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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: October 1, 2024 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:36 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 1082/Bill No. 214 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 214, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 214, transmitted by Director of Finance Diane Nakagawa via Communication No. 1082, dated <br />September 19, 2024, amends Ordinance No. 24-33, as amended, relating to Public Improvements and <br />Financing thereof for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. <br />This bill increases the Environmental Management Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation <br />and Replacement project by $1.16 million, bringing the total appropriation to $226 million. Funds for <br />this project shall be provided from the General Obligation Bonds, Capital Projects Fund — Fund <br />Balance and/or other Sources and would be used to renovate the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. <br />Environmental Management Director Ramzi Mansour and Business Manager Robin Bauman provided <br />an overview with a presentation on the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation and <br />Replacement Project. <br />Committee Member Cindy Evans asked why the department did not have value engineering performed <br />to have a sense of the costs. Mr. Mansour said the evaluation was difficult, as the value is based on <br />who would bid, and there was only one bidder the first time. Ms. Evans then asked about the project <br />timeline and whether the Council should fund the third phase now. Mr. Mansour said that the funding <br />for the third phase would have to happen soon, since the deadline to start is August 2025. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked if the project would increase capacity. Mr. Mansour <br />elaborated on the capacity and said that the project would allow for more efficiency and would replace <br />any broken or dysfunctional parts. Mr. Mansour then said that when the rehab project is finished, there <br />would be more capacity, and the department would also ask the Council to amend the Code as it is <br />very conservative currently. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball moved to enter into executive session to discuss duties and <br />liabilities with Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance and Mr. Mansour. <br />After the Committee was brought out of executive session, Ms. Kimball provided a brief overview of <br />what was discussed. <br />Ms. Evans then stated that her area of concern with the project is change orders and regular monitoring <br />of the project. <br />FC Report No. 207 <br />