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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: December 16, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 63I/Res. No. 405-25 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 11:00 a.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. 405-25, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 405-25, transmitted by Research and Development Director Benson Medina via <br />Communication No. 631, dated November 24, 2025, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an <br />intergovernmental agreement with the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, to receive a grant for <br />Food Access Summits. <br />This resolution allows for the receipt of $40,000 of federally -derived funds to plan and facilitate two <br />Food Access Summits that will be used to collect data, support community collaboration, and <br />showcase successful projects. <br />Research and Development Deputy Director Dennis Lin and Food Systems Specialist Sarah Freeman <br />were present in Hilo Chambers. <br />Committee Member Heather L. Kimball expressed concerns about language referencing the use of <br />these funds for a summit held in Fall 2025 and questioned whether the funds were intended for a past <br />event. Mr. Lin stated that they had originally planned to use the funds for a previous summit that had <br />just taken place, but after further consideration they decided to dedicate all funds to upcoming <br />summits. Ms. Kimball recommended amending the resolution to remove all references to "Fall 2025." <br />At the request of Committee Member James E. Hustace, Ms. Freeman provided a brief overview of <br />their plan to collaborate with community members and their agro-policy goals, initiatives, and plans <br />for these summits. <br />Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 405-25, and <br />recommends its adoption. <br />AYES <br />NOES <br />ABS <br />EX <br />GALIMBA <br />X <br />HUSTACE <br />X <br />INABA <br />X <br />KAGIWADA <br />X <br />KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER <br />X <br />KIERKIEWICZ <br />X <br />KIMBALL <br />X <br />ONISHI <br />X <br />VILLEGAS <br />X <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />