GREAT-10(2) COUNCIL-INITIATED CHARTER AMENDMENTS (RESOLUTION 22-119, CHARTER PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH THE EAST MAUI COMMUNITY WATER AUTHORITY) (GREAT-10(2))
Aloha kākou,
Unless Dick Mayer is incorrect in his interpretation of these charter amendments, which I sincerely doubt, it is very important that these two proposals pass:
#1 Charter Amendment (Resolution 22-144 to establish a Planning Commission for each of Maui’s Community Plan Districts)
Proposed CHARTER QUESTION “Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2023, to establish the Maui County Planning Commission, establish planning commissions for all community plan areas on Maui, and dissolve the Maui Planning Commission?”
If the proposal DOES pass: Residents and communities will be able to guide the future of their community plan district more effectively by having control over decisions on land use and planning within their community plan district. There will be a County planning commission for issues with general countywide issues.
If the proposal DOES NOT pass: Final decisions on the land use and planning for each of Maui Island’s community planning districts will be made by a single Maui Island Planning Commission with minimal representation from the respective district.
Description: Molokai and Lanai already have Planning Commissions and that would not change. The existing East Maui, Haiku-Paia, and South Maui advisory committees would be replaced by planning commissions which will be able to take action, instead of being merely advisory. The Charter Amendment would permit Planning Commissions for the all Maui Island community plan districts (South, East, North, Central, Upcountry, and West Maui). There will be a planning commission for each community plan district. Each district planning commission would be made up of seven appointed residents of that community planning area.
#2 Charter Amendment (Resolution 22-119 to establish an East Maui Community Water Authority)
Proposed CHARTER QUESTION “Shall the Charter be amended to establish the East Maui Community Water Authority to pursue acquiring long-term water lease agreements with the State and to manage the collection and distribution of water from East Maui license areas to provide a long-term reliable supply of water for domestic and agricultural needs?”
If the proposal DOES pass: Maui’s largest water source, the East Maui water aquifer, will be managed by a public authority for the benefit of Maui’s residential and agricultural users. It will no longer be controlled by an off-island investor, -- A&B in the past and a Canadian investor in the future.
If the proposal DOES NOT pass: The State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources will conduct an auction in which there will be only one bidder, a Canadian pension fund which would control the management of the East Maui watershed, control the collection and distribution of the water, and set the water rates that the County would have to pay.
Water is a basic human right. How that water is divided should be a public matter, not private. Resolution 22-119 is not even available on the county website for viewing. The people do not know this is happening. This is a violation of human rights.
I am writing in strong support of Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. I have grown increasingly concerned over the years with our changing weather due to global warming and hence changing our water supply. Please stop capitalizing natural resources to satisfy the corporate dollars. Water should not be privately held to benefit certain party.
Support The East Maui Water Authority creation to manage our precious Public Trust Water is Life. No need private company/corporations taking advantage with another 30 year deal A&B/EMI should be revoked from any Water related tasks with exception of EMI training County how to operate antiquated water delivery system.
Hello I am a Haiku resident (for 34 years) and strongly support this resolution 22-119 and feel it has been a long time in coming. The public and EMI should work together on water rights for our future - water in Maui County is actually supposed to be a Public Trust in which the People have a say, not only or maybe not even outside big corporations. If this resolution does not pass, EMI/A&B will be able to divert up to 88 MILLION gallons a DAY from E Maui streams and rivers, our precious resources, for 30 years! Please keep the water in the streams, for local farmers and the environment and our future water rights and needs. We are all feeling results of Climate Change regarding prolonged droughts and we need to be especially prudent regarding our water supplies and needs for everyone now and into the future. Maui County's population is growing and we will only need more. Please vote for the streams and the People, and accountability, thank you!
I am in strong support of establishing the East Maui Community Water Authority.
Public interests are best preserved by public entities; private ownership is bound to prioritize profits in all its actions, no matter how well intended, which leaves the public without a champion when important decisions and trade offs will be evaluated in regards to our access to water. The establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority gets us much closer to ensuring that what is best for the public is prioritized above all.
“I am writing in strong support of Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. I have grown increasingly concerned over the years with our changing weather and thus changing water supply. It makes no sense for a foreign corporation (PSP/Mahi Pono) to control the keys to our island's greatest public water resource – our East Maui Streams. Thank you for creating this resolution and doing the right thing for our community.”
