RAM GAD POD

Aloha All,

Thursday episodes generally feature an interview between me and a guest, but I've decided to try something a little different this week. Instead of an interview, this episode features audio from a panel discussion I was a part of at the recent Maui Nui Attainable Housing Forum presented by the County of Maui, Office of the Mayor, the Department of Housing and Human Concerns, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. The forum, and this discussion, took place at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on October 16, 2019. The following discussion was focused on community engagement and was moderated by Pamela Eaton from the Department of Planning. The members of the panel were as follows:

I'll warn you now that the sound quality isn't great, but at least I don't make you sit through advertisements like every other podcast you listen to.

Here are the notes if you're too busy to listen:

Public Hearing Regarding Unpermitted Vacation Rentals: The Planning Department has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 5:00 pm at the Kalana Pakui conference room, 250 S. High Street, Wailuku, regarding amending the Department’s rules relating to fines for unpermitted transient vacation rental operations. The proposed amended rules would significantly increase the limits of civil fines for unlawful operation of a transient vacation rental.

Real Property Tax Reforms: On November 8th, the County Council will be considering several changes to the County’s real property tax system. The most significant change is a tiered structure for property taxes, but the Council will also be discussing revised classifications and doing away with condominium declarations to the Department of Finance. For further information check out Council’s 3 Minutes from this past weekend, and check the agenda when it gets posted to the Council’s calendar.

Consolidated Plan Survey: The County is seeking public input for the 2020-2024 County of Maui Consolidated Plan Survey. The deadline to complete the survey is October 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.

Hele Mai Maui 2040 Transportation Plan: The Hele Mai Maui 2040 Transportation Plan is available and open for public review until October 31, 2019. To comment directly on the full plan, follow this link. In addition to commenting on the plan, you can also take a survey regarding transportation projects and funding by following this link.

Draft EIS filed for EMI: Alexander & Baldwin and EMI have filed a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed lease of water in the East Maui areas of Nahiku, Ke’anae, Honomanu, and Huelo. A statutory 45-day public review and comment period is now open and will continue through November 7, 2019. There will also be a Special Meeting of the Board of Water Supply on November 4, 2019 at 9 a.m. in the Planning Department Conference Room, at which time they will also accept testimony related to comments on the Draft EIS.

Wailuku First Friday Celebrates Dia de los Muertos on November 1st: SMALL TOWN * BIG ART, a collaboration of the National Endowment of the Arts, County of Maui and Hale Hō‘ike‘ike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society, is proud to support Wailuku First Friday’s Día de los Muertos community event on Friday, November 1, 2019. For more information, check out the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART website.

Maui Boards and Commissions: Applicants are being sought for 42 vacancies on Maui County boards, commissions, councils, and committees. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2019. Anyone interested in serving on a board or commission should first apply online at www.mauicounty.gov/Boards, or pick up a paper application in the County building.

Lawrence Carnicelli is well known among our members as the former Government Affairs Director, but he is also Chair of the Maui Planning Commission and Managing Director for Olowalu Elua Associates. I started the podcast with the intent of digging into Lawrence's past and learning all about his work with the planning commission and Olowalu Elua, but that didn't really happen. Instead, we ended up talking about our parents, the nature of America, lobbying and various other things friends chat about, which is much better in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, we learn a lot about Lawrence in this episode and we get into some deeply personal topics, but it is a lot more of a conversation than an interview. I wish every episode was as much fun as this one to record, but I would probably never get any real work done if that were the case. We enjoyed making this episode and I hope you enjoy listening.

Mahalo,

Jason

This is a Notes from the GAD episode, but I also read an article by Robert H. Thomas originally published here: https://www.inversecondemnation.com/inversecondemnation/2019/10/who-is-in-charge-at-the-county-of-maui-scotus-oa-hinges-on-internal-dispute-over-who-can-settle.html

Here are the Updates:

Wet Maui Community Plan: There will be two meetings of the Community Plan Advisory Committee this week. The first is on Tuesday, October 22 at Waiola Church’s Keopuolani Hall, and the second will be on Thursday, October 24 at the Lahaina Intermediate School Cafeteria. Both meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on policies and actions for all five Goals in the Community Plan. Agendas are available at www.wearemaui.org .

Draft EIS filed for EMI: Alexander & Baldwin and EMI have filed a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed lease of water in the East Maui areas of Nahiku, Ke’anae, Honomanu, and Huelo. A statutory 45-day public review and comment period is now open and will continue through November 7, 2019. Those submitting comments should send them to the approving agency (Board of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, Mr. Ian Hirokawa, [email protected], 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813) and copy the applicant and consultant (Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 1907 S. Beretania Street, Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96826, Mr. Earl Matsukawa, AICP, [email protected]).

FHA Condo Rules: The new FHA Condo Rules went into effect on October 15th. The rule changes will make condominiums a more accessible option for homebuyers that rely on FHA financing. For more information, follow this link to a video from NAR. While you are at it, you should also check out their update on the NFIP, and if you have detailed questions that don’t get answered, reach out to Austin Perez at NAR. That guy is a magical genius when it comes to this stuff.

