If we could agree that the long-term goal is sustainability then we would need to work backwards to see how we can begin making moves in the short term to move us in that direction. I support curbside recycling and efforts to make recycling easier and more convenient for residents. A social worker, a fire commissioner and a couple of current or former County Council members are in the running to fill two vacant seats in Hawaii's Legislature. We absolutely need to do more to support agriculture not only for food and sustenance; for export of Kaua`i Grown products or Kaua`i made products with Kaua`i Grown ingredients; but, also to make use of, protect & preserve acres of idle lands that are becoming overgrown with invasive species and becoming more and more arid and depleted. There are old cane haul roads that should be evaluated for best potential to create alternative routes. Our Kauai community has much to be proud of and continue to strive for. As a council member, I will engage at all levels within the business community to assure that the relevant issues, concerns, and suggestions are heard and brought to the table for discussion. In council, I do my best to offer these perspectives of balance in our conversations that most often do not make it into the articles of the reporters. Our property tax rates are by far the lowest in the nation, which means that mainland investors find Hawaii an attractive place to park their money and reap the rewards of our appreciating real estate market. I would continue to put pressure on County, State, and Federal Governments to continue fixing our highways and bridges and infrastructure. Batteries and hydraulic fluid will be removed next and work will continue today, according to the Save Honolua Coalition, which is operated by John Carty and Maui County Council Member Tamara. 1050. As Chair Kaneshiro & I did with our extensive Housing Policy update bill and Councilmember Evslin & I are now doing with our EV-ready charging stations in parking lots bill, I will make sure we conduct early outreach to engage with the business community including with the Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce, the Kaua`i Board of Realtors, the Kaua`i Contractors Association, any other potentially affected business organizations and entities; and, any and all self-identified stakeholders. The technology is available and we need to get up to speed with what our options are. Whereas a resort that falls into becoming a distressed property presents significant, even overwhelming, responsibility for the county and community. Questions included, but were not limited . I will focus on issues such as land use, housing, and financial barriers that make local food production cost prohibitive. And by doing so, we can also keep money in our local economy and save residents money. Evolving environmental regulations have eliminated any new location to be an appropriate site for our next landfill. Lihue, HI 96766 . Of the following four areas of the plan. I also want to dive into the things holding approved projects up and work with County departments to understand and address the ways things can be improved and streamlined. I believe as a County Council Member I would be able to pull together those that know the most about this topic in an effort to better understand the immediate farmer needs and blockages that are stifling progress. Here is a direct excerpt (lightly edited for length) from the opening statement I made in May, 2022, on my rationale for increasing the vacation rental rate: I am proposing this increase and allocation for three reasons. In looking at other counties, Maui tax rate for TVRs is actually higher than that of hotels. I have been working closely with our State and Federal counter parts. Lastly, we must increase local demand for local ingredients so local production can be scaled. My preferred solution is to support our Mayor and Administration however I can with 1) the permitting of a new landfill across the highway at Kekaha Mauka, 2) seeking State approval for a vertical expansion of the existing landfill that would extend operations through November 2030, 3) doing extensive outreach and education to get our citizens to play a decisive role in helping us avoid a garbage crisis by changing more habits and diverting more waste; composting, recycling, reusing materials and source reduction, 4) excavating waste from the oldest part of the landfill, separating out recyclables and reburying the waste on top of the landfills newest section; and, 5) creating a construction and demolition reclamation center to dispose of construction and demolition garbage, which makes up the largest portion of the current landfills waste stream. There is a maze of changing regulations that are best served by following a quick timeline to avoid the next limitation. 