My commitment is to helping bring folks together to make our economic recovery our top priority! Remember, you only have show proof of a valid Hawaii drivers license and proof of an address in order to qualify for our work force housing here on Kauai, we need to make sure these residents are not relocating from the mainland and within a few months and they qualify to purchase these homes. My preference is in the direction of Alternative 1 of the Lihue Airport Master Plan, as it is the least changed. However, making a real difference for our islands and our planet, more importantly, requires each of us to make meaningful behavioral changes; the kinds that may take away some of our conveniences and may even cost us a little more of our time and energy. I totally support the Kauai Destination Management Action Plan which is a well-developed plan that brings forth the need to better manage and balance our tourism industry with our local infrastructure, natural resources, and our residents. E-mail sent to Councilmembers and Council Services Staff for inclusion as TESTIMONY: counciltestimony@kauai.gov 2. Growing more food locally and less reliance on ag imports. I believe its critical to have early engagement so that we can draft the best bills possible. In order for us to move forward, we have to do a combination of three things: 1) restore pre-existing agricultural systems 2) utilize innovative agricultural practices 3) help our community of consumers choose local produce first First, we must restore pre-existing agricultural systems by empowering local businesses and community organizations. As a member of the county council Ill work with our community organizations and administration to introduce several bills regarding environmental protection and stewardship. Routinely, I phone or drop by for a visit to businesses that may be adversely affected by policy that appears on our council agenda when introduced by colleagues. For many, the barrier to converting to an EV is access to charging stations. The coalition for years has advocated to protect the bay. This page shows you the collective voting record of all the Kauai County Council Members. It is an excellent blueprint for managing tourism on Kauai. The tax collected could become discounts available for local families. Traffic, poor maintenance of public infrastructure, and abuse of natural resources are just a few consequences of overtourism. During my terms in office, I have introduced numerous resolutions for performance audits but could never get the required votes to get it passed. Construction of a materials recovery facility, curbside recycling, diverting commercial food waste to composting facilities, and a recycling facility for construction and demolition debris all of these need to simultaneously be pursued to extend the life of our landfill long enough to enable the siting and construction of a new facility. Our food tours increase the demand for local ingredients in these restaurants, help maintain their commitment towards supporting local farmers, and raises awareness of fresh ingredients from the island. Yes we need to improve on eliminating illegal transient vacation rentals from operating on Kauai. Eventually, we will need more inward and upward roads to deal with sea level rise and the flooding out of our highway along the shoreline. Recycling should is a must and something that we should already be doing. Vacation rentals were grandfather in long before I became a council member and will be part of our taxable economy. In addition, we must look at our housing policies and modify those that are prohibiting workforce housing. Not creating the waste is a better strategy than recycling. I will be following this issue diligently and am interested in public opinion. But, like a game of hot potato, as soon as the music ends (or the population stops growing), its the current tax payers who are stuck footing the bill. The pandemic has made us realize how important these animals can play in our survival. Supporting our farmers markets and possibly expanding program. Lihue Airport was built as an inter-island facility rather a trans-Pacific airport, so I accept that changes are needed for our aging airport to better manage even the volume we currently experience. ', Were either going to offer more service, improve areas that were failing at, or were going to cut the tax rate and give people a tax break, Kagawa concluded. The tax could be on a scale depending on location, the type of building being purchased and how many purchases this buyer has made. These illegal units take away long term rentals. As an individual council member, I have been regularly and actively raising this issue with the County Administration. In looking at other counties, Maui tax rate for TVRs is actually higher than that of hotels. Students can become entrepreneurs and also work for somebody. Construction and Demolition is a large contributor to our landfill. We have an opportunity to diversify into growing more of our own food within the farming and ranching Department. We need to reestablish this pattern as it is essential to best governance. why did giacomo baessato leave hailey dean mysteries. I also think there are other ways that we can grow our economy by channeling, appropriately managing and harnessing the tourism revenue we do have in our local economy, so a higher percentage reach and benefit local residents. Action items D, focus policies that address