HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN HSSSC 2022/06/14 2020-2022 Committee on Human Services
and Social Services
19th Session
West Hawaii Civic Center
75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
June 14, 2022
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Human Services and Social Services
ORDER: was called to order 11:37 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Kona, by
Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair
Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member
Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards HI, Member (came in later)
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent& Excused: Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.)
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Comm. 633.7: ADDITIONAL GRANT-IN-AID AWARDS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023
From Human Services and Social Services Chair Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated
June 7, 2022.
(Note: Comm. 633.8, from Human Services and Social Services
Chair Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated June 9, 2022, transmitting corrected
Exhibits A and B to Comm. 633.7; and Comm. 633.9, from Council Member
Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated June 14, 2022, transmitting an updated Exhibit B to
Comm. 633.8, was circulated.
Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 633.7.
Seconded by Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
HSSSC-19 June 14,2022
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, gentlemen. Just to level set everyone and remind
everybody kind of what's been going on, during our budget process we put in an
amendment that covered all the grant-in-aid; however, we haven't programmed
the balance of the money, and what this communication is intended to do is really
start that conversation. And I'm not sure if my colleagues—we also have another
communication, 633.8, and if you folks don't have it please let me know. I just
would love to kind of open up the conversation.
What happens from here, is whatever we decide, because we did our work with
the budget to amend the various applicants who were eligible but not awarded, we
would have to direct that to the administration, and then the administration would
come back with a budget amendment to include the various applicants that were
eligible but not awarded. Ms. Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: Mr. Clerk, we don't have that communication yet, so I don't
if that's pending. We are in the process of evolving the GIA (Grant-In-Aid)
application process and ultimately also the contracting and contract monitoring.
I think that the process that we went through was robust, but still needs some fine
tuning and some development.
I'm pleased that we're going to be putting money towards funding these different
organizations, and I'm pleased that we were able to use some of the homeless
money for some of the particular applicants, because that is the space that they
work in, and I think this is a great sort of compilation of different objectives and
different ideas.
At this point, I thinkI'm interested to hear from the rest of the body,particularly
those that weren't part of the ad hoc on this. You know, these are all great
programs. Every program that applies for a grant from us, they're all doing really
important work in the community, and so being able to benefit more than our just
$2.5 million I think is fantastic.
You know, I had some reservations which I expressed when we talked about the
report and the findings of the ad hoc, about some of the folks that I didn't feel had
accomplished a high-quality application in line with what would be appropriate
for a grant request from the County, or their budget request really didn't align
with what their product, their program outcomes, suggest that they would be
accomplishing with those funds.
One of the ways that we can deal with that moving forward is, if we choose to
fund all these programs, is with the grant-monitoring with the contracts, and
making sure that the contracts make it clear what their benchmarks are, what their
achievements need to be, in order to receive this funding moving forward.
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Similarly, if they're given x-amount of dollars through the contract, we can make
it very clear, the level that we expect those to be used.
So the contract monitoring I think is going to be a heavier lift this cycle because
of this, if we choose to do the—fund the whole batch. But it is a mechanism I
think we can use to make sure that all of our funds are being spent properly and
we are contributing as we should be. Thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. You know, DianeI think Diane or
Ted is also in our Hilo Chambers. And speaking to the point that Ms. Kimball
mentioned, is we have all the money set aside but as she mentioned, some of the
applications, you know, we had some reservations on, and it was reflective in
their scoring. However, we saw a lot of extra money this year in our budget and
were able to make that amendment. And as she mentioned, some of the guardrails
that we would love to see could be done with the contract itself.
(Note: At this time, Deputy Finance Director Diane Nakagawa came
forward to address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks, Diane, for being here. This again is very different
from what we've done in the past in the ad hoc committee,just because of the
transition that we're going through. Diane, thanks for being here.
MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome. Good morning again.
CHR. LEE LOY: So help walk the Council through this kind of process that
we're in because we've established the budget. We set aside some monies
beyond the $2.5 million, and these are the applicants that were just eligible but not
contained in our award during our process.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Correct. So as you explained, the budget appropriation is
set as the total in those areas. So just to remind everyone, we have $3,115,000
grants to nonprofit organizations, and then we added the $260,000 for
grants-in-aid and homelessness. So at this point, we're looking for your direction
on how to program those funds, and I think that's where we're at today. As you
mentioned, the homeless grant-in-aid, we need to those that will be served under
the $260,000, and then the remaining under the $3.115 million.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks, Diane. And I apologize, that's contained in that
Communication 633.8. Mr. Clerk?
MR. BROWN: Just wanted to let you guys know there's copies of that
communication coming very shortly.
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CHR. LEE LOY: With your indulgence, I don't mind taking a short recess so
everybody can take a look at it unless there are any Council Members that want to
offer comment at this time. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. I appreciate
Communication 633.7 because it—this is what I had to do the last time going
through that list of who was qualified but didn't get awarded. And this, as far as I
can see, is the list of programs that did not get awarded but were qualified.
And then the back-page, being the programs that are specific to homelessness
and just to clarify, these are coming out of the funds that we set aside via earlier
legislation, specific to homeless, yeah?
CHR. LEE LOY: That's correct. As a reminder, that was the two tier that
Mr. Chung introduced, and so these programs are directly in alignment with
homelessness. So accessing those funds, those programs would be eligible based
on our legislation that we passed for that.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Okay, wonderful. I think just
overallI mean, some of these folks had other programs that were awarded
funds, but some here—some of these organizations didn't receive anything. I
really do believe in some of these folks. I'm unsure as to the reason why they
didn't get funding, that was the purpose of the committee. But I would say that I
know some of these folks, and I know what they do in our community, and I
just—I'm always impressed with what they do and what they offer. So I'm really
glad to see that they're being awarded some funding. I appreciate this body's
willingness to go back and take a look and address that.
So thank you for bringing this forward today. I look forward to seeing the next
communication, 633.8. I yield for now.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Mr. Richards. Oh, I'm
sorry, Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. I have a question for Diane. Diane, thank you
for being here today, and since Deanna's not around. With the additions of the
applicants in this process, you know, what is your timeframe, the Finance
Department's timeframe, in getting all this within your timelines of processing
these additional applications? Could you just generally let us know what you're
timing will be?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Sure.
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MS. NAKAGAWA: Absolutely. So it's my understanding that we're a little late
this year in getting them, specifically. So if you look at the budget, on the total
appropriation, you also have the individual line items for each of those nonprofit
organizations. As I mentioned earlier, what we would need to do is go ahead and
create the accounts for each of those specific nonprofits. So we're looking for
direction fairly quickly too, if awarded, turn around, and go ahead and insert, and
do an amendment to actually put the total dollar amount to each of those
nonprofits.
MS. DAVID: And how much time do you think—could you estimate? How
much time you would need in order to finalize this?
MS. NAKAGAWA: And if Ted's on—if he could jump on as well, he's more
familiar with the process. Ted Schrey, our Budget Manager. But in talking with
him this morning, if we got the award recommendations today, we could work on
the amendment this week.
