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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FC 2026/01/06 (2024-2026)Committee on Finance 26" Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 January 6, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Finance was called to order at ORDER: 11:00 a.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 (came in later) Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Heather Kimball, Member Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member (came in later) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) 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. 23.26: REPORT OF FUND TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED: NOVEMBER 16 — 30, 2025 From Controller Jon Arbles, dated December 8, 2025. Vote on Comm. 23.26: Mr. Hustace moved to close file on Comm. 23.26. OkAl Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, and Chair Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Onishi —1. Excused: None. FC-26 January 6, 2026 Comm. 654: 2025 ANNUAL REPORT: REAL PROPERTY TAX BOARD OF REVIEW From Real Property Tax Board of Review Chair Dale Tokuuke, dated October 28, 2025, transmitting the above report pursuant to Section 19-97(e) of the Hawaii County Code. Motion to Close File: Mr. Hustace moved to close file on Comm. 654. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Council Members, discussion? Council Member Hustace, go ahead. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. I just had a couple questions and I'm not sure who to direct this to. I don't think Administrator Miura is here. Is she in Kona now? CHR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: She was here this morning. Mr. Hustace, I think she said she took vacation to be here for and in support of her husband for his nomination this morning. MR. HUSTACE: Very nice. Director Nakagawa, then maybe I could ask these questions of you if that's possible? Okay. Thank you so much. MS. VILLEGAS: Chair? MR. HUSTACE: Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: I'm sorry. I just wanted to let you know we have someone here from RPT (Real Property Tax) available. CHR. KANEALI°I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you very much. I appreciate it. (Note: At this time, Tax Board of Review Member Mark Davis came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. DAVIS: Hi. I'm a member of the Tax Appeals Board (Tax Board of Review). So if you had any questions, I possibly could answer them. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Could you state your name, sir, for the record? MR. DAVIS: Mark Davis. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Davis. Thank you for being here today. Mr. Hustace, you have the floor. Page 2 FC-26 January 6, 2026 MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Mr. Davis and Director Nakagawa. I appreciate the report here from the review board. Just a question —Administrator Miura and Assistant Administrator, thank you. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: This is magical today. I like this. 2026 is working well. Mr. Hustace, you have everyone you wanted. MR. HUSTACE: I do. Thank you, Chair. So I appreciate the report, and the question is about point number three. It refers to a statewide conference and it says when available. I'm just curious, how often these statewide conferences happen to assist the tax board? (Note: At this time, Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. MIURA: Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura. So they used to have this workshop every year and then it stopped during COVID (Coronavirus Disease), and it was hosted by City and County of Honolulu. So it was just up to the outer counties to get our board members to the workshop and to pay whatever fee was associated, which is usually nominal. Since COVID sort of ended, they've had one workshop and they thought they were going to go back to annual, but City and County's budget got cut. And so the other counties had offered to help with the hosting, and everybody just pay their share. And City and County has asked us to just hold off on that till the next year to see where the budgets align. So that's where we are right now. To be clear though, we have the budget to have the annual workshop and to send the board members, and we host our own workshop for our boards that not all of the other boards at the other counties do. So as far as the statewide conference, the money is there in our budget, but the other counties may not have it in theirs. So the one for 2026 has also been postponed. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Administrator. Director Nakagawa, anything else on that? (Note: At this time, Finance Director Diane Nakagawa came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. NAKAGAWA: Diane Nakagawa, Finance Department. No. Lisa is one step ahead. I was just going to mention that there was a comment on the funding for conferences. It has remained in the budget and is available. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate that response. And then point number five talks about the boards recommending, you know, what are kind of like those information and exemptions kind of getting those programs out Page 3 FC-26 January 6, 2026 to the community; what other assistance do you feel is kind of needed to fulfill this recommendation? MS. MIURA: So this is one that they've kind of had in this past year we did an unprecedented amount of workshops and presentations to different boards including those they had listed, and anybody else who is willing to hear from us. We would like to try and once we get our ag program under control a little bit, which this will be our heaviest year, is to start working on mailers. And not one different type of avenue has been successful. We've upgraded our website, we've done workshops, presentations, we're trying to do a Zoom informational session, even for County employees. But I think there's relying on the newspaper and people reading our ads in there that we do pay for; it's part of the Code we do post. It's still not getting there. We updated our assessment notice insert to try and get more attention, which helped. But this year we still have people saying, "I didn't know I had to apply for the home exemption; I didn't know I couldn't do short-term rental." Other than sending individual mailers, I don't know what else will work. And honestly for me, when I get some things in the mail during a certain time of election years, I don't read all of them either. So I don't know what will work at the end. I think we have to just do everything that we possibly can. The one thing that we haven't turned to yet is social media and that would probably be our next resort. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Administrator. I want to mahalo Mr. Davis and his colleagues on the tax board review for your work and providing this report. And then, you know, the report really speaks highly of you, Administrator Mium and Assistant Administrator Jo, on the work that you do to support them on getting this information out, resolving the complaints, and working with the members of this board to really go through this for the training, the process, all this. So thank you for the work that you do with them on resolving these issues and really supporting their efforts too. So thank you so much. Aloha. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you for being here and coming back from Kona and being so magical. Thank you, Mr. Davis, for your time as well. With that we have a motion on the floor to close file on Communication 654. All in favor? Vote on Comm. 654: The motion to close file on Comm. 654 was carried by the Filed following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 4 FC-26 January 6, 2026 ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 426-25: AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI`I, HAWAI`I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, TO RECEIVE A HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT Allows for the receipt of $68,000 of federally -derived funds to support Phase 1 (planning and preparatory activities) of the Community Wildfire Fuels Reduction and Defensible Space Project. Reference: Comm.660 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend adoption of Res. 426-25. Seconded by Mr. Onishi. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Discussion on the measure? Council Member Hustace. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Is there someone from the Fire Department to answer a question about this? Okay. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: There is and they're about one minute away, I think. You want to table and come back to this? MR. HUSTACE: Sure. If there's any other questions that people might have, we can table the motion now if you want then, Chair. Vote on Motion to Mr. Hustace moved table Res. 426-25 to later in the Table: agenda. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the (Approved) following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 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. Page 5 FC-26 January 6, 2026 Bill 112: 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 — Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act account ($1,600,000); and appropriates the same to the following Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 2025-2026 accounts: Administrative/Planning ($200,000), Adult Program ($650,000), Dislocated Worker Program ($300,000), and Youth Program ($450,000). Funds would be used to provide services that enhance employment opportunities, job retention, earnings, skill development, and literacy. Reference: Comm.655 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to recommend passage of Bill 112 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Council Member Kierkiewicz, go ahead. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I see we have representatives from the Department of Research and Development (R&D). If you folks could come forward? Good morning. Happy New Year. Nice to see you both. Thank you. Thank you for being here. So $1.6 million in WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) to our County. I noticed in the bill that it's already been carved out to support different programs, adults, dislocated workers, and youth. Can you talk to us a little bit about how the decision was made to program those dollars in that way and then what role does the Workforce Development Board play in determining what sort of contractors, nonprofits in the community are eligible to provide the programming to meet the needs of these WIOA dollars? (Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Dennis Lin and Workforce Development Specialist Clinton Mercado came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. LIN: I'll just briefly introduce myself. Dennis Lin, Deputy Director for Research and Development. How this is structured is very similar to how we did it last year. However, I have Clinton here who is running the Workforce Development Board as well as managing the WIOA funds. So he can go a little bit deeper into how it all operates and why we're allocating it in the way we do. Clinton. MR. MERCADO: Good morning. Clinton Mercado, Workforce Development for the County. The money is basically allocated to the adult, dislocated workers and youth through the federal government. That was authorized in 2014 by President (Barack) Obama, and for those programs specific, and that's the title one. So every year, we get X amount of money that supports the programs for Page 6 FC-26 January 6, 2026 education, training, career