>> Lauren: THE HONOLULU CITY CHARTER IS THE GOVERNING DOCUMENT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE CITY.

IT'S THE ROADMAP FOR HOW THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENTS OPERATE, HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE AND HOW SERVICES ARE DELIVERED.

THE CHARTER REQUIRES THAT EVERY TEN YEARS, AN APPOINTED COMMISSION REVIEW THE CHARTER AND SUBMIT PROPOSED CHANGES TO VOTERS.

THAT PROCESS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND YOU CAN VOICE YOUR OPINION TONIGHT.

THIS LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

♪ ♪ >> Lauren: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO "INSIGHTS" ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M LAUREN DAY.

SOME BIG DECISIONS MAY BE AHEAD FOR HONOLULU.

THIS NOVEMBER, VOTERS WILL HAVE A RARE CHANCE TO SHAPE THE CITY'S FUTURE WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE HONOLULU CITY CHARTER.

THIS OPPORTUNITY HAPPENS ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS.

RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE SUBMITTED NEARLY 300 PROPOSALS.

THEY ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF SUGGESTIONS LIKE REQUIRING THE CITY TO BETTER SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY AND FARMING, GIVING THE MAYOR THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AND FIRE HPD'S POLICE CHIEF TO FIXING TRAFFIC LIGHT TIMING ACROSS O'AHU.

BEFORE ANY AMENDMENT APPEARS ON THE ELECTION BALLOT, THEY ARE REVIEWED AND CHOSEN BY THE HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION WHICH IS COMPRISED OF 13 PEOPLE WHO WERE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

TONIGHT, OUR PANEL WILL DISCUSS THIS ONCE EVERY DECADE PROCESS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHawaii.org AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

DAWN SZEWCZYK IS THE CHAIR OF THE HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION.

SHE LEADS THE HAWAI'I AND PACIFIC AREA FOR A GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE HEAD OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

JACOB AKI IS A COMMISSIONER ON THE HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION.

HE IS CURRENTLY THE SENIOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR ALASKA AND HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.

PRIOR TO THAT, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE HAWAI'I STATE SENATE.

CAMRON HURT IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT COMMON CAUSE HAWAII, A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO CURB THE EXCESS INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS AND PROMOTE FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS.

HE'S ALSO A SOCCER AND TRACK AND FIELD COACH AT PUNAHOU.

AND NATALIE IWASA IS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND FRAUD EXAMINER.

SHE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HONOLULU AUTHORITY FOR RAPID TRANSPORTATION AFTER BEING APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

MAYBE WE'LL START AND GO AROUND THE TABLE.

DAWN, I'LL START WITH YOU, A QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE CORE PURPOSE OF THE HONOLULU CITY CHARTER?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE EVOLVE AS A COMMUNITY, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE OPTIONS.

LIKE SO THE CHARTER HAS TO ALSO EVOLVE AND GROW WITH THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES, RIGHT?

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS WE BECOME MORE EDUCATED, SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S WRONG WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND STUFF.

I THINK THE CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED ON THE WAY WE RUN GOVERNMENT OR ON THE WAY WE OFFER PUBLIC SERVICES OR WHATNOT.

SO JUST HAVING THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT I THINK IS PRETTY CRITICAL.

>> Lauren: CAMRON, MAYBE I'LL SHIFT THE QUESTION JUST SLIGHTLY BUT FROM COMMON CAUSE HAWAI'I'S PERSPECTIVE, WHY IS IT KEY?

WHY'S THIS PROCESS IMPORTANT?

>> THIS PROCESS IS HUGELY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US EVERY DECADE TO COME BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLES, LOOK AT OUR DEMOCRACY AND SAY, "WHERE CAN WE STRENGTHEN IT?

WHERE ARE THE GAPS AT?

WHERE ARE THE HOLES?

WHERE CAN WE FIX IT?

WHERE ARE WE DOING WELL, TOO?

WHERE CAN WE EXPAND AND CONTINUE TO PUSH?"

IT HELPS US SEE HOW WE'RE TREATING OUR COMMUNITIES.

HOW'S OUR COMMUNITIES DOING?

HOW'S OUR MIKE KNEESIAN POPULATION AND UNHOUSED POPULATION OR DISABLED POPULATION?

THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO LOOK AT OUR LIVING, GOVERNING DOCUMENT AND UPDATE IT TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME.

>> Lauren: JACOB, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT?

>> I THINK OUR CITY CHARTER REALLY IS THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT IN WHICH EVERYTHING IN THE CITY IS MANAGED AND IT'S THE GUIDING DOCUMENT ON HOW THINGS SHOULD BE RUN.

I THINK IT'S VERY UNIQUE THAT THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY EVERY 10 YEARS TO ACTUALLY OPEN UP THIS DOCUMENT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THE LAST TIME WE REALLY WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE STATE CONSTITUTION WAS IN 1978.

FROM THAT STATE CON-CON, WE HAD THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE HAWAI'IAN AFFAIRS AND THE DESIGNATION OF THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AS THE OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE WHEN WE OPEN UP THE DOCUMENTS, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.

ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY LEVEL WHERE EVERYTHING THE CITY TOUCHES HAS AN IMPACT WHETHER IT'S TRASH, WATER OR EMERGING SERVICES.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT THE CITY HAS THAT AFFECTS OUR POPULATION.

TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE DOCUMENT EVERY 10 YEARS AND TRY TO -- AS MY COLLEAGUES SHARED -- TO REALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST THIS LIVING DOCUMENT TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT ISSUES I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> Lauren: BEFORE I MOVE ONTO NATALIE HERE, CAN THERE BE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE 10 YEARS IF IT NEEDS TWEAKING?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY CHARTER CAN BE CHANGED.

OBVIOUSLY EVERY 10 YEARS, WE HAVE THE CITY CHARTER COMMISSION PROCESS BUT THE CITY COUNCIL IS ALSO ABLE TO PASS LAWS THAT PUT CERTAIN AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE VOTING POPULATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN 2016 WAS THE LAST TIME WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH THE CHARTER COMMISSION.

SINCE THEN, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS.

BUT THAT GOES THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE AND A VERY POLITICAL PROCESS.

I THINK WHAT THE CITY CHARTER COMMISSION PROCESS ALLOWS IS IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS THE EVERYDAY CITIZENS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A HAND WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE RIGOROUS LEGISLATIVE POLITICAL PROCESS.

PART OF WHAT THIS CHARTER COMMISSION HAS DONE -- AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT -- WE TRIED TO REMOVE A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM HAVING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS PROCESS.

>> Lauren: NATALIE, FOR YOU, WHAT'S THE CORE PURPOSE OF THE HONOLULU CITY CHARTER?

>> AS JASON SAID, IT'S REALLY THE FOUNDATION OF HOW OUR CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS.

IT LINES OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS OR THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND ANY LAW THAT IS BEING PROPOSED HAS TO FIT WITHIN THAT CHARTER.

IF IT'S NOT IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OR THE DUTIES, THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER THAT CAN BE PASSED OR NOT, BUT IT'S THE WHOLE FOUNDATION IN HOW WE SET OUR GOVERNING LAWS.

>> Lauren: DAWN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS, THIS ABILITY FOR FOLKS, THE PUBLIC, TO SEE THE PROPOSALS.

THAT DEADLINE IS ALREADY IN, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> Lauren: MAYBE START FROM THERE AND EXPLAIN WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW?

>> WE DID A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS LAST WEEK OR LAST YEAR TO KIND OF EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO OUR PROCESS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO KIND OF GO INTO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, DISTRICTS AND STUFF AND KIND OF EDUCATE THEM ON THE PROCESS ITSELF.

FROM THAT, ACTUALLY WE DID GET CLOSE TO 300 PROPOSALS AND IT'S JUST -- WE TOLD PEOPLE LIKE IF YOU HAD THIS IDEA FOR IF YOU'VE GOT AN EXPERIENCE YOU THINK YOU COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA OR SUGGESTION AS TO HOW WE CAN GOVERN BETTER OR SERVE YOU BETTER, PUT IT ON PAPER AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND STUFF.

AND SO WHEN THE DEADLINE PASSED, NOW, WE STARTED DOING MEETINGS, CHARTER COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE WE EVALUATE EACH OF THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT IT AS A COMMISSION AND SEE WHO CAN ADVANCE OR SEE WHICH ITEMS OR WHICH ISSUES CAN MOVE FORWARD TO ADVANCE.

THEN WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF ROUNDS OF MEETINGS IS TO KIND OF NARROW IT DOWN AND MAYBE CONSOLIDATE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, AND IN MY MIND, I REALLY WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WHEN WE GO TO BALLOT, RIGHT, I THINK THE LAST CHARTER COMMISSION HAD 20 ISSUES ON THE BALLOT.

I THINK THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

I WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITIES OR FOR THE PEOPLE, THE VOTERS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO THE BALLOT AND LIKE DO YOU HAVE A CHEAT SHEET?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON?

I VOTE ON THIS AND THAT AND THIS AND THAT.

FROM NOW UNTIL MAYISH, WE'RE GOING TO WHITTLE IT DOWN TO A FEW -- NOT A FEW BUT A SMALLER GROUP OF -- >> Lauren: IS THERE A MAX THAT COULD BE ON THE BALLOT?

>> THERE'S NO MAX BUT LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR THE VOTERS AND STUFF.

FOR ME -- FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER THEN, WE START EDUCATING WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

WE'LL EDUCATE THE COMMUNITIES AGAIN.

HEY, THIS IS WHAT THE VOTE MEANS IF YOU SAY YES OR IF YOU SAY NO.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HARD THINGS ABOUT THIS WORK IS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO ROADMAP.

WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS HAVE DONE BUT WE'VE SPENT, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO BE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE SHOW UP AND THE CORPS COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE GIVES US A CHECKLIST WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE SPENT SOME OF OUR FIRST MEETINGS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE GOVERNING RULES GOING TO BE?

WHAT ARE THE RULES IN WHICH WE'LL CONDUCT THIS COMMISSION?

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME SAYING ARE WE GOING TO FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES?

WHAT'S OUR STANDING RULES?

WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS HAVE DONE.

WE TRIED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT DAY.

YOUR COMMISSION WAS REALLY PUSHED UP AGAINST THE DEADLINE TOWARDS THE END.

WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS ALSO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE.

SO WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING -- I THINK IT WAS MARCH OF LAST YEAR -- WE REALLY MAPPED OUT, YOU KNOW, OK, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

THIS IS HOW MUCH TIME WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO BRING FORTH.

AND THEN HAVING TO WORK BACKWARDS IF THE GENERAL ELECTION IS ON NOVEMBER 3rd, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHETHER IT'S TRANSLATING EVERY SINGLE PROPOSAL INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED.

THEN THERE'S THE EDUCATION, RIGHT?

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.

I THINK THIS CHARTER COMMISSION HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE, ONE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE GIVE OURSELVES ENOUGH TIME?

WE HAD A MEETING CANCELED ON MONDAY BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

MAKING SURE THOSE THINGS ARE ALSO TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

BUT ALSO OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC DEADLINE WAS IN NOVEMBER BUT WE RECOGNIZED AS ISSUES COME UP, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S MECHANISMS OF ALLOWING THIS CHARTER COMMISSION TO REACT TO CERTAIN ISSUES THAT COME UP.

>> I THINK REALLY QUICK IF I CAN ADD THIS IS REALLY TESTAMENT TO YOU GUYS AND YOUR COMMISSION ACTUALLY, THE AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION YOU SEE FROM THE PROPOSALS COMING IN IS A DIRECT TESTAMENT TO THEIR WORK ON OUTREACH.

A LOT OF TIMES IN DIFFERENT BODIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP?

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP?

THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND RUNNING FOR AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS THAT I KNOW ABOUT TALKING TO WHOEVER THEY COULD ABOUT, HEY, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOUR CITY BUT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT NOW AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE WERE INFORMED ABOUT THAT AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MORE AMAZING THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS COMMISSION LOCALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD LEARN FROM.

>> Lauren: CAMRON, WOULD YOU SAY ALMOST 300 PROPOSALS IS A LOT?

>> I WOULD SAY FOR OUR STATE, YES!

>> I THINK IT'S A RECORD.

>> SO WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A RECORD FROM A COMMISSIONER HERE BUT I THINK WE HAD TO ALSO LOOK INTO OUR PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY TO STATISTICS IN NUMBERS.

WE RANKED IN SOME OF THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT CHARTER COMMISSIONS PRIOR, THIS NUMBER IS GREATER IN PROPOSALS.

AS THAT'S GROWING, THESE ARE SOME OF THE SMALL WINS.

WHAT IS GETTING BETTER LOOK LIKE?

GETTING BETTER IS IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW BY HAVING MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR BUT I'M SURE THAT MEANS A LOT MORE WORK FOR THE -- >> YEAH!

>> THAT'S OK!

THAT'S OK.

>> Lauren: MABEL, ONE OF OUR VIEWERS, IS ASKING PLEASE EXPLAIN THE CRITERIA OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT?

WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD MAKE THE CUT?

AND THEN WHAT'S ONE THAT WOULDN'T MAKE THE CUT?

>> WE WERE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY.

OBVIOUSLY IN OUR OUTREACH, WE WERE JUST ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHARE WITH US WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS?

HOW DO THEY THINK WE AS A CHARTER COMMISSION -- OBVIOUSLY AFTER DOING A LOT OF EDUCATION ON WHAT IS A CITY CHARTER?

WHAT'S APPROPRIATE?

WE DIDN'T HAVE BARRIERS ON TELLING PEOPLE YOU CAN'T DO THIS OR CAN DO THIS.

WE REMOVED A LOT OF THE BARRIERS PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS HAD SUCH AS HAVING TO HAVE THINGS IN A CERTAIN FORMAT WHICH REALLY DISCOURAGED PEOPLE FROM SUBMITTING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A LAWYER AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

WHAT WE SAID WAS, "HERE IS A GOOGLE FORM.

FILL IT OUT.

SHARE WITH US WHAT YOUR IDEAS ARE.

THEN WE'LL TAKE A LOOK."

WHAT I TOLD PEOPLE IS THE CITY CHARTER PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK IN HOW THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY THINGS SUCH AS DIRECT FUNDING, DIRECT POLICIES THAT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE CHARTER.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A GREAT PROPOSAL BY AN AUNTY WHOSE MAIN CONCERN IS HER AREA DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PAVED SIDEWALKS.

SHE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO US SAYING THAT THE CHARTER SHOULD REQUIRE EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE A PAVED SIDEWALK.

WE ALL SAID THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

WE SUPPORT THIS; HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE FELT THE CHARTER WAS ABLE TO ADDRESS, BECAUSE THERE'S A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT OF HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST?

THE CHARTER CANNOT BE DICTATING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY COST OF LABOR, COST OF CONSTRUCTION CHANGES OVER TIME.

THE CHARTERS PROVIDE THE BROADER FRAMEWORK OF GUIDANCE.

BUT THINGS LIKE LEGISLATING POLICY, THINGS LIKE DIRECT APPROPRIATION, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE.

