Testimony in Support of Ma’alaea Watershed, Wetlands Bill, Affordable Housing Rules, 9/2/2022

 Please provide a Written testimony for the Following Items:

COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI AGENDA 

Regular Meeting of September 2, 2022 9:00 a.m. 

Email testimony to County Clerk, county.clerk@mauicounty.us

Meeting Site: Online via BlueJeans link https://maui.bluejeans.com/295235670 

In-Person Testimony and Viewing: Council Chamber, Kalana O Maui Building, 8th Floor, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, Hawai’i 

Email to: county.clerk@mauicounty.us

Subject:  Testimony in Support of Ma’alaea Watershed, Wetlands Bill, Affordable Housing Rules, 9/2/2022

Dear Councilors, I support the following items, 

[22-81] Affordable housing is a top priority to provide shelter and stability for our local residents. Bill 107 helps make affordable housing affordable for local families.

[22-87] Wetlands and ecosystems are essential to our watersheds and oceans and the flora and fauna that depends on them, Protecting wetlands with Bill 91, will also help control flooding and protect our reefs from harm. protecting our watersheds should precede any development or planning.

[22-206] The Maalaea Watershed lands are vital to the health of the nearshore waters of Maalaea bay, Item 22-206, is necessary to prevent watershed degradation, and to protect the environment.

Mahalo.

SUPPORT:

1. 22-81 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE: Recommending FIRST READING of Bill 107, CD2 (2022), to establish 1) new methods for determining the sales price of an affordable dwelling unit; and 2) a program within the Home Acquisition and Ownership Programs Revolving Fund that subsidizes homebuyers when a developer does not receive direct County subsidies. 

SUPPORT:

1. 22-87 CLIMATE ACTION. RESILIENCE. AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: Recommending the following: FIRST READING of Bill 91, CD1 (2022), relating to conserving and protecting sensitive ecosystems, the ecosystem functions and values, mitigating climate change, and working towards building environmental resilience by establishing requirements to map and protect wetlands, including those not adjacent to navigable waters; 1. and 2. FILING of communication.

SUPPORT:

1. 22-206 “AUTHORIZING PROCEEDINGS IN EMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 257 ACRES AT MA’ALAEA MAUKA/POHAKEA WATERSHED. MAUI, HAWAII FOR PRESERVATION”