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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/2014 Special Council Meeting minutes - Interviews SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2014 The Special Council Meeting of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by Council Chair Jay Furfaro at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Room 201, Lihu`e, Kauai, on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 8:38 a.m., after which the following members answered the call of the roll: 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 Chair Furfaro: Today's meeting is focused on a series of interviews for commission appointments. Before we continue, may I get an approval of the agenda? APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Mr. Chock moved for approval of the agenda, as circulated, seconded by Mr. Rapozo, and carried by a vote of 5:0:2 (Mr. Bynum and Ms. Yukimura were excused). Chair Furfaro: There is a period here that we added for public comment which can be used as long as the public comment is related to an agenda item. We will allow up to three (3) minutes of public testimony. Since the entire agenda is for interviews for the Salary Commission, Board of Water Supply interview, and Building Board of Appeals; is there anyone in the audience that wishes to speak on any of those items? 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). Chair Furfaro: Seeing no one, let us go to the first interview please. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 INTERVIEWS: SALARY COMMISSION: • Camilla C. Matsumoto (At-Large)— 12/31/2014 Chair Furfaro: Good morning and nice to see you. I also want to take this time to thank you for the service on the Planning Commission. You have the green light. There being no objections, the rules were suspended. CAMILLA C. MATSUMOTO: Happy New Year. Chair Furfaro: Happy New Year to you as well. We value all volunteerism in the County of Kaua`i and you served two terms on the Planning Commission. Six (6) years ago, I was involved in your original interview. On behalf of the County Council, I do want to say thank you for that time. This is a new commission appointment that will deal with the "At-Large" position on the Salary Commission. Paula, is this a full-term or partial-term? PAULA M. MORIKAMI, Boards and Commissions Administrator: Paula Morikami, Boards and Commissions. This is a partial-term that has been vacant for a while. The former Salary Commission member was Trinette Kaui, so this is for a one (1) year period, and then she will be able to serve two three (3) year terms. Chair Furfaro: Okay. She could possibly serve a total of seven (7) years? Ms. Morikami: Correct. Chair Furfaro: Okay. Thank you, Paula. Ms. Morikami: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Members, we will go around the table. The board application is part of your packet. Are there any questions? I have a couple of questions. Your primary work was education? Ms. Matsumoto: Yes. Chair Furfaro: It was at the University of Hawai`i Community College System. Ms. Matsumoto: Yes. Chair Furfaro: Were you involved in any compensation plans that were laid out for the staff and facility team at the College? Ms. Matsumoto: Yes. For a while, I worked at the University of Hawai`i Community College System's Office in Honolulu. At that time, I was involved in Professional Development and part of that was to look at all kinds of opportunities for employees, including a professional group called the SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 5 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Chair Furfaro: I have my wife to thank for that. Laurie, are you active with the Farm Bureau? Ms. Ho: Yes. I am the Vice President. Chair Furfaro: Okay, great. Ms. Ho: Volunteer. Chair Furfaro: Yes. We could not do it in this County without volunteers. Laurie, tell me a little bit about your agricultural background as far as understanding your association with the Farm Bureau and so forth. You have always been very much involved with soil conservation farming and water. Tell me a little bit; did you work for the State for a while? Ms. Ho: I worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. When I started thirty-two (32) years ago, it used to be called the "Soil Conservation Service." I started in Oregon working with the wheat farmers and grass seed farmers in the Willamette Valley. I dealt with conservation issues and wildlife issues in the Baskett Slough area of... let us say West Salem... my office was in Dallas, Oregon which is close to Monmouth and Mcminnville. I transferred back here. Long career here on... I actually applied for a job on Moloka`i. I did not get it, but they offered me a job here on Kaua`i. I came back, worked here for six (6) years, and then went to Guam to work for a couple of years. If you want to be promoted in the Federal government, you need to be mobile and move, so I worked in Guam. I set-up the Field Office there; first District Conservationist in Guam. Then I moved back here. They moved to a program called "Resource Conservation and Development (RD&C)," which was a public/private partnership with a non-profit side and a government public