over-tourism by managing people while on Kauai and E, encourage low-impact green rides to improve the visitor experience, reduce island traffic, increase small business opportunities, and meet climate action goalsare among the more motivating for me. Below are those that responded by deadline and their answers. The budget is our main responsibility and balancing and or cutting the budget to ensure all areas of our counties responsibilities are met. Leveling out the rates and getting more funding for our housing fund would ultimately mean we could provide more workforce housing for our hospitality workers, teachers, nurses and all our working families. I am committed to addressing our drug problem in a meaningful way. These successes result from partnering with the State & developers, tax credits, fast-track permitting, a streamlined regulatory process and/or having available funding. Somehow, somewhere one or some of these regulations is going to have to relax. And the motion failed both times. In fact, Councilmember Cowden and I have been in the process of drafting a resolution in support of those very sentiments that we have been hearing from many of our constituents. Outreach efforts are already giving visitors important information upon arrival on how to be a responsible visitor and how to be respectful of our `aina and our people. Hawai`is native ancestors revered and lived fully the values of Aloha `Aina & Malama Aina. We need to cut out the vacation rental rate and just make it clear that your property is strictly residential or if any part of it is used as a vacation rental then you pay the hotel and resort tax rate. I will be transparent, clear and thoughtful in the things I support and dont, with an explanation and an open door. The County General Plan recognizes that agriculture is an important element in Kauais identity as a rural place, and it represents our greatest opportunity for economic diversification and food self-sufficiency. We have to ensure that those that have dedicated their lives to the county are covered for their retirement and health care needs. I support curbside recycling and efforts to make recycling easier and more convenient for residents. When you account for the cost of gasoline on an average commute and the cost of maintenance, many electric vehicles are already cheaper to own and operate than their fossil fuel counterparts. Tax rates for the Vacation Rental tax class is currently$9.85 per thousand in value as compared to the Hotel/Resort tax class at $10.85 per thousand in value. This year we had close to 15 million in our housing fund per our county budget, state and federal grants that will be applied to Lima Oil work force housing development in Eleele, we also have our Waimea 400 project and our Kilauea housing project on the horizon. Our departments are underfunded and staffed and I believe we can use the resources this would generate to address important things our community needs. Supporting rational instream flow standards for the protection of the native stream environment and also the availability of surface water for irrigation and domestic drinking water. I support the upgrades of the airport but no expansion until a study to determine our carrying capacity is completed. Keiko Bonk, county council member Robert Bunda, senate president John A. Burns, US Congress delegate, governor C [ edit] Romeo Munoz Cachola, city council member George R. Carter, governor Edward Espenett Case, US Congress Campbell Cavasso, legislator Benjamin J. Cayetano, governor, lt. governor Charles Spencer Crane, mayor of Honolulu I am a neighborhood food producer at my home in Kilauea and a host of talk radio on KKCR. A plan needs to be in place for some point in the future for maintenance and modernization. Have watch dog groups in each community to sound the alarm when things, i.e road repair are not dragging on endlessly. However, the process to site and build a new one is expected to take just as long or slightly longer than the lifespan of our existing landfill. As your Council member I have been fiscally responsible with ensuring that balancing the budget, keeping our county services operating and all of our employees working and thriving. Early engagement with stakeholder groups is step one of effective policy development, in my view. Increases to the affordable housing inventory are desperately needed. I have tried to raise the vacation rental rate to equal the resort rate twice at budget (2019 and 2022). I will continue to be supportive of the valuable efforts made by our Mayors administration and the housing department. In college I also received a Fulbright scholarship to live abroad in south Africa. Right now our countys vision is to, Increase agricultural income and opportunities on Kauai through working closely with farmer groups to assist them in obtaining resources and other assistance to solve industry problems or take advantage of opportunities. My vision would to be to follow through with more programs focusing on educating the children and families in our community. These products can be made a certified community kitchens in partnership with our local slaughter houses. Putting this price tag of a MURF on our residence of Kauai will cripple their monthly budget. And, of course, I really appreciate all of you being willing to engage with us when we reach out to you! Our Kauai Climate Change Adaptation Plan will indeed include Managed Retreat, a difficult response to coastal erosion where oceanfront property structures are demolished and rebuilt inland. Offering a more permanent 2% revenue stream into the Housing Revolving Fund to the voters through a ballot initiative is an imperfect measure that I will support. I need the assessments, ground water mapping, and rainfall data for these areas for the Puhi, Kalaheo/Eleele and Kaumakani/Pakalas locations. 