COUNTY CHARTER COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I 2010 FOREWORD In 1963, the legislature of the State of Hawai‘i enacted Act 73 enabling the counties of the State of Hawai‘i to establish charter commissions to study their existing governments and to recommend and draft charters upon determination that a charter form of government was fit and desirable. Accordingly, the County of Hawai‘i created a charter commission whose study and work began in 1964. The initial charter, which became effective on January 2, 1969, served as the “constitution” of the government of the County of Hawai‘i, and provided the basic framework for its organization and operation. It also provided for the orderly transition to the new form of government and for amendments or revisions by ordinance or petition and by mandatory review every ten years. The first mandatory charter review was conducted in 1979 at a special election held on November 3, 1979. Ten of the thirteen proposed charter amendments were adopted by the Hawai‘i County electorate. The second mandatory charter review was conducted in 1990. The charter commission proposed eighteen charter amendments. At the general election on November 6, 1990, fifteen of the eighteen proposed charter amendments were adopted by Hawai‘i County voters. The third mandatory charter review, conducted in 2000, resulted in sixteen proposed charter amendments. Voters adopted all sixteen amendments during the general election held on November 7, 2000. The most recent charter review, as conducted by the 2010 Charter Commission, resulted in nineteen proposed charter amendments. On November 2, 2010, the electorate approved eighteen of the nineteen proposed charter amendments. This edition incorporates the above series of amendments as well as additional changes proposed by the county council and adopted by Hawai‘i County voters during general elections held during the interim periods between charter reviews. This 2010 edition of the charter, therefore, replaces all previous editions and contains all those charter provisions in effect at the time of its publication. This edition also includes an approved charter amendment that had yet to take effect at the time of publication: The new Section 10-15, relating to an Open Space, Public Access, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund, which takes effect on July 1, 2011. i This page intentionally left blank. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREAMBLE .................................................................................................................................... 1 ARTICLE I INCORPORATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS....................................................................2 Section 1-1. Incorporation. ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Section 1-2. Geographical Limits. .............................................................................................................................. 2 ARTICLE II POWERS OF THE COUNTY...............................................................................................................2 Section 2-1. Powers of the County.............................................................................................................................. 2 Section 2-2. Exercise of Powers. ................................................................................................................................ 2 ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COUNTY COUNCIL.............................................................................................................................2 Section 3-1. Powers and Functions............................................................................................................................. 2 Section 3-2. Composition and Terms.......................................................................................................................... 2 Section 3-3. Qualifications. ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Section 3-4. Vacancy in Office................................................................................................................................... 3 Section 3-5. Removal of Council Members................................................................................................................ 3 Section 3-6. Organization of the Council; Officers; Employees. ................................................................................ 3 Section 3-7. Meetings; Rules and Journal; Voting and Quorum................................................................................. 4 Section 3-8. Actions of the Council............................................................................................................................ 4 Section 3-9. Resolutions. ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Section 3-10. Ordinances.............................................................................................................................................. 4 Section 3-11. Emergency Ordinances........................................................................................................................... 5 Section 3-12. Submission of Bills to the Mayor. .......................................................................................................... 5 Section 3-13. Adoption of Pay Plan.............................................................................................................................. 6 Section 3-14. County Code........................................................................................................................................... 6 Section 3-15. General Plan. .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Section 3-16. Mandatory Program Review................................................................................................................... 7 Section 3-17. County Redistricting Commission.......................................................................................................... 7 Section 3-18. Office of the Legislative Auditor............................................................................................................ 8 ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE BRANCH GENERAL PROVISIONS ....................................................................................................................9 Section 4-1. Executive Powers. .................................................................................................................................. 9 Section 4-2. Organization. .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Section 4-3. Appointment by Mayor........................................................................................................................... 9 Section 4-4. Advisory Commissions........................................................................................................................... 9 Section 4-5. Powers and Duties of Agency Heads...................................................................................................... 9 ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE MAYOR AND STAFF AGENCIES ..........................................................................................10 CHAPTER 1 - MAYOR Section 5-1.1. Election and Term of Office. ................................................................................................................ 10 Section 5-1.2. Qualifications. ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Section 5-1.3. Powers, Duties and Functions............................................................................................................... 10 Section 5-1.4. Vacancy in Office................................................................................................................................. 11 Section 5-1.5. Temporary Absence or Disability......................................................................................................... 11 Section 5-1.6. Removal of Mayor................................................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 2 - COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION Section 5-2.1. Declaration of Policy. ........................................................................................................................... 12 Section 5-2.2. Cost of Government Commission......................................................................................................... 12 Section 5-2.3. Term of Commission. ........................................................................................................................... 12 iii ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND AGENCIES UNDER THE MANAGING DIRECTOR..........................................................................................13 CHAPTER 1 - OFFICE OF THE MANAGMENT Section 6-1.1. Organization. ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Section 6-1.2. Managing Director...............................................................................................................................