NOT SAYING THERE ISN'T MECHANISMS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, TAKING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO PROVIDE FOOD SECURITY IN A SPECIAL FUND ARE THINGS WE CAN CONSIDER BUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S DIRECT PROPOSALS -- THE OTHER ONE I THINK WE HAD IS TO PROVIDE CLEAN BATHROOMS.

THAT COSTS MONEY.

THAT'S PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS OR ANOTHER CITY AGENCY.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS.

BUT WHAT THIS CHARTER COMMISSION SAID IS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND WE WILL GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE PROPOSAL TO LOOK AT ITS MERITS, TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND NOW SO THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER ROUNDS IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY WHITTLE THIS THING DOWN.

OUR CALL OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU L LIVE, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK ON BISHOP STREET OR A SINGLE MOM TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN PROVIDE FOOD, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS.

>> Lauren: TO BE CLEAR, IF IT'S FUNDING RELATED, THE CHARTER DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND KIND OF LOOKED AT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S PROVIDING $1 MILLION A YEAR TO A CERTAIN CAUSE, I MEAN, THAT COULD BE ARGUED THAT IT COULD BE PART OF THE CHARTER, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OF WHAT IF THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE $1 MILLION?

THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT IS THE FOUNDATIONAL LAW IN WHICH THE CITY GOVERNS.

IF IT SAYS YOU NEED TO APPROPRIATE $1 MILLION FOR THIS, THE CITY HAS TO FOLLOW THAT.

IN CERTAIN FINANCIAL TIMES, IT MAY BE KIND OF TOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT -- >> THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING YOU SEE IN A CHARTER OR CONSTITUTION VERSUS WHAT YOU SEE IN LEGISLATION IN LAWS THAT COME OUT.

THE CHARTER -- I'M GOING TO KEEP USING THESE INTERCHANGEABLY SO PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND THEY'RE SIMILAR DOCUMENTS -- CHARTER OR CONSTITUTION, THEY END UP BEING GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ON HOW THE CULTURE IS OF HOW YOU CONDUCT AFFAIRS.

LET'S SAY YOU WANT THE PAVED SIDEWALKS ON EVERY ROAD, THE CHARTER WILL SAY THE PEOPLE WILL -- IT'LL TELL HOW PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AND HOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT.

WHILE LATER ON WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD IN THE LULL AFTER THE COMMISSION, PEOPLE WILL ARGUE THE LEGISLATION TO BE ABLE TO -- FROM THE RIGHTS THEY HAVE IN THE CHARTER -- TO GET FUNDING TO MAKE THOSE ROADS POSSIBLE.

IT'S A THING AGAIN BY CHARTER/CONSTITUTION AFFECTS THE POLITICAL/SOCIETAL CULTURE WHILE THE LEGISLATION OF THE LAWS IS THE HOW IT'S AFFECTED THROUGH THAT.

>> Lauren: NATALIE, I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU.

YOU SERVED ON THE HEART BOARD.

YOU'RE ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY ISSUES.

WHY'S THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR IN REGARDS TO THE CITY CHARTER YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED.

I'VE BEEN TESTIFYING FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN STATE, CITY, COUNTY, FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND FOR THEM TO BE HEARD.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT BEING HEARD BY OUR PARTICULAR REPRESENTATIVE, BUT THIS GROUP, THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY I THINK IS A BIT DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION MORE THAN ONCE.

THERE'LL BE A FEW TIMES WHERE PEOPLE COULD TESTIFY ON THEM.

AND I FEEL THAT THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS JUST LIKE WE ARE.

THEY'RE NOT PAID POLITICIANS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A STAFF WHO IS KIND OF WEEDING THINGS OUT FOR THEM.

SO IN THAT RESPECT, I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND HAVE SOMEBODY HEAR THEIR CONCERNS.

>> LAUREN, JUST TO KIND OF ADD TO WHAT JACOB WAS SAYING, THINGS THAT GO THROUGH AND THINGS THAT ADVANCE AND DON'T ADVANCE, WE ALSO TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S IN OUR JURISDICTION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

SOME THINGS THE STATE COULD CONTROL OR FEDERAL COULD CONTROL, NOT US SO WE LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.

>> Lauren: CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE FROM THE RECENT MEETINGS YOU'VE DONE?

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING IT BY CATEGORY OR TOPIC -- THAT HAVE ADVANCED OR YOU'RE CONSIDERING.

JACOB GAVE US THE EXAMPLES.

>> SOME OF THE ONES WE'VE ACTUALLY PUSHED FORWARD AND IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT ROUND IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOOD SECURITY FUND.

I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY THAT FOOD SECURITY WAS A MAJOR ISSUE AND ONE OF THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE IS TO ALLOCATE A PERCENTAGE OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO THIS FOOD SECURITY FUND.

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC AMOUNT.

I MEAN, IT'S A PERCENTAGE BUT THAT PERCENTAGE CAN VARY OVER TIME.

I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN EARLIER IF IT'S $1 MILLION A YEAR, THE CHARTER ISN'T NECESSARILY THE PLACE TO DICTATE OR SPECIFY THAT AMOUNT BUT WHETHER IT'S -- THE CHARTER DOES PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS ALLOCATED.

THAT MAY BE MORE OF AN APPROPRIATE FUNDING MECHANISM IN WHICH WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT.

THE OTHER ONE WE LOOKED AT THAT WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD AND GOT A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS ON IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF RESOURCES AND CULTURE STEWARDSHIP.

THAT'LL BE TASKED WITH LOOKING AT HOW THE CITY MANAGES NATURAL RESOURCES AND CULTURE STEWARDSHIP FROM A NATIVE HAWAIIAN PERSPECTIVE.

IT CAME FROM THE MAUI CHARTER COMMISSION.

THEY PASSED AND CREATED THE OFFICE OF THE RESOURCES WITHIN MAUI COUNTY.

WE AS CHARTER COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE THERE WERE COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE ISLAND WHO IS LOOKING AT THINGS THAT SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE TO TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN APPLY IT HERE.

IT'S A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WORKS IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.

WE HAD A LOT OF -- I THINK IT WAS THE COMMUNITY BUDGETING PROCESS IN WHICH IS THINGS THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED.

NEW YORK CITY HAS.

IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEE WHAT WORKS AROUND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN APPLY IT HERE TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR MOST PRESSING ISSUES.

>> THIS IS A FORM OF OLD SCHOOL DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN OUR REPUBLIC.

WHEN WE WERE ALL IN THIRD GRADE LEARNING ABOUT GREEK DEMOCRACY AND WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, WE THOUGHT WE GET TO VOTE ON EVERY LAW AND GO AND GET TO DO THIS AND THEN WE LEARNED WE HAVE A REPUBLIC AND A PRESENTATION WHICH HAS ELEMENTS OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN IT AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS WHERE YOU GET TO GO BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SAY HEY, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

THIS IS WHY.

IT'S A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY.

EVEN MORE REMARKABLE THAT OUR GENERAL PUBLIC IS TAKING IT SERIOUS AND DOING THAT RESEARCH TO BRING IT HERE TO MAKE LIFE BETTER, FREE OF CHARGE.

THEY DON'T NEED TO BE BRIBED.

THEY'RE DOING THE GOOD WORK FREE OF CHARGE.

>> Lauren: WITH THE FOOD SECURITY EXAMPLE, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CHARTER TODAY THAT ADDRESSES THAT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> Lauren: THIS'LL BE A BRAND-NEW ADDITION?

>> 100%.

>> Lauren: I'M ASSUMING YOU'D BE WORKING WITH THE FOOD BANK?

>> WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE PARTICULARLY ALLOCATED.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNMENT PRACTICE TO SAY, "YEP, IT'S GOING TO BE THE.

THEHAWAII FOOD BANK OR THE WEST SIDE FOOD BANK."

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE'VE SEEN HEALTHCARE AGENCIES COME FORWARD SAYING, "HEY, THIS IS A GREAT PROPOSAL AND DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE. "

I THINK AS WE DELIBERATE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY -- IF YOU RANK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WE GOT, THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSAL WHICH IS PROPOSAL 119 GOT THE MOST TESTIMONY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, TOO, THE CHARTER COMMISSION IS PUTTING TOGETHER THESE BROAD QUESTIONS.

IT'S UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT IT.

THEY HAVE THE LAWS THAT WILL DO THE DETAILS OF HOW THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT WILL BE PUT FORTH IN THE CITY.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOME OF THE -- KIND OF THE WAY WE'VE BEEN EXPLAINING THIS TO THE PUBLIC IS YOU KIND OF LOOK AT IT LIKE A PIE.

THE HONOLULU CITY CHARTER IS REALLY THE BASE OR THE CRUST.

AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL THEN ADDS REALLY THAT MEAT ON TOP OF THE CRUST OR REALLY PROVIDES THAT REALLY SOLID AND THEN THE POLICIES IS THE SPRINKLES ON TOP, RIGHT?

REALLY YOU NEED THE CRUST TO REALLY HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITY CHARTER IS.

I THINK OUR STAFF, WE'RE ACTUALLY SAYING IT WAS LIKE A CHOCOLATE PIE.

THE CHARTER IS THE CRUST, THE POLICIES IS THE CHOCOLATE AND SOME OF THE OTHER POLICY DETAILS IS THE HAUPIA SPRINKLES ON TOP.

>> THE FOOD SECURITY GOT THE MOST TESTIMONY.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM CAMRON AND NATALIE ON THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THIS A BIG ISSUE FOR US?

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE THERE AND HEARD SOME OF THE TESTIMONY BUT MAYBE DAWN AND JACOB COULD CHIME IN ON THAT.

>> WORKING WITH MY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE, I KNOW FOOD SECURITY IS AN ISSUE ON EVERY ISLAND.

THE ISSUE OF FOOD DESERTS IS ALSO A HUGE ISSUE.

I'M REALLY RIGHT NOW, COMMON CAUSE IS TAKING SUCH A SUPPORTIVE ROLE IN LETTING OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE LEADING THAT AWESOME WORK.

YOU'VE GOT PLACES LIKE HI-FI WHO IS LEADING THE WORK AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING OUR STUDENTS FED, FREE SCHOOL MEALS.

THAT'S A FORM OF FOOD INSECURITY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS ON A STATE LEVEL.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON A CITY LEVEL, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SITTING AND RESONATING WITH EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND RIGHT NOW.

IT'S MAKING SURE NO MATTER WHAT, WE CAN ALL GET THE FOOD WE NEED.

>> Lauren: YOU MENTIONED IT HAD THE MOST TESTIMONY.

WAS THAT JUST FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

>> IT WAS.

I MEAN, WE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

IT WAS REALLY BEING -- THIS PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT FORTH I THINK ABOUT THE HAWAII FOOD BANK.

WE HAD PARTNER AGENCIES THAT WORKED WITH THE FOOD BANK WHO ARE RECIPIENTS OF SOME OF THE FOOD.

WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE HAD FAMILIES.

IT WAS JUST SO AWESOME TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE COME FORTH TO VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS.

I MEAN THAT -- THAT -- I WASN'T SURPRISED BUT I THINK IT GOES TO SHOW THESE ARE -- PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT PRETTY INNOVATIVE WAYS.

THIS IS A VERY INNOVATIVE PROPOSAL.

I WAS REACHED OUT TO BY THE FOOD BANK.

THEY WERE DOING THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL OUTREACH TO SOME OF THE MEMBERS TO ASK US FOR OUR SUPPORT.

I SAID, "ABSOLUTELY!"

THIS IS THE CREATIVE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN USE OUR CITY CHARTER TO TRY TO BETTER THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS.

ONE OF THE PROPOSALS ACTUALLY WE DID GET WAS ACTUALLY ASKING THE CITY CHARTER TO MANDATE DOE-PROVIDED FREE FOOD AND FREE LUNCHES.

THAT WAS ANOTHER PROPOSAL WE SAID, "WE SUPPORT THIS ALL THE WAY BUT THE CITY HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION."

YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM, BECAUSE IN MOST JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE COUNTY HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

IT'S ALSO -- I ALSO SAY THIS IS ACTUALLY A LESSON IN GOVERNMENT 101 BECAUSE HAWAII REALLY IS SO DIFFERENT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE HONOLULU CITY OR THE CITY AND COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY REVENUE SOURCES AS FOLKS WOULD THINK.

MOST OF THE REVENUE COMES FROM WHATEVER ALLOCATIONS ARE GIVEN FROM THE STATE AS WELL AS PROPERTY TAXES.

WITH LIMITED REVENUE SOURCES, THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO BE CREATIVE.

I THINK REALLY HATS OFF TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS.

MAIN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PROPOSALS I THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON BUT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED TIME, WE REALLY HAD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CERTAIN THINGS.

>> PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH THINGS FRONT IN MIND, RIGHT?

EVEN WITH THE FOOD INSECURITY, WE'RE NOT TOO REMOVED FROM THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY WHERE WE KNEW PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING HUNGRY.

WE KNEW PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO GET THE REDUCED SNAP BENEFITS.

WE'VE SEEN THE WAY SOMETIMES WE AS A COMMUNITY, WE AS A STATE HAVE TO FILL IN THE GAPS FOR FEDERAL LEADERSHIP THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THERE AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

I THINK WHEN ALL OF US ARE SEEING THINGS HAPPEN ESPECIALLY ON THE CONTINENT, OUR REACTION IS WHAT CAN WE DO HERE TO PROTECT OURSELVES?

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT FEDERALISM IS THAT WE DO HAVE STATE RIGHTS.

>> Lauren: BECAUSE -- JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC OF FOOD INSECURITY AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE IT GOT THE MOST TESTIMONY, IS THAT A DONE DEAL?

WILL IT BE -- >> NO.

I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMISSION IS -- YOU KNOW, THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS REALLY IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL BECAUSE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INNOVATIVE PROPOSAL THAT HAS WOULD ALLOCATE CERTAIN -- PROPOSALS THAT WOULD ALLOCATE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FROM THE REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT FISCALLY FEASIBLE TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AND REALLY LEAN ON THE CITY TO REALLY PROVIDE US WITH THE ASSESSMENT ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY FEASIBLE, BECAUSE FROM A CHARTER COMMISSION STANDPOINT, IT'S TRUE.

WE CAN PASS ANY CHARTER THAT WOULD DICTATE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REAL PROPERTY TAXES GOING TO GO TO THIS, THIS AND THIS AND THIS, BUT IS THERE ACTUALLY ENOUGH MONEY TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND?

I THINK WHAT WE DID IS LOOKING AT WHAT PROPOSALS ARE POPULAR, WHAT PROPOSALS ARE COMPLETE AND WHAT PROPOSALS DO WE THINK COULD ACTUALLY BE FEASIBLE?

THE SECOND ROUND WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OVER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, REALLY WE HAVE TO HONE DOWN AND WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT IS IT ACTUALLY FISCALLY FEASIBLE?

IS IT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?

BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER COMES OUT ARE THINGS THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED.

