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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_0807_CRC OP Minutes APPROVED COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Approved as circulated 09/28/2020 Board/Commission: CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Meeting Date August 7, 2020 Location Teleconference Start of Meeting: 3:05 p.m. End of Meeting: 4:06 p.m. Present Chair Marissa Sandblom, Vice Chair Jan TenBruggencate. Commissioners: Lori Koga, Patrick Stack, Carol Suzawa, Reid Kawane (joined at 3:55pm.) Also: Teresa Tumbaga, Deputy County Attorney. Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Administrator Ellen Ching, Administrative Specialist Anela Segreti. Members of the Public: Bert Lyon, Scott Sato, Deputy County Clerk. Excused Commissioner Virginia Kapali Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Commissioner Kawane and Commissioner Kapali are excused. Chair Marissa Sandblom, called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Roll Call Roll Call: Commissioner Kapali- excused Commissioner Kawane- excused Commissioner Koga-present Commissioner Stack-present Commissioner Suzawa- present Vice Chair TenBruggencate- present Chair Sandblom-present Quorum: 5 commissioners present Agenda Chair Sandblom entertained a motion to approve agenda. Vice Chair TenBruggencate moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Koga Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION seconded. Motion carried 5:0 Minutes Open Session Minutes of June 22, 2020 Open Session Minutes of June 29, 2020 Vice Chair TenBruggencate stated that he had reviewed the minutes prior to the meeting and communicated edits to staff. Staff made edits and that is the minutes included in the meeting packet. Vice Chair TenBruggencate moved to approve the Minutes of June 22, 2020 and June 29, 2020. Commissioner Suzawa seconded. Motion carried 5:0. Public Testimony Chair Sandblom asked if there were testimonies. Staff informed commission that Mr. Lyons was on the line, but did not have testimony. No Action Communication CRC 2020-19 Communication received from Jade Fountain-Tanigawa dated June 26, 2020 regarding Council Items Referred to the Charter Review Commission. Chair Sandblom entertained a motion to receive. Vice Chair TenBruggencate moved to receive CRC 2020- 19. Commissioner Suzawa seconded. Voice Vote: Ayes -5 Nays-0 Motion carried 5:0 CRC 2020-20 Communication received from Jade Fountain-Tanigawa dated July 20, 2020 regarding County of Kaua`i Charter Amendment Ballot Questions: 2020 General Election. Chair Sandblom entertained a motion to receive. Commissioner Suzawa moved to receive CRC 2020- 20. Vice Chair TenBruggencate seconded. Voice Vote: Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ayes-5 Nays -0 Motion carried 5:0 Business CRC 2020-17 Discussion and possible action on proposed Charter amendment relating to Council Districting. Vice Chair TenBruggencate stated that there is no urgency right now and probably will want to have a public meeting looking towards the 2022 election. He suggested to defer this item to after the 2020 election, the November meeting, at which time they can begin considering the various permutations of districting before the Commission and determining which is most appropriate. Commissioner Stack clarified that this could not be considered for the upcoming 2020 ballot, which Vice Chair TenBruggencate confirmed. Chair Sandblom asked if Mr. Lyons wanted to share his thoughts. Bert Lyons stated that he thought the Commission was moving in the right direction and he understood. Vice Chair TenBruggencate moved to defer CRC 2020- 17 to the November meeting. Commissioner Koga seconded. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Koga-aye Commissioner Stack-aye Commissioner Suzawa-aye Vice Chair TenBruggencate- aye Chair Sandblom-aye Ayes -5 Nays-0 Motion carried 5:0 CRC 2020-19 Discussion and possible action on communication received from Jade Fountain- Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Tanigawa dated June 26, 2020 regarding Council Items Referred to the Charter Review Commission. Ellen Ching, administrator, shared with the Commission that staff researched and found no information of the document being received by the Commission. The 2004 minutes reflected that the Commission was just founded. Based on this information Ms. Ching responded to the County Clerk that the item would be on today’s agenda. Commissioners discussed the resolution (on file) with Ms. Ching. Discussion on whether resolution from 2004 is obsolete and what action should be taken. Vice Chair TenBruggencate suggested responding to the County Clerk that if the current Council wants it considered as an amendment for the 2022 election they will consider it with more direction. Chair Sandblom asked if Deputy County Clerk wanted to make a statement. Scott Sato, Deputy County Clerk, requested a recommendation from the Commission, it could be that it is moot, then the Council could place it back on the agenda to be received, as it is basically obsolete on their read as well. They need feedback from the Commission to receive it because the final motion in 2004 was to refer to the Charter Commission. Chair Sandblom entertained a motion. Vice Chair TenBruggencate moved to receive CRC 2020- 19 and send communication to the County Clerk’s office that the Charter Commission at this time finds this item to be moot and will not process it further, however the Council is invited to submit a more current resolution if they care to proceed. Commissioner Koga seconded. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Koga-aye Commissioner Stack-aye Commissioner Suzawa-aye Vice Chair TenBruggencate- aye Chair Sandblom-aye Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ayes-5 Nays -0 Motion carried 5:0 CRC 2020-18 Discussion and possible action on a Commentary by Commission to The Garden Island Newspaper. Chair TenBruggencate went over the commentary (on file) that he wrote going over the six ballot questions. He suggest that it be submitted to The Garden Island a few days before the ballots are mailed so it is fresh in the voters mind. He stated that he could submit it as an individual or as the Vice Chair on behalf of the Commission. Commissioners discussed the commentary. Suggestions were made as to how to describe the change in the police chief qualifications in the commentary. Edit will be made to use additional in regards to the change in qualifications. Mr. Sato confirmed that the elections office is looking at Oct. 9 to get ballots in the mail. Based on this information Vice Chair TenBruggencate suggest submitting to The Garden Island in the first 3 or 4 days of October, hoping that they will run it close to when people will get their ballots. Chair Sandblom clarified that there is no problem with the commentary being submitted on behalf of the Commission as a body. Theresa Tumbaga, Deputy County Attorney, confirmed that if the Commission agrees as a body to the commentary, and based on the fact that the amendments are coming from the Commission, it should be fine. She asked if this was something that was done in the past. Vice Chair TenBruggencate stated that he does not believe that this was done in the past, but they did have several commissioners go on Hoike and speak to the Charter Amendments in an educational way. He does not remember it being done in the form of a letter to The Garden Island. Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Commission discussed what has happened in the past and wanting to make sure that they are in compliance. Ms. Tumbaga confirmed that if the Commission as a body decides that the commentary is what they would like to share with the public it is fine. Chair Sandblom entertained a motion for possible action to submit commentary to The Garden Island. Vice Chair TenBruggencate asked that staff ask the excused commissioners if they are comfortable with the submission before their names are attached. Commissioner Suzawa moved to submit the commentary to The Garden Island . Commissioner Koga seconded. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Koga-aye Commissioner Stack-aye Commissioner Suzawa-aye Vice Chair TenBruggencate- aye Chair Sandblom-aye Ayes -5 Nays -0 Motion carried 5:0 CRC 2020-13 Discussion and possible action on plan for public education. Ms. Ching reported that the Public Education notices would be sent to Kauai registered voters starting in October to the end of the election. Vice Chair TenBruggencate stated that we are sure that anything sent out before ballots are received before October, because there will be people who have already voted. Ms. Ching stated that they would start October 1. Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair Sandblom asked if anything beside the targeted digital pushes would be done. Ms. Ching reported that it will not be limited to just social media sites. A message would appear anytime voters are on-line. Ms. Ching discussed with the Commission the cost of the campaign. Confirmed that the full text will be published in a local publication as well as on the Boards and Commissions web site. She also stated that generally materials are made available at libraries. Commissioner Koga asked if part of the public education will say that, a blank vote is considered no change or a no vote is considered approval. Ms. Ching responded that could be added. Ms. Ching discussed with the Commission designation of a spokesperson for the Commission should she receive inquiries for public comment about the charter amendments. Vice Chair TenBruggencate suggested that it be left up to the Chair to decide whom can respond. Commissioner Kawane joined the meeting at 3:55pm Vice Chair TenBruggencate noted that there may be situations where two people would respond. Vice Chair TenBruggecate moved that the Chair or her designee be selected as a spokesman for the Commission. Commissioner Suzawa seconded. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Kawane-aye Commissioner Koga-aye Commissioner Stack-aye Commissioner Suzawa-aye Vice Chair TenBruggencate- aye Chair Sandblom-aye Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ayes-6 Nays -0 Motion carried 6:0 Announcements Next meeting: Monday, August 24, 2020, 3:00 p.m., Teleconference Vice Chair TenBruggencate suggested that the August 24, 2020 not be held since it is only two weeks away and if needed hold an earlier September meeting. Ms. Ching confirmed that there was nothing from staff for the August 24, 2020 agenda. Ms. Tumbaga commented on the Sunshine Law section 92-2.5, permitted interactions of members. Two or more members of a board, but less then the number of members that would constitute a quorum for the board may be assigned to present, discuss, or negotiate any position which the board has adopted at a meeting of the board, provided that the assignment is made and the scope of each member’s authority is defined at a meeting of the board prior to the presentation, discussion, or negotiation. She clarified if one person is involved in the discussion with the media, that is fine, but if you want to assign two it would need to be made at a meeting prior to the assignment. Chair Sandblom clarified that if there was a request prior to the regularly scheduled September meeting than a meeting will need to be held, if more than one person would attend. Vice Chair TenBruggecate moved to cancel the August 24, 2020 meeting and reconvene at the regular time in September or at a different time if recommended by staff. Commissioner Kawane seconded. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Kawane-aye Commissioner Koga-aye Commissioner Stack-aye Commissioner Suzawa-aye Vice Chair TenBruggencate- aye Chair Sandblom-aye Ayes -6 Nays -0 Motion carried 6:0 Adjournment Vice Chair TenBruggencate reminded everyone to vote if they haven’t already done so. Ms. Ching recommended that people tune in to Election night on the FM97 with Vice Chair TenBruggencate. Chair Sandblom hearing no objections adjourned the meeting at 4:06pm. Charter Review Commission Open Session August 7, 2020 Page 9 Submitted by: __________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Anela Segreti, Administrative Specialist Marissa Sandblom, Chair (X) Approved as circulated. ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of meeting.