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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: April 16, 2024 Re: Comm. No. 797/Res. No. 471-24 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:30 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 471-24, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 471-24, transmitted by Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, via Communication <br />No. 797 dated March 28, 2024, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Hawaii <br />Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes 46-7, for a grant <br />to the Hawaii Fire Department. <br />This resolution allows for the receipt of $33,200 to fund the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program -Post <br />Mana Road Fire program to reduce the risk of wildfires. <br />Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Assistant Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka, who was <br />available in the Hilo Council Chambers, to provide background on this measure. Mr. Kancali`i- <br />Kleinfelder asked if this would start this fiscal year, and Mr. Okinaka confirmed that the first phase <br />would start this fiscal year. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball asked what the second phase may cost in total. Mr. Okinaka stated <br />that it would be about $500,000. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked if this project would only focus on the North Hawaii area <br />or if it is island -wide. Mr. Okinaka stated that it would be focused on that area because it is a grant <br />program for the post-Mana Road wildfires. <br />Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Finance Director Diane Nakagawa if the Finance Department would be <br />able to reflect any matching funds in the resolution in the future, as our current process is to have <br />multiple resolutions to authorize funds and any fund matches. Ms. Nakagawa stated that she understood <br />his request but was unsure if that would be an appropriate practice, but she would look at trying to do <br />that in the future. <br />Acting Committee Chair Cindy Evans asked if the Fire Department would do all the work and all the <br />expenditures. Mr. Okinaka stated that the property owner or the contractors would do the work, not the <br />Fire Department. Chair Evans asked if she could see the projects, stating that we learn from community <br />projects like this, to which Mr. Okinaka replied definitely. <br />FC Report No. 154 <br />