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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FESC 001 01/06/2009 2008-2010REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY DATE: January 6, 2009 RE: Comm. No. 57/Res. No. 26-09 PLACE: Councilroom Ben Franklin Building 333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"~ Floor Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 10:10 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Food and Energy Sustainability, to which was referred Resolution 26-09, reports as follows: Resolution 26-09, transmitted by Council Member Greenwell via Communication No. 57, dated Decemberl9, 2008, encourages the County of Hawaii to join with the State of Hawaii and enter into dialog with appropriate US Governmental Agencies regarding eligibility for any and all economic stimulus/stabilization packages including the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. This resolution encourages the County of Hawaii to work with the other counties and the State of Hawaii to identify and pursue the vazious programs available through the economic stimulus packages and any other source of Federal funding. Further, it states to do so will be fiscally pmdent and opportune for the County of Hawaii. There were two testifiers in support of Resolution 26-09 in Hilo, and three that made comment. Mr. Greenwell stated that it was time for all levels of government to recognize that in the coming year, there will be a tremendous amount of money that will be made available to the people who are prepared to ask for it. He cited the Farm Bill which has $300 billion available, and the stimulus money, which is approaching a trillion dollars. Council Member Naeole was in support of the resolution. She emphasized the importance of putting our minds together and going after the money. She noted that she will also be in Washington, DC, as Mayor Kenoi will, and has offered to assist him with lobbying efforts. Council Member Ford also spoke in support of the resolution. She suggests we make every attempt to get our "fair share" of the Federal dollars that we all pay taxes for. She asked Mr. Greenwell if he had the opportunity to talk with Mayor Kenoi with respect to advocating for our County. Mr. Greenwell responded that the Mayor is in support of working together as a State to seek some funding. Council Member Hoffmann moved to amend resolution 26-09 with the contents of Communication 57.1. The motion was carried. Council Member Yagong recommends that the County coordinate its effort with Hawaii State Association of Counties, in addition to working with our State and Federal delegations. He also noted that Mayor Kenoi's Administration has been working with the Federal Government in regards to the stimulus package, but while most of this has been directed towards capital improvement projects, this FESC Report No. Ol Communication 57 Resolution 26-09 Page 2 of 2 resolution takes a different road as it talks about agricultural sustainability, which is very needed here on the Big Island. Council Chair Yoshimoto commended Mr. Greenwell for bringing forward the resolution and endorsed Mr. Yagong's points. He said this resolution would send a strong message to the Administration, State and Federal Governments that the County has our needs and we want, as Ms. Ford mentioned, our "fair share," in terms of getting the economic stimulus benefits from the Federal Government. Mr. Greenwell added that there are two things of major consequence that we must achieve. First, the concept of working together and bringing unity back to the County. Second is to understand the value of money -what it is and what it can do for us. He explained that talking in terms of billions of dollars is the language understood in Washington and will gain us an audience. That if we think about depression, recession, cutting back, conserving and saving, we will be lefr out in a hole in the middle of the Pacific and nobody will see us. We must talk about great, fantastic ideas and we will be in the national and international press and that is where Hawaii needs to be. Your Committee on Food and Energy Sustainability is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 26-09, as amended to Drafr 2, and recommends its adoption. kmk AYES NOES A&E EX ENRI UES X FORD X GREENWELL X HOFFMANN X IKEDA X NAEOLE X ONISHI X YAGONG X YOSHIMOTO X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND ENERGY SU I AB ITYC~, DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI, CHAIR FESC REPORT NO. Ol ADOPTED: .IAN.IAN 7~ 2.11.~_~_ 009