LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Charter Review Commission on Monday approved the final list of questions related to proposed Kaua‘i Charter amendments to be included in this year’s ballot. Months of deliberation and tweaking lead to Monday’s decision making, when three
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Charter Review Commission on Monday approved the final list of questions related to proposed Kaua‘i Charter amendments to be included in this year’s ballot.
Months of deliberation and tweaking lead to Monday’s decision making, when three out of the seven commission members, including the vice chair, were absent.
Out of the nine questions that made into the commission’s final list, voters in November will be able to decide on the fate of up to seven charter amendments.
The questions that will be in November ballots are:
1. Should a candidate for County Council be required to run in the general election even though the candidate received at least 30 percent of the votes cast in the primary election?
2. Should the mayor’s salary be established by the Salary Commission?
3. Should it be clarified that an initiative or referendum petition must be signed by registered voters comprising of the established percentage of the number of voters registered in the last election?
4. Should it be clarified that a petition for a charter amendment must be signed by registered voters comprising of the established percentage of the number of voters registered in the last election?
5. Should a county board or commission member whose term is ending be allowed to serve on a different county board or commission without being required to wait one year?
6. Should the Salary Commission establish maximum salaries for officers, which shall include the prosecuting attorney and all deputies, and allow for elected officers to accept salaries lower than the maximum?
7. Should the waiting period be eliminated before council’s salary changes become effective?
Despite seven questions being included in the ballot, most of the deliberation Monday on the proposals focused on a question that will not be on November ballots.
The question was related to the Office of Prosecuting Attorney. Commissioner Jimmy Nishida argued against placing the question on the ballot, saying the issue was not “chartable,” and it was rather an administrative matter.
The proposed question failed unanimously. If approved, the voters would decide if OPA should be empowered to develop and provide crime awareness and prevention programs for and to the community; research, evaluate and make recommendations regarding crime, crime prevention and the criminal justice system; and subject to applicable law, receive and expend funds for these purposes.
The other question defeated Monday would have asked voters if commission or board members should be excluded from the definition of the word “officer.”
Three routes, one destination
There are three ways of introducing a charter amendment in the ballot. One is through the Charter Review Commission.
The second is through a voter’s petition, which has signatures from a certain percentage of registered voters. This was the case in a 2008 approved amendment setting growth rates for tourism accommodation units. The third way of introducing charter amendments is through the Kaua‘i County Council, which has defeated at least five proposals this year, although not all of them by unanimous decision.
Five of the proposals defeated by the council included an amendment defining the words “shall,” “must” and “ may” in the charter; an amendment establishing an Office of the Council Attorney; an amendment restricting the mayor’s powers over department heads; an amendment creating additional duties for the County Attorney; and an amendment related to the preparation of monthly financial statements by the Director of Finance.
Visit www.kauai.gov for more information.
