HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FC 2025/11/04 (2024-2026)Committee on Finance
22°d Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
November 4, 2025
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Finance was called to order at
ORDER: 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder,
Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Chair
Mr. James E. Hustace, Vice Chair
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent & Excused: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Ms. Heather Kimball, Member
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: The following individual registered to speak and came forward when called by
the Chair:
Curtis Tyler:
Res. 376-25 (Comm. 586), in support.
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Comm. 23.22: REPORT OF FUND TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED: JUNE 16 — 30 AND
SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2025
From Controller Jon Arbles, dated October 3, 2025.
FC-22 November 4, 2025
Vote on Comm. 23.22: Mr. Hustace moved to close file on Comm. 23.22.
Filed Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kdneah'i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
Comm. 24.21: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: SEPTEMBER 1— 152025
From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated October 17, 2025, transmitting the
above report pursuant to Section 2-12.3 of the Hawaii County Code.
Motion to Close File: Mr. Hustace moved to close file on Comm. 24.21.
Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none.
I do have a question for our Finance Department. There you are. I see you, Malia
(Kekai). Thank you. This may be for Parks and Recreation, too. This is
regarding Contract 7487, accessibility improvements, more along the lines of not
what they project is but why the 50 percent increase by the engineering company.
(Note: At this time, Parks and Recreation Business Manager Charmaine
Felipe came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. FELIPE: Good afternoon. Charmaine Felipe, Business Manager for Parks
and Recreation.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Thanks for being here today.
Yeah, looking it over we have a Bow Engineering and Development Incorporated
percentage of the original contract, this is a 50 percent increase being requested
for $68,000.
MS. FELIPE: Yes. This was actually on a previous agenda item that we
discussed on October 21.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay.
MS. FELIPE: For some reason it was duplicated again on this list. But it
includes a photovoltaic system and it incorporated comments from the public.
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CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So the purpose of the contract that I read
says, "Amendment to modify scope of work, consultant's fee, method of
payment, and project completion date following community feedback."
MS. FELIPE: Yes.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: But you're saying the increase is for a solar
project?
MS. FELIPE: With the design on the project.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So adding a solar design into the project
changed their contract by $68,000.
MS. FELIPE: Yes, yes. This is for the design part, yes.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I'm going to be watching these
closely given some of the comments we've had and context of other bills that
were in the past and listening to the engineering community. So thank you. I
appreciate it.
MS. FELIPE: Yeah, you're welcome.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Thank you, Ms. Kekai. Okay. Any
other questions from the Council? Hearing and seeing none. Motion is on the
floor, Communication 24.21, all in favor?
Vote on Comm. 24.21: The motion to close file on Comm. 24.21 was carried by
Filed the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
Comm. 24.22: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: SEPTEMBER 16 — 30, 2025
From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated October 20, 2025, transmitting the
above report pursuant to Section 2-12.3 of the Hawaii County Code.
Motion to Close File: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to close file on Comm. 24.22.
Seconded by Mr. Hustace.
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November 4, 2025
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Any discussion? Council Member
Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Do we have someone from the Department of Public
Works (DPW) to speak on the work management system software that has been
reupped for an additional year. Hi, Kelsey. I'm a systems girl so this really
peaked my interest. If you could just introduce yourself for the record and maybe
talk about the system that Public Works has invested in. And I noticed here that
we're going to be adding an additional year to the contract. So just want to
understand how it's being useful for the department and if there's like a public
facing component where the public is able to track the work of Public Works.
(Note: At this time, Public Works Business Manager Kelsey Kalua-Lewis
came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Good afternoon. Kelsey Kalua-Lewis, Business Manager,
Public Works. So this is for specifically our Highways Division. It's a work
management system that they have been using. I believe it was originally
awarded in 2023, so this is the third option year that we'll be doing. This system I
feel is a very, I guess it makes Highways more efficient in the work they do.