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN AT THE STATE AND CITY LEVELS SO MANY GREAT POLICIES BE DEBATED, BE ENACTED, BE SIGNED INTO LAW, BUT NOTHING EVER GETS DONE BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- YOU CAN'T IMPLEMENT IT OR THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

RIGHT?

THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

AS A VOLUNTEER COMMISSION, I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS.

THIS HAS ALSO BECOME A FULL-TIME JOB.

I ALSO REALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OUR CHARTER COMMISSION STAFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY LOOKING AT THESE THINGS, TALKING TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO GET AND PROVIDE US WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION THAT WE CAN USE AS WE START TO DO THIS.

>> Lauren: LET'S GET TO SOME OF THE VIEWER QUESTIONS.

WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW, SO I'LL START WITH -- IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER -- BERNARD IS ASKING WHERE CAN I FIND A SCHEDULE OF THE MEETINGS AND A LIST OF THE PROPOSALS THE COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING?

ARE THERE RECORDINGS OF THE MEETINGS?

>> HONOLULUCITYCOUNCIL.ORG/CHART ER-COMMISSION IS OUR WEBSITE.

GO THERE AND YOU CAN FIND THE PROPOSALS.

YOU CAN READ EVERY SINGLE ONE AND SEE WHERE THE STATUS IS AND VIEW THE PAST MEETINGS AND VIEW ALL OF THE AGENDAS, ANYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARTER COMMISSION.

IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

>> Lauren: I THINK YOU CAN CHARTER HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT POPS UP.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

>> Lauren: IF YOU FORGET THE DASH, IT'S ALL OVER.

>> THE DASH CHANGES THE WHOLE THING.

>> Lauren: SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TESTIMONY WITH THE FOOD SECURITY ONE, MIKE IS ASKING CAN WE SUBMIT TESTIMONY IN WRITING FOR THE PROPOSALS?

I'M NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO GET TO MEETINGS?

>> YES, YOU CAN.

>> Lauren: IS THAT ALSO ON THE WEBSITE?

>> YES.

>> THERE'S ACTUALLY A FORM YOU CAN FILL OUT TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY OR YOU CAN E-MAIL IT IN.

WRITTEN IS ALWAYS -- I THINK -- A GOOD WAY TO DO IT, EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE TESTIFYING IN PERSON OR REMOTELY.

I FEEL THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LOOK BACK AT THE TESTIMONY LATER, EVEN, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF SOMETHING COMES UP MORE THAN ONCE, RIGHT?

THEN YOU CAN REFER TO PAST TESTIMONY.

YOU CAN GIVE OTHER PEOPLE IDEAS OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS THINKING ABOUT, HOW THEY VIEW A PARTICULAR PROPOSALS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Lauren: HOW BIG OF A FACTOR DO YOU GUYS PUT ON THE TESTIMONY THAT COMES IN?

>> A LOT ACTUALLY GOES IN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE GET THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HEARINGS SO WE ACTUALLY -- OR MOST OF US TRY TO READ ALL OF IT AND GO INTO THE COMMISSION MEETING WITH QUESTIONS OR WITH A CERTAIN IDEA THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH.

WHETHER THE TESTIMONY IS SUBMITTED ORALLY OR SUBMITTED IN A WRITTEN FORMAT, IT GOES A LONG WAY FOR US, BECAUSE WE START TO ASK QUESTIONS.

THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN TESTIMONY AND WE'VE ACTUALLY PUSHED DECISION-MAKING ON CERTAIN PROPOSALS BASED ON US WANTING TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND/OR WANTING TO CLARIFY INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED VIA SOME OF THESE WRITTEN TESTIMONIES.

IT PLAYS A BIG FACTOR.

>> >> Lauren: IF A PROPOSAL GOT NO TESTIMONY, WOULD THAT BE AN AUTOMATIC?

>> NOT AT ALL.

NOT AT ALL.

>> BUT IT HELPS.

I THINK IT PROVIDES CONTEXT.

BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK AND VIEWPOINT IN WHICH HOW WE ARE HOPING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE THEY'RE COMING AT THIS FROM.

>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMATS IF YOU LOOK AT ANY KIND OF WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PERSON PUT IN SOME KIND OF CONTACT INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THAT VERY REASON.

>> YEP.

YEP.

>> IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR OTHERS TO CONTACT THEM PERSONALLY IF THERE ARE SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

>> Lauren: WE'LL GET TO A COUPLE OTHER VIEWER QUESTIONS HERE.

VERONICA IS ASKING HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE WORDING OF █A PROPOSED AMENDMENT AS IT'LL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT?

SOMETIMES THEY COULD BE CONFUSING.

LIKE IF YOU VOTE YES ON SOMETHING, IT ACTUALLY MEANS NO.

THAT COULD MAKE VOTERS IGNORE A PROPOSAL.

I WILL PUT MY OWN PERSONAL ANTIDOTE, THE BALLOT COULD DO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO READ IT 100 TIMES TO FULLY UNDERSTAND IF IT'S A DOUBLE NEGATIVE.

>> EXACTLY.

COURT HAS TO EVALUATE IT AND HELP US WRITE IT IN A PROPER LEGAL FORMAT.

I'M NOT A LAWYER MYSELF.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING A LOT OF EMPHASIS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE FRAME THE QUESTIONS IN A WAY THAT'S EASY FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND.

AS YOU SHARED, LAUREN, WHEN YOU READ SOME OF THESE THINGS, IT IS LIKE I'M NOT A LAWYER!

I DON'T KNOW YES MEANS NO AND NO MEANS YES.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

>> AND THEY LEAVE IT BLANK.

>> NOT FOR NOTHING.

I USED TO BE A PARALEGAL AND I USED TO WORK IN LAW.

THE QUESTIONS DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

IT'S SO INTENSE.

AND, AGAIN, YOU -- THEY DO WANT TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY SO THERE AREN'T LOOPHOLES.

IT'S AN AIR-TIGHT DECISION.

TO OUR GOOD SISTER VERONICA'S POINT, IT DOES NO GOOD IF THE INTENT AND MEANING OF IT IS WRITTEN OUT AND ALL WE HAVE ARE WORDS WE REALLY CAN'T CONNECT TO OR UNDERSTAND.

YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A THESAURUS TO GET THROUGH THE MEANING OF SOMETHING ON A BILL.

SO I'M HOPING THEY TAKE THAT TO HEART AND, OF COURSE, COME UP WITH THE LEGALESE AS WE CALL IT THAT'S NEEDED BUT ALSO TRY TO PUT THAT IN THE MOST COMMON MAN LANGUAGE AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY -- PART OF OUR TIMELINE IS TO ACTUALLY TRY TO WRAP UP OUR DELIBERATIONS ON THIS BY LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE, ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T GO TO THE BALLOT UNTIL OCTOBER.

>> Lauren: NOVEMBER.

>> WHEN THE BALLOTS ARE MAILED OUT IN OCTOBER.

WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SO THAT PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW IS OFTENTIMES THE EDUCATION COMPONENT IS WHAT IS MISSING, RIGHT?

YEAH, YOU HAVE VOTER GUIDES THAT KIND OF EXPLAIN IT.

WE WANT TO GO BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE QUESTIONS.

HAVE PEOPLE ASK US, WHAT'S THIS MEAN?

WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT BEHIND THIS?

HOW'S IT GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED?

THERE'S AN EXTENSIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO WRAP UP BY EARLY SUMMER SO IT GIVES US SEVERAL MONTHS TO ACTUALLY GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION PEOPLE.

IF SOMETHING COMES UP IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WOULD YOU AS A COMMISSION COME BACK TOGETHER AND MAYBE CHANGE THE WORDING OF A PROPOSED QUESTION?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO?

>> I THINK SO.

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY BUT THERE ARE FIRM DEADLINES.

IT NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK BY MID-AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

SO I MEAN THERE'S AN OPPOR OPPORTUNITY, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO THESE MEETINGS NOW, BECAUSE WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE EDUCATION PHASE, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR US TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

I THINK MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THIS.

CORPS COUNCIL IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRANSLATION TIMELINE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO PROCURE TRANSLATORS.

YOU NEED IT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

AS YOU SHARED, RIGHT?

WE HAVE MINORITY COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE PARTICIPATED PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE NOT QUICKLY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT GOOD.

WE WANT TO GIVE ENOUGH TIME SO WE CAN GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE PROCESSES.

I THINK WE'LL SEE.

BUT REALLY THE GOAL IS TO ACTUALLY GO BACK OUT TO EDUCATE AND TO LET FOLKS KNOW THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS SO THERE'S CLARITY WHEN THE BALLOTS ARE MAILED OUT.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS.

>> LET'S DO IT!

>> LET'S HAVE FUN AND BRING THIS INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY IN A REAL WAY.

>> OH YEAH.

>> THAT'LL BE AWESOME TO SEE HAPPEN.

>> Lauren: DO YOU TEST THE QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY GO OUT ON THE BALLOT?

HEY, READ THIS BACK TO ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT THIS MEANT.

>> IT'S LIKE A BETA TEST.

>> THOSE ARE REAL QUESTIONS, RIGHT?

WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE SOME WAYS.

THE COOL THING ABOUT OUR COMMISSION IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WHO BRING A LOT OF GREAT SKILLS.

THERE'S SEVERAL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PR COMS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL LAWYERS ALSO.

WE HAVE A FORMER JUDGE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT I THINK BRINGS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES.

AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT THE LANGUAGES.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TASKED WITH TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO FRAME IT SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> Lauren: THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO ERICKA'S QUESTION.

SHE'S ASKING HOW BIG IS THE CHARTER COMMISSION AND HOW DO PEOPLE GET CHOSEN TO BE ON THE COMMISSION?

I KNOW THE PROCESS IS WELL UNDERWAY BUT FOR THE NEXT TIME, CAN I NOMINATE MYSELF?

WHO WOULD SAY YES OR NO?

>> THERE'S 13 COMMISSIONERS, AND SEVEN OF WHICH ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND SIX -- SIX AND SIX, RIGHT?

SIX -- SEVEN APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, SIX BY THE COUNCIL.

THAT SEVENTH PERSON THAT THE MAYOR APPOINTED ALSO HAS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE COUNCIL.

>> AND ACTUALLY -- IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ACTUALLY PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE AND CIVIL BEAT ACTUALLY PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ON IT IN 2024 I BELIEVE ACTUALLY ASKING PEOPLE, HEY, THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS OPEN FOR THOSE WILLING OR INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION.

HERE IS AN APPLICATION.

THERE WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS DONE.

THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES TO SIGN UP IF YOU WERE INTERESTED.

>> JOSEPH WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MEETINGS.

DO MEETINGS EVER GET CONTENTIOUS?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT GETS CONTENTIOUS.

WE HAVE TO SET UP OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, OUR STANDING RULES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME PRETTY MEATY MEETINGS COMING UP PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE HOT-BUTTON ISSUES LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR'S ABILITY TO HIRE AND FIRE THE POLICE CHIEF.

I KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT THE COMMISSION IS PROBABLY DIVIDED ON FROM A PHILOSOPHICAL STANDPOINT.

THERE'LL PROBABLY BE SEVERAL OTHERS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR CHARTER COMMISSION, ONE THING I'M SO HAPPY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE CORDIAL AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.

THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN ANY REAL PARTISANSHIP.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COMMISSION LIKE THIS, YOU COULD HAVE SAID EARLIER ON, OH, ALL THE MAYOR APPOINTEES ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ONE WAY AND ALL THE COUNCIL APPOINTEES -- I HAVE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS THAT HAPPEN TO BE ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION AND I'M VOTING AGAINST THEM AND THEY'RE VOTING AGAINST ME.

I THINK WE'VE COME TO A POINT TO WHERE EVERYBODY VOTES THEIR CONSCIENCE.

WE TRY ADVOCATE FOR WHAT WE THINK IS BEST.

WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD LEADER HERE IN THE CHAIR WHO REALLY PROVIDES EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.

WE TEND TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND VOTE ON THINGS AGAIN BECAUSE WE ALL JUST, HEY, WE WENT THROUGH IT AND THE COURT IS LIKE, NO, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK.

IT'S A GREAT PROCESS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE SUNSHINE LAW.

THINGS GET PRETTY TECHNICAL.

>> Lauren: YOU JUST MENTIONED THIS AND WE HAD A VIEWER WHO WROTE IN SAYING WHAT IS A CORPS COUNCIL.

>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE CITY LAWYERS.

THEY'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING THE APPLICABLE LAWS AND PROCESSES.

THEY PROVIDE LEGAL GUIDANCE IN MAKING SURE WE'RE OPERATING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CHARTER WHICH DOES OUTLINE THE PROCESSES FOR US BUT ALSO THINGS IN LAW.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN YOU DO GO TO THESE MEETINGS, DON'T MISTAKE PASSION FOR ANGER.

THAT COULD HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

PEOPLE MADE A -- PEOPLE MAY MISTAKE CRITICISM BEING PERSONAL.

IT'S OK TO DISAGREE BUT LET'S NOT BE DISAGREEABLE.

I THINK EVERYONE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE ADVOCATES AND THE PEOPLE COMING OUT, EVEN IF WE FIND OURSELVES ON DISAGREEING SIDES, IT'S NOT PERSONAL AND WE'RE ALL OUT HERE REALLY TRYING TO TAKE THAT COLLECTIVE STEP FORWARD.

WE JUST DISAGREE ON HOW TO GET THERE, BUT THAT'S OK AS LONG AS WE STILL SEE THE END GAME TOGETHER.

I THINK AS A COMMUNITY REGARDLESS AS A COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, WE REALLY DO HAVE THAT.

>> Lauren: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE MEETING.

>> NO, I HAVE NOT.

THOSE THINGS ARE LONG.

I'VE BEEN TO 1 1/2!

>> Lauren: YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE PREDICTING HPD TOPIC TO BE -- I DON'T KNOW IF CONTENTIOUS IS THE WORD.

INTENSE.

PROBABLY A LOT OF PASSION.

WHAT OTHER PROPOSALS OR ISSUES DO YOU THINK WILL ALSO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC?

>> I THINK THE OTHER ONE I MENTIONED WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF RESOURCES AND CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP.

WHEN YOU ARE PROPOSING THE CREATION OF A BRAND-NEW CITY AGENCY, THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT WARRANTS A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

THE INDIVIDUALS AND ADVOCATES WHO PUSHED THIS FORWARD ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

I SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY WERE HAVING THEIR OWN COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE FRAME THIS?

HOW DO WE SUBMIT IT?

I THINK WE'LL GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THAT.

AS I MENTIONED, CREATING A BRAND-NEW ENTITY, I THINK YOU DID IT WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCY OFFICE LAST TIME.

THOSE ARE PRETTY MOVING CONVERSATIONS.

WE ARE CREATING BRAND-NEW ENTITIES THAT WILL HAVE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS -- >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE CITY ACCORDING TO THE CHARTER AND I THOUGHT THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO -- I FORGET WHAT OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT WAS CREATED -- I THOUGHT IT BROUGHT THAT NUMBER TO THE MAXIMUM PER THE CHARTER.

AM I MISTAKEN?

ARE WE STILL ALLOWED TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE DEPARTMENT?

