Kauai County Finance Committee Budget Review for CIP Projects – March 31, 2025
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Kauai County Finance and Economic Development Committee Budget Review for CIP Projects – March 31, 2025
The Finance and Economic Development Committee met on March 31, 2025, to continue departmental budget reviews for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, focusing on Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for all departments except Public Works. No public testimony was offered. The committee reviewed projects from Fire, Police, Telecommunications, Planning, Finance, IT, Human Resources, Transportation, Housing, and Parks & Recreation, asking detailed questions about costs, timelines, and scope.
Fire Department (CIP #95, #96)
- Helicopter Hangar (#95, #96 combined ~$1 million): The project uses a purchased Sprung structure to reduce construction costs. Funds cover planning, design, and utilities. Completion expected December 2025. Deputy Chief Roger Mills noted office and storage space included. Councilmember expressed strong personal opinion that the county should sell the old helicopter to offset the new one, stating it would be hard to support funding without that offset. Fire has not approached the state for cost-sharing on rescues, though many are on state land.
- Kapaa Fire Station Renovation (#?): Currently in design phase; no construction funds yet. Relocation considered but decided against due to community familiarity.
Police Department (CIP #97)
- Vidinha Stadium Fitness Center ($2 million): Bid sent out, deadline extended to April 11; groundbreaking expected June 2025 with completion by January 2026. Facility will have fitness, wrestling/martial arts, boxing, and bodyweight areas. Deputy Chief Mark Ozaki stated it will replace leased space at Philippine Cultural Center ($7,000/month rent), saving taxpayer money. Equipment (~$100,000) already procured with ARPA funds. The project will also provide office/storage for SROs and KPD. Councilmember questioned parking impact; Deputy Chief noted ample nearby parking.
Telecommunications (CIP #? ~$3 million)
- Communication System Equipment Shelters Replacement: $3 million for replacing five shelters. Telecommunications Officer David Miasalki reported consultant detailed plans completed; RFP expected next fiscal year. Councilmember queried why no funds had been spent; explanation given that planning phase took time.
Planning Department
- Hanapepe Property Acquisition (#?): Two parcels adjacent to Hanapepe gym and across from Sotoa Store, historically significant for the Hanapepe Massacre. Open Space Commission seeks to purchase for memorial/park. Environmental site assessments (Phase I and ground-penetrating radar) completed.
- Document Scanning (#? $1.2 million): Councilmember Colin expressed frustration that six years after initial $6 million proposal, documents are still not scanned, leading to missing records. Planning official noted zoning permits (1972 onward) are never purged, but physical files occasionally lost. RFQ posted March 2025; contractor selection expected by summer.
- Planning Department Move (#111 $2 million): Relocation to Pikake Building. Design contract secured; electrical plan design underway. Councilmember questioned whether full $2 million would be spent in FY26 given typical delays; project manager expressed confidence for completion within the year. Space cleared.
- LIMS System (#? remaining $40,000): Councilmember noted lack of historical budget and expenditure data; suggested adding columns for total budgeted and expended. Remaining funds for part-time consultant.
Finance / IT
- County Video Conferencing (#114 $181,000 remaining): Upgrade of Council chambers equipment scheduled for April 2025 (week of April 30). IT Manager Dell Sherman confirmed vendor engineers will be on-island for installation; no meetings scheduled that week to avoid disruption.
- Computer/Network/ERP Upgrades (#112, #113, #115): Projects in final phases; most funds already expended. Councilmember requested historical project data.
Human Resources (Workday #119, #120)
- Talent & Recruiting Modules (#119 $569,000 balance): Duplicate entry (#120) identified and accepted for removal. HR Administrator Brandy reported learning module (Phase 3) will use remaining ~$300,000 after current phase spending.
Transportation Agency
- Bus Facility Expansion (Kapaa #124 $33,000; Lihue expansion): Kapaa design/engineering to begin spring 2026. Lihue base yard expansion bids came in over available funds; may need supplemental appropriation.
- Poipu Road Bus Shelters (#125): Councilmember criticized existing shelters as inadequate for wind/rain and designed to discourage loitering. Transportation Director Celia defended current design; no plans to change shelter type.
Housing Agency
- Lima Ola and Revolving Fund (#128, #129 $5M and $28M): Funds transferred to CIP for flexible use across projects (Lima Ola, Waimea 400, Kilauea, land acquisition). Housing Director Adam Roversi stated a five-year projection plan will be presented at housing budget hearing.
Parks & Recreation (Multiple Items)
- Anini Beach Park Improvements (#133 $94,487 remaining): Design completed; construction delayed pending SMA permit. Councilmember received complaints about boat ramp parking filled with rental cars. Park planner noted signs exist but enforcement insufficient; temporary measures will be explored.
- Endangered Species Habitat Conservation Plan (#? remainder): Funds will be used for lighting retrofits (e.g., turtle-friendly lighting).