Some of the things they do right now with iWorQ (Integrated Work Order
Request System) s is they track the work orders, they're able to do GIS
(Geographical Information Systems) data, they use it for inventory, they do quick
capture for pictures, mapping. It's a really efficient program that if you ask them
to pull up information on a certain project or a certain asset, they can just pull it
up for you. As far as the public facing component, I would have to go back and
check with them.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. It sounds like it's a really useful system.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And then, as part of this, are we also tracking like the
condition of the roads; good, fair, poor, so that internally we can prioritize where
we need to deploy our resources?
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: I believe they use Maney. That is used by Engineering
and Highways. That's where they kind of rate the County roads.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. So our Highways guys, they're equipped with iPads
so that they can be taking photos of before, after, work is completed?
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November 4, 2025
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes. They all have iPads that they take out into the field
so that it can be captured at that moment. It's been extremely helpful especially
with emergency response; being able to capture before and after, if we have to do
any reporting, and the GIS component is a very big piece of iWorQ.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's really fantastic. Thank you for indulging me. I
yield, Chair.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: You're welcome.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Ms. Kalua-Lewis, just a couple questions
while you're there. If you could just give us some updates on some of the two
bigger items on this here. We have swimming pool accessibility improvements
and then the Aupuni Center roofing replacement.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Okay. So I can answer for Aupuni Center roof
replacement. The swimming pool, that would be Parks and Recreation.
MR. HUSTACE: It does list it as DPW on here though.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Just because we manage the contract since it's a
construction contract. But for details on the specific, it's for Parks Project
Manager. But for Aupuni Center roof replacement, we're hoping to have the
work done by year end. Most of the interior work is done. This change order
specifically when they were doing work on the roof, they had found some beams
that needed to be replaced. So they just finished that up I want to say two weeks
ago and now it's just the exterior work that needs to be completed.
MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Thank you, Ms. Kalua-Lewis. I appreciate that.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: You're welcome.
MR. HUSTACE: And then, Ms. Felipe, if you wanted to just give us an update
on the swimming pool accessibility because it's had seven change orders. I know
this says COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) supply and demand and how that's
kind of unfolding at this point. Yes, NAS Swimming Pool. Correct. So the
original contract was about $6.5 million and cumulative change order is $731,000.
(Note: At this time, Parks and Recreation Business Manager Charmaine
Felipe came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. FELIPE: Sorry I was not given the list that that project is on so I'm not
prepared to answer any questions, but I can get back to you on that.
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November 4, 2025
MR. HUSTACE: Sure. That would be awesome. Thank you. I appreciate that.
MS. FELIPE: You're welcome.
MR. HUSTACE: Sorry I had you come up here. But yeah, that'd be awesome to
kind of learn how that projects proceeding with those improvements and repairs
especially for that size of contract. Thank you so much. And then my next
question is for R&D (Research and Development) actually. I just had a quick
question on the Franklin Covey all access pass license agreement. Thanks,
Deputy.
(Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director Dennis
Lin came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MR. LIN: Good afternoon. Dennis Lin, Deputy Director for R&D.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Deputy. It says that the amendment is to include
tax.
MR. LIN: Yeah. So originally in our request for a quote, they did not include tax
in their quote. And unfortunately both sides thought that the County of Hawaii
was exempt from tax, but we are not exempt from tax.
MR. HUSTACE: Okay.
MR. LIN: So they added that onto the final invoice.
MR. HUSTACE: Should we be kind of catching those things earlier on though
possibly?
MR. LIN: Yes. That was an oversight in our department between the vendor.
MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Thanks for the clarification. Thanks, Deputy. Thank
you, Chair.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. We have a motion on the floor to
close file on Communication 24.22, all in favor?
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Vote on Comm. 24.22:
Filed
The motion to close file on Comm. 24.22 was carried by
the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
November 4, 2025
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Next order of business, please.
Comm. 574: FIRST QUARTER REPORT OF UNCAPTTALIZED DONATIONS:
JULY 1 — SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated October 10, 2025, transmitting the
above report pursuant to Resolution 200-25.
Vote on Comm. 574: Mr. Hustace moved to close file on Comm. 574. Seconded
Filed by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Resolution 375, please.
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions.
Res. 375-25: CREATES ONE HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST II POSITION FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Establishes one new position to provide additional support to the department's
Classification and Pay Division.
Reference: Comm.585
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend adoption of
Res. 375-25. Seconded by Ms. Galimba.
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CHR. KANEALI`1-KLEINFELDER: We have our director here if anyone has
questions regarding the resolution. Council Member Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Hi, Director. I read the resolution but if you
could just maybe high level overview for the public, the need for creating this
new HR (Human Resources) Specialist position. I'm going to assume that it's
part of like just one piece of a broader solution to support HRs operation, but I'll
have you kind of share the story for us.
(Note: At this time, Human Resources Director Sommer Tokihiro and
Classification and Pay Division Manager Jamielyn Martines came forward
to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. TOKIHIRO: Sure. Hi, everyone. Sommer Tokihiro, Director of Human
Resources. And with me is Jamielyn Martines, who is the HR Manager for our
Classification and Pay Division. So the Classification and Pay Division is
currently a division of three that manages the 765 classes of work within the
County of Hawaii and also adds new classes, amends classes. And so I'll let
Jamie explain how the workload has changed over time that's resulted in a need
for this additional position.
MS. MARTINES: Hi. So as Sommer said, the Classification and Pay Division,
we assist departments with creating new class of work, amending existing classes.
We also are responsible for position management, so the creation of new
positions, helping departments revise their position descriptions, transferring
positions between departments and within their departments. We assist with
routing the salary ordinance and a big component of what we do is we also are the
point of contact for the other jurisdictions. So City and County of Honolulu, the
judiciary, the state, City and County of Maui and Kauai, we assist them in their
classification processes as well. So we have been a section of three for the past
15 years, and so we're requesting this position for some additional support so that
we can better help our departments.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Could you just share with the Council, what is your
approach exactly when you talk about helping departments; what does that look
like dealing with folks on a quarterly basis, an annual basis? Like I'm trying to
understand what is your approach to being helpful.
MS. MARTINES: Historically, we kind of had a reactive approach. So when
departments identify a need for some type of work to be done, they can come to
us and say, you know, we have this need in our department, is there anything, any
class of work that exists within the County. We assist them with identifying
something, if not, we can create it. So we are kind of at will for the departments.
We do routine processing but then we also rely on them to come to us to identify
whatever need that they have and then we assist them that way.
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MS. TOKIHIRO: I'll just add that, you know, as Jamie mentioned, initially our
approach has been, historically, it's been more reactive than proactive. And so
what we've changed to is a more proactive approach in the way that we're
assessing needs for departments and coming up with ideas to provide to them for
things that could be changed whether it's amending language in class
specifications to help them with their recruitment efforts or proposing new classes
of work that maybe we don't have but that other jurisdictions have that could be
useful for them, creation of new career ladder positions to give more opportunities
for people to come in at an entry level and then get the training and experience
while working for the County to then be reallocated out to the higher levels. So
the approach being reactive a lot of it has had to do with the staffing issues. And
as we're seeing more and more ways that we can help departments. And we need
to do more regular updates of these class specs and look at the language and make
sure that what we're advertising for when we're recruiting for positions is
appropriate. We want that approach to be much more proactive and this position
will help us to do that.
MS. MARTINES: So kind of branching off of what Sommer is saying, you
know, part of the recruitment efforts have been trying to find qualified applicants.
So what we plan to do with this position and what we're kind of gearing in to
using this position for is to initiate reviews of minimum qualifications of our 700+
existing classes of work to make sure that we're not creating artificial barriers for
employment; to make sure that the minimum qualifications that we're asking for
on the job postings is just like it says, at minimum, that the language in the classes
are current. So we've always relied on departments to come to us and say can we
make these changes. But we are actually going to be initiating a review to kind of
push and make sure that, you know, all of our classes are up to date and that we're
not creating barriers for employment through our minimum qualification
requirements.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Do you need an actual person for that or is that analysis
something that AI (Artificial Intelligence) can do?
