HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FC 2019/09/03 2018-2020Committee on Finance
18th Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
September 3, 2019
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Finance was called to order at
ORDER: 2:50 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair.
1?(lT T COT T
Present: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Vice Chair
Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member
Ms. Karen Eoff, Member
Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member
Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member (came in later)
Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member (came in later)
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS: The following individual registered to speak and came forward when called
by the Chair:
Terri Impson: Comm. 369, comment.
Cindy Freitas: Comm. 369, in opposition.
Susan Kim: Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Nancy Seifers: Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430, in support.
Cherie Griffore: Comm. 369, in support.
Geoff Shaw: Comm. 369, comment.
Nelson Ho: Comm. 369, in support.
Katherine Marchese: Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
FC -18
September 3, 2019
Andy Andrews:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
(representing Leilani Estates
Community Association)
Jon Olson:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), comment.
Sandra Kirkpatrick:
Comm. 369, comment.
Robert Golden:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Catherine Inslee:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), comment.
Susan Osborne:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
(representing Kua O Ka La
Charter School)
Kalia Avery:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Tom Cusack:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Bear Cusack:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Adara Cusack:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Taysen Wong Chong:
Comm. 369, in support.
Debra Smith:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Denise Jones:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Smiley Burrows:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Floyd Eaglin:
Comm. 369, comment.
Brenda Kanehailua:
Comm. 369, comment.
Hanalei Fergerstrom:
Comm. 369, comment.
Susan Rosier:
Comm. 369, comment.
Millicent Cummings:
Comm. 369, comment.
Nicolette Douvris:
Res. 271-19 (Comm. 430), in support.
Bimo Akiona:
Comm. 369, comment.
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Ariel Murphy: Comm. 369, comment.
Daniel Smith: Comm. 369, in support.
Jason E. Perez: Comm. 369, in support.
Cory Harden: Comm. 369, comment.
Josephine Keliipio: Comm. 369, in support.
CHR. DAVID: I think that concludes public testimony. I thank everyone again.
Council Members, we're going to take a recess. This is a reminder, if you need to
feed the meter, you can do it right now. We're going to take a seven -minute recess
and then we'll back. Mahalo. We're in recess.
Recess: At 4:26 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 4:38 p.m.
CHR. DAVID: Aloha, Council Members. Welcome back. We're going to take
Finance Committee out of recess. Alright, Mr. Clerk, can we start from the top,
Communication 11. 16, please?
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Comm. 11.16: REPORT OF FUND TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED: JUNE 16 — 30, 2019,
AND JULY 16 — 31, 2019
From Controller Kay Oshiro, dated August 2, 2019.
Vote on Comm. 11.16: Ms. Eoff moved to close file on Comm. 11.16. Seconded
Filed by Mr. Richards and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Richards,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair David — 5.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder,
Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, and Poindexter — 4.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Let's jump to Resolution 260-19.
Change Order of As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members,
Business: the following item was taken out of order:
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September 3, 2019
Res. 260-19: ABOLISHES AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN POSITION AND
CREATES A TRAFFIC TECHNICIAN IV POSITION WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS' TRAFFIC DIVISION
Requests a personnel adjustment in order to provide technical expertise for the
increasing number of signalized intersections with evolving equipment as well
as consistent maintenance, traffic studies, and investigations.
Reference: Comm. 414
Intr. by: Ms. David (B/R)
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend
adoption of Res. 260-19. Seconded by Ms. Eoff.
CHR. DAVID: And I believe we have—Mr. Yamamoto, you're here. Director,
please?
(Note: At this time, Public Works Director David Yamamoto came
forward to address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Thank you for your patience, Director. This was requesteda
waiver was requested for this one?
MR. YAMAMOTO: Correct.
CHR. DAVID: Okay. So could you just explain to us the urgency and what this
switching of positions are for?
MR. YAMAMOTO: Good afternoon, Council.
CHR. DAVID: Good afternoon.
MR. YAMAMOTO: I'm David Yamamoto, Director of Public Works.
Basically, we are abolishing a position that is no longer able to fulfill. The duties
of that position is no longer able to fulfill the duties needed by the Traffic
Division with these traffic control equipment that, over time, has become updated
and replaced it more with updated equipment and of more sophistication. So they
are requiring a you know, they're asking to abolish that position and create a
new position that would fulfill the needs of the Traffic Division.
The reason why we're abolishing one and creating a new is that, one, the
electrician position belongs to the UPW (United Public Workers), and they would
not give concurrence to abolish a position or transfer the position to another
union. The one we are creating is an HGEA (Hawai`i Government Employees
Association). Basically, our traffic signals are aging and we're trying to go and
replace with new equipment, and that is requiring the position to upgraded to be
able to fulfill that duties that we asked of.
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CHR. DAVID: I see, so we can upkeep with maintenance. Okay, Council
Members. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Mr. Yamamoto, for being here
again today. On this position, is it a different person then? Is that what's going to
be happening here? Are we getting a new?
MR. YAMAMOTO: It will get advertised, and a selection process will be made
to acquire the appropriate skill that was required of the position.
MR. RICHARDS: And I'm going to assume that these are higher -skilled levels
than what we have in the current?
MR. YAMAMOTO: Correct.
MR. RICHARDS: And then, as far as theI don't see any reference to how
much the payroll or whatever will be in the document. Is it—what are we looking
at, going from what we are to what we're going?
MR. YAMAMOTO: I don't have that information off -hand, you know, as far as
the DPW (Department of Public Works) level of that position as well as the
HGEA position. I can find out and get back to you.
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, could you get that and send the communication to the
Council?
MR. YAMAMOTO: Okay
MR. RICHARDS: I'd appreciate that. By having this one position, is that going
to take care of all of our County signals, or is this going to be overseeing people?
How is that going to work?
MR. YAMAMOTO: It's probably overseeing some of the current staff as well as
lending to the expertise needed of the position itself.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay. Alright. Thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Ms. Villegas, go ahead.
MS. VILLEGAS: Hi, Mr. Yamamoto. Thanks for being here today. I guess I
just have a question. We talked a few months ago about the opportunities for
improving traffic flow on the west side by utilizing new technologies for traffic
lights, new algorithms, and whatnot. I guessI'm hopeful that this position
might have something to do with that and somebody will be trained in that.
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Vote on Res. 260-19
(Approved)
September 3, 2019
MR. YAMAMOTO: Right. In upgrading the signals over there, currently they
don't have the ability to synchronize. They each are programmed separately, and
there's no way of making the adjustments remotely, currently. And that's part of
the reason why we're asking for this position, to be able to install equipment
necessary to do the synchronization as well as have the expertise to be able to
make the adjustments as we replace the equipment.
MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you so much. Really appreciate that. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Villegas. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, David. I just appreciate you
guys doing this. I've seen your traffic signal guys out there working at 10 o'clock
at night on my way home, and I appreciate that they're doing that. And if you did
need the other position, it just makes sense. You just rolled one position that
wasn't working into one that is working. That, to me, is a good move because
you realize the need and you took care of it. So thank you for doing that. I think
we all appreciate when this department does its job because then our lives get
a lot easier when it comes to traffic flow, so thank you.
MR. YAMAMOTO: You're welcome.
CHR. DAVID: Mahalo, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Anyone else? Council
Members? Seeing none, Director, thank you for your patience and for being here.
Council Members, all those in favor of approving Resolution 260 and forwarding
it to Council with a positive recommendation please say "aye."
The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 260-19 was
carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy,
Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and
Chair David — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
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September 3, 2019
Return to Order of The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business.
Business:
Comm. 369: REQUESTS A FINANCE REPORT OF COUNTY EXPENSES RELATING
TO MAUNA KEA
From Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, dated July 15, 2019.
Postponed: August 20, 2019
(Note: There is a motion by Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, seconded by Ms. Eoff
to close file on Comm. 369, was circulated.)
(Note: Comm. 369.5, from Finance Director Deanna Sako dated
September 3, 2019, transmitting spreadsheet of Mauna Kea Assistance expenses
incurred as of September 3, 2019.)
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, we already
have a motion. Go ahead.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Mahalo everyone for sticking together in
our money -hunt, in keeping track of what's happening. Can I please have
Chief Ferreira and Deanna come up, please?
(Note: At this time Police Chief Paul Ferreira and Finance Director
Deanna Sako came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Good afternoon. Thank you for being here
and for waiting for us. I appreciate your time.
Okay, so we got your communication, Deanna. Thank you very much. Looks
like we had some slight increases, not as big as the first round of increases from
the last meeting. Can you just break this down for us a little bit? I don't know if
everyone has this, but just kind of give us
MS. SAKO: Hopefully, everyone has it. So the total cost to date are
$3.6 million—$3.65 million, and the increase from last time was $378,000, and
that's primarily a little bit of Fire but mostly Police overtime for the first half of
August. That was just paid at the end of August.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Because that's a very substantial drop from
the first round, where we had—we went from $258,000 to $3.2 million within
two weeks. So Chief, is that—what was that due to?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Well, as was explained earlier, when the event first went
off, the whole island went on to 12 -hour shifts, no days off. It included the crew
that we had up on Mauna Kea. Since everything had settled down, we pulled
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everybody back, put them back on 8 -hour shifts, regular rotations. So we only
have a small contingent that's up on Mauna Kea.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I appreciate that because you're
saving everyone money. Yeah, that's a good move, thank you. Can I ask under
what circumstances did we shift to 12 -hour shifts? What was that move, and why
was that necessary?
CHIEF FERREIRA : The shift to 12 hours is the only way we could provide
enough resources up on the mountain to escort the vehicles up to the top of the
mountain.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then after we didn't actually
move vehicles to the mountain, so
CHIEF FERREIRA: They tried.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So they tried. We were stuck with the 12 -
hour shifts. That was expensive. I didn't realize how expensive that was as I was
looking back at these numbers. So these August numbers would be about the
same number of officers that we've held and maintained since then. We have
about the same number now, is that?
CHIEF FERREIRA : That's correct.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, so I'm going to assume then, even
though we know what assuming does, but I'm going to assume that we're going
to keep having this $350,000, $400,000 jump every two weeks as we maintain
this?
CHIEF FERREIRA : If we maintain the same number, yes.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Any reason why we wouldn't
maintain those same numbers?
CHIEF FERREIRA
If they pull us back, they tell us we need to go, or we need
to increase numbers up there.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: But as of yet?
CHIEF FERREIRA
Everything is status quo.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, thank you. And then, Deanna, do we
have an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) or a MOA (Memorandum of
Agreement) yet?
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September 3, 2019
MS. SAKO: No, I believe it's still being worked on.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So to date, at the State level, administration
has yet to come to an agreement with our County to put it in writing.
MS. SAKO: I think just the written document is still being worked on. But that
hasn't prevented us from sending bills to the AG's (Attorney General) office.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Have they paid any?
MS. SAKO: Not yet.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I see. So are we billing them for this whole
total here, $3.65 million?
MS. SAKO: I think now we've only billed Fire and Police; that's what my
understanding of what the agreement was prior to the start, was just for those two
departments.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So they don't want to cover the costs of the
other departments or we just haven't billed them for that?
MS. SAKO: I'm not sure we've asked that. But my understanding is that they
specifically asked Fire and Police to be there.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Interesting, okay. Usually, we get an
agreement beforehand signed if we are going into some kind of a deal.
MS. SAKO: That is our preferred arrangement, yes.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: How come that didn't happen this time?
You know, just to be niele.
MS. SAKO: That wasn't through my office, so I'm not sure.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Any inkling as to why that didn't happen?
MS. SAKO: No.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: None at all? Okay. Chief, prior to
Mauna Kea, what were our numbers up there, police presence wise?
