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Council advances property-tax amendment and EMS funding; approves multiple community appropriations
Summary
Council approved first reading of Bill 103 (property tax language changes) and Bill 107 (county adoption of state fire code amendments), advanced Bill 108 (EMS grant to open ambulance service at Makalei station), and approved several small community grant resolutions.
At its Dec. 17 meeting the Hawaii County Council moved multiple legislative items forward.
Bill 103 (first reading) amends Chapter 19, Article 7 of the Hawaii County Code relating to real property tax and applies the homeowner classification 3% annual assessment increase cap to certain agricultural-assessed properties under specified conditions; Councilmember Kimball moved and successfully amended the draft with language clarifying application timing (communication 593.5). The amendment clarifies when an application is required for property owners re-entering the homeowner class.
Bill 107 was amended to clarify that the fire department issues approvals (not permits) for fire safety plan review; Deputy Corporation Counsel Kira Wong and Chief Henderson worked with the sponsor to adjust language. The council approved the bill at first reading with the clarifying amendment.
Bill 108 received first-reading approval to appropriate $1,750,000 from a State EMS grant to open ambulance operations at Makalei Fire Station in Kailua Kona and add six positions; Captain Aaron Mitchell (HFD EMS) said the new service should speed response times on the West Side. The motion passed on first reading.
Council also approved several small appropriation resolutions to support community events and nonprofit programs (Friends of Liliuokalani Gardens, Hilo Downtown Improvement Foundation, Boys to Men mentoring grants, wreath purchases for veterans', holiday events), and passed bills 105 and 106 on second and final reading appropriating previous-year fund balance to housing production and $1.494M in federal emergency rental assistance, respectively.
Clerk and department staff will carry out the administrative steps to implement the chosen appropriations and to schedule subsequent readings where necessary.
