BFED Committee Meeting – April 22, 2026 – Budget Deliberations
Budget Finance Economic Development Committee Meeting – April 22, 2026
The committee met on April 22, 2026, at 10:03 AM to continue budget deliberations for the County of Maui. The meeting began with public testimony, followed by review and voting on member priorities for the Department of Human Concerns, Department of Management, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Department of Water Supply. Key decisions included funding for affordable housing, health services, youth programs, and disaster recovery, as well as several cuts to vacant positions and contingency funds.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Barbosa (visually impaired resident) testified on the need for tactile tiles and crosswalk improvements for the visually impaired, citing a personal accident at the county building parking structure. He urged the county to install guide strips and reflectors.
- Jennifer Gladwin (Executive Director, Kalei Foundation) requested $70,000 to sustain the foundation’s headquarters (HQ) in Kahului, which supports wildfire survivors with disabilities, a loan closet, and community space. She noted the foundation has not previously received county grants.
- Jim Langford (Kula resident) shared negative experiences with police responses in various districts post-wildfire and raised concerns about the culture of software vendors (Palantir) proposed for police data systems.
- Travis Liggett testified in support of advancing disinfection design work (CBS 1169) and tying sanitation to public health, mental health, and law enforcement issues.
- Robin Danner (senior finance advisor, Homestead Community Development Corporation) and Kara Chow supported the Paris program (permanently affordable rental units), requesting $3 million for acquisitions, ADUs, and photovoltaic installations. They reported that 7 of 9 units are occupied by wildfire survivors.
- Christopher Salem criticized the Public Works director’s qualifications and alleged legal issues in SMA permit enforcement.
- JC Long offered a metaphorical testimony about being a “canoe bailer” and encouraged the council to watch a UHERO presentation on economic outlook.
Discussion Items
- Department of Human Concerns Priorities: Nineteen member priorities were discussed, including the Paris program ($3M for HCDC), special needs power supply program ($150K for backup batteries), Maui Mediation Services increase ($150K), Tutu and Me conditions ($1.2M), Kahului Hongwanji fencing ($160K), Project Vision ($188,500), Kalei Foundation ($70K, with a failed amendment to add $116K for a full-time advocate), Lana‘i Kina‘ole ($425K increase), Hospice Maui ($750K increase), Maui AIDS Foundation ($340K increase), Maui Family Support Services ($199,202), Maui Farm ($40K), Molokai Rural Health ($600K) and Molokai Community Health Center ($545K), Ho‘ala Health Outreach ($2M), MEO BEST reintegration program ($253K), Scouting America ($500K for Camp Maluhia), Pa‘ia Youth Council ($200K increase), Boys & Girls Club ($280K for mobile program), and Hana Mamas ($245,722 for behavioral health and census work).
- Department of Management: Chair Lee’s proposal for a feasibility study on acquiring Wailuku Plantation parcels ($250K) passed. An upcountry wildfire rebuild fund ($3M) was approved with conditions for future guardrails. Ho‘ola Na Kama (LTRG) received $1M. South Maui recovery funding ($2M) for environmental health impacts passed. A GIS system expansion ($500K) was approved. The AEM water study ($1.8M) was moved to the Water Supply Department budget. Montokuji Mission shoreline restoration ($1.2M) was moved to the SMA Revolving Fund.
- Department of Parks and Recreation: Several cuts were made, including $93,600 for trailer offices (withdrawn), $250,000 from countywide court improvements (failed on reconsideration), $250,000 from countywide fencing (passed), and $500,000 from the park adaptation plan (passed). A motion to cut $3.5M from the ‘Oma‘ole parking lot and restroom project passed. The committee also reconsidered and restored court improvements.
- Department of Water Supply: The Kula Community Watershed Alliance received $450,000. Project description changes for the Waiakoa Gym and the acquisition of Maui Land & Pineapple assets were approved. Corrections to the water fund CIP program were made, including reducing special assessments by $13.9M and removing $1.5M for upcountry reliable capacity.
Key Outcomes
- Paris Program: $3 million grant to Homestead Community Development Corporation for permanently affordable rental units (passed 9-0).
- Special Needs Power Supply: $150,000 for a special needs power supply program (passed 9-0).
- Maui Mediation Services: $150,000 increase for eviction mediation (passed 9-0).
- Tutu and Me: Condition added to maintain six program sites (passed 9-0).
