Community input critical for council’s recovery efforts
By Alice L. Lee, Council Chair
The council is committed to working with residents to develop a comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan in response to the August 2023 wildfires.
We are grateful for the verbal and written testimony we’ve received so far and continue to ask for more community input.
I introduced Resolution 23-194, “Relating to Developing a Comprehensive Recovery and Resiliency Plan in Response to the Island of Maui’s Tragic Wildfires of August 2023,” with the intention of gathering information and feedback from Maui residents, experts and disaster-relief organizations and agencies. Gathering testimony is a vital step that will assist the council in enacting the necessary ordinances and resolutions that will support our communities in need.
On Sept. 27, the council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee met at The Westin Maui Resort and Spa in Kāʻanapali to provide a convenient meeting venue for West Maui residents. We were pleased to see a great turnout of more than a thousand residents in an all-day and nearly all-night gathering.
Their passionate, heartfelt words—and simply their very presence—illustrated the importance of bringing the council directly to the Lāhainā area whenever we can.
Despite the lack of available venues, the GREAT committee continues to coordinate more meetings on the comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan to allow as many opportunities for public testimony as possible.
Although testifying in person at a public forum may be intimidating at times, I would like to emphasize its incredible value. Testimony gives the council a better idea of how to serve our community, especially as we all face unprecedented challenges.
Indeed, the resolution states that “residents directly impacted by the wildfires have the most relevant expertise.” And of course we’ve all been “directly impacted,” even in ways that might not seem obvious. As our community continues to recover from the wildfires, we want to ensure we rebuild in a fashion that represents the values of the people of Lāhainā and the County of Maui.
Once we’ve made steady progress on gathering your input, the council can begin working on the legislation needed to put the comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan into action.
While I preside over the council meetings, every other councilmember presides over a standing committee that specializes in particular subject areas, including economic development, social services, housing and public infrastructure. The councilmembers will be able to lead each of their committees in evaluating and recommending legislation in their areas of expertise to move the comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan forward.
While our work to create this long-term plan continues, the council is also doing what it can to support the community now.
We recently approved Ordinance 5562, which lays the foundation for debris removal to occur on properties damaged or destroyed by the wildfires. This ordinance allows for a government program, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that property owners can use at no out-of-pocket cost to have fire debris removed from their property.
It also includes an alternative program that involves property owners hiring their own contractors to conduct the debris removal.
The mayor’s administration has been working to inform the public about the fire-debris-removal process. I encourage members of the public to visit mauirecovers.org to learn more about debris removal and the county’s other recovery efforts.
The council is also looking at a form of real property tax relief for those impacted by the wildfires. I and several of my colleagues have proposed legislation to implement relief, with the same goal but different technical elements.
My hope is for the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee to swiftly consider our proposals and recommend one for action.
Recovery efforts from the wildfires will remain top of mind for the council for the foreseeable future. Your input is crucial.
* Alice L. Lee is the Chair of the Maui County Council. She holds the County Council seat for the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū residency area. “Council’s 3 Minutes” is a column to explain the latest news on county legislative and community matters. Go to mauicounty.us for more information.
