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Record of Proceedings

Committee on Finance Meeting Summary - January 22, 2026

County Council & Committees — Thursday, January 22, 2026
BodyHawaii County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateThursday, January 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:04

Original source
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0:03

Aloha, welcome to the 27th session of the Committee on Finance.

0:08

We are here in the Kona Chambers today.

0:10

It is 101 p.m.

0:13

I am your presiding officer for today's meeting, James Houstis.

0:17

We are joined by members in the Kona Chamber, Councilmembers Kimball, Galimba, Viegas, Oneshi, and Kagiwada.

0:24

In our Hilo chamber, we have Councilmember Kirkowitz, and we will soon be joined by uh Council Chair Inaba in short notice.

0:33

Mr.

0:34

Clerk, do we have any testifiers for today's committee?

0:37

Thank you, Vice Chair Houstis.

0:39

I can confirm we don't have any testifies to this committee, so we may start where wherever on the agenda you are ready to proceed.

0:45

We'll go from the top, please.

0:47

Communication 23.27 report of fund transfers authorized June 16 through 30 and December 1 through 15, 2025 from controller John Argles, dated December 17, 2025.

1:04

Okay.

1:05

Thank you, Mr.

1:06

Clerk.

1:08

Yeah, I guess.

1:08

Could I have a motion for communication?

1:11

Could I have a motion for communication 2327, please?

1:17

Motion to close file and communication 2327.

1:20

Second.

1:20

We motion closed file from Councilmember Kimball, second from Councilmember Cogiwata to close file.

1:27

Members, any discussion on communication 23-27.

1:41

Nothing going on.

1:43

Okay.

1:43

Let's see.

1:44

I think I had one question here for Office of Housing.

1:54

Chair, we have uh representatives from housing here.

1:57

They are approaching.

1:58

Thank you so much.

1:58

Just a quick question.

1:59

If you could just give us an update on the on the home project and the transfer of funds from the tenant-based rental assistance program to home projects, and just kind of give some background and some update on that.

2:10

Thank you, Mr.

2:11

Sharoma.

2:14

Hello, Royce Shiro from the Office of Housing and Community Development.

2:19

Those are 2018 funds that we are transferring from the home TBRA program to the general home project.

2:34

Really?

2:38

Oh, here.

2:39

I'm sorry.

2:40

So it is 24.

2:41

So we are putting that the funding from the TBRA to a project, the Ooli Ekahi Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project.

2:54

They were needing 113,000, so that's why we did the transfer.

2:59

That's great to hear.

3:00

Thank you, Mr.

3:00

Sharoma.

3:02

Any any other questions on this item?

3:06

Okay, seeing none.

3:07

All those in favor of closing filing communication 2327, please say aye.

3:12

Any opposed?

3:14

Mr.

3:15

Clerk, you have seven in favor.

3:17

Mr.

3:17

Inaba and Mr.

3:18

Connie Lee Kleinfelder are absent.24.

3:27

Hearing none.

3:28

Communication 24.24 report of change orders authorized October 16 through 31, 2025.

3:33

From Finance Director Diane Nakagawa, dated December 17, 2025, transmitting the above report pursuant to section 2-12.3 at the way county code.

3:42

Chair motion to close file and communication 24.24.

3:46

Motion and a second to close file and communication 24.24 from Kimball and Kagiwada.

3:52

Any discussion members?

3:54

Councilmember Kimball.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████████████████████29%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Public Safety████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis████████8%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Affordable Housing███3%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee on Finance Meeting Summary - January 22, 2026

The 27th session of the Hawaii County Committee on Finance convened on January 22, 2026, presided over by Vice Chair James Houstis in the Kona Chambers with remote participation by other councilmembers. The committee reviewed numerous reports on fund transfers, change orders for various departments, and preliminary budget status reports, while also voting to forward five police-related bills to the full council. Councilmember Kirkowitz expressed strong support for ongoing fire station improvements, while Councilmember Onishi and others requested greater transparency and trend analysis regarding revenue variances and contract performance penalties.

Consent Calendar

  • Communication 23.27: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding authorized fund transfers from June 16–30 and December 1–15, 2025 (7 in favor).
  • Communication 24.24: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding change orders authorized October 16–31, 2025 (8 in favor).
  • Communication 24.25: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding change orders #1–15 (8 in favor).
  • Communication 24.26: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding change orders authorized December 16–30, 2025 (8 in favor).
  • Communication 73.10: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding the preliminary monthly budget status report for June 30, 2025 (8 in favor).
  • Communication 98.4: Unanimously moved to close the file regarding the second quarter report of employees on short-term contracts (8 in favor).
  • Communication 680: Moved to close the file regarding the notification of fund balance as of June 30, 2025 (6 in favor; 3 absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Testimony: No members of the public offered testimony to the committee during this session.
  • Councilmember Kimball: Expressed appreciation for the Department of Public Works and Public Facilities teams, specifically Deputy Director Alzvedo and his team for their "outstanding job" at Paradise Park including repaving.
  • Councilmember Kirkowitz: Expressed full support for the HPP Fire Station improvements, noting these have been advocated for over seven years to ensure safety and dignity for firefighter personnel.
  • Councilmember Ronishi: Expressed a desire for clearer data on bicycle safety enforcement trends, specifically regarding unregistered or altered "chop shop" bicycles and e-bike education.
  • Councilmembers Onishi & Cogiwata: Expressed concern and a need for detailed breakdowns on penalties associated with the Hawaii Earth Recycling contract for failing to meet the 40,000-ton minimum, and requested trend analysis on revenue and vacancy rates over time.
  • Councilmember Kimball (re: Fund Balance): Expressed the need for a close-out summary report detailing temporary hazard pay expenditures, including consulting costs, to provide a complete financial picture.