guidance, support services, and job readiness programs. So when those monies come out, the go out in a request for proposal, an RFP competitive and then people will apply for it. And so for the past, I would say six years, Goodwill Hawaii have been the ones that's been awarded the contract for the funding. It's very specific, very strict. These monies are only specific to those programs so we get creative within the program as far as internship, apprenticeship, our eligible training provider list, which we go through our colleges, to create as much opportunity as we can for our people here in Hawaii Island. And as far as our board, our board plays a big role because it's a mix of school, workforce, and a few other categories where they come together at least four times a year and we talk about —there's committees as well under the Hawaii County Workforce Development Board, to come together and strategize on how we can better support and how we can better spend the funds for our people in programs, internships, and apprenticeships. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Than you for that. A couple follow up questions. So typically within apprenticeship programs once someone has completed it, they are supposed to be guaranteed a job. So with an apprenticeship at Goodwill, what kind of job are we preparing these individuals for? MR. LIN: If Clinton, you can explain the CDL (Commercial Driver's License) program and how that works because that's basically one of the main programs that really goes from on-the-job training to a job after. So I think that's a great highlight to show. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And the CDL driver's licensing is through Goodwill? MR. LIN: They'd go through the educational piece to get all their training done and then they have to come to the County to get their test and what not. But during that program, those who are registered in the class get all the prerequisites done and road time assistance. And then finally, once they take the test, they can go out and be a CDL driver. But just wanted to have Clinton highlight some of the successes and maybe some of the work that's being done. MR. MERCADO: Thank you. It's been pretty busy. There's been a lot of interest in CDL driving. And one of our barriers right now is County examiners. But I've learned that we have gotten one more on board for Hilo side, which is great. Basically people are interested, they come into our program, they sign up for the CDL examiner training and then they will be trained through a local company as well as HCC (Hawai`i Community College) for CDL. And then once they are certified, then they wait for their license through our Vehicle Registration Department. And that's been a huge success. So while we were waiting for examiners, we probably have like 20-25 people on the waitlist to get their license. So that's been a huge success. Page 7 FC-26 January 6, 2026 MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And so beyond the CDL licensure what other jobs are we preparing our community members for? You know, I think about the needs within engineers and healthcare and agricultural systems. Can any of this money be positioned to support similar programs but for those sectors. MR. LIN: Yes, absolutely. And so what Clinton has been trying to do is work with the healthcare industry to really ramp up the training programs for nursing, CNAs (Certified Nursing Aide), those types of positions. But also working with HCC and their apprenticeship programs through the trades. So whether working with the Carpenters Union or the different trade unions to get students involved in those apprenticeship programs and how can we help subsidize some of those costs so that, you know, they can afford to go. Many of the unions pay for a lot of it, but what can we do from our side to help those students. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And then you mentioned the Workforce Development Board and that they meet four times a year. I couldn't find updated information online. The state website said that the last meetings happened in 2020, and it still lists Mno`ole, Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) as a location for the board. The most recent meetings I could find on the County's website are from 2023. So I'm curious, when was the last meeting and is there a cadence for which the board meets? MR. MERCADO: So that, we are working with our Mayor's Office to update the boards and commission so that everything is in one place. But prior to that, it wasn't updated in the County. And so the last meeting we had was December 17, right before the holidays. And so we are working on the first meeting of 2026 now. And so it will all be updated on our County website. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, great. So the last meeting was in December. And then their kuleana is to come up with some kind of workforce development plan, which helps you to determine how to spend any WIOA dollars and figure out the kinds of partnerships you need to be cultivating in community. MR. LIN: Correct. MR. MERCADO: Absolutely. MR. LIN: Their key purpose is to be kind of like the community advisors to us and say, this is where the needs are for the community in terms of workforce development and how can those funds be utilized. We did have some issues with quorum in the past, I would say three or four months, trying to get everybody to come to the meetings and make sure that we have quorum to vote on, you know, how we can get the direction. But I think as of last month we did get enough members on board. But if the Council Members or the public are interested in serving on the board, we definitely take in any recommendations. Page 8 FC-26 January 6,2026 MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. You might have this information off the top of your head right now, but if not, I would love to know maybe over the last five years, how many individuals have been served through each of these programs? The adult program, dislocated workers, and youth. I just think it's important to know how this money has been invested in and been working for our community. So if you could get those numbers to us by Council, it would be great to know the impact that this program has had. MR. LIN: Absolutely. We have that on record. MR. MERCADO: Yeah. And as far as last year goes, active participants through 2025 currently in December, we have 338 adults, 70 dislocated workers, and 72 youth that's active in the program right now. So throughout the year we exit, you know, they come on board, they serve their time, and then we exit. And as far as the agency where they support as well, our program. 