- Kahului Hongwanji Fencing: $160,000 for child care center fencing (passed 9-0).
- Project Vision: $188,500 for street medicine (passed 9-0).
- Kalei Foundation: $70,000 for headquarters operations (passed 9-0; amendment for $186K failed).
- Lana‘i Kina‘ole: $425,000 increase (passed 9-0).
- Hospice Maui: $750,000 increase for rural hospice (passed 9-0).
- Maui AIDS Foundation: $340,000 increase (passed 9-0).
- Maui Family Support Services: $199,202 for child abuse prevention (passed 9-0).
- Maui Farm: $40,000 increase (passed 9-0).
- Molokai Rural Health & Community Health Center: $600,000 and $545,000 respectively (passed 9-0).
- Ho‘ala Health Outreach: $2 million for mobile clinics (passed 9-0).
- MEO BEST Reintegration: $253,000 for women’s program (passed 8-0, one recused).
- Scouting America: $500,000 for Camp Maluhia capital improvements (passed 8-1).
- Pa‘ia Youth Council: $200,000 increase for programmatic activities (passed 9-0).
- Boys & Girls Club: $280,000 for mobile club (passed 9-0).
- Hana Mamas: $245,722 for behavioral health and census (passed 9-0).
- Upcountry Wildfire Rebuild: $3 million for rebuild, recovery, and mitigation (passed 8-1).
- Ho‘ola Na Kama (LTRG): $1 million for disaster recovery (passed 8-0).
- South Maui Recovery: $2 million for environmental health impacts (passed 7-1-1).
- GIS System Expansion: $500,000 for countywide GIS (passed 8-1).
- AEM Water Study: $1.8 million for West Maui groundwater mapping (passed 9-0).
- Montokuji Mission Shoreline Restoration: $1.2 million (moved to SMA Revolving Fund, passed 8-1).
- Parks Cuts: $250,000 from countywide fencing (passed 5-4); $500,000 from park adaptation plan (passed 9-0); $3.5 million from ‘Oma‘ole parking lot (passed 8-0).
- Water Supply: $450,000 for Kula Community Watershed Alliance (passed 9-0); project description and CIP corrections approved (all passed).
The meeting recessed at 5:59 PM and resumed at 7:45 PM, concluding at 8:26 PM. The committee will continue with Police, Mayor, Public Works, and countywide items on April 23, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
That's pretty fast, Kate. Welcome to the budget finance economic development committee. Today is April 22nd. It is now ten oh three A.M. Um, my name is Yuki Laisuki Mura. I'm the chair of this committee, and I like to welcome everybody. Um, this meeting is being conducted in accordance with the sunshine law, and as a and as a reminder, when your name is called, if you're not in the council chamber, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room with you, vehicle or workspace. Um, and minors do not need to be identified. Good morning, Chairley. Morning. Looking forward to the meeting. Yep. Good morning, Member Poulton. From the council chambers. Good morning. Good morning, Member Johnson. Good morning, Chair, Councilmembers, community members. I feel like Groundhog Day, here we are again. Yes. And I'm here and ready to work. Thank you. All right, thank you. Member Rollins Fernandez. Good morning. And I guess Member U Hodgins is joining us as well as Member Cook. Member Senancy. Good morning. Good morning. And Member Batangan. Okay. Uh last night. Thank you very much for working and having productive reviews of departments. I really appreciate that. Um today's meeting for um BFED is our staff as well as budget director, Deputy Corp Council Wigglesworth. And um please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. Thank you, members, for attending today's BFED committee meeting. We don't have any comments. We're gonna dig right in. Um we'll start a discussion with the Department of Human Concerns and continue with Department of Management, Office of the Mayor, then Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Police. And if you're following the um guidelines, we're going in a little out of order as we took up the Department of EV resources, personnel services, planning and transportation yesterday instead of the Department of Human Concerns, we're saving it for today. Um staff, could you distribute exhibit one? Thank you. So exhibit one will tell you what work we have done up to yes up through yesterday, and I'll give you a guideline guide of um the work that we have done with the departments that uh we've gone through. So before we start our discussion, we will begin by taking public testimony. Do we have any testifiers signed up, Jared? Yes, Chair, we have two testifiers signed up. Thank you. Could you call up testifiers after I read the instructions? Testifiers wanting to um oh, good morning, member cook. Good morning, Chair, and good morning all.
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