REP FC 102 2023/10/17 2022-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT 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. 537/Bill No. 94 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 94, reports as follows: Bill No. 94, transmitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication No. 537 dated September 29, 2023, authorizes the issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the County of Hawaii for the purpose of funding all or a portion of the costs of various improvement projects; fixing the form, denominations, and certain other details of such bonds and providing 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 $187 million in General Obligation Bonds to fund certain Capital Improvement Projects including: Construction of Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant and other facilities; Parks and Recreation Projects; Office of Housing and Community Development Projects; Public Works Repairs and Maintenance; and Public Works Engineering Drainage, Bridges, and Miscellaneous Road Projects. Committee Member Heather Kimball wanted to thank Finance Director Deanna Sako and Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina for including the Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp in this bond and ordinance. She expressed that the community has waited a long time for this and that this project is vital to the community in this district. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas was grateful to the departments for including the Kealakehe Regional Park Phase 1. Ms. Villegas asked Ms. Sako if she could provide an update on the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment facility. Ms. Sako confirmed that the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Parks and Recreation have been discussing this matter and have made it a top priority. Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked Ms. Sako for an overview of the various bond amounts requested for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment facility and why different amounts of money were being allocated for this facility. Ms. Sako confirmed that this was the third bond ordinance, and these funds are not just for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment facility. The funds are being collected for the top seven priority projects. Environmental Management Deputy Director Brenda Iokepa-Moses confirmed that Ms. Sako was correct in her assessment of the funds. Ms. Galimba asked if those priority projects would include the Na`alehu and Pahala Wastewater Treatment facilities. Ms. Sako confirmed that those projects were indeed on the list. FC Report No. 102