MS. DAVID: I see. And all this would need to be finalized, or at least get to our
agenda on the next—when would that be, Mr. Clerk?
MR. BROWN: If you don't mind me stepping in? I think the deadline to hit the
agenda is this Thursday.
MS. DAVID: I see, that's the deadline for the July, first, okay.
MS. NAKAGAWA: That's what I would believe we're working on too, as well.
MS. DAVID: Oh, okay. Well, I really feel for you folks as far as getting all the
stuff. It's very important. I mean these are all necessary things, and we've
already gone through the amendments. I'm just wondering whether there's
enough time for everybody to do what they need to do, and I'm certainly willing
to assist in any way I can.
(Note: At this time, Budget Finance Manager Ted Schrey came forward
to address the members of the Committee.
MS. DAVID: I see Ted there. Do you want to weigh in?
MR. SCHREY: Yeah, this is Ted Schrey, the budget guy. So if a decision is
finalized today, your LRB (Legislative Research Branch) would need to get the
information with the additional accounts, you know, the additional programs to
Finance as soon as possible, because a lot of new accounts actually need to be
generated and created. You also have to designate which accounts, whether
they're part of the original awards or part of the new ones, that will be paid for out
of the Homelessness account, and those will all be new accounts.
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Again, because if we're going to meet the deadline on Thursday to get this
transmitted, that information would need to be in our hands by the end of business
today, that way tomorrow accounts can probably spend a few hours, which is
what it takes to generate the accounts, and once the accounts are designated and
created, then we would need to prepare a bill listing all of the new programs.
That's not a lump sum. That show—so it will be in the budget. And you know,
that just takes as long as it takes.
MS. DAVID: Yeah, and so that would be generated by Finance, the bill you're
speaking of, right?
MR. SCHREY: Yes.
MS. DAVID: Okay.
MR. SCHREY: You have to amend the current budget, which only has a big pot,
and you would have to specify which programs get how much money.
MS. DAVID: Okay. Well, thank you for that summary on the timeframe. I kind
of figured that we were really behind the gun on this one, and I just wanted to get
some sense of just how much you folks are going to have to deal with in the next
few days. Thank you, Ted; thank you, Diane, for that information.
So before I—and I won't speak anymore after this, but I do have a question. Just
for clarification, I'm trying to get my—okay, 633.7, and this one is this
particular communication, Chair, is accounting for the $875 (thousand), that we
just approved in the last budget, right, 633.7? Okay, got it.
CHR. LEE LOY: Ms. David, if I could clarify? So eligible was not awarded, as
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder summarized.
MS. DAVID: Right.
CHR. LEE LOY: And then that's Exhibit A.
MS. DAVID: Right.
CHR. LEE LOY: But Exhibit B would be the programs that would be eligible
from that two-tier tax that we passed, Mr. Chung's bill.
MS. DAVID: Right, Mr. Chung's bill.
CHR. LEE LOY: And these programs.
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MS. DAVID: Okay.
CHR. LEE LOY: So it's kind of a they're going to access a different source of
funds.
MS. DAVID: Yes. Sources, right. Okay, that part. And now 633.8 is ?
CHR. LEE LOY: Chair, if you don't mind, we would have to move that
communication in.
MS. DAVID: Oh, I see. Right, right. Okay. Before we do that, then my last
question—so the 633.7 that we're talking about right now, the $875 (thousand) is
in addition to 633.6, totaling $2,565,000, okay, perfect. Now I know where I'm
going. I yield for now. Thank you.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. And then, Ms. David, thank you for having
Ted and Diane walk out the timing on it. Because there are two things that
are going to happen in parallel: the paperwork for the budget, but we also have
to notify the applicants, and that deadline is August 31st. So what we'd like to
do is set the funding and put in the various line items that go into the budget—and
yes, I will acknowledge that we are at the 1 Ph hour here—which would give them
time to then notify the applicants by the August 31" deadline. Thank you.
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo, Chair. Just a quick question
regarding 633.7, and it would be over in the 633.8, as well, but the Lokahi
Treatment Centers and Hawaii Island Home for Recovery, they're all listed as
TBD, to be determined. What does that mean, besides the obvious?
CHR. LEE LOY: Yeah, that's definitely up for discussion. I'm going to be
checking in with staff real quick on those. Those were the ones that fell below the
cut-off mark that we had, and basically for us as a body to decide the exact
amount for those programs.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So the total on the bottom then, for
633.7 on page one, or Exhibit B, right now does not include funding Lokahi
Treatment Centers, Hawaii Island Home for Recovery, those two programs
sorry, those two organizations with about seven different programs?
CHR. LEE LOY: That's correct.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: And this body would need then to choose
whether or not to fund them for the additional $140,000—about$240,000,
correct? Can you give us some direction on why they were not funded and what
brought them below the minimum?
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CHR. LEE LOY: Yeah, I'm going to speak from the ad hoc. It really was the
scores. We, as a body, had scored everybody. I know personally, for me, with
Lokahi Recovery, I had scored them a little higher and just because of the great
work that they do as it relates to drug and drug addiction; but as we averaged out
the scores, they ended up falling below that rate—that cut-off mark. Anyone else
from the ad hoc? Ms. Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: Yeah,just to describe the scoring. What is your program going
to accomplish? What are the measurements, the targets, that you're going to hit?
What is the budget? We each individually scored all of the different programs
ourselves, and then we combined those scores and averaged them. Without the
book in front of me, I couldn't give you like this is what they said, that didn't kind
of line up. But that,just generally, we scored based on this, then we picked the
threshold, which was like 60 percent, and that's what happened with a couple of
that, the threshold.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. On behalf of an organization, that I
know does a lot for Pahoa which is directly in my district, I would really speak on
behalf of Lokahi. And especially given what you will see when you drive around
Pahoa town, there are a lot of folks who need help. There's a big need in the
community, and they deal directly with those folks. I would push for them to get
funded. I guess that's short and sweet as I can put it. Okay, I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. And all is not lost. Just
because they serve the homeless population and they're not getting funding from
us, they can directly contract with Housing also because that was what the money
was for; and that was the intentionality, is not only Housing using those funds, but
being able to contract services that touch the homeless population. Mr. Inaba, I
see your light on.
MR. INABA: Sure. Yeah, there's been a lot of questions and a lot of answers,
and I'm still a little bit confused. So is the recommendation Exhibit A, as
contained in 633.8.? Because 633.8, is just the correction of 633.7, is that right?
CHR. LEE LOY: Correct. And if want to move that in for conversation, let's go
ahead and do that. And I would need a motion?
MR. INABA: Okay. Do we just a regular, Mr. Clerk, motion to close file?
MR. BROWN: I think you guys could make a motion. Well, one option
would be to make a motion to amend Communication 633.7 with the contents of
Communication 633.8, which would bring it on the floor. You guys can then
openly discuss that communication.
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MR. INABA: This 663.8, however, is not done in the way of an amendment,
right, it's almost the replacement. So is that still how we would proceed?
MR. BROWN: If you guys didn't want to replace 633.7 with the contents of
633.8, I think we could
MR. INABA: Or do we just withdraw the current motion and then ?
