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Home My WebLink About 10/16/2013 Special Council Meeting Minutes - Interview SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 16, 2013 The Special Council 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, Room 201, Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 8:48 a.m., after which the following members answered the call of the roll: Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable Ross Kagawa Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura Honorable Jay Furfaro Excused: Honorable Tim Bynum Honorable Mel Rapozo Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Mr. Kagawa moved for approval of the agenda as circulated, seconded by Ms. Nakamura, and carried by a vote of 4:0:3 (Mr. Bynum, Mr. Rapozo, and Ms. Yukimura were excused). Chair Furfaro: This meeting will deal with an interview for the Board of Review, Dorothy Bekeart as the candidate. But as item (D) reflects in our agenda, we will allow public testimony at the beginning here. If there is anyone that wants to speak on this item this is the time to do it. PUBLIC COMMENT. Pursuant to Council Rule 13(e), members of the public shall be allowed a total of eighteen (18) minutes on a first come, first served basis to speak on any agenda item. Each speaker shall be limited to three (3) minutes at the discretion of the Chair to discuss the agenda item and shall not be allowed additional time to speak during the meeting. This rule is designed to accommodate those who cannot be present throughout the meeting to speak when the agenda items are heard. After the conclusion of the eighteen (18) minutes, other members of the public shall be allowed to speak pursuant to Council Rule 12(e). There being no one to give testimony at this time, the meeting proceeded as follows: INTERVIEW: BOARD OF REVIEW: • Dorothy R. Bekeart — Term ending 12/31/2015 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 2 OCTOBER 16, 2013 Chair Furfaro: I am going to invite you right up, Dorothy. Please come right up. DOROTHY R. BEKEART: Good morning. Chair Furfaro: May I have you introduce yourself for the record? Ms. Bekeart: Dorothy Bekeart. Chair Furfaro: Thank you. Dorothy, good morning and let me say, it is a pleasure to see someone like yourself willing to give public service on the Board of Review. I also just want to point out that I will have almost no questions for you as I know the depth of your knowledge as it deals with the County, I know eight (8) years ago you served on our Tax Review Special Committee, and I want to just say, I am very pleased that your name is in front of us. On that note, I would like you, just for the public, to tell us a little bit about yourself. Ms. Bekeart: Sure. I moved to Kaua`i from Honolulu back as a young married woman with my babies in 1972, and my career on Kaua`i has revolved around the appraisal profession. I have spent twelve (12) years with the County, six (6) of them as a working appraiser in the Real Property Assessment Office which was probably the most interesting work I did in my entire career and then six (6) years as the Deputy Finance Director where most of my duties involved overseeing the Real Property Assessment function. I have also worked as an independent Fee Appraiser and as Land Manager for Amfac/JMB, Lihu`e Plantation, Kekaha Sugar for a period of time that involves sort of their closing down years and that was an education in itself as well. I would just like to say that I see the Board of Review as a really important part of the assessment function. The real property taxes are the only tax that the taxpayer does not participate in. You know where your income taxes come from, and you fill out the forms. You know where your excise taxes come, but real property taxes, you just get a bill and the assessment function is the one place that the taxpayer actually participates and can bring information to the County's attention that they might not know about, I think it is very important from that point of view. It is something that I am very glad to do at this point in my life. I am retired now and have the time, so I am very happy to do this. Chair Furfaro: Thank you, again, very much for stepping forward. On that note, I would like to recognize each Councilmember if they have a statement or a comment or questions. Mr. Hooser. Mr. Hooser: Thank you, Chair Furfaro. I would just like to echo what the Chair said. There is not a whole lot to say because I have known you for many years and just thank you very much for being willing to take — because even though you are retired, your time is valuable and for you to commit that time to service of the public and the community is much appreciated. Thank you very much. Ms. Bekeart: You are very welcome. Chair Furfaro: Mr. Kagawa, you have the floor. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 3 OCTOBER 16, 2013 Mr. Kagawa: Hi. Ms. Bekeart: Hello, Ross. Mr. Kagawa: Thank you. I too, have known you for a while and I cannot think of a better candidate, so good job, Paula. I am glad that you have the time. I just want to thank you a lot. I think it is a very important job. Some people feel like their property taxes are over what they should be paying and I think this is the venue where they would come and appeal their value, right? Ms. Bekeart: Yes. Ideally, the Board of Review serves as an educational function for the taxpayer as well as an opportunity to bring their grievances to the floor, if you will. It is a two-way street. Mr. Kagawa: I think we have some cases that came before us when we just went through our last real property tax hike where there were Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) owners in Hanalei paying eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000). I think when their bill jumps up in the thousands, I think they deserve to have a venue where at least they can be educated instead of being told this is the numbers. Ms. Bekeart: Absolutely. Mr. Kagawa: I just want to thank you. I do not really know what entails the job of the Board of Review, but I do know that you have great qualifications and I think you have a stellar track record. Thank you. Ms. Bekeart: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Vice Chair Nakamura. Ms. Nakamura: Thank you very much, Dottie. We have known each other from Jazz dance and theatre. Chair Furfaro: Jazz dance? Ms. Nakamura: Yes. Ms. Bekeart: We were in class together dancing. Ms. Nakamura: Many years ago. I just want to thank Paula because I think you found a very qualified person for this job. I am sure you are going to be fair and equitable to the people who come before you. Thank you very much for just stepping up. Ms. Bekeart: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: I had taken public comment earlier. Dottie, we will be voting on your appointment on the October 23, 2013 meeting, am I correct? I believe so. Ms. Bekeart: That is my birthday. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 4 OCTOBER 16, 2013 Chair Furfaro: Happy birthday. It is my oldest daughter's birthday as well. But I do want to let you know now, I certainly will be supporting your appointment and again, I just want to say thank you very much. Any other closing comments from members? No. On that note, Dottie, thank you again. Ms. Bekeart: Thank you. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjour ed at 8: 7 a.m. Respect lly submitt• ■ / /... 40040WP EDUA• �r 4, JR. Administrati e A..istan o the County Clerk :aa