The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee convened on March 17, 2026, at 1:34 PM and adjourned at 5:25 PM. The meeting covered three agenda items: a presentation from the Board of Ethics on priorities and collaboration opportunities, an update on a wrongful death lawsuit against a fire captain, and a resolution to hire special counsel for litigation challenging Ordinance 5909 (Bill 9). The committee heard public testimony, deliberated, and ultimately deferred action on the first two items; a vote on the resolution to hire special counsel resulted in a 4‑4 tie, effectively deferring the matter.
Well, the government relations ethics and transparency committee meetings on March seventeenth, twenty twenty six order. It is one thirty-four p.m. I'm here calling our baton. Please identify by name who if anyone gets in the room for your core space with you today. Aloha Chair, Councilmembers, committee members, there's no testifiers at the Lenine District Office, and I am home in my workspace and ready to work. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Council Chair Alice Lee. Good afternoon, Chair and Anzo from New Mexico and the uh Apache Indian Nation. Thank you. Councilmember Tamara Paulton. Aloha, awina la and the Anhul Kalko streaming live and direct from the P. I have one adult male George Viera here with me in the house, and three minors who shall remain unnamed, two of the human variety and one of the canine variety. Thank you. I see member uh Rollins Fernandez just logged in, so we'll give her a minute. Councilmember Shane Senenzi. Here at my home private residence. I'm here by myself, and there's no testifiers in the chair. Thank you, Member Soneti. Councilmember Yuki Leisu Yumura. Good afternoon. And is it the Lanzo? The Anzo, the Anzo, and looking forward to a productive meeting. Thank you. From Corporation Council, we have with us Deputy Corporation Council Colby, Deputy Corporation Council Gores, and Deputy Corporation Council Tarnstrom. We also have with us representatives from the Board of Ethics, ESA Inc., a law corporation, and Morcoriston, Miller, Mukai, McKinnon LLP. We also have with us our great committee staff. And I now see Member Rollins Fernandez. Uh for a meeting at I could only schedule during this time, so my apologies. Yes. Thank you, Member Rollins Fernandez. Okay. I'll be right back. Ahaalaturn. All right, everybody. Um good afternoon. And please see the last page over the agenda for information regarding connectivity. Now, before we begin our formal agenda today, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredibly difficult weekend our community has just endured. Over the past several days, we watched heavy rains cause severe flooding and inundation across our islands. We've seen homes destroyed, roads washed out, and families taking on the mental burden of wondering if they would lose everything to the elements. For many in our community, this weekend wasn't just about the rain. It was about the sound of sirens and the sight of rising water, triggering the deep-seated trauma of past natural disasters, especially previous floods and the wildfires of 2023. We know that our residents, especially those still displaced or rebuilding from the wildfires, every emergency alert carries the weight that is hard to describe. Whether it is fire or water, the anxiety of losing everything is a burden our people carry daily. And to the community, the nonprofit organizations and neighbors who checked on our family and friends and who moved quickly to mitigate damage. As we move through today's business, especially on the item related to trade evidence do Moran. Let us keep those affected by this weekend's flooding in our thoughts and remain committed to building a safer, more prepared Maui Nui for everyone. Thank you. Nicely said. Okay, members.