Dear Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
This is Tess Herman of Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Section submitting testimony on behalf of the Department of Environmental Management in regard to Bill 70. The Highway Beautification and Disposal of Abandoned or Derelict Vehicles Revolving Fund is projected to collect revenues around $1,977,728 for FY25. This is an estimate based off of how many people pay into the revolving fund, which means the total revolving fund budget could be lower. The projected expenses for projects operating within this fund, such as The Abandoned Vehicles Program, tree trimming, litter control and other illegal dumping programs are expected to expend $1,658,270 in FY25. This leaves only a projected balance of $319,458.00 in the revolving fund left. The Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Program would have limited opportunity to ask for additional funds if needs arise, such as an increase in abandoned vehicles or illegal dumping, should this roughly $300,000 be allocated to tourism-related traffic congestion initiatives. In addition, the Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Section has been working to expand programming to address illegal dumping, especially in response to the delays that residents are facing accessing the resident metals recycler Hammerhead Metals due to the influx of traffic bringing in metal debris from the Lahaina wildfires. Although we are very supportive in the Council's efforts to address tourism-related traffic congestion, we are concerned that ~$300,000 may not be sufficient funding to solve such an important problem. Attaining greater fund through via a different revolving fund or from the general fund may be more advantageous.
I'm Rachel Fabbio and I'm commenting behalf of the Paia Merchants Association. I also own a small business in Paia. I would like to advocate for more parking for Paia, as well as a traffic and parking survey.
There are approximately 80 small businesses in Paia, and only a small handful of them have private parking for their employees, or customers.
We did a recent survey, and found there are between 225-275 employees that work every day in our town, that are in need of parking. We desperately need more parking for employees.
There are only about 40 parking spaces that allow more than 2 hours, and that's in the public lot next to the shell station.
Street parking only allows 1-2 hrs, and the small lot by Mana Foods is also 2 hr parking. Paying for parking by the hour in one of the paid lots, is much too expensive for workers.
Please consider to expand the existing parking lot, or lease open land to temporarily help meet our needs.
By adding additional parking, more people can to come to do their grocery shopping, get a haircut, go to the dentist or out for lunch.
Right now it's faster to drive all the way into town to do your shopping than it is to find a place to park in Paia.
Our little town generates so much revenue for the island, and I think it's more important than ever to support the small businesses here and keep our employees at work.
My name is Amanda Bierbauer. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
I have visited the Lanai Cat Sanctuary and have seen the work they do. They are a vital organization. Please support them.
Aloha. My name is Reverend/Chaplain Karen j Cohen. I am not only a Minister and Hospice Chaplain for humans, but I am also a Certified Animal Chaplain. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island. If you want to know more about the success neutering/spaying has on a community I strongly suggest you go to Best Friends Animal Society at https://bestfriends.org for more information.
I am a UH graduate and was a long time resident on O'ahu and property owner on Moloka'i. After visiting the Lana'i Cat Sanctuary I have been a supporter ever since. I live off-island now but, if I can continue to support this Sanctuary I truly feel Maui County should too.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i and decimate the local wildlife. Plus, it's not healthy for the cats.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
I sincerely hope that you will do what is right for Lana'i and humane for its resident kitties. And if you can add more than the $285,000 requested, so much the better.
If you wish to speak with me please don't hesitate. My current cell# is 321-536-5984
My name is Chanda Hinman. I visited the Lanai Cat Sanctuary last year and have donated regularly since then.
I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
My name is Jonathan Simon. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island. We have visited the sanctuary on our annual trips to Maui county, and adopted Lloyd, a 1 year old black shorthair. While we sponsor the sanctuary every year, I don't think individual contributions can cover the expense of food, medicine, etc. for the more than 800 cats including over 200 cats displaced by the Maui fire.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, they contribute to saving endangered birds, particularly ground birds, by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas. Unsterilized sexually mature female cats can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
Dear Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
This is Tess Herman of Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Section submitting testimony on behalf of the Department of Environmental Management in regard to Bill 70. The Highway Beautification and Disposal of Abandoned or Derelict Vehicles Revolving Fund is projected to collect revenues around $1,977,728 for FY25. This is an estimate based off of how many people pay into the revolving fund, which means the total revolving fund budget could be lower. The projected expenses for projects operating within this fund, such as The Abandoned Vehicles Program, tree trimming, litter control and other illegal dumping programs are expected to expend $1,658,270 in FY25. This leaves only a projected balance of $319,458.00 in the revolving fund left. The Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Program would have limited opportunity to ask for additional funds if needs arise, such as an increase in abandoned vehicles or illegal dumping, should this roughly $300,000 be allocated to tourism-related traffic congestion initiatives. In addition, the Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Section has been working to expand programming to address illegal dumping, especially in response to the delays that residents are facing accessing the resident metals recycler Hammerhead Metals due to the influx of traffic bringing in metal debris from the Lahaina wildfires. Although we are very supportive in the Council's efforts to address tourism-related traffic congestion, we are concerned that ~$300,000 may not be sufficient funding to solve such an important problem. Attaining greater fund through via a different revolving fund or from the general fund may be more advantageous.