>> I THINK THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT, YEAH.

>> I REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION COMING BUT I THINK WE'RE STILL ABLE TO CREATE THIS NEW DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT WHEN YOU CREATE A BRAND-NEW CITY ENTITY OR CITY AGENCY LIKE THIS, THERE'S SOME THAT MIGHT INTERSECT.

IT WILL CAUSE US TO REWRITE SAYING WHAT'S THE PURVIEW OF THE OTHER CITIES IF THE THING MOVES FORWARD.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HONE DOWN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE THINGS WILL BE APPLICABLE.

RIGHT NOW, SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA BUT HEY, AFTER WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND KIND OF TALK WITH THE CITY ABOUT WHAT IS DOABLE, IT MIGHT NOT BE FEASIBLE.

WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING OUT IN THE PUBLIC FOR EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE.

>> Lauren: I WROTE THIS DOWN FROM THE HONOLULU CITY CHART WE'RE WEBSITE THAT THE COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING OUTDATED LANGUAGE, INEFFICIENCIES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE HOW THE CITY SERVES ITS PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY.

AT THIS POINT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS HAVE FOUND THAT WOULD FALL INTO ONE OF THOSE THREE, EITHER THE CHARTER HAD SOMETHING THAT'S OUTDATED OR IS MAKING THE CITY RUN INEFFICIENTLY?

>> I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CALL IT "OUTDATED" BUT ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE GOT FROM OUR WINWARD MEETING IS CHANGING THE CITY PREAMBLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHEN THE CITY CHARTER WAS FIRST WRITTEN, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE 1950'S, THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PREAMBLE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, IT WAS WRITTEN BY ALL WHITE GUYS.

THE PERSPECTIVE IN WHICH THEY VIEWED THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.

YOU LOOK AT THE PREAMBLE OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

IF THE CHARTER AND CONSTITUTIONS ARE MEANT TO BE LIVING DOCUMENTS, AS DAWN AND CAMRON SHARED, LIVING DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE UPDATED.

I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE'VE HAD PASSIONATE ADVOCATES SAYING WE THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A REWRITE OF THE CITY PREAMBLE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO CHANGE AND MAKE ALTERATIONS TO THE CITY DOCUMENT THAT REFLECT THE CURRENT TIMES.

WHEN THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE CHANGE WAS CREATED, YOU COULD HAVE ASKED THE CHARTER COMMISSION IN THE 1970'S AND THEY WOULDN'T THINK THERE WAS A NEED FOR IT.

AS TIMES CHANGE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

BECAUSE WE'RE FORCED TO OPEN UP THE CITY CHARTER, EVERYTHING IS UP FOR GRABS.

>> IT'S FAIR GAME.

>> YOU CAN HAVE A WHOLE OTHER EPISODE ON THE STATE CON-CON, OPENING THAT UP.

WE'RE MANDATED, THE CHARTER COMMISSION IS MANDATED AND TASKED WITH LOOKING AT THINGS.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH -- I'VE READ THROUGH THE CITY CHARTER LIKE A BIBLE, SO IT'S A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY.

>> Lauren: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW MINUTES AGO AND IT'S A GOOD SEGUE TO ABIGAIL'S QUESTION WHO WROTE IN ASKING HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS THERE TO VOTE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON A PROPOSAL?

DO CHARTER COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH LOBBYISTS THE WAY LEGISLATORS DO?

IF SO, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?

>> NO, WE'RE SO NICE TO THEM.

THEY NEVER SEE OR HEAR FROM US.

>> I'VE HAD ADVOCATES BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY WORK I DO THAT HAVE REACHED OUT.

I DON'T FEEL PRESSURE.

I'M VERY HONEST ABOUT WHERE I STAND ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

IF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT AN ISSUE, I'M VERY OPEN THAT I DON'T KNOW.

PLEASE EDUCATE ME.

I'M WILLING TO LEARN MORE.

IF YOU WATCH SOME OF OUR CHARTER COMMISSION MEETINGS, I'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED MY VOTE OFF CERTAIN THINGS BASED OFF OF TESTIMONY THAT WAS CHANGED OR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

I THINK FOR A COMMISSION LIKE THIS, THE REAL PRESSURE REALLY IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE LEFT TO REALLY GET THE WORK DONE.

BUT UNLIKE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHICH THESE ARE THEIR JOBS, I DON'T THINK, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE FACE A LOT OF THE SAME PRESSURES.

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

>> FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT'S ALL REALLY GOOD FUN.

IT IS SERIOUS.

THIS IS SUPER SERIOUS.

WE'RE DOING REAL WORK FOR PEOPLE BUT I'M SUCH A NERD FOR THIS.

I COACH, TOO.

THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL.

WHAT WE DO IS WE GET TO GET OUT THERE AND SPAR WITH OUR IDEAS.

WE GET TO GIVE THEM TO THE COMMISSIONERS AS BEST WE KNOW HOW AND THEN OUR OPPONENTS GET TO GIVE THEIR SIDE.

WHATEVER SIDE THEY COME ON -- AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT VIOLATING NO HUMAN RIGHTS -- WE ALL GET TO LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY AND IT'S STILL A REALLY GOOD DAY.

SO IT IS FUN, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE AS ADVOCATES OR AS LOBBYISTS ARE NOT PUTTING THAT PRESSURE, ESPECIALLY ON COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE IT'S AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER POSITION.

THEY'RE SACRIFICING THEIR TIME FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS RUNNING EFFECTIVELY.

>> Lauren: THAT'S A LOT OF WORK GOING THROUGH 300 PROPOSALS AND DOING THIS UNPAID.

YOU SAID YOU'RE THROUGH 250.

YOU GUYS ARE ALMOST IN THE HOME STRETCH?

>> FOR THE FIRST ROUND.

>> THE FIRST ROUND, YEAH.

>> Lauren: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE FIRST ROUND?

>> OF THE 250, WE ADVANCED MAYBE LIKE 80.

WE HAD 295.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WHITTLE IT DOWN TO 80 OR 90.

THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SOME THEMATIC THEMES WE HAVE, RIGHT?

THEN IT'S TRYING TO GROUP THOSE TOGETHER.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE IS PLEASE DON'T GET -- PLEASE DON'T GET HOOKED TO A PARTICULAR PROPOSAL OR A CERTAIN VEHICLE, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE THESE DIFFERENT THEMES TO TRY TO ADVANCE FOR SOME OF THE COMMONALTIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE POLICE COMMISSION, WE PROBABLY HAD EIGHT OR NINE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPOSALS THAT WERE ON THAT TOPIC MAYBE PROVIDING A LITTLE DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ON WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS, COMMUNITY BUDGETING PROCESSES, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE, RIGHT?

IT'S TAKING THOSE 295 AND TRYING TO FIND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMONALTIES AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S FEASIBLE AND THEN WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE TO THE BALLOT?

>> Lauren: AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, HOW MUCH SAY DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE IN WHAT ADVANCES?

>> A LOT.

>> A LOT.

YEAH.

>> WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME OUT FOR THIS NEXT ROUND TO ABSOLUTELY PROVIDE THEIR TESTIMONY AND INFORMATION TO US.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALSO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE NOTIFIED OF THE AGENDAS AHEAD OF TIME ON THE COMMISSION WEBSITE.

THERE'S A LINK.

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE REGULAR NOTICES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHEN IT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S REALLY VERY EASY THEN TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND FIGURE OUT WHAT PROPOSALS YOU WANT TO TESTIFY ON.

>> Lauren: CAMRON AND NATALIE, HOW DID THE TWO OF YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN A PROCESS LIKE THIS?

>> I DO IT OFTEN.

