HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOREDC 011 2021/04/06 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,
RELATIONS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: April 6, 2021 Re: Comm. No. 178/Res. No. 75-21
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 10:31 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development, which
was referred Resolution No. 75-21, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 75-21, introduced by Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, urges the
County of Hawaii through its Department of Finance to conduct a study to address the lack of
available and affordable property insurance for residents of Lava Zones 1 and 2.
Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder introduced the resolution by summarizing a letter from a
local insurance agent stating that home owners in Lava Zones 1 and 2 in Puna, 96778 zip code,
are having difficulty finding insurance carriers to offer them policies and the one State funded
program that does offer policies has rates that are at an "all-time high." Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
also emphasized that it is the county's responsibility to look into options for its residents as a
matter of"good social policy."
Director of Finance Deanna Sako was present and stated that she thought there were some
conflicts in the County Code as to whether the County should be acting in the proposed capacity
and said that the State of Hawaii has an Insurance Commissioner who seems to be the
government official best suited to address this issue. In addition, she noted that she has asked
Corporation Counsel for an opinion regarding the County's potential risk in becoming a captive
insurance agency for its residents and is awaiting their input.
Several council members acknowledged the difficulties County residents have in obtaining
affordable home insurance and made statements supporting the idea of an amendment to
Resolution 75-21 asking the State to address this issue. It was also noted that the County of
Hawai`i's Department of Finance has an enormous task dealing with the County budget and
issues relating to Federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding and potential infrastructure
program funding and may not have the capacity to take on a study such as this at this time.
The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed unanimously with eight"ayes."
GOREDC Report No.: 11
GOREDC-11 Page 2 April 6,2021
Your Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development is in
accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 75-21, and recommends its adoption.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID X COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
INABA x OPERATIONS, RELATIONS, AND
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER x ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE LOY x EATHER L. IMBALL, CHAIR
RICHARDS X GOREDC RR1 O 2T1.:20 11
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: