HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.092 2016-2018CUN CLERK
00 R DILL
From: Penny Lee
To: Council Testimonyr,
Subject: Testimony regarding Bill 108 Draft 2, for June 5 R18 JUN A. RN0. 20 Iv l
Date: Monday, June 04, 2018 12:00:35 PM
Aloha Council members,
This discussion of Bill 108 Draft 2 should be put on hold due to the on-going lava
emergency that affects just about all vacation rental owners. It is in very bad taste to
discuss or even "pass" this bill as written. It is unprofessionally written and there are
many issues to discuss with the public so affected before passage.
Should we not see what the "exceptional use" application looks like and requires?
Also, zoning in most Puna areas is Ag. There is no way to make a living with Ag land
especially now with hot lava flows, no soil, rat lung worm, fire ants and SO2 gases
and more. The fact that vacation rentals allow people to live in an active volcanic
area with no other way to make income should be strongly considered as this also
affects the on-going economy of Hawaii island. It is also "good -will" for the millions of
tourists who visit our island to see the volcano with no hotel support provided,
vacation rentals come in and fill this missing gap. There is a strong push by the "hotel
lobby" to create a bill that makes it virtually impossible to operate any vacation rental
business outside of "resort zoned" areas. Please note in the strongest possible terms
that ALL of the resort zoning areas which are tiny on the Big Island are all owned by
international corporations and none of them are owned by local public. Not even the
"Naniloa Hotel" in Hilo is local. It is a Hilton International INC Corporation. As
corporations are mandated to profit, most if not all profits will be directed off island as
mandated. Vacation rentals are all mostly local small businesses that allow older
people, native hawaiians, local people to make some sort of a living on lava rock with
not much infrastructure. There is no resort zoning in Puna. This bill has so many
issues that it attempts to gloss over such as zoning, such as huge penalties that are
outrageous coming from the State of Hawaii. The county bill would interact with this.
Zoning affects all property owners. There is no other business anywhere that has the
scrutiny that is being proposed by Bill 108. Who can operate with such elaborate
mine field of adversary which includes the highest taxes an individual can pay, the
highest penalties "if you don't comply" to the tyrannical rules, inspections, calls at
night and impossibilities that you have to respond to all requests on island within 2
hours? What if you are in Hilo shopping or on the other side of the island? No way to
get back in 2 hours. So the "exceptional use permit" will not be renewed? What other
business has this? And more! This is quite a serious bill for all of Hawaii economy
and this needs the utmost attention to detail that our Hawaii Island citizens cannot
focus on due the the largest Kilauea eruption in our lifetimes. To add further insult to
our citizens, vacation rentals have been stopped by Mayor Kim due to eruption. You
are working on a bill that doesn't even apply now especially in the Puna and Volcano
areas. Kilauea Lodge is even lacking any customers! We request that this meeting
be also "stopped" until we have time to really focus on your proposals that at this time
we find are severely lacking in depth for such an important matter. We ask again to
be shown what the so-called "exceptional use permit" would require. Short of this, we
feel we are not being given the facts that are critical for our survival on this island.
Please postpone this meeting about Bill 108 until the current lava flow has abetted.
Q nnrn. No.
Ref. To: l�C•
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Ref. Date, _.�
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Penny Lee