MS. MARTINES: We need a person. It's actually a process that we have to go
through. So we would initiate that with the departments, have them review it,
ensure that those qualifications are current, that those things, you know, whatever
requirement is there is actually what we need, updating language. We then have
to kind of memorialize that in a report and then send that to the seven other
jurisdictions, that's kind of a part of our process. So that actually has to go out to
City and County, County of Maui, to let them know that we made those changes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So if you initiate a change today and there's everything
that you've just kind of describes as part of the process; it sounds like many cooks
in the kitchen. When exactly will we see an updated position with MQs
(Minimum Qualifications)? It doesn't sound like it's going to happen in like
30 or 90 days.
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MS. MARTINES: Well, we're kind of phasing that out. It can happen within that
day. Are you asking for a timeline of when we initiate it? So we initiate it when
we get the changes back from the department, we can have it ready the day or day
after those changes come back from the department.
MS. TOKIHIRO: And the routing.
MS. MARTINES: And the routing.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And then you said you routed it to like City and County.
MS. MARTINES: As just an FYI (For Your Information).
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, okay.
MS. MARTINES: So that's just part of the process just to let them know that
we've made changes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So this position will help you folks to move faster because
what are our vacancies right now?
MS. TOKIHIRO: I'm not sure what the total vacancy count is right now, but I
know that we have on continuous recruitment, you know, about 50 positions at
any given time.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Yeah. And some of them have been vacant for like years.
Let's focus on looking at the MQs for those. Yeah. And then when you talked
about, what was it, helping departments to rewrite position descriptions, how are
you helpful there? Because I would assume that a department would know
exactly the kind of like experience, expertise, that they would need in a particular
position. So how do you kind of step in and help get these redesigned positions
over the finish line, if you know?
MS. MARTINES: So the departments do. They will start that process to submit
the position descriptions to us, but we sometimes give them guidance. A lot of
times they may ask for, you know, specific wording; they have the duties, they
might need help with that. We also review them to make sure that what they've
added is within the class of work, and then we route that for approval.
MS. TOKIHIRO: That's our primary focus is making sure that the duties that
they are describing are within the correct class of work to make sure that we're
not working people out of class.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. Thank you. I appreciate you answering my
questions and for being here. I yield.
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CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. And just for the record, can
you introduce yourself? Sorry.
MS. MARTINES: Jamielyn Martines, Human Resources Manager for the
Department of Human Resources.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Council, any further
questions? Okay, hearing and seeing none. Thank you very much.
MS. TOKIHIRO: Thank you.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Motion is on the floor to forward
Resolution 375-25 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All in favor?
Vote on Res. 375-25: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 375-25 was
(Approved) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
Res. 376-25: AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL
OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, TO RECEIVE A
GRANT FOR THE PUAPUA`A IKI HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT
FOR INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND SHORELINE
STABILIZATION
Allows for the receipt of $1,901,521 of federally -derived funds to restore eleven
and a half acres of deforested land in Puapua`a Iki in North Kona.
Reference: Comm.586
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend adoption of
Res. 376-25. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mr. Hustace? No. Council Member
Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. I don't know. Is our OSCER (Office of
Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience) Administrator, were you involved
in this? You want to come up?
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(Note: At this time, Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience
Administrator Laura Acasio came forward to address the members of the
Committee.)
MS. ACASIO: Hello.
MS. KAGIWADA: Hi. Go ahead and introduce yourself.
MS. ACASIO: Laura Acasio, Administrator for the Office of Sustainability,
Climate, Equity and Resilience.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Just wondering about —this is great and thank
you for working on this. Could you just give us a very brief overview. It sounds
like it's been in the works for a while.
MS. ACASIO: Yes. This began in the prior administration. There's been a lot of
background coordination with community members as well as lineal descendants
as well as cultural representatives from the area. It's a PONC (Public Access,
Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation) site in Kailua-Kona. So I think
there's also perhaps an opportunity to evolve our stewardship. I don't obviously
want to speak for PONC or Property Management or Finance in that, but just that
there's an opportunity here to develop. So this is a NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration) grant. Ultimately the idea is it came from through
the bipartisan infrastructure law coastal zone management habitat protection and
restoration competition that was set forth in the prior administration. So we just
want to mahalo all the work and also our staff is OSCER who worked
collaboratively with community members along with, like I said, PONC and
Property Management.
