16 Budget and Finance Committee - Regular Meeting

That's pretty fast, Kate. Welcome to the Budget Finance Economic Development Committee. Today is April 22. It is now 10:03 a. M. My name is Yuki Lei Sugimura. I'm the chair of this committee and I'd like to welcome everybody. This meeting is being conducted in accordance with the Sunshine Law. 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. Minors do not need to be identified. Good morning, Shirley.

Good morning. Looking forward to the meeting. Good

morning, Member Paulton.

Aloha kakai yako kako shinging lamenderic from the council chambers. Good morning. Good morning, Member Johnson.

Good morning, chair, council members, community members. I feel like Groundhog Day. Here we are again. Yeah. No testifiers at the Lanai District Office, and I'm here and ready to work. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you. Member Rollins Fernandez, good morning.

Happy to be here in person. No testifiers at the Monkai District Office. Mahalo, chair.

I guess Member Oh Jens is joining us as well as Member Cook. Member Sanancy, good morning.

Aloha ka ka yaka, everybody. Morning, chair.

Good morning. And Member Batangan. Okay. Thank you everybody last night. Thank you very much for working and having productive reviews of departments. I really appreciate Assisting us with today's meeting for BFED is our staff as well as budget director, deputy corp counsel Wigglesworth. And please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. Thank you members for attending today's BFED committee meeting. Meeting. We have one item on today's agenda which is BFED one proposed fiscal year twenty seven budget for the County Of Maui.

Members, I will be taking testimony after opening comments today. We don't have any opening comments. We're 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 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 Department of Human Concerns, we're saving it for today. Staff, could you distribute Exhibit I?

Thank you. Exhibit I will tell you what work we have done up through yesterday and I'll give you a guideline guide of the work that we have done with the departments that we've gone through. Before we start our discussion, we will begin a look results you take a the results I'm Good morning, Member Cook.

Good morning, Chair. Good Good morning.

Testifiers wanting to provide testimony should sign up with the staff, join the online meeting with Teams link or call you need something? Sure. Oh, okay. Meeting via the teams link or call in to the phone number noted on today's agenda. Testimony on the budget is not limited to the department's schedule today.

Written testimony is encouraged and can be submitted via e comment link at mycounty.us agendas as well. Under the Sunshine Law, the chair will receive oral testimony for agenda items at the beginning of the meeting and as the item is called up. Individuals wishing to testify via Teams, please raise your hand by clicking on the raise your hand button. If calling in, please the testifiers list in order testifiers sign up or raise their hands. For those on Teams, staff will lower your hand once your name is added.

Staff will then call the name you have logged in on under or the last four digits of your phone number when it's your time to testify. At this time, staff will enable microphone and video. Please ensure your name appears on the Teams link as the name you prefer to be referred to or as anonymous if you wish to testify anonymously. If you're in person, please notify staff that you do not want to name yourself and you want to testify anonymously also. Otherwise, please state your name for the record at the beginning of your testimony.

Oral testimony is limited to three minutes and if you're not done, I'll give you another thirty seconds to complete and if you're still testifying beyond that. Once you're done testifying or if you do not wish to testify, you can view the meeting on Akaku Channel fifty three, Facebook Live, or mauicounty.us agendas. We will do our best to take each person up in an orderly fashion. We'll now call our first testifiers. Staff?

Thank you, Chair. The first testifier is Frank Barbosa, to be followed by Jennifer Gladwin.

Good morning. There.

Yep. Yeah. Good morning, good morning, staff and council members. My name is Frank Barbosa. I'm in the present location of Building 8th Floor.

Today, I'll be testifying under public public works, improvement on crosswalks and road etching. And if I cannot get done, I'll be back tomorrow the next day. First of all, you know, I know we have a lot of crosswalks out there for for an impaired person, and I'm not the only one out there that's impaired, but I kinda vocally speak out for those out there that that wanted me to be here. You know, I was looking at if there's any improvement with the sidewalks on the county of Maui, whether on the county roads and residential areas where we can install tactiles. Tactiles are little guide tiles for the vision visually impaired people that when you approach a a crosswalk, sometimes the crosswalk may not be straight, and it really helps the impaired impaired vision impaired crossing the street and not grazing the cars on public roads.

And, for example, if the city boss drops you off on South Key Road, and we all know there's no sidewalks. It's the oceanside, and there's a road and the residential. So with those those those tactiles at the crosswalk first of all, you have to find the crosswalk. And that's where I was getting at that, you know, these textured road curvings or edgings would help the the this the vision impaired find their way along the roadway, along with the tech tiles to find a crosswalk. And there's areas where no sidewalks are are are, you know, in the areas of Ookai Road where we walk on the road because there's overgrown on the side of the road.

Another good example is Kauahini. Kauahini is is fairly new, tactiles facing Kauahini Road. There's no sidewalks out there, but the that disability ramps have tactiles on them. If a visually impaired walk out there, they're actually walking straight out to Kauahini Road, and there's no sidewalks on the the crossing, streets. Another area that that we need them is this building down in the parking area on the bottom.

You know, about a year ago, I attended a MPO meeting. And in the MPO meeting, after MPO meeting, I walked up. I don't know what shit is this the street Wells, made my left into your guys' parking structure, tried to stay as close as I could to the curb. And a county vehicle electric vehicle was exiting the the parking structure. You know, I I I could hear them because you have to use your senses out there. And with that all said, I I made visual contact with me. I stopped. He stopped. I went. He went.

Next thing you know, my stick was under his car. My leg got gashed. But I had couple couple ladies was on their break. They showed me where the restroom was. I washed off. But I'm here today. I'm still doing good, but accidents like this can be prevented. Let's make it safe for everyone, not just the people that can see because someday in the future, everyone might need it. And just starting in starting using these tactiles or reflector crosswalks, not only for the blind, but at least for for the drivers so they can see who is in the crossroad crosswalk. But thank you again.

I'll be back another day to finish this up. Allah and mahalo for having me here today.

One second. We have questions for you. Thank you for testifying. Member Senanci.

Hello Mr. Barbosa, I appreciate you coming up to the chambers this morning for your testimony. You mentioned buses in Kihei. Has have they changed because of some of the construction that is going on or you have to go to another bus stop? I'm just curious if any of the construction has kind of altered either the bus routes or the scheduling?

Well, first of all, I haven't been catching that boss from my home. Council member Cook and his assistant. I took them on a on a cruise out there, Jared, out there. And the experience, how hard it is to travel with a blind glasses and cane. Mhmm. I and just making it from my home. There's there's a guideline with paratransit. Paratransit does not travel

Mhmm.

Three quarter miles out of your fixed bus route where I used to cross the main Highway, walked on Old Kai Road all the way to the bus stop. But being that some there might have to use their bus stop or other people, it needs to use the bus stop. Whether it's in Kihei, Wailuku, Waiheuhu, you know, I had noticed this their the areas is is very vague and just I can't. Yeah. Just said just said boss stop. No matter what, it's never changed. I I know right now they're doing clearance out there on the on the roadway, so I haven't been on the city bus for a while, but Okay. They need it out there.

I can check.

Yeah, they need it out there. The Crosswalks don't even have tech strips out there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Barbosa. Member Cook and Member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Barbosa. Is there an example someplace where tech tiles are currently being used on Maui so I could check it out? That's a good one.

It's not even in it's not even on the island. I think Japan has it. I know they're trying to move into Oahu's trying to try to put the I think there's a there's a bill for the blind that they're they're looking into it. As as being a re a retired res retired resident for the state of Hawaii, I've I've been in the system too. I try to keep Maui County up to par and check it out this improvement done while we we correcting our roads and sidewalks.

Thank you. They have the the little bumps that they have at us at at every street light. It's about three feet wide and about a foot long. It guides you and tells you how wide that street light that that area is, a walkway. Basically, it's the same thing, but it's on the outer outer edge of the crosswalk. So when you swing in your stick and you hit that that guide that guide bumps, you know you're in the crosswalk. And that'll that'll help.

Thanks. I'll look into it. It's a good suggestion. Thank you, sir.

Yes. Cheaper than a beaker light, sir.

Thank you. Member Johnson, you have a question.

Thank you, Mr. Barbosa, for your testimony. You know, I've heard your testimony a few times, and I really appreciate your lived experience dealing with our infrastructure for folks who are disabled. There's a commission that I used to sit on, the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Commission. I think your voice would be invaluable if you were ever to apply that position for that commission. I'm curious if you're you said you went to the MPO, you testify here, you testify at MPO. You you're involved. So have you ever considered going to the ADA ADA commission and being a a commissioner?

I don't know if they have one on the island, but I will I'll probably look up look up to it. I I am with recently with office with aging and persons with disability. I just got elected as councilor.

Yeah. I think we have council member Hodges in charge of the great committee. We put we put folks out on that commission. I would love to see your name on that list one of these days. So thanks for your testimony.

