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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2009 Special Council Meeting SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 16, 2009 The Special Meeting of the Council of the County of Kauai was called to order by the Council Chair at the Council Chambers, I-Iistaric County Building, 4396 Rice Street, Room 201, Lihu`e, Kauai, on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 8:35 a.m., after which the fallowing members answered the call of the roll: Honorable Tim Bynum Honorable Dickie S. Chang Honorable Jay Furfaro Honorable Daryl W. Kaneshiro (present at 9:10 a.m.) Honorable Lani T. Kawahara Honorable Derek S. K. Kawakami Honorable Bill "Kaipa" Asing APPRC}VAL OF AGENDA Mr. Furfaro moved to approve the Agenda as circulated, seconded by Mr. Chang, and unanimously carried. Council Chair Asing: We're going to go through the interview process of three applicants for the charter review commission. Before we da that, I would like to open it up to the public for anyone in the public who wants to speak. There being no objections, the rules were suspended. SHERMAN SHIRAISHI: Good morning, my name is Sherman Shiraishi. I'm the current chairman of the charter review commission, and I... This past meeting was my last meeting in which L..you know, I will serve as chairman, but I will continue to serve as a member of the commission. And I am in favor of the three nominees. I know them personally. I've worked with them. you know, I have the highest regard for their integrity and their dedication to public work. I know Jan from, you know, from high school; I know Mr. Stack from his involvement as a mediator in the Judiciary, he has a talent of bringing apposing views together, which I think will be goad far the commission; I know Mary Lou, she has been, you knave, a tireless public servant and also served as the... is it the director of Hale Opio?...and you know, if you know Hale Opio originally, their reputation was not goad, but she, you know, did a lot to bring up the reputation, and you know, it's one of the top charities an Kauai today helping the youth on Kauai. So I believe that these three nominees would be great for the charter review commission, and we've been working with only four members, having a hard time getting a quorum, but you know, the current members were very dedicated-we never missed a meeting, and these three would be a definite benefit to the commission. Thank you. SPDCTATl ~VTEFTTI~TG ~ DECEIVI$ER 10, 2009 Council Chair .~lsing Sherman, you have a question from a Cauncilzntml~er. NTr. Furfara: You're the current chairman, am 1 Correct, Shuman`' Vlr. Shraishi; Yes, but only far 2009. So far 2020 there will be a nclw chairman. 11~ir. ~'urfara: ~?kay, and the three positions that are vacant are Chun, ~'oshiaka, and Davit -$riant. 11~Ir. Shiraishi; That's correct. l~Tr, Furfara; okay, sa Currently you have faur members, including yourself. l~Tr. Shiraishi: That's correct, and we've never missed a meeting. Mr. ~`urfara; And a that is...the current members are Suzawa, Kennett, Viers, and yourself. l~'Ir. Shiraishi: Right, but my understanding is T think Barbara $ennctt might be resigning also. Sa there might be another opening, sa it's very important that wc, you know, approve these three nominees. 11~Ir. Furfara: C}kay. well 1 appreciate you taming and testifying and telling; u:~ there's a...Certainly a sense of urgency here to fill the vacancies if we are ~;~~in~; to get anything, really, an the charter in time for the upcoming election. S{> thank you, Sherman. Ir. Shiraishi; 'T'hank vou, Mr. Furfara; Thank you l~Ir. Chair. Council Chair Asing; Thank you, Any other cluestians, Councilmembers? if not, Sherman thank you very much. We appreciate it. With that, Tenn. LFNI~~ I~~IICKENS 'T`hank you, Kaipo. For the retard, Glenn 1~Titkens. 1 t~>c~ I'd just like to Congratulate these three people. The Charter review tomznissian, as Sherman says, definitely needs some mare help with the faur members that have been there, but 1 appreciate these per~ple dedicating their time as volunteers to da this. T just have possibly when they tame up here far their interview, maybe they tan answer a Couple questions I have here. Have any of them have had any dlstllSSlans with any County affzCials regarding any matter that may be Considered by the board ar Commission to which they are appointed, and if SPECIAL MEETING 3 DECEMBER 16, 2009 so, what was the nature of the discussion, Just for informational purposes. Anyway, thank you Kaipo. Gauncil Chair Asing; Thank yau. Is there anyone else who wants to speak? R4B ABRE~: Good marring Councilmembers. My name is Rab Abrew, for the retard. I'm passing out some testimony I'm submitting in this manning. Aloha Councilmembers today, here... Today we are here to review the mayor's selected applicants to became members of various boards and commissions of the County of Kauai. Many of the applicants before you yau already know as friends, business associates, and fine citizens of the County of Kauai, This prates is not about judging these fine citizens as members of the community, but do these recommended appointments follow the prates as stated in the County of Kauai Charter as approved by the Citizens. Section 23.02 boards and eammissians tells us what this Commission needs to know in order to approve these positions. In my opinion, only two items would need to be reviewed by the Council in order for the applicant to be approved. These two requirements would be 23.02D, each Commissioner shall be, at the time of his or her appointment a duly qualified resident elector of the County. It is my understanding that the applicant tells us this on the farm submitted to you for review. And then 23.02E says na more than a bare majority of the members of any board ar commission shall belong to the same political party. It's also my understanding the applitant's...the application asks the applicant if they are member of a political party. In 02009-393 received in the county clerk's office an 12104/09, the mayor via John Isabe, executive assistant, asks far the Council's favorable consideration and confirmation of the following appointments to the various boards and Commissions. At the end of the tammunieation, Mr. Isabe also states that the application forms are attached. I believe the application would give the council some of the information needed to assure that the applicants meet the requirements the Charter asks far, but the Communication does rat give the Council the information as needed in 23.02E, the political makeup of the various board or commission. If the applicant in their application tells the council they are a member of a political party, how would the council know if they approved this application they would not violate section 23.02 of the Charter. I have looked for a public document that shows the public the political makeup of various boards and commissions. I have not found any document here today that would give the council and the public the information needed to approve an applicant that tells us they are a member of a political party. Please request all the information needed to move the applicants forward in a timely matter. Many discussions in the public lately has been about the way our county government functions and haw separation of powers are necessary. The issue before today is a perfect example of how a check and balance form of government works. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Any questions, Councilmembers? Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who wants to speak? SPECIAL MEETING 4 I)ECElVIBER 10, 2009 KEN TAYLQR: Goad xnarning Chair and Council. My name is Ken Ttxylar. I too am glad to see today that there will be three new individuals placed on the charter review commission. I would just say that unfortunately far whatever reason, the first resignation of the three empty seats that currently prevail are...started back in July, and I'm disappointed to same extent that it's taken this long to replace these individuals, and it has put some tremendous strain on the charter review commission to have only four members in the last three months, and it's glad...I'm glad to see these individuals being appointed, but samething has to be looked at, and in a more timely manner replace individuals that step dawn far whatever reason, and I know that that's an... appointees came from across the street, but there has to be samething in government that changes this sa that a more rapid replacement pracess takes place so that we don't find ourselves in this position of being down to four board members ar commission members at any given time:. So I'm not sure what can be done to rectify thane problems, but it needs to be laoked at and I want to congratulate the three individuals that are here today to taking the time out of their lives to move forward with helping the community mane forward with better government. Thank you. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Anyone else in the audience wants to speak an this item? What I'm going to do is call the meeting back to order and we'll start the interview pracess, INTERVIEWS CHARTER, REVIEW COMMISSION; • Mary Lou Barela, First Term to expire 12!31!2012 Council Chair Asing: Goad morning. MARY L©U BARELA: Gaod morning, mele kalikimaka. Council Chair Asing: Same to you, and hauali makahiki hou. i111s. Barela: To you too. Is this on? Can you hear me? Is it an? Mr. Furfaro: Should be, should be. Sounds like it is, Ms. Barela: Okay, good morning. Council Chair Asing: Gaod manning. Why don't we start off the interview px•c~cess with giving you the opportunity to say whatever you want to say and share with us maybe scxme information that we may not be aware that you want to share. I know for myself, T've known you far a long, long time. We've had many discussions. Your wc~x•k with the Hale Qpio group has just been tremendous and very satisfying to the community, lout you know, maybe I don't know other things about you that are SPECIAL MEETING ~ DECEMBER 16, 2009 even mare fascinating. And so would you like to share any information with Cauncilmembers? Ms. Barela: Okay. Most of you know that I was the executive director for Kale Opio far 30 years, and I've been on the island of Kauai far 3~ years. When I retired in February 07, I was asked if I was going to go back home, and I said to the people who asked me that, this is my home. I have lived here Langer than I have lived any place else. This is what I