HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 030 2023/03/21 2022-2024 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: March 21, 2023 Re: Comm.No. 152/Res.No. 75-23
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
TIME: 1:45 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Finance,to which was referred Resolution No. 75-23, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 75-23,transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako, via Communication No. 152
dated March 3, 2023, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawaii,
Department of Human Services.
The Department of Environmental Management seeks to provide financial assistance through the
Low Income Home Water Assistance Program by applying direct credits into eligible participants'
wastewater accounts.
Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder invited Environmental Management Business Manager
Robin Bauman and Environmental Management Deputy Director Brenda Iokepa-Moses to provide
background on this measure.
Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada asked Ms. Bauman about the application process for residents. She
replied that the Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council (HCEOC) is handling this program, so
residents would need to contact them for an application. The HCEOC would then review the request and
work with the Department of Environmental Management to get the account information processed.
Ms. Kagiwada then asked when the program would take effect,to which Ms. Bauman replied that as
soon as the measure passes full council,they do not think it will take very long to implement as they
already have some applicants ready to be approved. Ms. Kagiwada asked if Environmental Management
had some information they could put out to the constituency about this program, to which Ms. Bauman
replied that they could provide something.
Committee Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy commented that this program was related to "low-income
families"and asked if there was a clear definition of"low-income." Ms. Bauman replied that since this
was not their funding,they referred that question directly to the source.
Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked for clarification on the funding stream and the departments
involved. Ms. Bauman explained that the application would go to the HCEOC, funded by the
Department of Human Services. If the applicant were approved,the funds would then get transferred to
the Department of Environmental Management and applied to the applicant's wastewater account.
FC Report No. 30
FC-30 Page 2 March 21,2023
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Ms. Iokepa-Moses if there was an existing agreement regarding
American Rescue Plan funds that the County could use or would the department need to enter into a new
agreement with the Department of Human Services,to which Ms. Iokepa-Moses replied that the
Department of Human Services required this new agreement for this program.
Pursuant to Section 46-7, Hawai`i Revised Statutes,the Mayor of the County of Hawai`i is authorized to
execute, on behalf of the County,this and all future agreements and related documents with the State of
Hawai`i Department of Human Services as indicated above.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 75-23, and
recommends its adoption.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
EVANS X
GALIMBA X COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
INABA X
KAGIWADA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ x MATT KANEW EINFELDER,
KIMBALL X CHAIR
LEE LOY X FC REPORT NO.: 30
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: APR. ,0 5 2023