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The Kaiwahine Village affordable rental project in Kihei is pictured in June. The Maui County Council on Friday passed a bill on first reading that would require 201H fast-track projects to be 75 percent affordable, unless the council approves a lower percentage above 50 percent.
Photo courtesy of Moss Construction
A bill that would tighten affordable housing requirements for projects seeking fast-track approval under state law squeaked by with enough votes early Friday evening to pass on first reading before the Maui County Council.
In the 5-4 decision, Council Member Mike Molina, the bill’s author, voted in favor along with Vice-Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Council Members Gabe Johnson, Tamara Paltin and Shane Sinenci. Those voting in opposition were Chairwoman Alice Lee and Council Members Kelly King, Tasha Kama and Yuki Lei Sugimura, who said they wanted to await the outcome of a comprehensive affordable housing plan that’s expected to be d
The Maui News
Every 10 years, a group of residents gather to review the Maui County Charter, the guiding document for local government. This year, the council will nominate nine members of the Charter Commission, while the mayor will nominate two. Here are the nine council nominees:
⢠Grant Chun, current executive director for Hale Mahaolu; former managing director of Maui County from 1999 to 2002; A&B Properties vice president, 2002-17. Nominated by Council Chairwoman Alice Lee (Wailuku).
⢠Keoni Kuoha, interim executive director, Maui AIDS Foundation, February 2019 to May 2019; executive director, Papahana Kuaola, 2016-19; coordinator, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries/NOAA, 2011-14; faculty, Kamehameha Schools Maui, 2007-11. Nominated by Council Vice-Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez (Molokai). Kuoha is from Maui, as there were no applicants from Molokai.
The Maui News
A Maui County Council committee will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the process for selecting the 2021-22 Maui County Charter Commission.
Council Member Mike Molina, chairman of the Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee, explained in a news release that the commission is set up every 10 years to review the Maui County Charter, the guiding document for county government. In November, voters approved a charter amendment that allows the mayor to appoint two and the council to appointment nine of the 11-member commission by March 1. Previously, the mayor had appointed all 11 with council confirmation.