Budget, Finance, Economic Development Committee Meeting – February 10, 2026
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Budget, Finance, Economic Development Committee Meeting – February 10, 2026
The Budget, Finance, Economic Development (BFED) Committee met on February 10, 2026, at 9:07 AM under Chair Yuki Le Sugimura. The meeting addressed three agenda items: a bill authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the FBI for a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), amendments to streamline affordable housing lease approvals, and an update on grant administration. The committee heard extensive public testimony, deliberated on each item, and took the following actions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill 92 (JTTF Agreement): Over 20 testifiers, many representing Maui Indivisible, spoke in strong opposition. Key points included concerns about federal overreach under the Trump administration, the risk of local police being used for immigration enforcement, the vague definition of domestic terrorism, the financial obligation placed on the county, and the lack of local control. Specific speakers: Jake Carton (Maui Indivisible) urged a no vote and termination of existing contracts; Stephen Biden, Denise LaCosta, Ann Pikately, Dr. Kahala Johnson, Shay Chan Hodges, Celine Laguerre, Reverend Dennis Barger, Lori Tanner, Patricia Pierce, David Yoshida, Dari Wood, Robert Pollock, Lori J, Alice Riddle, Gail Swanson, Kelly King, Lisa Seikai Darcy, Cesar Gaxiola, Torben Jensen, Dick Mayer, and Lala Johnson all testified against Bill 92, citing civil rights, historical parallels to Japanese internment, and fear of militarized policing. A few testifiers (e.g., Cesar Gaxiola) emphasized the fear in immigrant communities. No testifiers spoke in favor of the bill.
- Bill 116 (Affordable Housing Leases): Only one testifier, Cesar Gaxiola, spoke in favor, praising the CDBG staff and supporting the bill's intent to expedite leases for kupuna housing.
- Grants Administration: No public testimony was received.
Discussion Items
- Bill 92 CD1 2025 – JTTF Intergovernmental Agreement: Deputy Chief Wade Maeda of MPD stated the department opposes immigration enforcement, has internal orders against profiling, and currently has four part-time officers on the JTTF (with zero dedicated hours). He emphasized that the agreement is for intelligence sharing and terrorism prevention, and that MPD would retain supervisory control. Budget Director Milner confirmed the agreement creates a financial obligation requiring council approval. Corp Counsel clarified that the council cannot direct police operations. After extensive debate, the committee voted to file the bill (8 ayes), which is the procedural equivalent of disapproval. Chair Sugimura stated the committee report will clearly indicate a “no” vote. Councilmember Rollins Fernandez drafted a resolution to also rescind the existing 2007 JTTF agreement.
- Bill 116 2024 – Amendments to County Code for Affordable Housing Leases: Director of Housing Mitchell and CDBG Manager Jenkins supported the bill, arguing it removes the need for council approval of individual below-market leases, thereby speeding up housing for kupuna. The committee adopted an amendment (CD1) adding annual reporting requirements for all grants, including taxpayer subsidy justifications. The bill passed unanimously on first reading (6 ayes).
- Grant Administration (BFED 20): Deferred to a future March meeting due to time constraints. The chair noted a survey from Councilmember Johnson for nonprofit feedback on grant processes.
Key Outcomes
- Bill 92 (JTTF): Committee voted 8-0 to recommend filing the bill. This effectively disapproves the agreement and sends a committee report to the full council for its March 6, 2026 meeting. A separate resolution to terminate the existing 2007 JTTF agreement was drafted for future consideration.
- Bill 116 (Affordable Housing): Committee voted 6-0 to recommend passage on first reading as amended (CD1). The amendment adds annual financial and compliance reporting. The bill will proceed to the full council.
- Grant Administration: Deferred; will be taken up in March 2026.
- Next Steps: The full council will consider the committee's recommendations on March 6, 2026. The public may submit written testimony at mauicounty.us/agendas.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the budget finance economic development committee. Today is February 10th. It is now nine. Oh seven A.M. My name is Yuki Le Sugimura. I'm the chair of this committee, and I'd like to welcome everyone. This meeting is being conducted in accordance with the sunshine law. And as a reminder, when your name is called, if you are not in the council chamber, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle, or workspace with you today. Miners do not need to be identified. Good morning, Chair. Good morning. Is it raining? It's getting better. I'm here alone in my workspace and um ready to go. Great. Um, Member Paulton's going to be late, but she will be joining us. Member Rollins Fernandez, good morning. There are currently no testifiers at the Mulkan district office. It's nice and sunny here in Concord. Very good. Umencey, good morning. Good morning. Member Hutchins, good morning. Good morning, Chair. Good morning, everyone. Okay. Um so assisting with this meeting today is I'm going to introduce our resources from the administration. From the administration, we have budget director, chief of staff. Uh, we had asked for not confirmed. I will skip over economic development, not confirmed, department of agriculture, not confirmed, director of environmental management. We will um have as a resource, director of finance, deputy director of finance, land acquisition officer, officer Hironaka, director of house housing is not confirmed, housing CDBG manager, um, deputy chief of police, director of post personnel services, and deputy corp counsel uh wigglesworth to assist us today. I've also invited Jake Carton, Maui Indivisible, and members. If there are no objections, I'd like to designate Mr. Carton of Maui Indivisible as a resource person under rule 18A of the rules of the council based upon their role and experience. No objections. Um please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity members, and I would also like to welcome our staff who's helping us today, which is um Pauline Martin, Secretary, Kirsten, um Zabul, uh OCS Council uh staff as well as senior executive uh researcher, which is um James James Krueger. Um right, so please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. Thank you, members, for attending today's BFED committee. We have three items on the agenda. I'm gonna read it now and not read it when we go into each item. So BFED 4, Bill 92, CD1 2025, authorizing the mayor to enter into an intercon intergovernmental agreement with the federal bureau of investigation for a joint terrorism task force. Bill 17, bill um B Fed 17, Bill 116 2024, amending chapter 33 3.36 Maui County Code relating to the Maui County Grants Program and Chapter 3.40, Maui County Code relating to concessions, awards, and rental or lease of county property. BFED 20 parent 12, administration and management of grants. Let's um so at this time, do we have any testifiers? We will. So before we go into testimony, I want to hear basically from our resources. So at this time, I'd like to ask. Um the opening comments. Let me just go through all of this first.
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