MS. KAGIWADA: And what's the timeframe on spending this money?
MS. ACASIO: I believe it's a four year grant project.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Alright, great. Well thank you very much for, you
know, finishing it up and bringing it across the finish line. I really do appreciate
that. I yield.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: Yeah. I just want to extend a huge mahalo to OSCER and
everybody that's worked on this. This is 13 acres. It was four separate parcels
that had sat fallow for years. And through the PONC process and the
administration's support we were able to get all of the properties purchased and
the lineal descendants and cultural organization have worked tirelessly to get us to
a point. And you guys securing the funding is extraordinary and will help to
fulfill the vision. The property along the shoreline is rich with cultural heritage
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and sites. And the parts of the property that are closer to Ali`i Drive, while they
have some heritage sites, it's post contact, you know, house pads, and what not.
But to have a portion of Ali`i Drive on the Kona Coast protected in perpetuity
where these cultural treasures can be reestablished, enlivened, and the portions
that will be appropriate for community to utilize as potential park and open space.
It's just really exciting so you guys getting this funding is huge. So thank you so
much from the bottom of my heart. And Curtis Tyler, one of the lineal
descendants of that area expressed, it's a huge, huge win and step in the right
direction. So mahalo.
MS. ACASIO: Yeah. We're really excited. Thank you.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Seeing no further discussion.
Thank you very much, Ms. Acasio. We have a motion on the floor to forward
Resolution 376 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All in favor?
Vote on Res. 376-25: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 376-25 was
(Approved) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kimball,
and Onishi — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Resolution 377-25, please.
Res. 377-25: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF LATER FISCAL YEARS
FOR THE FUNDING OF COST ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE
OF HAWAI`I ORGANIZATION OF POLICE OFFICERS, BARGAINING
UNIT 12, AND CERTAIN OTHER EMPLOYEES EXCLUDED FROM
BARGAINING UNIT 12 FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD BEGINNING
JULY 1, 2025, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2029
The estimated costs over the four years of the new contract resulting from across-
the-board increases, step movements, and one-time lump sum bonuses would be
$57,298,879.
Reference: Comm.589
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
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Vote on Res. 377-25: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend adoption of Res. 377-25.
(Approved) Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Meinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances.
Bill 97: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Appropriates revenues in the Federal Grants — State Homeland Security Program
Fiscal Year 2021 account ($2,189.48); and appropriates the same to the State
Homeland Security Program Fiscal Year 2021 account, for a total appropriation of
$622,189.48. Funds will be used to support the waste -water bio-hazard mitigation
project.
Reference: Comm.575
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Meinfelder (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 97 on first
reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Is there discussion by the body on Bill 97?
Okay. Sorry. Are you here for this, Mr. (Bill) Hansen? I have a question. Please
introduce yourself.
(Note: At this time, Civil Defense Administrative Officer Bill Hansen
came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MR. HANSEN: Yes. I'm Bill Hansen, Administrative Officer, Civil Defense.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, thank you. Just looking over the
ordinance, federal grants state homeland security program, and then the
Communication 575 for the waste -water bio-hazard mitigation project. Can you
just tie those together for me?
MR. HANSEN: Sure. So every year the County of Hawaii is the recipient of
grants from the Homeland Security Grant funds through the State of Hawaii.
That year in particular we got $620,000, of which we carved out $100,000 to
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FC-22
November 4, 2025
address the concerns that we have at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant to the
effect that if by chance there was a catastrophic failure of any sort that we would
be able to look at the possibility of having this temporary bypass. So the funds,
$100,000, plus the $2,000 and change, was used to procure materials in order to
build a bypass should that be a necessity.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So we have that currently somewhere?
MR. HANSEN: Sure. Yes. It was purchased and it arrived and the materials
arrived.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So should the Hilo Wastewater Plant fail,
through these federal funds —no, song, state homeland security funds.
MR. HANSEN: These are homeland security grant funds.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Through Civil Defense, you were able to
purchase a bypass method.
MR. HANSEN: Bypass materials equipment.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: And it's ready to go should the Hilo
Wastewater Treatment facility fail.
