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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN HSSSC 2022/08/16 2020-2022 Committee on Human Services and Social Services 22nd Session West Hawaii Civic Center 75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii August 16, 2022 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Human Services and Social Services ORDER: was called to order at 1:30 p.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. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron Chung, Member(via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent& Excused: Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards HI, Member 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.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 187: AMENDS CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 25, SECTION 2-139, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Increases by one month the amount of time the County Council has to review nonprofit grant-in-aid applications and determine appropriations for awards. Reference: Comm. 859 Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy Postponed: July 19, 2022 (Note: There is a motion by Mr. Inaba, seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz, to recommend passage of Bill 187 on first reading.) HSSSC-22 August 16,2022 CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Diving right in, for the rest of my colleagues, and level setting from our last meeting. We got a letter from Finance Department about the timing that this bill would create and used the last two weeks to sit back down with Finance and Judge Strance, and really asked the question, "What are we trying to achieve?" And really, it boiled down to we want the applications to come in, in a more timely, and consistent, and applicable manner. It landed that giving them more time wasn't necessarily going to change the trajectory of the applications. So the business decision between Finance, Judge Strance, and myself was to give the applicants tools so that they could turn in their applications in a timely manner with all the appropriate documentation. And so along that line, Judge Strance and my office will be launching kind of a cafe if you will, with applicants on the different types of information that they need. But more specifically, Judge Strance would focus around the various vernacular, as far as what does an Article of Incorporation look like, who signs the documents, what is needed from DCCA (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) or compliance with your 501(c)(3). And so it is our hope that with that work we do with the applicants, that they'll have a better and deeper understanding of what's needed; and holding the timelines, to hold them accountable to it; and then giving Finance Department applications that they can review and actually are in compliance so there's not so much back and forth. So I have Judge Strance here, you know, to help any of my colleagues answer any questions about what the goals are regarding the nonprofit grant-in-aid. But it will be my intention to withdraw this and keep pushing on getting good work-product from the applicants. So that being said, any questions from my colleagues? Any questions for Judge Strance? Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, and I really want to commend you for working with Corp. Counsel and Finance, because I think your explanation of what was discovered during those conversations is really going to help the nonprofit organizations as well as the department do their job as efficiently as possible. And the fact that you folks are going to actually engage more with the nonprofits in explaining the application process to them I think is just wonderful, and it will really help this whole process, so thank you for that and explaining that process to everyone. Mahalo, I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. David. Anyone else? Ms. Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I just wanted to echo the sentiments of Council Chair David. There isn't always a need to legislate for something. In this situation, you really took a look at how do we make sure our nonprofits are successful in the application process? And so I think you've really put forward a Page 2 HSSSC-22 August 16,2022 solution that is going to be beneficial not to just this application process, but as they apply for other grant opportunities within the County or other levels of government, now we are ensuring that they know exactly what is needed and can ensure that when they submit their application, it's everything that's being asked of them. I think this year was the first year that a lot of folks didn't even make it into the review round for the ad hoc committee, specifically because there was some confusion around what sort of documents are necessary. So thanks for taking the step and putting in the hard work to make sure that we're building up the capacity of nonprofits so they can continue to do their good work. I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Anyone else? That being said, Mr. Clerk, Bill 187 is withdrawn. MR. HENRICKS: So,just to be—Mr. Inaba had made the motion, so it would be helpful for him to withdraw his motion at this time, if he's so inclined. Withdraw Motion Mr. Inaba withdrew his motion to recommend passage to Recommend of Bill 187 on first reading. Passage: CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. MR. HENRICKS: So then the bill is considered to be withdrawn by the Chair? CHR. LEE LOY: That's correct. Withdraw Bill 187: Chair Lee Loy announced the withdrawal of Bill 187. MR. HENRICKS: Very good. Thank you so much. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. That's the end of our agenda. ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 1:37 p.m., Mr. Inaba moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Kimball and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy –8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Richards – 1. Excused: None. Page 3