HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0103.050 2020-2022 ill 21 i
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May 19, 2021 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY CSE HAWAIII
Re: Written Testimony for Bill 21 Operating Budget for FY July 1, 20210o
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Hawai'i County Council, Date MAY 1 9 2021
First, I wish to thank Chair David for stating in WHT that the public should get more involved in these
discussions. Agreed and accept the challenge to offer my manao.
It is my observation that there is much money being left on the table due to ordinances that provide for
fines but Departments are loath to enforce or take the effort to seek and impose those fines.
Bill 108 (STVR)provided for fines to illegal operations though the fine is so low that violators are better
off paying the fine than cease operations. In my particular knowledge I know of 2-3 such violators with
nice homes on ag zoned land who are constantly occupied with short term visitors. In one case I was
told the owner submitted for approval and never heard back. When checking with Planning he found the
approval was denied. "What to do"he asked and was told "don't worry about it we tend to look the
other way". On our sister islands who take this subject seriously they have employed a "watcher"
company who scans and searches for violations and the fines are substantial. Why are we odd man out
on this way of feeding our coffers and fulfilling the obligation to enforce? Bill 108 further stated that
the monies collected from fines and applications would be held in a separate account to fund the process.
In 2 years, how much has been collected from fines? Given a conforming STVR population of est 2400
at the time of enacting Bill 108, that's a collection of$1,200,000 in 1 time application fees. What has
become of that money? This should have put an end to the vast majority of conforming department
efforts. The non-conforming that were already denied have no further cost efforts. New applications to
non-conform on ag land are frivolous knowing we can not trump State law.
Further, again from personal experience I know of non-permitted for residence construction, septic
systems, grading, etc. There is no central point for me to file a complaint and was told I need to go to
the respective department. Further the complaint cannot be filed anonymously leading to sponsoring a
long term neighbor to neighbor confrontation and possible retributions. Regardng the budget, here again
are monies being lost due to permit fees, RE tax and fines yet nothing is being done. Why is there not a
central point to report and investigate, coordinating with other departments, to fill our coffers from these
offenses?
The subject matter I present are 1)protect and defend our community and 2) collect easy money for our
budget needs.
Mahalo for your attention to this matter. If I can personally be of some help to address these lost
opportunities, I am at your service.
Mahalo,
Steve Kawena Lopez
Kadua Kona
Comm. o.
Ref. To.- YtGi
Ref. Date MAY 2 n 7a���