MR. BROWN: Because we need a motion to bring it to the floor. You know
what, I'm going to—do you mind if we take a quick recess, Chair? I'm going to
consult with our County Clerk and our Corporation Counsel to see if we can make
sure that we're doing this cleanly and correctly.
MR. HENRICKS: Hello, I'm sitting here. We don't need to take a recess, if
that's all right.
MR. BROWN: Mr. Henricks, please.
(Note: At this time, County Clerk Jon Henricks came forward to address
the members of the Committee.)
MR. HENRICKS: You can—it's difficult because 633.8 is not on the agenda;
633.7 is. And Mr. Inaba is correct, it's not a traditional amendment. It would be
replacing its contents. But you could use a motion to amend to, in essence, bring
it to the floor and discuss it effectuate, if you will, so that it could be used to
provide a recommendation for the purposes of providing the guidance we've been
talking about to create the amendment.
The good news is you know, if there is kind of a notice issue here. Yeah,
because we don't have 633.8 on the agenda. We have 633.7, which spelled out
the number. So there is a little bit of a notice issue there if it's done that way. But
that can be reconciled by the fact that whatever is decided, hopefully, today but if
not today, you know, sometime in the future, it will come back to the Council in
the form of that budget amendment that Ms. Nakagawa and Mr. Schrey were
talking about. So there will be time for—it's not final today. It comes back as a
budget amendment, which of course, public meetings, testimony, and more
deliberation by the Council. At least two times at Council.
I think the cleanest thing to do, although not traditional and maybe not ideal
practices, would be to move to amend Communication 633.7 by replacing it with
Communication 633.8.
MR. INABA: All right. Thank you, Jon. So with that, I'll make a motion to
amend the contents of Communication 633.7 with the contents of Communication
633.8. Sorry, that wording is strange.
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Motion to Amend: Mr. Inaba moved to amend Comm. 633.7 with the
contents of Comm. 633.8. Seconded by Ms. David.
CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: Thank you. All right, so being that these—let me ask the question,
633.8 is a correction of 633.7, is that correct?
CHR. LEE LOY: That's absolutely correct. And maybe for clarification
purposes, Mr. Clerk, and maybe even Ms. Strance, maybe clarify the motion that
we're amending Communication 633.7 with the exhibits contained in
Communication 633.8. Because that's what's being corrected, is Exhibit A and
Exhibit B.
MR. HENRICKS: This is Mr. Henricks, in Hilo. I think that's a good
clarification and specification, that the exhibits are being replaced with adjusted
information.
MR. INABA: Do I need to withdraw the current motion then?
MR. HENRICKS: I think the Chair—without any objections from the rest of the
committee, the Chair just revise the motion on the floor, corrected it, or whatever
the case. Clarified, I should say. Clarified the motion successfully.
MR. INABA: Okay, thank you. So proceeding then, with Exhibit A, what is the
difference here? Because I'm looking at the total, Yeah, what is the difference
between these two Exhibit A's? Is it just that one has a total and one doesn't?
CHR. LEE LOY: That was helpful for Finance. We did the total for Finance, to
make it nice and clean.
MR. INABA: Okay, no. Let's try again. $875,000 is the total in both
Exhibit A's, so is there any difference between Exhibit A in the two
communications?
CHR. LEE LOY: No.
MR. INABA: So Exhibit A remains the same, correct?
CHR. LEE LOY: A?
MR. INABA: A is the same.
CHR. LEE LOY: Correct.
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MR. INABA: So we're not doing both. Just B, is that right?
CHR. LEE LOY: Correct.
MR. INABA: Okay. And the only difference between the two B's is $20,000,
and that is—where is that difference? What has caused that difference?
CHR. LEE LOY: The Hawaii Island Home for Recovery, between the TBDs
(To Be Determined). Did I do that right?
MR. INABA: Is it—okay, so the sum the total was just incorrect.
CHR. LEE LOY: Correct.
MR. INABA: But the line items were the same. So just the total is the only
difference we're talking about here, is that right?
CHR. LEE LOY: Yes, that is correct.
MR. INABA: Okay. With that then, I see that Lokahi—and this is where
perhaps—okay, I think we're on the same page right now. The Lokahi Treatment
Centers are listed on both pages, both in Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Exhibit A, it's
an award; and Exhibit B, it's to be determined. So can you please clarify what's
going on between these two pages, Exhibit A versus Exhibit B?
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you for that. Because Lokahi treats homeless, we
provided them funding through the $875 (thousand), but they could actually shift
over; and if that is the recommendation of the body, then we can cover them
there, and everybody is covered.
MR. INABA: But if you were to go
CHR. LEE LOY: Either way they're going to be covered. We just have to make
that distinction, if want them to access the funds on that side.
MR. INABA: Okay. But we did account for them in the $875 (thousand)?
CHR. LEE LOY: That's correct, Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: Okay. Well with that, I would prefer to have it left as part of the
$875 (thousand) because it's just cleaner. And if we covered everybody with the
$875 (thousand) budget amendment, then I think we should leave it where it is in
Exhibit A, instead of separating it out. So that's—I would then agree with the
recommendation in Exhibit A, in Communication 633.8. Thank you.
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CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Thank you for helping everybody walk
through all of that. Ms. Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Yeah. You know, thank you guys for going through this whole
process and for all the efforts that have been made to make it more objective by
utilizing a numerical system of grading. I have a lot of concerns and some
heartache about this process and how you know, I think that they'reI think the
key component to this whole process is partlya big part of it is the interviews,
and it is meeting with the people who are doing the work. And the expectation
that they would be excellent grant writers, I don't think is necessarily fair, nor
have I seen in my experience that that's actually a capacity. It's a very challenged
capacity for a lot of our nonprofit groups. I mean, we as a County don't even
have professional grant writers to help us secure some of the funding so
necessary.
There just seems to have been a number of glitches regardless of the intention to
expedite this. As I said before, I just I want everybody to get funded. I want
everybody to have all the money that they need in order to be successful in all the
projects that they yeah, the priceless work that they do serving our community.
But I have questions about making promises to organizations that they will get
full funding on a project. You know, if we were held to a strict budget, we would
fail at this. This is way beyond, and I think part of that challenge came in the
commitment of fully funding projects. So I would just ask that as we move into
the next budget cycle, we reconsider that. It just doesn't—it gives me a little bit
of heartburn that we've created this opportunity for funding for homeless projects,
and now here we are dipping into it to compensate for making up for some
shortfalls and some over-promising in this grant-in-aid process.
So I think in the best interest of all of these organizations, I want to see
them funded, and I want everybody moving forward to be able to benefit
from the expanded budget resources we have, but I do have concerns. And as
Corp. Counsel, Ms. Strance, has pointed out, well it may not create precedence
legally, it creates a slippery slope.
