2025-01-11 Rebecca Melendez Testimony

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31.a Create an asset management program. 31.c Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of County services and facilities. What would be an asset management program? What is an Impact Fees Ordinance? Page 162 33.2 Implement waste stream technology,such as recycling and upcycling and waste-to-energy to reduce the flow of refuse deposited in landfills. 33.9 Ensure that redesign plans for landfill and transfer stations provide adequate space for Resource Recovery(RR)Stations. 33.11 Site new solid waste/resource recovery facilities in appropriate areas that serve the needs ofpopulation centers and minimize and mitigate negative impacts on the environment or surrounding neighborhood.33.12 Reduce illegal dumping and littering. 33.13 Minimize the amount of waste generated by County facilities. 33.a Evaluate and amend the County Code to integrate strategies to maximize landfill diversion and handle materials: Has the county ever looked into new innovative ways to deal with rubbish: "Benefits of waste-to-energy Waste-to-energy technology offers an alternative to landfills,providing a cleaner,more efficient way of disposing of waste while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "https,//biotrux.com/what-can-we-use-instead-of-landfills/ Different Alternative to landfill httns://bettermeetsrealily.com/the-different-alternatives-to-landfill-waste-management-options/ Top 29 countries that have been efficient in minimizing waste https://www.openaccessgovernmmt.org2 vhich-countries-are-the-most-efficient-at-minimising- waste/96037H1:—:text=Switzerland%20have%20100%25%20wasto%20recovery%2C%20despite%20being%20m_while%20the%20other%2047%25%20is%20incmerated%20for%20en-r .. Page 171 35_f Update the County of Hawaii Recreation Plan to reflect newly identified recreational priorities. The county has sent out letters changing private Land Use Titles to recreational land.Why is it legal for the county to take private lands away from people to give their lands to recreation? I heard these people would still have to pay the property tax on their land,which the county wants to turn into recreational land,is this going to happen? 35.i Develop best management practices for the development and maintenance of golf courses in collaboration with government,private and nonprofit agencies,and other stakeholders. Golf courses use a lot of poisons to keep their lands weed-free,and these poisons runoff into the ocean,causing algae blooms and other pollutions.Will the county be addressing this? 35.r Develop and implement a cemeteries master plan for the siting of future cemeteries. What is their"cemetery master plan"? Pag 176 36.b Develop a medical center TOD master plan and rezone it as a Regional Center TOD. What is the TOD master plan? Page 182 37.3 Prioritize new housing including the missing middle in or near mixed-use developments,urban growth areas with infrastructure,and near existing and proposed transit centers. 37.6 Vacant lands in the urban growth boundary(UGB)should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UGB are converted into urban uses 37.c Assess and amend the land use and building regulations and explore fiscal opportunities to support universal design principles and ADA accessibility for more physically accessible housing. The island's resources need to be addressed because many years in the making,developments have been approved to build more homes,and all of the island's resources are having serious issues today. Before prioritizing more homes,the island's resources need to be addressed. httns://www.change.orv/n/help-big-island-reounce nd-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who4ve-here-and-visit Page 183 38.1 Enable data-driven research to support and maintain a housing inventory program that monitors existing housing. What are they going to monitor,and why? Page 184 39.8 Encourage the development of workforce housing within or near urban growth areas and employment centers and require large new developments that create a demand for housing to provide affordable workforce housing. Resorts on the island hire and bring in people from outside of the country.Then they house them.This takes away homes and jobs from locals.Why doesn't the county prioritize these jobs and homes for locals?Why don't the resorts on the island hire locals who are already here and house them? Page 190 42.c Develop and adopt an impact fees ordinance that considers district specific needs and excludes urban core areas where infill is encouraged. What exactly does this mean?What are"impact fees ordinance"and"mfill is encouraged"mean? 42.d Develop a framework for a transition plan for changes in administrative leadership to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations. Why does the county need a"transition plan for changes in administrative leadership"? Page 199 44.f Partner with business associations,realtors,and the chamber of commerce to recruit small-scale manufacturers to establish retail locations in village and town centers to support reinvestment and match potential tenants with local landowners. The shops in Kailua Kona town have trouble staying open because all the private parking lots are overcharging.Why isn't the county addressing this issue instead of wanting to bring in more businesses that won't be able to survive because private parking is taking a lot of money away from businesses? I do not understand how to use their map that shows all the changes they want to make on the island. I have heard the voices of people in person at the meetings who have received letters that state the county wants to change their Land Use Titles in this General Plan.How is changing