HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-25 Minutes Public Hearing FY26 Operating and CIP BudgetsMINUTES
WATER BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2026 OPERATING BUDGET AND 5-YEAR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
March 25, 2025
West Hawaii Civic Center, Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Stephen Lopez, Chairperson, District 8
Mr. Michael Pono Kekela, Vice-Chairperson, Dist. 4
Mr. Philip Aiona, Water Board Member, Dist. 9 (came in later)
Mr. James Lee, Water Board Member, Dist. 2
Mr. Keith Unger, Water Board Member, Dist. 6
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager-Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply (ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. Michael Bell, Water Board Member, Dist. 7
Ms. Emily Taaroa, Water Board Member, Dist. 5
Director, Planning Department (ex-officio member)
Director, Department of Public Works (ex-officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Diana Mellon-Lacey, Deputy Corporation Counsel
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY STAFF:
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Gregory Goodale, Chief of Operations
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
Ms. Nora Avenue, Recording Secretary
(Chairperson Stephen Lopez called the public hearing to order at 9:30 a.m.)
CHR. LOPEZ: Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and 5-year
Capital Improvements Budget for the Department of Water Supply please come to order? My name is Stephen
Lopez, Chairperson of the Water Board, and I will have the secretary do a roll call of the Board Members present,
please.
(A roll call was taken for Water Board Members in attendance. Five Board Members were present: Messrs. Aiona,
Kekela, Lee, Unger, and Chairperson Lopez.)
Page 2 of 2 March 25, 2025, Water Board Minutes
CHR. LOPEZ: The Water Board, under Section 8-2(c) of the Hawai‘i County Charter shall adopt the Operating
and Capital Improvements Budget for the Department of Water Supply; and under the hearing and
advertising provision of Section 10-4, Hawai‘i County Charter, did publish public hearing notices in the
Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald and in the West Hawai‘i Today on March 11, 2025.
As stated in the hearing notice, all comments or testimony were to be filed in writing before the time of the hearing
or register to have testimony included via web conference application. We would like to follow this format as
closely as possible; however, because there may be some of you who do not have any written statements but
would like to testify or comment, we would like to afford you this opportunity to do so but would like to limit such
presentations to three minutes because of time concerns.
Hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Secretary, is there anyone registered to provide oral or written
testimony?
MS. AVENUE: There are none, Mr. Chair.
CHR. LOPEZ: Hearing none, at this time I would like to entertain a motion that this Public Hearing be closed.
MR. KEKELA: Pono, so moved.
MR. UNGER: Second, Keith.
CHR. LOPEZ: It has been moved and seconded that the Public Hearing is closed. All those in favor say “aye.”
BOARD MEMBERS: Aye.
CHR.LOPEZ: Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:33 a.m.)
___________________________
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
(April 22, 2025)