Special Council Meeting 3 January 23, 2013 Interview Mr. Kagawa: Well, I have known your family for a long time. I know that you have all been in successful private business for a long time, too. I just wanted to let you know that you have my full support and I know you are going to do a great job. Mahalo. Mr. Hooser: Good morning, Mr. Nakashima. How are you? I just had a couple of questions. I was wondering what your motivation specifically for the Water Board, to serve on that? Why do you want to serve on the Water as opposed to some other Board or Commission? What would be your vision or your thoughts about the future? What the Water Board should do and what are some of the challenges you see that need to be overcome on the Board of Water Supply? Mr. Nakashima: Actually, it was...it came to me. I did not go looking for or choose any Board or Commission. I have not really done any research or actually did anything to try to understand any kind of challenges or any kind of issues that they have. I am sorry. I just did not start anything yet. Mr. Hooser: Okay, thank you. Ms. Nakamura: Ross, I just want to thank you for being willing to serve in this role. Just from my perspective that I guess the guiding document at this point is the Water Plan 2020. That is something that every Board member should be very familiar with and to really see because it was done back in 2000, fourteen (14), twelve (12) years...thirteen (13) years now into the plan. Where are they with respect to implementing the plan? Where they have not met the targets and goals of the plan, what have been the roadblocks? I think those were some of the issues that I would be looking at as an incoming Board member. Also, the whole management structure of the organization. I think should be looked at really closely. The whole...it seems like this is what is being dealt with now...is the water chart, the water fees, and how do we pay for the improvements that we need? Where do we target those improvements? So anyway, I know that you will be caught up quickly and look forward to your participation on this Board. Mr. Nakashima: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum, did you have any questions for Ross? Mr. Bynum: Ross, I apologize for being a little late. Thank you very much for your willingness to serve. In the previous discussion, was there any discussion about some of the major issues before the Water Board? Mr. Nakashima: No. Mr. Bynum: So are you...do you have any familiarity with Facilities Reserve Charge issue that... Mr. Nakashima: No, I am not familiar with anything. Sorry. Mr. Bynum: Okay. That is it. Thanks. Chair Furfaro: JoAnn, would you like the floor again? Special Council Meeting 4 January 23, 2013 Interview Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. Just a follow-up to Councilmember Nakamura's questions or comments. There was a Water Conference recently and it might be good for you to get. It was a presentation a b Y g g Y g P by the Department of Health, DLNR, and the County Water Department talking about everything from source to transmission and to water rates and all of that. Also, water pollution and those issues. The water, from what I can tell, the Water Department has been the best at actually following a plan. That Water Plan that they have that was done with Ernie Lau, Carol Suzawa, and others has been their guiding point and they have done remarkable work in the CIP because we have aging infrastructure. So we have leaks everywhere and unless you fix it, you have a really broken plant, so to speak. One (1) of the things, if I remember correctly, is they finished one hundred seventy million dollars ($170,000,000.00) in infrastructure improvements, but they have six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000.00) more to go. Mr. Nakashima: Wow. Ms. Yukimura: And they have major issues. I mean it is a huge challenge. The Facilities Reserve Charge is about getting enough revenue, making sure that those who bring in new development pay for the cost of their new develo ment...sort of a house by house basis. But anyway. So ou have a lot of p Y you issues to deal with and really important issues because water is such an essential service. Mr. Nakashima: Absolutely. Ms. Yukimura: It will be very interesting, if nothing else and probably a very steep learning curve. Thank you, again, for stepping up. Chair Furfaro: Anyone else before I pose my questions? Mr. Bynum: Sorry, I am getting into the groove here. You know, this is a really serious Board with significant responsibilities because as JoAnn said, some of our Boards are more advisory. But this is actually a Management Board. My concern and this is not a judgment, but when I look at the make-up of Water Board over the last fifteen (15) years, it tends to be pretty weighted to business interests. But I assume you are also a consumer of the Water Department. Is that correct? Mr. Nakashima: Of course. Absolutely. Mr. Bynum: So, I just really strongly encourage you to look at these major decisions from a consumer's point of view. Sometimes some of the decisions that were made in the past seem to be more...seem to me, and I will own this, seem to be more oriented to benefit business. We want to benefit business, but not at the expense of homeowner/consumers. That whole Facilities Reserve Charge issue goes to that. How big is a hook-up fee to get water service to begin with? How much of the burden of the infrastructure should that hook-up fee pay versus taking that from regular water