I am in support of Resolution 22-119 for the establishment of a community Water Authority, which is an important step towards restoring community-based management of our resources, and not left solely to be decided by the corporations that use the diverted water. It is most important to bring water stewardship back into the hands of the people of East Maui and all areas of the island. Water is life.
Cynthia Day
I am writing because I STRONGLY support Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. With weather changing over the years and draught being more common, I have become increasingly concerned with water supply. Foreign corporations do not deserve access to the East Maui Streams. In no way is this supporting Native Hawaiians and local residents in the struggle to maintain their home. Thank you for taking the time to read and creating this resolution.
I strongly support resolution 22-119. Being a Haiku resident I’ve always experienced consistent rainfall, but those are getting more scarce. Climate change is getting increasingly visible on this island we need to not let foreign corporations have control of one of our most precious resources the island has to offer.
Mauiʻs water is a public trust which means the actual people in the actual community should be ones protecting and making decisions about how the water flows. Those who have been in control and exploitation of the water cannot continue to be trusted with this resource. As more water distribution, land grabs, gentrification, and poor management happens the streams must come first and the community advisory and those that have been protecting this precious resource must be at the table and hold plenty power. I support the continued protections and transparency of this public trust in the hands of the actual community!! WE don't have time for wheeling and dealing colonial profits and theft now or ever. Thank you, Pahnelopi McKenzie
I wholeheartedly support the proposal to create an East Maui Water Authority. The public trust doctrine with our wai has been ignored for too long. This is the first step in shifting the hierarchy of our water from corporate profits back to our community. It is time to bring community-led oversight and accountability to our most precious resource, East Maui streams. Thank you for pushing the ball forward and beginning to right some historical wrongs. Aloha.
Maui's most precious resources should not be controlled by outside corporate entities. This this is a critical opportunity for Maui residents to move towards a more self-sufficient future. I absolutely support the establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority.
To The Government Relations, Transparency and Ethics committee,
I totally support the charter amendment for the establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority. Control of this most precious resource should be in the hands of the people of East Maui.
Respectfully submitted by a 37 year Maui Resident
Aloha kākou,
Unless Dick Mayer is incorrect in his interpretation of these charter amendments, which I sincerely doubt, it is very important that these two proposals pass:
#1 Charter Amendment (Resolution 22-144 to establish a Planning Commission for each of Maui’s Community Plan Districts)
Proposed CHARTER QUESTION “Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2023, to establish the Maui County Planning Commission, establish planning commissions for all community plan areas on Maui, and dissolve the Maui Planning Commission?”
If the proposal DOES pass: Residents and communities will be able to guide the future of their community plan district more effectively by having control over decisions on land use and planning within their community plan district. There will be a County planning commission for issues with general countywide issues.
If the proposal DOES NOT pass: Final decisions on the land use and planning for each of Maui Island’s community planning districts will be made by a single Maui Island Planning Commission with minimal representation from the respective district.
Description: Molokai and Lanai already have Planning Commissions and that would not change. The existing East Maui, Haiku-Paia, and South Maui advisory committees would be replaced by planning commissions which will be able to take action, instead of being merely advisory. The Charter Amendment would permit Planning Commissions for the all Maui Island community plan districts (South, East, North, Central, Upcountry, and West Maui). There will be a planning commission for each community plan district. Each district planning commission would be made up of seven appointed residents of that community planning area.
#2 Charter Amendment (Resolution 22-119 to establish an East Maui Community Water Authority)
Proposed CHARTER QUESTION “Shall the Charter be amended to establish the East Maui Community Water Authority to pursue acquiring long-term water lease agreements with the State and to manage the collection and distribution of water from East Maui license areas to provide a long-term reliable supply of water for domestic and agricultural needs?”
If the proposal DOES pass: Maui’s largest water source, the East Maui water aquifer, will be managed by a public authority for the benefit of Maui’s residential and agricultural users. It will no longer be controlled by an off-island investor, -- A&B in the past and a Canadian investor in the future.
If the proposal DOES NOT pass: The State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources will conduct an auction in which there will be only one bidder, a Canadian pension fund which would control the management of the East Maui watershed, control the collection and distribution of the water, and set the water rates that the County would have to pay.
Mahalo,
Tom Mellin
40 Halili Ln 4E, Kihei
Water is a basic human right. How that water is divided should be a public matter, not private. Resolution 22-119 is not even available on the county website for viewing. The people do not know this is happening. This is a violation of human rights.