Yeah. Sure. Reach out. They got my number out there. Okay. But if anyone of you folks wanna take it, you know, on the council, wanna experience how it feels being impaired and walking the streets, I'm more than happy to have you guys as guests. I had mister Cook and his assistant out there. It was challenging for them. I'll give everybody a chance and anybody wants to do it. Contact Jaren. He has my number. Hello.

Jaren, you're from Tom Cook's staff. Okay. Member of Ramos Fernandez. Mister Barbosa for your testimony. One more question.

Oh, sorry.

Okay. I I, the tactile strips that you're talking about, those are the raised dots, and some have, like, the raised lines. Correct. I've seen those. And so I just I looked it up real quick. It I guess it's the crosswalk bumps, truncated domes, and they're it looks like they're, like, adhesive, and they're well, I use online on Google. It's, like, a $100 for a two by two mat or, you know, it's a it doesn't sound like it's that much.

No. So It's better than beaker lights, We need both of them out there.

I just wanted to make sure I was looking at the right thing. We can find out and maybe even have like a policy that requires this at all crosswalks, so that we have universal design for everyone. Mahalo, Mr. Barbosa. Mahalo.

Mahalo. Thank you. I see Member Cook has a question.

Thank you.

Just a second.

Frank, I just wanted to share with the colleagues. Our walk with you was a life changing experience. It was truly I mean, after ten minutes, I was just all angst, but then calmed down. We did it for about an hour, and I just wanna thank you. And it did. You've got somebody people on your side really want it to happen and we're going to keep working to get make these things happen. Thank you for your testimony.

Yeah. Thank you, folks. Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr.

Oh, and Chair point information. Actually, customer with Tonga is Chair of Great. It's Good

morning, Member Bappelbaum.

Good morning, Chair. Good morning, members.

Good morning. Okay. Thank you. Next testifier, please.

Thank you, Chair. The next testifier is Jennifer Cladwin, to be followed by Jim Langford.

Good morning. My name is Jennifer Gladwin. I'm the executive director for Kaleya Foundation. We are a nonprofit that initially in 2012 started as a recreation based nonprofit, supporting girls, women, and then in 2016, people with disabilities through sports. In the wake of wildfires, we took up New Kuliana to support wildfire survivors with disabilities.

That there's many hookahs to fill in that, area. And in 2023, at the end, we were able to secure a facility called HQ. And there, we support things like we just heard, rebuilding in a universal way. We also support wildfire survivors at an individual level. When the regular systems don't work, whether that's transportation, paratransit, or document replacement, or navigating FEMA, we spend a lot of time advocating for the most challenging cases and pushing through.

We've been able to solve a lot of really unique situations. In addition to that, one of the biggest, needs we saw was, medical equipment replacement. And so we established the Maui loan closet, and that receives donations from the community and then distributes to those in need. It started very small, and now it serves, probably 50 to 60 people a month, if not more. The loan closet as well as the advocacy as well as our collaborations within the community.

So we work hand in hand with, Hola Maui Kama, the long term recovery group. We work hand in hand with the state developmental disabilities council. Work with the Maui Wheelers. We work with, the office on aging, the county office on aging. We work with all of the disaster case management programs, both for the fire and now for the flood.

Our lease comes up in November, and we're seeking funding to help us to secure, the funding for next year to continue our space that helps us collaborate, brings community members together. Just like the testimony we heard, Those community members have a space in HQ with us so that we can all collaborate from the state level down to the grassroots. And that's really our, our mission and our style of moving through these these challenges that we face is to bring all the voices together and help bridge a lot of those gaps. Individuals come to, to do exercise classes. They do support groups, grassroots orgs that maybe don't have the capacity for a space that need a meeting space.

They use our our HQ. And so I've put in a request under the human, concerns for $70,000 to help us keep our doors open, our programs running.

That's my request. Thank you. So when you say HQ, that means your space that you're renting right Headquarters.

Yeah. Yeah. But where is it? It's at 111 Hana Highway in Kahului, very central. We actually share buildings with Maui Rapid Response, which is a really great collaboration. Our goal is to catch all the people falling through the cracks, and we find that visibility is excellent. Okay. Any other questions, members? Member Senensi.

Mahalo, Jennifer, for coming. No questions for Jennifer. Was chair.

I'm I'm sure if you

And And then to We've going to a get to of

I'm just curious how big an area is it? A

Ballpark. You're bringing me the numbers I didn't bring to the table. We have three spaces and they're open to all organizations and organizers to request use. We have one large room that's probably about a thousand square feet. Then we have two other rooms. One's a smaller talk story room. It's about 150 square feet. That's for people to use when they need, to have private conversations, whether that's with their DCM, their therapist. They can do telehealth as well because we know a lot of families sometimes you don't wanna talk to your doctor in your, like, house with 10 people. So we provide that space. Then we also have currently, it's a storage room, and it's about 200 square feet.

I saw. Thanks. I have a question. Yeah.

Okay. Good morning. First of all, welcome. Sorry I didn't, recognize you earlier.

Good morning. Thank you. Nice to see you again. How are you? You. Can you tell me about your loan closet and what you guys look for and, like, can people donate? This is one

of my favorite projects because it's shown such a big impact.

Okay. Basically, in the wake

of the fire, I was in the Mount War Memorial that first night, and I realized nothing was accessible in the shelter.

Mhmm.

And everyone had kupuna had lost their walkers, their wheelchairs, their bath chairs. And so we started to centralize the donations that were coming in, and then we put it up online. So all of our inventory is available online. We have over 53 providers who have access to that. It's password protected because it's on the Internet.

And then we also help people navigate the medical system through that connection. We were able to take in over 17,000 items like pieces that includes, things like adult diapers as well since the fire. Over that since the fire. We received three large shipments from, various, US organizations. We logged all of it, uploaded it, and now we are in a small warehouse we're sharing.

And we probably get around 200 donations of various equipment. We have everything from really high end pediatric electric wheelchairs to crutches, everything in between. We make sure we have a whole procedure to make sure everything works well. We also make sure that everyone knows it's a donation, and we're doing we're just doing the middleman work from community member to community member. And so it's a two two aspects. Right? Bringing in the donations and then getting them to the right people. And through that, we have connections with all the DCMs, all the different organizations working with, people with disabilities, Kupuna access and functional needs.

Thank you so much. Thanks for asking. Mhmm.

Thank you. Any more questions? Member Paulton?

Thank you, chair. Thank you, for your work in the community. Just checking. Have you received the County Of Maui grant before?

We have not. Most of our fundings come from Maui Strong Fund.

And, do you guys are a five zero one c three non profit that's compliant with the Hawaii Business Express? Yep. Have you attended the grant writing workshop? Twice. For the county? Yes. Okay. Thank you.

We've written grants, just haven't received them. Did you get feedback on why? I did not.

Oh. Yeah. Okay. That's all my questions. Thank you.

We're we're new to county grants. We've been a small organization. We grew extensively after the fire, obviously, and most of our support needed to be quite flexible. And so Hawaii Community Foundation, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, all of these nonprofits stepped into that initial capacity building. And now we're at capacity, like a strong capacity, and so we're, we're coming to the council for support.

On the feedback on why they didn't select you or award you, did you not ask or they just

To be completely transparent, the process itself, even for someone who was able to organize all of this, was, it felt relatively impossible. Sorry. To be so honest

heard that.

We've heard that. Yeah. I have quite a high capacity for paperwork. And when I went to turn it in Mhmm. It was completely wrong. And I was scrambling to, to make the right copies in the right way and get it to the right person, and I actually couldn't figure out who to

reach out to. The two grant workshops that you had attended didn't prepare you for what the actual process was? Not

well. Not for human concerns. Mhmm. And this was last year. And, also, you know, to give context, I was in the middle of responding to disaster.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

But overall

not just you. That's something we've we've heard consistently. But so but you didn't ask at the end of it, like, oh, any feedback or anything?

I didn't

Not that it's your fault, but I'm like, that's how you get better. If even if you didn't ask, they should, like, you know, try and help you for next time or something like that.

Again, total transparency, I didn't have access to anyone who I could ask those questions to in in what I understood.

So you just, like, turned it in submitted it online or something?

I know you cannot.

Oh, you can't

submit it online?

Submit it. So this was part of the problem was the system itself was just, a little bit chaotic and slightly archaic. I'm sorry.

No. No. Don't be sorry. It's you're not the only one that said that.

If we could find a way to submit it online, that way we can organize better, but everything had to be printed in in this right order and that order. And, I actually misread, which order it all had to be in, and that was what sent me scrambling at the end. And then there was no one to really there was no one to reach out to beyond that grant workshop, once I did submit.

So they don't, like, provide you a number for follow-up questions or anything?

Not not to my knowledge. Not in a way that was obvious to me.

Thank you. Thank you. Any more questions? Seeing none. Thank you very much for being here. Next testifier. Thank you so much. Have a great day.

Thank you, chair. The next testifier is Jim Langford to be followed by Travis Leggett.

Aloha Chair, Aloha Counsel. I am testifying today as cooler resident, and you're going to be discussing the police and the liquor commission.

