HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PCPLUD 001 2023/01/05 (2022-2024) REPORT OF THE POLICY
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING,
LAND USE, AND DEVELOPMENT
DATE: January 5, 2023 Re: Comm. No. 30/Bill No. 9
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development, to which was referred
Bill No. 9, reports as follows:
Bill No. 9, submitted by Council Member Holeka Inaba, via Communication No. 30, dated
November 9, 2022, amends Chapter 11, Article 1, Section 11-19, of the Hawaii County Code
1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), Relating to Affordable Housing. Bill No. 9, requires
affordable housing agreements to be submitted to Council by the Housing Administrator within
30 calendar days following the date of execution, along with quarterly activity reports beginning
on March 1, 2023.
Committee Member Holeka Inaba explained that Bill No. 9 creates a mandated schedule for the
Housing Administration to report to Council and elaborates on the types of activities to be
reported.
Housing Administrator Susan Kunz was present in the Hilo Chambers. She spoke in favor of the
bill and stated that the Housing Administration should have no problem meeting the data and
schedule requirements.
Committee Member Heather Kimball added that it simply changes a"may"to a"shall" for the
existing language on voluntary reports. She emphasized that housing credits are becoming a
commodity, and this bill will help improve transparency and if the credit program is working as
intended. Ms. Kimball then asked if this will interfere with ongoing audits and investigations.
County Auditor Tyler Benner was present in the Hilo Chambers. He noted that the reporting
requirements in the bill would become part of his scope of work, and it may impact the timing of
the audit and current draft of the report.
Committee Members Cindy Evans and Sue Lee Loy asked if the County or the Department of
Hawaiian Homelands could be considered a developer and receive housing credits. Ms. Kunz
responded that the County cannot, but the Department of Hawaiian Homelands may, according
to state law.
PCPLUD Report No.: 1
PCPLUD-I Page 2 January 5,2023
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked the introducers for their work on the bill and
voiced her support. She suggested including language that would also require the reporting of
201 H applications for better public transparency. Ms. Kunz committed to reporting 201 H
applications, noting that it is her intention to report both the housing credit program and the
201H applications at the same time.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with nine "ayes."
Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development is in accord with the purpose
and intent of Bill No. 9, and recommends its passage on first reading.
's
AYES NOES ABS Ex Respectfully submitted,
EVANS x POLICY COMMITTEE ON
GALIMBA x PLANNING, LAND USE,
INABA x AND�LWVELOPMT
KAGIWADA X
KANEALI"I-KLEINFELDER x
KIERKIEWICZ X 0 T ,
KIMBALL x AS Y L. KIE IE ICZ, CHAIR
LEE LOY X PCPLUD REPO N .: 1
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: