VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGE

SUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURAL RESOURCESGOVERNOR OF HAWAIIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISERDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKATHLEEN HO, D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHNICHOLAS COMERFORD, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIIHAWAIʻI INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813

MARY ALICE EVANSDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPUBLIC MEETING MINUTESHawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
August 30, 2021; 1:00 PMConsidering the evolving COVID-19 situation, protecting the health and welfare of the community is of utmost concern. As such, the meeting was held remotely, with Council members, legislative participants, and staff participating via online meeting software. The full meeting recording can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT6SAASZIUxd_XgZMCjGsQ
1. Call to order at 1:04 pm by Chair Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser
2. Introductions
a. Voting Members Present: Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser (HDOA), NicholasComerford (UH), Grace Simmons (designee from HDOH), Mary Alice Evans(DBEDT), Nicholas Comerford (UH), David Smith (designee from DLNR), David Rodriguez (DOT)
b. Legislative Members Present: Rep. Nicole Lowen, Rep. Lisa Marten, Rep. Tina
Wildberger, Rep. Nadine Nakamurac. HISC Support Staff: Chuck Chimera, Leyla Kauffman, Chelsea Arnott, Elizabeth
Speith, Rob Hauff (DLNR-DOFAW)
d. Members of the Public: Lori Buchanan attending through Zoom link (MoMISC)
3. Approval of minutes from June 9, 2021 meetinga. Discussion: Noneb. Motion to approve: Nicholas Comerford
c. 2nd: David Rodriguez
d. Voting: Approval - Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser (HDOA), Nicholas Comerford(UH), Gracelda Simmons (designee from HDOH), Mary Alice Evans (DBEDT),
Nicholas Comerford (UH)e. Abstained: David Smith (DLNR rep)
4. Submittal: Requesting approval of a recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2022
a. Discussion
i. Chelsea Arnott presented on the HISC budget process, proposal scoringprocess, Resources Working Group meeting on budget allocations,funding shortfalls, and a proposal to close the funding shortfall gap withaltering the HISC Resources Working Group proposed proposal withadditional funding
1. Commentsa. David Smith provided comments on the importance ofHISC program and the need for additional funding.

b. David Rodriguez commented on the resources working
group’s open process for deciding the budget allowing for
all groups.
c. Rob Hauff commented on the restrictions of sunshine law
and the length of the meeting.
d. Rep. Lowen inquired about how the Big Island group wasless funded.
e. Chelsea clarified that the BIISC started with lower scoring
proposals and a lower starting funding amount.
f. Rep. Lowen suggests that the funding is commensurate to
the size of the island and the problems it faces
g. David Smith comments that different islands have different
issues.
ii. Chelsea Arnott presented the Recommended Budget
1. Proposals that are recommended to not fund
2. Programmatic Awards
3. Biocontrol Research and Weed Management
4. Aquatics
5. Rapid Ohia Death
6. Research
7. Mosquitoes
8. Ungulates
9. Recommendation is to:a. That the HISC approve the FY22 budget for HISC support
and an interagency project portfolio that is recommended byHISC Support Staff with the 2.5% reduction, andb. That, should the Department of Budget and Finance makeany changes to the restriction on expenditures, the HISC delegate authority to the HISC Support Staff to identify best
way to apply additional restrictions to project funds, or toidentify best uses of any released funds, andc. That, if there are any changes in the scope or implementationof projects over the course of the year, the Council delegate
authority to the HISC Support staff to make adjustments toproject funds or reassign project funds from any project that
does not proceed in a timely manner.
i. Motion to approve: David Smithii. 2nd: Nicholas Comerford
iii. Public testimony
1. Lori Buchanon (MoMISC) asks for thecouncil to recommend extra meetings
between the applicants and HISC staff
before next years appropriations to improvethe budgeting process.
2. David Smith noted that a lot of importantwork was not funded which shows a needfor more funding for HISC.
3. Lindsey Nietmann (DOFAW) provided written
testimony in support of funding the USDA-

2APHIS project to conduct the research required
to register a toxicant for mongoose control with
the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
HISC funding application for the full amountrequested.

iv. Unanimous vote to approve
5. Public Comments
a. Public Testimony
i. Lori Buchanon (MoMISC) asks for meetings to review the HISC resources working group process, hopefully before the next budget cycleb. YouTube Public Comments
Christy Martin (CGAPS) The $6+ mil/year paid by sea cargo importers into
HDOA's pest inspection & eradication fund was used to support nearly half of
the 90 PQ inspectors, & critical support for HAL, BIISC, CTAHR research, etc.
Can the Council and legislators meet to discuss if and how funds may be prioritized for this critical invasive species work instead of going directly into the general fund?
i. Procedural question from the Chair about if the issues raised in the public comments should be added to a future Council meeting agenda.
1. HISC support staff supports convening meetings to discuss the HISC
budget process.
6. Adjournment: at 2:12p by Chair Shimabukuro-Geisera. Motion: Mary Alice Evans (DBEDT)
b. Second David Smith (DLNR)
c. Objections: None
The Council may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a) (4), Hawaii Revised Statutes, inorder to consult with its attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Council’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities.
Individuals requesting special accommodations (e.g., large print materials, sign-language interpreters) are
asked to contact the staff below at least three days prior to the meeting.
For information, contact:
HISC Support staff: 1151 Punchbowl St, #325, Honolulu, HI 96813; Fax: 587-0160
Leyla Kaufman, Māmalu Poepoe Project Coordinator: leyla [at] hawaii.edu
Chelsea Arnott, Planner: Chelsea.L.Arnott [at] hawaii.gov
Elizabeth Speith, 643pest.org Report Facilitator: speith [at] hawaii.edu

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