1) We need to build more homes in and around our existing towns. Diversification is a buzz word that to many political candidates toss around with no plan to back it up. Kagawa previously served on the Kauai County Council from 2012 until 2020, when he reached his positions consecutive term limit. Kagawa narrowly lost election to the Kaua'i County Council last November, when he finished eighth in a race with seven winners. I am impressed by the action plan and agree with the objectives. I am great with budgeting in my personal life and household and know how to live within our means. Incentivizing Homeowner ARUs Last term we passed several bills supporting Additional Rental Units (ARUs); waiving zoning permit application, sewer & building permit fees; creating a subsidy for water meters; and exempting EIAs saving over $20k per ARU in fees alone. There is no need to have a residential rate, then a vacation rental rate and then a hotel and resort rate. Council can best help by approving funding, encouraging action through paying attention and supporting progress. Making plots available at all our County housing projects for vegetable gardens; these could be the training grounds for future vegetable farmers. We fell two votes short. As a small business owner, President of Rice Street Business Association, Board member of Lhue Business Association, and former board member of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce and Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, I love working with our business community in solving our mutual challenges. At the moment, that is the only element of the proposed Master Plan that I support. The consolidation of the ticket-lobby and baggage claim areas seems prudent. Instagram. We need to burn all inflammable waste. Josh Green appointed to represent House District 16 in the state House of Representatives earlier this month. Housing for our people (and the landfill) is the most needed and hardest challenge in this questionnaire. Similar numbers transitioned into the vacation rental tax class in 2021 and 2020. The compound annual growth rate of the passengers incoming between 2018-2023 is 3.2% at a time where I do not think we can cope with increased visitors and many feel we are at capacity. Contact Information 4396 Rice Street, Suite 209 Lihue, Hawaii 96766. If elected I will dive into the research that has been done on things that have worked in other areas and connect with the groups working on this issue to address the gaps. I do not support an adjacent landfill in Kekaha, I believe the Mn Plain needs massive rehabilitation and Kekaha has taken enough trash and toxins, and this location is again too close to the coast and water table. I would like to develop some ideas to create a more circular economy across the board. The next highest tax class which is the Commercial and Industrial class with the rate of $8.10 per thousand. QUESTION #11What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kaua`i? Increasing taxes on vacant homes and TVRs can both discourage that practice (and get more homes on the market) and help ensure that we have a revenue base to get through the fiscal ice age. I have been blessed and honored to have served Kauai for 14 years. I believe this would be a similar process that can be accomplished! Its important to note that this will require coordination with our state and federal representatives, and Im happy to work with our legislative team and do the work necessary to secure these funds for Kauai. We can move unspent CIP funds to other projects during the budget process and we can ask for status updates at any time and I have done both. While I anticipate that KIUC will get to 100% renewable far ahead of schedule, we need to fully decarbonize ground transportation and do all we can to reduce emissions from our landfill. I know they paid their shade of taxes during COVID when none of them had any revenue coming in, but I would like to ensure those local families who had their family vacation rentals not get priced out. I will attend events and meetings that help me better understand the needs of the business community and I will engage in ways that can support those needs wherever I can. age of adaline comet. Efficiency is his byword. I support the improvements to terminal holdroom, public and employee parking expansion and the ticket lobby improvement project if they are to accommodate existing passenger numbers and not increase them. My preference is for our county to focus on the solid infrastructure grants rather than soft infrastructure such as pre-school funding. 808-245-7363 4268 H Rice Street, Lihue, HI 96766[emailprotected]. Over the last 20 years, nearly 40% of new homes were built on agricultural land and less than 1% in the multifamily zoning districts in our town cores. Some of these regulations is going to have served Kauai for 14 years would like to develop some to... Josh Green appointed to represent House District 16 in the direction of Alternative 1 the... 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