CHIEF FERREIRA : I don't follow you, what you mean by
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Prior to July 15, what were the police
numbers on Mauna Kea?
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CHIEF FERREIRA: I still don't follow you as far police presence on Mauna
Kea. I mean
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yeah, well, you know, I know we have TEU
(Traffic Enforcement Unit) up there.
CHIEF FERREIRA: We have Traffic Enforcement Units, not Mauna Kea but
Daniel K. Inouye Highway, from Highway 190 all the way to Kaumana City. We
also have our officers from South Kohala and South Hilo patrol that area, and
whenever we have availability, we will put extra officers up in that area, knowing
the speeds that are up there, knowing what the traffic is like.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So, I mean, from my recollection,
when we drove Saddle Road—I've been driving that every day for the last—not
every day but at least once or twice a week for the past nine years, usually I see
the same white Kia. You know, I got the cars nailed down in my head. So I'm
guessing it's about four to six guys. Does sound about right, the TEU?
CHIEF FERREIRA: All depends.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Kind of what's going on? Less than ten?
CHIEF FERREIRA: At times we have more than ten officers up there running
traffic.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, but right now there's about 20 guys,
yeah?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Give or take.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Okay, so we're definitely a little bit
heavy. Any way we can drop that number just to save everyone, whether you're
State of County, a little bit of finances here?
CHIEF FERREIRA: I'm at my bare minimum right now.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Twenty is the bear minimum set forth by the
administration?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Set forth by us, our plan.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Our plan?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Yes.
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September 3, 2019
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: County plan?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Yes.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, so we got an email from
Lorraine Inouye. I'm going to quote her. Quoting that the legislation gave the
AG and the Governor's Office $10 million to use. She seemed a little bit upset
that we're using funds in this way. But it's the first time that I heard about any
actual set amount of money being set aside for what's happening on Mauna Kea.
That was news to me. Okay, I will yield for now. Thank you, I do appreciate you
guys being here. I'll come back later.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. We'll come back to you. Ms. Poindexter, go ahead.
MS. POINDEXTER: On the amount of officers up on the mountain—and the
reason why I'm asking this questions is, I'm having such a hard time, you know,
several communities throughout my coastline, having the availability of a
community police officer. Because the community is calling me about drug
houses, drug activities, an increase in crime. You know, how do we address it?
Who's our Community Police Officer? I have not been able to have community
police officer at any of my meetings, so I called a meeting with Prosecutor
Mitch Roth and Neighborhood Watch Bobbye St. Ambrogio, after that meeting
when the community talked about why we don't have a community police officer.
Bobbye even said she was—she couldn't get ahold of a community police officer,
and they weren't returning their calls. So I just recently, couple days ago, maybe
even three days ago, got an email from a captain, saying, "I heard you guys need a
community police officer. I'll look into this."
When you're saying you have that much police officers up on the mauna, are you
taking our community police officers and putting them up there instead of having
them available to us, is my question?
CHIEF FERREIRA: Most of the officers that are up there right now are from our
specialized units. They're not from the community policing program. To clarify,
the community policing is a program. It's not an officer. We have designated
officers in each district that do community policing services. But as far as the
program, it's a philosophy and a program for the entire department, to take it back
to that level.
Everyone has misperception that you have a community policing officer specific
to handle all of your districts. If a community policing officer happens to be on a
day off—like in Honoka`a we have, if he happens to be on a day off, naturally
we're going to have—we send someone else to the meeting. So if you encounter
something like that, what you need to do is either convey that to me or convey
that to the captain of the district. We'll have the sergeant on the watch up here.
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September 3, 2019
We'll have the lieutenant in the district up here. We'll have the captain up here.
Or, if not, we can have someone from an enjoining district up here. We can
always have someone there. Again, the community policing program is a
program. It's not a specific officer. I know we've gotten used to that.
MS. POINDEXTER: But they're assigned. You have them assigned to an area.
CHIEF FERREIRA: Yes.
MS. POINDEXTER: Right. And so people know that they're assigned to their
area. And believe me I love the program, because when they're out there at the
community meetings on a regular basis, crime is down if you look at the reports.
I mean, it's
CHIEF FERREIRA: But don't wait for them to come. You know what I mean?
MS. POINDEXTER: Right. But you've got to understand, we're told to call
them. So if they're not returning the call
CHIEF FERREIRA: Oh, no, and that's why I said that's where I come in or
that's where the captain comes in.
MS. POINDEXTER: Right, and that's why I'm so glad that Captain Quiocho had
reached out to us and said he would work with us on that. What was that?
CHIEF FERREIRA: I thought you were talking about Honoka`a or Laupahoehoe.
MS. POINDEXTER: No, I'm talking about, like Pu`u`eo. We just had that
meeting there. And Honoka`a, also; because I just got calls from Honoka`a,
saying we need to get together again because of some drug houses, activities
going on. They don't see our police officers around. So I'm just saying, if
they're considered nonessential is my question. I heard that's why they're sent
to the mauna.
CHIEF FERREIRA: As far as the whole Police Department goes, take away
Mauna Kea and all that, our primary focus is on patrol. There's been times when
we have to take the community policing officers to support the patrol because
they're attached to the Patrol Division. They're taken away from the community
policing program, and they're working in patrol in their respective districts. They
would still report to the meetings. They would still attend the meetings. They
would still attend different functions. I hear this all the time, you know, we hear
it all the time that, you know, "We need our community policing officer there."
And as much as possible, we will get them there.
In Honoka`a, you have a new lieutenant out there, Roylen Valera. You may
familiar with him.
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September 3, 2019
MS. POINDEXTER: Yes.
CHIEF FERREIRA: He's really strong on the community policing side. So he
would be the one to reach out over there.
MS. POINDEXTER: We're fortunate that you're bringing the ones that were in
that area back because then they're very familiar with the community.
CHIEF FERREIRA: It's their choice.
MS. POINDEXTER: But that is a great program because it keeps our community
safe and healthy, and we build that relationship. People taking care of people, the
Neighborhood Watch, I mean, everything combined together builds a strong
community. So I like when you said that they are patrolling because I'm hoping
they're patrolling some of the areas that they are the community policers in the
area they're in charge of. Because that's what I keep hearing that's lacking is the
patrol.
So, I'm glad to hear that. I'm going to be working with Captain Quiocho on some
of the things that are going on with the need for our community police officers to
be there, and to help us mobilize our community to take care of our community.
We're not depending on our community police officers to take care of us. We're
depending on them to be part of the team so we can take care of ourselves, yeah,
and then we can look for them to support us. But, thank you. Thank you for
(inaudible).
CHIEF FERREIRA: Thank you. It is an outstanding program, and we don't
intend to cut it out.
MS. POINDEXTER: I don't want them to be called nonessential. They are the
most essential. Thank you. Thank you very much.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter. Anyone else?
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Going for round two, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Sorry, big subject. Keep it pretty
straight -forward. I'm glad to hear some members of the Council reaching out and
wanting to know more about the financial breakdown because this affects us all.
No matter what happens on Mauna Kea, it's been kind of clear from the
beginning it's not our jurisdiction. We are maintaining coverage for the State
government, but it really is not our jurisdiction. It's an interesting thing to wrap
our head around.
I was up late last night running through this in my head, just trying to wrap
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September 3, 2019
my you know, actuallyoh, I forgot, sorry. Deanna, last week I asked for the
2018-2019 cost. I have yet to get those from you. Do we have cost for that?
MS. SAKO: Sorry, I did clarify that if there was any work done prior to July 1st
it was not tracked because there was not any additional cost to us. So there was
like no overtime charge for working on it or anything like that.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So we have zero cost or we just didn't track
it?
MS. SAKO: Well, when we track for any grant purposes, it's the cost over and
above what we would normally spend. So just like these costs, the $3.6 million,
it's the overtime and the additional cost that we incurred, and we had no
additional costs incurred during fiscal year 2018-2019.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I don't know if I agree with that, but if
you're saying so, I'll take your word for it. You sure? Nothing? No meetings, no
equipment, no anything happened before July?
MS. SAKO: I confirmed with Police again, and they had no cost during that time
period.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. That was one question that was
outstanding. Thank you for clearing that up. I know from 2015, we didn't track
either, yes?
MS. SAKO: We did not track, and they're not even sure if it was noted on the
timesheets or not, so we're not going back to look for that.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Will we be eligible for reimbursement if we
had tracked that.
MS. SAKO: I don't believe we had any agreement with anyone to reimburse us
at that time.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I mean, we really don't have an agreement
now anyway.
MS. SAKO: Well, we have a verbal agreement, yes.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I love verbal agreements.
MS. SAKO: I know.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So again, I was up late last night. About
one o'clock in the morning I just had this thought. O our State's motto, which is
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September 3, 2019
first spoken by Kamehameha III, Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Aina i ka Pono, there's
different ways of translating that, but after researching a little bit because it kept
popping into my head, "The sovereignty of the land is maintained through
harmony." That's a different way of looking at pono. Pono can be righteousness,
pono can be justice, pono can be harmony. It clicked for me because I believe
what is happening on Mauna Kea right now is not in harmony with these County
needs. It really isn't.
We're spending a lot of money. We are creating a huge amount of divisiveness
amongst our community. We are putting our officers, our families, and our
children, and pulling in different directions, and it just really isn't doing our
County any good. That's what it's come down to for me. Without a written
agreement, without a signed agreement by anybody, how we can we the County
be conditionally required to support this project? Even more so disturbing.
If the State legislature had given the funds, $10 million, to kanakas across the
State, think of the good that we could have done with those funds. If they
gave them $1 million, think of the good that they could have done. The
$10 (million)so we've squandered millions of dollars, and we talk about
finances all of the time in this Council and that's really what we do, but when it
came to this, there's some quietness. That was interesting to me; some people are
onboard and some people are not. But we have squandered millions of dollars on
the protection for a corporation that is not state-owned, and not a county
corporation. These are not public companies. I justI can't swallow that, you
know.
And Chief, you're doing what you're told, yeah? You've been given this job.
Deanna, you're giving me the numbers because that's what you do. For us as
Council Members, if we truly are here to look at the numbers and say, "Where
there's something that we're doing is right or in harmony of what our constituents
are asking for," then I think we need to do a little bit more digging and really just
take this apart and look at what it is, and just call it for what it is, which is
nonsense.
To go back to what one of my testifiers said earlierI'm focused on
Police—Chief, I'm sorry if it comes across that way, you are my biggest spender,
$3.4 million out of the $3.65 million. So, I'm sorry that the focus comes to you.
CHIEF FERREIRA: Came with the job.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I said I was going to ask hard questions.
That is our job. So I just have to say that's why we're asking these questions,
because these large amounts of money that we're spending; and again, without
agreement. I yield for now. I thank you for your time. Thank you.
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September 3, 2019
CHR. DAVID: I assume you're yielding. Alright, Council Members, anyone
else? Ms. Lee Loy, go ahead.
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, thank you. You know, Deanna, I really am just trying to
get to the same timeframe. Because I see here, you know, other costs is till
September 3rd while Salary, Wages, and Fringes is to the 19th. I know you
explained that before. Please share that one more time.
MS. SAKO: So it's everything that basically we paid out through today. It's just
that when people work overtime, they get it paid one pay period late. It includes
the overtime we just paid on August 31st. That actual time worked was for
August 1st, 2015. So there's always going to be that one pay period lag.
I did kind of hear you say you were kind of matching time periods, and I was
working on that but got interrupted a few too many times today. But also, the cost
didn't increase as much as last time either. So if it had gone up significantly , we
would have tried to break it out more month -by -month. I will work on that for
next time, just to try and make columns for each month.
MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, that would be helpful. Because I just want to try and do
the math, right? If we're up there for eight weeks, what was it costing us per
week? And so when I start doing some of the math, you know, we're somewhere
between $450,000 a week to $650,000 a week. And I think that makes for better
conversation, is to keep apples with apples.
MS. SAKO: Yeah, I think there's also couple departments that may have some
bills that they're processing this week. I'm not sure if this will come up again, but
if it does, there should be probably better information.
MS. LEE LOY: Okay. I know that the MOU or MOA is being developed,
and you mentioned that the bills are time -related to just Fire. And I think
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder touched on this, are we going to be billing for all, or try
and bill for all the other departments? Because we've spent a lot of time here,
right in the Council, listening to testimony. I mean, I want to throw it all in. I'd
rather ask for it all and see what we get back.
MS. SAKO: So we don't normally bill for things that are you know, unless I
were to pay you guys overtime. Even my time being here, Chiefs time, it's not in
this total. We don't have a good way for doing that. We could try and allocate it.
The system isn't—we could set it up that way. But normally don't bill for it,
because the normally the agreements are for additional costs we wouldn't
normally have incurred.
MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, maybe just try. I mean, a lot of the conversation has
been on Finance Committee. We can actually capture the time from beginning to
end: costs for posting agendas; costs for listening to public testimony, which of
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September 3, 2019
course is part of the process. But if we're going to ask, I'd rather just swing for
the fences and try and get it all back. That's all I have. Thank you, Chief, for
being here. Deanna, thank you for staying on top of this. Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you, Chair. Thank you, Deanna. Thank you,
Chief, for being here answering the questions.
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder brings out the point about this costing us. I will take
argument with whether or not we should be there. This is our County and you are
charged with public safety for our County. Regardless of what that is, I think you
need to be there. And I fully appreciate the fact that you are trying to manage it.
Now, no one expected this to be going like it is and the way it is. But the fact
that you're up there, I do appreciate it. Unlike one of our testifiers, I do not go
80 miles an hour, and I pass your cops up there. I don't win the lottery either, so
I don't think I'm going to win that one. I do appreciate the fact that you
haven't—that you are up there and doing what we need to do.
It is a tough time for our County. It's a very tough time for all of our constituents.
We have families divided. We have friends divided over this. I think the
solution is going to be in resolution of this, but the resolution is not going to
come quick. Regardless, the people do need to come collectively to the table with
a true attitude of ho`o pono to get things worked out with no preconceived idea.
But I do appreciate you being up there, and I think you're supposed to be there.
Deanna, you always keep track of our expenses, so I do appreciate that. And I
think what Council Woman Lee Loy pointed out, having a tracking relative to the
timeline, just so we can see that. I think that would be a good one for the Council
as a whole. So with that, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Alright,
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Deanna, could you please look into whether
or not we paved the road up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Station?
MS. SAKO: From Daniel K. Inouye Highway up to the visitors?
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: From Daniel K. Inouye Highway. I'm
pretty sure that we maintain that road, but I've never seen a cost for that. But if
that is in our cost, then that should be reimbursed by the State, as well. I don't
know how long that's been happening. I yield. Thank you.
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September 3, 2019
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Anyone else before weI
do have one question, Deanna. I know we're talking—the agreement with the
State is pending, okay. I'm just curious, should it turn out that we won't get
reimbursed, how does that—what is our options of either appealing that, objecting
to it? I mean, how do we handle receipt of money, or revenues, that we
understand we were going to be repaid, and at the end we were not? What is the
process of?
MS. SAKO: We do, you know, aggressively seek collection. Typically, it does
not happen in our grant -type funding. And when II use the term "grant"
loosely, but like State or Federal funding, I don't believe we have instances where
we haven't been paid for that unless there's something—some criteria, something
we didn't meet. So we would actively pursue that and definitely have a lot of
discussions with.
CHR. DAVID: Would that be something that would come before this body?
MS. SAKO: Our past due collection type actions don't normally come here, but
they also haven't been that large.
CHR. DAVID: Yeah, and that's my question. Because I think the amount of
interest and the amount of concern that's being expressed on the cost of what it's
costing the County, I think that at least we should have an idea of when we're
going to get a decision from the decision -maker whether they're going to pay it or
not.
MS. SAKO: So I know they're actively looking at the bills. One of the
departments actually received questions from someone up at the State level. So
they're actively reviewing it, like any of our grant billings we submit. So
hopefully we'll get payment soon.
CHR. DAVID: Even though it's just for strictly salary and wages and overtime,
they've got questions?
MS. SAKO: They always have question. The format of the report. They want to
make sure they're reading it right; they want to understand. I just take that as a
sign that they're actually reviewing it.
CHR. DAVID: Okay. And would be notified then of their decision if whether
they start paying it or not? Can we be notified when they do start paying?
MS. SAKO: Oh, if they start paying?
CHR. DAVID: Yeah. Okay, and then the rest will just sayI don't—everything
is a timeframe here, and the fact that we're just having them to wait for them to
give us an agreement without any
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September 3, 2019
MS. SAKO: I believe there is a drafted agreement. It's just going back and forth
with attorneys.
CHR. DAVID: Oh, that could take forever.
MS. SAKO: It's not in my hands.
CHR. DAVID: Okay. I know, and I'm not putting you on the spot. It's just that,
you know, I think this is really important. So if you could come back to us and let
us know whether they are let us know when we do get paid something.
MS. SAKO: Yeah, we're going to have to come back to appropriate that at some
point because I'm going to need to help the Chief out with his (inaudible) budget.
CHR. DAVID: Okay, I'd appreciate that because we've got—yeah. And thank
you, Chief, you're going to have some work ahead of you, too. Okay, I guess I -
MR. RICHARDS: Just really quick.
CHR. DAVID: Sure.