side, which went into rural community development. I think I met a lot of you folks through that program also. I worked fifteen (15) years with farmers and ranchers right on their farm and developing plans for cover crops, groundcovers, and windbreaks, which all require water— anyway, irrigation systems, and then moving into value added more resource... more than just resources management, but people management and grant management. Does that answer your question? Chair Furfaro: Yes it does. I do think that you will be a very valuable asset to the Board of Water Supply. You will obviously have my support. I think a voice for the farmers on the water co-ops that exist here is extremely important. Guam is a pretty tough assignment. They have gone through a lot of issues with water. Now they are going through issues with the tree snakes that dealt with birds and now invasive species also, dealing with fire ants. There is a lot going on there. Ms. Ho: Yes. Chair Furfaro: Laurie, I have no more questions for you. I will certainly be supporting your appointment. Thank you for stepping forward. Ms. Ho: Thank you. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 4 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Ms. Matsumoto: Well, let me just say that timing is very important. I am ready to step in whenever everyone else is ready. That is the best I can say. We need to work out some details. I am available and ready. Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Before I give the floor to Mr. Chock; for me, there is no exception. The date is March 15 because that is when we begin what amounts to about ten (10) weeks of budget review. Salaries are about fifty-eight percent (58%) of our Operating Budget and salaries plus Payroll, Taxes, and Employee Benefits (PT&E) make up almost eighty-three percent (83%) of the County's Operating Budget. It is, as Mr. Rapozo pointed out, a necessity by March 15. Everybody has kind of got away from their shyness, believe it or not, from this group and now they have questions. Mr. Chock, you have the floor. Mr. Chock: Welcome Camilla. Thank you so much for your service. I just want to get a sense of what you think you might be focused on if there was a specific area within your role at the Salary Commission during your tenure. I would love to hear that. Ms. Matsumoto: Clearly, I am looking forward to serving again and also on this commission. When I think of Kaua`i, I think of an island of people who serve the island. If there was some kind of award for having a community that is very strong in volunteerism, I think Kaua`i would be a winner. I would be very honored to be part of that group. I have learned a lot from people on this island who want to do good for this island. That is one reason why I am involved. It is also an honor for me to serve. There will be a lot for me to learn, so I am looking forward to that and bring everything that I have, like my strengths, to the position to make good decisions that will affect the island. Chair Furfaro: Are there any other questions? If not, thank you very much for being here this morning. Again, thank you for your service to the County of Kaua`i. Ms. Matsumoto: I would like to thank you as well. Chair Furfaro: Thank you. Next interview please. BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY: • Laurie K. Ho (At-Large)— Term ending 12/31/2016 LAURIE K. HO: Good morning. Chair Furfaro: Good morning, Laurie. Can we ask you to introduce yourself first? Ms. Ho: My name is Laurie Ho. Chair Furfaro: Laurie, are you now retired? Ms. Ho: Yes, since August of 2011. By the way, Chair, nice shirt. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 5 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Chair Furfaro: I have my wife to thank for that. Laurie, are you active with the Farm Bureau? Ms. Ho: Yes. I am the Vice President. Chair Furfaro: Okay, great. Ms. Ho: Volunteer. Chair Furfaro: Yes. We could not do it in this County without volunteers. Laurie, tell me a little bit about your agricultural background as far as understanding your association with the Farm Bureau and so forth. You have always been very much involved with soil conservation farming and water. Tell me a little bit; did you work for the State for a while? Ms. Ho: I worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. When I started thirty-two (32) years ago, it used to be called the "Soil Conservation Service." I started in Oregon working with the wheat farmers and grass seed farmers in the Willamette Valley. I dealt with conservation issues and wildlife issues in the Baskett Slough area of... let us say West Salem... my office was in Dallas, Oregon which is close to Monmouth and Mcminnville. I transferred back here. Long career here on... I actually applied for a job on Moloka`i. I did not get it, but they offered me a job here on Kaua`i. I came back, worked here for six (6) years, and then went to Guam to work for a couple of years. If you want to be promoted in the Federal government, you need to be mobile and move, so I worked in Guam. I set-up the Field Office there; first District Conservationist in Guam. Then I moved back here. They moved to a program called "Resource Conservation and