COM 0183.008 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Merchants Association held Aloha Hawaiian Night to provide beautification projects. The history of business owners working to make Kailua Village a more welcoming village has been a on going feat of work for two decades. It has somehow have fallen on deaf ears. Curtis Tyler, Kailua Kona Councilman made the last real improvements to the village in 1995 with a re-paving of Alii Drive. Angel Pllago financed three street lights for Alii drive in 2006. The Kuakini Highway project was mostly a federally funded highway project, however, I will congratulate those who made it possible. I have rolled up my sleeves to help this business community, I serve this community as President of the Kailua Village Merchants Association, a Board Director for Destination Kona Coast, and a Board of Director for Kailua Vrliage Business Improvement District. These positions are volunteer. I serve these business community associations for one reason, only to improve Kailua Village. When Eric Von Platen Luder contacted me to serve on KVBID, 1 was thrilled. This is our only hope to see Kailua Village make progress as a visitor destination and a welcoming place for its residents. I am a co-business owner of an art gallery and 1 have a first hand account of how sales have changed in Kailua Village. Each year yearly customers of our gallery are slowly returning, some only come every other year, some do not return at all. They have pleaded with us to make progress in Kailua Village, each year I tell them about the Kailua Village Improvement District. One of my customers just this spring said he-was panhandled three times in iwo days. He was disgusted with this practice. Later he confided in me that he was going to spend more time in Waikiki, which he did. The County Council has a responsibility to this business community, we do pay property taxes, and receive very little services. Emma Square's landscaping on Alii Drive and landscaping on Palani drive has died a slow and painful death. We can do better, and we will with the passage of Bill 55. We can work together. Just Saturday, The Executive Director of the Hilo Business Association contacted me for more information on the Kailua Village Business District. Hilo wants to be the second business improvement district. We want this County Council to pass Bitl 55, Draft 2. The KVBID has committees that will allow everyone to be a partner in this District, no one will excluded. As a volunteer Board of Directors, we are here to serve this community. A step forward here will be a lasting one. I ask all of those here today to stand together, and show leadership and ask for this Business Improvement District to be passed. The first year's agenda "Clean and Safe" will heighten the awareness and allow business owners and patrons, the direct results of these benefits. .~~ ,