Finance committee forwards equipment leases, property donations and grants; one multiyear agreement withdrawn, one bill postponed

The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on June 3 forwarded a series of resolutions to the full council with favorable recommendations for routine capital and operating actions and grant awards. The committee recorded unanimous or near-unanimous support for the items listed below; the committee also accepted withdrawal of one item and postponed a separate bill for later consideration.

Key outcomes (motions were made in committee and clerk-recorded votes are listed where provided):

- Resolution 198-25: Accepts donation of real property identified as TMK 6-4-006-050 (Pukapu, South Kohala) to the county for drainage maintenance purposes. Motion forwarded to council with favorable recommendation; clerk recorded nine members in favor.

- Resolution 200-25: Authorizes county pre-authorization to accept donations not covered by Finance capitalization procedures for FY ending 06/30/2026 to streamline departmental use of donations. Motion forwarded; clerk recorded nine in favor.

- Resolution 199-25: Awards nine stewardship grants from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Fund totaling $838,203.08 for FY ending 06/30/2026. Motion forwarded; clerk recorded nine in favor. Departments presented grant details and finance staff was available for questions.

- Resolution 202-25: Authorizes a multiyear lease (two years with option for a third) with Ocean View Community Association Inc. for space at 8924 Leilani Circle for Parks and Recreation services, at an estimated $450 per month. Motion forwarded to council with favorable recommendation; clerk recorded nine in favor.

- Equipment and vehicle leases for the Department of Public Works (forwarded with favorable recommendations): - Resolution 203-25: Five-year lease for one asphalt paver, approximate monthly cost $9,374.03. - Resolution 204-25: Five-year lease for four grama trucks, approximate total monthly cost $20,823.62. - Resolution 205-25: Five-year lease for one excavator, approximate monthly cost $5,187.43. - Resolution 206-25: Five-year lease for one asphalt distributor truck, approximate monthly cost $4,644.22. - Resolution 207-25: Five-year lease for one 10-ton pneumatic roller, approximate monthly cost $3,198.08. Committee members said these items were included in the FY25 budget and discussed operational distinctions between maintenance work performed by county crews and construction-level work that the engineering division typically contracts.

- Resolution 208-25: Five-year lease to replace three fire apparatuses (type: triple combination pumpers) at Hilo, Kealakekua and Makalei stations; approximate total monthly cost $92,693.10. Staff said the typical replacement cycle is about 15 years and current engines range from 13 to 19 years old; motion forwarded with a favorable recommendation.

- Resolution 201-25: A previously executed multiyear cost-share agreement with the University of Hawaii at Manoa for additional extension agent positions was before the committee, but county staff and corporation counsel reported contract language issues and inconsistent term language (calendar vs fiscal year). Deputy director for Research & Development and corporation counsel recommended withdrawing the resolution for correction; the committee accepted the withdrawal and staff said they will return with corrected language.

- Bill 38 (private road tax credit): Committee motion to postpone the bill to the June 17 meeting was adopted by the committee (9-0).

Votes and next steps: For the items above the committee forwarded the resolutions to the full council with favorable recommendations; staff asked to return with corrected contract language where applicable (Resolution 201 withdrawn). The committee announced adjournment at 12:40 p.m.

Ending: Most forwarded items were noncontroversial departmental requests and budgeted in the current fiscal cycle; staff and councilmembers asked for follow-up on procurement, contract language and policy distinctions when work is shifted between county crews and contractors.