MR. HANSEN: Yes.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Wow. Where is it?
MR. HANSEN: It's basically at the headworks, which is the entry point of
Wastewater. The area of concern is the headworks. And so we've had these
discussions several times with Wastewater, the Mayor's Office, et cetera, to look
at where the most vulnerable locations might be and that was one of the most
vulnerable locations. So even through there are funds to address that facility on a
permanent basis, this is a temporary possible response that we could put into
effect should the headworks fail.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Wow. That is very, what's the right word,
not thoughtful, but it's thoughtful in the mindset of it could fail, it could happen,
and we've actually done something in advance to take care of it, and I was not
aware of that, and I never would look in this section of our funding to see the
solution. So I'm glad to see Civil Defense taking this on.
MR. HANSEN: So the funds that we're able to carve out and provide is not the
total, but it did help in the purchase of the overall number of equipment, supplies,
materials that needed to be purchased.
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Vote on Bill 97:
(Approved)
Bill 99:
November 4, 2025
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Well done. Thank you.
MR. HANSEN: Thank you.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Further discussion? No. Okay. Motion is
on the floor to forward Bill 97 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All
in favor?
The motion to recommend passage of Bill 97 on first
reading was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAPI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30 2026
Appropriates revenues in the Federal Grants — Bipartisan Infrastruct Law Coastal
Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration account ($1,901,521); and
appropriates the same to the Bipartisan Infrastruct Law Coastal Zone Management
Habitat Protection and Restoration account. Funds would be used to restore
eleven and a half acres of deforested land in Puapua`a Iki in North Kona.
Reference: Comm.586
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Vote on Bill 99: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 99 on
(Approved) first reading. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada and carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Meinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Bill 100, please.
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FC-22
November 4, 2025
Bill 100: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30. 2026
Appropriates revenues in the State Grants — SS4A-County of Hawaii Smart and
Safe Intersection Demonstration Project account ($840,000); and appropriates the
same to the SS4A-County of Hawaii Smart and Safe Intersection Demonstration
Project account.
Reference: Comm.587
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 100 on
first reading. Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Congratulations to this bill for being 100.
Well done. Any discussion by the Council? Council Member Hustace.
MR. HUSTACE: I just have a question. I believe this is for DPW. Ms. Kalua-
Lewis, if you could just share what project these are intended for?
(Note: At this time, Public Works Business Manager Kelsey Kalua-Lewis
came forward to address the members of the Committee)
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Hi. Good afternoon. So this is actually a collaboration—
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: If you could, sorry —
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Oh, introduce myself again. Yeah. Kelsey Kalua-Lewis,
Public Works. So this project is actually a collaboration between Public Works,
the Mayor's Office, and the Planning Department. This is part of the Safe Streets
for All Program. What this funding is specifically for the $840,000 is the state
match to the federal funds that we'll be receiving for a demonstration project. I'm
not too familiar with how this was chosen. I think it was before my time here at
Public Works. But basically, they're going to be looking at five intersections;
getting data analysis on the traffic count and use that to then have students at
Waiakea High kind of analyze the data and see how improvements could be made
to those intersections identified. I believe it was for around the Waiakea High
School area and then there was one off of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauabi, I
believe, but I would have to double check on that.
MR. HUSTACE: Thanks, Ms. Kalua-Lewis. I think we've had some
conversations previously about this so thank you for being here. Thank you,
Chair.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: You're welcome.
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FC-22
November 4, 2025
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Council Member Kagiwada.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Could I ask Finance to come up? As you're on
the way up here, yes, we did already pass this bill it looks like. So we're seeing it
again why? There's some explanation here about like the timing of signage and
what fiscal year it was appropriated for. Could you explain just a little on this?
(Note: At this time, Deputy Finance Director Malia Kekai came forward
to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. KEKAI: Hi. Malia Kekai, Finance. This was kind of at the turn of the fiscal
years where I kind of transitioned from one place to the other, so I'll let Kelsey
kind of explain what happened.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Okay.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes. So Kelsey Kalua-Lewis, Business Manager, Public
Works. So what happened is at the tail end of fiscal year 2026 the County in
general submitted a bunch of communications or bills with the intention of being
signed and going into effect in fiscal year 2026, so by June 30t', 2025. Due to
timing and I'm not sure what happened, but basically when we did an
appropriation for 2025, if it didn't go into effect until fiscal year 2026 then it's no
longer valid to use.