Thank you very much.
Tess Herman
Hello,
I'm Rachel Fabbio and I'm commenting behalf of the Paia Merchants Association. I also own a small business in Paia. I would like to advocate for more parking for Paia, as well as a traffic and parking survey.
There are approximately 80 small businesses in Paia, and only a small handful of them have private parking for their employees, or customers.
We did a recent survey, and found there are between 225-275 employees that work every day in our town, that are in need of parking. We desperately need more parking for employees.
There are only about 40 parking spaces that allow more than 2 hours, and that's in the public lot next to the shell station.
Street parking only allows 1-2 hrs, and the small lot by Mana Foods is also 2 hr parking. Paying for parking by the hour in one of the paid lots, is much too expensive for workers.
Please consider to expand the existing parking lot, or lease open land to temporarily help meet our needs.
By adding additional parking, more people can to come to do their grocery shopping, get a haircut, go to the dentist or out for lunch.
Right now it's faster to drive all the way into town to do your shopping than it is to find a place to park in Paia.
Our little town generates so much revenue for the island, and I think it's more important than ever to support the small businesses here and keep our employees at work.
Mahalo
Dear committee members,
My name is Amanda Bierbauer. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
I have visited the Lanai Cat Sanctuary and have seen the work they do. They are a vital organization. Please support them.
Thank you,
Amanda Bierbauer
Dear Councilmembers,
Aloha. My name is Reverend/Chaplain Karen j Cohen. I am not only a Minister and Hospice Chaplain for humans, but I am also a Certified Animal Chaplain. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island. If you want to know more about the success neutering/spaying has on a community I strongly suggest you go to Best Friends Animal Society at https://bestfriends.org for more information.
I am a UH graduate and was a long time resident on O'ahu and property owner on Moloka'i. After visiting the Lana'i Cat Sanctuary I have been a supporter ever since. I live off-island now but, if I can continue to support this Sanctuary I truly feel Maui County should too.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i and decimate the local wildlife. Plus, it's not healthy for the cats.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
I sincerely hope that you will do what is right for Lana'i and humane for its resident kitties. And if you can add more than the $285,000 requested, so much the better.
If you wish to speak with me please don't hesitate. My current cell# is 321-536-5984
Mahalo,
Rev/Chaplain Karen j Cohen (formerly Lie-Kwie)
chaplainkarenjcohen@gmail.com
321-536-5984
Dear BFED Committee,
My name is Chanda Hinman. I visited the Lanai Cat Sanctuary last year and have donated regularly since then.
I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, but they are a leader in the industry for their progressive approach to saving endangered birds by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas.
Unsterilized female cats in Hawaii that are 6 months or older can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
If the Lanai Cat Sanctuary does not receive the funding needed to continue accepting all feral and unwanted cats, it will severely impact the progress the island of Lāna'i has made in controlling the feral cat population and protecting the native and endangered birds on the island.
Thank you,
Chanda Hinman
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Jonathan Simon. I am writing to request that you add $285,000 to the Lāna'i Feral Animal Control line item in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and award it to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary so they can continue to provide feral cat services on the island. We have visited the sanctuary on our annual trips to Maui county, and adopted Lloyd, a 1 year old black shorthair. While we sponsor the sanctuary every year, I don't think individual contributions can cover the expense of food, medicine, etc. for the more than 800 cats including over 200 cats displaced by the Maui fire.
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary has not only reduced the feral cat population on Lāna'i, they contribute to saving endangered birds, particularly ground birds, by providing humane solutions for cats predating in protected areas. Unsterilized sexually mature female cats can have up to 3 litters a year, with 3-5 kittens per litter. Without the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, feral cats would overrun the island of Lāna'i.
Mahalo,
Jonathan Simon