2) We need to put more money toward affordable housing to leverage private, state, and federal funds. As a Council Member I would be committed to addressing these things. Kauai County Councilmember Ross Kagawa. The County needs to help fill this void by requiring that a certain percentage of parking stalls in new commercial and multi-family construction be EV-ready (meaning that it has the conduit and receptacle in place for an EV-charger, without having to rip up the parking lot in the future), we need to help reimburse property owners for installing EV chargers, and we need to facilitate access to the $16M in Federal EV infrastructure money getting funneled through the State. For this years budget, we have funded most of our long overdue deferred maintenance, we are making significant investments in capital improvement projects and we are replenishing our reserves which was absolutely critical during the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To add on to question 8. While we advocate for healing ourselves, we must also demand healing for our environment. County vehicles should all be battery operated or hybrids by 2035. Not creating the waste is a better strategy than recycling. Reduce, reuse, recycle is a key component. An example of innovative work is the work Mlama Kauai is doing with establishing a Food Hub and a place where farmers can prepare their products to be consumer ready. One of my favorite quotes is, Life is in the follow-up. Ill work closely with our departments and do regular follow-ups to make sure things stay on a timeline. I believe curbside recycling needs to be implemented immediately. 3) Ensure that we are capturing adequate tax revenue from vacant homes and vacation rentals. The various departments have done a rather impressive job at successfully procuring Federal monies. My lifelong experiences as a community organizer for economic and social justice has taught me how to work effectively with many different organizations and people. Serving Kauai these last four years has been the greatest honor of my life and I am incredibly grateful to the voters for giving me this opportunity. Climate change is quite possibly the biggest threat we will be facing for the unforeseeable future. We have implemented a shoreline set back already. Profound events are far more challenging with resort properties. 0 of 16 precincts reporting. What parts to you oppose? what states require consummation of marriage; new milford ct police scanner; reply to opposition to motion to compel california; environmental opportunities and threats in business; We have an opportunity to diversify into growing more of our own food within the farming and ranching Department. I support economic diversification and access to locally produced food by increasing the productivity and profitability of all forms of agriculture. QUESTION #2If elected to the Council, how would you engage with the business community early in the legislative process? And the motion failed both times. I was born and raised in Kapahi and I understand the issues that matter to our islands. QUESTION #13What else would you like to share with the Kauai community? The compound annual growth rate of the passengers incoming between 2018-2023 is 3.2% at a time where I do not think we can cope with increased visitors and many feel we are at capacity. As the owner of Tasting Kauai, the only food tour company providing food tours on every side of the island, our mission is to increase the demand for local ingredients by only featuring local restaurants and chefs that use local ingredients. It also includes working with our Office of Economic Development, as well as State, business and community partners including our eight economic KauaI Economic Recovery Strategy Teams (KERST) to implement recovery strategy recommendations, our Kauai Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) 2021-2023 and our Kauai Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic (CEDS) Plan for 2022-2026. We can not keep asking our environment to give to us sustenance and for us not to give back. Kauai County Council. In the meantime, I will continue to push for and help develop systems of managed parking in our county parks. For example, the nonprofit I lead, Rice Street Business Association, works directly with Zero Waste Kauai and every event that happens in Downtown Lhue diverts waste and appropriately allocates materials towards composting and recycling. Revitalizing the ADC lands on the Westside is a huge part of my plan. During the pandemic we saw planes, cars, and foot traffic come to a halt and with that pause, our environment took a huge breath of fresh air. Kauai County Council can support this vision with adapting zoning ordinances to allow for the needed small, potentially moveable farm worker living units coupled with appropriate wastewater technology. That includes providing direct assistance to businesses & community non-profits such as the the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill. Government services and infrastructure are much cheaper to provide within our existing town cores than spread across our agricultural lands. I was the spokesperson for Honolulu Recovery Systems and Honolulu Disposal who also owns Garden Isle Disposal and Recycling. I do not agree with discussions that occur off-line. Another example is ina Hookupu o Klauea, Waip foundation, and Hui Makainana o Makana and the work they are doing on the north shore of the island. We have to ensure that those that have dedicated their lives to the county are covered for their retirement and health care needs. Keeping all taxpayers in mind when making decisions that uses everyones tax dollar. We need a greater general parking area and to expand the TSA and ticketing areas. With my past and current experience with-in government and working closely with my fellow council members. He also previously served for 8 years on the Kauai County Council and was Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control for the State of Hawaii (2011/2012). Bold action must be taken to better manage tourism to protect the environment and residents quality of life. The plan states that 1 in 8 homes on Kauai is a vacation rental, compared to 1 in 24 homes statewide. However, making a real difference for our islands and our planet, more importantly, requires each of us to make meaningful behavioral changes; the kinds that may take away some of our conveniences and may even cost us a little more of our time and energy. A benefit is an infusion of capital, on island, through their spending. Regenerative tourism management enables our island to be left better than it was found. I am great with budgeting in my personal life and household and know how to live within our means. We could be doing so much more for our island. of Water to ensure water distribution expansion plans line up with plans for increased density and infill development within our town centers, as well as for other housing development in the larger town areas. To do this I will support efforts to expand local food production, processing facilities and infrastructure and work with community organizations to address needs to assist with marketing and distribution of local food while we also work to support current and next generation farmers. Increase communication and understanding between residents and the visitor industry. Over these last two years, I have shown a deep understanding of our budget and how to be fiscally responsible, so your tax dollars are not foolishly spent. I hear theres a big surplus. Outreach efforts are already giving visitors important information upon arrival on how to be a responsible visitor and how to be respectful of our `aina and our people. I believe that the aim of regenerative tourism as outlined in the DMAP, if harnessed properly, can assist with economic diversification and an expansion of eco-tourism, true cultural experiences and more revenue staying on Kauai. Larger properties can benefit with the application of probable upcoming Plantation Camp Zone housing for workers. Housing for our people (and the landfill) is the most needed and hardest challenge in this questionnaire. A thriving agriculture sector includes small diversified farms, neighborhood food production, livestock, loi kalo, and export crops in which Kauai continues to be the Garden Island. Kauai doesnt even need the climate to change to benefit by the Kauai Climate Adaptation Plans the county currently has underway. We have thousands of ADC ranch and farm lands out on the Westside that needs to be revived. Gary L. Hooser (born January 19, 1954) is an American politician who served as a member of the Hawaii State Senate representing Kauai and Niihau from 2002 to 2010. Areas like our land fill operations, work force housing, transitional housing to assist our houseless community, our Kupuna services, our unions and its members are fairly negotiated, the responsibility goes on and on. This is an essential step to assist TVRs to return to a homestead tax class in the event of a sale. QUESTION #11What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kaua`i? The County has our Economic Board that funds these projects through grants and other funding sources. The nurturing of small-scale farms, promoting crop diversity, and encouraging stronger public/private partnerships is very important for agriculture. Maintaining or marginally reducing visitor numbers to a sustainable level (23,000-25,000) will be much harder if our airport is built out to accommodate more arrivals. One part of the plan calls for us to transition to a new regenerative tourism; one that gives back more than it takes. I strongly support renovations and re-routing the pedestrian flow of the airport, but I oppose increasing the rental car capacity and increasing the size of our airport. Please let me know if there are any other questions you have and I look forward to hearing from you soon. To create programs that serve our children also develop new food security industries within our private sector to ensure a more sustainable lifestyle here on Kauai. Kaumakani was officially known as Makaweli meaning "fearful features". Acompanhe-nos: bonsall oaks development Facebook. Thank you. Any additional density on agricultural land (like the constant push to allow ADUs on ag land) increases the value of agricultural land, increases the likelihood of non-farm development of that ag land, and makes it less likely that a farmer can pay off a loan or mortgage on the property. A policy I wish to develop is the ability of a tax class to change in the middle of a budget year. of Water Planners updating the County Water Plan to guide system expansion, improvement, rehabilitation, and rate structures that support growth consistent with housing development plans; and, Making sure our County encourages, steers and incentivizes residential developments in Lihu`e in order to take advantage of that treatment plants significant excess capacity. We cannot achieve economic diversification if the next generation cant afford to live here. Covid policies interrupted the regular attendance from strategic members of these organizations. I agree with the level of the LIH to a minimum. Action items D, focus policies that address over-tourism by managing people while on Kauai and E, encourage low-impact green rides to improve the visitor experience, reduce island traffic, increase small business opportunities, and meet climate action goalsare among the more motivating for me. 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