I am writing in strong support of Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. I have grown increasingly concerned over the years with our changing weather due to global warming and hence changing our water supply. Please stop capitalizing natural resources to satisfy the corporate dollars. Water should not be privately held to benefit certain party.
In support of this resolution. I am a Haiku resident.
Support The East Maui Water Authority creation to manage our precious Public Trust Water is Life. No need private company/corporations taking advantage with another 30 year deal A&B/EMI should be revoked from any Water related tasks with exception of EMI training County how to operate antiquated water delivery system.
Hello I am a Haiku resident (for 34 years) and strongly support this resolution 22-119 and feel it has been a long time in coming. The public and EMI should work together on water rights for our future - water in Maui County is actually supposed to be a Public Trust in which the People have a say, not only or maybe not even outside big corporations. If this resolution does not pass, EMI/A&B will be able to divert up to 88 MILLION gallons a DAY from E Maui streams and rivers, our precious resources, for 30 years! Please keep the water in the streams, for local farmers and the environment and our future water rights and needs. We are all feeling results of Climate Change regarding prolonged droughts and we need to be especially prudent regarding our water supplies and needs for everyone now and into the future. Maui County's population is growing and we will only need more. Please vote for the streams and the People, and accountability, thank you!
Please see attached written testimony.
Water should not be privately held. Thank you.
I am in strong support of establishing the East Maui Community Water Authority.
Public interests are best preserved by public entities; private ownership is bound to prioritize profits in all its actions, no matter how well intended, which leaves the public without a champion when important decisions and trade offs will be evaluated in regards to our access to water. The establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority gets us much closer to ensuring that what is best for the public is prioritized above all.
Jen Cox
Haiku
“I am writing in strong support of Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. I have grown increasingly concerned over the years with our changing weather and thus changing water supply. It makes no sense for a foreign corporation (PSP/Mahi Pono) to control the keys to our island's greatest public water resource – our East Maui Streams. Thank you for creating this resolution and doing the right thing for our community.”
Please protect our East Maui Streams! They are vital to the island and to our community
I am in support of Resolution 22-119 for the establishment of a community Water Authority, which is an important step towards restoring community-based management of our resources, and not left solely to be decided by the corporations that use the diverted water. It is most important to bring water stewardship back into the hands of the people of East Maui and all areas of the island. Water is life.
Cynthia Day
I am writing because I STRONGLY support Resolution 22-119 and the creation of the East Maui Water Authority. With weather changing over the years and draught being more common, I have become increasingly concerned with water supply. Foreign corporations do not deserve access to the East Maui Streams. In no way is this supporting Native Hawaiians and local residents in the struggle to maintain their home. Thank you for taking the time to read and creating this resolution.
I strongly support resolution 22-119. Being a Haiku resident I’ve always experienced consistent rainfall, but those are getting more scarce. Climate change is getting increasingly visible on this island we need to not let foreign corporations have control of one of our most precious resources the island has to offer.
Water is Life , let’s give it to the people
Support. Let the people decide.
Mauiʻs water is a public trust which means the actual people in the actual community should be ones protecting and making decisions about how the water flows. Those who have been in control and exploitation of the water cannot continue to be trusted with this resource. As more water distribution, land grabs, gentrification, and poor management happens the streams must come first and the community advisory and those that have been protecting this precious resource must be at the table and hold plenty power. I support the continued protections and transparency of this public trust in the hands of the actual community!! WE don't have time for wheeling and dealing colonial profits and theft now or ever. Thank you, Pahnelopi McKenzie
I wholeheartedly support the proposal to create an East Maui Water Authority. The public trust doctrine with our wai has been ignored for too long. This is the first step in shifting the hierarchy of our water from corporate profits back to our community. It is time to bring community-led oversight and accountability to our most precious resource, East Maui streams. Thank you for pushing the ball forward and beginning to right some historical wrongs. Aloha.
Maui's most precious resources should not be controlled by outside corporate entities. This this is a critical opportunity for Maui residents to move towards a more self-sufficient future. I absolutely support the establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority.
To The Government Relations, Transparency and Ethics committee,
I totally support the charter amendment for the establishment of the East Maui Community Water Authority. Control of this most precious resource should be in the hands of the people of East Maui.
Respectfully submitted by a 37 year Maui Resident