Looking back on the work of the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee in 2022
As 2022 comes to a close, I reflect on a productive and collaborative year with the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, and I’m thankful for my colleagues’ support of new legislation that will support our community.
Early this year, through legislation
I introduced, the council made it possible to name county parks and facilities after families, rather than just individuals. This ordinance paved the way for Kula Community Center to be renamed von Tempsky Community Center Complex, recognizing a beloved and respected ‘ohana that donated this property to the county to be preserved as a public space for the community’s benefit.
The committee passed legislation amending Section 10.48.040, Maui County Code, to prohibit parking on both sides of Uakea Road, beginning at Hau‘oli Road through the southern end of Uakea Road. The new ordinance addresses ongoing safety and access concerns voiced by the Hana community.
In collaboration with the Department of Public Works, the committee passed legislation to expedite the timely permitting of housing projects by streamlining the review and approval process for acquisitions or conveyances of real property.
The committee also passed legislation to update the county Fire Code and Plumbing Code to incorporate local amendments, differing from the state codes, that are needed to support Maui County’s unique characteristics and policy preferences.
On the committee’s recommendation, the council adopted Resolution 22-207 to accept the dedication of roadway lots for the Dairy Road parcels in Kahului and Resolution 22-208 to accept the dedication of seven parks from Alexander and Baldwin LLC and A&B Properties. The dedicated property includes:
¯ Spreckelsville Beach Right-of-Way Subdivision (Baby Beach).
¯ Ulmer Lime Kiln Subdivision (Baldwin Beach Park).
¯ Mama’s Fish House Subdivision (shoreline east of Mama’s Fish House).
¯ Property at Ha‘iku, Hamakuapoko (Maliko Gulch mauka of Hana Highway).
¯ Property at Pa‘ia, Hamakuapoko (Rainbow Park).
¯ First Hawaiian Bank Subdivision (commercial lot next to Ho‘aloha Park).
¯ Maui Hukilau Hotel Subdivision (shoreline).
Council Member Tamara Paltin proposed legislation on dockless vehicles through the committee and enacted by the council. The ordinance makes it unlawful to park, leave standing or lying, abandon or otherwise place a commercial dockless vehicle on a sidewalk, street, highway or public property; or to operate a dockless vehicle on a sidewalk.
While dockless vehicles provide increased mobility options over short distances, they pose considerable safety concerns. For instance, they can cause tripping hazards, make sidewalks inaccessible to the disabled and create cluttered and unsafe environments for pedestrians.
Through the work of the committee, the council also passed needed legislation to launch the Park Maui program, authorizing a parking ambassador program to assist the county Department of Transportation in enforcing county and state parking and implementing paid parking zones and permit parking zones. Park Maui will launch the parking ambassador program in the spring, with Pilot Phase 1 at Wailea’s Ulua Beach Park, also known as Mokapu Beach Park, and Kihei’s Kamaole Beach Parks, and Pilot Phase 2 at Lahaina town and Wailuku town.
Moving into 2023, my priorities will include:
¯ Supporting county infrastructure projects for affordable-housing projects.
¯ Increasing the maximum size of farm dwellings from 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.
¯ Building tiny homes to address houselessness, especially for veterans.
¯ Continuing the work of the Axis Deer Task Force to protect Maui County’s watersheds, agriculture and food security.
I’d like to thank my fellow council members, Mayor Michael P. Victorino and his administration and my constituents for their ongoing support and work with the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee. I’d also like to welcome Mayor-elect Richard T. Bissen Jr. and his administration and Council Members-elect Nohe U‘u-Hodgins and Tom Cook as they join us in the new term starting on Monday.
Yuki Lei Sugimura is chair of the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee. She holds the council seat for the Upcountry residency area. “Council’s 3 Minutes” is a column to explain the latest news on county legislative matters. Go to mauicounty.us for more information.