users? The concern is that new development should pay their costs. That would be a user pay one hundred percent (100%) user pay. We base that fee based on the what it costs us to put that infrastructure in to provide you...and this may be a little naive the way I am saying it, but the basic idea being is that users pay or do the current rate-payers subsidize new hook-ups and new development? Those are fundamental questions that come Special Council Meeting 5 January 23, 2013 Interview before the Water Board. So I am sure will you get up to speed on all of those things, Ross. Mr. Nakashima: Is that a case-by-case issue or is that a structure? Mr. Bynum: My understanding, again, I am sure I will get corrected if I have it wrong, but in the past the Water Department has hired consultants that said, "What should this fee be?" Prior to the Water Board it was a Council decision, I believe. The consultants would say, "You need to set this high fee because what you are offering this new facility is life-long water service." It is a very...it might be a high fee, but think of what you are getting. The whole water infrastructure. The Boards or the Councils in the past have not agreed with the consultants and have kept the fees somewhat low and in essence that means that the current rate-payers who have been there for years are subsidizing that. I think that is the fundamental. Exactly where we are at in that mix right now, I am not up to speed with, but it is a really critical issue, I think, for the Water Board. Mr. Nakashima: I will keep that in mind. Mr. Bynum: It is tough. It is a tough one (1). These are the kind of decisions that there is no easy solution. Some people look at that hook-up fee and say, "Oh, my gosh it is so large, you know? It is going to add twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) to my cost of development." Understandably to be concerned. On the other hand it is like well, that cost has to be paid by someone. If I am a current rate-payer, why would you pay that out of fees? The fees I give you should pay for maintenance of the system, not for expansion of the system, right? So those are some of the really critical issues. I would just encourage you to keep a consumer advocate hat on and say what is this like for the guy who has been hooked up to water for forty (40) years? How is it going to impact their rates and how much of that is going to a reasonable charge for the users to maintain the system versus users paying for expansion for new users? Does that make sense? Mr. Nakashima: Yes, I understand. Mr. Bynum: It is a tough, tough issue because they need more resources. Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Well, Ross, thank you very much for stepping forward. I perhaps have a little different perspective. The fact of the matter is you are going to have to serve business as well as consumers. This is a Board that manages. You are an ADHOC Board to the County in the sense that you manage the Director of the Water Department. I want to also say that we find yourself in positions where a subdivision is going to be developed and it is expected that the entire cost of the new water system for that is born by the subdivision and so forth. At the same time, you have to remember you are one (1) of those Boards that is also a revenue generating Board for your operating costs. So you have to look at the balance there. It is extremely important for continuity to make sure that you have consistent revenue coming in to operate the Board. I like your business experience as an independent businessman, you know, inventory controls are really important, watching operating costs is very important and control of the CIP investments that we are expanding customer base. JoAnn mentioned this, but Ernie Lau, I think, did an outstanding job and he is a resource at the State Water Department now. We Special Council Meeting 6 January 23, 2013 Interview have a lot to be thankful for him. A Board led by Carol Suzawa at the time. It would not hurt to have an opportunity to talk to those individuals to be familiar with the past to help us go forward. I want to make sure I also make this statement. The Council has the leverage to borrow money for the Water Department because the size of our tax base with the County of Kaua`i. It is something that we should not think of as a revenue resource just to go to, but that there has to be a realistic approach to us backing a bond for the Water Department. I heard one hundred seventy million 170 00 0 000 so far in improvements and Y , p maybe seven hundred million (700,000,000) yet to go. I have to say, you have to find that three (3) way balance, borrowing money through a bond with the Council's support, as well as through revenue and developer costs. So it is a tricky wicket to balance. But I am very pleased that you are bringing this business experience to the table and at the end of the day, the Water Department is a business. That is what we have to remember. So I will be supporting your Commission vote later today. I thank you very much for stepping forward. Thank you very much PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND COMMISSION: • Dorothea K. Hayashi —Term ending 12/31/2015 Chair Furfaro: Good morning, Dorothea. How are you? DOROTHEA HAYASHI: Good morning. Fine, I hope. Chair Furfaro: I am sure you will be. Ms. Hayashi: My heart is pounding after listening to Ross's interview. My goodness gracious. Chair Furfaro: First of all, let me thank you for all your community work as we reflect back on things that you have brought to us from the Hanapepe Bridge and community issues. That kind of contribution and volunteerism is very well received by the Council and I want to thank you for your past work. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you. But it was not much, I know that. Chair Furfaro: I also would like to thank Ross Kagawa for bringing your name forward. I will give him an opportunity to do parts of the interview first. But on that note, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Ms. Hayashi: About myself? Chair Furfaro: Yes. Ms. Hayashi: Well, I have lived my whole life on this island except for a few years that I was gone after high school to have my education in O`ahu. But basically...and then a year in Japan. But basically I have always been a resident of Hanapepe. My heart is really in Hanapepe. At the beginning when you are young you want to explore things. But for some reason I was never given that opportunity because of our family business. I have always been in Hanapepe and realizing what our parents had gone through and realizing the Special Council Meeting 7 January 23, 2013 Interview history of Hanapepe there is a lot that we would like to keep Hanapepe, Hanapepe. That is the last bastion already of open space, really. That has always been in my heart from way back when they began the development on the peninsula. That has always been my...how shall I say, my one (1) goal in life before I leave this earth to see how much can be preserved and kept for the future of our children to be able to enjoy when had he do come back. Chair Furfaro: Well, thank you. Ms. Hayashi: I really must say Ross...I really have to thank Ross because he stepped forward when we asked him to represent...we needed a representative from the west side. So when he asked me if I would do this Commission, I kind of hesitated. But then I realized that when you ask someone to do something you have to be able to step forward and support the person. So in whatever little way I can, I would like to support Ross in his efforts and this is my one (1) way of doing it. So I would like to thank Ross very much also. Chair Furfaro: Well, thank you. I am sure we will all mutually benefit from Ross's nominating you and you stepping forward. Ross, I will give you the floor. Mr. Kagawa: I want to thank the Staff. I believe it was Ashley that asked me if I could think of anybody from the Hanapepe, `Ele`ele area to serve on the Open Space Commission. Your name just came up right away. And because I love food so much, I spent a lot of time eating your saimin. We always managed to talk a little bit about issues and I have always had that care for where I grew up. We have even talked before the meeting about some possible areas that come to mind as far as opening up space for the residents and one (1) that comes to mind is on the west end of Salt Pond Beach Park. Just to open up that area. We could possibly even expand our camping grounds. I really want to see more opportunities for the west side to host camping sites. I think a lot of us from the west side, we tend to go down to Anini and go camping or Black Pot Beach. We have beautiful areas down on our west side and somehow we end up going to the North Shore to enjoy that activities. Hopefully, we may be able to expand there. I know that nothing is easy. There are a lot of issues. We always have to deal with our cultural Hawaiian issues. But I just wanted to really thank you for serving. You have so much knowledge with being a business person. Hopefully, this Commission can be an avenue for you to share all of your knowledge that you have over the years and your big heart that you have for the community. I really want to thank you, Kako. I really appreciate it. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Other members? Questions? Mr. Hooser, you have the floor. Mr. Hooser: Yes, thank you very much for putting yourself forward. I understand how maybe a little nerve wracking sitting in the audience thinking about your interview. But you answered in your opening statement my concerns for every single person. I would like to know the reason and the passion and the values that you bring to the position. You stated that very eloquently and I thank you for that. I just wanted to say thank you. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you. Special Council Meeting 8 January 23, 2013 Interview Mr. Bynum: Dorothea, thank you very much for agreeing to work on this Commission. Thank you Ross, for identifying Dorothea. As soon as I saw your name, it made perfect sense to me from what we have come to know of you from your advocacy on issues related to your community. Are you...you know that the Open Space Commission meets twice a month? Ms. Hayashi: Well, I have been to a couple of their meetings because of Hanapepe. Mr. Bynum: Do you know the other west side members of the Commission? Ms. Hayashi: You know, at this time I know only the Pigao family. I forgot what was her name. I do not know if she is still on the Commission. I am sorry. Mr. Bynum: Well, who comes to my mind right now... Ms. Hayashi: I know Jean recently left. Mr. Bynum: Linda Dela Cruz. Ms. Hayashi: Yes. I am sorry. I knew her maiden name. We have been in contact in the sense that I have been to a s.couple of their meetings. g Mr. Bynum: Well, I want to tell you that I am excited for you because this Commission is an outstanding Commission. Right now I have been attending the meetings recently and they are poised to do wonderful things for our community. For eight (8) years or so it was kind of a frustrating Commission because they were limited in their scope and that has changed because of legislation this Council passed. It was Nadine Nakamura's legislation that clarified that Commission's role and allowed it to be a stronger advocate both for access and open space. It is a pretty exciting Commission and they are working on important things on all parts of the island. I think you are going to be an outstanding member of that Commission and bring a perspective that will make it better. Thank you very much. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you. But do not praise me too much. Mr. Bynum: Well, you are not shy. Ms. Hayashi: No, I am not shy. � .Y Mr. Bynum: You are soft-spoken, but not shy. Ms. Hayashi: How shall I say...I am oriental in that sense. Ms. Nakamura: And do not praise me too much because Gary Hooser did the original legislation on the Open Space Fund. But I want to thank you for stepping forward to this position. I think, as Councilmember Bynum said, it Y p , Y , is a very exciting time for this Commission because of your expanded powers and responsibilities. It is one (1) of the few Commissions that has dedicated staff attached to your function. I think that there is much more that can be done and part of the changes we made to the legislation last year was to give it the powers Special Council Meeting 9 January 23, 2013 Interview that they need to open up more open space, to work on these difficult access issues that have not been resolved for many, many years, and really need some stewardship to provide the direction through your full-time Staff members so that more can be done and to take advantages of opportunities that are out there. Thank you so much, Dorothea. Ms. Hayashi: You are welcome. Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Anyone else? Councilwoman Yukimura. Ms. Yukimura: Hi, Dorothea. Ms. Hayashi: Hi, good morning Ms. Yukimura: We are all familiar with your long history of citizen activism and involvement and really appreciate it. I was just curious when you talked about the development of peninsula. Are you talking about the... Ms. Hayashi: Well, there were so many attempts at developing and we kind of had to step forward on that because...well there is always pros and cons, yes? But we wanted to keep Hanapepe as Hanapepe for our children. The tourist industry is wonderful. But we said if you have...if you keep it more local for the local people, the tourists will join in because that is what they want. That is what we always have to keep in mind. That we cannot be doing these big things and if we could just keep our area, you know? A place where people can come and enjoy the peace that is all it is about in our lives at this time. That is how I feel personally. Ms. Yukimura: Well, I think a lot of people share your feelings that way. Do you have any priorities in terms of how you see the g Y Y Y p Y Commission moving? Ms. Hayashi: Well, at this time, I was kind of taken abruptly with this supposed appointment. But my main concern right now is on Hanapepe. Like I said, for Hanapepe, we would like to see, because we have a river also that is a concern for us. There are so many things in Hanapepe. But I know that if I do get on this Commission, I am going to have to look at the overall picture and basically I have just been concentrating on Hanapepe. But I guess I have to expand my knowledge and my sphere of thinking. So please allow me to do that if I do get on the Commission at that time. But at this time, I really cannot say anything beyond Hanapepe. Ms. Yukimura: Well, you know, it is very encouraging to hear you both express the expertise you have in Hanapepe and also realize that you are part of a Commission that has to look at the whole island. I think there is reason for requiring people from different parts of the island, so that they bring that local expertise. But it is still a Commission with an overall charge. So I think you have got the right approach. I wish you well and I think you will find it to be an exciting job, given your history and your commitment to the island and to your hometown. Thank you very much. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you. Special Council Meeting 10 January 23, 2013 Interview Chair Furfaro: Anyone else? I also want to just thank you for stepping forward with the Hanapepe district, which was a Council appointment. I also want to share some information with you while I take advantage of two (2) members of the Planning Department that are in the audience today. This area talking about the peninsula, so that you do know that the Council last year, we put money into the Operating Budget to solicit a geological study of Salt Pond. The idea is to have an understanding of how it works, not taking a position about what to do with it but to understand the geology. We have had one (1) meeting with the Planning Director, Economic Development, Mauna Kea Trask from the Attorney's Office and have gotten support from Dr. Kaleo Duarte. He is with Kamehameha Schools and has a PhD from Yale as a geologist. He is helping the Planning Department draft up the scope of the project, only the scope. With that scope certainly solicit the stakeholders at the Salt Pond. So that is going on as we speak and I think when he comes back with his second draft, he sent us one (1), we are going to ask that it be presented to the Open Space Committee so that you understand what we