HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 094 2023/10/17 2022-2024REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: October 17, 2023
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 10:50 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 522/Res. No. 305-23
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 305-23, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 305-23, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, via Communication No. 522
dated September 29, 2023, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the United States of
America Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 46-7, for a
grant to the Department of Environmental Management.
This resolution allows for the receipt of $1,522,130 in federally -derived funds to design and
implement a city -scale reusable foodware and refillable bottle system in Hilo.
Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada commented in support of this measure. She highlighted that this
project is one of three in the country funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Committee Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy also commented in support and expressed gratitude
towards Acting Recycling Coordinator Craig Kawaguchi for obtaining this grant for the County.
Committee Member Rebecca Villegas thanked Ms. Kagiwada for the brief overview of this
measure and congratulated her on this pilot project.
Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz asked Environmental Management Director
Ramzi Mansour if there is a facility location. Mr. Mansour thanked Zero Waste Hawaii Island
Program Director Jennifer Navarro for all her help in acquiring these funds. Ms. Navarro asked
Ms. Kierkiewicz to restate her question. Ms. Navarro replied that they do not know yet as they are
currently in the community engagement phase and look forward to discussing locations at the
upcoming meeting. Perpetual Executive Director Ellie Moss participated via Zoom to give some
clarity on identifying the location site. Ms. Moss stated that for this particular grant, facility -related
expenses were not eligible, so they were unable to write about the purchase or the leasing of a
facility in this grant. Ms. Kierkiewicz asked Ms. Moss for more details on the nonprofit agency
Perpetual and their involvement in this process. After Ms. Moss' overview, Ms. Kierkiewicz
thanked Ms. Moss for her answers.
Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder commented in support and expressed interest in this
project and how this will work with restaurants as he is a restaurant owner.
FC Report No. 94
FC -94 Page 2 October 17, 2023
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 305-23, and
recommends its adoption.
1kh
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON NNANCE
MATT
CHAIR
FC REPORT NO.: 94
ADOPTED: NOV 0 1 2023
AYES NOES ABS EX
EVANS
X
GALIMBA
X
INABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI°I-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
LEE LOY
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON NNANCE
MATT
CHAIR
FC REPORT NO.: 94
ADOPTED: NOV 0 1 2023