MS. KAGIWADA: So when will this money be spent at this point if we pass
this?
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: So the money can be spent three years from the award
date. We're looking at having the environmental done by January 2016 and then
going out and procuring a consultant to assist with the work.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. So three years from earlier this year?
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes, I believe so. So we are a little behind. The Mayor's
Office does have frequent communication with FHWA (Federal Highway
Administration). So I believe they have monthly meetings. The kickoff meeting,
I think, was back in probably August or September and then Public Works got
pulled in to help with the engineering component.
MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. And you stated that this was the state match.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes.
MS. KAGIWADA: The next bill we're seeing is the federal amount.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes.
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November 4, 2025
MS. KAGIWADA: And was there a County amount put in?
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: No. Sothis is just —
MS. KAGIWADA: State and federal.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: State and federal.
MS. KAGIWADA: Great.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: County benefit.
MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much. It's a lot clearer now. Thank you. I
yield.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Ms. Kekai, I'm reading the
communication with this, and it is a little confusing. It says the bill was not
signed until July 7', making it effective in 2025-2026; but wasn't to amend the
2024-2025 budget. But if it was signed July 51h, it would've been included in the
2024-2025 fiscal year. But it was wanted in the 2024-2025 fiscal year?
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: Yes. So when we did the original bills it's to amend the
budget from the fiscal year 2025 budget. So add appropriation to the fiscal year
2025 budget, but because it was signed, I think, it was like seven days into fiscal
year 2026, we can no longer use it. We have to then adjust the current budget.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'm sorry. I was thinking July 151 was our
first day. That's why I was like this doesn't make sense. It actually was in the
right year. Okay, okay. I got you. I sorry. I messed up my months.
MS. KALUA-LEWIS: That's okay. No matter how much times I say it I still get
confused.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I know you just said it, Ms. Kagiwada, but
I was still trying to wrap my head around it. This doesn't make sense at all.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, any more discussion? Okay, hearing and
seeing none. Thank you for your time. Motion to forward Bill 100 to Council
with a favorable recommendation, all in favor?
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FC-22 November 4, 2025
Vote on Bill 100: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 100 on first
(Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Bill 102, please.
Bill 102: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO.25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`l FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Appropriates revenues in the Federal Grants — County of Hawaii Smart and Safe
Intersection Demonstration Project account ($3,360,000); and appropriates the
same to the County of Hawaii Smart and Safe Intersection Demonstration Project
account.
Reference: Comm.590
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Vote on Bill 102: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 102 on
(Approved) first reading. Seconded by Ms. Villegas and carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Bill 104, please.
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FC-22 November 4, 2025
Bill 104: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 25-45, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants — Traffic Safety Training Project Grant
account ($18,440); and appropriates the same to the Traffic Safety
Training Project account. Funds will be used by the Office of the Prosecuting
Attorney to assist with travel expenses for conferences, trainings, and meetings
related to impaired driving and effective prosecution of impaired driving offenses.
Reference: Comm.594
Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 104 on
first reading. Seconded by Mr. Onishi.
CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Any discussion? I wanted to add, I was
thinking about what happened on Saddle Road recently and that whole chain of
events that led up to the fatality of the keiki in our community, and this grant
starts to address that. We've had this in the past. But there's a need for more
traffic safety on our island, that's obvious. I just wanted to say that. Thank you.
With that, we have the motion on the floor to forward Bill 104 to Council with a
favorable recommendation. All in favor?
Vote on Bill 104: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 104 on first
(Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace,
Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2.
Excused: None.
ADJOURN- There being no further business on our agenda today, Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
MENT: adjourned the meeting at 1:48 p.m. Thank you very much.
Approved:
I /Z.,o LJJ,
Mr. Matt Kan `i-Kleinfelde Chair (Date)
an Fince Committee
MK/tk
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