LIHUE — The Kauai County Council chairman threatened to have another councilmember removed from a meeting Wednesday. An argument broke out during public testimony on Bill 2606, which aims to “implement a homestead tax cap for owner-occupied properties that receive
LIHUE — The Kauai County Council chairman threatened to have another councilmember removed from a meeting Wednesday.
An argument broke out during public testimony on Bill 2606, which aims to “implement a homestead tax cap for owner-occupied properties that receive a homeowner exemption and also for long term affordable rental properties.”
When Hanalei resident Kimberly McLaughlin cited results from research she’s been conducting regarding the Hanalei real estate market during public testimony, Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura asked her to repeat her six-minute testimony because she didn’t get all of the details written down.
Councilman Arryl Kaneshiro, who was running the public testimony part of the meeting, said he wouldn’t allow a repeat of the testimony.
“She provided her testimony in writing, you can request her to rephrase anything that you want, but I’m not going to have her repeat her entire testimony,” Kaneshiro said.
He suggested she contact McLaughlin through other avenues, such as chatting in person, reaching out via phone, or through email, but Yukimura said that wasn’t feasible because it wouldn’t be on public record.
Council Chairman Mel Rapozo called a point of order on council rule number 12, that says councilmembers have to reserve opinions, questions and arguments for the appropriate councilmember meeting.
“If my ruling is correct, she needs to stop with her questions,” Rapozo said.
Councilman Gary Hooser pointed out a catch-22 in the rules he said was created by a change passed by the council in October that prevented councilmembers from questioning the public during testimony.
“If we can’t ask a question now, we have to wait until the committee meeting and the rule (in committee meetings) says we can’t ask a question,” Hooser said. “If you want to be silly about this whole thing.”
Hooser said Yukimura was asking McLaughlin to rephrase her questions and he thought it was “reasonable because we’re not allowed to ask questions since that rule the four of you passed.”
The council then voted that councilmembers couldn’t ask questions, but Yukimura continued her campaign, which brought a rebuke from Rapozo.
“I’m going to ask that she be removed from the room,” he said.
“And I ask that we follow our rules,” Yukimura responded. “I would like to appeal the decision of the chair and we have to vote on it.”
Kaneshiro ended the conversation and turned to the audience, asking if anyone else wished to testify. The room got loud. One man stood and pointed at councilmembers, citing the argument as the reason why legislation takes so long to pass through the county ranks.
“This is one of the most embarrassing days I’ve had on the council,” Rapozo admitted. “Let’s move on.”
