Council approves multiple CRF grants and budget amendments; bridges funding moves forward

The Hawaii County Council on May 1 approved multiple resolutions transferring contingency-relief funds to local groups and advanced several budget measures at first reading.

Key votes and actions:
- Resolution 471-24: Authorized acceptance of a hazard-mitigation grant via the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for the Mono Road Fire program; motion adopted (Clerk recorded 9 ayes). The related budget bill 146 (first reading) appropriates $32,200 for the hazard-mitigation grant program and was approved at first reading (9 ayes).
- Bill 159 (first reading): Increased the capital budget appropriation for Honolii and other stream-bridge repair projects by $14,282,000 from federal grants; adopted at first reading (Clerk recorded 9 ayes). Councilmembers noted this is an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grant funded at 100% federal share.
- Bill 142 (second/final reading): The 2024 salary ordinance (pay plan) was adopted at second and final reading (9 ayes).
- A series of small CRF resolutions were approved to support community events and programs, including transfers of $4,000 (resolution 488-24), $9,300 (resolution 489-24), $4,700 (resolution 490-24), $8,500 (resolution 491-24), $4,000 (resolution 492-24), $32,508 (resolution 493-24) and others; votes were recorded as unanimous or near-unanimous in the record.

Council discussion touched on process and timing for CRF reimbursements; Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strantz noted that occasional reimbursements occur when paperwork precedes the council action but warned against making reimbursements a routine practice.

The meeting later went into executive session to discuss pending litigation (Lucas Parish v. County of Hawaii); after the closed session the council accepted corporation counsel’s recommendation and voted to close the file.