MR. RICHARDS: Chair, can I tap in what you were just mentioning? Deanna, if
this might work, if we can have a bimonthly report? As simple as a spreadsheet,
basically what you have here, on a month. So it's a matrix, for lack of a better
term, that shows any payment received. We see that every other week or so. I
think that would answer a lot of the questions for the Council, coming forward.
Again, suggestion.
MS. SAKO: Okay, I heard bi-monthly. Did you semi-monthly?
MR. RICHARDS: Twice a month, how does that work?
MS. SAKO: Semi-monthly. Got it.
MR. RICHARDS: Got it.
CHR. DAVID: Council Members, okay, no other questions? Alright, all those in
favor of closing file on Communication 369 please say "aye."
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September 3, 2019
Vote on Comm. 369: The motion to close file on Comm. 369 was carried by
Filed the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy,
Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and
Chair David — 89.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you very much. Alright, Mr. Clerk, can we move to the
last item on the agenda, Resolution 271-19?
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions.
Res. 271-19: ADOPTS THE INTERIM RECOVERY STRATEGY REGARDING THE
2018 KILAUEA ERUPTION
Establishes a plan for interim recovery efforts including management of funding
sources, spending, and goals and objectives for restoring economy, housing and
infrastructure.
Motion to Approve
Point of Personal
Privilege:
Reference: Comm. 430
Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz and Ms. Lee Loy
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend adoption
of Res. 271-19. Seconded by Ms. Villegas.
CHR. DAVID: Ladies
MS. LEE LOY: Chair, if you don't mind?
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: I think Ms. Kierkiewicz and I would like to take a personal
privilege and present this resolution along with the attached Interim Recovery
Plan at the testifier's stand, please?
CHR. DAVID: Sure.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: What's that? Wait. Oh, you guys are going to go there?
MR. HENRICKS: Take a brief recess, please.
Page 20
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CHR. DAVID: Thank you. We're in recess.
Recess: At 5:18 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 5:22 p.m.
Point of Personal
Privilege:
September 3, 2019
CHR. DAVID: Aloha and welcome back to the Committee on Finance.
Council Members, we're going to start. Where did we leave off?
Ms. Kierkiewicz and Ms. Lee Loy, on Resolution 270-19.
MS. LEE LOY: Yes, thank you, Chair. After consideration with the Clerk, for
recordkeeping purposes, Ms. Kierkiewicz and I will actually be presenting from
the dais; but as a point of personal privilege, we just want the latitude to be able
to be able to go back and forth and present different key points of the Interim
Recovery Plan and some of the thought processes that were put into developing
this Interim Recovery Plan.
CHR. DAVID: Okay, shall we ask Director Ley to come to the table?
MS. LEE LOY: And Mr. Takemoto, too.
CHR. DAVID: And Mr. Takemoto. Thank you. Would you both come up
here?
(Note: At this time, Research and Development Director Diane Ley and
Executive Assistant to the Mayor Roy Takemoto, came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Mahalo. Alright, go ahead, ladies.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair, if I could begin? Thank you. First I want to
thank Council Member Lee Loy for being my partner in all of this. I think
Chair Chung did an excellent job of pairing Freshman and season
Council Members together, and it's through your creative, innovative leadership
that I've learned so much. So thank you, Sue. It's been an honor to work with
you.
I think what you have before you in the form this Interim Recovery Strategy is
my heart for Puna. If I wrap my arms around you and give you a lei of aloha,
this is it. It is the time that I spent in the community to help with disaster
response. And it's the ten months that I've been in office being the people's
champion, meeting with community nearly every week in Pahoa and giving
them a chance to elevate their heart and soul and their voice in this document.
So this document is a reflection of community sentiments. What it all boils
down to is accountability and transparency.
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September 3, 2019
I think last month Chair Chung said it best when he said, "You lost the
community already." And I'm really hopeful because I remain upbeat. There's
so much promise and opportunity that I choose to see. And when I was elected to
do this job, I was going to be the community's warrior and champion. So I'm
showing up every single day because I believe that we can do this together. That
with this strategy we can press the reset button, rebuild trust, and establish a clear,
objective decision-making process, where the Council knows its role and the
community knows where it fits in, and we can do things together in partnership.
I think a huge bright spot in the last ten months has been Bill 12.
Council Member Lee Loy has always encouraged me to use the tools at your
disposal. We make policy. So in partnership with the administration, we were
able to articulate things that we could get off the ground right now. And I'm so
proud that with the $50,000 that we dedicated to getting back home, we've helped
people regain access to three different kipukas. I wish we could do more. I wish
we could move things faster. But we did this.
I want to thank the departments, specifically R&D (Research and Development),
for working hand-in-hand with community to build capacity, right? We need to
be accountable to every public dollar; so that means going through a process,
Similar to students applying for college grants, there is an application process to
keep you accountable. And that's what we needed to do for Bill 12, was ensure
that the community was going to be accountable to their neighbors in getting
roads and support to get folks back home.
Just a little history about this document. Roy Takemoto and Director Ley reached
out to Council Member Lee Loy and me, really excited about a recovery
framework that aligns with FEMA's (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
National Disaster framework, and what's great is we are all champions for
alignment and efficiencies and working effectively. Council Member Lee Loy
likes to champion. Let's all have a shared language. We've got to have all of that
vernacular in place. This is what it does; it restructures our recovery process to be
in alignment with Federal dollars. And so I'm very excited that we had the
opportunity to work in partnership.
We provided you with an initial draft that was good, but it needed to be massaged,
to really truly include the community's voice in this. I think over the last month
the Council, the community, has watched me grow a bit frustrated with the
process or lack thereof with the kind of information that we may or may not be
getting, and I just want to say that we cannot see information put before the
Council or the community as a liability. We have to see it as a tool of
empowerment, because good information, solid information, all the information,
allows us to make good policy decisions and budget allocations.
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September 3, 2019
We updated this budget to include money to support things we are hearing is so
needed in the community. Money to support Kuaokala re-establish itself. Money
for the Iawai`i to support the boat ramp. Money with the Puna Strong grants,
Revolving Loan Fund to get people back home, business case management, and
start off with a wastewater treatment facility design and plan work for Pahoa.
This is what the community needs.
I'm so thankful for everyone showing up today in support and remaining true to
your truths, what you want for your community, and entrusting me to be your
champion, so thank you. And I ask my colleagues for their support on this
important document which will, I think, really set parameters around expectation
of what the recovery process looks from here on out. Council Member Lee Loy?
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Yes, first and foremost, it has
been an extreme pleasure to see your passion and your drive, and just help coach
that in the right direction. I'm incredibly humbled on the work you've provided
here. Congratulations. This is really something that will be—stand the test time
of time for your community. And it was a pleasure helping you do this.
For Diane, Roy, and even Ron, we spent many months really rumbling about the
needs of the community, listening. I was actually happy that I hadI was able to
take step back. Ms. Kierkiewicz and Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, this is their
community, and so they were, along with all other frustrated constituents—and I
was able to kind of take a step back and just really listen.
I began to put on a planner hat. Roy and I go way back, when we talk about
community and community engagement but also listening to the community
needs. Coming up with a framework that was more actionable, similar to that
than any other developer who goes through a change of zone application,
providing benchmarks that we hold others accountable to, we should offer the
same to our community because they want to see actionable items. They want to
know where to meet us, when to show up, when to champion, when to push, when
to compliment, and then also where to give us a little bit more rumble. And that's
what this Interim Recovery Plan is truly about.
Let me walk back. This was an unprecedented event, and so this has become an
unprecedented document which has a lot of innovative thoughts and a way to
reimagine the area with the various sources of funding that we are seeking. I did
get a little disheartened last month, you know, listening to the frustrations. And
even today, listening to some of the testimony in which—there is a lot of lost
trust, or individuals losing hope, and it bothered me because this community was
traumatized a year ago, and so I wanted to stop that.
I think this document, for the rest of my colleagues, really develops the
framework to be agents of change, help give the community exactly what they
need, and empower them as Ms. Kierkiewicz said with the tools to reimagine their
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September 3, 2019
community, truly bounce back and truly recover. So with that, I'm going to yield.
But I urge the rest of my colleagues to please take a good hard look at the
measurables, the deliverables, the accountability, the transparency. All of these
key words that the community has been asking for a very long time and urge that
they support this Interim Recovery Plan as we move through this and then the
long range going forward. Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, and thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
Council Members? Anyone else? Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I was reading the article not too long ago,
and it said one of the biggest disconnects between the public and government is
the distrust of government to do what it's supposed to do, whether it's financial,
whether it's legislative, and that is really one of the big items to overcome. So if
this goes and helps us overcome that and the disconnect between what people in
Puna are wanting and what we're able to give them, then I am all for it. And I do
thank you for your hard work. Maybe now that we've hit this point, you guys can
let me back in. I'd appreciate that. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Anyone else? No? Okay,
you folks have anything final to say?
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I just want to thank the administration. I am not trying to
be a problem. I probably don't make it easy. I don't know what my role is. I
look at the Charter; it's not clear. You make policy, great. Well, I want to get in
there and get my hands dirty and work alongside with the administration. I've
always wanted to be partner. I hope we can continue to work together in a more
defined and inclusive way that really plugs in the mana`o of the community
because they're going to have to live with whatever decisions are made. There
are so many smart people, so many diverse opinions, and so if we have clarity
around the process, that would be great.
And I think for Council Member and myself too, as Chair and Vice Chair of
Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee and the leads for
this Council in advocating for our County, you know, legislators are already
starting to check in with us. They want to know how this body has provided
oversight around that $60 million, and so I just want to take great care of every
dollar that we have at our disposal and leverage it as best as possible to reimagine
the area, and truly uplift the district and address many longstanding issues that we
haven't for whatever reason been able to accomplish.
Thank you for working with us on this and giving the community the
accountability and transparency that they've been looking for. It's much
appreciated.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Richards, go ahead.
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September 3, 2019
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you, Chair. Thanks, Ash, for the point that
legislators are starting to check in, see where we are with this.
I want to say thatI don't think there's a lot of questions right now because it's
a comprehensive document and it's going to take some digesting. I look
forwardI'm very happy to put this through Committee and send it with a
positive recommendation. I think the real conversation is going to happen when
we get to Council, as we'll be—have time to digest what you've been working on.
So look forward to hearing—or actually, digesting a bunch of this.
I'd like to hear if anything—Diane or Roy, if you have any comments on this.
Chair, is that okay to?
CHR. DAVID: Yes, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Just any comment, follow-up, with this. Quick read through;
it'sI like how it's formatted. But just curious, from your perspective.
MS. LEY: Thank you. Diane Ley, Director for Research and Development, and
Recovery Manager.
Yes, the administration had heard calls for more clarity about our planning
process—and moving forward to define some of our interim actions would be
needed. And so the Recovery Team was working on an Interim Recovery
Strategy early in the year, and about April we shared that with Council Members
Kierkiewicz and Lee Loy. The two Council Members in consultation have added
substantially to the strategy. Really focusing on defining that recovery process,
inclusion of the community, and administrative transparency, and that's all good.
Recovery, it's a process. It's a major process for us as both the administration
and Council to find our way. It's a major process for our communities to find
our way, and that requires patience with one another, and trust, because in the
bottom-line, this is a small community and we're all in this together and we all
need to come out of it together, and it's going to take us many years. This is not a
short-term initiative. I trust that there's a knowledge about that.
The administration does need to do more work in terms of transparency. We've
been lifting that up over the last few months and putting more information out.
But we know that a greater level of transparency is desired and needed given the
scale of this disaster, and recognize the Council for pushing on that, and the
community for uplifting the need.