FY 2021 Mayor’s Community budget Meetings: Mayor Victorino is holding his final scheduled community meeting regarding the FY 2021 budget. The final meeting will be in East Maui/Hana - 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 28th, at Helene Hall

Maui Boards and Commissions: Applicants are being sought for 42 vacancies on Maui County boards, commissions, councils and committees. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2019. Anyone interested in serving on a board or commission should first apply online at www.mauicounty.gov/Boards, or pick up a paper application in the County building.

RAM GAD POD: Available on most platforms! Just Google RAM GAD POD and take your pick. This week’s guest will either by Lawrence Carnicelli, or I may be uploading audio from the panel I was on at the Maui Nui Attainable Housing Conference.

You all are busy, so if you don't have the time to listen, here are the key updates:

Renewals for Conditional B&B, Short-Term Rental, and Special Use Permits: On Wednesday, October 16th, at 9 a.m. the Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee will be considering a bill related to renewals for B&B, STR and Special Use permits. The big change that may be of particular concern is the change to the timing of renewal applications. Currently the law states: “Permit renewal applications shall be submitted to the department within ninety days prior to the permit expiration date…” The proposed bill would change that language to say: “Permit renewal applications shall be submitted to the department no later than sixty days prior to expiration of the permit, after which the department shall not accept any renewal applications.” That is a big change in policy that may catch a lot of people off guard.

Maui County Real Property Tax: Real Property Tax Reform is back on the agenda for the Economic Development and Budget Committee on Thursday, October 17th, at 9 a.m. Some of the bigger changes we should all keep an eye on are proposed tiered tax rates for Owner-Occupied, Non-Owner-Occupied, Short Term Rental and Commercial Industrial classifications; changes to condominium reporting requirements; changes to classifications; and new dedications and tax benefits for long-term affordable rentals and long-term rentals.

Draft EIS filed for EMI: Alexander & Baldwin and EMI have filed a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed lease of water in the East Maui areas of Nahiku, Ke’anae, Honomanu, and Huelo. A statutory 45-day public review and comment period is now open and will continue through November 7, 2019. Those submitting comments should send them to the approving agency (Board of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, Mr. Ian Hirokawa, [email protected], 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813) and copy the applicant and consultant (Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 1907 S. Beretania Street, Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96826, Mr. Earl Matsukawa, AICP, [email protected]).

FHA Condo Rules: The new FHA Condo Rules go into effect on October 15th. The rule changes will make condominiums a more accessible option for homebuyers that rely on FHA financing. For more information, follow this link to a video from NAR.

FY 2021 Mayor’s Community budget Meetings: Mayor Victorino is still holding community meetings throughout Maui County. The remaining meetings are: Molokai - 3:30 p.m., Monday, October 21st, at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center; Lanai - 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 22nd, at the Hale Kupuna O’ Lana’i; East Maui/Hana - 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 28th, at Helene Hall

Maui Boards and Commissions: Applicants are being sought for 42 vacancies on Maui County boards, commissions, councils and committees. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2019. Anyone interested in serving on a board or commission should first apply online at www.mauicounty.gov/Boards, or pick up a paper application in the County building.

RAM GAD POD: Available on most platforms! Just Google RAM GAD POD and take your pick. This week’s guest will be Mayor Michael Victorino.

Jessica Crouse is an Assistant Housing Administrator for the County of Maui and an all-around awesome person. I've been friends with Jessica for about a year now, and I am continually impressed by her thoughtful and kind approach to helping the people of Maui County. Listen to this episode if you want to hear from a bright and talented person with a spectacularly bright future. I respect and admire Jessica Crouse and you will too after listening to this episode.

Updates for the week of October 8, 2019:

Autumn Ness is an environmentalist, community organizer, political activist, and self described "radical." Though Autumn is well known for her time on Councilmember Elle Cochran's staff, her service to the people of Maui goes far beyond being a County employee.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn about a fascinating person who is at the forefront of some of Hawaii's most pressing issues. My favorite parts of the interview were learning about Autumn's experience living in Japan, and discussing the ways in which travel changed her perspective on public policy and the role of government. Aside from that, I just enjoy hanging out with Autumn and recording this podcast was a blast. 

After the episode, check out the article Autumn wrote for the Hawai'i Center for Food Safety Action Fund that we referenced a few times in the episode. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/HIFoodPAC/photos/a.1448112392101221/2419476541631463/?type=3&theater . 

Notes from the GAD - 10/1/2019

Michael Williams is the current President of Maui Tomorrow and an all around fascinating person. Towards the end of the interview I jokingly say that I am striving to be like him, but there is a lot of truth in that statement. In this episode we learn about Michael's impressive legal career, we delve into the issues that concern him the most, and we discuss policy ideas to improve Maui County. If you want a couple of good book recommendations or you just like to hear from interesting people, this is a good episode to check out. However, I do need to apologize for the sound quality on this episode. We recorded outside so there is extra background noise, and the table that the mic was on gets knocked a bunch. Sorry!