REP GOEAC 012 2025-01-07 2024-2026

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• '1' i 1 1 DATE: January 7, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 71/Res. No. 49-25 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 9:01 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution No. 49-25, reports as follows: Resolution No. 49-25, transmitted by Director of Finance Diane Nakagawa via Communication No. 71, dated December 18, 2024, authorizes the continued employment of Schlack Ito, a limited liability law company, as Special Counsel to continue to represent the County of Hawaii in Hui Malama Honok6hau versus County of Hawaii, Civil No. 1:23-CV-00393. Resolution No. 49-25 extends the retention of Special Counsel Services with additional compensation of $300,000 and total compensation not to exceed $500,000. Deputy Corporation Counsel Lerisa Heroldt was in attendance in Council Chambers to give an update on this resolution. Ms. Heroldt explained that last year Council authorized $200,000 to fund the Special Counsel contract with Schiack Ito to negotiate with Hui Malama Honok6hau regarding the litigation surrounding the wastewater treatment plant in Kailua-Kona. They have settled the liability phase and are now working on settlement discussions regarding the second phase, which focuses on remedies and penalties. This resolution is to request the additional funds necessary to continue and hopefully resolve this legislation. Executive session was suggested to answer Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi's more detailed questions regarding the case. It was agreed upon that executive session could wait until this resolution was heard again at Council. Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 49-25, and recommends its adoption. slm Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS JETYN i.0CHAIR GOEAC .O. ADOPTED: �. ` 1 ; 5