September 2005 President's Message (Marianna Scheffer) Legislative Advocates (Andrea Dean) Drug Court (Marni Herkes) County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource... Commission LWV of Hawai'i Country Member Roster Vote Count in October LWV of Hawaii County Minutes of General Meeting 8/20/05 (Maiden Temple) Treasurer's Report 8/10/05 (Sue Irvine) Community Development Plans (Nancy Pisicchio ) Kona Community Development Plan (Marni Herkes) North and South Kona Community Development Plans Facilitators Wanted (Andrea Dean)

League of Women Voters of Hawaii County Minutes for General Meeting August 20, 2005, 11 a.m. Tex Drive In & Restaurant, Honoka’a Bob Jacobson, County Council - Puna, was the guest speaker at 11 a.m. He presented a brief history of the recent County re-apportionment and his efforts to object to the proposed boundaries. Representing the district from Kurtistown to Kealakekua Bay, it is difficult to cover the entire area and represent all his constituents. For example, he needs to go out of his district to vote, go to his post office box, and visit other parts of the district. He criticized the decision to include college students and military personnel and dependents and summarized the two court challenges to the re-apportionment plan. Regarding the Community Development Plan, he believes the process is "not too bad so far" and is "depending on Pete Hoffman and Angel Pilago to carry the ball." He expressed some concerns about how to define "community" and provide one plan that represents very different, and sometimes hostile, distinct small communities. Jacobson suggested the League watch for a petition that will follow-up Bill 78, which proposed that 2% of property tax revenues be dedicated to purchasing, maintaining, and increasing access to open spaces and parks. Virginia Isbell, County Council - South Kona, reported that many commission members’ terms expire in December and encouraged League members to call her if they are interested in serving. Call to Order: Marianna Scheffer, 12 p.m. Members Present: George & Marian Wilkins, Sue Dursin, Marni Herkes, Maiden Temple, Sue Irvine, Andrea Dean, Virginia Isbell, J. Joan Butterfield, Barbra Green, Helene Hale, Marianna Scheffer Guests: Julie & Phil Mink, Bob Jacobson. Treasurer’s Report: Report dated 8/10/05, Attachment A, was presented by Sue Irvine. Board Appointment: The Board has proposed Karen Hazelhoff as a new Board member, but she has not yet accepted. Reports: Sue Irvine reported that the State League is co-sponsoring debates on the "Akaka Bill" to be held on ‘Oahu, filmed by ‘Olelo and televised on Hawaii Public TV. The State League treasury is "broke." Marni Herkes reported that the Big Island Drug Court has a new courtroom in West Hawai’i that will be opened on August 22, 2005. (Editor’s note: see related article elsewhere in this issue.) Marianna Scheffer reported that East Hawai’i is planning small group meetings with guest speakers. Andrea Dean reported that our public relations goal is higher visibility and more new members. She suggested sponsoring quarterly forums. She is working on a web page that will be connected to the National LWV web site. She presented several questions that were addressed: What is the purpose? Who is the target audience? What should the contents be? She requested that anyone who had position papers send them to her to be included on the web page, along with summaries of each Issue in our Program, the VOTER, and other information. Maiden Temple reported that she received very few responses to her request that those members who were e-mailed the August VOTER reply to confirm their receipt. The deadline for the next VOTER is September 9, 2005. OLD BUSINESS: Legislative Advocates Project: Andrea Dean reported that she met with Pete Hoffman, County Council, and exchanged information. She pointed out a need to know how the communication lines will be set-up -- to whom should an advocate refer an elected representative? The point person for the individual Issue? Also, she suggested it would be helpful for advocates to be able to explain, and possibly even promise, what the County League can do to assist elected representatives, but first we need to establish how such decisions will be made. Marni Herkes pointed out that bills often change during the legislative process and we need to watch the changes. Virginia Isbell reported that the term "affordable housing" is being replaced by "workforce housing" because it is clear that the former is too expensive for most in the workforce. She also announced that the Hawaii Association of County Councils (HACC) will be meeting in Kailua-Kona in December. Andrea Dean and Marianna Scheffer will work on the Legislative Advocates project and report at the next meeting on October 8, 2005. NEW BUSINESS: "Akaka Bill" -- should the League put out a position paper? No. Kona Community Development Plan (CDP): Nancy Pisicchio sent an e-mail dated August 19, 2005 about her concerns, Attachment B. Marian Wilkins suggested that the members in West Hawai’i meet with County Council members Angel Pilago, Pete Hoffman, and Virginia Isbell to talk about the CDP and the process that will be followed to draft it. Marni Herkes stated that she believed the appropriate people to meet with were Chris Yuen, County Planning Director; Roy Takamoto, Deputy Director/ VOTER, September 2005, Page 6 County planner; and Jane Testa, County Director of Research & Development. Marni will set-up a meeting. Andrea Dean reminded us that the County was looking for people to serve as facilitators and would provide training. She will obtain more information and distribute it. Meeting adjourned at 1:17 p.m. (Minutes prepared by Maiden Temple, Secretary Pro Tem)

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