December 16, 2025 Committee on Governmental Operations Meeting
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Committee on Governmental Operations Meeting - December 16, 2025
The Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs convened on December 16, 2025, at the West Hawaii Civic Center to review three nominations for County boards and commissions, including two for the Police Commission and one for the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee. The meeting featured introductions by the Mayor's office nominee supporters, brief statements from the nominees, and extensive council deliberation focused on residency verification, community representation, and the current state of the Police Commission during a leadership transition.
Consent Calendar
No routine consent calendar items were listed; all agenda items were treated as discussion nominations requiring specific motion and vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patty Cook (Waimea): Expressed gratitude for the nominees' willingness to serve and offered strong support for the Police Commission members. She expressed collective grief over the loss of former Chief Todd. She emphasized the difficulty of the volunteer role and urged the council to support the new commissioners. She specifically requested support for nominee Franz Junior Fisher.
- No other public testifiers were present in the West Hawaii Civic Center or elsewhere.
Discussion Items
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Nomination of Alan A. Salavea (Police Commission, District 6):
- Nominee Profile: Mike Alameda (Executive Assistant to the Mayor) introduced Salavea as a former Castle High School graduate of Oahu, now residing in Volcano/District 6. He holds degrees from Hawaii Community College and UH Hilo, with a background in planning for the County and Kamehameha Schools.
- Council Concerns: Councilmember Connie Kleinfelder questioned the nominee's District residency, noting that Royal Hawaiian Estates is in District 5, not District 6. She requested verification before the final vote.
- Response: Alameda acknowledged the need to re-verify the exact address, stating the nominee likely lives on the border of District 6 but promised to double-check and return to the committee with confirmation within two weeks.
- Commission Context: Councilmember Houstis requested details on the Police Commission's administrative capacity and support during the hiring of a new Chief. Alameda responded that the commission has administrative support and is working toward implementing a live stream for public viewing, potentially by the next meeting.
- Nominee's Position: Salavea stated he brings a community-centered perspective to ensure rural areas are heard at the policy level and emphasized the commission's role in maintaining public trust while respecting police independence.
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Nomination of Shane Paticott Nelson (Kona CDP Action Committee):
- Nominee Profile: Alameda introduced Nelson as a West Side native, Konawana High School graduate, and Hawaii Pacific University alumnus with over 20 years in government. Nelson has previously served on the Kona CDP under prior administrations.
- Council Support: Councilmembers Inaba and Viegas expressed strong support, praising Nelson's authentic connection to the community, vested interest, and willingness to serve despite challenging circumstances. Galimba echoed these sentiments.
- Nominee's Goals: Nelson expressed a desire to bring order to chaotic development in South Kona, strengthen advisory roles to the Planning Department and Mayor, and develop cohesive planning strategies for rural areas considering socioeconomic and technological shifts.
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Nomination of Franz Junior Fisher (Police Commission, District 8):
- Nominee Profile: Alameda introduced Fisher as a Hawaii Preparatory Academy graduate with a degree in construction management from San Diego State University, returned to Hawaii Island in 2016. He currently coaches youth football.
- Nominee's Position: Fisher highlighted his multigenerational perspective (having a 1-year-old child and a 94-year-old grandmother) as a basis for his goal to reestablish partnership between the police department and the community.
- Council Support:
- Councilmember Inaba: Welcomed Fisher's addition to balance backing up the police department while putting them in check, noting it rounds out the board.
- Councilmember Viegas: Acknowledged Fisher's perspective on navigating the challenges facing the police department amidst national homeland security trends and local community impact.
- Additional Inquiry: Councilmember Kleinfelder asked about affiliations with the Iron Man group; Fisher stated he is a "patient spectator" and does not volunteer.
Key Outcomes
- Communication 650 (Alan A. Salavea): The committee voted to close the file and send a favorable recommendation to the full Council for appointment to the Police Commission. (Vote tally: Unanimous support in committee; final confirmation required at the January 7, 2025, full Council meeting, though transcript implies a January 7 date for the full council action after this committee's favorable recommendation). Note: The transcript states the confirmation vote for the full council will be on January 7th.
- Communication 651 (Shane Paticott Nelson): The committee voted to close the file and send a favorable recommendation to the full Council for appointment to the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee. (Vote tally: 8 Ayes, Councilmember Kirkowitz absent).
- Communication 652 (Franz Junior Fisher): The committee voted to close the file and send a favorable recommendation to the full Council for appointment to the Police Commission. (Vote tally: 8 Ayes, Councilmember Kirkowitz absent).
- Residency Verification Directive: Councilmember Kleinfelder's concern regarding Alan Salavea's residence in District 6 was not resolved during this meeting. Executive Assistant Mike Alameda agreed to re-verify the address and report back to the committee within two weeks.
- Live Stream Initiative: The committee was informed that the Mayor's office is in early discussions to implement a courtesy live stream for Police Commission meetings, aiming to launch at the next meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the 24th session of the Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs. Today is December 16th, 2025, and the time is 1001 a.m. We're here in the West Hawaii Civic Center. And with me today, we have Council members Die Agas, Councilmember Inaba, Councilmember Onishi, Councilmember Houstis. Council Member Connie Lee Kleinfelder. We are expecting uh Councilmember Kimball shortly. And I believe the other council members will be joining us either in East or West Hawaii shortly as well. All right. We have enough to go ahead and get started. Can we please start with any public testimony? Thank you, Committee Chair Kagiwada. Note that we do not have any testifiers here in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Corona Council Chambers checking with Mr. Areseli if there's any testifiers elsewhere. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I'd like to confirm that you do not have any testifiers for this meeting. Thank you, Mr. Raseli. Thank you very much. Let's go ahead and get started with communication 650. Communication 650 is a nomination of Alan A. Salavea to the police commission from Mayor C. Kimo Alamida, dated November 25, 2025, requesting the council's review and confirmation. Motion to close file on communication 650 and for the nomination of Alan Salavea to council with a favorable recommendation. I have a motion by Councilmember Inaba and a second by Councilmember Houstis to close file on commission communication 650. I believe believe we have the mayor's um staff over in Hilo to introduce our nominee. Hi, go ahead. Hello and good morning, council members. Madam Chair, my name is Mike Alameda, Executive Assistant, Office of the Mayor. It is my honor to introduce to you folks communication 650, nominating Alan A. Salavia to the police commission representing Council District 6. If confirmed, Mr. Salavea will serve a term beginning on or as soon as January 1, 2026, and to expire on December 31, 2030. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Salavea throughout this process. And from what I've heard and what I've felt, Mr. Salavea is a serious planner who loves Hawaii Island more than he knows. Raised in Kahaluu on Oahu, he currently resides in Upper Pune or Volcano. He provides a deep understanding of local challenges throughout his professional experience, having worked living and playing here on Hawaii Island. From graduating at Castle High School on Oahu, he moved to Hawaii Island, furthered his education, where he uh earned a associate's degree and a bachelor's degree from Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Um from there, he went on and had a uh successful career with the County of Hawaii and Kamehameha schools, both in planning. Um that says a lot about his thought process. I think that says a lot about the impact and the value that he will bring to the police commission, particularly um where they are in their planning phases uh of hiring a new chief. Um and ultimately uh Mr. Salavil uh you can tell when you talk to him that uh he plans to to live out his final days here. He's the Hawaii Island boy, um, and we're super honored uh that he stepped up to serve our island community in this capacity. Um we are hopeful for a positive recommendation and uh without any questions back to you, madam chair. Thank you so much, Mr. Alameda.
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