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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY <br />DATE: January 6, 2009 RE: Comm. No. 57/Res. No. 26-09 <br />PLACE: Councilroom <br />Ben Franklin Building <br />333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"~ Floor <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 10:10 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Committee on Food and Energy Sustainability, to which was referred Resolution 26-09, reports as <br />follows: <br />Resolution 26-09, transmitted by Council Member Greenwell via Communication No. 57, dated <br />Decemberl9, 2008, encourages the County of Hawaii to join with the State of Hawaii and enter into <br />dialog with appropriate US Governmental Agencies regarding eligibility for any and all economic <br />stimulus/stabilization packages including the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. <br />This resolution encourages the County of Hawaii to work with the other counties and the State of <br />Hawaii to identify and pursue the vazious programs available through the economic stimulus packages <br />and any other source of Federal funding. Further, it states to do so will be fiscally pmdent and opportune <br />for the County of Hawaii. <br />There were two testifiers in support of Resolution 26-09 in Hilo, and three that made comment. <br />Mr. Greenwell stated that it was time for all levels of government to recognize that in the coming year, <br />there will be a tremendous amount of money that will be made available to the people who are prepared <br />to ask for it. He cited the Farm Bill which has $300 billion available, and the stimulus money, which is <br />approaching a trillion dollars. <br />Council Member Naeole was in support of the resolution. She emphasized the importance of putting our <br />minds together and going after the money. She noted that she will also be in Washington, DC, as Mayor <br />Kenoi will, and has offered to assist him with lobbying efforts. <br />Council Member Ford also spoke in support of the resolution. She suggests we make every attempt to get <br />our "fair share" of the Federal dollars that we all pay taxes for. She asked Mr. Greenwell if he had the <br />opportunity to talk with Mayor Kenoi with respect to advocating for our County. Mr. Greenwell <br />responded that the Mayor is in support of working together as a State to seek some funding. <br />Council Member Hoffmann moved to amend resolution 26-09 with the contents of Communication 57.1. <br />The motion was carried. <br />Council Member Yagong recommends that the County coordinate its effort with Hawaii State <br />Association of Counties, in addition to working with our State and Federal delegations. He also noted <br />that Mayor Kenoi's Administration has been working with the Federal Government in regards to the <br />stimulus package, but while most of this has been directed towards capital improvement projects, this <br />FESC Report No. Ol <br />