Votes at a glance: Hawaii County Council approves telecom ordinance and a package of budgets, leases, grants and equipment purchases

Hawaii County Council members on June 18 approved a group of bills and resolutions covering telecommunications siting, budget transfers, multi‑year leases for equipment, stewardship grants and other county business.

The meeting’s most contested item in public comment was Bill 24 (Draft 6), the telecom ordinance (covered in a separate article). Alongside that measure the council took routine and budgetary actions that will affect county operations and community programs.

Key outcomes

- Bill 59 (first reading): A bill amending Chapter 24, Article 9 of the Hawaii County Code to prohibit receiving, soliciting or delivering goods or services while in the street passed first reading. The motion to approve first reading was moved by Councilmember Kirkwood, seconded and carried with seven ayes and two no votes; Councilmember Galimba and Councilmember Kaguata (names as recorded in the clerk’s roll call) voted no. Councilmembers noted planned amendments to align fines and community service hours.

- Resolution 197-25 (road dedication): The council adopted an amended resolution accepting dedication of Roadway Lot 8 (Tax Map Key 35008009) at Papaloa, North Hilo; the amendment corrected clerical errors. The motion to adopt was moved by Councilmember Kimball; the council approved the amended resolution by voice vote (nine ayes).

- Resolution 185-25 (special counsel retention): The council approved extending retention of special counsel for the Department of Human Resources Workers Compensation Division, including additional compensation; an amendment corrected dates and totals per Corporation Counsel. The amended resolution passed by voice vote (nine ayes).

- Collective bargaining funding: The council approved resolutions 188-25 and 189-25 committing funding for negotiated contracts for county bargaining units (units 2, 3, 4, 13 and unit 1). Both measures passed by voice vote (nine ayes).

- Resolution 198-25 (donation of real property): The council accepted a donation of real property (Tax Map Key 64006050) for drainage maintenance purposes; the resolution passed by voice vote (nine ayes).

- Resolution 199-25 (stewardship grants): The council approved stewardship grants from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation and Maintenance Fund for FY ending 06/30/2026. Finance recommended awards totaling $838,203.08 to nine organizations; the Deputy Finance Director described ongoing efforts to improve front‑end communications with applicants and pre‑review opportunities. The resolution passed (eight ayes, one excused).

- Multiple lease and equipment approvals (Public Works, Fire, Parks): The council authorized multi‑year lease agreements and appropriations for a range of equipment used by county departments, including asphalt pavers, grapple trucks, excavators, asphalt distributors, rollers and fire apparatus. Monthly cost estimates and five‑year lease terms were provided in the staff reports (examples: grapple trucks ~$20,823.62/month total; three fire apparatuses ~$92,693.10/month total). Votes on these items were recorded by voice and carried (typically eight ayes, one excused where noted).

- Capital and budget appropriations: The council approved several budget ordinances and transfers, including Bill 54 (excess fuel tax revenue allocations totaling $1,493,554.75), Bill 55 (ARPA Home funding—$1,817,225 for Kookini Heights affordable housing project and $160,343 administration) and Bill 61/62 related to smart and safe intersection demonstration projects (federal and state grant appropriations). All passed on second and final reading.

Several of the grant and transfer resolutions included brief departmental remarks on budgets, liability insurance requirements for nonprofit stewards, or operational needs: Deputy Finance Director Malia Keikai confirmed finance’s efforts to improve applicant communication and pre‑review opportunities; Corporation Counsel advised nonprofits must provide liability insurance for guided hikes and site visits; acting directors from Public Works and Fire described operational justifications for equipment and vehicle leases.

Action list (selected items from meeting record)

- Bill 59 — first reading approved (mover: Councilmember Kirkwood; second: not specified). Tally: yes 7, no 2 (Galimba, Kaguata). Outcome: passed first reading.

- Bill 24 (Draft 6) — adopted at second and final reading (see telecom article). Outcome: approved (9-0).

- Resolution 197-25 — amended and adopted (mover: Councilmember Kimball). Outcome: approved (9-0).

- Resolution 185-25 — amended and adopted (mover: Councilmember Kaguata). Outcome: approved (9-0).

- Resolution 188-25 and 189-25 — adopted funding for collective bargaining units. Outcome: approved (9-0).

- Resolution 198-25 — adopted (9-0).

- Resolution 199-25 — stewardship grants totaling $838,203.08 approved (8 ayes, 1 excused).

- Bills 54, 55, 61, 62 — budget and grant appropriations approved at second and final reading (votes recorded as carried; most were 8 ayes, 1 excused). Details: Bill 54 (fuel tax excess allocations) $1,493,554.75; Bill 55 (ARPA Home funds) $1,817,225 + $160,343 admin; Bill 61/62 (smart and safe intersections) local and match appropriations.

- Multiple resolutions authorizing multi‑year leases for Public Works (pavers, grapple trucks, excavators, asphalt distributor, roller) and Fire (three apparatuses) — motions carried, typically recorded as 8 ayes, 1 excused where a councilmember was absent.

What to watch next

Several councilmembers and department staff indicated follow-up: Finance will continue streamlining stewardship grant communications and applicant pre‑reviews; Planning Department and councilmembers may revisit setback measurement language in the telecom ordinance (building vs. property boundary); equipment leasing decisions will proceed to procurement and implementation by the relevant departments.