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April 4, 2024 <br /> Windward Planning Commission <br /> Re: Bill 121 <br /> Aloha, Members of the Windward Planning Commission. <br /> Thank you for the opportunity to submit opinions regarding this proposed bill. My name is Joy Dillon and <br /> I am testifying as a private citizen. I am submitting testimony in opposition to Bill 121. <br /> There are many reasons to oppose this legislation but I will focus on a few: <br /> 1. Private property rights will be violated. The County has no right to mandate which rooms or <br /> buildings a private property owner may live in or rent out. The many requirements just to register <br /> for a hosted rental are not required of long term rental owners. Why not? <br /> 2. No enforcement of current legislation. The County is not enforcing Ordinance 2018-114 re STVRs <br /> now. Why should more regulations be imposed on short term rentals? A quick look at online <br /> vacation rental sites will come up with multiple examples of illegal short term rentals. It's been 5 <br /> years since that bill passed and yet County enforcement is lax or non-existent. <br /> 3. Egregious registration fees,fines and reporting procedures. The County is totally out of line trying <br /> to force private property owners and business owners to submit onerous monthly reports. Initial <br /> and yearly registration fees and fines that have heretofore been unheard of, even for criminal <br /> activity are burdensome and should not be imposed. <br /> 4. Not a solution for long term housing. The County has no statistics, studies or proof that further <br /> legislating short term rentals will result in more long term housing. If the County is truly interested <br /> in providing much-needed housing they should be focused on solving our wastewater problem, <br /> finding ways to increase infrastructure and changing outdated zoning codes and land use <br /> regulations. <br /> 5. Lost income for our County and State. Visitors want a choice in where they stay when they come <br /> here.The short term rental industry contributes$4.8 billion in visitor spending and $720 million in <br /> tax revenues. That money stays here, on our island and in our state. Money spent on hotels goes to <br /> large international corporations or to the mainland. We need this revenue here. In addition,the <br /> short term rental industry provides many jobs for local residents which they depend on. Don't kill <br /> the goose that lays the golden eggs. <br /> Thank you for your consideration. <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> Joy DOU&W <br /> Joy Dillon <br /> 1302 A Ainaola Dr; Hilo, HI; 96720 <br /> 808-640-2544 <br /> joy@joydillon.com <br />