I was

hoping just to protect and share some personal experience post wildfire of myself as a disabled person. I wasn't blessed enough to deal with the vast amount of paperwork Because I didn't get housing straight away and had to deal with. Some on blast behavior. I can share that I called the police from four different districts. To report different crimes I was experiencing.

When I was in Key A I reported on child and drug trafficking and I was met with. Getting physically attacked and having a false like, not not complete police report filed. I called from Kahului to report on project vision and how the folks there were coming out sicker and they were being drugged. The police asked me to leave. I called in by a.

About. I was at the beach seeing a lot of things going on I was met with the parts department coming and harassing me and so and then up in cooler I called about child trafficking when somebody pulled a gun on me. That actually got taken care of. I had to go out on the street for a month though so that. I guess it could get taken care of so.

I had to do some research on the types of software that the police are asking for in the companies and what their. What their ideas are and their culture. Palantir know woke people know aloha. Is. It's what they're requesting so if you guys could just take a peek at the the whoever's writing the softwares and.

Look at their culture. Before you spend money on it, it might violate our oath to Aloha. So the thing that kind of set this off that I had to talk to my doctor about was you when the police was you guys were joking around and I'm I'm maybe I'm being too serious but the whole like oh yeah I didn't want them to know we're going to prom together and all that like Having access to department has and you know is reasonable. And it should not endanger any of your careers because I talked to some. APAC lawyers in Las Vegas and you know people do anything to get a bigger budget and cooler toys.

So I just want to put a big hug around you guys and shield you from that type behavior. So I love you guys and you're doing a great job. I'm so everlastingly grateful for you. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none. Thank you very much. Next testifier.

Chair, the next testifier is Travis Leggett, to be followed by Robin Danner.

Mr. Leggett?

Good morning, Chair and Counsel. A long time no see. You guys are such hard workers. It's amazing, your stamina, so great job. And, yeah, gonna try and testify every time. Kind of on a mission here because I'm fighting for my

life with

this stupid infectious process and I just don't want anyone else to experience it. And so again, I'm talking about disinfection and all the logic behind it. Just want to point out today is that I believe the last day of the seventh year since my first testimony when I came up here with that limu. And yeah, I'm still fighting for this sanitation thing. I just want to kind of tie it all together.

I put forth an amendment for advancing CBS eleven sixty nine for design work in Kahului And I just want to tie some things together, which is law enforcement, disabling conditions, mental health. All these things can be tied together in some cases by infectious processes that may never get detected. And furthermore, we're not monitoring what pathogens are going in there. And I submitted some testimony last night about how DOH and DEM appear to be making statements that disinfection is happening. It's kind of a perfect storm, and there's just a strong rationale for advancing that design work as soon as possible.

I've talked about the LIMO solution. I've made testimony that the LIMO can actually meet the TN requirements of the EMPDES permit in Lahaina. So you don't need to spend on litigation to fight that limit. I have a plan to privately fund the Ma'alei regional project. I think it's much more amenable to private funding down there.

And, yeah, it's just an elegant solution. It really makes a lot of sense to like for legal reasons make a strong case that even if the work does not advance next year that it's on the books. It shows that the county is making a due diligence effort to proceed with this without delay. Just think of the marketing. Maui County, the first municipality or island maybe in the nation to have 100% reef safe, human disinfection.

It's such a bragging point and such great marketing for tourism. And I just can't find a level in which sanitation does not make sense or any level in which delaying this further does make sense. And yeah, there may be actually significant liability with the way that things played out with the cessation of disinfection. And I testified about that. Not because I'm planning litigation, but because as a taxpayer, I do not want to pay for people getting sick on my dime.

And I think everyone agrees with that. But again, just gratitude for your tolerance for all my testimony. Not really sure how to check on amendments, but if anyone wants to give me a clue, you've already talked about this. I'm not a legislator, but just thanks for your hard work, and I'm always available for questions.

Thank you. Any questions for the testifier members? Seeing none. Thank you, Mr. Leggett. Thank you. Thank you. Next testifier, please.

Thank you, Chair. The next testifier is Robin Danner, to be followed by Cara Chao.

Aloha. I hope you can hear me. Yes. We can hear you. All right. Thank you. Chair and council members, my name is Robin Danner, and I'm a senior finance adviser for the nonprofit Homestead Community Development Corporation that is 17 years old. And with me is the executive director, miss Kara Chow. We are in attendance to support the funding request for the permanently affordable rental unit strategy or Paris, and to thank the county, over the the last three years, as well as to provide, the April '66 status report to county members that were emailed. So Kara and I are together.

Okay. Are you done?

Yes. We just wanted to support the thank the county for prior grant awards from the Affordable Housing Fund and also to support the request for 3,000,001 million dollars of which we would like to use to add ADUs on any of the existing Paris properties where it's possible. For example, there is one of the properties that has a, ADU reserve. We'd like to immediately build an ADU to add to the inventory. And then the other area of that $1,000,000 is that due to the federal policies on photovoltaic that have made it very, very difficult, they disincentivized, tax credits and whatnot for PV rooftop.

But what we've noticed is we need to add PV wherever we can on affordable housing structures because it is the second greatest way to support, county citizens with affordability to get their utility bills down and their disposable income up. And also, we just wanted to be available for any questions.

Thank you very much. Member Palton has a question for you.

Thank you. I didn't receive the update status report. Where did you send it to?

It went out very early this morning. Oh, It's it's four pages, council member. Essentially, I, care and I, provide, and this is something that we provide our board as well. Counts can someone get that to council member or should I email it?

One moment. So staff is saying that they received it, Or do you know?

Thank you, Jerry. Yes. It was received this morning and uploaded to e comments under today's meeting.

Okay. And then, one of the questions we had yesterday was, the director of housing mentioned that they sent out the request for proposals to all previous awardees and that they didn't receive an application from you folks.

Yes, it was during. Obviously Paris was something that we worked very, very, very closely with councilmember Tasha Kama. And that was just a tumultuous time for our beloved council member. So we did not get a submission in.

Okay. And then, so how many people are living in Paris units as of right now, the ones that you said? Remember Batanglan mentioned that there might have been some roof damage or something like that?

Yeah. Great. Great question. So the Paris units on the good think second And Two are vacant because we're renovating to get up to HUD standards so that we can now open the doors to even taking Section eight. Although Paris isn't a low income housing, it's an affordable housing program.

But of the seven that are not vacant, 100% of them are Maui wildfire households. So seven for seven are there and have been there, right? So we expect the two vacant units that two of them are these are houses, three bedroom, 1.5 bath with carports, washer dryer, furniture, etc. We expect them to be occupied this month actually and get back to 100%. How many units do you think you could provide

with the additional three mill? Yes.

So the 1,000,000 that we're asking for, is to add an ADU unit and to tackle this photovoltaic, situation, council member to get PV on top of the two the two Lahaina homes. There's actually three units in Lahaina that we have out of the nine. Three are in Lahaina. Three are in Kihei and three are in Wailuku. Those year nine.

The million is to make those improvements, roof improvements, ADU, and PV. 2,000,000 of the 3,000,000 is to continue the acquisition with leveraged capital. So not utilizing a 100% only county funds, but utilizing HCDC's, seventeen year history and its balance sheet to do a capital stack that includes the county's subsidy along with, philanthropy and, most importantly, I would say, with financial institution debt. Those three, those three sources of capital. Thank you.

So, you don't have an estimate as to how many Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't answer. Yes. Yeah. So our goal for the 2,000,000 is two to three, to be able to add two to three units, maybe four council member Paulton.

That depends on we're watching interest rate, measures because if interest rates get lower, then we could add increased debt capital to increase the number of acquisition. But the other variable that I thought I would share with you is over the last year, we have been tracking the market values of property on Maui. And interestingly, they're they're on a slide. We recently acquired, two units in Lahaina, at $300,000 less than appraised value. So that tells me there's a slide.

So this is an opportune time council member to be able to really maximize a a county investment as we watch the market. Interest rate and market values are the two main indicators, that present to us that this is a real that it's continuing to be successful, but it could be even more successful given those two things, interest rates and, valuations on Maui.

Sorry. I have two more questions. One is, are your property taxes manageable as these are rental affordable rentals in perpetuity? Has your property taxes been adjusted accordingly?

Yes. The Maui County has a wonderful process, a very comprehensive process to apply for tax exemptions based on the ordinance. So we have been following that process and submitting. So far we have not had any bumps.

Okay. And my second question is, as you're renting these affordably, are you aware of the ADU program that Charlie started that you can apply for a $100, in additional funding per ADU one per property? We

are aware of that. And what what we know, though, is that, it's a wonder program but it's targeted really for individual homeowners and so we wouldn't want. Our thinking I'm just sharing our thinking council member is that. It's highly competitive. It's very desirable. It's a very popular program is what we've been told, and, we didn't want to interrupt homeowners, local homeowners that could tap into that program to add an ADU. And that's why, because this is a rental program, we wanted to fold it into, the Paris and the affordable housing fund. Okay. Sorry. One That's a ration.

