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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017_0519_BOE_PacketMary Tudela Chair Michael Curtis Vice -Chair Maureen Tabura Secretary COUNTY OF KAUA'I BOARD OF ETHICS NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA Friday, May 19, 2017 1:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter Mo`ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room 3 4444 Rice Street, Lihu'e, HI 96766 CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES Open Session Minutes of April 21, 2017 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED Members: Susan B ss _9 All ,07 Ryan dePeii'd Calvin Murashige Mia ShiraishiOrFiC€ OF I E COUNTY CLERK CbUNTY OF KAUM BOE 2017-08 Copy of a memorandum dated April 25, 2017 from Mason K. Chock, Councilmember to Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Members of the Kauai County Council regarding a possible conflict of interest relating to Resolution No. 2017-33, Resolution authorizing the filing of the Kauai County 2017 Action Plan (Community Development Block Grant) with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, United States of America, for a grant under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and 1987 (Public Laws 93-383 and 100-242), as amended. BOE 2017-09 Email follow-up from Chief of Police Darryl D. Perry and Deputy County Attorney Peter Morimoto requesting citation of the specific section and language in which the decision was based for RAO 17- 006. BUSINESS BOE 2017-10 Commissions practice on Request for an Advisory Opinion decision citations discussion. An Equal Opportunity Employer DISCLOSURES 1. Wade Larry Lord (Planning Commission) 2. Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto (Fire Commission) 3. Henry Ramsey Ross (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) 4. Nicholas Courson (Deputy County Attorney) ANNOUNCEMENTS Next Meeting: Friday, June 16, 2017 — 1:00 p.m., Mo`ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room ADJOURNMENT NOTICE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes §92-7 (a), the Board may, when deemed necessary, hold an executive session on any agenda item without written public notice if the executive session was not anticipated in advance. Any such executive session shall be held pursuant to HRS §92-4 and shall be limited to those items described in HRS §92-5(a). c: Nicholas Courson, Deputy County Attorney PUBLIC COMMENTS and TESTIMONY Persons wishing to offer comments are encouraged to submit written testimony at least 24-hours prior to the meeting indicating: 1. Your name and if applicable, your position/title and organization you are representing; 2. The agenda item that you are providing comments on; and 3. Whether you will be testifying in person or submitting written comments only. 4. If you are unable to submit your testimony at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, please provide 10 copies of your written testimony at the meeting clearly indicating the name of the testifier; and While every effort will be made to copy, organize and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the meeting or improperly identified may be distributed to the members after the meeting is concluded. The length of time allocated to persons wishing to present verbal testimony may be limited at the discretion of the chairperson or presiding member. Send written testimony to: Board of Ethics Attn: Sandra Muragin Office of Boards & Commissions 4444 Rice Street, Suite 150 Lihu`e, HI 96766 Email: smuragin@kauai.gov 2 1 P a e Board of Ethics — May 19, 2017 Fax: 241-5127 Phone: 241-4919 SPECIAL ASSISTANCE If you need an alternate format or an auxiliary aid to participate, please contact the Boards & Commissions Support Clerk at 241-4919 at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. 31Pa-,c Board of Ethics -- May 19, 2017 COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION ±=W,T( :TUM Board/Committee: BOARD OF ETHICS Meeting Date April 21, 2017 Location Mo`ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room 3 Start of Meeting: 1:02 p.m. I End of Meeting: 1:38 p.m. Present Chair Mary Tudela; Vice Chair Michael Curtis; Secretary Maureen Tabura. Members: Susan Burriss. Ryan de la Pena; Calvin Murashige; Mia Shiraishi Staff. Mayor's Chief of Staff Paula Morikami, Deputy County Attorney Sinclair Salas-Ferguson; Boards & Commissions Office: Commission Support Clerk Sandra Muragin Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Tudela called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. with 7 members present. RAO 17-007 Verbal request from Administrator Jay Furfaro of The Office of Boards and Commissions requesting guidance in clarifying the Kauai County Board of Ethics Disclosure Statement requirements as it pertains to disclosing income from stock sales and real property. Chair Tudela asked to move item RAO 17-007 to an administrative sub - hearing or defer for discussion because the Board of Ethics is not inclined to take verbal requests. Deputy County Attorney Sinclair Salas-Ferguson stated that he is filling in for Deputy County Attorney Nicholas Courson and Paula Morikami, Mayor's Chief of Staff, has declined to speak on the issue. He referred to the Board of Ethics Rules and Regulations, Rule 5: Advisory Opinion, b., "All requests for advisory opinions made to the Board shall be in writing... " Mr. Murashige moved to defer RAO 17-007. Mr. de la Pena seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Approval of Minutes Regular Open Session Minutes of March 17, 2017 Mr. de la Pena moved to approve the Open Session Minutes of March 17, 2017. Mr. Murashige seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:1 (Ms. Burris Abstained) Communication BOE 2017-05 Copy of a memorandum dated March 21, 2017 from Amyl Mr. Murashige moved to receive the communication. Mr. Curtis seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 - Ms. Tabura moved to receive the communication. Mr. Murashige seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Mr. de la Pena moved to receive the communication. Ms. Tabura seconded the Kaneshiro, Councilmember to Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Members of the Kauai County Council regarding his recusal for a possible conflict of interest relating to Bill No. 2645, the Mayor's Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 regardingthe he appropriations for the East Kauai Soil & Water Conservation district. Mr. Salas-Ferguson read the communication for the record. BOE 2017-06 Copy of a memorandum dated March 21, 2017 from Arryl Kaneshiro, Councilmember to Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Members of the Kauai County Council regarding his recusal for a possible conflict of interest relating to Bill No. 2645, the Mayor's Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 regardingthe he appropriations for Grove Farm Company, Inc. Mr. Salas-Ferguson read the communication for the record. BOE 2017-07 Copy of a memorandum dated March 17, 2017 from JoAnn A. Yukimura, Councilmember to Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Members of the Kauai County Council regarding her recusal for a possible conflict of interest relating to Bill No. 2645, the Mayor's Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 regardingthe he appropriations for the Boys & Girls Club. Mr. Salas-Ferguson read the communication for the record. Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION motion. Motion carried 7:0 Request for an RAO 17-006 Letter dated March 2, 2017 from Chief of Police Darryl D. Perry requesting to review copy of a letter and application dated February 9, Advisory 2017 from Ms. Vykkv Gamble, EAH Housing Property Supervisor seeking Opinion applicants for the Resident Police Officer Program at Kaniko'o 11 and determine if it violates the County of Kauai Code of Ethics. Assistant Police Chief Rob Gausepohl said changes were made to the original tenancy agreement. He said the resident Police Officer program has also been arranged with Pa'anau Village in K61oa and Kalepa Village in Hanamd'ulu and it benefits the community and Police Department. Mr. Murashige moved there is a conflict. Ms. Tabura seconded the motion. Chair Tudela asked Mr. Gausepohl how many resident Police Officer programs are on island. Mr. Gausepohl said he couldn't confirm how many resident police officers are in these housing projects under the rent without paying arrangement. Mr. Murashige asked if these other arrangements came before the Board of Ethics and Mr. Gausepohl responded he didn't know. Ms. Shiraishi asked for clarification because it states the resident Officer has no responsibility but if they see something do they have an obligation to respond. Mr. Gausepohl said they are not to act as security for the facility. The housing project wants an Officer with a police car in the parking lot for visibility. The agreement is clear that it is not between the County of Kauai it's between the Police Officer in good standing and the housing project. Theoretically, Ms. Shiraishi said, they could get a pool of applicants that do not have a patrol car and would have to select from that pool. Mr. Gausepohl agreed that a Police Officer without a patrol car could fill this resident program. Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Mr. Murashige asked if it was fair to assume from an income standpoint that any Police Officer would not qualify to be a resident there. Mr. Gausepohl did not know the particulars on income qualification. Chair Tudela stated that based on the Board of Ethics Code it clearly states no gifts, nor can they benefit from their position in any way. Mr. Murashige said he understands how the presence of a resident Police Officer would benefit the project but in a normal process the Police Officer due to income would not qualify. Ms. Shiraishi said the Kauai Police Department has contracts with private businesses to hire Police Officers and asked if this is something the housing project could contract. Mr. Gausepohl replied that they probably do not have the budget for it. Deputy County Attorney Peter Morimoto assigned to service the Police Department directed the Board to The Charter, Section 20.02 A. and E. and read "No officer or employee of the county shall: Solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment,... or in any other form, under circumstances in which it can reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the officer or employee in the performance of the officer or employee's official duties or is intended as a reward for any official action on the officer or employee's part. " He said no action will be taken in the Officer's official capacity and there is no reward for taking any action, it's giving free rent and the Officers presence on the premises. Mr. Murashige and Mr. Curtis both agreed that the Officer would be taking action by being a resident. The Officer would be occupying the apartment in exchange for free rent. Mr. Morimoto referenced and read if "the gift is Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION intended to influence the officer or employee in the performance of the officer or employee's official duties or is intended as a reward for any official action on the officer or employee's part. " He doesn't see what the official action is because the Officer would