Once again, in times of bounty, it's wonderful. But I just get worried for those
that then have to or get to sit on this grant-in-aid ad hoc in the future. And they
won't be able to provide this much abundance, as there are lean times. That
would be harder on them. So I am willing to support this, but I just needed to
share the parts of this that don't—give me a bit of heartburn, and have me calling
and questioning on the wisdom of making these kinds of promises as we move
forward. So with that, I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks, Ms. Villegas. Mr. Richards.
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MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. I actually take a different tact on this. First
of all, I want to commend the ad hoc committee for working on this and bringing
it forward, and looking at it from a very different perspective. Having been
involved with grant-in-aid for numerous years and looking at funding, it's
difficult when the needs are so high and resources are limited. And there is an
opportunity now to actually get some funding because of the things we don't need
to reiterate. One of the problems that we struggled with in previous GIA was
trying to make sure we got the funding and the additive effect of having synergy
between the groups. That's something that this ad hoc has worked on going
forward.
Also, and with all due respect, Ms. Villegas, having professional grant writers, I
don't think this thing is set up for that. A better grant writer, sure, will
communicate better, but that's what this is all about That's why I like the idea of
trying to fund and dipping a little bit deeper if things qualify, so that's recognizing
that the challenges are coming forward. I don't think we're setting precedence at
all. I think we are capitalizing on some things that we can do. And I like the
groups, I mean these are recurrent names that really help out the community going
forward.
So I see that as a big bonus coming forward for our community as a whole. So, I
fully support this going forward. And I'm really excited to look at the next cycle,
when the information and the templates that have been set up, we're starting to
get that information back and seeing that cross-pollination, that synergy coming
forward. So I think that's where the magic in this is going to be coming. So, I
fully support this going forward. Thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks, Mr. Richards. Ms. Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: Yeah, thank you. I wanted to just comment about something
that Council Member Villegas said, and this was particularly around the full
versus partial funding. You know, I want to actually put it out to the rest of the
group that we're not in the ad hoc. The logic behind that was that if we ask
nonprofits to say exactly what they needed, and we gave them exactly what they
needed, they wouldn't have to reinvent the budget. That was kind of the logic;
understanding that that's a different process. And it is not abnormal for grant
programs to say, "We've had more applicants than expected, so we're only going
to do partials," and things like that.
I think there was—having been previously a board member of some of the
nonprofits that applied for GIAs, it was the understanding you ask for $10,000
knowing you would get$5,000, you know. That was just kind of the thing. So
I'd like to put it out to the other members of the body that are not on the ad hoc, is
that a good assumption? Should weI mean, I like it because it's nice and clean;
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you ask for this, you get this, you don't have to redo your budget. That was just
kind of the thought process behind it. And this is more geared towards—for the
next time. So, that's question one.
Question two, or idea two. The whole analysis process, the rating process, it does
need work, and I'll acknowledge that. I think having Dr. Holeka Inaba, who is
I'm sure very experienced with rubrics, and scoring, and all of that stuff from his
educational training I think is really going to help improve that even more. I
understand the concern about being completely analytic. You know, I think
there's an ongoing need for a continuing discussion as we move forward for the
next one about, how much of this objective element do we bring in. We know
those guys do good work; well, I think we have to ask ourselves, "Well, why
didn't that show in the rubric? Why didn't that show in our measuring system?"
And then how much are we going to let sort of an immeasurable perception guide
the decision-making? For me, the reason to move towards a more analytic
numerical approach is mostly about transparency, and just making it fair that
we're not playing favorites. But in order for it to be successful, it needs to be a
well-defined good system, and I think we're not right there yet. But I'm hopeful
that we have some smart minds and are going to get a little closer with this next
time around. But I think that's an ongoing discussion, and I hope that everyone
will feel comfortable contributing to what we need to do there. Thanks, Chair. I
yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. Anyone else? Just clarifying,
this is our recommendation so that Finance can go ahead and make that
budget amendment; and as the Clerk mentioned, we'll have opportunities.
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, I see your light on. Go ahead.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Kimball, for saying what you said. I do believe that—as I
watched this program,just in my short time here on Council, classically we
don't get everything that we ask for, not we as the County, but the nonprofits,
and so I think they became accustomed to asking for more programs and asking
for more funding, knowing that they'd get a portion of it. So my guess is, that
there is a lot of funding that's going to go to these programs this year, and they
may be hard-pressed to spend it all, given what they thought they would have. It
would be interesting to see on the backend of a comprehensive review of what
was expended and what wasn't,just to see how it sat, and what the reality is of the
ask versus what's used. That's my thoughts on your question one.
Question two. I mean, you guys kind of rewrote the book, and there's always
more than one way to skin a cat. So, this is where we're at this year, I think we
learned a lot going into next year. It can get better. It could be worse. I mean,
who knows? I think there's been a lot of good discussions to date. I think at the
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end of the day everyone got full funding. This is kind of an unprecedented
situation that we sit in right now, in my eyes, as far as my time here. It may not
be the same next year or two years from now, as the economy goes up and down.
So, I would be cautionary in moving forward,just with the same idea, "Oh, we
just fully fund everybody who comes in,"because that may not lay out next year
at all. So, I'm glad we could get everybody covered. Thank you for going back
and reviewing this and getting our nonprofits funded. I think this is—it's huge for
our community right now. I'll be supporting this as it is.
And Mr. Inaba's comment regarding Exhibit A versus Exhibit B, I would have
to you know, I agree with that recommendation, for the funding coming from
the $875,000 versus the homeless funding. I'd really like to see that homeless
funding be utilized for exactly what it was set up to be for, which is not out of line
with Exhibit B. I'd like to see that funding go to something amazing on that end.
So, thank you. I appreciate it. I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: Okay. Yeah, and I just want to state for the record that there is a
lot of work to be done here. I'm going to,just like I said, support this
recommendation even though I have reservations about"having reviewed," and I
think Council Member said this, "Having reviewed some of these applications."
But at this point, we made the amendment to the budget and it makes sense to
follow through. So with that, I yield.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. I know Ms. Nakagawa has some
comments, also.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Thank you. I just wanted to bring up another point of
clarification. In Communication 633.6, the total awarded amount presented,
before a total, $2.565, so $2,565,000. In 633.8, we did add the $875 (thousand) of
the newly awarded programs. This would bring us $65,000 over our budget
amount of$3,375,000.
CHR. LEE LOY: So we have extra?
MS. NAKAGAWA: There is $65,000 over that's programmed than the
appropriation amount in the budget. Unless 633.8 took into account the $65,000
from 633.6, of that program. But if not, then the total awarded in 633.6 was
$2,565,000, then we added $875 (thousand) in 633.8.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks, Diane, for that.
MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome.
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CHR. LEE LOY: I think I'm going to have to take a recess and look at my notes
on that one.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Thank you.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks. I'm going to put this meeting in recess. Real quick,
ten minutes. Thank you.
Recess: At 12:20 p.m., the Chair called for a short recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 12:31 p.m.
CHR. LEE LOY: Taking this Committee on Human Services and Social Services
out of recess. The time now is 12:31 p.m. We have some options here. And
what I'm going to do is make a recommendation that we put this meeting in
recess until the end of our Council meeting tomorrow because we have some
other moving parts. And I think Ms. Nakagawa is there in chambers to help walk
us through. Thank you so much.
MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome. So in talking through the different options
and how to get through this today, you know, the difficulty is we have an item on
the agenda tomorrow that deals with our property tax rates. So until we get
through that, we can't make a commitment on any funding that's over the
appropriation amount today, as we discussed.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thanks for that. So again, my recommendation is we go ahead
and put this meeting in recess till the end of Council tomorrow, we will have
made the business decision on what the rates are, and any future budget
amendment recommendations that this communication drives will be nice and
clean. So please, any Council Member?
MR. BROWN: Before we start a discussion, I just want to make a comment. I
would recommend, you know, for the public sake and proper notice for the public,
that if you guys do decide to recess to tomorrow, set a specific time, so the public
knows. Yeah, that's always recommended.
CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Richards.
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you, Chair. I think as Chair, you can just recess.
We don't need to motion any of this stuff. And I like what Clerk had said, set a
time, and if for some reason we bump up against that, we can—Council Chair, if
we could just adjourn that at Council, so we could report that then go back. So
yeah, I think that's a real good way to handle that because it will keep it real
clean, real clear. So I fully support that, Chair. So, do it.
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CHR. LEE LOY: Any other comments? Mr. Clerk, this meeting, the Committee
on Human Services and Social Services is in recess until tomorrow, June 15'', at
1:00 (p.m.).
MR. BROWN: Yes, Chair. That's up to you.
CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you.
Recess: At 12:42 p.m., the Chair called for a recess until 1:00 p.m. on June 15, 2022,
at the same location.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened on June 15, 2022, at 1:04 p.m., with Ms. Kimball absent,
and Chair Lee Loy participating via videoconference from Hilo.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Aloha, this is Finance Chair
Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. It is 1:04 p.m. I'm moving Human Services and
Social Services Committee out of recess. Mr. Clerk, could you please explain for
everyone watching why that is.
MR. HENRICKS: Yes. Council Rules state that if both the Chair or Vice Chair
are either absent or participating by videoconference or virtually, that the Finance
Chair would act as a Chair until such time a permanent Chair can be picked. So
now you can commence to elect from your membership a temporary Chairperson
because the Vice Chair and Chair aren't able to chair this meeting, pursuant to the
Rules. So then you can ask for nominations, and if there are none, then that
generally means that the duty is left to the Finance Chair.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And does that Chair
then, who is nominated by this committee at this point and time, need to be here
in Kona?
MR. HENRICKS: Yes,just to be in accordance with the Rules, that would be
somebody that is here. So if there is anybody who would like to serve as Chair,
please let the Finance Chair know now so that we can go through the process of
officially selecting a temporary Chairperson.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Before we go there, why are we
doing this?
MR. HENRICKS: This is the Council Rules, Council Rule 5(d), that again states
that if the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson and/or are participating virtually
or absent, then there must be somebody else that chairs the meeting; and initially
the Finance Chair is responsible for going through the process of selecting a
temporary Chair, so that's where we are right now. We're in the process of
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selecting a temporary Chair, and if there is no movement along those lines, then
this job is yours.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Appreciate that
background. Did you want—
MR.
antMR. HENRICKS: And that person would be in this chambers at this point if
they're going to chair this meeting, any other than you.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Would anyone like
toI think the intent here is to actually recess this meeting, correct, so we can
resume our Council meeting?
MR. HENRICKS: I don't know what position this committee is in right now.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yeah.
MR. HENRICKS: Only your membership can tell you.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Anyone wants to nominate a Chair in
the Kona Chambers at this point and time?
Nomination of MR. INABA: Chair?
Temporary Chair:
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes?
MR. INABA: I'd like to nominate you. I'm not interested, and I don't think
anyone here in Kona is, so thank you for guiding the meeting.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Duly noted.
MS. VILLEGAS: Chair?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ms. Kierkiewicz?
MS. VILLEGAS: No, it's me.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Oh, Ms. Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: I just wanted to say Chair another seven million times.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you.
MS. VILLEGAS: I'm happy for you to be the Chair for this committee.
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MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you very much.
MS. VILLEGAS: Stay in the seat, but you have the chair.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Don't get a stool or a bench.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, with that—
Appointment
hatAppointment of MR. HENRICKS: Since you are already chairing in the temporary basis and
Temporary Chair: there were no other people that were not nominated, I don't think a vote is
required. I think record can reflect that pursuant to the Council Rules, you are
chairing the meeting of Human Services and Social Services Committee, the
reconvening of the 19'h Session.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo, Mr. Clerk, for stating
that. So with that—
MR.
hatMR. HENRICKS: Let me express where this committee is at. The motion on the
floor right now is to amend Communication 633.7 with the Exhibits A and B that
were transmitted by Communication 633.8. The motion was made by Mr. Inaba
and seconded by Ms. David. That is where we are on the floor right now.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay.
MS. DAVID: Mr. Chair?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Could I make a motion to put this meeting into recess again, so we
could reconvene Council? I'd like to make a request.
MR. HENRICKS: Generally, the rules that we follow are that the Chair has the
authority to call recesses unless there are objections from the rest of the
Committee without a motion that's required.
MS. DAVID: Okay, no motion. I'm just making that suggestion that we put this
into recess again.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I appreciate the suggestion.
That's where I was headed. So thank you, Ms. David, for the suggestion. As the
Chair of the committee, the Standing Chair of the committee at this point, I'd like
to recess the meeting.
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MR. HENRICKS: Can we clarify the duration of the recess. Is it to the
adjournment of the Council meeting or some other point in time? It doesn't have
to be a definite timeframe, but it has to be some kind of event or action that we
can then point back to and say that's when we're going to
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'm going ahead and adjourn
this, the Human Services and Social Services
MR. HENRICKS: Recess.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Recess the Human Services and
Social Services Committee until the adjournment of our Council meeting today, at
which point we can choose to take it back up or recess it to another time.
MR. HENRICKS: So this meeting is in recess?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: This meeting is in recess. Thank
you.
MR. HENRICKS: Thank you.
Recess: At 1:10 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 5:00 p.m.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'm calling the meeting out of
recess. Due to some of the rules of our County Council being changed recently, I
am the "pro tem" Chair in the Kona Council Chambers. With that, Mr. Clerk,
where are we within this committee?
MR. HENRICKS: Okay, so where we are right now, the motion on the floor is to
amend Communication 633.7 with the Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached to 633.8.
The motion was made by Mr. Inaba and seconded by Ms. David, is what I have.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, so we're open to
discussion?
MR. HENRICKS: Yes, and that is the motion that is open for discussion at this
point and time, to amend.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Council Members?
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, Chair.
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ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Go
ahead.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. My apologies, this really has gotten very confusing,
so I hope to level set everyone here—and listening to the conversation yesterday.