Development (RD&C)," which was a public/private partnership with a non-profit side and a government public side, which went into rural community development. I think I met a lot of you folks through that program also. I worked fifteen (15) years with farmers and ranchers right on their farm and developing plans for cover crops, groundcovers, and windbreaks, which all require water— anyway, irrigation systems, and then moving into value added more resource... more than just resources management, but people management and grant management. Does that answer your question? Chair Furfaro: Yes it does. I do think that you will be a very valuable asset to the Board of Water Supply. You will obviously have my support. I think a voice for the farmers on the water co-ops that exist here is extremely important. Guam is a pretty tough assignment. They have gone through a lot of issues with water. Now they are going through issues with the tree snakes that dealt with birds and now invasive species also, dealing with fire ants. There is a lot going on there. Ms. Ho: Yes. Chair Furfaro: Laurie, I have no more questions for you. I will certainly be supporting your appointment. Thank you for stepping forward. Ms. Ho: Thank you. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 6 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Chair Furfaro: Members, do you have any questions? Mr. Chock, you have the floor. Mr. Chock: Mahalo Laurie for your service and wanting to be on the Board of Water Supply. Water is such an important thing. It is the life of our island, so I think it is a huge kuleana that you are taking on. Of course, as you know, there have been some things that need attention with our water needs. We need to plan for the future. Would you be able to share what you think the needs of the Board of Water Supply are? Given all that you can offer, what is it that you want to see it being focused on? Ms. Ho: I am new to the Board of Water Supply. I have had some briefings with Kirk Sasaki. I am looking to hearing more about the issues. I did not go to the meeting that was held last Monday. I hear things, but what are my visions? I am truly not sure where the entire water... I have not looked at it yet, so I think I will reserve my comments as to where we are going as a water department for later until I know a little bit more. Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Laurie, thank you very much. We will be voting on your appointment later today. Thank you for all you do for us. Ms. Ho: Thank you very much. Aloha. Chair Furfaro: Let us go to our last interview please. BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS: • Michael Y. Nagano (Fire Safety)— Term ending 12/31/2014 MICHAEL Y. NAGANO: Good morning. Chair Furfaro: Good morning. Michael, may I just ask you to introduce yourself for the record, and then we will go from there. Mr. Nagano: My name is Michael Nagano and I am looking to serve on the Building Board of Appeals. Chair Furfaro: Michael, are you currently filling someone's term? Are you on a partial-term or is this your first appointment? Mr. Nagano: One and a half(1.5). Chair Furfaro: Okay. I see. I am going to ask Paula to come up for a minute. Is this commission filled with all of our... Ms. Morikami: Michael Nagano will be filling in the Fire Safety position, which has been vacant for quite a while. We are still looking for a person with experience in plumbing and another one with a fire background. Chair Furfaro: Okay. We have these categories like Electrical, Engineering, Fire Safety, At-Large, and so forth. Michael fits the Fire Safety category. Ms. Morikami: Yes. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 7 FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Chair Furfaro: I am very familiar with his talents and business through my years in the hotel industry, making recommendations through his company, and so forth. I think he is, in fact, a perfect fit. This position on the commission is currently vacant? Ms. Morikami: Yes. Chair Furfaro: Okay. Ms. Morikami: The Building Board of Appeals meets on an "as-needed" basis. We have been diligently trying to fill these positions, so we are very fortunate that Michael is willing to serve on the Building Board of Appeals. Chair Furfaro: I would say exactly the same. His history and meeting the qualifications for this seat— we are very fortunate. Are there any questions, members? If not, Michael, thank you for all of the paper that you have provided for us on your history and so forth. I will reassure you that you have my vote when we do vote later today. Our Staff will notify you of the outcome. Thank you for your volunteerism. It is much appreciated. Mr. Nagano: Thank you. There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded as follows: Chair Furfaro: I think that wraps us up here. We posted our Council Meeting for 9:30 a.m., so we need to live with that by the rules. If we posted at 9:30 a.m., we cannot start before 9:30 a.m. On that note, thank you everyone. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned 6-01 a.m. Respectfull submitted, . 11111111111. / (7---) , ..— 'a ii r,..- EDUA' .5 • ' OPENIO, 1 :. ■ Administrative Assist.l. to :011,County Clerk :cy