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HomeMy WebLinkAbout 11/04/2015 Public hearing transcript on BILL#2600 PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 4, 2015 A public hearing of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by Arryl Kaneshiro, Chair, Budget & Finance Committee, on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at 1:39 p.m., at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Historic County Building, Lihu`e, and the presence of the following was noted: Honorable Mason K. Chock Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable Ross Kagawa (present at 1:40 p.m.) Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro Honorable KipuKai Kuali`i Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura Honorable Mel Rapozo The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing on the following: "Bill No. 2600 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5A, SECTION 5A-11A.1, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE BENEFICIAL TAX RATE FOR PROPERTY USED FOR LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE RENTAL," which was passed on first reading and ordered to print by the Council of the County of Kaua`i on October 7, 2015, and published in The Garden Island newspaper on October 14, 2015. (Councilmember Yukimura was noted as not present.) (Councilmember Kagawa was noted as present.) The hearing proceeded as follows: Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any registered speakers? JADE K. FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA, County Clerk: Committee Chair, we have no registered speakers at this time. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Anyone in the audience wishing to testify on this Bill? Tina. TINA SAKAMOTO: Good afternoon. Tina Sakamoto. I am here in support of creating an ordinance that would increase the affordable housing on Kauai. From all accounts and resources, we are in a housing crisis. So, I think this Bill is important. It addresses the affordable housing. Not to speak any less of Section 8 housing, but that is a subsidized housing market. This affordable housing is to help those struggling families that are working, hoping to stay on Kauai, and possibly buy a house. This would increase the probability then to help this group out. PUBLIC HEARING 2 NOVEMBER 4, 2015 BILL NO. 2600 (Councilmember Hooser was noted not present.) (Councilmember Yukimura was noted as present.) Ms. Sakamoto: I see no conflict between the two (2), and I hope you support this Bill. Thank you. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Matt. MATTHEW BERNABE: Matt Bernabe for the record. Like I testified earlier, whenever people can get the help they can help because sadly, we all here do not experience that. I just so happened to have a variety of friends ranging in all classes of life. Some of these people are just like me, and the reality is that the ones that have a house to rent, they will do anything to keep that, right? Then the ones that do not, they have a hard time finding one. If this can help alleviate a portion of that population, that would be great. Do you know what I mean? I support it, obviously. I testified majority of what I wanted to say earlier. Let us move on with the meeting. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Anyone else in the audience wishing to testify on this? Ms. Parker. ALICE PARKER: Hi, Alice Parker for the record. Yes, we need to have any possible incentive for people to have long-term affordable rentals. We desperately need housing, and this looks like a good idea. Thank you. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Glenn. GLENN MICKENS: Glenn Mickens for the record. I completely support Bill No. 2600. Is this not kind of a duplicate of Bill No. 2606, Councilmember Hooser? Well, he cannot answer that question. Anyway, it is basically the same thing that he said. Part of Councilmember Hooser's bill is the same thing. He wants affordable rentals. With the shortage of houses that we have here that people could never buy, we more than ever need affordable rentals. I completely support this Bill. Thank you. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Anyone else in the audience wishing to testify for the first time? KEN TAYLOR: Chair and members of the Council, my name is Ken Taylor. I support the Bill. We certainly need affordable housing, but I am also very concerned that the County should be doing a better job at providing affordable housing projects. For example, Kaua`i Lagoons was approved for nine hundred (900) high-end houses. There were two (2) projects that were put forth as affordable housing at the time that the project was approved. Those projects have now disappeared. I really believe that the more recent one right down the street here, Rice Camp, we did not take advantage of really building the density in there that we should have. I think it is those kinds of things that create problems also for the affordable housing. I also have one (1) question. If I had a big house on an agricultural lot and I subdivided it into two (2) or three (3) or four (4) units illegally, am I entitled to this activity of a beneficial tax rate on the property? I think that is a question that needs to be looked at very carefully because I know there is a number of properties out there that fall into that category. I think if we are going to PUBLIC HEARING 3 NOVEMBER 4, 2015 BILL NO. 2600 have rules and regulations, everybody should conform and not this kind of activity. When you buy into a particular neighborhood, if it is a single-family unit neighborhood, that is what you expect it to be; not all of a sudden vacation rental, bed and breakfast, affordable housing, or anything else. So, it is important that the rules and regulations that the County puts forth are also enforced properly as we go along for the duration. Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify for the first time? Anyone for the second time? There being no further testimony, the public hearing adjourned at 1:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, JADE . FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA County Clerk :aa