REP FC 106 11/03/2009 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: November 3, 2009 Re: Comm. No. 588/Res 261-09 PLACE: Councilroom Ben Franklin Building, 2"d Floor Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 11:16 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 261-09, reports as follows: Resolution No. 261-09, transmitted jointly with Bill No. 164, by Finance Director Nancy Crawford via Communication No. 588, dated October 21, 2009, authorizes the Office of the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawaii Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism for a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The grant will allow the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development to develop a master plan for the North Kohala Agricultural Processing Facility. This facility will serve the community by enabling farmers to process taro into poi and their vegetables into value added products, by being a distribution center with refrigerated storage facilities and by having a place to hold meetings and classes. Pursuant to Section 46-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, County Departments must obtain the consent of the Council to enter into agreements with the federal or state governments respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted by law to furnish, expend and receive any funds or other assistance in connection with projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers. David Fuertes from Ka Hana No`eau said the proposed facility will help the district prepare for the future of sustainability. Several Council Members spoke in support of the measure, and pointed out that other districts throughout the County could benefit from this type of facility and could use North Kohala as a model. FC Rept. No. 106