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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOEAC 146 2026-07-07 2024-2026REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DATE: July 7, 2026 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 9:40 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Comm. No. 944/Res. No. 594-26 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution No. 594-26, reports as follows: Resolution No. 594-26, transmitted by Director of Environmental Management Daniel Girvan, via Communication No. 944, dated June 9, 2026, authorizes the Mayor to enter into a cooperative service agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, relating to a Wildlife Damage Management Program for the Hilo Solid Waste and Wastewater Treatment Facilities. United States Department of Agriculture District Supervisor Jordan Linnell and Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Operations Division Chief Micheal Rivera were present in the Hilo Chambers to answer questions. Mr. Linnell mentioned that this agreement was to address the hundreds of feral swine that are regularly present at the Hilo Transfer Station. He stated that this is a health hazard due to defecation and the high potential to spread disease. He explained that their organization is proposing to conduct trapping operations outside of business hours to remove this public health threat. Mr. Rivera added that most of the activity occurs after hours. Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked for clarification on what the funds were going towards. Mr. Linnell explained there would be one supervisor employee that needs to be hired to manage this program and that other employees would be assisting. Additionally, he shared the different animals that would be potentially managed under this agreement; including chickens, cats, rats, cattle egrets, and other birds. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder brought up the issue with people feeding feral animals at that location. Mr. Linnell said it seemed to be a problem with enforcement. Mr. Rivera said that his department tries to enforce the rules there but that it is a very emotional issue for folks who conduct the feeding, so it is challenging. Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi asked about trapping. Mr. Linnell explained trapping techniques for such a large number of animals and said that they can catch up to thirty pigs at once in some of them and that they are permitted to use firearms. Member Onishi asked about how they would be dispensing with the pigs. Mr. Rivera stated that they would be transporting and disposing of them at the Pu`uanahulu landfill, as they cannot dispose of biological waste at the Hilo transfer station. Committee Chair Jenn Kagiwada mentioned that there needs to be training amongst the employees to limit their feeding the feral pigs, along with the public. Mr. Rivera agreed and stated that he would be working on doing education around that. GOEAC Report No. 146 GOEAC-146 Page 2 July 7, 2026 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 594-26, and recommends its adoption. Slm AYES NOES ABS EX GALIMBA X HUSTACE X INABA X KAGIWADA X KANEALPI-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X KIMBALL X ONISHI X VILLEGAS X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS JENN KAGIWADA, CHAIR GOEAC REPORT NO.: 146 ADOPTED: JUL 2 ; 9026