- Islandwide Playground Equipment: Councilmember asked about Kamalani Inclusive playground maintenance; Friends of Kamalani supply materials for repairs.
- Islandwide Play Court Resurfacing (#140 $4.8M; #147 $1.6M state match): Multiple locations including Wailua Homesteads, Puhe. Councilmember questioned why Puhe not getting pickleball; planner cited proximity to residences but open to community input. Additional $600,000 requested for design of nine more parks.
- Hanapepe Multi-Purpose Facility (#?): Councilmember first saw it on budget; identified as old warehouse near armory.
- North Vidinha Restroom: Councilmember strongly criticized lack of progress, stating children have no proper restroom and parents frustrated. Mayor acknowledged delay, citing high costs ($800,000 each) and bureaucratic hurdles; he advocated using existing stadium restrooms with road closure. Councilmember expressed anger and suggested cutting funds if administration won't proceed. Parks planner noted Hanapepe and Lucy Wright comfort stations (stainless steel units) are being installed at $800,000 each, but Lihui baseball field restroom not funded.
- Skate Parks (Nawiliwili and Hanapepe): Councilmember reported skate families feel unwelcome and threatened at proposed locations. Mayor strongly supported the projects, emphasizing need for youth spaces and coexistence. He offered to meet concerned skaters.
- Morgan's Pond Study (#? ~$700 remaining): Councilmember criticized narrow scope (only raising wall/openings) without a no-action option; potential erosion impacts on Kuhio Highway.
- Kapaa Pool Renovation (#146 $161,475 remaining): Project complete; LWCF reimbursement created surplus. Councilmember argued surplus should revert, not be repurposed.
- Rodeo Arena (Mahala Road #? $750K + $250K request): $250K additional sought to reach $1M for 50% state match. Permitting still requires EA, water tank, zoning permits. Councilmember questioned if extra funding needed this year given early stage.
- Veterans Cemetery Improvements (#? $1M): Final design done; funds for construction of ADA sidewalk, scooter access, maintenance shed.
- Waimea 400 Park (#? $800K): Planning and design for new sports complex. Councilmember asked about traffic study; planner confirmed included.
Key Outcomes
- Committee Chair requested adding a column to the CIP spreadsheet showing original funding year and total budget/expenditure history.
- Several councilmembers indicated they will consider cutting funding for projects they deemed non-urgent (e.g., North Vidinha restroom, Rodeo Arena extra $250K) pending further justification.
- The committee accepted the duplicate HR line item (#120) for removal.
- The meeting was adjourned with plans to continue reviews of Parks & Recreation, County Attorney, and Liquor Control later that day, but the transcript ended.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good morning. I like to call back to order the finance and economic development committee and the fiscal year twenty twenty-five-2026 departmental budget reviews that there could reflect that all members are present on the schedule today. Um our only item is to discuss the CIP budget projects that were not addressed last week Friday, so everything except for public works. As we do each morning, we'll take public testimony at the beginning relating to any of the departments or agencies that we're reviewing for the day. Is there anyone in the audience wishing to testify? Seeing none, I'll suspend the rules and um we'll move forward. I think we'll just work off of this CIP sheet. And um first up would be fire. We're on number the first number we're starting on is number ninety-five. So um we'll take any questions this uh regarding any of the fire CIP projects. Uh as far as the helicopter hanger, where is that one located? That's at the airport? Yeah. And then the um have we spent any money on constructing it? Because I I remember the past the number was over five million. But the number's a lot smaller now is that we're using the Sprung structure that was purchased, sorry. Sorry, Deputy Chief Roger Mills quite fire department. Uh we're using a sprung structure that was purchased through TEMA. Through another through a brand. So that will cut down on the actual construction cost. So the the money we are using now, it's basically for uh planning design, cement work, undergoing utilities, water, and so forth. Okay. Um that's gonna fit this little helicopter chicken, after and is there uh I would think there would be like a little bit, I don't want to say a living coordinate by the office or storage or is anybody ever sleeping there or no one will be sleeping there, however, there'll be office space and storage for it. Repairs for it. Is there like a security thing in there? Like in case that we're having any kind of thing that we're thinking we need at night. I just wondering, and I imagine I'll be bathrooms. Yes. Okay. Uh secure this ultimates. Alternate parcel. Okay. So that that's been completed, so just do the funny design work. And when do we think it's gonna be done? Like if we just when we get this new helicopter. It's gonna go under a tent first. And then it's gonna go in the film. Yes. So completion date in December of this year. Oh, all right. That's pretty good. Good morning. Uh so these two projects is for design, planning design and construction. It's just different sources. So it's one hanger. So it's one hangar. Yes. Okay. And I know the helicopter is not on the CIP, but I shared this when we met with the mayor's team. This is gonna be a replacement.
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