WAILUKU - The Maui County Council on Tuesday gave final approval to revisions that would soften the county's "Show Me the Water" ordinance.
The council voted 9-0 for the changes, which would include allowing construction to begin on grading and infrastructure before a water source is found; the measure would not allow work to begin on homes until a water source is established.
Arnold Wong of the Iron Workers' Stabilization Fund said he believed the measure would help more projects get under way, creating jobs for union members who had traveled to the Mainland for work.
"We believe this bill will assist in bringing our members back home," he said.
Becky Collins of Stanford Carr Development urged council members to support changes to "Show Me the Water," as well as to fund new water infrastructure projects so that "someday we can look back on that bill as a piece of history."
Also Tuesday:
* The council voted 9-0 to adopt a resolution supporting the establishment of a "complete streets" policy for Maui. Council Member Don Couch noted that the policy would establish "guidelines" for creating more walkable communities by providing paths for walking and biking.
"Every time we build a road or work on an intersection we need to be aware that young children need to be able to safely cross on their way to school," said testifier Jonathan Starr.
* Council members voted unanimously at first reading to budget $440,000 for a curbside recycling pilot program in Maui Meadows. Couch encouraged participating families to pay attention to their recycling. "Try not to mix inappropriately, and let's show the county that this can be a good project and a good start at curbside recycling," he said.
* The council voted unanimously to reject the appointments of John Noble to the Maui Redevelopment Agency and Warren Watanabe to the Kula Agricultural Park Committee. Community members had previously said Noble was disruptive and negative at public meetings, while Watanabe was disqualified to fill the Maui Farm Bureau's slot on the ag park committee. The bureau's position on the ag park committee is set aside for a Maui Farm Bureau board member. Watanabe is the bureau's executive director, but he is not a board member. Harold Davis was approved for the Real Property Tax Review Board.
* A proposal to budget $5.4 million to purchase a 40,000-square-foot lot in Waikapu was approved unanimously at first reading. The property is currently being leased by the county to provide office and warehouse space for the Maui Fire Department, noted Council Member Joe Pontanilla. "Purchasing the property at this time is more prudent than continuing to pay rent," he said.
* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.
