HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 022 2023/02/07 2022-2024 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: February 7, 2023 Re: Comm.No. 83/Bill No. 21
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 9:01 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Finance,to which was referred Bill No. 21,reports as follows:
Bill No. 21,transmitted by the Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, via Communication No. 83 dated
January 20, 2023, authorizes the issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the County of Hawai`i for
the purpose of funding all or a portion of the costs of various improvement projects; fixes the form,
denominations, and certain other details of such bonds and provides for their sale to the public; and
authorizes the taking of other actions relating to the issuance and sale of the bonds.
This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $127,500,000 in General Obligation Bonds to fund certain
Capital Improvement Projects including: Construction of Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant and other
facilities; Public Works Repairs and Maintenance (Aupuni Center Roof and Emergency
Communication Center); Parks and Recreation Repairs and Maintenance (ADA Compliance and
Papa'aloa State Match); Sewer Pipe Replacement(Kilauea/Keawe Street); and Animal Control
infrastructure.
Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Ms. Sako to provide a brief overview of the
measure.
Committee Member Michelle Galimba commented that the south side of the island never seems to be a
part of the equation and that area sometimes has the greatest need. Ms. Galimba then asked Ms. Sako if
it was too late to include that area. Ms. Sako replied that the area has come up in the discussion, and
these funds should be flexible enough to discuss the possibility of assisting with some improvement
projects.
Committee Member Cindy Evans asked Ms. Sako if the County website would provide the financial
breakdown for the public to access and see how these funds are to be spent,to which Ms. Sako replied
that the department currently does not have this information available online, but may be able to put it
up after the new system is installed.
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Ms. Sako about the possibility of having other wastewater treatment
facilities. Ms. Sako replied that only the Hilo Wastewater treatment plant currently exists, and should the
County receive additional funds or acquire low bids, it would give them the flexibility to complete other
projects.
FC Report No. 22
FC-22 Page 2 February 7,2023
Public Works Director Stephen Pause appeared before Your Committee to explain the change order
of$1.25 million. He stated the original design of the Call Center had mechanical redundancy for
50 percent. Decisions were made to include all of the County's computer equipment in the Emergency
Communication facility, so as a result, under the recommendation of the Department of Information and
Technology and others, it's in the best interest to increase the amount of redundancy to 100 percent, so
that if the main system is lost,the computers and servers won't be overheated.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 21, and recommends its
passage on first reading.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
EVANS X
GALIMBA x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
INABA X
KAGIWADA X �.
KANEALI`I-KLEINF ELDE R X
KIERKIEWICZ X MATT KANEALI`I FELDER,
KIMBALL X CHAIR
LEE LOY X FC REPORT NO.: 22
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: EEB 2 2 2023