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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 092 2018/03/13 (2016-2018) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: March 13, 2018 Re: Comm. No. 786/Bill No. 115 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawai`i TIME: 9:03 a.m. Council Chair and Members - Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 115, reports as follows: Bill No. 115, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako, via Communication No. 786 dated February 23, 2018, amends Ordinance No. 17-39, as amended, the operating budget for the County of Hawai`i for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. This decreases the appropriation in the Geothermal Other Current Expenses account ($30,000); and appropriates the same to the Geothermal Parks and Recreation account. Funds would be used by the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide access to computers and wireless internet connection (Wi-Fi) at the Pahoa Community Center. Council Member Eileen O'Hara stated she had discovered some issues with the wording in this bill. In 2008, there was a Geothermal Community Benefit funding for a conversion of the old fire station in Pahoa to a senior center. Ms. O'Hara commented that $180,000 had been allocated for that conversion and,not all of the funds were used. The $71,000, referred to by a constituent, is in a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) account with Parks and Recreation. Ms. O'Hara has been working on this project to get the senior center equipped with computers and access to Wi-Fi, which would allow senior citizens the opportunity to start taking computer classes. She noted that Council Member Jennifer Ruggles has allocated some contingency funds towards fixing the Wi-Fi at the community center. Ms. O'Hara clarified that these are two separate facilities, which are separated by a parking lot. Ms. O'Hara stated that after meetings with constituents and the Parks and Recreation department, it was clear that the $71,000 could not be moved from the CIP account to an operations account because the work is operational and not CIP. She also stated that the Finance Director spoke with Planning Director Michael Yee to see if he would be willing to release $30,000 from the Geothermal Community Benefit Fund for this project, to which Mr. Yee agreed. This was done by the administration; but in preparation of this bill, the language about the senior center seems to have been left out. Shepointed out that this money is not intended for the Pahoa Community Center. She articulated that the correct name for the Pahoa Community Center is the Neighborhood Facility, and the funds are intended for the senior center. Daryn Arai, Deputy Planning Director, stated that Bill No. 115 was structured around the communication received by the Parks and Recreation department, which misidentified Pahoa Community Center as the recipient of the funds and for the Wi-Fi service. It has been confirmed FC Report. No. 92 FC-92 Page 2 March 13, 2018 with Parks & Recreation that it was intended to be the Neighborhood Facility Center for which the funds would be appropriated. Mr. Arai concurred with the Planning Director that the funds are for the Neighborhood Facility Center. With those reassurances and Bill No. 115 being generic enough, it did not specifically identify the Pahoa Community Center as the sole recipient, and hoped that the bill is sufficient and no further amendment to Bill 115 is necessary, to which Ms. O'Hara disagreed, since the senior center had not been mentioned. She indicated that the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility is different from the Senior Center, and an amendment is necessary, to be specific to the Senior Center and Community Neighborhood Facility. Ms. O'Hara is in agreement but would like to see the proper names used for the facilities. Mr. Arai stated that one way or the otherm he will figure out how to define it more specifically. Mr. Arai corrected himself to say that the Wi-Fi services or equipment for the community center has recently been completed. Ms. O'Hara concurred that they had done repairs. The intention of this bill was to provide funding for Wi-Fi services at the senior center; this was confirmed with Parks and Recreation Director Roxie Waltjen and Director Yee. Along with the bill being generic enough, Mr. Arai believes with this clarification, the bill can be accepted as written. Council Member Dru Kanuha asked how many computers the $30,000 will buy. Ms. O'Hara stated this is for approximately 20 computers, but also indicated that the funds are not only for the computers, explaining further that about$10,000 is for the hardware that would support all of the equipment. The last quote on the computers was about$10,000, and $30,000 has been allocated because the quotes are about 15 months old. The quotes will need to be redone and the price will probably be higher. Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 115, and recommends its passage on first reading. dmm AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted, CHUNG X DAVID x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE EOFF X KANUHA X LEE LOY X O'HARA Xr POINDEXTER x MAILE DAVID, A 1K RICHARDS X FC REPORT NO.: 92 RUGGLES x ADOPTED: MAR 2 8 2018