The administration also—it's required for us to create new structures and
processes to meet new demands, both of the community as well as of our funding
sources, moving forward. The administration has been working as quickly as
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September 3, 2019
possible to release information. We've implemented a robust website, and we vet
heavily the information before we post it there, so we are as accurate as we
believe we can be. We've implemented social media and in-person
communication and that's been since day -one. Since during the eruption, I should
say, particularly the in-person.
For the administration, our Interim and Strategic Plans, they're being worked
together simultaneously. While the Interim Strategic Plan is before the
community today and before this Council body, it's been a work that we've been
working on and working on implementing all of—since last Fall and through
Spring when we started to define it on paper.
The Comprehensive Strategic Plan is a work in progress. We are making good
headway on that. We anticipate that being completed by the end of the year. We
are working closely with community, and I urge the community to continue
sharing its voices both with the Council and the administration and amongst
themselves. Voices have been uplifted and are continuing to be uplifted through
the Puna Action Committee for the CDP (Community Development Plan).
In speak -outs, we held one last month, which was attended and people stayed for
hours. We anticipate having one in early October again. We're working our
digital channels, and we're convening meetings, and people convene meetings
and ask us to attend, and we are on the phone with people.
We are trying to be inclusive. The Recovery Team has and is listening. People
say they don't trust that we're listening, but we are. We hear, we're recording
their comments, and we're considering that feedback in loops along every part of
the process. But we also acknowledge that there's a demand and a need for more
inclusion, especially during the implementation phase. And people need to
understand what that process is. We can't always just implement. We have laws
to follow and processes to follow and rules to follow.
County's kuleana is both near-term and long-term. This Council as a body is
going to be helping us as a community and as a County with recovery process
over the next eight to ten years, and really building a new foundation upon which
we can respond to disasters and the shortfalls in our community, through the
development of processes and policies. It's going to be challenging. We've got
to proceed methodically. We've got to proceed clearly. We can't be putting the
wheel, the cart before the horse. To lack process now can lead us down the road
to negative consequences and outcomes later on, and we really have to be careful
of that.
We really have to work hard together as a team, and that includes the
administration with the Council and with the community, so that we can better
understand what it is the decisions are going to entail, what our obligations are
going to entail. Particularly as we source funds that have deeper obligations, if
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you will. We don't want to see situations, as our friends at HUD (Housing and
Urban Development) call it, where there's a claw back. That's not what we want
to do. We don't want to spend or resources inappropriately and then have those
funds be held accountable to the County with our limited coffers.
So these are processes we need to go through. We need patience, and we need
trust amongst everyone. As Council Member Kierkiewicz said, you know, a reset
button. All can work better for the betterment of our communities.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Director.
MR. TAKEMOTO: Very quickly. As far as
CHR. DAVID: Can you identify yourself quickly for the record. I'm sorry.
MR. TAKEMOTO: Quick reaction to the document? Oh, Roy Takemoto,
Mayor's Office.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Roy.
MR. TAKEMOTO: Quick reaction to the document, this is very well done.
Thank you. We welcome accountability, so this is good. What's in here is
reporting that we should be doing, so we have no objections to any of that.
As far as transparency, if there was a breakdown in communication, then it
certainly wasn't intentional. I've worked with several of you in working
committees, and we value grinding it out to work out the uncertainties, to figure it
out together.
This recovery, as been said many times, there's nothing like what we've
experienced in our lifetime, our careers. This is as the overused image of building
the plane as you fly it. You know, it's complex. As we figured it out, we may
have been talking too much among ourselves and not including you. So "reset"
seems to be a popular term at this meeting today, and we totally buy into that.
So going forward, this would be a good blueprint, so we look forward to
improved communications. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Takemoto. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Well, I appreciate that, Diane; appreciate that, Roy. Your
visual of building the airplane while you're flying it, that kind of articulates that.
Reminds me of when we were talking to David earlier, about the 800 degrees on
the roadway where we're trying to build. So there's a lot of trail -blazing going on
and I do appreciate that. So with that, I don't want to spend a lot more time right
now. Like I said, I want to get—kind of get your reflections of that. And I look
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forward to digging into this thing, having further conversations a little bit later.
So with that, Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? No? Go ahead,
Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: And just to answer Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, yes, I'll be ready
to tag out. This is one of two pieces of legislation that would be coming forward.
This one, the resolution for the Interim Recovery Plan; and the next is the rework
of Chapter 7, of which this work would dovetail into, which any future
Council Member, administration can use should a similar event emerge, we will
have developed that framework.
I'm feeling super emotional right now because this by far has been the heaviest
lift I have done professionally, and to have done it with Ashely who is just as
passionate. I am so excited for the community. I'm really looking forward to
turning this over, so Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, please. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone else? Well, I just want to say
in closing, thank you very much. I know how hard both of you and your
department worked on developing this, like never done before, ever. And I hope
we don't have another opportunity to go through this. Even though you folks
worked really hard on preparing for the possibility of something else, I really,
sincerely hope that we don't have to go through this again.
Thank you, Diane and Roy; and ladies, Ms. Lee Loy, Ms. Kierkiewicz. And I
look forward to your continued collaboration and working together because I
think that's the only way we're going to find a solution. So thank you so much
for all you do. Alright. Aloha. Okay, Council Members, all those in favor of
approving Resolution 271-19 and forward to Council with a positive
recommendation, please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 271-19: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 271-19 was
(Approved) carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes:
Committee Members Chung, Eoff,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair David — 8.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
Committee Member Poindexter —1.
Excused:
None.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances.
(There were none.)
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FC -18
September 3, 2019
CHR. DAVID: I think that concludes our agenda for today. Motion, please, to adjourn?
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 5:51 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn
MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes:
Committee Members Chung, Eoff,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy,
Richards, Villegas, and Chair David — 8.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
Committee Member Poindexter — 1.
Excused:
None.
CHR. DAVID: We are now adjourned. Mahalo everybody for being here and
your patience.
Approved:
Ms. Maile e Biros David, Chair
Finance Committee
MD/na
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(Date)
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