REP FC 032 2023/03/21 2022-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: March 21, 2023 Re: Comm.No. 154/Bill No. 34 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 Bill No. 34, reports as follows: Bill No. 34,transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako,via Communication No. 154 dated March 3, 2023, amends Ordinance No. 22-125,which authorizes the Mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement for a State Water Pollution Control revolving fund loan for Wastewater Public Improvement Projects and authorizes the issuance of$17,000,000 General Obligation Bonds for the purpose of financing qualified wastewater public improvements of the County of Hawai`i. This bill separates the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade project into two phases. Committee Member Heather Kimball asked for Environmental Management Deputy Director Brenda Iokepa-Moses to provide some background on this measure. Ms. Iokepa-Moses expressed the urgency to complete this project and provided a detailed overview. Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada asked Ms. Iokepa-Moses to explain the need to make this into two phases. Ms. Iokepa-Moses stated that because there is no redundancy in the system,the department has to make the project into two phases. Once they get Phase 1 of the project up and running,they will be able to move on to the next phase,which requires the splitting of funds. Ms. Kagiwada asked if there was a full scope of work for Phase 2, to which Environmental Management Project Manager Mark Grant replied that Phase 2 is currently under development and went on to list improvements expected to be addressed during this portion. Ms. Kagiwada asked if neither of these phases addressed the existing aging connections nor the ability to connect to new homes in Hilo and expand its capacity, to which Ms. Iokepa-Moses replied that they may be able to double the capacity; however,they fear doing that with the current infrastructure. However, once they complete the improvements,the department could increase the capacity and connections. Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked about the project's timeline and how long they expected it to take. Ms. Iokepa-Moses replied that they are currently out to bid. However, the construction work is estimated to be about three years. Committee Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy urged her colleagues to prioritize this and asked for their support. FC Report No. 32