call home. Anyway, since the time that I retired, I got credentialed to be a peer reviewer for a national accreditation organization. While I was at Hale Opio, we underwent our first...I think 12 ar 15 years ago, our first national accreditation. There are only five or six organizations, nonprofits, I believe an Kauai that are nationally accredited. It's a great process. It's a lengthy process. But I felt it was something I knew, something I believed in, and something I wanted to da, and it's a volunteer position. Ida get to travel throughout the country, They do pay for my travel, of course, and expenses. What we do is lank at... We don't make the decision as to whether an organization is going to get accredited ar nat. We are there really to ga over the information they sent us and to talk to their staff, to look through their documents to see that they're meeting the standards that has been set by the national accreditation council And I've been everywhere to work with arganizatians where 30 people, up to three, four, five hundred people, and we cover areas such as ethics, finances, governances, human resources, risk management, training, personnel, and ah, performance, quality performance, and I'm probably missing a couple, and those are the standard areas that we look at. And under every one of those categories, there is something in there that we need to look at, whether a dacurnentatian, or to talk to the board, or to talk to their staff, and then aside from that, then we da the program piece. But again, the program piece isn't there to say you're running a goad program ar not a goad program. It's to say this is what is required, and are you meeting those qualifications or Chase standards. People don't get... People have problems with that, and especially today, because sa many arganizatians have had to cut people, and they understaffed, and they're really trying to da two ar three jabs at a time, but people are still getting accredited. And through that process... because of that process, actually, I thought when I was asked to serve on this committee, that given that particular experience, plus my experience as executive director, that I could bring that experience to the council. Sa that's what I've been doing. So I am off-island about every three months or sa... every two and a half to three months. I make faur.,,anywhere from four to six peer reviews a year. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Ms. Barela: ~au're welcome. Council Chair Asing: Appreciate that. With that, I'd like to open it up far questions. Councilmember Chang. SPECIAL I~~IEETII~~ ~ DECEMBER 7.~, ~OQ9 1~Ir. Chang: Thank you. Did you dust say that you were..,you are gc>in tt~ be off island`' 1~Is, Barela: I am... I do go off island. I understand the meetings here are once a month, I think it's the last Monday of the month. I'm not sure. I don't know, but any~cvay, so there... When I am asked to go to a peer review, I can. say yc?s or no. So the dates, I don't have to o to that if it falls on a date that would be inconvenient. 1!lr. Chang: ~}kay. I have two questions, and the questions I would like to ask is, first o all, and I'm going to ask. this question for all three of you, did we..,did you volunteer and come forward knowing that the community needed gather members, additional members, because we had soxne...those that resigned, or were you asked` 'That's number one. And number two, I think of a lot of concern for the public is in a lot of our boards, as Sherman was saying, everybody showed up for the meeting, but there has been public concern that people show up for the meeting, but f'or whatever reason or another, they have to leave before the meeting is over. So there is concern on that end, so again, I just wanted to ask if everyone volunteered or came forward for the call of duty, or were you asked or perhaps recruited, and again, you knew, the big question I think for a lot of the public members is if you get approved, would you be able to, number one, make the meetings, as Sherman said, everybody comes to the meetings, but stay for the duration of the entire meeting. l~~Is. Barela: First of all, when I retired, I was asked if I would consider serving on a commission. At that time I said no, not now, nz~ay~;~; later. Recently I was told, well it's later, and I said that I was interested actually, that I was interested in serving, and I was asked if I would consider serving on this commission. I debated about that because of the press it's gotten, and then I thought about, it again, and I thought, well I've had press too, and you deal with it the way you deal with it. So after some thought, I decided. that I'd go ahe~~l and do this. The other thing is I'm retired, and so xny obligation to the commission then would be m~- obligation to the commission, and unless it was a terrible em~wr~~ency, that I would have every intentitan of sitting through a meeting and attendir~;; the meetings and participating in the meetings, Mr. Chang: Thank you. Council Chair Acing: Thank you. With that, Councilmember Furfaro. Mr, Furfaro: No, I think my question was ans~~~r~red when the response was you have control over your own schedule, So I'm good. Council Chair Acing; Thank you. Councilmember Bynum. Mr. Bynum: Good