Committee on International and Legal Affairs Meeting - August 20, 2025
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Committee on International and Legal Affairs Meeting - August 20, 2025
The Committee on International and Legal Affairs met remotely on August 20, 2025, to deliberate on several agenda items including resolutions, a bill, and executive session matters. The meeting addressed the reappointment of a neighborhood board member, an audit of the CORE program, and proposed legislation on intergovernmental agreements.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 25-218: Reported out for adoption without objection. The resolution concerns the reappointment of Larry Vere to the Pearl City Neighborhood Board. Councilmembers expressed strong support for Mr. Vere, citing his community advocacy and previous service. Managing Director Mike Formby noted Mr. Vere was absent due to illness.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Resolution 25-109 (CORE Audit): Liam Ching, representing the Reimagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition, testified in support of the audit but warned it should not be used to eliminate or reduce funding for CORE. He urged that the audit serve strictly to improve the program and align it with proven models like CAHOOTS. Angela Melody Young testified in support of CORE's work, emphasizing partnerships with Christian networks and state-level coordination.
- Executive Session – 525 Avocado Street: Eric Bartolome, owner of Maverick Muay Thai Academy located adjacent to the property proposed for demolition, testified in support of the demolition. He described ongoing safety issues including drug use, homeless activity, and violence affecting his business and students.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 25-109: Chair Nishimoto presented a proposed CD1 with amendments, submitted by Councilmember Tupola. Managing Director Formby expressed support after the removal of the 5th and 6th whereas clauses, which the administration had concerns about. City Auditor Troy Shimasaki confirmed the office could complete the audit as prescribed. Councilmember Tupola moved to amend the CD1 by removing the 5th and 6th whereas clauses; the motion passed without objection. The amended CD1 was then adopted.
- Bill 47: Managing Director Formby testified in strong opposition, stating the bill would impose a 15-day hold on intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) valued at $30 million or less, burdening daily operations. He noted that many IGAs are oral and later memorialized, and that voiding agreements not approved by council would hinder emergency actions. Councilmember Okamoto questioned the scope and suggested limiting to federal agreements, but Formby argued that would still cover many routine actions. Councilmember Kobayashi expressed support for notification but acknowledged concerns about flexibility. Councilmember Tupola opposed the bill, emphasizing the need for rapid municipal responses. Chair Nishimoto recommended deferral to work with the author and administration. The bill was deferred to a date and time to be determined by the chair.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 25-218: Approved for adoption with no objections.
- Resolution 25-109: Adopted as amended (CD1 with removal of 5th and 6th whereas clauses).
- Bill 47: Deferred for further discussion.
- Executive Session: The committee convened into a closed meeting to discuss legal matters (Brune, Kramer, Mao, Winona Lee claim, Ally Financial claim, and demolition at 525 Avocado Street), with no objections.
Meeting Transcript
All right, calling to order the committee on international and legal affairs. Noting the uh the presence of all members. Um, and the following members are participating remotely by video conference. Representative Tupola. Um, in accordance to section 92 3.7, HRS, please identify each person who is with you at your location. Allah Cherni Shimoto, there's no one with me. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Pursuant to Section 92 317 HRS, this meeting will be conducted as a remote meeting by interactive conference technology with the following procedures in effect for the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items on the agenda in person in the council chamber and remotely when each item, each agenda item is taken up. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, section four of the Hawaii State Constitution and section one thing of the HRS, members of the public may testify in either language for oral testimonies offered in Ola Hawaii. Additional time may be necessary. Additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for testifiers to provide an English language translation on their testimony. Before testifying, each person shall state their name. Each speaker may not have anyone anyone else read their statement and is limited to a one-minute presentation on each item. Once in-person testimony has concluded, I'll proceed to those who have registered to testify real remotely by video conference. When your name is called, please monitor your screen and activate your audio feed when prompted. Please utilize the raised hand feature in Zoom to be called on. For those joining us by telephone only, please press star nine to indicate your desire to speak. Some friendly reminders and tips. Video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you are also watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television at the time when you are called to testify. When the timer on the screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. HRS section 92-313.7 requires all votes at remote meetings be conducted by a roll call unless unanimous. Therefore, I will call for objections, and if there are any, I will call for a roll call vote. For those council members participating from outside of the council chamber in accordance to HRS section 92-317, the meeting will automatically recess if we lose audio visual contact with you and cannot reconvene until we establish contact. Therefore, please announce beforehand if you are voluntarily signing out of the meeting. For written testimonies, including including the testifiers email address, email the testifiers address, email address, and phone number will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. Okay, moving to agenda item number one, resolution 25-218. We are gonna call um first Larry Vere if he's present to give a statement or managing director. Yeah, thank you. Um Mike Formia, managing director. So I just spoke to Lloyd, the executive director, and he said that there was a communication with counsel that he's out sick today. Okay. All right, appreciate. Okay, um, so we'll move to in-person testifiers. Is there anyone registered? Chair, there are none. Okay, moving on to or is there anyone in the chamber who'd like to testify and is not on the list? Okay, see none. Uh moving to remote testimony. Anyone registered? Chair, there are none. Okay, I don't see anyone on remote testimony. Um, any questions or discussion? I'm not sure who you'd ask, but okay, go ahead. Thank you, Chair. Just quick discussion. I know that Larry Mr. Verre would have really liked to have been here, but due to his um illness right now, he wasn't able to.
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