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Home My WebLink About2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Guthrie de Bruyn Testimony From: Guthrie de Bruyn To: WPCtestimony Subject: TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO BILL 121 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 5:54:07 PM Attachments: Guthrie de Bruyn Opposition to Bill 121.ndf Attached you will find my testimony. Thank you for your time. Guthrie Re: Opposition to Bill 121 3/31/2024 To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for taking the time to read this and giving it your thoughtful reflection and consideration. Although I feel that this is pointless, since the bill went through even though there was overwhelming opposition, I am hopeful that maybe this time around people's voices will be considered and heard. I am providing images from the outcome of the votes cast on hicountytar.consider.it. This space was created by Ashely Kierkiewicz and Heather Kimball to get the community to weigh in on various aspects of the proposed updates to the TAR code. It states that, "public feedback is actively being considered and being used to refine bill language." As of February 9th, 2024 this is where the opinions stand: All of these options are now "Closed to new contributions" and "The forum host has frozen this forum so no changes can be made." It seems as though they are not using any of this feedback, that they asked for, to write and revise Bill 121. O hicountytar.consider.it The forum host has frozen this forum so no changes can be Support for TARs Share your level of support or opposition to TARs across Hawaii Island.Use the pros/cons feature to detail your thoughts. SUPPORT FOR TARS SECTION: What is your opinion of Transient Accommodation Rentals? (Overwhelming Support) hat is your opinion of Transient ccommodation Rentals? 330 opinions 73 pxos & cons 0 Opinions about this proposal pag,t., 1 of 9 Oppose Support Do TARs take away from housing opportunities? (Overwhelming Opposition) oo TARs take away from housing pportunities? 308 opinions 86 pros & cons (S) Opinions about this proposal ILL Oppose Support Do TARs add to the local economy? (Overwhelming Support) o TARs add to the local economy? 347 opinions 85 pros & cons [� Opinions about this proposal Oppose Support 2 of 9 Pathway and time for unpermitted structures operating as TARs to get necessary approvals (Overwhelming Support) Math way and time for unpermitted tructures operating as TARs to get necessary approvals 282 opinions 30 pxos & cons Opinions about this proposal Oppose Support REGISTRATION OF TARS SECTION: Owners of existing hosted TARs may continue operations while registration application is being reviewed (Overwhelming Support) wners of existing hosted TARs may ontinue operating while registration application is being reviewed 304 opinions 28 pios & cons 0 Opinions about this proposal 4*2 MOM Oppose Support 3 of 9 Identifying TARS as unpermitted in all ads and rental contracts (More opaosition than su ort dentifying TARS as unpermitted in all ds and rental contracts 243 opur2ons 21 pio- Opinions about this proposal Ike ko 00 io Oppose Support TAR registration can be transferred to new owner if Change of Ownership for is submitted and notification letters sent (Overwhelming Suggort) AR registration can be transferred to Mew owner if Change of Ownership form is submitted and notification letters sent 293 opinions 21 pios & cons Opinions about this proposal L. - 4 .. OZO j Oppose Support 4of9 Owner of primary residence should be allowed to register to be a hosted TAR at any time - this includes portion of main home, `ohana unit, guesthouse, detached bedroom (Overwhelming Support) caner of primary residence should be llowed to register to be a hosted TAR at any time—this includes portion of main home,'ohana unit,guesthouse, detached bedroom Opinions about this proposal L16 III.AJI..1 Oppose Support Hosting platforms should have some responsibility for ensuring that TARs listed on their sites are operation legally (Overwhelming Support) losting platforms should have some ffi&sponsibility for ensuring that TARs listed on their sites are operating legally 271 opinions 18 pros & cons d Opinions about this proposal L jI Oppose Support 5 of 9 TAR FEED & FINES SECTION: Initial Registration Fees (Overwhelming Opposition) itial registration fees • Iria— r.ten-hosted;hosted but not your primary home$1,000 • Principal home$250 • Hosted NUC$500 • Hosted NUC principal home$100 • Change in registration fee$500 269 opinions 31 pros & cons Opinions about this proposal tam L.1 ,A L Oppose Support Annual Renewal Fees (Overwhelmina Opposition) Mnnual renewal fees • Un-hosted;hosted but not your primary home$200 • Principal home$100 • Un-hosted NUC$500 • Hosted NUC$500 • Hosted NUC principal home$100 267 opinions 49 pros & cons Opinions about this proposal UM LA Oppose Support 6of9 Penalty Fees (Overwhelming Opposition) Menalty fees • • Operating without a registration $10,000 • Operating without a required NUC $10,000 • Operating without a required hosted NUC$10,000 • Violation of TAR Standards of Operation $10,000 • Operating an un-hosted TAR with a hosted NUC$10,000 287 opinions 41 pros & cons Opinions about this proposal lot,ab. A Oppase Support VACATION NODES SECTION: All properties within the approved vacation node map area may register to operate a hosted or un-hosted TAR and would no longer have to file a NUC (Overwhelming Su ort ll properties within the approved acation node map area may register to operate a hosted or un-hosted TAR, and would no longer have to file a NUC Opinions about this proposal mµb 7 of 9 Oppose Support There should be a minimum number of contiguous parcels that make up a vacation node area (Overwhelming Opposition) chere should be a minimum number of ontiguous parcels that make up a vacation node area 256 opinions 25 pros & cons Opinions about this proposal Leo %owst to too Oppose support This website was put in place by council members, why would they shut it down and ignore it if you are trying to get public opinion? Is it proving that Bill 121 is a bad idea and they are not happy with the feedback? It doesn't seem very open to public discussion if you are locking one of the only options to weigh in. Unfortunately, all of these people's voices and comments are set aside because two people from Heather Kimball's district moved due to STVR (stated in the Big Island Now Article) and who knows what other things are pushing this bill, maybe hotel lobbyists? Imagine how many people will be unable to stay in their homes and possibly become homeless themselves due to this bill, it truly blows my mind. But others say short-term rental regulations need to be more strict to address issues some cause for community members living nearby, such as noise, parking and safety complaints. One person,who said her home is surrounded by short-term rentals, said they are ruining her community. Hawai'i County Council Chairwoman Heather Kimball, who co-introduced the three bills, said she had two people in her community who moved because they 8 of 9 couldn't tolerate the activity that was going on at short-term rentals next door. On Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, Economist Paul Brewbaker was on Sunrise Hawaii News Now discussing the health of Hawaii's economy, and the upcoming annual forum on Pacific-Asia. He said, "Hawaii has become unaffordable for Japanese travelers." Getting rid of so many STVRs will only worsen this situation. I would also like to add that I think it is irresponsible and dangerous how loosely the authors of this bill are using the words, "GRANDFATHERED IN", to sell it to the community and to other council members. This is very vague and misleading. It will instantly shut down a ton of STVRs due to zoning and permitting issues which seems to be hidden in the writing if the bill itself. I am a stay at home mom of two. I am able to work from home and take care of the needs of my family thanks to our STVR. This bill would kill all of that for me and my family's future along with so many other families out there surviving on their small hosted STVRs. I find it ironic that women are trying to take away jobs from other women just to further they political careers, such a shame and what a legacy. Thank you for your time and please consider the public's voices and not two Council Women who are trying to SHOVE/PUSH this bill through no matter what. I look forward to voting for a new county council member this year along with many other Puna voters! Guthrie de Bruyn 15-2714 Pahoa Village Road Unit H1 #208 Pahoa, HI 96779 guthrie.debruyn@gmail.com 9 of 9