2025 we've seen about 3,000 people at the center. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: The Changemakers job center? MR. MERCADO: Yes. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's being managed by Changemakers now. MR. MERCADO: That is correct. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I think the old McDonald's and Fun Factory, Waiakea Plaza. MR. MERCADO: Yeah. And it's been amazing. Since Changemakers came on board, they've been very aggressive in supporting all the programs and we've been able to pool ourselves and just continue to manage the center. So they've been super good. We got a lot of outreach coming up; we've got a lot of fairs coming up. Yeah, it's been really good. It's the first time besides County or government we had nonprofit organization as the one -stop operator. So that was a win for us. MR. LIN: And I just want to highlight that due to Clinton's work on that, we're the only one -stop operator in the entire state. So all of the other counties have a WIOA program, we're the only one that has a one -stop operator. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Excellent. Great work. Keep it up. MR. MERCADO: Thank you. I appreciate that. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I yield. Thank you. Page 9 FC-26 January 6, 2026 CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHI: Thank you, Chair. So kind of adding onto that. So County of Hawaii, we're lacking on a lot of positions, right? So what has this funding done to increase the amount of employees that can be hired by the County? MR. LIN: So we've been working on that for the past few months, identifying how can we align with Department of Human Resources. So earlier when we first started — MR. ONISHI: Okay. So this has been going on for many, many years. MR. LIN: Right. MR. ONISHI: I know you're new, but maybe you might be able to help us on the previous year that you folks had this funding, how you folks have been moving forward? MR. MERCADO: Alu Like is a good example. They support the internships for the County. And so what we're doing now, Carla has been doing a great job in putting a lot of interns in the County, so we are now because of the funding availability, we're going to start supporting that as well, as far as internships for the County. And as for supporting the County positions, we have at the center our brochures; our team at the center of adults, dislocated workers, and youth; when people come into the center looking for jobs, we have our platforms that's already there and we introduce them to government jobs in the County. MR. ONISHI: So you mentioned about Alu Like. This past summer for summer fun, I worked with Alu Like and Parks and Rec to get more workers, right? MR. MERCADO: Yes. I heard. MR. ONISHI: Nobody mentioned about these funds. And like you're saying, these funds that are being allocated or broken up into, usually Goodwill will get this funding. So now, if Goodwill has the funding how does the County work with Alu Like to help provide funding for this internship or for these temporary positions? MR. MERCADO: So basically how we work with that is we see who is interested in doing work with the County. For instance, our latest meeting that I had was with Kasie Kaleohano. She's the superintendent for Waiakea and Hilo. And so while we're out there preaching to the high schoolers because they're all graduating, right, and it's only fair that we do our best to keep our youth here. And so one of the biggest pushes are to get internship to get the students working with the County. So we are working right now on how we can support that. Page 10 FC-26 January 6, 2026 MR. ONISHI: So when did you start that program? MR. MERCADO: That one I would say late last year. MR. ONISHI: So what about the years previous? MR. MERCADO: Previous has just been Alu Like. And then a lot of the monies from the school, it's very specific the monies, right. MR. ONISHI: You mean there's funding for this youth program? MR. MERCADO: Yeah. For the youth program, for example, we have in school and out of school. So those who are challenged in school with a lot of barriers and need support. They get enrolled in our program and then that's where we help teach them, you know, give them the proper training and the education and the job readiness because a lot of these, the people that join the program, they are not familiar on how to present themselves or how to be ready for a job. MR. ONISHI: Right. MR. MERCADO: So that's where a lot of that funding goes. The money also supports them in support services like haircuts, clothing for the interview and whatnot. So lately we've been really pushing hard to get people in the County. MR. ONISHI: So when you mentioned "we," you're talking about Goodwill or you're talking about the County is doing this? MR. MERCADO: Both. So for like us, we always had a small team. So WIOA was only a team of two people in the past. It was very small. It was just transaction, basically