So what we have contained in Communication 633.8 is two parts, an Exhibit A
and Exhibit B. And it was clear from yesterday's discussion that Exhibit A is all
the various applicants who qualified but were not awarded. And then in Exhibit
B, we were trying to get really clever, but rather than be clever, what I'd like to
maybe leave open for discussion is to go ahead and amend with Exhibit A. And
what I have contained in Communication 633.9, and I'm hoping the rest of my
colleagues have that one, is a cleaned-up version of Exhibit B.
And I'll just give everybody a few minutes. And again, thisI was trying to
listen to everyone and provide everyone with the most cleanest, consistent
versions of what is being discussed, what monies are available, and what sources
of funding they will come from.
MS. DAVID: I have a question, Chair.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ms. Lee Loy, do you yield?
MS. LEE LOY: Oh, yes.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Ms. David, go
ahead.
MS. DAVID: Yes, thank you, Chair. Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Okay, I'm
looking at both the Exhibit B's. The one that we're talking about,point nine
(Comm. 633.9), which is the shorter version of what we looked at yesterday,
right? So it looks like the applicants that had TBD have been deleted, is that
correct? And now it only contains the ones that had actual numbers to their
okay, so the $260 (thousand)nowI think where we left off, was the original
amounts or recommendations that we were discussing initially on A (Exhibit A),
the first round, was $2,565,000, and I believe Diane asked the question or made
the statement that the $875 (thousand)would still make that$65,000 hanging out
there somewhere. I'm just wondering where is—how did that get incorporated
into this amendment. Are we all balanced now?
CHR. LEE LOY: The short answer is "no," Chair David. However, Diane is
here to help walk us through how these various recommendations fit for the work
that she needs to do, and some allowances that the administration will be
providing for us so that we will balance.
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(Note: At this time, Deputy Finance Director Diane Nakagawa came
forward to address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. LEE LOY: Go ahead, Diane.
MS. DAVID: Thank you, Diane.
MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome. Good afternoon, members of Council.
Diane Nakagawa, Deputy Finance Director. Okay, so as we left off yesterday,
the first communication was $2,565,000. The amendment with the additional
$875 (thousand), we were $65,000 over. So if the Council chooses to pass all of
the recommended awards, we would be $65,000 over. But the administration is
supportive of doing a budget amendment, if the Council so chooses, to award, as
stated in both communications and the amended communication. We'll have to
do a budget amendment.
MS. DAVID: Do I still have the floor?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes, you do, Ms. David.
MS. DAVID: Thank you for that. So you folks, if we approve this today, then
the Finance Department will be coming forward—or the administration will be
coming forward with a budget amendment for $65,000, is that correct?
MS. NAKAGAWA: That is correct.
MS. DAVID: Okay, that funds is coming from the fund is coming from where,
General?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Yes.
MS. DAVID: General Fund, okay. And given this, are we still this morning
Deanna noted that in one of our other discussions, she noted that we would be
okay. Are we still in that range now, as far as being okay, with respect to the
budget when we do all this?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Yes, yes. After our property tax rate discussion, yes, we are
okay.
MS. DAVID: Okay. Well, this has been a confusing exercise and a very
complicated one. I'm just really thankful for the Department of Finance, for their
patience and for trying to weed this out and make everything balance so we can
move forward. And I'm certainly happy that everybody can get funded. I'm just
really disappointed in this long process that it took to get here. Anyway, I will be
supporting this. And thank you, Diane, very much.
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MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome.
MS. DAVID: I yield.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. David.
Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: I hope I can support this too, I just need to make sure I understand
it. Exhibit B—okay, well the motion on the floor right now, Mr. Clerk, if you
can confirm, is to amend Communication 633.7 with the contents of
Communication 633.8, is that right?
MR. HENRICKS: That is correct. If I may? I think I know where you're going.
Would you mind if I ?
MR. INABA: Please, go ahead.
MR. HENRICKS: I think—if I'm understanding, the preference is this Exhibit B
from 633.9, submitted by Ms. Lee Loy—so I believe the appropriate thing to do at
this time would be for you to withdraw your motion that you made to amend with
633.8, and then anyone, or Ms. Lee Loy, yourself, could make a motion to amend
633.7 with Exhibit A from 633.8 and Exhibit B from 633.9. Ms. Lee Loy, does
that sound appropriate to you? May I ask her? If you mind if that's what she had
envisioned?
CHR. LEE LOY: Yes, Clerk. And that's actually rather helpful for Finance, so if
Ms. Nakagawa can confirm that?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Yes, Exhibit B does assist us in programming the $260,000
that we needed for homelessness.
MR. INABA: Okay. Before I withdraw my motion then, I just want to confirm
that when we're comparing Exhibit Bcomparing 633.8 and 633.9 Exhibit B's, I
think Chair David asked this, but the only difference is that we've pulled the "To
Be Determined," and who else, Ms. Lee Loy?
CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Inaba, the To Be Determined is actually covered under the
new Exhibit B, under 633.9.
MR. INABA: The first To Be Determined is Hawaii Island Home for Recovery,
Inc. I don't see them listed in 633.9. I'm just trying to understand the differences
between these two Exhibit B's. It's not clear to me right now because I see
Homeless Task Force as the first one. But we have Going Home Hawaii two
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times; Hawaii Island Home for Recovery three times. One of them has an
amount; two of them are To Be Determined. So, I'm just not clear.
CHR. LEE LOY: Yeah, thank you, Mr. Inaba. And that was what we
attempted or are trying to do with Communication 633.9. So we would use
Communication 633.8 Exhibit A and 633.9 Exhibit B, which would reconcile all
of the programs, their funding, that assists the Finance Department with the
budget amendment required.
MR. INABA: Okay. So then, Ms. Nakagawa, in total we have the
$2.565 (million), plus the $875 (thousand),plus the $260 (thousand), is that right?
MS. NAKAGAWA: No. No, the $260 (thousand)—Exhibit B was a subset of
Exhibit A. What I believe the Council Woman was displaying in Exhibit B were
those programs that would be specifically used in the appropriated funding for
homelessness, which was the $260 (thousand), so it's not an additional amount.
MR. INABA: So we have $2.565 (million)plus $875 (thousand)? What is the
math here? Because I'm trusting, but I trusted before, and look where we are. I
guess I'm going to take your word for it, Ms. Nakagawa, this time that we have
our math right, but I'm hesitant. I just—this is our last chance. And my
apologies, Ms. Nakagawa, this has just been ongoing and I kind of want to
understand it for sure, myself.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Sure. No apologies. It's been a little confusing. So the
original appropriation was for the $2.5 million, right, and then we went ahead and
added the $875 (thousand). I'm just going to do the math, with us together, so we
can get it straight and feel comfortable. So the total appropriation is $3,375,000.
The first communication was at$2,565,500, then we added the $875 (thousand)
and we're at$3,440,000, leaving a $65,000 over the appropriation amount.
Part of the confusion is the $260,000 in the appropriation for homelessness, which
we need to identify separately in the budget, which was the attempt was to call
it out in that Exhibit B, but it's not additional funds.
MR. INABA: So the $260 (thousand) is a part of the $875 (thousand), is that
right?
MS. NAKAGAWA: That is correct.
