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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.075 2024-2026P /5. Courtd ( Di([ 3z COkJ11411 Y CLERK Coal. M COUNTY OF HAW 19May2025 2025 MAY 210 IUM 9: 48 Aloha Chair and Members of the Council, My name is Jayne Dator-Freeman and I live in Waikoloa Village. I am testifying in support of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No.32. Draft 2. 1 fully support this amendment for funding the initial engineering of Waikoloa's second arterial road. Waikoloa Village has been our family's home community for the last 14 years and we truly love it here but since the Maui fire our concern for our own and our community members' safety has really become paramount in our lives. We now live in fear of the next fire. It isn't a case of will there be another fire but WHEN. My elderly neighbors are concerned as well and worry about being trapped in their homes or cars without a faster way to exit our community. Many of us experienced being stuck in long lines of traffic for hours during out community's last fire evacuation. What I don't understand is: "The County's own 2008 plan called this a `very high priority' to prevent the loss of life" That was 17 years ago and an adequate second road has not yet been started. Saving lives from catastrophic fires should rank as a higher priority than other non -emergency community enhancements. The Attorney General's second report on the Lahaina Fire specifically identifies Waikoloa Village as having a worse risk of catastrophic wild fire then Lahaina. This is a huge statement. and should shake us all into immediate action to start remedying this Risk. The Hawaii Fire Department Deputy Chief stated that they need another two-lane access route to bring the equipment and crew from the Puako station to help fight fires approaching or burning into the Village. To worsen our high risk for dying in a future fire is the increase in development and population we are experiencing right now. Our community is growing so fast and expected to double in population over the next 20 years. and we don't have adequate roads to evacuate our village quickly. There is no reason Not to pass this amendment for funding the initial engineering for our Waikoloa second arterial road. We so need to start on this.... So many Waikoloa community members lives depend on your council's support to help ensure we have a chance to get out of our village during fires. Mahalo Jayne Dator-Freeman Waikoloa Village Resident Comm. ode©. '.tJ Ref. To: MP R% Ref. mote 2