Finance Committee Meeting Summary - December 16, 2025
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Finance Committee Meeting Summary - December 16, 2025
The Committee on Finance convened on December 16, 2025, at 11:01 a.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center to review fund transfer reports, change orders, and proposed resolutions regarding agricultural food access. The committee heard testimony from department representatives and district personnel regarding budget allocations and project scopes before voting on multiple measures to close files and forward recommendations to the full council. Councilmember Kimball expressed a need for clarity on contract scope expansions, while Councilmembers Galimba and Oneshi emphasized the importance of follow-on funding for food security initiatives.
Consent Calendar
- Communication 23.24 (Fund Transfers Oct 2025): Councilmembers Inava and Houstis moved to close the file on the report of fund transfers authorized from October 16 through 31, 2025. The motion carried with 8 votes in favor (Kirkwitz excused).
- Communication 23.25 (Fund Transfers Nov 2025): Councilmembers Inava and Houstis moved to close the file on the report of fund transfers authorized November 1-15, 2025. Councilmember Inaba clarified that the Habitat for Humanity
Meeting Transcript
Okay, welcome to our 25th session for the committee on finance. Today's meeting is being held in the West Hawaii Civic Center. Our outlying sites are open as well. It is December 16th, 2025. It is 11.01 a.m. And calling this meeting to order. Here in the Kona Chambers, we have Councilmembers Kogioada, Houstis, Inaba, Oneshi, Viegis, Galimba, and Kimball, and myself, Mr. Connie Lee Kleinbrother. And Miss Kirkwitz is excused for the day. Mr. Klerk, if we can start with public testimony if there is any, and then go to the first order of business. Thank you, Committee Chair Conley Clamfelder. I can report that we do not have any oral testimony for this meeting today. Thank you very much. Communication 23.24 report of fund transfers authorized October 16 through 31, 2025 from Controller John Arbles, dated November 17, 2025. Motion to close file on communication 23.24. Second. We have a motion by councilmember in Nava and a second by councilmember Houstis to close file on communication 23.24. Council members, any discussion on the measure. Hearing and seeing none, and just for everyone's information, we do have all the departments in Hilo joining us as well as our director Diane Nakagawa. Okay. Hearing and seeing no discussion. Motion is on the floor. All in favor. Any opposed? Mr. Kirk, you have eight members in favor. Miss Kirkwitz being excused. Motion carries. Next communication, please. So any testimony for communication 23.25. Hearing none. Communication 23.25 report of fund transfers authorized number one through 15, 2025. From controller John Arbles, dated in approval November 25, 2025. Motion to close file on communication 23.25. Second. We have a motion by Councilmember Inava and a second by Councilmember Houstis to close file on communication 23.25. Council members discussion. And then the habitat for humanity affordable homes for Pune. These are under the general fund, both in DPW and Housing. Just a brief explanation of what the two are, please, and if they're related. I do see Mr. Shiroma joining us. Mr. Shoma, do you have information on this? Yeah, I'm looking at this uh page one of the report, and it seems the habitat it should be for the um for the housing side. I see it in the middle, like you know, listed on between line um transfer number 12 and 13, but it should be for uh the first amount, which is the 450,000 for um the home projects. Uh a little bit background the habitat for humanity affordable homes for Pune. Um is one of the 2020 uh 2023 home program choto funding that we took back the money. So these along with the other um funding, which includes the 451, the 43,000, 41,000, and the 400 are all leftover monies that we are combining into one project.
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