morning .Mary IJou. SPECIAL MEETING 7 DECEMBER 16, X009 Ms. Barela: Good morning. Mr. Bynum: I just wanted to thank you for your willingness to serve. I didn't know you were working on accreditation, and that's great. You know, having gone through an accreditation at anon-profit, I know how valuable that is and haw systematic the thought process is on behalf of the people reviewing. And I've known you for a long time. I was thrilled to see your name on this list... Ms. Barela: Thank you. Mr. Bynum: ...because I know that you will be an active contributor, and I know haw meticulous your thought process is. It will be very helpful for the charter review. So thank you far your willingness to serve. Ms, Barela: Thank you. If I may add to that. I believe there's only three accreditors form Hawaii, which is kind of an interesting thing in itself, and I can't do any accreditations in Hawaii, so they all have to be away from the State. Thank you. Mr. Bynum: Well, they're lucky to have you, Ms. Barela: Thank you. Council Chair Asing: Councilmember Kawahara. Ms. Kawahara: Hi, good marning. Ms. Barela: Good morning. Ms. Kawahara: It's nice to meet you. You did answer my question as you were speaking, but I just want to verify, because I'm going to be asking the same one. This is a volunteer position, but it does require commitment and the acknowledgment that it's an important duty for the community and the county, and I believe I heard that from you, and I was happy to hear that. You did mention a little bit about the press that it had gotten in this particular commission, and I was wondering if you might be able to elaborate mare on how you...what you believe about public scrutiny of this position and this voluntary...volunteer role and its place in the community. Ms. Barela: I think everybody has the right to say what they feel like they need to say, and sometimes when you hear it, if you're the...happen to be person that happens to have said it, and you hear it and you think well that's not what I said, or that's not what I meant to say, or that's not... That comes with the territory, and I think serving for government, serving in the commission or for government, you'll always have those people who agree, and you'll always have those SPECIAL MEETIi~'•G ~ DECEMBER. 1, 2t3[l~ people who disagree, and I think to disagree is ok~~=. And to listen to people whether y<~,~.~ ~t~;r~:e or disagree is really, really important. M~. I~awahara: Thank you very much. Council Chair Asing: Is there anyone else who has any questions for l~'Iary`~ I don't have any questions for you either, I've known you fir so long, I know what. you can do, I know what you have done, and for m.e, it's a matter of I know history well, in your case. So I don't ha~-e any questions for you, except to say thank you for stepping up, thank you for volu~~tec~•ing. And anyway, I don't have anything else. Th~xnk you very much. Ms. I~awahara: Thank you. Council Chair Asing. Can we have the next applicant up2 Jan? C~-IARTER. R.EVTEW CC'1MMISSIC}I~l'. • Jan Tenbruggencate, First Term to expire 12/~lI4I2 JAIti W. TEl~7BRE.IGGEi~CATE: Good morning. Council Chair Asing: Good morning Jan. I guess, Jan, I can say the same thing I've said to Mary Lou, to you. You knave, I've known you for a long, long time, ~xnd you have been a great asset to this community, you have served this community well, and I'm glad you're again stepping up and want to do this, especially as a volunteer and not getting paid. So with that, again the same thing, would you like to share information with all councilmembers, anything that you care to share with us. Mr. Tenbruggencate: Thank you I~aipo. Thanks for having me. I suspect I'm an tapen book to mast of you. With respect to the charter, I've been paying ~xttention to the charter since back in 19 ~ ~ before a couple of you were born. In these days when I was a reporter for the Hnolu~u Acvertis~r, we had the great benefit of being able, whenever there was a question, to consult with Morris ~hinsato who was then the county attorney, who wrote the charter. So I've been, thanks to Morris, somewhat deeply educated in the theory and practice of handling the county charter, and I hope that will be of service. In response, if I can, to a couple of the comments that have been made so far, NIr, Mickens asked whether I've had prior discussions with any county official, and I concede that indeed.. I ha~c7e had prior discussions with almost every county official, because this is,..tlxese charter issues are issues of public interest, and I'm interested, and I'vc I~~ cn talking to a number of people, and I'~ e also talked to Mr. It'Iicicens on this suk~jeet, as well as Mr, Taylor. ~o yeah, that ba~n't driven my opinion in one way or another, and people who know me know that I°m fairly independent-naincled. ~o that response to that. SPECIAL MEETING 9 DECEMBER 16, 2009 With response to Mr. Abrew's question, I don't think I'm acard-carrying member of any political party. It does occur to me that given the fact that the county has gave non-partisan in many other areas, that might be something that the charter commission ought to look at, whether that's still a valid part of the charter and whether that needs to be revised. In any case, whether the