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HCHA April 9, 2019 <br /> Kierkiewicz: Thank you Chair. Thank you Neil and thank you to your team for <br /> being here, I appreciate you meeting with the Councilmembers in advance so <br /> we could just talk through some...just some issues that we found, I have a few <br /> questions for you. You know when we met, I had asked if your agency had a <br /> strategic vision and knowing that we have to have 9000 affordable housing units <br /> in place by 2025 I'm just wondering, I know an assessment is being done right <br /> now around the island to get a sense of low-moderate income individuals and <br /> what their housing needs are but what other information are we tapping to get <br /> a pulse on the community to find out what the housing needs are? Are we <br /> taking a look at the homelessness point in time count? Are we looking at the <br /> united ways alice report? What sort of information are we using to help architect <br /> that strategic vision and when can we expect this vision from your office? <br /> Eoff: microphone please. <br /> Gyotoku: part of it is we trying to work with the consultants that are doing the <br /> study and helping develop a comprehensive housing plan. We've worked with <br /> the State of Hawai`i Department of Planning, what we call the Transit Oriented <br /> Development where they try to develop housing, affordable housing along <br /> transit lines, especially like in Honolulu, the rail, but for us its here like along our <br /> real transportation routes like Prince Kuhio, University of Hawaii. We're looking <br /> into developing State lands, County lands which is very few but mostly with State <br /> so we trying to see if there is State available. Where ever we can and we <br /> working with the consultants to develop a strategic plan. <br /> Kierkiewicz: Will that plan also include ways to encourage developers to come <br /> and do more 201 H applications or other affordable housing projects? You <br /> mentioned that we had, you were reviewing two 201 H applications at the <br /> moment. Is that typical? I mean, how many do you see submitted each year? <br /> And how many does your office help to ensure approval of? <br /> Gyotoku: well the problem with the 201 H we have two now and we have <br /> several that are pending that want to do it and the problem with 201 H is that <br /> they want to have exemptions to certain things but it has to be safe and <br /> health...health and safety is the main concern that these 201 H projects. And lot <br /> of them they come in hoping to build fast but it doesn't mean they can get the <br /> necessary approval from the different departments. Part of the 201 H process is <br /> when we get the application we send it to the different department and they <br /> return with comments or issues and it has to...the developer has to resolve that <br /> before we come before you. You know in the past, I think that just used to come <br /> to the housing...to the County Council with the 201 H application and let you <br /> folks make the final approval or disapproval but for us, my administration and <br /> my stand was that we'll try to give you something that we would support, not <br /> Page 13 of 22 <br />