HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.094 2018-2020 P.O.Box 437462 I Kamuela,Hawaii 96743 I +1 808 887-6411 I Fax+1 808 885-6707 I kohalacenter.org
rFH E KOHAIJA`,C e 1'rT ER°
BILL 179—IN SUPPORT
Mr. Aaron Chung, Chair
Hawai`i County Council COUNTY CLERK
25 Aupuni Street COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
•
RECEIVED
Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Time IO:67,o►nt By July 20, 2020
Dear Chair Chung,
Date ,JUL 2 0 2020
I would like to submit this letter and written testimony in support of Bill 179.
The Kohala Center (TKC) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2000 with a mission to
respectfully engage the Island of Hawai`i as a model of and for the world.By turning ancestral knowledge
and research into action, we envision thriving ecosystems indicated by improved ecological, cultural,
economic, and social well-being. We have been engaged in community outreach and research around
rural housing, specifically for agricultural workers during 2019-2020. In a report to the County(March
2020) TKC identified the need for additional housing for farm workers as the current inventory is
insufficient and out of the price range of minimum wage earners across our island.
Bill 179 as drafted, provides for the establishment of a framework that will align all of the
construction codes, and creates the administrative processes to promote efficiency and consistency. One
example of this is the proposed establishment of a single permit system that would replace the current
multi-permit process that has demonstrated to contribute to the challenges with expediting much needed
building construction.
The economic recovery of our community and the construction of affordable housing are two
critical reasons to ensure our government policies and regulations to include our building codes are
current, applicable, and effective. The passage of Bill 179 is the first of many steps to be taken to
addressing critical needs for our community and improving government efficiency.
As proposed, Bill 179 will provide alternatives and options with housing solutions to include
Appendix L,Factory-Built Housing and Appendix Y,Tiny Homes.Both of these appendices demonstrate
a recognition of, and appreciation for progressive options to our island's housing crisis and the need to
provide our residents with attainable housing solutions. Given the current lack of inventory of affordable
housing and the anticipated growth of this deficit,it is imperative that we identify and employ a multitude
of viable housing solutions to meet the diverse and expansive needs of our residents. In particular,those
households that are faced with financial constraints that limit their options and place them at high risk
for homelessness.
Comm. No. 939.94
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EDUCATION.ENVIRONMENT.EMPOWERMENT.
The Kohala Center is an equal opportunity provider;employer and lender.
I commend and thank you and the entire County Council for your efforts with improving our
government processes that will also address our affordable housing crisis and put our community on the
road to recovery.
•I support and strongly encourage the.passage of B:i,1'.179 as written to include all proposed
appendices and look forward to participation and community engagement in the adoption of the Building
and Residential Codes.
Sincerely,
(21,
Nicole Milne
Vice President of Food and Agriculture Initiatives
EDUCATION.ENVIRONMENT.EMPOWERMENT.
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