Kaua'i County Council Meeting - June 4, 2025: Appointments, Electric Buses, Police Software, and Public Hearings
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Kaua'i County Council Meeting - June 4, 2025
The Kaua‘i County Council met on June 4, 2025, at 8:30 AM in the Council Chambers in Līhu‘e. The meeting opened with a prayer by Pastor Monica Zanger of King's Chapel. Councilmembers present: Bolosan, Cavallio, Holland, Kaneshiro, and Chair Opposal. Councilmember Cowden and Kuli were excused. The agenda included public hearings on six bills, approval of minutes, consent calendar items, communications on funding and software licenses, and a resolution confirming a mayoral appointment. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours.
Consent Calendar
- C 2025-132: Council confirmed the mayoral appointment of Marissa Sandblom to the Charter Review Commission for a partial term ending 12/31/2026 (Resolution No. 2025-28). Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill 2954 (Public Access, Open Space, Natural Resources Preservation Fund): Matt Bernabe testified in support of the bill, which proposes to allow up to 5% of the fund to be used for maintenance of acquired entitlements. However, he argued that at least 10% (recommending 15%) should be allocated for maintenance, citing high costs of upkeep for amenities like bathrooms in tourist areas. No other testimony was given.
- Bills 2955-2959 (Collective Bargaining Agreements): No public testimony was offered on any of the five bills approving agreements with UPW and HGEA for Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 13 for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029.
- C 2025-135 and C 2025-136 (Police Software Indemnifications): Bruce Hart requested that KPD provide examples of closed cases where the Axiom/Cellebrite tools were essential for convictions. Another testifier expressed concern about federal funds “federalizing” local police. Julie Hayward (also from Kaua‘i Indivisible) supported KPD but voiced concerns over potential cooperation with ICE and the erosion of constitutional protections, noting both platforms are used by ICE. A subsequent testifier reiterated concerns about misuse.
- C 2025-134 (Electric Buses): No public testimony was given during the item itself, but later during discussion, Bruce Hart commented on battery disposal challenges, noting Europe's problems with recycling and the expense of disposal.
Discussion Items
- C 2025-134 – Electric Buses ($5 million): The Transportation Agency (Celia Mahikoa) requested approval to apply for Section 5311 CMAQ funds to purchase four electric buses (replacing diesel/gas buses). The grant covers 85% of cost; 15% from the FY2026 budget. Discussion focused on: ability to maintain the buses (training included from manufacturer), portable chargers being wired, battery lifespan (12-year warranty), and disposal of large batteries. Councilmember Holland expressed concerns about total cost analysis (diesel vs. electric over 12 years) and questioned the time sensitivity (application due mid-month). Despite uncertainties, the Council approved the motion to apply.
- C 2025-135 and C 2025-136 – Police Software (Axiom and Cellebrite): KPD Lieutenant Matt Tabares and digital forensics specialist Christian Glotton explained that the indemnifications are for annual renewals of standard forensic tools used for 7-8 years. They emphasized that warrants are required before accessing devices (except with consent). Councilmember Holland asked about speed of getting warrants (can be within a day). Councilmember Opposal noted that KPD uses these tools only for local cases, not ICE operations. Both items were approved.
- C 2025-133 – Nutrition Services Incentive Program ($23,439): Councilmember Bernabe (though not a councilmember, he spoke as a testifier earlier) briefly tied the program to local agriculture and noted that parakeets are damaging crops. The item was approved.
- C 2025-137 – Healthy Aging Partnership ($102,107): Approved without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Minutes of May 14, 2025 Council Meeting and May 21, 2025 Public Hearing (C 2025-115) were approved.
- Consent Calendar Approved: Appointment of Marissa Sandblom to Charter Review Commission (Resolution 2025-28) passed on roll call 5-0.
- C 2025-133: Approved to receive and expend $23,439 in federal funds for the Nutrition Services Incentive Program.
- C 2025-134: Approved to apply for $5,000,000 in FTA funds for four electric buses (motion to approve passed by voice vote).
- C 2025-135: Approved indemnification for Magnet Forensics AXIOM software license renewal.
- C 2025-136: Approved indemnification for Cellebrite license renewal.
- C 2025-137: Approved to receive and expend $102,107.25 in state funds for Healthy Aging Partnership.
- Public Hearings: All six public hearings (Bill 2954 and Bills 2955-2959) were opened and closed. No further action was taken at this meeting; the bills remain pending.
- Next Steps: Councilmember Opposal stated he will send deeper questions regarding electric bus costs and battery lifecycle analysis. KPD may be asked to provide examples of closed cases where forensic tools were key.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our council meeting today's June 4th. Uh call the meeting to order. Or I'm sorry. Before we get started, as we do the first council meeting of every month, we have one of our community leaders come up and give us some words of wisdom. And today we have Pastor Monica Zanger from the King's Chapel in LA. Welcome. And Lahue and Kabala. I'm actually mainly in Lahoey. Okay. All right. Thank you, Melissa. What a privilege to be here. I want to read from the word of the Lord that really commands us to pray for you. I want to thank you for the privilege and honor to be here today. First Timothy 2 1 says, I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. So, Father, we come before you this morning. We thank you for the leadership that is in this council, Lord God. We thank you, Father, that they would gain wisdom from you, not just knowledge, but wisdom, which means how to apply that knowledge. I thank you, Lord, that in Proverbs 21 it says the Lord's hand, the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all that please them. May you give them wisdom from heaven to be able to rightly divide and be able to come together and do things that would accomplish what you have to accomplish here on this island. Proverbs 11 14 for the lack of guidance, a nation falls. But victory is won through many advisors. I pray, Lord God, you brought all of these people here. You've appointed them, you put them in authority, that they would understand the weight, but you would give them the grace to be able to use that ability to your glory. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. For the one authority is God's servant for good. May good come out of this council meeting. May they rightly look at things, get your perspective from heaven on how to rightly apply the laws of this land, that this place will prosper and that they would prosper. And so I pray blessing over you. The Lord bless you and the Lord keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you. May He be gracious to you. May the Lord Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. I pray the peace of God that passes all understanding would be upon each and one of our council members and all those that are here today, Lord God, and upon our county, Lord, that we would be just those that walk in unity and not in division, but in unity and do what you called us to do, that you would be glorified in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor. We do have some public hearings as well to get through before we uh start the official agenda. So with that, uh Madam Clerk, can you read the notice, please? Notices here by given that the Koei County Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. or soon thereafter in the council chambers, 4396 Rice Street in the historic county building on bill number 2954, a bill for an ordinance, amending chapter 6, Article 14, Koei County Code 1987, as amended relating to the public access, open space, natural resources, preservation fund. This bill proposes to implement the approved charter amendment to allow up to 5% of the public access open space natural resources preservation fund to be used for the maintenance of entitlements acquired by the fund. Chair, we don't have any written testimony. Thank you. Anybody in the audience wishing to speak? Mr. Bernabe. Matt Bernabin for recording. So I totally support it, but correct me if I'm wrong. I was reading within the language.
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