HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 032 2023/03/21 2022-2024 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
FC-32 Page 2 March 21,2023
Committee Member Rebecca Villegas concurred with Ms. Lee Loy and expressed her concerns about
the existing problems with the current wastewater facility.
Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder wanted to clarify with the department that nothing that they
are doing in this process will force the County to go into an Environmental Assessment(EA) or a new
revised EA for this project,to which Mr. Grant replied that for Phase 1 portion,the consultant
determined that the work was within the perimeters of the EA, so it qualifies for the EA exemption.
However, for the Phase 2 portion,they will pursue an EA and target a June 2023 submittal for the EA.
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder thanked Ms. Iokepa-Moses and Mr. Grant for being present to answer
questions
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 34, and recommends its
passage on first reading.
lk
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
EVANS X
GALIMBA x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
INABA X
KAGIWADA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X MATT KANE.; EINFELDER,
KIMBALL X CHAIR
LEE LOY X FC REPORT NO.: 32
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: APR 0 5 2023
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