maintaining the program, maintaining the dollars so that we can meet the state and federal regulations, all the numbers. But now, with our new team on board, myself and three other people, we've been doing more outreach, reaching out to the schools, educating them about all the benefits there is with the County. So it's a lot of work on our team just to help promote the program. MR. ONISHI: Okay. So at the next Council, can you give us data on that part; what your team did for this existing funding and how much you guys reached out? MR. MERCADO: Relating to the County positions or related in general? MR. ONISHI: Related to this funding. Yeah. Like how are you saying you folks went to the schools, you guys are trying to do these programs. MR. MERCADO: Yes. Absolutely. Page 11 FC-26 January 6, 2026 MR. LIN: Yeah. And that's similar to the same information that Council Member Kierkiewicz has requested. MR. ONISHI: Correct. Yeah. But I was wondering if it can be a little bit more detailed. MR. LIN: Sure. MR. ONISHI: But then also you mentioned about having funding to help with the CDL examiners for the County. Did you folks know for Wastewater there's a shortage of workers because they're not qualified? MR. LIN: Yes. MR. ONISHI: You folks do? MR. LIN: Yes. MR. ONISHI: When did you folks find that out? MR. MERCADO: That's just been the conversation that we're trying to work with as well with our agency team. MR. ONISHI: But when was that, like a couple years ago; three years ago, or just recently? Because I've been in contact with HCC (Hawai`i Community College) trying to do an internship, okay. We found out at the meeting that HCC can conduct a course for those different positions, non-credit, okay. So the only thing they need is an instructor. So if the instructor can be there, they can get, I guess, participants to go into the course and when they graduate then they can go into our Wastewater employment, right? So that's where I guess now, since I'm hearing what you folks are doing and that's why I said, who is the one running it. Is it Goodwill or is it the County? But you're saying it's both. You guys are working together. So then I can contact R&D to help with HCC to get that course going. MR. MERCADO: Because as of right now, Council Member, there's the Wastewater treatment training on the eligible training provider list. So we've been working and meeting with HCC. MR. ONISHI: When was this that you folks met? MR. MERCADO: I don't have the date on this right now. MR. ONISHI: But recently? MR. MERCADO: Yes. Page 12 VWX1 January 6,2026 MR. ONISHI: Okay. When we had our meeting, they mentioned about that. They had all the different departments there. So I guess we're moving forward, which is great. And so, like I said, I just want to keep updated of what's going on, right, to make sure that this thing can move forward and we can provide enough employees, especially for the Wastewater. Especially with the upgrades and everything, they're saying these employees are now going to have to be also educated at a higher level whereas it's not any, you know, I guess the way the system is going to be working, it's more like computer and all this kind stuff so they're going to have to get all that training. But okay. So it's good. So I'll be reaching out to you guys. And there's also the summer fun program having more staffing there and some others. So, I'll reach out. MR. MERCADO: Yes. And the summer program also working with the state as well because they were very specific as far as what schools and what places that the students can work at. But now, after multiple conversations with them, they're going to open that up so that all schools, as well as all different organizations can participate in the summer. MR. ONISHI: My last thing. Is Alu Like able to get some of this funding? MR. MERCADO: They have their own funding. MR. ONISHI: But can they qualify for some of this funding that you folks have? MR. MERCADO: This specific funding they can apply for when it comes up. MR. ONISHI: They can? MR. MERCADO: Yes. So right now I believe Goodwill has two more years in their contract. So every year we renew based on their performance, based on their numbers because, I mean, it's pretty strict the federal government regulations as far as credentials, medium earnings, right. So it's super hard to meet those numbers. MR. ONISHI: And that's like Alu Like. MR. MERCADO: They also manage their funds differently. MR. ONISHI: Yes. But then Alu Like specifies on certain ethnics, I guess. MR. MERCADO: Exactly. Different ethnicities, yeah. MR. ONISHI: So this funding would be still able for them to use or because of the way this funding is, it has to be open to anyone? MR. MERCADO: It can be open to anyone. Page 13 FC-26 January 6, 2026 MR. ONISHI: No. I mean participants. MR. LIN: It would have to be open to everyone. MR. MERCADO: Yes. It has to be open to apply for. Yeah. MR. ONISHI: Okay. So, something good I can talk to Alu Like about. MR. MERCADO: Yeah. And we work closely with Carla. MR. ONISHI: Okay. MR. MERCADO: Because as all the funding issues and all the uncertainty, our team at the center has been in contact. She has a waitlist, we have a waitlist, and we work together to see how we can serve people much quicker. MR. ONISHI: Okay. Thank you. I yield. MR. MERCADO: Yeah. Absolutely. MR. LIN: And perhaps I can provide a little bit of clarification. The role that the County plays with this pot of funds is one, we do the RFP, right? So we send out the RFP for people to apply as the administration of funds. And then secondly, we serve as the monitoring and the reporting structure. So when the funding needs to be reported back to the state and the federal government, that's what Clinton and his team do. And the third part is we serve as the referral source. So when there's organizations that need workers, they can come to us and we can refer them to our service providers such as the American Job Center or Goodwill to get those jobs filled, like the programs that you're talking about with Alu Like. I just wanted to provide that clarification. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Any fiuther discussion? Mr. Onishi, go ahead. MR. ONISHI: Thank you, Chair. So early childhood, have you folks ever looked into using some of these funds to help workers that have younger children that need this early childhood care. MR. LIN: So I will say that we already have an existing position and support for early childhood within our department with Angela Thomas and her associate. So she has a separate ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) fund that are currently being used to provide those. MR. ONISHI: I understand that, but this can help with employees. Page 14 FC-26 January 6,2026 MR. LIN: It can be. It has to be structured within the terms of how the federal funds are, yeah. MR. ONISHI: And then, you know, you mentioned about that other program, but I don't want to get into that. But it's not where that early childhood, how I feel should be used for. So, these funds could be used to help with early childhood programs? MR. LIN: We would have to look at the appropriate use of the funds. MR. ONISHI: Okay. I'll reach out to you on that one. MR. MERCADO: If I way? MR.ONISHI: Yeah. MR. MERCADO: So this way of funds can be used in all kinds of ways related to workforce development. Yes, let's get creative. Let's figure out ways and how because the main thing is they meet the criteria; main thing is they are in line with what qualifies you to use these funds. No problem. So that's been the big push is like working with our Council Members and working with the schools and trying to create ways. Because if it has a workforce stamp on there, we can use this monies for that. MR. ONISHI: Right on. Thank you. MR. MERCADO: Right now the big push is we're hitting all the schools because there's close to 1,800 student that graduated last year in 2024. When they graduate, a lot of them have no clue what's next. And so for our big push this year is to meet with all the high schools, talk with the administration, show them what program and resources are available and what our big pushes are, and then just to support them. MR. ONISHI: Okay. Thank you. MR. MERCADO: Yeah. MR. ONISHI: Thanks. I yield. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much, gentlemen. MR. MERCADO: Thank you, Council Member. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: We have the motion on the floor to forward Bill 112 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All in favor? Page 15 FC-26 January 6, 2026 Vote on Bill 112: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 112 on first (Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder— 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Vote on Motion to Mr. Hustace moved to remove Res. 426-25 from the table. Remove from Table: Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice (Approved) vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kimball —1. Excused: None. CHR. KANEALI°I-KLEINFELDER: Mr. Volpe was here from the Fire Department. Mr. Hustace, how would you like to proceed? MR. HUSTACE: Could I start with Finance and maybe give us a little time here. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. MR. HUSTACE: And you may not have the answer for this, Director, but I can at least ask someone this question and then when Chief comes back in, we can go from there. I'll just kind. of take my time here if that's alright. Thank you, Chief. Good to see you. Thanks for your time today. Just a question on these funds, really the details on these funds, really the details on the planning efforts, you know, it calls out Phase 1, planning preparatory activities, $68,000. What does that look like and what are you kind of mapping out with this first phase? (Note: At this time, Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Volpe came forward to address the members of the Committee) MR. VOLPE: Thank you, Council. Daniel Volpe, Deputy. So Phase 1, like the project goes, is coming from Kohala Ranch, August 8, 2023, it expired. So the planning efforts, the area looks like it goes from Puak6 up to Kohala Ranch, covers that area about 3,500 acres, 480 homes, about 450, so the multi -unit residences. My understanding is that the acceptance of this money basically is then the thing goes to contract with another company to administer the grant itself. So the planning activities and stuff and what this will go into is Page 16 FC-26 January 6, 2026 identification. You know, definitely the exact vegetative removal area correlates with the environmental and historic preservation requirements, develop an inventory, hazardous removal, and dependable space locations. This is a fuel mitigation grant, so this is going to take that area of land, it's going to identify defensible space around the subdivisions and then remove as much of that material as possible while keeping track of the vegetative needs, historic needs, and looks like any preservation requirements. They're going to go into marking dead trees or structure removal, they'll do wildfire home risk assessments, obtain any permits for the land clearance, and then determine procedures to ensure the debris is removed from the project and a few other items, right. But basically that's kind of all the work that goes into that. And my understanding now, and forgive me, Chief (Kazuo) Todd was absolutely the grant specialist. So this is one of his. I know if I didn't do my homework that he would come and haunt me for sure, so I'm sort of trying to get myself up to speed here. But the goal is that the Hawaii Fire Department doesn't administer. We'll administer the grant through a contractor who then will actually go out and contract with those who actually perform the work. So the County is going to accept the funds, again, go through, I believe, the professional service list, identify a provider to go through there, and that provider will then actually do the work. So this won't be Hawaii Fire Department personnel performing the work and doing the labor; just be sort of administering the grant. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chief. You know, this is very targeted to Kohala region following August 8°i then? MR. VOLPE: This specifically is, yeah. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. MR. VOLPE: It's to include the project extends from Puak6 Beach, North Kohala Ranch; the communities of Kailapa, Kohala by the Sea, Kohala Estates, Kohala Waterfront, and Wailea; that region. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. So it says Phase 1, so I'm kind of curious what those other phases might look like. I mean, you talked about a lot of different things, like this is the planning preparatory Phase 1. MR. VOLPE: Correct. MR. HUSTACE: But a lot of that work is beyond Phase 1 though, right? MR. VOLPE: This is the planning to prepare for that work, right. So this is what goes in first to identify the areas, identify the trees, specific geologic features, specific topography identify exactly what machines, what equipment, what crew, what people, what actual labor will entail. This is the planning phase. Page 17 FC-26 January 6,2026 MR. HUSTACE: So bringing on our consultant or contractor to do that preparatory work then, not necessarily nonprofits that we already have in the community but putting it out to our professional list then? MR. VOLPE: That's my understanding, yeah. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Okay. And in terms of future phasing, because this is $68,000 for Phase 1, just preparatory, what other funding is behind future phasing; what does that kind of map out and look like? MR. VOLPE: To the best of my understanding, there is additional money through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds. So there is additional money available. Whether or not this was part of a larger package, unfortunately, I can't answer that question. I know there are a couple other simultaneous grants that we are going for. We are looking at one through the state's grant for some power redundancy from the facilities. We are looking at some other mitigation grants. So to the best of my knowledge, as far as Phase 2, again, I don't know it it's part of a much larger project. MR. HUSTACE: So there could be multiple phases in there for sure. MR. VOLPE: I believe there could be multiple phases. MR. HUSTACE: Any of the conversations about this are building relationship between state entities in the area too or those neighborhood boards or anything like that? MR. VOLPE: I believe that's part of the planning efforts. Again, public outreach and provide documentation to confirm coordination with the affected landowners and then public outreach. So I believe as part of the planning phase, there will be outreach to the community and some of the stakeholders in that region. MR. HUSTACE: Because DHHL (Department of Hawaiian Home Land) is pursuing kind of a vegetation removal process in the Kailapa area, so I don't know if that has been, you know, tapped as a partner in effort in that area. I don't know if you've had that conversation with them. MR. VOLPE: No. I have not. No. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Because they could be, you know, they're within that area, within that stretch and that scope of that vicinity. So they'd be one of those partners that help apply for those funds or also apply for those funds and be competitive, so we'd want to make sure that we're working in partnership with them as they maintain those DHHL parcels, as well as those other kind of private neighborhoods here and there. But yeah, just something to be aware of if they're Page 18 fO&W January 6, 2026 kind of pursuing grazing processes or vegetation removal in their stretch in their land there. MR. VOLPE: Yeah. MR. HUSTACE: So something to kind of just put in that equation as you're looking at that whole region there. MR. VOLPE: Okay. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chief. I appreciate the time, Chair. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Hustace. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you for being here. MR. VOLPE: Thank you very much. CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I seen you coming back and forth. With that, the motion on the floor is to forward Resolution 426-25 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All in favor? Vote on Res. 426-25: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 426-25 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: That brings us to our last Bill 113. Bill 113: 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 — Hazard Mitigation Grant Program account ($68,000); and appropriates the same to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program account. Funds would be used to support Phase 1 (planning and preparatory activities) of the Community Wildfire Fuels Reduction and Defensible Space Project. Reference: Comm.660 Intr. by: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder (B/R) Page 19 FC-26 January 6, 2026 Vote on Bill 113: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend passage of Bill 113 on (Approved) first reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ADJOURN- There being no further business on our agenda today, Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder MENT: adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Thank you very much. Approved: 33 � Mr. Matt I - eali`i-Klein der, Chair ( ate) Finance ComInittee MK/tk Page 20