Honolulu Budget Committee Meeting on Disaster Recovery and Funding – March 31, 2026
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Honolulu City Council Budget Committee Meeting – March 31, 2026
The Committee on Budget, chaired by Councilmember Okimoto, convened on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 10:04 AM to consider five action items and one informational briefing. The meeting addressed the creation of a fire prevention fund, approval of federal housing grants, a police radio equipment transfer, a telecommunications lease, hazard pay for Teamsters, and a detailed update on the fiscal impact of recent Kona Low storms. All action items except one were advanced; the lease was postponed.
Bill 8 (2026) – Fire Prevention Fund
- Discussion: The Honolulu Fire Department expressed support for Bill 8, which creates a fund to receive and expend monies for fire prevention activities. No public testimony was offered, and no committee questions were raised.
- Key Outcome: The committee voted to report Bill 8 out for second reading and scheduling of a public hearing. No objections.
Resolution 26-36 – 32nd Year Action Plan for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and Housing Trust Fund
- Discussion: Director Anton Kruckey of the Department of Community Services presented the resolution. Councilmember Kia Aina expressed concern that the city has shifted funding away from nonprofit organizations, noting that other counties allocate the majority of their CDBG funds to nonprofits. She urged reflection and flexibility. Councilmember Cordero asked about deadlines and timeliness with HUD. Director Kruckey explained that the city has improved timeliness by fronting money and winding down legacy projects.
- Key Outcome: The resolution was reported out for adoption. No objections.
Resolution 26-55 – Transfer of $1 Million for HPD Portable Radios
- Discussion: Major Ryan Hiranaka of HPD explained that the transfer of highway fund monies from salaries to current expenses would purchase P25 portable radios for traffic division officers. The department is replacing 2,500 radios (half already done) at about $6,400 each; the $1 million will buy approximately 148 units. No public testimony was offered.
- Key Outcome: The resolution was reported out for adoption. No objections.
Resolution 26-60 – Telecommunications Lease with T-Mobile West LLC
- Discussion: Director Andy Kawano of Budget and Fiscal Services presented the lease for an existing facility at Harbor Village Apartments. Councilmember Cordero asked about a master agreement for telecom companies. Chair Okimoto noted that a required “whereas” clause regarding a $25,000 capital investment is missing from the lease agreement.
- Key Outcome: The committee postponed action on the resolution to a date to be determined by the chair, pending inclusion of the required clause. No objections.
Resolution 26-74 – Transfer of $16,777,253 for Hazard Pay to Teamsters
- Discussion: Director Kawano and Managing Director Mike Formby described the equity settlement of up to $7,500 per eligible non-managerial bus driver, handy van driver, and mechanic, plus payroll taxes. The union president has agreed to the total cap, but distribution among members is yet to be determined. Chair Waters asked about the separate firefighter settlement ($11.7 million, not requiring council action). Councilmember Kia Aina raised concerns about DCS employees who may have been wrongly excluded from earlier hazard pay; Managing Director Formby confirmed the city is working to resolve those claims.
- Key Outcome: The resolution was reported out for adoption. No objections.
Informational Briefing – Disaster Response to Kona Low Weather Events
- Discussion: Managing Director Mike Formby provided a detailed briefing on the fiscal impact of two Kona Low storms. Estimated total losses (operating and CIP) range from $50 million to over $100 million, with damage assessments still ongoing. The city is awaiting a federal disaster declaration to qualify for FEMA reimbursement (75/25 cost share). Key expenses include housing assistance ($5–10 million), debris removal, road repairs, and damage to city facilities. The administration plans to propose tapping the Fiscal Stability Fund (rainy day fund) once credible estimates are ready, with the goal of replenishing the fund when federal reimbursements arrive. Councilmembers discussed the tax remission program for damaged properties, coordination with the state and congressional delegation, and the need for timely data to inform the FY27 budget (CD2 amendments due April 16).
- Key Outcome: No action taken; the briefing was informational. The committee will receive further proposals from the administration in the coming weeks.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good morning, everyone. It is Tuesday, March thirty-first, twenty twenty-six, and the time is ten oh four AM. Will the committee on budget please come to order? I'd like to welcome to the committee to the committee members who are present in the chamber today, Committee Vice Chair Nishimoto, Council Chair Waters, Council Members Tolba, Cordero, and Floor Leader Kia Aina. Although remote oral testimony is being permitted, this is a regular in-person meeting and not a remote meeting by interactive conference technology under HRS section ninety-two-three point seven. Therefore, the meeting will continue notwithstanding loss of audiovisual communication with remote testifiers or loss of the public broadcast of the meeting. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, section four of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section One-13 of the Hawaii revised statutes, members of the public may testify in either language. For oral testimonies offered in Olalo Hawaii, additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to testify following the register testifiers. After in-person testimony has concluded, I will proceed to remote testimony via video conference or phone. When I call your name, please monitor your screen and follow the prompt to unmute. For those who are joining us by telephone only, please press star nine if you wish to testify, and I will identify you by the last three digits of your phone number. When your number is called, please listen for the prompt to unmute and press star six. Some friendly reminders and tips. Video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you're also watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television at the time you're called to testify. When the timer on screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. Written testimonies, including the testifiers' address, email address, and phone number will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off or silence all cell phones for the duration of this meeting. Members moving on to agenda item number one for action. Bill 8 2026 creates a fund to receive and expend monies to support fire prevention activities. This morning with us from the department of the Honolulu Fire Department, we have Battalion Chief Jean-Claude Bish and Patalin Chief Pao Ching Wang. Aloha and good morning. Good morning, um committee chair Okimono, Vice Chair Dishimoto, and committee members. I'm Battalion Chief Pau Chi Huang with the Honolulu Fire Department. Honolulu Fire Department is currently in support of Bill Eight. I'm available for any questions you may have. Thank you, Battalion Chief Wang. Members, do we have any questions for the fire department? Thank you so much for being here. Seeing no questions, we'll now proceed with in-person oral testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers for this item? Chair there, none. Thank you. Proceeding on with remote testimony, clerks, do we have any remote testifiers for this item? Chair there and thank you. Seeing no further testimony members, we are in discussion. Seeing no further discussion, the chair recommends that Bill 8 2026 be reported out for second reading and scheduling of a public hearing. Any further discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none so ordered. Moving on to agenda item number two, resolution 26-36 approves the city and county of Honolulu's 32nd year action plan for community development block grant, home investment partnerships, emergency solutions grants, and housing trust fund programs, and authorizing its submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. With us from the administration and from the Department of Community Services, Director Anton Kruckey. Good morning, Director Kruckey. Good morning, budget chair. Anton Crockey, Director of Department of Community Services, here to answer any questions you may have on this. Thank you, Director Cruckey. Members, do we have any questions? Councilmember Kia Aina. I I do have comments.
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