I MEAN, EVERY TIME I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I TELL PEOPLE TO SUBMIT YOUR OPINIONS, BECAUSE IF THE DECISION-MAKERS DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE THINKING, THEN THEY'RE JUST GOING TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT, AND THAT MAY NOT ALIGN WITH WHAT WE IN GENERAL BELIEVE SHOULD BE DONE.

SO I DO IT IN THE COMMENTS ON THE STAR ADVERTISER.

I DO IT IN COMMENTS ON THE BEAT AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

EVEN WHEN I TESTIFY, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TESTIFY THEMSELVES.

>> FOR US, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING I'M GRATEFUL ENOUGH WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ALONE.

WE DO IT IN COALITION WITH A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS.

SO THERE MAY BE THINGS THEY HAVE UP AT THE COMMISSION THAT MAY NOT BE IN OUR GOVERNMENT SECTOR BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO POST THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS WE LIKE TO HAVE FUN AT LIKE OUR BEACH DAYS.

IF YOU COME OUT TO THOSE, YOU MAY GET A HAND OUT ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CHARTER COMMISSION RIGHT THERE.

THEY TRY TO INTERACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PUSHING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, TOO.

A LOT OF THIS IS JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW IT'S HAPPENING.

AND IF ANY -- I'M A PARENT SO WE ALL KNOW IF YOU HAVE KIDS, IF WE CAN GET TO THE CHILDREN AND LET THEM KNOW, HEY, THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON AND IF YOU'RE A JUNIOR OR SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, THIS MAY BE DIRECTLY AFFECTING YOU SOONER THAN YOU THINK, THEY'RE GOING TO GO HOME AND FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK TO THEIR PARENTS ABOUT.

THEN THE PARENTS WILL BE LIKE, HEY, HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED?

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN.

I WOULD SAY THIS GOING AROUND IN THE CHARTER COMMISSION, I'M REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGED WITH THE AMOUNT OF YOUTH THAT'S REACHED OUT TO ME AND WAS LIKE, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN TESTIFY ON OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN?

AND IT'S NICE FOR ME TO SAY, GO FOR THE LINK.

>> Lauren: HAWAI'I HAS LOW VOTER TURNOUT.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE, A, BUT ALSO COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY CHARTER THAT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY CHECK OFF THE PEOPLE THEY WANT FOR GOVERNOR, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN THEY SEE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND GET TIRED.

>> I THINK THE COURSE OF JUST EVEN LIKE THIS SHOW, WE'VE GIVEN KIND OF LIKE BLOCK-BY-BLOCK STEPS ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO OR HOW WE CAN SEE IT GOING FROM THEIR OUTREACH STARTING LAST SUMMER.

IT REALLY DOES BEGIN THEN.

TO NOW WE'VE GOT THE PROPOSALS IN.

SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE WRITTEN WORK IN AND WE'VE GOTTEN THE NUMBER OF WRITTEN WORK IN.

NOW WE'VE GOT TO GET THE TESTIMONY IN.

ONCE THE TESTIMONY IS IN, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IT GOING TO A BALLOT.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS, NOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL-INFORMED ON THE WORDING AND THAT'S WHERE IT'LL BECOME INCUMBENT ON ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINE AND OTHERS TO BE OUT THERE, WHETHER IT BE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET AND YOU HAVE A TABLE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET AND YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, PRACTICE HOW YOU FILL OUT THE BALLOT HERE.

HOSTING WEBINARS SO PEOPLE COULD DO IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE'RE NOT TOWN-CENTRIC.

WE'VE GOT TO GET TO OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS AND KNOW-HOW.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR CONTROL.

THERE ARE THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL THAT ALSO NEED TO HAPPEN TO HELP INCREASE IT EVEN MORE BUT WITHIN OUR CONTROL, THAT'S REALLY IT AND, AGAIN, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, RIGHT?

SOMETIMES WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, VOTING COULD SEEM BOTHERSOME.

AND SO KIND OF REFRAMING IT FOR PEOPLE IN HOW IT COULD BE FUN.

AND REFRAMING IT FOR PEOPLE IN HOW IT COULD BE MEANINGFUL.

AND REASSURING PEOPLE THAT YOUR VOTE MATTERS.

>> Lauren: THE NEXT ROUND OF OUTREACH IS GOING TO BE CRI CRITICAL.

IT'LL BE JUST AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE DID IN THE FIRST ROUND, IF NOT MORE.

>> WE'VE ALLOCATED MONEY TO RUN ADS.

WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WE HAD ADS THAT WERE RUNNING ON TV, ADS ON THE CITY BUS, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN NOT JUST FROM A GRASSROOTS PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO FROM THIS IS A CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE US ON TV, SOCIAL MEDIA, ABOUT, R, ALL OF THAT -- PR, ALL OF THAT.

>> Lauren: DO PEOPLE USUALLY FILL OUT WHEN THEY'RE VOTING AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR THE CHARTER?

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE BLANK VOTES WERE ON THAT, TOO.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY QUESTIONS ARE WE GOING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL BE MEANINGFUL TO PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM?

>> YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO GET FATIGUE HALF WAY THROUGH AND DON'T FINISH.

>> THERE'S ALSO AN ISSUE -- WE'VE HAD A POSITIVE CONVERSATION BUT I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON A POTENTIAL ISSUE WE MAY HAVE AND THAT IS PEOPLE ARE VOTING IN PERSON THE DAY OF, WE'VE SEEN LONG LINES IN THE LAST ELECTION, THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT SPIRIT OF WANTING TO VOTE IN THIS NEXT MID-TERM ELECTION.

IF WE'RE VOTING ON CHARTER AMENDMENTS, THAT MEANS THE BALLOT IS GOING TO BE LONGER.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WAITING AT THEIR POLLING LOCATIONS LONGER.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY TAKE NOTE NOW TO START EVALUATING WAYS TO MAKE SURE IN-PERSON VOTING IS NOT INFRINGED.

>> Lauren: WITH THAT, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.

WE CAN PROBABLY KEEP GOING ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE'S ALMOST 300 PROPOSALS AND TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT BUT IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR VOTERS TO BE ENGAGED THIS YEAR AND DO YOUR RESEARCH AHEAD OF TIME AND TO VOTE AT HOME IF YOU CAN OR JUST TO PLAN IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE IN PERSON.

IT'LL TAKE LONGER.

>> YOU CAN READ THE BALLOT RIGHT THERE AT HOME.

THAT WAY WHEN I WALK IN, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

>> YOU CAN HAVE ChatGPT READ TO YOU AND GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE.

>> Lauren: THAT'S A GOOD TIP, TOO.

THANK YOU ALL, SO MUCH.

A LOT OF GOOD TIPS.

A LOT OF GOOD TIPS.

DO YOUR OWN PROPER RESEARCH.

THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL AT HOME FOR JOINING US AND ASKING ALL OF YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS... HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION CHAIR DAWN SZEWCYZK AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR COMMON CAUSE HAWAII CAMRON HURT.

HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSIONER JACOB AKI AND CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT NATALIE IWASA.

NEXT WEEK ON "INSIGHTS," HAWAI'I HAS ALWAYS SERVED AS A PICTURESQUE BACKDROP FOR MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS LIKE THE IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, NFL PRO BOWL AND THE SONY OPEN.

BUT WITH INCREASED COMPETITION FROM OTHER CITIES, WE'LL LOOK AT THE PUSH FOR SPORTS TOURISM IN HAWAI'I TO SEE IF IT'S A WINNING PLAY OR A RISKY BET.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LAUREN DAY FOR "INSIGHTS" ON PBS HAWAI'I.

ALOHA!

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

♪ ♪