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Home My WebLink AboutREP FC 212 2024/11/07 2022-2024Hawaii County Council-52 November 20, 2024 Res. 693-24: APPROVES THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AND PRIORITIES FOR (Draft 2) INCLUSION IN THE 2025 HAWAI`I STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE Includes proposals relating to the regulation of tobacco products, deferred retirement.for Police, the environment, cesspools, general excise tax, conveyance tax, and housing; and nine policy priorities relating to: (1) increasing funds for emergency preparedness; (2) lowering the cost and expanding the availability of insurance for homeowners and businesses; (3) workforce development; (4) game management of wild ungulates; (5) promoting producer responsibility for solid waste; (6) prioritizing and promoting safe routes to school; (7) increasing food security and access to locally -produced food; (8) improving public safety, expanding and access to mental health resources, and establishing community courts; and (9) preventing and combatting squatters and supporting property owners and communities impacted by squatters. Reference: Comm.1128.2 Intr. by: Ms. Kimball Approve: GOEAC-169 ADOPTED: Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas, and Chair Kimball — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder —1. Excused: None. Res. 694-24: AUTHORIZES THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AWARD FUNDS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROGRAMS ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING Allows for grant awards to Hale Ola O Mohouli LLLP ($3,200,000) and Kuakini Family I LP ($5,000,000) for the development of affordable rental units and $5,075,000 to be retained by the Office of Housing and Community Development for the development of 25 single-family dwellings for workforce housing ($4,200,000) and to provide financial assistance to 17 low-income homeowners to conduct essential repair work ($875,000). Reference: Comm.1129 Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Approve: FC-212 WITHDRAWN Page 4 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: November 7, 2024 Re: Comm. No. 1129/Res. No. 694-24 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 9:01 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 694-24, reports as follows: Resolution No. 694-24, transmitted by Finance Director Diane Nakagawa via Communication No. 1129, dated October 21, 2024, authorizes the Office of Housing and Community Development to award funds to various organizations for programs addressing affordable housing. This resolution allows for grant awards to Hale Ola O Mohouli LLLP ($3,200,000) and Kuakini Family I LP ($5,000,000) for the development of affordable rental units and $5,075,000 to be retained by the Office of Housing and Community Development for the development of 25 single-family dwellings for workforce housing ($4,200,000) and to provide financial assistance to 17 low-income homeowners to conduct essential repair work ($875,000). Housing and Community Development Administrator Susan Kunz, Housing and Community Development Specialist Royce Shiroma, and Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance were present for questions. Ms. Kunz provided background on this resolution. Mr. Shiroma listed the awardees and gave the timeline for this measure. Committee Member Holeka Inaba expressed concern about the vetting process. Ms. Strance confirmed that these awardees had met all the requirements of the Hawaii County Code and believed the department had done its due diligence. Mr. Inaba noted that due to the lack of documentation submitted to the Council, he is unsure if the Council is being asked to approve this resolution based solely on the word of the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), as the department has not provided any evidence to show that these awardees have submitted all the necessary documentation. He asked that the department provide the ranking and rating scale and a financial breakdown of how the funds are being spent at the next hearing. Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder noted his confusion about the resolution and asked if these projects had already been awarded funds. Ms. Kunz stated that funds have been designated for these projects, but no funds have been awarded yet. She added that this resolution was created to notify the Council that they would award these funds. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder noted that some of these projects are set to start in 2026-2027 and asked if this was a multi -year agreement and how they planned to manage it. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder also noted that he would like to see a financial breakdown. FC Report No. 212 FC-212 Page 2 November 7, 2024 Committee Member Heather Kimball and Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada thanked the department for its Residential Repair Program. Ms. Kimball concurred with Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Mr. Inaba the need for more detail on each project and to receive the financial breakdown. Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz told Ms. Kunz that this resolution's title clearly states that this is a resolution to authorize OHCD to enter into a contract and not to notify the Council of its existing agreement. Ms. Kierkiewicz asked Ms. Strance to confirm that this resolution must be passed before OHCD can enter any agreement with the listed nonprofits. Ms. Strance stated that she would need to review the language to confirm, and some investigation would need to happen for her to answer appropriately. Ms. Kierkiewicz reiterated that the resolution's title clearly states it is an authorization and that she does not recall any department being able to proceed without authorization from the Council. Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 694-24, and recommends its adoption. 1kh AYES NOES ABS EX EVANS X GALIMBA X INABA X KAGIWADA X KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X KIMBALL X LEE LOY VILLEGAS X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON FINANCE MA T KANEAL `I-KLEINFELDER, CHA FC REPORT NO.: 212 ADOPTED: