Maui News Questions

Question 1. In updating the Maui County General Plan and the accompanying land-use maps, should the focus be on accommodating projected growth in population and how can it be accomplished? Or should the plans seek to establish a preferred rate of growth and how can that be accomplished?

ANSWER: We need to plan in increments. Past Community Plan maps have sometimes delineated large areas of land for development with no long range thought for infrastructure services, sensitive resources or overall quality of life that such development levels would impact. We need a preferred rate of growth that is phased to keep a steady supply of construction work available without attracting a large influx of imported construction workers to compete with our local workers. Incremental growth helps in meeting water planning needs and helps avoid a "boom or bust" economy.

Question 2. Explain what steps the county must take to meet water needs on Maui.

ANSWER: Private development: Private water development provides a patchwork of service levels, water quality and rate structures this is not fair to our local families. I favor the public development and ownership of public trust water resources whenever possible.

East Maui aquifer: Recent studies by USGS have shown that this option is even more expensive than the $50 million earlier estimates. East Maui lands are rugged and the water lens is thin. Several dozen wells would need to be drilled, pumped and maintained and an expensive pipeline built in order to harvest half the amount of water we currently get from the Iao aquifer. It is also not fair to the people of East Maui, many of whom depend upon springs, and spring fed stream pools for the limited water supplies they now have. The East Maui well plan would take ground waters away to serve the needs of other regions, when they are needed to maintain local springs and streams depleted by stream diversions.

Existing plantation diversions: These diversions are already part of our existing water systems, but we need to realize that surface water has cleanup costs and a host of challenges to maintain sound water quality. I support the use of some surface water, but we need a holistic approach to the water cycle.

For central Maui we have some good options. If we restore stream flows in Na Wai Eha, USGS studies have shown that considerable improvement to underground aquifer levels will result. This, combined with water storage facilities fed by surface water siphoned off during time of high stream flows would allow us to have more clean ground water (from existing and proposed wells) for domestic use, sufficient stored water for local agriculture and healthy streams to replenish our fisheries and allow the traditional small farms and kalo growing lands of Na Wai Eha to come back to life to feed our people.

For upcountry, expanded surface water storage is needed to keep agriculture healthy and incentives to install individual catchment systems should be offered to all existing and new homeowners in Haiku/Olinda/Makawo to reduce demand during time of drought. These upcountry areas use far less water than central or South Maui and much of their potable and non-potable need could be generated from rainfall during certain seasons. The county should acquire land for several publicly managed wells in Haiku region to serve the needs of upcountry system and bring fairness to the upcountry families who have waited decades for water meters. The County and state should discourage large landowners or developers from drilling wells and keeping the majority of the water for their own projects, while leaving local homeowners to wait at the back of the line.

Moratorium: We have done this a number of times in the past, and it may be needed, short term, in some system areas. We may need to consider a moratorium on certain types of new water uses. It seems unrealistic to tell longtime water customers to curtail their water use and then turn around and give approval to condos planning to use public water supplies for swimming pools, "beach club spas" etc in the drier regions of Makena and Wailea.

Tiered water rates: Future water supplies will not be cheap and rates should be structured to discourage waste and reward efficiency. We need to protect favorable rates for ag users to keep farming viable and expand our local self sufficiency..

Take care of the water resources we have and use them wisely. Reform planning ordinances to allow reuse of more water and audit the largest water users then work with them to reduce water use. One million gallons of water that is reused or saved equals two million gallons of water available for others.

Restoring stream flows would help recharge aquifers in central and west Maui. These aquifers generate nearly two thirds of our water supply. Stream waters could also support small agriculture.

Need more study to determine which ground waters and streams are polluted to help plan where future water sources should be.

Question 3. Enforcement actions taken by the county administration have shut down vacation rentals. What limitations, if any, should the county set on where vacation rentals are allowed and how many are permitted?

ANSWER: Vacation rental numbers and desirability should be determined by the individual communities. The council should act to implement the will of local residents. One size does not fit all. I do not believe the concept of separate "resort zones" has proven to be realistic. I believe that vacation rentals have a part to play in the visitor industry, but that they cannot be allowed to take over neighborhoods or impact land valuations. Vacation rentals that generate consistent complaints should not be allowed to operate. I favor limits on the number of vacation rentals in each region, and the possibility that they are banned outright in some places, if that's what the overall community supports.

Question 4. With the national economic slowdown cutting visitor arrivals and spending, what steps, if any, should the county take to maintain the health of the county economy?

ANSWER: The County should invest in the projects that will improve life for local residents and help reduce cost of energy and living expenses in our community Maui County should undertake needed public works projects that go out to bid to help keep the economy moving and take advantage of competitive labor costs. Projects such as road repairs, bike paths that can reduce the need to drive, community center and park repairs, etc, are all needed. A way needs to be found to give preference to Maui based construction companies for these local projects .It is also a time to invest in energy efficient retrofits for all public facilities. This too, will generate jobs and provide long-term savings.

The County should work with the new federal administration to secure support of longer term infrastructure projects that affect public health and safety, such as bridges, water treatment plants, harbors, safe bike paths and reservoirs. Investment partnerships should also seek sites for workforce housing projects to offer local health workers, teachers and public safety officers housing that they can afford in or near existing job centers. Partnerships should be formed to invest in natural resource restoration projects such as reforestation of native watershed ecosystems.

Local food and energy production should be supported through various pilot projects. Larger County vehicles should be adapted over the next five years to run on locally produced fuel, creating employment, opportunities lowering pollution and keeping money in our local economy.

Maui County should partner with state agencies and federal programs to offer retraining opportunities to displaced agricultural and visitor industry workers. Our hardworking families need opportunities to find a new place in the job market, or to explore the small business world. County policymakers should work with business leaders and hear their needs, for present and future opportunities. The County should take steps to support small business by reviewing and eliminating unnecessary or redundant regulations.

We need to actively discuss and adopt steps that will make the transition to a new economy for Maui county, just as other regions have when their major economic bases shifted. A diversified economy, one based less upon "industrial tourism" and more upon expanded education, self-sufficiency , diversified ag and innovation has been called for in every adopted General Plan and community plan for the past several decade.

Maui's people expect their leaders to roll up our sleeves and actually lay the foundation of a new economy. The visitor industry will remain a part of the mix, but it is likely to transition to be more value added: marked by longer visitor stays connected with specific areas such as: recreation, education, health & wellness and our cultural uniqueness and natural resources.

Question 5. What do you consider the single most important issue that the County Council must address in 2009-10 and how would you handle the issue to make the islands a better place to live and work?

ANSWER: The impact of rising energy costs on every aspect of our economy.

Fuel costs affect farming profits, food prices, visitor counts, county water pumping and operations costs. They affect the price of getting to and from work, the power rates of every homeowner and business and the cost of housing and all other construction and of all goods that are shipped here.

Solutions:

Short range bus services will need to be expanded to give workers the option of driving less and saving fuel costs. The county should also test out the 4 day work week.

We need to make rapid efforts to switch to locally produced energy (no, not imported palm oil!) for our needs. One important part of this is the creation of power storage facilities (essentially, using renewable power to pump water from a lower to an upper reservoir and then releasing it gradually to turn a turbine and create energy upon demand.) Such facilities will lower the costs of power production and firm up the power available from solar and wind generation facilities

We need to commit to energy efficiency retrofits in all public buildings and systems, including utilization of natural cooling, overhangs and shade trees. We also need to invest in renewable energy systems for public facilities wherever feasible, preferably those that can be manufactured locally.

We need to set goals to convert county vehicles and machinery and the county bus system to locally produced fuels or electric systems that are rechargeable through renewable energy.

We need to inspire innovation to develop renewable energy solutions that can be based upon natural materials already abundant in our island home. The new algae to energy plant could be a good example.

We need to form partnerships with state, federal and private agencies to offer incentives for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency in private homes and businesses. One such option is making solar panel systems available to homeowners of all income levels through a loan program that is paid back through small installments added to property taxes. Affordable energy needs to be available to average working families, not just the wealthy.

Along with an revolution in how we create and consume energy, we need to promote food security and self- sufficiency. Not all foods can be easily produced on Maui, but as fuel prices rise, locally grown and raised products will become more cost competitive. The county needs to encourage local distribution networks for small farmers, as well as community gardens in local neighborhoods. Clean reclaimed water, currently being dumped into injection wells, needs to be made available to small farmers. 

1.What programs can you accept being cut or reduced, and what would be the consequences?

It is standard when shortfalls are expected to ask all departments and non-profit agencies that regularly receive funding to submit proposed budgets that reflect an across the board cut of a certain percentage. Gov Lingle has asked her departments to reduce their budgets by 20%. Mayor Tavares has also asked County Departments to submit budgets that reduce expenditures, leaving it to the discretion of each department, where cuts would best be made.

As a councilmember, I would first carefully review the cuts that have been proposed by the departments themselves and evaluate these decisions in light of the department or program's stated goals, as well as community input and my own experience in the community.

In looking at programs that may need to be cut altogether or reduced, the responsible approach would be to evaluate the various programs in terms of their success in meeting their stated goals; their utilization of past appropriations; and their general effectiveness and efficiency. Those not meeting these review standards would be my first choice for reduced or cut funding.

Budgetary cuts always have consequences. Councilmembers must try to consider both long and short term strategies to provide public services when revenues are restricted. The budgetary process should play a role in encouraging departments and programs to improve their effectiveness.

Last budget session, Council members reduced spending by deferring a portion of employee benefit costs, and that same action may need to be taken this session.

2. How would you determine the priorities for programs that will have continued funding?

All county departments should use a fair evaluation system to prioritize programs for funding. Each program needs to present its budget proposal in a style that allows it to be rated on:

? how well it meets its specific program goals- long and short term;

? how well it serves a need unmet by other programs;

? how much additional funding it is able to attract from other sources;

? it's record of support and integrity in the general community;

? the return it is able to generate on the County's investment and

? its flexibility in operating with reduced funding levels.

3. What would you expect to be the focus of the council in 2009 in formulating the fiscal 2010 budget and how would you establish your priorities in the budget session.

The budget focus will be how to deal with the reduction in County revenues and help revitalize the local economy. There is likely to be a discussion on whether it is better to fund longer term Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) through sales of bonds or through appropriations from the ore limited General Fund revenues.

During times of economic downturn, the County needs to move forward with its CIP projects, re-bidding those which have gotten stalled and moving forward those that have been approved, but not implemented. Labor costs are more competitive during slower construction times and the investment in needed public infrastructure helps keep dollars in the local economy.

CIP Priorities: (some of these will involve state-federal-private partnerships with County)

? Water storage and system expansion; and upgrade energy efficiency

? Sewage Plant upgrades to upgrade energy efficiency and re-use more waste water and keep reefs clean.

? Road repairs and needed construction including alternative corridors for economical transportation choices like

electric scooters, biking & walking

? Parks and public facilities- repair/upgrade and construct, as parks are more heavily used during slow economic times when families cannot afford to travel and other activities.

As for the General Fund budgeting priorities I see several key areas:

We must meet our essential service needs: Department staff, fire & police protection, and operations costs of the various county utilities and departments. We should be looking for ways to add greater cost efficiency to all these operations, however.

Support vital community services: bus service, MEO and other non-profit and County programs to help seniors, and youth and to provide our most vulnerable citizens with access to food, shelter and other basic needs.

Funding for programs public, private or non-profits who deliver key services for the health, safety, quality of life and well-being of our community, including job retraining and educational opportunities.

Note:
Councilmembers need to keep in mind that the County has various revenue streams, some of which are restricted to specific purposes. Some funding comes from state or federal programs such as the Community Block Grants, that the county has discretion to assign to a variety of needed projects that otherwise would need to be supported by County or state funds. Some staff positions are also funded this way, such as the Coastal Zone Management specialist and the Sea Grant staff working with the County Planning Dept. Budgetary shortfalls can reduce all of these revenue streams, but funds may still be available for at least this budget session.

Many of the CIP budget appropriations, for example, are supported by specific revenues collected for a particular classification of projects (Ie County gas tax fees that are used for road maintenance; park fees that are used to acquire and construct public parks, DWS water service fees that are used to fund DWS operations, including maintenance and expansion of the water delivery system.)

This can make CIP projects more possible, even in times of restricted revenues.