HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 102 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. 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
FC -102 Page 2 October 17, 2023
Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba asked Ms. Sako for details on the Uluwini Wastewater
Treatment plant. Mr. Inaba wondered whether this project would be converting this plant to the
new wastewater lines. Ms. Sako stated that she was unsure but explained that the Uluwini facility
is currently out of compliance. They need to get the second wastewater train back in and would
be working on returning this facility to operational order again and in compliance with all the
regulations regarding wastewater.
Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz asked Ms. Sako if she could explain how these bonds
affect the County and its debt load, to which Ms. Sako provided a detailed overview of the
County's budget and its operational cost and how the department has planned for this financial
obligation.
Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder commented that he liked the list of projects in this
ordinance but was unhappy that there weren't many projects in Council District 5. He asked
Ms. Sako if there was a need in this district if the department would be able to add to it, or if this
list was set in stone. Ms. Sako replied that the list provided is what the department is planning
for. They have designed to do projects island -wide but are currently working on funding the
projects listed. They hope that over time they are able to support all projects islandwide.
Ms. Kierkiewicz asked Ms. Sako to confirm that the housing projects listed are all County
projects, and Ms. Sako confirmed. Ms. Kierkiewicz wanted to clarify that previously approved
funds by the Council for affordable housing and homelessness were to support projects for
non -profits and private entities, to which Ms. Sako agreed.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 94, and recommends
its passage on first reading.
lkb
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON
MATT KANE
CHAIR
FC
FC REPORT NO.: 102
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
MATT KANE
CHAIR
FC
FC REPORT NO.: 102
ADOPTED: NOV 0 1 2023