are doing there in Hanapepe flats. We are making some progress to an area that is dear to your heart. But more importantly, it is intended to make a statement about the geology. How the salt beds actually work? As you know it is very important with Steve Covey. First to understand before you make the next step going forward in leadership role. We will make sure that Planning briefs o u folks on that draft program. Ms. Hayashi: May I also add to that? Prior to many years ago, we had heard from Dr. Kikuchi. He did bring in someone and we could not find out...nobody would give us the information. But they brought in someone from Columbia University to do a geological study at that time on the salt pans. That study is somewhere in the State archives, I am sure. But we could never find it. Also, he did a study, we heard, on I guess on the mauka end of Salt Pond...that area because there is a lot of historical significance on that area. But I thank you very much that something is going to be done to check on the salt pan situation because I know the Hawaiians are very...you know they protect that area very much and I, as an outsider can only support them in their efforts. Chair Furfaro: Again, this study for which we put money aside is only to understand the geology, not to take any position. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Duarte working on that. This will be a document owned by the County. The other piece you referred to, although Dr. Kikuchi had done work on Kaho`omaikai Fishpond and other areas. This piece is for something for the Office of Economic Development and that will be under George Costa, to be able to take to the stakeholders there so that we have a documentation on this valuable asset and how it works. That is on the horizon. I certainly will be supporting your nomination later today. I want to thank you for stepping forward for this interview. Ms. Hayashi: Thank you very much for your efforts in helping us in our area. Chair Furfaro: Very good. Mr. Bynum: May I add one (1) thing? Chair Furfaro: Go right ahead, Mr. Bynum. Mr. Bynum: I just...this Commission meets tomorrow and I was just looking at their agenda. Under "new business," No. 3 is discussion of Special Council Meeting 11 January 23, 2013 Interview Acquisition of Land to Expand Salt Pond Beach Park. It is on their agenda. You might be interested in that. Ms. Hayashi: I am not appointed yet. You are jumping ahead of the curd. I am just teasing. Mr. Bynum: Their meeting it tomorrow at 1:00. Thank you, Dorothy. Chair Furfaro: On that note, Mr. Hooser, you have the floor. Mr. Hooser: Chair I was wondering if I could ask Ms. Morikami a question. Chair Furfaro: Certainly. Mr. Hooser: Regarding the process. Chair Furfaro: Sure. Invite her right up. Mr. Hooser: From the Boards and Commissions Office. Good morning. Since we are doing this process right now and I understand some are County appointees and some are...a vast majority of people that we talk to are appointees by the Administration. In terms of process, are the people appointed, are they briefed by the Administration as to what their responsibilities are prior to coming before us? PAULA MORIKAMI, Boards and Commissions Administrator: Yes. Mr. Hooser: They are briefed? Ms. Morikami: Yes. Mr. Hooser: So in terms of the specific Board or Commission, they are told...are they given the agendas? We have difference, kind of a wide range of responses to some of the questions that...so it would seem like some are more prepared than others. I am just a little concerned that perhaps they are not prepped properly. Ms. Morikami: Our Office briefs them on the Board or Commission they are serving and we give them the Charter. We also give them the language that refers to that particular Board or Commission. We also give them the rules and we go over the process and then, I believe, in certain Boards and Commissions the present members also brief them before coming. But our Office does brief them before coming here for an interview and in addition, we give them the information for that particular Board or Commission, including the rules. Mr. Hooser: Okay and the application form, is this the Administration's form? Ms. Morikami: It is our Boards and Commissions form. Mr. Hooser: Because I find it does not provide very much information at all. I would encourage you to look at that. Some of the responses to I i Special Council Meeting 12 January 23, 2013 Interview key questions such as why are you doing this? Maybe just one (1) sentence. I personally as a Councilmember would like to see a little bit more of the background, experience, and reasons that appointees are seeking these positions or accepting these positions. So that is all. I just wanted to share that with you. Chair Furfaro: You are welcome. Thank you very much, Paula. I think just to encourage people to use more of the space provided would be more of a first step and certainly thank you for all the effort so far. I want to ask you, now this fills the two (2) Council appointees for Open Space? Ms. Morikami: I believe that...I do not have my log here. But I believe it is a full Commission now. Chair Furfaro: With Mr. Blake and Dorothea? Ms. Morikami: Yes. Chair Furfaro: Very good. Thank you so much. I am going to ask if we take a ten (10) minute recess. I am going to adjourn this Special Council Meeting and we will start up with your Committee Meetings at 9:30. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m. Respectfully submitted, RICKY WATANABE County Clerk :aa