HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 274 04/21/2008 2006-2008• •
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: Apri121, 2008
PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa
78-128 Ehukai Street
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 4:53 p.m.
Re: Comm. No. 1062/Res. No. 551-08
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 551-08, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 551-08, transmitted by Director of Finance William Takaba, via
Communication No. 1062, dated February 27, 2008, authorizes the payment of funds of a later fiscal
year and of more than one fiscal year for amulti-year contract scheduled to be issued or before
March 4, 2008, for aWaste-To-Energy facility to be built close to the current site of the Hilo Landfill.
At the Finance Committee meeting on March 11, 2008, Councilmember Jacobson moved for
Resolution 551-08 to be held over for three Public Hearings. Meetings were scheduled for
March 25, 2008 in Hilo, where 26 members of the public testified' April 7, 2008 in Waimea, where
18 members of the public testified; and April 17, 2008 in Kona, where 16 members of the public
testified.
At the Finance Committee meeting on March 24, 2008, Councilmember Jacobson moved to reconsider
the vote to close file on Communication 1062.10 and hold a public hearing in Pahoa, then amended the
motion to include a public hearing in the district of Ka`u. Meetings were scheduled for April 15, 2008
in Pahoa, where 39 members of the public testified, and on April 18, 2008 in Pahala, where 6 members
of the public testified.
Councilmembers and members of the public expressed frustration over the "process" this has gone
through. One member of the public suggested the County seriously look at the current RFP process and
find ways to make it more efficient. Chair Hoffmann reminded the group that a vote today would not
lock the County into anything yet, it would merely allow for the Councilmembers to be able to look at
the overall costs for the project as Wheelabrator does not have to release that information until a contract
is signed.
Councilmember Yagong commented that we would need another landfill no matter what technology the
Council chose, in order to avoid trucking to West Hawaii. He advocated for amending the Integrated
Solid Waste Management Plan and siting a landfill as soon as possible, as permitting can take up to five
years.
• •
Councilmember Jacobson commented that some extremely knowledgeable and well-qualified people
have come out to testify on the resolution and they all spoke against it. He advocated for increased
recycling opportunities and reminded everyone that recycling creates jobs in communities and adds to
the local economy, where most of the Wheelabrator profits would be directed off island where the
corporate shareholders are.
Councilmember Naeole reminded everyone that she attended the public hearings on this resolution, and
at the Pahoa meeting she commented that the majority of testifiers were against the resolution.
Your Committee on Finance heard this measure, and forwards Resolution No. 551-08 to Council with a
negative recommendation.
bl
AYES NOES A&E EX
FORD X
HIGA X
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X
PILAGO X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
Respectfully submitted,
CO MITTEE ON FINANCE
DOMINIC YAGO , CH I
FC REP~T N
ADOPTED: ~