2017-02-28 Letter to Sylvia Luke re HB 1310, HD1 Relating to Waiakea Peninsula Redevelopment District

Home

Harry Kim Mayor Wil Okabe Marmgmg Dtrector Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director Count ai�ttt�xttt`i (Offirr of fhrffi pr 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 - Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 9616553 KONA 74-5044 Arte Keohokalole Hwy, Bldg. C • Kailua-Kona, Hawar'i 96740 (808) 3234444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 February 28, 2017 Representative Sylvia Luke Finance Committee Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Luke and members: RE: HB 1310, HD1 Relating to the Waiakea Peninsula Redevelopment District Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of the intent and purpose of HB 1310, HD1, HB 1310, HD1 and HB 1479, HD2 both deal with the redevelopment of a portion of Hilo, although the scope of HB 1479 may be broader and the language more detailed. In testifying on HB 1479, 1 pointed out that the County of Hawaii has been partnering with the community in planning the future of publically-owned commercial properties in Hilo, through the Banyan Drive Hawai'i Redevelopment Agency (BDHRA). While we appreciated the initiatives put forth in HB 1479 and comparable bills, we had not wanted to abandon our current partners, and therefore had been hoping to get input from BDHRA before taking a final position on the proposed legislation. Since your hearing on HB 1479, BDHRA has expressed its support for a redevelopment district, so we, too, are on board. We wish to offer the following comments for your consideration: 1. Should this bill be enacted into law, the Hilo Community Economic District (HCED) will be the only redevelopment district outside of the City and County of Honolulu. For this reason, we ask that consideration be given to providing that the District have a voting majority of members from the Hilo community. Any cultural specialist, in particular, should definitely be a cultural practitioner from the Hilo community. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.