public needs to be given the opportunity to decide about that. I do want to thank Mr. Taylor for his concern for timely appointments to empty seats, because that is an issue. Leave a number of seats, as has been the case on the charter commission, empty for an extended period of time, and you do lose a significant amount of institutional memory, which can be important in those issues. And finally, to Councilman Chang's question, I was both asked and volunteered. Jahn Isobe, after a panel on which I'd served which addressed some issues in the charter, asked whether I would be consider serving an any panel, and as I understand it, he asks almost everybody he runs into whether they would be willing, because there are a lot of vacancies. And I said yeah, I'd be interested as a public service, and then he turned, he says, you wouldn't be interested in the charter commission, would you? I think a reference to the fact that it can be a cantroversiaL..you're dealing with controversial issues, and I said, yeah that one or any other that seems appropriate to you, and the mayor put me up for this seat. And I attended...I've attended a couple of the charter commission meetings, and I do, I think, enjoy the prospect of helping address the kinds of issues that can help the county move forward mare smoothly. I'm available to your questions. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. With that, Councilmember, any questions? Councilmember Bynum. Mr. Bynum: Good manning. Mr. Tenbruggencate: Good morning. Mr. Bynum: Thanks far your willingness to serve, and just a couple of things. C}ne is I agree with you that I know that you've been a student of our community for a fang time, and I think you're an excellent choice far this particular commission. Mr. Tenbruggencate: Thank you. Mr. Bynum: And thank you for your willingness to da that. And just for the record, I know that the boards and commissions administrators are very aware of the charter provision regarding party. The question is on the application, sa I know that that is being tracked, and the charter provision is cited right an the application. ~o I just wanted to put that into record. And then... and just also far the record, of course you talked with government officials about issues, that's what we do, speak with the public. But 1 just want to ask zf you were asked as part of your ~I'~~CIAI~ 1VIEETINC~ 1Cl DECEMBER ~.6, 2{70 appointment, to take a particular pasitian an any issue that's currently before the charter cuzr~missian`~ iVlr. Tenbruggencate: ~?a. At the risk of being self-serving, if I had been asked, I wau]d nat have taken the pasitian. That's... They did nat. fihey asked me to s~jrvta to the best of my ability. 1~~r. Bynuxxx Well, I felt fairly comfortable asking that questian, and l appreciate your answer. Thank yau, that's all. Cauneil Chair A~=ing: Thank yau. Any other questions ~:'auncilznexnbers? C"ouncilmexnber K:~ t~~ahara, ~s. I~awahara: I'm going to ask evex-ybody the same one. ~ au heard me speaking with the previous applicant. Could yau share with us your level of comfort with public scrutiny and public accountability serving as a volunteer an aboard? VIr. Tenbruggencate: Well, I don't knaw haw comfortable I am, but having far... approaching 4Q years been the scrutinizer as a reporter, I kind of feel that I have a responsibility to make myself available to public scrutiny, and so I°m prepared far whatever tames out of it. Thank yau. ~~Is, Kawahara: I also want to say that I'm very comfortable with your applica.tiotf, ~~nd also your willingness to came forward, and I also believe the last two candidates are very aware that it is a volunteer position; however, it is also a duty and a commitment to the community. So thank yau for your service and your commitment and willing to serve people and maybe be in a controversial pasitian at tunes. Thank yau. :~Ir. Tenbruggencate: Thank yau, Council Chair Asing: Councilr~~eznber ~'urfaro, 1~'lr. Ij'urfaro: 'T'hank yau. Jan, thank you for ~tc~~Z~in~ up, and let me just ask a quick but simple question. t~ver the nest year, are you planning any South t'~xcific sailing trips? Vlr. Tenbruggencate: That's an intriguing questian. As yau knaw, the other may not, I do same sailing and I have an interest in voyaging canoes, and there arcs same trips upcoming, and if someone asked, I would seriously consider participating. But at this moment, there's nothing in the {i n udible~. ~~Ir, t~~urfara: Thank you. 't'hank you Jan. SPECIAL MEETING 11 DECEMBER 16, 2009 Council Chair Asing: Councilmembers, any other questions? Councilmember Chang. Mr. Chang: More so of a comment, but I just also too want to thank you as we did with Mary Lou for... I think the community knows you for many, many years. I've had a privilege of working with you on the media side for many years also. I think the hardest part about getting to know Jan Tenbruggencate is pronouncing Tenbruggencate... Mr. Tenbruggencate: Which you do quite well. Mr. Chang: Thank you very much. But I just want to say, sincerely thank you, because I think you're going to bring a good, positive energy to the board, and I think you're going to be very unbiased and very aware of the issues on both ends. Sa sincerely, I think yourself...bath of you thus far is going to be bringing up a lot of good far our community, and we want to all thank you folks for volunteering so much so. Thank yau. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Councilmembers, any other questions, comments? If not, again I don`t have any questions for you, Jan, but I do have some comments. C}ne comment I'd like to make, you know you mentioned 40 years of scrutinizing; I want the public to know, as my statements earlier when you came up, although I've known yau, you know, for a long time and cherished the work that you've done in the past, I'd like to go an record saying, I didn't always agree with you. So...but that's unimportant. Mr. Tenbruggencate: And you may not going forward. Council Chair Asing: Well, yes, I'm sure. But that's the way the world is, and that's the way I think it should be. You have an opinion and I have an opinion. You express your opinion with your facts and reasoning, and I think that's the process. And so I want the public to know too that, you know, you've done great things and I respect you for the positions that you've taken, although I haven't agreed with you all the time. But thank you very much, and I appreciate the fact that you're stepping up. Mr. Tenbruggencate: Thank you Council Chair, Council Chair Asing: With that, can we have the next applicant up, Charles Stack. CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION: • Charles Patrick Stack, Partial Term to expire 12!31!2010 {replacing Matilda Yoshioka) SPECiAI~ ~iEETiN l2 DECEMBER 16, 24[?J CI-I~i~,LE~ STr~CI~,: ~aad morning chair anal ~ancil. iVIele E~alikimaka. Council Chair Acing: ~aad morning. Same to you, I can't say the same things that I said for the other two applicants. I knave of you and some of the work that you've lane, but it'd be goad for you to share information with all Gauncilmembers, sa I appreciate that. Sa with that, I'd like to open it up far you to present any kind of information you want to present to Cauncilmexnbers. Mr, Stack: Well, I've been a resident of our community far 1~ years, Prior to that, I worked for New York Stack Exchange member firms managing brc~kc~rs all over the Gauntry, and after retiring from the New York Stack Exchange, they asked me and I agreed to become an arbitrator, which at the time I didn't even know haw to spell, far less knew what it was. I was trained and certified as an arbitrator, and then far personal reasons and also because of Hurricane Iniki, that vas a time far me to enter what I thought was retirement, and that was to move to Kauai with my family. So my family's here, I'xn all in, as they s{xy in poker, My can in-law has an excavation company an the island. My daughter writes for The Gzxrclen Island. I have five beautiful grandchildren, and my kuleana is to serve my community and. my family in a fair anal just way. Since being a resident of our community over the last 15 years, just a Gauple of highlights. In terms of my public service, I worked as executive director of Habitat for humanity, and I think that's where you and I first met. Council Chair Acing: Yes, Mr. Stack: A.nd I did that far a very short period of time. It was a transitionary time far Habitat; the~T were having financial problems, and I was hopeful that I could come in and solve some of Chase problems, because of my background. I'm not sure I had any great succe.,~;c~ there, btxt Habitat, because of all the loyal hardworking people, volunteers and directors, has done exceedingl~T well, and I'm proud to see that what...their success. The last ~Q years I've been a volunteer mc~diatar far the Fifth Circuit Court through the I~EO program. I've set up mediation certification programs far KEG}, and certified a number of mediators in thcl ~Fammunity, and also at Ilawai`i Pacific University I instituted a graduate program far them that trains mediators. Which leads me to the last comment, and that is I think the reason I'm here, i hope the reason I'm here is to make a contribution, and as a mediator, you have to be a goad listener, yau'~.~~~ ~c~t to be nonpartisan, you gat to be independent, you gat to be a critical thinker, and most of all you got to be very confidential about what happens there, and I'm proud to say that I've performed over X00 mediations far the Gaurt. involving well over a thousand of our citizens. a I know a lot of the community an a Grass demographic, and it gives me a sense of pride that I have an understanding and can make a contribution in that area. SPECIAL MEETING 13 DECEMBER 16, 20a9 And then the last thing I should say is how did I get here? We11, like everybody else, I've been doing a lot of reading, a lot of research, attending public meetings on this subject, and was really looking at it as a curiosity when out of the blue Sherman had suggested that I apply for this jab, and I thought about it, and then out of the blue I got a call from Linda Estes who is the...I think she's the chair of the democratic party, I think, and she encouraged me to do it, and John Isabe encouraged me to do it, I knew him from OGET when he was at the college. So I think I've been called, and hope that I can serve effectively and honorably for you. Council Chair Asing: Thank you, With that, Gouncilmember Furfaro. Mr. Furfaro: Yes, Pat, thank you very