MR. INABA: Okay. Well with that then, my last attempt. If the $875 (thousand)
covers it all, then shouldn't it be listed as part of the $875 (thousand)? Shouldn't
it be in Exhibit A, and then we could just delineate which ones are specific,
coming from the Homeless Fund?
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MS. NAKAGAWA: And I believe that's what 633.9 is identifying the $260
(thousand) that comes from the Homeless Fund, and those also should be in
Exhibit A, as well.
MR. INABA: And then I think that's where our problem lies, because if—unless
I'm just seeing it wrong. I don't see it in Exhibit A. The $260,000, which is
pointed out for us in Exhibit B should also be included in Exhibit A, is that right,
to total $875,000?
MS. NAKAGAWA: That is my understanding, yes.
MR. INABA: Well, then—Ms. Lee Loy, can you chime in here?
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you.
MR. INABA: Cause I don't see it in Exhibit A.
MS. LEE LOY: I feel like we have to walk back even further. When this body
was discussing the various programs that would be funded, there was a business
decision that we would fund up to the $2.565 (million). And then we walked into
our budget cycle in which a number of budget amendments were forwarded. This
body chose to take $615,000 from Fund Balance and $260,000 from the Homeless
Program to fund everybody; and through that, we failed to capture the remaining
$65,000 from the original award. And so that's what we're truly trying to
reconcile, is that budget amendment captured out$615,000 from Fund Balance
and $260,000 from our Homeless Program.
MR. INABA: Okay. Thank you.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Councilman Inaba, I think I have some clarification for this.
MR. INABA: Okay. Thank you, Ms. Nakagawa.
MS. NAKAGAWA: No problem. Okay, so for Exhibit B, which was submitted
under 633.9, those programs are within the original $2.565 (million), and possibly
the $875 (thousand), I'm still trying to go through it. But where you might not
see it, is if you look at the program names, they were identified, more than likely
previously, in Exhibit A from 633.6. So that might be part of the confusion if
you're looking at 633.8. So the programs described are in 633.6, Exhibit A.
MR. INABA: Okay. Well, that's problematic because we're on 633.7 now. Like
you said though, the $260,000 is supposed to be—what's listed in Exhibit B is
part of the $875,000 total, right?
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MS. NAKAGAWA: It is part of all of the programs that were awarded with
$2.565 (million), and I'm still going through it with the $65 (thousand)—$875
(thousand), excuse me.
MR. INABA: Okay. Until we can get this straightened out, I don't think I have
any further questions right now. I just don't I want to make sure, because my
understanding is we had $2.565 (million); the Council approved that first
recommendation. Now, we have a second recommendation. We have 633.7, that
we're trying to amend via 633.8, and I'm thinking it's just supposed to be
$875,000. But if we are putting in an additional recommendation, to me that
looks like we're going $875,000 plus Exhibit B, which is $260,000, because they
are not listed within Exhibit B. It's not listed in Exhibit A. Mr. Clerk, if you have
a better way of explaining this, please chime in. I know you have a lot of
expertise in this area.
MR. HENRICKS: I do not.
MR. INABA: Well, with that then, Diane, if you are continuing to work out the
math but to me, what's listed in Exhibit B should be included in Exhibit A. And
then we just have—Exhibit B is not an additional recommendation, it's just a
delineation of which organizations are receiving from the Homeless Fund.
So, I'm going to yield right now. But I'm thinking that's what needs to happen so
that this is really clear.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Anyone in
Hilo?
MS. VILLEGAS: Chair?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ms. Villegas, go ahead.
MS. VILLEGAS: Wow, we've gone around, and around, and around, and
around, and where I'm landing at is the system wasn't broken, and it got
changed a lot; and now I feelI mean, I said from the beginning, I was
uncomfortable with us transitioning from a $2.5 million plan and offering to fund
completely. Just somehow the paperwork has been presented and the way the
spreadsheets aren't accurate, and their numbers and things aren't included
together in a way that is succinctly understandable, it's just really concerning for
me. The goal is to fund these organizations and support the groups in our
community who are participating in this process. But I have serious concerns
about the way that it's been handled and just the lack of accuracy, and the
confusion, and the need to then pull from different funds. It's just—like I said, in
another hearing, it's a little too close to just covering `6kole. And thankfully we
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have resources available this year. But this is kind of—this feels like it's getting
out of hand.
So I hope for some precise spreadsheets with more columns, as necessary, so that
all the information we need to be looking at is decipherable and discernible and
can be recognized as accurate. So, long day. My apologies, headache and some
frustration. But this has been wow. This has been wow. I yield.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. Villegas.
Further discussion? Okay, hearing none. I have one question,just to make sure
we are following on the same lines. Communication 633.9 Exhibit B is replacing,
from what I'm understanding, 633.8 Exhibit B. Is that correct?
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you.
MS. LEE LOY: And I'm being very open to all of the criticism and listening to
what this body is asking for. And there was a desire to see which programs were
being covered by the Homeless Program, what was overI keep using different
terms—what was required to cover all the programs that were eligible but we did
not have enough funding for. And I continue to remain resolute, to demonstrate
to this body how they want to see the information, which is also being done in
conjunction with the Finance Department so that they can come forward with the
appropriate budget amendment.
Our total eligible requests was $3.44 million. And Diane can confirm this,
between the additional funds, the amendment to the budget, and funds that are
available through our Homeless Program, we have everyone covered up to $3.44
million.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. I'm
just going back to my original question. So 633.9 Exhibit B replaces at this point
633.8, correct?
MS. LEE LOY: That's correct. Because it helps the Finance Department during
the budget amendment process to provide that line item from that specific
program, from the Homeless Program.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, thank you. The reason
I'm asking, on 633.8 Exhibit BI'm just going through it by the programs. I
trust that the math is being done by our Finance Department; that your office has
done good work. What I'm not seeing anywhere though, on either Exhibit A in
633.8 or in Exhibit B, 633.9, is Going Home Hawaii, and they were on—and I
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know there's a lot of numbers, but they were originally on 633.8 Exhibit B, but
they are no longer, and they're not in 633.8 Exhibit A either.
MS. LEE LOY: But they were contained in the original decision for us, under
663.6, which took us to the $2.565 (million). So they were covered based on our
recommendation. We're just trying to adjust and award, for everyone who
applied to this program.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I'm just making sure that
the programs that were here in front us continue to be awarded.
MS. LEE LOY: Yeah.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ms. Nakagawa, do you concur
what's being said by Ms. Lee Loy?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Yeah. So to summarize, correct me if I'm wrong, the
awards recommended in Exhibit A on 633.6 and the awards recommended in
Exhibit A in 633.8, total the $3.44 million. The Exhibit B, in the last
communication, is a subset of those, and I verify that those programs on that, the
latest communication is contained within 633.6, the original recommendation. It
may be, you know, may be mislabeled or it could be labeled better, but it is really
just identifying those programs that the committee felt could be identified under
the $260,000 appropriation for homelessness. So that is not an additional
$260,000. Those programs are listed in the original $2.565 (million) award
recommendation.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then at this point,
just to make sure we're still on track, our original recommendation has been
amended, correct? No? Maybe that's why I'm confused. What I'm looking at is
633.8 and 9 are our recommendations going forward, along with our original?
