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v of N,h. o~•'~cE: Harry Kim ~~4'• Dixie Kaetsu Mayor Managing Director \a; . Bazbaza Kossow Deputy Managing Director ~OUritp Of ~~~~1`i 891 Ululani Street Hilo. HawaiS 96720 • (808) 961-8211 Pax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 _ (808)329-5226 • Pax (808)326-5663 August 1, 2007 4 The Honorable Pete Hoffmann, Chairman - and Members of the County Council County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Veto Message -Bill 112 Relating to Affordable Housing Dear Chairman Hoffmann and Council Members: Pursuant to Section 3-12 of the Hawaii County Charter, I am disapproving Bill 112 and returning it to you. Please understand that the hardest part of taking this action is that there was a failure to communicate concerns to the Council while this bill was being considered. I apologize for the untimeliness of this action. Before going into specifics on why I cannot approve this bill, I must acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Planning Director Chris Yuen as well as members of the County Council who have been working so hard to address our island's lack of affordable housing. The Council's willingness to work with the administration and your commitment to address this critical and important issue of housing is greatly appreciated and respected. The principle expressed in Bill 112, that all developers and landowners who plan to make use of their land should help in mitigating our housing crisis, is a very important one, and my support for innovative methods to obtain the participation of landowners and developers of land that is already zoned with no affordable housing conditions has not wavered. The bill as presently drafted, however, would have unintended negative consequences that call into question its equity and fairness. Knowing this, I cannot approve this bill. While an argument may be offered that any shortcomings can be addressed in follow-up legislation, there are no guarantees that this will be done in a timely manner. This leaves the possibility that Bill 112 could remain law in its present form, which in my mind is unacceptable. A commitment is made to you that the administration will work with the Council and the community to prepare and submit a new bill on this issue in the near future that fixes the perceived problems with Bill 112 and accomplishes the goal of obtaining assistance from all landowners and developers of land in addressing the shortage of affordable housing, including those with land that is already zoned with no affordable housing requirements. Comm. NaF Ref. Ta u.n c,r Ref. Date UG 2 ~ 207 Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.