Discussion Items

  • Office of Housing (Royce Shiro): Stated that $113,000 in 2018 funds was transferred from the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to the Oili Ekahi Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project to address specific needs.
  • Department of Public Works (Louis Thompson, Aaron Steelman):
    • Clarified that funds for the Kiloway Avenue/Kiavi Street project were shifted from wastewater work (which had no current need) to sidewalk and driveway repairs to meet ADA compliance.
    • Confirmed that all construction and equipment for the temporary morgue are completed, with only warranty or maintenance work anticipated future; a $65,000 security camera order and a ~$12,000 air curtain upgrade were completed.
    • Confirmed that the Wailuku Drive drainage improvement project resulted in a net cost decrease despite scope adjustments to the AC surface to concrete.
  • Fire Department (Nicole Lono Capu, Assistant Chief Ian Chadwick):
    • Stated that the contract for community risk assessment planning is being extended to June 2026 to allow time for review, with a report expected by July 1st.
    • Explained that the HPP Fire Station improvements require an MOU with Fire to trigger safety requirements (sprinklers, alarms) necessary for DPW permits, with a goal to bid the project in summer 2026.
  • Department of Environmental Management (Robin Bauman):
    • Explained that the $5.3 million increase for Hawaii Earth Recycling covers operating costs for green waste diversion (turning waste into mulch) based on a minimum tonnage of 40,000 tons per year, regardless of actual tonnage received; the county pays the difference if targets are missed.
    • Clarified that mulch is moved from West to East Hawaii by the county, not the contractor, and this movement counts toward the 40,000-ton obligation.
  • Department of Parks and Recreation (Charmaine Felipe):
    • Noted a change order for pump relocation to improve hot water flow to showers at a facility, requested after the main project.
    • Clarified that paving at Richardson's Center was funded by county funds, not external renovation funds, to correct non-compliant pavement identified during project completion.
  • Finance Department (Director Diane Nakagawa, Controller John Arbo's):
    • Explained that monthly budget status reports have been delayed (4–7 months behind) due to the implementation of the new "Connect" financial system, which is resolving duplicate expenditure issues.
    • Stated that the new system aims to provide reports within 1–2 months for future cycles, though the June 30, 2025 report is delayed for year-end closure.
    • Confirmed a total fund balance of $270.5 million as of June 30, 2025, with roughly $59 million appropriated for temporary hazard pay, leaving approximately $167 million remaining, attributed to higher revenues (TAT, RPT, interest) and lapsed salaries/wages.

Key Outcomes

  • Forwarded Bills (7 in favor, 2 absent):
    • Bill 114: Forwarded favorable recommendation; increases federal grants for the Hawaii County Police Department Roadblock Program by $17,961.
    • Bill 115: Forwarded favorable recommendation; increases federal grants for the Occupant Protection Program by $13,255.
    • Bill 116: Forwarded favorable recommendation; increases federal grants for the 2023 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program by $54,814.
    • Bill 117: Forwarded favorable recommendation; increases federal grants for the High Intensity Impact Grant by $340,000.
    • Bill 118: Forwarded favorable recommendation; increases federal grants for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program by $54,098.
  • Directives:
    • Finance Director and Controller to provide a close-out summary report on temporary hazard pay, including consulting costs, to the committee.
    • Finance Director to provide trend analysis on Real Property Tax revenues and vacancy rates for future budget deliberations.
    • Department to provide a breakdown of penalties and costs regarding the Hawaii Earth Recycling minimum tonnage agreement to Councilmember Onishi.
  • Next Steps: Committee adjourned with plans to meet the following day at the full council session.

Meeting Transcript

Aloha, welcome to the 27th session of the Committee on Finance. We are here in the Kona Chambers today. It is 101 p.m. I am your presiding officer for today's meeting, James Houstis. We are joined by members in the Kona Chamber, Councilmembers Kimball, Galimba, Viegas, Oneshi, and Kagiwada. In our Hilo chamber, we have Councilmember Kirkowitz, and we will soon be joined by uh Council Chair Inaba in short notice. Mr. Clerk, do we have any testifiers for today's committee? Thank you, Vice Chair Houstis. I can confirm we don't have any testifies to this committee, so we may start where wherever on the agenda you are ready to proceed. We'll go from the top, please. Communication 23.27 report of fund transfers authorized June 16 through 30 and December 1 through 15, 2025 from controller John Argles, dated December 17, 2025. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Yeah, I guess. Could I have a motion for communication? Could I have a motion for communication 2327, please? Motion to close file and communication 2327. Second. We motion closed file from Councilmember Kimball, second from Councilmember Cogiwata to close file. Members, any discussion on communication 23-27. Nothing going on. Okay. Let's see. I think I had one question here for Office of Housing. Chair, we have uh representatives from housing here. They are approaching. Thank you so much. Just a quick question. If you could just give us an update on the on the home project and the transfer of funds from the tenant-based rental assistance program to home projects, and just kind of give some background and some update on that. Thank you, Mr. Sharoma. Hello, Royce Shiro from the Office of Housing and Community Development. Those are 2018 funds that we are transferring from the home TBRA program to the general home project. Really? Oh, here. I'm sorry. So it is 24. So we are putting that the funding from the TBRA to a project, the Ooli Ekahi Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project. They were needing 113,000, so that's why we did the transfer. That's great to hear. Thank you, Mr. Sharoma. Any any other questions on this item? Okay, seeing none. All those in favor of closing filing communication 2327, please say aye. Any opposed? Mr. Clerk, you have seven in favor.

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