HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2308-19556.Approval of a Donation of $25,000 From the City Council Contingency Account to Support
Maui Wildfire Relief and Recovery Q&A
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: September 5, 2023
Report #:2308-1955
TITLE
Approval of a Donation of $25,000 From the City Council Contingency Account to Support Maui
Wildfire Relief and Recovery
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a donation of $25,000 from the City Council Contingency to support Maui Wildfire
relief and recovery. The donation will be distributed to the Hawai’i Community Foundation
Maui Strong Fund ($10,000), the Maui United Way ($10,000), and the Maui Humane Society
($5,000).
BACKGROUND
On August 8, 2023, the Island of Maui in the State of Hawai’i was devastated by wildfires driven
by strong winds and dry conditions. The resulting tragedy has been recognized as the deadliest
natural disaster in the state's history and among the worst in US history dating back to 18711.
ANALYSIS
Mayor Kou, Vice Mayor Stone, and Councilmember Lauing have proposed the recommended
donations. The recommended funding level is consistent with prior donations for relief
following 2017 Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino County fires and 2018 Butte County Camp Fire.
The recipient organizations are all participating in the cross-sector Maui Nui Strong initiative2:
•Hawai’i Community Foundation, Maui Strong Fund -
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong
•Maui United Way, Maui Fire Relief Fund - https://mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief
1 https://www.npr.org/2023/08/15/1193710165/maui-wildfires-deadliest-us-
history#:~:text=Last%20week's%20wildfires%20%E2%80%94%20which%20destroyed,.%2C%20which%20killed%20
85%20people.
2 https://www.mauinuistrong.info/resource-categories/donate-money
•Maui Humane Society - https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2024 budget provides $125,000 appropriated in the City Council Contingency
account; this action will reduce the Contingency to $100,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The recommended action is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental
Quality Act.
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please find below the staff responses to questions from
Councilmember Tanaka regarding the Monday, September 5 Council Meeting consent agenda item.
Item 6: Approval of a Donation of $25,000 From the City Council Contingency Account to Support
Maui Wildfire Relief and Recovery
1. Has there been any input from our community regarding this proposed donation? (Has there
been push from city residents for a donation to be made?) (Tanaka)
Staff response: Noting that this item is being advanced on behalf of three council members, staff
responds that we are unaware of community discussions regarding the recommended donation.