be off duty when he returns to the resident apartment. Mr. Gausepohl shared that at times when officially off duty he has assisted several incidences and received no benefits and as a Police Office it's expected by the Community that they act and perform to protect the public all the times. Chair Tudela asked if Pa'anau Village and Kalepa Village had the same Resident Police Officer Program agreement and both Mr. Gausepohl and Mr. Morimoto did not know. Mr. Morimoto stated he did not draft the agreement he made corrections to their standard agreement. Mr. Salas-Ferguson read the following and recommended the Board use one of the sub -sections to make their decision: • The Charter Section 20.02 E. • A Guide to Ethical Issues in the Kauai County Government 1. Article 1, Section 3-1.6 & County of Kauai, Article XX, Section 20.02 E. A. 2. Section 3-1.1. Construction 3. Section 3-1.4 Gifts (a) and (b) 4. Section 3-1.6 Fair Treatment (a) (1), (2), (3), (4) Mr. Curtis that stated it appears the Police Officer would receive preferential treatment because the resident program is only available to Police Officers. Chair Tudela stated there is a motion on the floor that says there is a conflict Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION with the code and Counsel has recommended attaching a reason for the conflict from the four different sections read. Chair Tudela called for the question. Motion carried 7:0 Chair Tudela said that Counsel has advised the Board to attach a reason for the conflict and if no reason is attached then it creates open issues going forward. Mr. Curtis said he is of the opinion the vote was taken and the Chair Tudela moved to attach a rationale to the matter passed. motion as advised by Counsel.(No second to the motion) Mr. Morimoto commented the rationale should be stated because the Board would not want to have an arbitrary and capricious decision that is not based on the law. Disclosures 1. Michael Martinez (Fire Commission) 2. Heather Kanoe Ahuna (Planning Commission) 3. Susan Howie Burriss (Board of Ethics) 4. Craig Anthony De Costa (Board of Reivew) 5. Wade Larry Lord (Planning Commission) 6. Russell Mark Kapi`olani Wong (Board of Review) Ms. Tabura moved to receive Disclosures 1, 3, 4, 6 and deem them complete. Mr. de la Pena seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:1 (Ms. Burris Abstained) Mr. Curtis moved to receive Disclosure 2 and deem complete. Mr. Murashige seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Ms. Tabura moved that section 3 is incomplete on Disclosure 5 and deemed incomplete. Mr. de la Pena seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Announcements Next Meeting: Friday, May 19, 2017 — 1:00 p.m., Mo'ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room Board of Ethics Open Session April 21, 2017 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Adjournment Mr. Murashige moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:38 p.m. Ms. Tabura seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. Submitted by: Sandra M. Muragin, Commission Support Clerk () Approved as circulated. () Approved with amendments. See minutes of meeting. Reviewed and Approved by: Mary Tudela, Chair COUNTY COUNCIL Mel Rapozo, Chair Ross Kagawa, Vice Chair Arthur Brun Mason K. Chock Arryl Kaneshiro Derek S.K. Kawakami JoAnn A. Yukimura OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK Jade K. Fountain-Tanigawa, County Clerk Scott K. Sato, Deputy County Clerk Telephone: (808) 241-4188 Facsimile: (808) 241-6349 E-mail: cokcouncil@kauai.gov Council Services Division 4396 Rice Street, Suite 209 _ Lihu`e, Kauai, Hawaii 96766 u ; i MEMORANDUM 1 ' u� APR 2 7` 1 April 25, 2017 j B0A1F,'` S & CO"AM1SS1C`>;,S TO: Mel Rapozo, Council Chair and Members of the Kauai County Council FROM: Mason K. Chock, Councilmember RE: POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST RELATING TO RESOLUTION NO. 2017-33, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF THE KAUA`I COUNTY 2017 ACTION PLAN (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT) WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FOR A GRANT UNDER TITLE I OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974 AND 1987 (PUBLIC LAWS 93-383 AND 100-242), AS AMENDED Pursuant to Section 20.04(B) of the Kauai County Charter, Section 3-1.9 of the Kauai County Code 1987, as amended, and Rule No. 8 of the Rules of the Council of the County of Kauai, I hereby provide written disclosure on the record of a possible conflict of interest relating to funding for "Public Services — Namahoe Leadership Voyaging Program (Leadership Kaua`i)" in the amount of $35,000, which is part of the funding appropriated in Resolution No. 2017-33, Resolution Authorizing The Filing Of The Kauai County 2017 Action Plan (Community Development Block Grant) With The Department Of Housing And Urban Development, United States Of America, For A Grant Under Title I Of The Housing And Community Development Act Of 1974 And 1987 (Public Laws 93-383 And 100-242), As Amended. I am recusing myself from the discussion and vote on the funding for the Namahoe Leadership Voyaging Program as I will potentially be contracted by Leadership Kauai; however, I plan to participate in the vote on the remaining projects outlined in Resolution No. 2017-33, of which will be taken ad seriatim. In light of the above, I have recused myself from the aforementioned items at the April 26, 2017 Council Meeting. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your attention to this matter. YS:cy cc: May 17, 2017 Council Meeting Agenda County of Kauai Board of Ethics Council Services Staff AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER