Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee of the Maui County Council convened on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 9:04 a.m. The committee discussed a new sister-city relationship with Laoag City, Philippines; advanced legislation to streamline the use of monetary donations during emergencies; and conducted a review of the county's Emergency Fund.
The committee discussed the already-adopted Resolution 26-153, which authorizes the Mayor to formalize a sister-city relationship. Mahina Martin, Director of Public Affairs, provided an overview of the county's 62-year-old program, which currently has 28 established sister cities. CJ Anchetta of the Maui Filipino Community Council presented on Laoag City, proposing four pillars of cooperation: tourism and culture, agriculture and sustainability, economic trade, and education and health. Multiple council members expressed strong personal support, with several noting their own Ilocano or Sakada ancestry. Member Batangan volunteered to participate in an ad-hoc committee to explore further initiatives. Mr. Anchetta inquired about seed funding for the program, a topic deferred to the budget cycle and the Sister Cities Foundation.
Chair Alice L. Lee introduced a package of three bills designed to expedite the use of monetary donations during declared emergencies. Bill 142 would allow the Mayor to immediately accept and use disaster monetary donations without prior Council approval for one year following a disaster. Bills 131 and 132 amend the FY27 Budget to support this process. Budget Director Milner and Deputy Director Zelinski confirmed the administration's support for the revised package. An original amendment to change the authorized use language was withdrawn following a recess review that confirmed the existing HRS definitions were sufficiently broad. A CD1 amendment to Bill 131, making quarterly reporting mandatory and correcting a code reference, was adopted.
The committee reviewed the Emergency Fund's balance (~$78 million) and expenditures. Since March, the Council has authorized $42 million from the fund: $32 million for the Kona Low storms and $10 million for Hurricane Lala. John Smith (Office of Recovery) and Francis Cowell (MEMA) discussed FEMA reimbursements, debris removal logistics, pre-positioned contracts (generators and buses), and long-term mitigation strategies for chronic flooding in areas like Waipuilani and Pülehu. Member Tom Cook highlighted HRS 179D (Dam and Reservoir Safety) as a major legal obstacle to constructing detention basins for flood mitigation and advocated for legislative action. A request was made for a detailed, itemized breakdown of all emergency fund expenditures by disaster.
The passage of Bills 142, 131, and 132 will be considered by the full Council. The administration will continue working on the formal agreement with Laoag City.
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the budget finance economic development committee. It is now nine oh four AM. Welcome. I'm the chair of this committee. And um, well, this meeting is being conducted in accordance with the Sunshine Law, and as a reminder, when your name is called, if you're not in the council chambers, please identify by name if possible, who, if anyone is in the room vehicle or workspace with you today. Good morning. And Nihao. Nihao. From China. I am home alone, not quite alone. I'm home in my office, surrounded by three muchachas. Little pussy cats. You have more cats. Wow. I know. We I don't know. They just gravitate to our house. All right. Member Poulton. Good morning. I have with me at the table. Um Mildred Poutin and Jean Hariki. But there's it's a public space, and anybody can come in and I'll if they sign in. So I don't know who all the other people in the nurses are. So I can't tell you their name. Okay. Give our best to your mother. Umber Johnson, good morning. Good morning, Chair, Councilmembers, community members. Nihao. There's no testifiers here at the Alanahi District Office. I'm alone on my side of the office, but Roxanne Rockstar Marida has been coming in out discussing things. So we're here and we're ready to rock. Thank you, Chair. Ah, I like that name for her. And that's probably true. Um Member Rollins Fernandez. Good morning. Alohayaka. My Molakainuya Hina. I'm at my private residence alone. Uh, there are no testifiers at the multi-district office. Mahalo. Thank you. Member Cook. Good morning. Aloha and Nihal. Good morning.