much for stepping forward. Let me expand a little bit on some of the presentation you made. With Pat's background in the market, in the business community, he was recruited at Habitat at a time when I was president for those two years, 2aaa-2aa1. His particular skills were very attractive far Habitat. We were very close to being on the brink of bankruptcy, and we needed more of a business overview of the nonprofit. Today Habitat, I'm still on the board. We built 118 homes. They have money in the bank, and his transitional help was very much appreciated and recognized, and I wanted to say that in public to you. Mr. Stack: Thank you very much for that comment. Mr. Furfaro: We got through some stormy times from having somebody pretty steady on the switch. I would also like to say that I think his skills in arbitration certainly are a plus on the commission, and that I do think it appropriate, though, that if your daughter is still associated in the media here on Kauai, you should probably disclose what she does. Mr. Stack: Food and entertainment. Mr. Furfaro: And that is something I already knew the answer to being a hotel guy that likes to make sure that the food and beverage editor of the newspaper is well informed. So pat, I just again want to say thank you very much for stepping forward, and I certainly will be supporting your position on wanting to serve. Mr. Stack: That means a lot to me. Thank you. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. With that, Gouncilmember Chang. Mr. Chang: Hi Charlie. I guess the question would be posed like as Mary Lou said a little earlier, she might have to do some business on 0`ahu or off-island or where she's going to be at, and another was the incredible voyages of Mr. Tenbruggencate, like from Samoa to Hawaii, supposingly in this summer...next summer. You gat any plans to be off at any given time or... SPECIAL IVIEETINCx 14 DECEIVIBER 16, 2009 ~Zr, Stack: l~To, t have no plans to be off island. i~~Sr. Chang: Okay. And again, th~~ reason I raise that question is that it was brought up by members of the public that everybody shawl up far meetings, but sometimes they have to leave at the durations of the meeting, So we just want to make sure that we gat the best fact forward as we enter 2010, But at Mr. t~"urfara was saying, in the years of the past, thank yau very much far bringing your fast paced lifestyle to little I~aua`i from New Yark Stack Exchange to I~aua`i, so I guess yau can mellow everybody out here an I~aua`i. Thank yau. r. Stack: Thank yau sir, Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Any ether questions? Councilmember I~awahara. Vts.'awahara: 't'hank you. I guess yau knave what I'm going to ask, but the two previous candidate and appaint~.~c~s I think really shave th<~t they have an understanding of what valunteer in a public arena is like, and t just want to know haw comfortable yau are adjusting or working at a public accountability kind of position. I knew yau da it at the Habitat, but as yau knew, this particular commission has became somewhat controversial; people are very interested in it, sa the dedication and commitment to it, I'm cu... I knew yau were called, but da yau have same inner workings that make yau want to do it? ~1Ir. Stack: This is my hams. I don't think there's a mare impart:~nt camrr7ision than the charter camrz~ission. tt is ~ really the living govern<~nce of wheat we do here, It structures how the county does business. So in that sense, it's a living, active document; it's net an ideology. It's something that's gat to be attended to, and I would net came forward as a valunteer unless I was prepared to give it 100 percent of my time and attention. ~~Is. I~awahara: Thank you very much, Thank you Chair, Council Chair ~1sin~;: Thank yau, y4n~- ogler questions councilmembers? If net, I really don't have any questions, You had so~ziething? l~'lr. Stack: Could. I make one ether. comment? Council Chair Asing: Yes, ga ahead. iVlr. Stack: One of the gentlemen that testified before said that there was this, my words, not his, dropping of the ball because there weren't enough councilmembers, and t'm just thinking or wandering out laud if maybe it wouldn't be a goad idea to create a bullpen of potential commissioners to just literally drop in to a new commission. I don't know if that's legal, t don't know if it even makes sense, but it's something I thought of when he was talking, SPECIAL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 1C, 2409 Cauncil Chair Asing: Yeah, I think... I'd like to camment an that. You know, it is not easy and simple. We have so many boards and commissions and sa many seats to fill, it is difficult. Sa I really camment you, alI of you, far stepping up, and I'd also like at this time to commend the mayar and the administrator, John Isabe, for the wark that they've done in trying to fill board positions. It is not easy. It is difficult, and it is even mare difficult nawadays, and I'm going to use the term nawadays, because of the...some of the public's input regarding different items, and it's, you know, challenging and sa it's...I just want to put that upfront that, you knave, I knave that... I've worked with Jahn Isobe for a Iong time. As a matter of fact, Jahn Isabe used to be, at