MS. LEE LOY: Yes. Yes, that is exactly it.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Okay,just circle back one
more time then. Going Home Hawaii, removed off of 633.8 Exhibit B, and they
were awarded funding in 633.6?
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, they were.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, then I'm good. That's all
of my questions. Thank you. I'm sorry, Ms. Nakagawa, you concur with that?
MS. NAKAGAWA: Just looking through 633.6.
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ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: It would have been Going Home
Hawaii for Hawaii Island Going Consortium, requested for $40,000 and
awarded $40,000, and then Going Home Hawaii Re-entry and Recovering
Housing for $50,000.
MS. NAKAGAWA: Okay, so I can confirm Going Home Hawaii –Re-Entry
and Recovery for $50,000, and Going Home Hawaii–Hawaii Island Going
Home Consortium for $40,000 is within 633.6.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Correct. Beautiful. Thank you,
Ms. Nakagawa. I yield.
MS. NAKAGAWA: You're welcome.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo, Ms. Lee Loy, for the
information. Thank you. Council Members, further discussion? Before I take
Mr. Inaba, Ms. Kierkiewicz, you have anything? Okay, Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: All right. So before we again move forward with the withdrawing
of the motion, what we really care about here is Exhibit A. Is that correct,
Ms. Nakagawa, because that's the additional $875,000? Exhibit B is just a notice,
so we know which—or those ones are going to come from the Homeless Fund,
but we really care about Exhibit A?
MS. NAKAGAWA: That is correct, Councilman.
MR. INABA: Okay, so with that, then I'm going to withdraw the current
motion, which was to amend Communication 633.7 with the contents of
Communication 633.8. And then I'm going to make a motion—Ms. Lee Loy,
please make sure I'm doing this right—to accept the additional recommendation
contained in Exhibit A of Communication 633.8.
Withdraw Motion Mr. Inaba withdrew his motion to amend Comm. 633.7
to Amend: with the contents of Comm. 633.8.
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, please. And I'll have Ms. Nakagawa confirm that that's the
information that they will need to prepare the budget amendment that would be
advanced by the administration back to this body.
MS. NAKAGAWA: That is correct.
MR. HENRICKS: What we hadsorry, this is the Clerk. What the committee
had done was use 633.7 as its baseline vehicle even though it wasn't really—it
had been immediately determined it needed to be corrected. You could just go
straight to saying, you know, using .8 and .9, but you could also mimic what was
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done the first time, which be, to amend 633.7 with Exhibit A from 633.8, and
Exhibit B from 633.9. That would put the two exhibits that have been "corrected"
or updated at front and center, and still use 633.7 as your foundation. Because
that's what on the agenda, yeah, that created this meeting.
MR. INABA: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All right. So with that then, here we go.
We're going to amend 633.7 Exhibit A with the contents of 633.8 Exhibit A, and
then in addition, also amend 633.7 Exhibit B with the contents of 633.9 Exhibit B.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Inaba.
Vote on Motion Mr. Inaba moved to amend Comm. 633.7 by replacing
to Amend: Exhibit A with the Exhibit A of Comm. 633.8, and by
(Approved) replacing Exhibit B with Exhibit B of Comm. 633.9.
Seconded Ms. David and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members David, Inaba,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy —7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung and Kimball —2.
Excused: None.
MR. HENRICKS: So now the motion, to be clear for Finance to proceed, would
be to approve the recommendations in 633.7, as amended. Because now you have
this basically new foundation that has been modified with 633.8 and 633.9, and
that's what you've accomplished. In order to push it forward, you would need to
approve the recommendations in 633.7, as amended, and that would be in fresh
motion.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: May I have motion please,
Council Members?
Motion to Accept Mr. Inaba moved to accept the recommendations in
Recommendations: Comm. 633.7, as amended. Seconded by Ms. David.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Council Members, discussion?
MR. INABA: Just real quick.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mr. Inaba, go ahead.
MR. INABA: Yeah,just real quick. For the record to be clear, are we okay with
the wording of Exhibit B? As it states, it's an additional recommendation
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beyond because these are contained in the original 633.6. So is it okay to say
"an additional?" So technically, this is in addition to what was already approved
by the Council in 633.6? I'm not sure who is going to answer this one. I mean, I
know what the point is here, but it's saying an additional recommendation. So do
we just need to make, and on the floor, amend ?
MR. HENRICKS: This is the Clerk. I understand what you're saying, but I
think it's okay. I think that that language with the subject heading, which is
mirroring the previous memos. But if I'm not mistaken, I think there's a fairly
clear understanding. Fairly clear between—especially the Finance Department
and Deputy Director Nakagawa, as far as what budget amendment would come
forward; which again, would be another opportunity to look at all of these
matters. If you approve this motion, what you're providing is direction but not a
final decision, actually. The final decision will come, you know, with two
readings before the Council to amend the budget, as been provided to the Mayor.
So I think if the language of the memo isI don't think it would—in other words,
if Finance were to generate something that would create the situation, that you're
saying it could be erroneous by being an additional $260 (thousand), that could be
addressed when the bill came forward to the Council, as well, at that point and
time. It could be amended, if there was a misunderstanding, if you would.
MR. INABA: Corporation Counsel, please?
(Note: At this time, Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance came forward
to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. STRANCE: I think if you wanted to—if you are worried about that
language, you can phrase the motion with the awards contained in the exhibit so
that it's clear that you're not adopting any other language. But I agree with Jon,
as well. It's clear that you folks are looking at the awards.
MR. INABA: Okay. Thank you, Corporation Counsel. With that, I'll go with
the Clerk's advice, knowing that we're not going to double the award for an
additional $260,000, for those contained in Exhibit B. Thank you.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo, Mr. Inaba. So we have
the motion on the floor. Seeing no further discussion.
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, Chair, if I may?
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes, go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. You know, as I mentioned earlier, I've listened
very carefully to the criticism and understand very clearly what we're trying to
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achieve as a body, which is provide funding for all of our nonprofits. And I do
appreciate what Mr. Inaba is saying, because words do matter. They matter in
policy-making. I will get better. We have a clear understanding with the
Department of Finance. And as the Clerk mentioned, we'll be able to really take
this matter up when it comes to us through Finance and two readings of the
Council. But I do ask for my colleagues' support. Thank you.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy.
Anyone else? Seeing none, all in favor?
Vote on Motion The motion to accept the recommendations in Comm. 633.7
to Accept in Comm. 633.7, as amended, was carried by the following
Recommendations: voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Committee Members David, Inaba,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy —7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung and Kimball —2.
Excused: None.
Vote on Motion The motion to close file on Comm. 633.7 and all
to Close File: communications was carried by the following
Filed voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members David, Inaba,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy —7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung and Kimball —2.
Excused: None.
MR. HENRICKS: And now you can ask for an adjournment.
ACTING CHR KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo for the correction.
Appreciate it.
MR. HENRICKS: You got it.
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