Charter amendments These are important amendments that will benefit Maui Residents.
Please consider implementing the amendments for an East Maui Planning Commission and an East Maui Water Authority. These will have a positive impact on East Maui in agriculture community agency.
Mahalo,
Mike Gagne
Door of Faith Road
Huelo
Aloha
I am Michael J Duberstein. I reside at 34 Iliwai Loop in Kihei and have been a Maui resident/voter since 2005 when Jeanne and I moved here from Takoma Park, Maryland—although we have been coming to Maui since 1982 and owned our home since 1997 when we began our retirement plans and rented it to working families using long-term agreements.
I serve on the board of Akaku Maui Community Media and the Maui Tomorrow Foundation and have volunteered for many events and organizations.
In addition, from 2008 to 2014, I served as the Chair of District Eleven (South Maui) of the Hawaii Democratic Party.
I have been able to do so because I am retired only in terms of my active career as an economist, my final 25 years as Director of Research for the National Football League Players Association.
I am not bragging but more simply pointing out that individual citizens can take part directly in the affairs of their communities.
And, more to the point, both of these pending Charter Amendments, when enacted, will involve many more of our fellow citizens in the decisions that relate to our everyday lives.
You all know what these Amendments can and will do.
I don’t have to list every plus and detail.
These Charter Amendments are important and well-needed.
Do your part today!
Advance their progress.
Mahalo.
Michael J Duberstein
34 Iliwai Loop
Kihei 96753
891-0597
From: Dick Mayer
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.
ʻO au nō ʻo Laʻakea Low. No ka mokupuni ʻo Maui mai au ma ka moku ʻo Hāmākuapoko. Ke noho nei au ma ka ahupuaʻa ʻo Haʻikū ma Koakomo i kēia manawa.
Writing in SUPPORT of Resolution No. 22-144. Mahalo nui iā ʻoe e Lālā King.
The Maui Planning Commission (MPC) has a long track record of poor decision-making in terms of protecting shorelines from development - one of, if not the most important mandate in their purview. While much of these shortcomings may be attributed to an overwhelming lack of environmental stewardship expertise in the compostion of the MPC's membership, a painfully obvious lack of familiarity with many places - moku, kalana, ahupuaʻa, ʻili - throughout Maui must also be taken into consideration. Therefore, each community plan area must have its own Planning Commission in order to ensure place-based knowledge in critical decision-making processes.
In examining the language that, "The members of the Maui County planning commission shall consist of: its chair, who shall be appointed by the council; and the chair, or the chair's designee, of each other planning commission," I would like to suggest that a balance of subject-matter expertise be codified. For instance, if the chair of each planning commission happens to have the same professional background, then the appointment of the chair's designee must be enacted in order to achieve a balanced commission. No more than one or two members of the Maui County planning commission should share the same, or similar, field of expertise.
I believe this will help alleviate many of the problems we've seen arise throughout Maui in regard to the decisions made by an unbalanced Planning Commission made up of mainly development, real-estate, and construction-industry professionals. There has been push-back against this resolution from those who do not believe change is needed when it comes to the MPC. These are likely the same types of development-, real-estate-, and construction-industry-minded professionals who continue to benefit by putting profits over people. Meanwhile, our environment suffers, our economy remains two-dimensional, and our people struggle to make ends meet. Maui needs MPC members who will prioritize responsible environmental stewardship, a truly diversified economy, and community well-being over the financial profiteering of the few.
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.
Charter amendments These are important amendments that will benefit Maui Residents.
Please consider implementing the amendments for an East Maui Planning Commission and an East Maui Water Authority. These will have a positive impact on East Maui in agriculture community agency.
Mahalo,
Mike Gagne
Door of Faith Road
Huelo
Aloha
I am Michael J Duberstein. I reside at 34 Iliwai Loop in Kihei and have been a Maui resident/voter since 2005 when Jeanne and I moved here from Takoma Park, Maryland—although we have been coming to Maui since 1982 and owned our home since 1997 when we began our retirement plans and rented it to working families using long-term agreements.
I serve on the board of Akaku Maui Community Media and the Maui Tomorrow Foundation and have volunteered for many events and organizations.
In addition, from 2008 to 2014, I served as the Chair of District Eleven (South Maui) of the Hawaii Democratic Party.
I have been able to do so because I am retired only in terms of my active career as an economist, my final 25 years as Director of Research for the National Football League Players Association.
I am not bragging but more simply pointing out that individual citizens can take part directly in the affairs of their communities.
And, more to the point, both of these pending Charter Amendments, when enacted, will involve many more of our fellow citizens in the decisions that relate to our everyday lives.
You all know what these Amendments can and will do.
I don’t have to list every plus and detail.
These Charter Amendments are important and well-needed.
Do your part today!
Advance their progress.
Mahalo.
Michael J Duberstein
34 Iliwai Loop
Kihei 96753
891-0597
From: Dick Mayer
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.
Aloha mai kākou,
ʻO au nō ʻo Laʻakea Low. No ka mokupuni ʻo Maui mai au ma ka moku ʻo Hāmākuapoko. Ke noho nei au ma ka ahupuaʻa ʻo Haʻikū ma Koakomo i kēia manawa.
Writing in SUPPORT of Resolution No. 22-144. Mahalo nui iā ʻoe e Lālā King.
The Maui Planning Commission (MPC) has a long track record of poor decision-making in terms of protecting shorelines from development - one of, if not the most important mandate in their purview. While much of these shortcomings may be attributed to an overwhelming lack of environmental stewardship expertise in the compostion of the MPC's membership, a painfully obvious lack of familiarity with many places - moku, kalana, ahupuaʻa, ʻili - throughout Maui must also be taken into consideration. Therefore, each community plan area must have its own Planning Commission in order to ensure place-based knowledge in critical decision-making processes.
In examining the language that, "The members of the Maui County planning commission shall consist of: its chair, who shall be appointed by the council; and the chair, or the chair's designee, of each other planning commission," I would like to suggest that a balance of subject-matter expertise be codified. For instance, if the chair of each planning commission happens to have the same professional background, then the appointment of the chair's designee must be enacted in order to achieve a balanced commission. No more than one or two members of the Maui County planning commission should share the same, or similar, field of expertise.
I believe this will help alleviate many of the problems we've seen arise throughout Maui in regard to the decisions made by an unbalanced Planning Commission made up of mainly development, real-estate, and construction-industry professionals. There has been push-back against this resolution from those who do not believe change is needed when it comes to the MPC. These are likely the same types of development-, real-estate-, and construction-industry-minded professionals who continue to benefit by putting profits over people. Meanwhile, our environment suffers, our economy remains two-dimensional, and our people struggle to make ends meet. Maui needs MPC members who will prioritize responsible environmental stewardship, a truly diversified economy, and community well-being over the financial profiteering of the few.
Me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo,
Laʻakea Low
Koakomo, Haʻikū, Maui
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
Please see attached written testimony.