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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: March 3, 2026 Re: Comm. No. 749/Res. No. 478-26 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 11:48 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. 478-26, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 478-26, transmitted by Interim Fire Chief Daniel J. Volpe via Communication <br />No. 749, dated February 12, 2026, authorizes the payment of funds of later fiscal years and authorizes <br />the Mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the United States Federal Emergency <br />Management Agency to receive grant funds for twelve firefighter positions. <br />This resolution allows for the receipt of $2,678,274.60 in staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency <br />Response grant fund from Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund twelve firefighter <br />positions. <br />Interim Fire Chief Daniel J. Volpe and Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen were present in Chambers. <br />Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz and Mr. Volpe provided background on this resolution. <br />Ms. Kierkiewicz shared that even if the committee approves these funds today, it's still not enough <br />and implored fellow Committee Members to urge the administration to commit to funding the Fire <br />Department. She added that she had heard these federal funds would be declined by the administration, <br />therefore she stepped in to ensure the department secured them. Ms. Kieikiewicz questioned why these <br />funds would be declined. Ms. Schoen was unable to provide an answer as she is not authorized to <br />speak for the administration. <br />Committee Members Holeka Goro Inaba and Committee Member James,. E. Hustace spoke in support <br />of this measure and raised critical points about the importance of these positions, especially within the <br />communities that they serve, which tend to be dry, and wildfires and brush fires could easily start. <br />Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 478-26, and <br />recommends its adoption. <br />iu, <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 />ON FINANCE <br />MATk KANEAL�' I-KLEINFELDER, <br />FC REPORT NO.: 129 <br />ADOPTED: MAR_ l 02 <br />