HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.557 2022-2024MO
September 2G'2O24
County of Hawaii Council
Re: Agenda for Oct. 2, 2024 Meeting BitI. 121 OPPOSED
Dear Council Members
Once again you have bill 121(draft 4)0Dthe agenda. There iGGreference note that there ia
a motion by Ms. Kimball and seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz to recommend passage of bill
121.draft 3asamended Onthe first reading.
All but one council member voted in July to have an economic impact study conducted.
This won't be completed until early next year, possibly by February 2025. So why is there a
rush to pass a bill when the economic impact of this bill draft 3 is not yet determined?
As we have stated before, the passing of an economic impact study was just a ploy to get
past the August election or was there a true desire for more information prior to passing
this bill. Your action on this bill on October 2 nd will reveal your true intent.
This bill GSamended bveither draft 3o[4does not gofar enough tOremove the areas which
we find objectionable. Specifically there has been no revisions to the fine schedule as we
have suggested in prior testimony. This section alone will result in many owner hosted
TAR'SUke ours tOcease doing business. VVecan't take the risk nfpeStVneighbors in3
hostile HOA, who after being informed by the required letter in this bill to neighbors, who
will use the new Set Of [Uie3 and FegUi@tiOOS to file bogus or trivial complaints. We CaO risk
a fine of $2500 for a minor violation such as packing up the car before 8am in order tDgO
out and explore the island or go to the airport. We can't risk a second fine for a guest who
due tOlanguage barriers parks onthe street instead VfODour property. | can list many more
examples Ofwhy the fine schedule needs major revisions.
The passage of this bill without a true analysis of the economic impact not only to the lives
of hosts and those who are employed in housekeeping and landscape maintenance etc. is
simply crazy. Its as one planning commissioner told me, "putting the horse before the cart".
|CGn give you a glimpse of how this bill will impact our lives as Kapuna in our 70's. since we
rely on the income from our TAR to continue to live on this very expensive island, we will
most likely be forced to put our home on the market. The buyer will most likely not be a
workforce buyer since the price will b8iOalmost 1.5million dollars. |twilt most likely b88D
off island buyer who wants a vacation home or someone moving from the mainland. It wilt
not be@Dinvestor renting itout tong term. The county wilt lose transient taxes. Local
businesses wilt lose guests who spend 8tot Ofmoney DOExcursions and eating out. They
can do this because they are paying half of what the cheapest hotel charges. They most
Cono
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likely will not stay atone of the resorts. The economic impact report will tell you this and
hopefully you will wait to find this out before rushing into passing a bill that simply will
destroy the economy of this island.
Vote NO or Postpone until March 2025. Get the facts. Listen to the people who will be
impacted.
Sincerely Yours
Gomoh LlMquli t
Gordon Lindquist
Rhonda Lindquist