One more, question. Are you aware I don't know if the Lahaina houses are in the burn zone or outside of the burn zone, but inside of the burn zone act or bill fifth one of the bills allow for, factory built, and, HPM has a really nice, two bedroom ADU model. Model. So if if those Lahaina properties are in the burn zone, potentially, you could get the, they made a model just for Maui after the burn the fire that Hawaiian council utilized. It's there are a bunch right across of Lahaina Intermediate, that might be a fast way to put up a two bedroom if your Lahaina parcels are in the burn zone.

That's it. Thank you. I'll look for your I'll look for the report. Thank you.

You very much. No more questions. All right. Thank you. Next testifier, please.

Chair, the last individual signed up to testify is Kara Chao. Kara, you're unmuted on our end, so you would just have to go to the top right screen top right corner of your screen to unmute yourself.

Thank you so much. Can everyone hear me? We can hear you.

Aloha. Thank you, Council Chair Lee and Council Chair Vice Chair Sugimura and Council Members. Mahalo. I stand on Robin Danner's questions and testimony as referred to her as our senior advisor for HCDC. For supporting our Paris project and hearing us today. Thank you. Does anybody have more questions for them? Sounds looks like Ms. Dannock answered most of the questions. Thank you very much. Mahalo. Mahalo. Next testifier, please.

Chair of the next testifier is Christopher Salem.

Mister chair members of Maui County Council. My testimony this morning continues on the budget matters specifically that spires report that was referenced yesterday relating to fraud and nepotism. And the ongoing legal fees the county is expending defending director level decisions that are not grounded in law. I ask the council members to please review the written testimony submitted today. I direct my testimony to come council member Tom Cook.

Who has jurisdiction over the department of public works and representations made by director Jordan Molina. For the record Mister Cook your statements regarding director Molina's qualification require a bit of clarification. It's not a personal criticism it's just a fact and it matters on the from from the public's perspective. The position of director public works is currently held as an administrative one in nature it's not supported by credentials as a licensed professional engineer, nor by demonstrated qualifications as an expert in civil engineering, or environmental mitigations, or certainly SMA regulatory compliance. Turning to a declaration which you all have submitted by director Molina, which I state is outside of his authority and credentials, I'll read directly into the record that declaration.

The order of magnitude estimate portion of an SMA permit application has no bearing on public works determination of what subdivision improvements are required. The estimates represents cost the developer thinks public works might require, and subdivision approvals are interdependent of that estimate. Councilmember Cook is the chair of infrastructure. Can you help today and educate the council on how critical

and Mister Salem. Mister Salem.

Yes. This is the chair of the committee. Can you speak to me and not to Mr. Member Koch? Thank you.

Okay. Can you please put my time back on for that interruption?

Sure. We'll give

you Please. Ten

thirty seconds. Go ahead.

He is the chair of the matter at hand, and I think it's fair to ask him directly. No one else is qualified to do so, but I don't know where you come up with these limitations, but I'll respect your position and do so. You. The order magnitude valuation is not a guess and it's not a discretionary figure. It's prepared by licensed professionals and reflects the actual scope of required mitigations tied directly to public safety and environmental protection.

It's a basis upon which the county determines whether a project qualifies to deny citizens of public hearings on any proposed development, which the county has a due to promote duty to promote under the force of federal coast of zone management act. Corporation counsel's already taken the position that sole authority over SMA lies with planning. So the question becomes simple from an administrative position how can Molina cope. Claim authority to reinterpret or disregard the very condition that planning is legally required to enforce. The answer is they cannot.

And the record confirms why was this to declaration manufactured in the first place. Because it's established in in the county's own stipulation that planning. Is the authority all keep saying the same thing. But I'm not sure how much time I have left. But a public works is alleging they can erase SMA permit infrastructure and fire mitigations in the dark, and this council fails to investigate that statement, which is absolutely not true.

I'll finish. The investigation should center on those developers who are named in the fire litigation and how many times public works erased fire mitigations as was the case in Ouluwala. I won't speak to his name. I hope one of the council members would surely launch an investigation on this and uphold the laws that you create. Thank you.

Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none. Thank you. Next testifier, please.

Chair, that's all the individuals signed up to testify. Oh, I do see one individual approaching the podium. Thank

you, Jared. JC Long. I'll try to speak fast so you guys can get to work and the previous testifiers can have some of my time if I get cut off. So there's there's days when I have, like, clarity and I could see everything, you know, I have no what I'm gonna say. Today is not one of them.

The Hawaiian word of the day is ka ba'a. And the ka has the mekrono with a and ba'a is the okina in between the two a's. And the the Hawaiian dictionary says it me it says means canoe baler. And so if I put that in like a picture of us here in the big canoe here and even with the wood and all, it helps. So I'm kinda part of the reason I'm here is, like, I I volunteer to be the canoe bailer.

You guys keep paddling. You get a lot of criticism and stuff for, like, oh, the county's doing this and the county's doing that. But just try to be Pono and Ohio because when you have a canoe, you probably you usually like, I don't know how they did it back in Hawaiian days, but you gotta have somebody in the like, telling all the rest of the guys where to go and stuff. So yeah. Appreciate that. And that's about all I got. Oh, yeah. Wait. No. I got some more.

Let me know when I'm getting on the two two minute thirty second mark. I encourage everybody out there in TV land to watch the March 25 of the budget committee meeting because there was a really intelligent person from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization relating to the county's and state's economic outlook, doctor Carl Bonham. And he said, if we keep on following the course, following the USS America, then there's gonna be some rough seas ahead. And if I got any time left, I'd just like to speak about the basic business application. I could be a canoe.

I can row too, but until I get some approval from the the people in charge because I they're gonna try to call the sheriff's office on me, so I need a witness. I talked to mister Leon, the governor's representative. Yes.

Haven't heard any of the testimony that relates to the agenda yet, and we're very patient with this gentleman. But I feel that he needs to be told when he comes to give testimony, it should be specific and focused on our agenda and our business.

Thank you. Finish

on the agenda. I guess so. Mr. Cook has spoken.

Thank you. All right. No questions for the testifier. Next testifier, please.

Chair, that's all the individuals signed up to testify. If anyone in the audience or on Teams would like to testify, please come up to the mic and begin your testimony. Or use the raise your hand on teams and staff who will mute you. Here's a brief countdown. Three, two, one. Seeing none, Chair, no one has indicated that they wish to testify. Thank you. Members, I'm

going to close public testimony and receive written testimony. Thank you. So we're going to proceed with the first department for today which is Department of Human Concerns. There are 19 priorities from members which I'm going to go through one by one and ask the member to explain your priority and then we'll take a vote. So the first person would be council member Batangan, county wide two for human concerns. In the spreadsheet that chair of my office

I just was wondering, now that we've heard from the parish, did you want to close-up that one and get it out of the way? That's

that priority would be for another department.

How's housing?

Yes, Sherry. It was for housing. I think member Palton's asking if you wanted to revisit business from yesterday before we move on to human concerns today or if you wanted to take that up later because we did put a pin in it yesterday.

Yeah, that would take us up. How is it?

But okay. Yeah. Up to you.

We can put a Why don't you do that then?

Okay.

If you remember, Paul. Was Wait, what page is it on our spreadsheet?

Hold on. I was not prepared for that. One minute.

I want to thank Jennifer from my office who took your priorities, put numbers on every page, and put the footnote on the bottom which says what department it is. Yeah, helpful. Yeah.

She was working to leave last night.

Yep. Yep. Okay. Housing starts on page nine on the priorities. It starts on nine, but I gotta find member Batangans.

Which I don't

see. Just to be clear, you're working off of the the sheet that was printed last night at 08:35PM?

I don't know whatever was given to me.

It doesn't have a time on it.

The priority one that we initially got. Not the one not the new

one. Yeah. Not the exhibit. Not the exhibit.

I call them. I I again was working off the wrong.

Don't see yours. 29?

That's

why it was the revolving fund.

Page 29. Oh, mine says police on it.

Okay. Thank you, I apologize. I was I was in a completely different mindset, ready to go for human concerns. Let's see. I moved to add on okay. This this is still the one that I need help with trying to figure out a vehicle for since there's no money left in the affordable housing fund.

Oh, okay.

I'm I'm guessing I'm just gonna make a motion to move to add money to the affordable housing fund. If we add money to supplement it, fine. If you guys tell me later, fine. But I'm just gonna make the motion as I under as as I initially prepared it because I I'm gonna need your help crafting this.

Okay.

So I moved to add a new condition for the to section d of the affordable housing fund, to add a new condition for Homestead Community Development Corporation for the Paris program, as follows. Up to $3,000,000 must be a grant to Homestead Community Development Corporation as a contribution to the capital stack for the purchase of single family or multifamily homes to be used as affordable rentals under the permanently affordable rental unit strategy program.

Second. Okay. A motion made by Member Patongian, second by Member Palton.

Thank you, Chair. And I do see Director popping on. If it would probably be helpful to hear from the administration before we continue in our deliberations.

Director Milner.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Councilor Rabbitoggin. Yeah, as we discussed last year, as much as possible, we really like to keep the affordable housing projects as the projects that went through the competitive process. So as this will necessitate an additional $3,000,000 in general fund anyway, The preference would be that it would be added as a line item under Department of Housing for the grant rather than under the affordable housing fund, but I defer to the body on what they ultimately decide. Thank you, Chair.

Okay. So in other words, we can do whatever we want. Is that what you're saying?

Thank you, budget director. If the body is agreeable, I'd like to accept that proposal as a friendly amendment. Or instead of adding into the affordable housing fund, we add this as a line item under the department.

Okay. I know the department was asking us the same thing last year, right? Keep the affordable housing fund clear or pure and

yeah. I think it's still like to have a conversation with the department about that especially since they are monopolizing the funds so that we can't add anything, but then they bring projects outside of the RFP process for our consideration.

Yeah.

But I think I'm getting a little off topic. So this is the project that I had brought up yesterday. It was explained to us in further detail by Ms. Danner. Member Palton was able to ask some questions that I found very helpful in making my determination. I don't know how much more information are you able to share with the body beyond that, but I'm happy to do my best if needed. Thank you, members.

And this is the organization that member Palton I'm sorry, member Kama, right? Brought forward in.

Yes. She worked with this organization to help bring this program forward.

Correct.

Your hand is up. Member Palton.

Thank you. I did, have a chance to read the e comments report, from the Teams, chat, and it satisfied all my questions. If if that had been from the start, then could have passed it yesterday. But, I think that the only I guess, the only one concern I have, and I don't think it should be a problem because it's embedded in the program, is not, using the affordable housing funds. I would like the same income restrictions and like that, but I think it's embedded in the program, so it doesn't necessarily need affordable housing money to ensure that it's affordably rented in perpetuity.

And so that resolves that issue for me. I'm supportive. It looks like they've leveraged, you know, quite a bit of private capital as well. They don't have issues with their property taxes. And, I mean, I can't ask for anything more than all fire survivors in those homes.

K. Thank you. Member Rollins Fernandez.

K. Mahalo. I'm supportive of the motion. I, wanted to also flag that this is a condition, from a revolving fund, and now we're making it a grant. So member baton gone will have three. No. That that didn't follow your process. I support it anyway, but I'm just flagging that it's not following the process that you asked us to do, which I didn't follow either.

So, is

that a screw you? Just saying. Yes. That's why I support it. Okay, members. Just remember that. Go ahead. Exactly. That's why kidding. That's why I was supporting it. Okay. Good problem. Anyway, so I I did review the, testimony as well, and I can get more details, from miss Downer later, because I don't really like how the information was presented. Number of units, three, Waileuku, eight bedrooms, four baths. I prefer each unit to be separated out so that I can see the details of it, but that's not gonna stop me from us voting for the motion today.

Like, I'm I'm fine. I can get that detail from her later. But in the future, I I I'd like that, even if it's just, like, to me as an individual council member because that's information that you'd prefer not to, you know, have public or something. And then I'd also like to, have, like, an an an amount or a range. I I know it says, like, the AMI for, income level, but I guess I'd like to also see the rent rates for the the units even if it's like a like a range or something.

So I have a a better idea of, you know, like, the the full impact because I think, you know, this is good work. I just like to see those, that that deep those details myself. Mahal Chern.

Thank you. Excuse me. Member, Oo Hutchins. And then Johnson next. Is that right?

Thank you, chair. I'm happy to support this motion. So that I understand it, so my notes are correct as we're going through this. So now we're not going to do the affordable housing. Instead, on page 10 of budget bill 55, we're adding a new item number six in, the b category for $3,000,000 for the Paris program. Confirmed? Yes? Yes. Okay.

Anybody else? Oh, Member Johnson.

Thank you, Chair. My question is for Councilmember Batanggan. Where do you plan to find the $3,000,000

Yeah, I haven't figured that out yet. My first attempt was to take from what I thought was available in the affordable housing fund. Yeah. This is kind of an evolving situation. I I haven't quite gotten there yet. Okay.

Good job. So Member Sannenci and okay, go ahead.

Thank you, Chair. And to Member of Batanggan, I can be supportive not under the affordable housing fund because it would take away from our project. And we've waited ten years for that project to come. So being the new guy, I just wanted to let you know the press the precedent set for that one. But my my quest I I guess to the director's point about and and we're not even talking about the affordable housing fund, as director Milner said they wanted to keep it.

They have a process, I guess. And so I just wanted to throw out there, but this is not part of the affordable housing fund.

I can support it. You're hanging on to yours, right?

Oh, yeah. Habitat.

Yeah. A lot of candies went into it.

I know you waited a long time. Maybe member Batangan when we do first reading maybe or you could ask them for that information as the members are asking in addition to what they've already submitted.

Thank you, chair. Yes, I'll have my staff reach out to the organization and ask that they provide that additional information. I also know that the program caters to Alice households per the council request from a previous year. I can ask them to include that data as well. So since, you know, I know that you were comfortable member Palton was comfortable, you know, supporting it even though it didn't have the restrictions of the affordable that come with affordable housing dollars or fund dollars. But it is, as she said, built into the program and then I can ask that they ensure that information is included too. Thank you, Chair.

Member Palton's dream come true, right? A lot of things with this project. So thank you. Okay, members. Ready for the vote. Member Rollins Fernandez.

Mahal, so just to clarify. On budget bill, page 10, under Department of Housing, pro a housing program, it would be so, Member Palton's, Lahaina Community Land Trust grant would be number six, and then this would be number seven, 3,000,000 for Paris. Is that is that what we're doing? Like that? I just want to make sure we're all on the same page and I know for sure what I'm voting for.

Sounds

chair. Yes. So the way staff has it noted right now is yes, it'd be a new line item, which would be the seventh line item entitled Grant to Homestead Community Development Corporation with a condition funds must be used as contribution to the capital stack for the purchase of single family or multifamily homes to be used as affordable rentals under the permanently affordable rental unit strategy program. Is that the intent?

Yep. Never batonking.

I think so. That's how I crafted it over the weekend. Ms. Danner did mention that there would be some improvements being made to additional

that

I might need a

Molokai brand. Mahalajar. Teamwork. Very good. Are you guys ready to vote? All in favor raise your hand and say aye. I think we're a nine. Nine ayes. Remember Cook, yeah? Okay, nine ayes motion carries. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Now we'll start with human concerns. Okay. So with human concerns, it is Member Batangen.

Okay. Thank you, Chair. I guess before I start on human concerns, I'd like to make a disclaimer since there are a lot of programs within this department that affect my economic opportunity. As you know, my wife works there, so I do have conflicts with certain programs that they either are contract or grant recipients for administer the funds for. Those are the head start after school and summer program, and lands planning and coordinating council, Molokai suicide prevention, BEST, youth services on underage drinking prevention, and project graduation.

So if any of those comes up, I will be abstaining from discussion and from voting. The first amendment that I'd like to make would be to increase category b by a $150,000 and add a new condition for a special medical needs power supply program as follows. One, general. Two, up to $150,000 must be for a special needs power supply program.

Second. Second. Motion made by member Batonga, second by Chair Lee.

Thank you, members. So this is a proposal that came to me during one of my community outreach, events. A woman and her, son came up to me and explained the problem. You know, with the power shutoffs that occur whenever there's a red flag warning, her son who has special medical needs and is reliant on, you know, electronic devices has to go to the hospital anytime there's a planned power outage. And so we had initially tried to reach out to Hikko to try to find the solution.

Is there a way that they could not turn off this this household and therefore spare the family, you know, the the trip to the hospital? Hikko replied with a special medical needs rate for the family that doesn't really help because they still will turn off the power. And so I was thinking about how we could help solve this issue of any time there's an expected or so the solution I came up with would be to grant batteries to homes so that there would be a charge and they'd be able to remain in their house without having to take up space at the hospital. I figured it's a win for the families, it's a win for the community at large because it'll spare our hospital having to care for an influx of people at these times. And so that's what this proposal is.

I will note that I did reach out to the Department of Human Concerns to give them a heads up and they did seem supportive of the idea. I don't I mean, yep. So I just asked the members' support for this proposal.

Very good. Member Poulton.

So my question is being that this is a new program, did you create, like, a white paper on how you would like the department to roll it out and parameters of, like, who qualifies, how much per individual, and those types of scenarios. Because, in their feedback to our questions, they said, you know, they have limited staff, and then we, all the time, overload them on these kind of proposals. So did you have a white paper with the parameters and how you would like the program rolled out?

Chair. Yes. Thank you, Member Bolton. They indicated that they would like to work with my office on this. I did not put together a white paper but have been in communication. If it's the pleasure of this body, we can put something in writing. But I kind of just went off the conversations that I had.

You don't have a white paper like what is your intended, disbursement amount and what would qualify somebody like having a CPAP or like what what are what are those parameters?

I guess I had been thinking about people who have previously in the past gone to the hospital because they needed to maintain some kind of life support or they have special medical need that necessitated that visit. You know, I don't have the details work through with how you would prove a need before that. But you know, the general gist is life saving medical equipment rather than other, you know, medical support.

And will there be, like, a hardship factor? Like, I mean, what if Jeff Bezos has a hard time? You know, we we don't wanna just give this out to people that have the means. We wanna specifically support folks that may not have the means rate is is that part of your intention?

I had not considered that prior. But yes, I would be supportive of there being some kind of demonstrated need.

Okay. I'll yield the floor. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Member Cook.

Thank you. Member, it sounds like this would be almost like a computer backup battery when the power goes down. You have access for a particular device. Would that be something like dialysis machine for be specific and possibly oxygen generator. Those are predict they have predictable amounts of electricity they need.

So anyway, I'm supportive and it seems that's mechanically, I mean, And do to to And 20 to able And that. Do And we're not only helpful for the people, the patients, but also takes the burden off the community in a big way, and it's a very good contribution. Thank you. Thank you, members.

Okay. Ready for the vote. Member Rollins Fernandez.

Mahalo, chair. I think I have similar questions as Member Bolton. And that's the reason the Ag micro grant has such a long condition to give because this is something that's developed by a council member. And so the departments sometimes are a little reluctant. I mean, they'll work with us to try to develop the program.

But providing very as much detail and clear specifics as possible is helpful. That way there isn't any misunderstanding, and the department doesn't get blamed for not understanding correctly what you had intended. The the other thing, did did you have, like, an organization? Like, is this gonna go? Is it going to be a grant to like multiple organizations?

Or is this going to be managed? Do you intend for this to be managed internally by the department? And if so, does the department have the capacity to manage a new program to internally issue grants? Or are they buying these the batteries or backup power supply? Like, I guess, like that kind of detail. And if you don't have that details today, do you think you would have it by Friday or first reading so that we can include that?

Thank you, Member the think very very other important important

And And Chan Hodges and Stacy I Alapai have both been working on this with battery supplies, and they've been prioritizing those that are that have life sustaining equipment. And they had it during the Kuala Loho, and it already proved to help those with the equipment. Can get

extent extent

I know we Councilman Rollins Fernandez asked it but I didn't hear we don't have a name of a nonprofit for this just yet. So we will know that later.

Yeah, don't have that detail. Yeah, I had I can follow-up with the department and get more information on how they would like to administer this. I just had reached out and gotten general support for the proposal. Okay. And committed to ongoing conversations.

And we have director Milner coming on the call, so maybe she has something to add.

Director. Thank you. Thank you, chair. Thank you, council member Johnson. Yeah, it's my understanding, you know, if an entity isn't named, we'll do a grant solicitation to select someone who could administer this program. So there's no need to name a specific entity if one who we don't know for sure has these capabilities has been identified. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Okay. Ready to vote. Members? All in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Aye. This looks like a niner. Nine ayes. Motion carries. Thank you, members. Thank you. Next is Member Palton, your countywide two.

Thank you, chair. I move to add to budget bill number nine, B-nine, Department of Human Concerns, small B, Human Concerns Program, parent two, grants and disbursements for food, shelter, and safety, per an eye Maui mediation services to increase the existing appropriation and program by a 150,000 for a total appropriation of 285,000. Second. Okay. Motion made by member Paulson, second by chair Lee.

Thank you. This was one of the testifiers at the South Maui budget hearing. Beavan Borrowers runs this program, requested an increase because state legislature passed another act. I'm sorry. Forget what the number is, but that would require more increased mediation services. It doesn't necessarily solve the financial problems with eviction, but it makes it so that, you know, the tenant and landlord oftentimes don't wanna harm each other like they had previously had, you know, problems. So

that's my motion. Thank you. Anybody have questions? Member Batangan?

Oh, was second.

Oh, you're the second. Okay. That was Shirley. Okay.

Oh, sorry. Doesn't Share.

Share.

Oh,

No. I was doing the discussion for the motion.

Okay. Members, all in favor, raise your hand. Say aye. This looks

like a niner. Okay. Nine ayes. Motion carries. And and the offset was previously passed in EPNS, just as a reminder.

Very good. Council member Batangan, this is your county wide three increased Maui mediation service. He's withdrawing it because I just did it,

and he put his eagle scouts instead.

Or

do this one, right? This is your one for Tutu and me. The next one.

Oh, thank you, Chair. I would like to add a proviso. So, I guess I would move to add to the, on page 10, number nine, Department of Human Concerns, three grants and distribution disbursements for early childhood. Five, Partners Development Foundation. A condition B, provided that the organization maintains existing operations at the six program sites in Maui County.

Okay. Based upon the discussion, yeah.

Yeah. Can I get a second?

Second by Member Ou Hodgins.

Thank you, Chair. Discussion? Thank

you. The Just a second. Corp. Counsel is saying something.

Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to make sure, are you planning to still include the other condition that there has to be partial county match of funds?

I was, but I'm open to taking it out if not. So let me explain my thinking. The the sorry. I got thrown off. So the the proposal the the organization asked for $1,200,000 to maintain operations in Maui County.

That's enough to support the four sites here in Maui. They are already planning to use their own money to maintain the two sites on Molokai. So my understanding was that those two the funding for those two sites are the organizations matched to the county funds. So they would would pay for the two sites on Molokai. Our additional funding would pay for the four sites on Maui, and then that would be the organization's demonstrated partial match. So I just wanted to make sure that a condition was added so that the county money is used to maintain this programming. It can't be used for any other purposes. If that is correct, then yes, I would like to keep the

first proviso. Think that's That's what they they told told us. Us, right? All right. You all motion made by Member Batang and second by Member Oh Hodgins for this additional condition. So you're keeping the first and you're just adding this one,

Yes. And I'm not changing the funding amount since the full cost to maintain the programming was included in the mayor's proposed budget. Okay.

All in favor, raise your hands. Go ahead. Member Rollins Fernandez.

Okay. I because it doesn't have a total. So are you increasing it by a million for 2,000,000? Sorry.

I'm No. He's not increasing. No. I'm adding condition.

Yes. I'm just adding the condition. So the $1,200,000

Okay, so

delete is the increase appropriation by $1,000,000

Yep.

And then just add a condition that the programs are

Correct. So the $1.2 that's already been appropriated, at least yesterday's from conversation, seems like it's enough to maintain the four sites here on Maui. There will be no closures to the two to me program on Maui or Molokai.

Four. So you're making it four programs on Maui Island?

I just said that that they need to maintain the operations at the six program sites in Maui County just so that money can't be moved around to be used for anything other than Maui and Molokai. My thinking was that this language allowed for the Molokai sites to be included in the matching funds.

Okay, Mahalo. Okay.

So we're good. All right. Any other questions? Seeing none. All in favor. Oh, Shirley.

I have a discussion. I plan to support this. My son, Gary, who is the superintendent of highways for Maui County and who has been with me throughout my entire career as a council member, has never advocated for anything except Tutu and me. Wow. So, I think take that seriously and I'm happy to support that. That's kind

of precious. Member of Batavia.

Sure. Since we're thinking about people who are guess I should have done this upfront. My daughter my younger daughter is enrolled in the program. I should have made that disclaimer upfront, I apologize members I had forgotten. I did check with board of ethics on this since I am not a board member and don't have therefore, don't have a fiduciary responsibility and because the program is free and open to the public, I do not have a financial interest in this. So I to my knowledge do not have an ethical conflict here.

Okay. Very good for the disclosure. Member Rollinsburg.

Mahalajar, I just wanted to thank the mayor for including this in his proposed budget. Mahalajar.

Okay. Any other comments? Member Cook.

I'm very supportive of this. I thought it was a very emotional, real sharing from all of the parents. I almost wish I had little kids again.

That's possible. Okay.

Okay. Chair correction for the record. Member Cook, it's tutu and me. The tutus are supposed to go with the grandchildren too and the parents.

So when your kids have kids, then you can go.

See? So you're not disqualified. Okay.

Your kids could still make you a tutu, Tom.

No. Alright. Or or great grandpa.

There you go.

Yeah. And you can go with a great grandpa.

Okay. All in favor. Aye. Aye. This nine ayes got to vote twice for Gary, Okay. Just joking. All right. Nine ayes. Motion carries. It's 11:30. I know we started at ten and we are only on the third priority. So we got to speak faster, maybe do your proposals, do it in one minute of your presentation. And then if we have questions, we can go faster. Member Batangan, you have this is for Kahului Honganji.

Thank you, chair. I move to add a new line item for Kahului Honganji under Department of Human Concerns B, Human Concerns Program three, grants and disbursements for early childhood to read as follows. Six, provided that the appropriation is for additional fencing for the childcare center.

Motion made by member Patongian, second by member Wu Hodgins.

Thank you, Members, as you may have heard, there was a lot of flooding that occurred at Kahului Hongwanji after the Kona lows. And so I reached out to the preschool to see what kind of needs they might have and how we might be able to assist. One thing that they did mention was the need for additional fencing. It's a childcare facility, and there are state rules and regulations as to, like, what the facility will need. And so this was the request. It

to

of we're that we're some get. Improvements to Pupuneni Avenue the and increased traffic along there and the increased flooding that may whatever. I don't want to speculate too much. This was the request and so I'd like to support them.

Thank you. Any more comments?

Member Ohajes. Thank you so much. Happy to support. As we all know, preschool's already super expensive. So I would rather we do this for our community so that the cost isn't passed over to the parents who I'm assuming is already hard to pay for. Preschool, it's about college tuition these days. So

thank you. Okay. Any more comments? Alright. So be a cost side.

So So we're Your grant one condition 188,000.

Okay. Move to condition seven house list programs to read as follows up to 01/8500 must be for Project Vision Hawaii to continue their street medicine and street based healthcare efforts. Second.

Motion made by Member Senesse, second by Member Johnson.

Follow chair. At the Kihei budget hearing, we heard some from Nurse Robin Garrison, who does the street medicine. So I think her testimony was very poignant and tearful testimony she offered. And what was interesting is that not just she also mentioned that the administration, Naomi, often calls her to help with with some of the, houseless individuals that Naomi often visits. And so she comes to their aid as well. So I ask for the members continued support. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other discussion? If not, all in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Aye. Nine ayes. Motion carries. Very good. Next we have Member Rollins Fernandez, Countywide One.

Can you skip and go to Member Senensi and come back to me after him? Thanks.

Okay. The next one is yours, too. Okay. Senensi grant two.

Thank you, Jared. This is my second condition. Yeah. I moved to, condition add a new line item for Kilea Foundation for $70,000 to enable them to sustain their headquarters in Kahului. Second.

All right. Motion made by Member Senensi, second by member Johnson. Discussion.

Model chair, you heard from Jennifer Gladwin, this morning. She is requesting 70,000 to, support their community space that is headquartered in Kahului. Cleophonized Foundation supports long term recovery efforts from the 2023, wildfires, and assist patients with disabilities, kupuna and disaster survivors with transportation, educational programs and community training related to recovery. She mentioned that the hub also works closely with Aloha Independent Living, Hawaii Maui Akama, long term recovery group, Maui Wheelers, the state of Hawaii Developmental Disabilities Council, as well as the Maui Disability Alliance. Ask for your members support.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Member Johnson.

I'm wondering if councilmember Senancy would consider a friendly amendment to increase the funding for Kaleya Foundation by $116,000 to a total of $186,000 to fund a full time advocate position that includes fringe. The recent flooding and all the things you just listed is just piling up and they need more help. I was wondering if you would consider increasing that to add another person.

Sure. If we can find the funding to cover it. Yeah.

Is that one of yours? You're adding on?

No. It's just friendly amendment. They sent out my team spoke with them. They sent out a sheet that said exactly what their needs their primary needs and their secondary priorities. So that would be, you know, it's only piling up the work. So that they were asking that and I wanted to see what the members felt about that.

Member Bolton.

I'm not clear if this is a county position or if it's for them. And if it's for them, we don't do, like, their fringe. Like, you're just talking about money for a position. That's right. Oh, okay. Yeah. I was confused because you said framed.

Well, yeah. That's okay.

Yeah. I was also confused about that point. So can you clarify the so what is the total amount, and then what's the breakdown? Sure.

The The total amount is $186,000 and the increase that I'm proposing is $116,000

Wow.

To fund the full time advocate position.

The it's 116,000 for the advocate position that's salary and fringe? Yes. Did they give a breakdown as to what that is in terms of salary and fringe?

45 an hour.

Thank you. I

am No objections if the members are okay

with it.

Know, out of respect, realize that this is the first time they're doing a grant with us. Appreciate the work that they're doing for the needs that they're fulfilling. But I think the 70,000, which will keep them going and then they can see as far as adding staff. Think organizations, you're going to have to figure out how to sustain yourself. And it cannot be through us. Okay.

If other members want to speak to it, I'm open to listening to what you guys would suggest.

Member Oo Hodgins.

Thank you. The 116 is quite a lot of money for the council for the county to fund a full time employee elsewhere.

Mhmm.

I could see if we kinda did some match fundings. And in this case, considering we're paying their rent, at 70,000, they can use that that I'm assuming they needed to get elsewhere to hopefully pay that person, and then they could figure that out. But for right now, I'm I'm cool with the 70.

Mhmm.

And I think that's what I'm comfortable with. I really like Jen. Don't get me wrong. I've known her for a while. She's awesome. But I don't know how that works because I don't even know if we can fund salaries completely like that. I'm not too sure. I know that when I was at least talking to somebody, I thought there was, like, a 20% cap on how much we can pay for somebody's salary. Did you check on that?

If you mean like an administrative

Yeah. Fee Yeah.

This is not bad. This is funding a position.

No, I get But

I don't know if there's

I get that.

That's my point. Right. Is that we put a cap on administration fees, but in this case, we would be paying for somebody's complete salary. And I know it's not the same, but for me, there's some likeness So I'm okay to do 70, but I wouldn't support the 1 80

6. Bill,

you know, I have more cuts than I did for asks. How about

Great. You put in 22,500,000.

And I cut a whole lot more. So But I guess I guess, you know Keeping track Getting the vibe from my council members. I don't want to jam up Councilmember Sinense's priorities. So how about I don't do a friendly amendment, just do an amendment? And we can all vote on the amendment. And then if that And you have a passed, he still gets to have his thing clean.

And are you saying

you're adding another priority to what I'm hearing

you say?

I'm amending his priority.

Uh-uh. That's gonna be

No. No. No. No.

That's slippery. That's slippery. Okay. Let's let's take member

What

do Nancy. Hey.

You're gonna What's good for one is good for others.

Right? No.

Yes. Gonna We're

do that. Yeah. And we cannot have people over doing it.

This is too fun. Okay. Member Soleynzi, I'm already set. Member Baton Gun. Go ahead.

Aye. Oh, you're voting. Okay. All in favor say aye for the 70,000.

Keep no. I move to amend. Second.

What are you doing now?

There's friendly amendment, so we're

gonna take two motions on

the floor. He's gonna move to amend.

The you're adding the 116?

No, I don't

want to.

Yes. You explain.

I move to amend councilmember Senensis' proposal by 116,000, totaling 186,000. That's the amendment.

Second.

I have a second, you can do that, ma'am.

Member

Bolton. Discussion. Well, Member Johnson already discussed. Go ahead.

I moved to amend that amount down to 63,000, so we're doing a 50%, what you call supplement of the position. To what? Chair.

I don't know what Rosenberg allows, but Roberts only allow two motions deep.

Chair? Rosenberg's allows three motions to be on the floor at one time. And because there's no friend need, there

are three right now. Would you look at that? I'm right in line with Rosenberg. We're

do

We're

We're We're 16,000. Right? That's what you're doing.

You know me. I just try to thread the needle.

Okay. Charlie, you're

high. I seconded the motion but my heart wasn't in it. I want to support the the first amendment. Thank you.

So when you say the first amendment, what is it? The 116? Yes. Yes. Yes, yes. In

other words, it was just for discussion. Mahalo, Charlie. Okay. So we are going to vote on the

member Palton's amendment for 63,000 add instead of the 160. Right. That's what you're okay. Okay. All in. That's what we're on now. 63,000 and now

Roll call, please, chair.

Roll call. Okay. Roll call.

Chair, proceeding with a roll call vote, council member Tom Cook? No. Council member Gabe Johnson? No. Council chair Alice Lee? No. Council member Tamara Poulton? Aye. Council member Keanu Rollins Fernandez? No. Council member Shane Senensi? No. Council member No.

So we're back to My amendment. Oh, go ahead. Yeah. Member Johnson's of adding one hundred and eighty one hundred and sixteen thousand. One and sixteen thousand, which would be 186

Okay.

So we're on that motion, which was made by you, seconded by Member Palton.

Let's I seconded. Oh, you seconded. And that's why we only go too deep. Then people start losing track.

Sounds like we're gonna do a

roll call chair. This roll call.

Is there any for roll call?

Yeah. Yeah.

Roll call. Chair proceeding with the roll call vote. Council member Tom Cook? No. Council Member Gabe Johnson? Yes. Council Chair Alice Lee?

Aye.

Council Member Tamar Palton? No. Council Member Keanu Rollins Fernandez? Aye. Council member Shane Senensi? Aye. Council member Nohei Uwajins? No. Committee vice chair Kuno Ibutangan? No. Committee chair Yukide Sugimura? No. Chair, that's four ayes.

Five no. Motion fails. Okay. So we're back to the original Back to the 4464 for the councilmember's senate. Okay. Any discussion? No?

I do have a last discussion. I think my cuts were over $3,000,000 so we have it. Thank you.

Good job, Member Johnson. Okay. All in favor for $70,000 for this, raise your hand. I think this is yeah. Okay, Nine eyes. Okay. Great discussion. Next we have Councilmember Johnson, Residency Area two, Lanai Kinaola Inc, dollars 425,000.

Chair. Okay.

Chair.

This is for Resident Resident Area 2 in Kina Inc. Kina Ola. I dollars moved to increase line item by $4,400 100 and and $255,000 dollars for a total of $600,000 and that's on page 11 of the budget ordinance. Can I get a second for explanation?

Second. Second, Member Johnson, second by Member Ou Hodgins. Thank you, Chair.

Every year we hear at the Lanai public hearings about the importance of the Lanai Kinah Ole for our community. Because we're such a rural, isolated, and aging community, supporting our health care providers is critically important. Lanai Kinah Ole has a $175,000 line item with the department, but in the last fiscal year they requested $600,000 to cover additional costs. The funding is needed to ensure they can retain staff, hire the contractors, need to run the current programs which include the Lanai Cancer Fund, chiropractic care, podiatry, massage therapy, physical therapy, language assistance, transportation, appointment assistance, speech therapy, and in home care. The funding also allows them to move ahead with hiring and training and building the adult daycare.

And my community came out and spoke on this. They do it quite often every year. But when we went to Councilmember Rollins Fernandez, they also her district, they also have very important health care for the kupuna. And that was very moving to me that it just seems that the really rural areas need that extra lift. So please members, I beg of you, I support my motion. Thank you.

Very passionate. All right. Any other discussion? Remember Cook?

I support this. I was really touched when I was, on Lanai, I think that this is money well spent and very much needed.

Okay. Any other discussion? None. All in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Nine ayes. Motion carries.

Good. Mahalo members.

Yep. They're awesome. Yeah. Member of Ramos Fernandez, you wanna go, or shall we continue on with the list?

Page 17. Same page, at the top. So this is my county wide, my first county wide. Okay. Department of human concerns, human concerns program to grants disbursement for food shelter. I moved to increase, county grant subsidy for the new grant program Hospice Maui carrying close to home and rural hospice and palliative care for Maui County by 750,000 for a total of 1,000,000 for the program. So it would read, I I up to 1,000,000 for hospice Maui's caring close to home and rural hospice and palliative care program. Second.

Okay. Motion made by Member Rollins Fernandez, second by Chair Lee. Discussion?

I think I'll echo the sentiment shared by Member Johnson in increasing the funding for. I don't know how many of you, took up the invitation for hospice Maui at their campus here. They do incredible work. Their facility here is like a home away from home. I've had multiple family members.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm so grateful for the work they do. Sorry. I didn't know I was gonna

thanks. Yeah.

On Molokai, we don't have a facility. And so they, are requesting additional funding for the rural areas. Again, I don't know if on Maui, you have a facility. On Molokai, we don't have a facility. And so, if family members have space for a hospital bed, then, you know, that's that's where the hospice care workers come and take care of your family member in their last, you know, moments in life.

So, yeah, just ask for your support, Paolo.

Shirley gave the second. Yeah. Any other discussion? Tom? Member Cook?

Thank you for making this proposal. I'm very supportive. My experience with hospice, as I call them, a flock of angels. Absolutely remarkable if I'm I'm

we share I know exactly how you're she feels. We share the same sentiments. We never wanna hear the words hospice, but, like everybody, we still gotta go through them. So speak in support.

Thank you. You. So true. Member Johnson? You raised your Okay.

Thank you, Chair. It's in this is really important stuff. A couple council members here from the rural districts, the canoe districts. We have to travel so far to visit our loved ones when they're in the hospice. So I totally support this and I support them expanding. Maybe in the next budget season they come back with a proposal. We can get someone on the council to champion that because we're only getting older. And there'll be a day when we have our really close loved ones that need it. We already have that according to Councilman Rollins Fernandez and the rest of us. We all have our experiences. Of Directors

the

of

Staff just wants to clarify. So for this item, $250,000 that already exists is in the grants and disbursements for food, shelter, and safety line item. So to clarify, the amendment would be to create an II number two line item, take 250,000 from the main grant spot, put it in there with the additional $7.50 ks for a $1,000,000 line item. Is that right?

Mahalo, Mr. Krueger. That's correct. Thank you. So that's the offset. Is that what you're saying?

It's yes, not an offset. It's $250,000 that was already in there, and I'm adding $750,000 to support our rural areas.

All in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Nine ayes. Okay. Very good. Member of Rollins Fernandez, your second one from Maui AIDS Foundation. Is that Yeah.

I don't have the updated one. I moved to amend Sure. Where did I put it?

Oh, it's right here.

Whoops. Maui AIDS Foundation by, 340,000 wherever it is. I don't know. Oh, Thanks. So when I had queen Kahou Kahoumanu Church and member Sugimura and I gave it up to member Cook to do, this is my replacement alternative one, and it's to add 340,000 to Maui AIDS Foundation under Department of Human Concerns, Human Concerns Program to grants disbursements for food, shelter, and safety.

There's currently oh, shoot. Where did that number go? Oh, 360,000 in that pot. It's not broken out, And I'm adding 340,000.

Chair, Member Rollins Fernandez and second by Member Cook.

Mahalo Chair. I think

we heard them at the South Maui team.

We absolutely did. And and they're always yeah. Yeah. Catch us in the fields. And they're doing such amazing work.

And we heard about I mean, so Hawaii in general is, like I'm hoping our delegation is really gonna be able to fight, some of the proposed deep cuts to Hawaii. And, we heard that they are losing one point potentially losing 1,500,000. And so this is to hope to offset that and to cover some of the costs for medication as we know that everything is just increasing for them and for everyone. All in

favor, raise your hand. Oh, you want to say something?

I just want to speak to the motion. I full support and thank Councilmember Rollins Fernandez for introducing this. I travel on the ferry quite often and I saw them on the ferry. And what were they doing? They were providing services to Lanai. And that's not cheap. That's not cheap. So I really appreciate that they're actually doing all that kinda outreach and going every nook and cranny. You know, you think AIDS is a big city thing. No. It's you know, STDs are something that rural folks suffer with as well. So we do we have to fund them. And to the beauty of having a target on their back is just such an insult for the work that they do. So I'm going to fiery raise my hand on this one.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you. All in favor, raise

your Really quick, I wanted to add to the cost because when we're at the Kihei hearing, a team of them were on Monokai.

Yeah. That's great.

And so, you know, and they were delayed by Mokudilele. And they made it in time, you know, some of the the the team made it in time to be able to testify. But when I was looking at flights today, one way, a $148. So on Moculet yes. Wow. Yeah. I I just this morning, I was looking at flights. And before, it was like the the the highest cost was a $124, and it's already starting. Dollars 148, one way. I wish that was first class and guaranteed on time.

And what was the final, the total? So there's 340,000 that was in the 360,000 that was in the mayor's budget, an addition of 340,000 for $700,000 Okay.

I'm sending a letter to Ellison to ask him to also fly to Molokai. I don't know how you guys deal with that. It's ridiculous. Go ahead.

Thank you, chair. Can I just make sure I understand the motion on the floor? So you're adding $3.40. $3.40. Is this a sec separate line or is this in addition to what was already in the proposal?

So I think we're doing the same thing that we did with hospice. We're pulling out the 360,000 that's part of that grouped funding under grants and disbursements for food, shelter, the year. Other a the

Are we all good? Raise your hand all in favor say lot aye Mr. Senensi. Aye Mr. Senensi. You got to go over there? Nine ayes, motion carries. Next we have Member Sanensi, Maui Family Support Services. Or I can go to Member Palton. Well, haven't finished with all of our priorities, we can go ahead. Thank

you, chair.

Move

to add a new line in department of human concerns for grants and disbursements for health, human services, and education to Maui Family Support Services Inc. For Hawaii Kaika Partnership for $199,202

I need a second. Second. Member Senensi, seconded by Member Johnson. Is the funding for?

You. Thank you, members. As a reminder, this is the agency that creates the Kalo Boy books and activity cards to promote their abuse prevention efforts to build strong Ohana values in Maui County. At their sixth annual Ohana festival entitled Eului, the mayor recognized month of April as child abuse prevention month that was organized by the Children's Justice Center of Maui. A whole Kaika partnerships for all these stewards, their guide by the side navigation services that support family access hygiene kits, Pampers and other essentials for Keiki.

And I ask for the member support. Thank you. Any other discussion?

None? Okay. All in favor, raise your hand. Say aye. Aye. Nine ayes.

Thank you.

Next, Member Palton. Countywide three, Maui Farm, Inc, 40,000.

I move in B9, Department of Human Concerns, small b, Human Concerns Program, paren four, grants and disbursements for health, human services, and education, for an x v I I to increase the category b appropriation by 40,000 for a total appropriation of $319,666.

Second.

Member Palton, second by, member Rollins Fernandez.

This is, what was requested, I believe, at Upcountry and South Maui an additional 40,000 due to the increased cost of living. That's it. That's my motion and discussion.