one period of time many years ago, the head of our division here an council services, and peaple maybe don't even knave that. But he has a Iong background also, and so you know, in discussions with him, he tries, with his staff, hard to work with the mayar to keep an filling positions, and it's just, you know, you can ask 10 peaple and you might get two. So it's not that simple and easy, but it is a concern that needs to be continued...continued work needs to be done in that area, and I will agree to that. So with that said, thank you very much. I appreciate you stepping up also. Mr. Stack: Thank you very much. Council Chair Asing: Before I close the meeting, I'd Like to call the meeting back to order, and are there any comments? Councilmember Furfara. Mr. Furfaro: Yes Mr. Chair, I did want to pate that we will be eating an these this afternoon, and it will be Mr. Isobe's office that notifies the candidates of the outcome of that vote. Cauncil Chair Asing: Yes. Mr. Furfara: Thank you. Council Chair Asing: Any other comments Councilmembers? Councilmember Kawakami. Mr. Kawakami: I want to thank alI three applicants. You knave, I previously served far a short time an the charter commission, and it's a thankless job. But I tell you, it is gratifying at the end of the day to know that you took part in, you know, moving us in a better direction. You guys are going to face scrutiny. It's going to be damned if you da, damned if you don't, but I think it's extremely courageous, and I want to say thank you. Council Chair Asing: Thank you. Any other comments? Councilmember Bynum. Mr. Bynum: I just want to echo Councilmember Kawakami. I appreciate all three of you stepping up, and two of you I know well, and Mr. Stack, I knave of your wark and am very much appreciative and am very appreciate of your 7 SI''l+aC'l~~l~ iV1EETI~t~ f~ DECEMBER l~, 2C10~ ~~omments about that clearly yoLZ've thought about this seriously, because the charter commission is an important... I think your comment was like it has to be attended to, and that's accurate. There may be provisions that, you knave, the world has moved to a different place, so I'm very happy with -the selections far this r;amissian and intend to support all three, I also say that Pm pleased with the boards and commissions that...you know, there was a charter change that created the current structure. W~e have administrators that are paying attention, and I see ongoing improvement about the kind of support that boards and commissioners receive, and it's a really important way that we distribute energy or even power in our community to the community members, and I think that's a...there's been significant improvement in the last few years since the charter commission came. Sa thank you all very much. Council Chair Asing: Any further camment? Cauncilmeber Chang. 11~1r. Chang: I'd like to ga back to the beginning of the meeting when we had a testimony from our present chair, Sherman Shiraishi, and he wanted to make sure that he threw his support. And as the chair, I think it's very in~partant that he has ct~z~fidence in all three of you, and I think the public is going to be very happy to know that you folks are willing and ready. There comes a time that you put everything on the side and you say, yes I'm ready to go, and you know, ~xlany people an this table obviously came to that conclusion that yes, we were all x•eady to ga. Sa we understand the scrutiny. We understand you win, you lase, you lose, you win, but at the end of the day it's a good feeling, and you can came out knowing that ~,-ou're doing something good for the public. Sa thank you all in advance far giving back, and we wish you a good happy holiday season, and I taa plan to support all three of you. Thank you very much. C~~uncil Chair Asing: Thank you, Any further comments`? If not, I just want to close by saying, Cauneilmember ~'urfara did make the comment that is it on the agenda today., the resolutions for the three of you appointees, and sa a decision will be made today, and from all indications, I don't see any problems at all. I too will be supporting the three of you. And just one more comment, Mr. Stack, like I say, I don't know you well but I know of you, and I know some of the things that you've done, but you know, I put down on my Hate here when you made the comment, make: a c~,ntributian, and I want to thank you far that, because I think it's sc~ important that members of the community step up and contribute their time to the community. So thank you far that. 'There being no other business... I'd like to make one more camment. Ta the three public members that testified, I want to th~~iik you also far your testimony. Do not feel that every time you testify, if councilmembers, including myself, don't agree with you, that's fine. I mean we want to hear from you, sa da not get the impression that we da Hat want to hear from you. ~e want to hear what you have to say, and we will take that and make our decisions with input from all of you. Sa I want to 1c~t you know that and I want to thank you far testifying. SPECIAL MEETING 17 L1ECEl~IBER I~, 20119 ADJQLTRNNIENT There being no c~bjectiQn~, the Vice Chair acljaurned the meeting at a.m. R:es~ectfully submitted} FE ER, A. NAI~AiVIL~RA CQUnt~ Clerk