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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FC 2025/09/17 (2024-2026) DRAFT Committee on Finance 19th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii September 17, 2025 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Finance was called to order at ORDER: 9:01 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kong,by,Mr. James E. Hustace, Acting Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Chair(via videoconference from.Hilo, came in later) Mr. James E. Hustace, Vice Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member (came in later). Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewlcz,,Member(via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member(via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onish , Member(via videoconference from Hilo, came in later) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (came in'later) STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) COMMUNI The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of Business, CATIONS: Communications., Comm. 24,17.: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: JULY 1 — 15, 2025 From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated August 20, 2025, transmitting the above report pursuant to Section 2-12.3 of the Hawaii County Code. Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 24.17. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: And we are joined now by Council Member Kagiwada, Mr. Clerk. Any discussion or questions on the communication, Members? Council Member Galimba, please. MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. Is our Finance Director or one of her folks MS. KIERKIEWICZ: She's available here in Hilo. She's approaching. FC-19 September 17,2025 MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Hilo. (Note: At this time, Finance Director Diane Nakagawa came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. NAKAGAWA: Good morning. Diane Nakagawa, Finance Department. MS. GALIMBA: Good morning. I was just wondering about the first item on the Isemoto Contracting item for the West Hawai�`i transfer station scale, which seems to have been MS. NAKAGAWA: Yes. Of course, Council Member. DEM(Department of Environmental Management) is here and ready to answer any questions on this item. MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. Could you perhaps give us some more detail on the change order. (Note: At this time, Solid Waste DivisionChief Mike Rivera came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. RIVERA: Sure. Mike Rivera, Solid Waste Division Chief for DEM. I'll give you what I know, what we had to do since I've been here for just a short time. So I had to do some research. There was definitely some shortcomings from the vendor as well we ourselves from the County of Hawaii. Basically the change order was—well actually, as"you see as we go forward will be an actual benefit°for the County versus the one-scale concept. So in quick comment, decisions were made to nrt'go with the one-scale system but to go with a two- scale system. So that would be an inbound scale and an outbound scale. Now if you go through the history here, you've got some staff turnovers. You also have at that same time, a little bit later, the closing of the South Hilo Sanitary landfill going on at the same time. So I don't know what happened then, but the closure of the contract itself wasn't completed till this year. But to give you some background, some of the benefits of having the system as is now, if we had stuck with just replacing the old scale where it was, you have a couple of issues there. One, the larger trucks that we use today would not be able to make that turn correctly around to the right as well as they were also starting to hit the building. So today's volume at 600 tons a day approximately, you wouldn't be able to handle it with the one-scale system. So today's system set up where it's a straightaway enter, weigh in, go out to where your respective destination is and you weigh out. Having a one-scale system today, you would not be able to handle the volume coming over the Page 2 FC-19 September 17,2025 mountain from Hilo as well as the increase on the west side as it stands today, which is close to 150 to 200 vehicles a day through Kona at the landfill out there. So it's quite heavy for a one-scale. Also it allows for growth, the present system, and it's all positive. It's been in place now for five years. No problems as long as I've been here. This is the second time. It works great out there. Our service level is able to maintain a high. When they were going through the replacement at that time,you didn't have down time. You would've had to have brought in a temporary scale or shut down operations during that time five-six years ago. And so whoever made that decision in hindsight actually made the right decisi n:today even though you increase costs from the additional scale. That's what 16, ow. MS. GALIMBA: Thanks very much for that explanation. And,that makes sense. So it sounds like this has been decisions, well a process that's been going on for some time and a decision that was made some time ago. And would,you say that this change order is catching up with what happened? MR. RIVERA: Yeah. I would agree with that assessment. It's just catching up. We recognize in coming in I didn't realize it was still open myself, that we had to close some loopholes and,getbetter in how we are going through contracts in doing these bigger projects. I just'feel if you really look at it and delve into it, the staffing is usually at one project manager handling that and then handling mainly the Hilo closure at the same time. You had,distractions, diversions; I'm not making excuses, but that kind of stuff can happen in hindsight as well as just the churn of justbringing on the staff leaving and a new staff member comes on, and maybe not being quite up to stuff. Even myself, coming on as Chief, didn't realize that the contract was not closed at that time. So definite loopholes to try to get better as a division'. MS:GALIMBA; Thank you very much for your efforts and for your service at DEM., I know it's an ongoing problem to have enough staff there to get all the things done that need to get done. So thank you for your explanation. And I yield. ACTING"CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions on this communication piece? Council Member Kagiwada. MS:KAGIWADA: Thank you, Acting Chair. Do we have somebody here that can speak about the community-based mental health center project? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: R&D's (Research and Development) approaching. MS. KIMBALL: Yeah. We have Deputy Director from R&D here. Page 3 FC-19 September 17,2025 (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Dennis Lin came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. LIN: Good morning. Dennis Lin, Deputy Director for Research and Development. MS. KAGIWADA: Good morning. Can you just give me a little bit of information about the West Hawaii Community Health,Center project here? There's a couple items. MR. LIN: Yeah. So this was an ARPA (American,Rescue Plan Act) grant awarded to Hawaii Island Community Health Center to do a crisis intervention center at their—it was a proposed facility., Unfortunately what happened is that the logistical scheduling and the operations did not play out; I cannot mention too many things because there's a legal document that prevents both parties from mentioning too many things about the agreement. But ultimately the County and the health center agreed for a mutual termination of the contract. So that project is not going to continue using the ARPA funding. MS. KAGIWADA: So will that ARPA funding be reprogrammed into something else? MR. LIN: I don't know. That is under the prevue of Finance. But there are a list of allowable uses that ARPA can be reused for. MS. KAGIWADA: I see the Finance Director is there. Director, can you shed any light on this? (Note: Atthis time, Finance Director Diane Nakagawa came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. NAKAGAWA: Yes. Good morning again. So we have been working with R&D on'this contract as it has evolved into the state it's at today. I've been working with Corporation Counsel on looking at the ARPA guidance and what our options are. The options are limited into those projects that we have already executed contracts with. So at the moment, what we're doing is looking at the approved executed contracts under our ARPA funding to see where we can add these funds. So the intent is of course to use the funding, not to lose this funding. You know, one of the likely projects, of course, we can always use additional fundings for is Wastewater. And we do have a wastewater project as an approved ARPA project. So at this moment we're doing the termination, and we are evaluating the open projects that can accommodate these funds under the ARPA guidelines. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Thanks. I just wondering, I know there were a lot more funds that were originally targeted towards early childhood with the ARPA Page 4 FC-19 September 17,2025 funds that ended up not going in that direction. Are there any projects that are open in the early childhood area that may be eligible to receive more funds? MS. NAKAGAWA: So as I mentioned, we will continue to work with R&D and look at the capacity and ability of these projects. So the terms of,you know, ARPA and completion dates, even though funding will be added. So we need to make sure that anywhere we place this additional funding, the work can be completed in the timeframe that we need it to. So it's possible but we still need to go through and evaluate all of these projects and see where they're at. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Well, Wastewater is always important, but there are some other projects that might also be good: So alright;we look forward to seeing how that plays out. Thank you. I yield. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. We're also joined by Council Member Villegas here in the Kona Chambers. Any other questions on this communication? CouncilMember,Inaba. MR. INABA: Yes. So for this community-based mental health center, do we have the specific documents of what they applied and said they were going to provide for this funding` MR. LIN: We do. We have the original RFP (Request for Proposal) as well as their response. We have all the documentation. MR. INABA,° Okay. And none of the funds here,the $3.845 million were spent at all? MR. LT Some was utilized, and the rest is being returned back to the County. MR.INABA: How much was used? MR. LIN: I'm trying to recall right now, but I'd have to check. It wasn't a lot because they were still in their planning phases when the contract was executed. So I'd have to get back to you, Chair. MR. INABA: Thank you. And also, I mean,just wanting to know what was spent and what we received at all based on that even if it's real minimal, then I can,understand. But if monies were spent, the County should've gotten something for it. So perhaps you can provide us a confidential memo providing deep noted information on all of this because that's, I mean, we had so many issues with this ARPA funding and now to see that one of the nonprofits in our community, something has gone array between them and the County and that there's potential issues with $3.85 million is unacceptable. So please send that to us in a memo. Page 5 FC-19 September 17,2025 MR. LIN: Yes. Will do. MR. INABA: Thank you. MR. LIN: Thank you. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Checking in Hilo if we have questions from Council Members there. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Yes, Chair. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Council Member Kierkiewicz, please. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Where to begin on ARPA, I think everybody knows over the years I've been very, I think, critical about the opportunity that was presented to all of the counties through these relief funds because of the pandemic. And if I could summarize, I think the last administration really blew it to put it bluntly. Over a year and a half of presentations, talking about things that we could do and then Finance Director having to personally step in to make sure that RFPs got out on time so we could encumber the money and not lose tens of millions of dollars. I think I'm just more than upset,because there were so many chances or directives given by the Council, and then'somewhere along the line, just a failure to act. And I'd really like to prevent that from happening again going forward. I love hearing that we're going to be evaluating our treasury rules to make sure that we can still program this money within existing contracts. But what deadline are we giving ourselves because my understanding is we have to spend all of the money by the end of next year. And so it's already Fall 2025, right, we're nearing the end of September and Tin wondering what internal deadline are we setting to make sure that we're making the decision on where we are going to spend $3.8 million, which is a significant amount of money, by the way? That's the first question: You know me, I love a deadline. MS. NAKAGAWA: Council Member Kierkiewicz, definitely, we hear you. I hear you. We have been focused on encumbering all of the ARPA funds which we have. We have been working with our different departments and teams to keep,you know, we have to submit reports quarterly to make sure where we're at. So we've been working primarily with R&D has a significant amount of contracts to make sure that we're on time. As far as the deadline for this—so this is still a process that we need to terminate this contract. As soon as we get those funds back, I would like to immediately make sure we have a decision to reprogram. And that's part of the evaluation that I was just speaking to. And yes, there are multiple contracts in areas in which we have programmed ARPA funds. But like you said, there is a deadline that hasn't changed and so we Page 6 FC-19 September 17,2025 need to make sure that where we put these funds,we will make that target. They have to align with the ability to make those targets. So while there could be areas in which services we would like to put more money, if it can't be accomplished in the timeline, then we need to do an option that we can make sure that these funds are used by the County in the appropriate amount of time. So as soon as we get these funds back, I would like to make that decision and work on the reprogramming. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Is there a place on the County's website where we have all of the ARPA awarded projects listed? And I bring it up because there's potentially an opportunity for Council Members to politely suggest areas of focus to reprogram these dollars. MS. NAKAGAWA: We don't currently have a place on the website with all our ARPA projects. I would be happy to provide a list of these to you. But right now, we do not have that list. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And as part of the financial system overhaul within the County, is there an opportunity to more publicly better track County funds, monies we're getting from state and federal government, progress being made on projects that we're awarding? MS. NAKAGAWA: There is. But I would say there are multiple ways in which Finance is looking to address and improve that transparency of our projects. Yes, the system will be able to do more reporting, and we will start to look at analytics once we get the basics down of being able to pay our bills, then we'll get to those other areas of the system. However, we also have the CIP (Capital Improvement Project)Manager,which we're hoping to fill very soon. And part of that is communication and status of our'County projects separately from the system but also being able to communicate and also put that kind of information on our website. We have looked at communities and jurisdictions and how those types of projects are shared. So we have an idea of what we want and that will be part of the CIP Manager as well. The other thing we're doing is through our budget this year we have grants funding for our grants system. So in that we were hoping to also put in the RFP, things about being able to display information on where we're at. So multiple areas in which we want to achieve this better transparency of status. NfS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. And I really appreciate the latitude, Chair, to just kind of go into some of the mechanics about these funds. I think if we're going to be out there asking state and federal partners for money, we need to be able to demonstrate that we can deploy these funds efficiently and effectively in a really timely manner so that when we ask for more, they're willing to give. I know it's a lot, this overhaul that you're working on, Director Nakagawa, so I Page 7 FC-19 September 17,2025 want to thank you. And thank you, Deputy Lin, for stepping up and just seeing all these contracts through. I yield. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. No, I appreciate those questions and insight. Any other questions or comments from Hilo? Okay. No, I appreciate the feedback and insight regarding these two items here, this particular item. I just had a question and wanted to go back to Council Member Galimba's inquiry with both the landfill scale replacement. If we could have DEM back up, that would be awesome. Thank you. Okay. I just had a question. In the purpose line it says the original closing date of March 2019 changed to September 2020. The original contract 2018,;what is'being said here, the original closing date was changed, and here we are five years after,that? (Note: At this time, Environmental Management Business Manager Robin Bauman came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. BAUMAN: Good morning. This is Robin Bauman, Business Manager. So that September 2020 date, that was the construction`completion date. There was an extension of the time to complete. You know, as our Division Chief was explaining earlier, there was some extensive delays in getting this contract closed out. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: So it was supposed to be closed out in 2020, and it took five additional years then, correct? MS. BAUMAN: Yeah. The construction was completed in 2020. And it always takes some time to get it closed out afterwards. But it really shouldn't take five years. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Okay. Are we expecting any additional changes with this particular contract? I mean, here we are, it's 83 percent of the original contract. Are we expecting any other increases and amendments to this particular item? MS. BAUMAN: I believe there is a small adjustment to it. The mathematical error was discovered while this was routing. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: But not significant beyond what it currently shows then. So this is under what the contract originally went out for. MS. BAUMAN: Yes. So this was an increase. I think the adjustment is a couple of thousand dollars more. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Okay. MS. BAUMAN: A very small adjustment to that. Page 8 FC-19 September 17,2025 ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Okay. Thank you for answering those questions. I appreciate that. Any other questions or thoughts, Council Members? Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor of closing file on Communication 24.17, please say Ic aye. Vote on Comm. 24.17: The motion to close file on Comm. 24.17 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member,Kaneali`i-Kleinf6ldez.- 1. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Alright. Next item please. Comm. 24.18: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: DULY 16 —31, 2025 From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated August 21, 2025, transmitting the above report pursuantto Section 2-12.3 of the Hawaii County Code. Vote on Comm. 24.18: Mr. Inaba moved to close file.on Comm. 24.18. Seconded Filed by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused. None. Comm:73,8: MONTHLY BUDGET STATUS REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED APRIL 30,2025 From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated August 26, 2025, transmitting the above report pursuant to Section 6-6.3(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Page 9 FC-19 September 17,2025 Vote on Comm. 73.8: Ms. Galimba moved to close file on Comm. 73.8. Filed Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 301-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS TO ENTER INTO A MULTI-YEAR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT CONTRACT WITH THE PROPERTYMANAGERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS SELECTED BY THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a multi-year agreement for the following proposed voucher projects: Ouli Ekahi Apartments, Hale Kikaha, and Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini. The estimated.annual cost of the agreement would be up to $192,022y with a term of up to 20 years. Reference.: Comm. 477 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms, Kagiwada meiued,to recommend adoption of Res. 301-25. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. ACTING,CHR. HUSTACE: Any discussion? We are joined by our Housing Administrator. Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Yes, Housing Administrator, if you could just give us a little bit of background on this real quick. (Note: At this time, Housing Administrator Kehaulani Costa came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. COSTA: Sure. Good morning. Kehau Costa, Housing Administrator. Project-based vouchers are part of our Housing Choice Voucher Program. They are actually Section 8 vouchers that are placed permanently on units, on the physical unit rather than the voucher being given to an individual, and this helps to maintain affordable housing within multi-family housing properties, and it Page 10 FC-19 September 17,2025 helps the property managers are owners of those properties with operational costs. It's a HUD (Housing and Urban Development)program. MS. KAGIWADA: Great. Terrific. Do we have any oversight or management or anything to do besides providing the vouchers for these programs? MS. COSTA: So these particular properties that are before you is our County owned properties, so we contract property management companies to manage those properties for us. That's the extent of our oversight.' MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Okay. I was just wondering. I know we had some testimony that was submitted with some concerns about some of the management. If people do have concerns about management at the place they live in, what do you suggest that they do; do they contact OHCD (Office of Housing and Community Development), the management company, who? MS. COSTA: Yeah. So management concerns would first go to the property managers and the hierarchy within that-property management. So its site staff and then up through management and then definitely through OHCD if those concerns are not resolved with property management. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, great; Thank you so much. That's good information for the public. I yield. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions? Okay. MR.'ONISHL Yup. Thank you, Chair. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Yes. Council Member Onishi, please. The floor is yours. MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. So Housing Administrator, this Ulu Wini, is that those housings along that Costco road? MS. COSTA: Correct. MR. ONISHL Okay. You know, thing is when I go on that road there's a lot of cars that are being parked on the shoulder, right. And I think some of them might be abandoned. So who is managing that area? Because I look at that as a safety issue too. MS. COSTA: So Ulu Wini is managed by a property management company. I'd have to get back to you on the frontage of Ulu Wini and how to address. I know that parking is an issue there and they're always trying to manage overflow parking, and I think that we're seeing that also up the road further at the Kau Hale Page 11 FC-19 September 17,2025 Project. Parking is always an issue for some of our multi-family complexes. With regard to abandoned vehicles, I'd need to get back to you on that. MR. ONISHL Okay. Well, if you can get back to all Council Members so that they know what's going on? Because even like the senior apartment building that is next to my parent's property, it's 33 units and there's like 15 or 18 parking stalls for the tenants. And at that time I questioned that because I told them,you have 33 units, I mean, at least 50 or so percent are going to be driving because they're independent. And so to the overflow parking, especially when they have guests, it goes onto the County roadway, onto the shoulders, so it becomes dangerous. So it's something that I think Housing needs to work with whoever the management, if you folks are involved, or with the developer making sure that the developer is accountable on who their management company they hire. Is that possible? MS. COSTA: That's possible. MR. ONISHL Okay. So yeah, if you can provide that information to all the Council Members. Thank you. I yield. MS. COSTA: Thank you. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Over to Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. Aloha, Administrator Costa. Thanks for being here. How many years will these housing projects receive the project- based,vouchers?, Where I'm going with this is are there opportunities for other affordable housing developments to be able to apply and access these vouchers? MS:COSTA:" So the project-based voucher term is up to 20 years and it's renewable for another 20 years. So it's a long-term placement of vouchers. And we can,position up'to 20 percent, and we can position up to 20 percent of our total voucher portfolio. So we have like 2,300 vouchers we can position up to 20 percent on,projects, at projects. We can go over that 20 percent by another 10 percent if it's meeting a particular population like elderly and we have project- based vouchers throughout many of our affordable housing properties. And when We have vouchers that become available, we'll open an RFP for developers to apply for those vouchers. And it's a competitive process for developers. So it is available. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. That was going to be the second part of my question was I've often seen developers utilize the vouchers as part of their capital stack in order to complete their project. So it's all coming from the same program, these funds, the project-based vouchers? Page 12 FC-19 September 17,2025 MS. COSTA: Yes. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: These are used for rent subsidies but also to actually develop the physical infrastructure of the housing. MS. COSTA: The commitment to place project-based vouchers in predevelopment of a property is almost critical for developers. It shows a commitment to stabilize the rents for a 20-year period or up to a 40-year period. And it helps with investment into that property. The LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) application actually awards"mere points to developers who have received a project-based voucher award from our office. So it is a really critical and necessary and well-utilized tool,.,, MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. But accessing the vouchers is not something that is available every year, only if vouchers open up, right? MS. COSTA: Only if vouchers open:up. And often times developers will contact us early to let us know. And we're tracking projects as they're coming along. So we are communicating with developers as projects are being developed so that we can be good partners in'that way and provide,RFP opportunities when necessary. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. And then I see Here in the resolution that the agreement is up to $192,000 spread across these three projects, total over 81 vouchers. If I just do some'simple math, isit safe to say that each voucher is worth about$2,300, or is my formula wrong for how I'm calculating the distribution of the funding? MS.'COSTA: That would be a really average, simple calculation. It really depends on the size of the unit, the fair market rent that we're providing to the developer or the property manager, or owner of the property. So it just depends on"the property,,the size of the unit, and then the comparable rents in the area. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Got it. Thank you for those details. Thanks for indulging me. I appreciate it. MS. COSTA: Yeah. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I yield. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions? Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Sorry. Just a quick follow-up. So you said you can use 20 percent for the project-based vouchers and another 10 percent if you have special circumstances. Are we maxed out currently? Page 13 FC-19 September 17,2025 MS. COSTA: We're not maxed out. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. MS. COSTA: We're getting there but we're not maxed. MS. KAGIWADA: So right now if somebody comes with a project you have some ability to work with them? MS. COSTA: Yes. Yes. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. That's just whatI needed the public to know. Thanks. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Last chance? Alright. All those in favor of approving Resolution 301-25 and sending to Council with a favorable recommendation,please say "aye." Vote on Res. 301-25: The motion to recommend adopti6it"of Res. 301-25 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace'9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused None. Res. 302-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS AND AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI`I, OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR, FOR AN AUDIT OF THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`Z: Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a three-year agreement with an approximate total cost of$14,400, for an audit of the schedule of employer allocations of the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii, in order to meet the reporting requirements under Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 68, "Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions." Reference: Comm. 478 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Page 14 FC-19 September 17,2025 Vote on Res. 302-25: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 302-25. (Approved) Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 80: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 2 -45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAPI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —,Justice Assistance Grant-Special Response Team Capability„Enhancement Grant account($78,491); and appropriates the same to the Justice Assistance Grant-Special Response Team Capability Enhancement:account,for a total appropriation of$129,028. Funds would be used by the Police Department for training, travel, specialized gear, and equipment.. Reference: Comm. 479 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Vote on Bill 80: Mr. Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend passage of (Approved) Bill 80 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by,the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 15 FC-19 September 17,2025 Bill 81: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —Improve Forensic Services account ($23,640); and appropriates the same to the Improve Forensic Services account, for a total appropriation of$120,000. Funds would be used by the Police Department to purchase a new Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry instrument. Reference: COmm. 48Q Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved,to recommend pssage of Bill 81 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba,. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Any questions or discussion on Chromatography? MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes please. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, please. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINpELDER: Is anyone from the Police Department in we have someone here. Thank you, Please introduce yourself. (Note: At this time, Police Accountant Desiree Gomes came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS: COMES: Desiree Gomes,Accountant III. MR. KANEALI`L-IKLEINFELDER: Good morning, Ms. Gomes. MS:GOMES': Hi. MR. KANEALI`I=KLEINFELDER: Can you just explain what anew gas chromat6graphy-mass spectrometry instrument will do for the Police Department and is; what is it? MS. GOMES: It's going to be for the crime lab in Hilo. I do not know details about the machine or instrument. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. But it's going to be for the Hilo crime lab? MS. GOMES: Yes. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I'll follow up with the Police Department. Thank you. Page 16 FC-19 September 17,2025 MS. GOMES: Yes. Thank you. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you very much for being here. I yield, Chair. MR. ONISHL Chair? ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Council Member Onishi, please. MR. ONISHL Thank you. Excuse me. No, because yesterday at one of our meetings, they came with the MOU (Memorandum of,Understanding) but then I guess with Oahu with the testing lab. And so I asked about Big Island, over here, and then I guess they said that they don't have the proper equipment to do the testing. So that's why they send it away to Oahu. And then if Oahu or if it's a rush then they send it to the mainland and so forth. But they did�mention that you folks did finally hire three lab assistants,or whatever the positions are called, right. Is that correct? MS. GOMES: Yes. MR. ONISHL And so with this thatyou folks are purchasing, how would that— you said you don't know, yeah? MS. GOMES: I don't know the details. I'm so sorry. MR. ONISHL Okay. Well, because I told them that we should start looking at trying t4 I guess provide you folks with more funding to help increase the services that can be provided on this island, right, instead of being shipped away because I've heard in;the past like with rape kits that was sent away and it got misplaced or something like that, right? And so that's kind of bad for the victims that are in thatsituation, right? And so,yeah, if that's something that you guys can look at working with the Finance Department and with the Chief to see, and also, like I told them with the Administration to see how we can increase the budget to help provide the services that we can have on island. Yeah. So thank you. Chair, I yield. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions on gas chromatography? Alright. Seeing none. This is really just for those complex substances at crime scenes. So it's a very unique apparatus for forensics. So alright, seeing no further discussion on this, all those in favor of approving and forwarding to Council Bill 81,please say "aye." Page 17 FC-19 September 17,2025 Vote on Bill 81: The motion to recommend adoption of Bill 81 was carried (Approved) by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Hustace—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. HUSTACE: And with that being the final item on today's agenda for this Committee. We are adjourned. ADJOURN- There being no further business on our agenda today, Acting Chair Hustace MENT: adjourned the meeting at 9:44 a.m' Thank you very much. Approved: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Chair (Date) Finance Committee MK/tk Page 18