Charter amendments up for second reading
Proposals call for Maui Nui water system, more planning commissions
A proposed charter amendment which proponents hope will allow residents to have more of a say in water issues will be up for second and final reading by the Maui County Council on July 15.
A much-amended proposal to establish a Maui Nui Community Water Systems and an East Maui Regional Community Board passed on first reading by the full council on July 1. If passed on second reading, the charter amendment will be placed on the general election ballot.
At the heart of the matter is the creation of the Maui Nui Community Water Systems, which would have an administrator and staff made up of county employees and would seek a long-term water lease for the Nahiku, Keanae, Honomanu and Huelo license areas from the state. Currently, East Maui Irrigation Co. is applying for a 30-year-water lease for those East Maui areas. Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and Mahi Pono Holdings both have a 50 percent interest in EMI.
The Maui Nui Community Water Systems would consist of “one or more regional community boards, regional administrators and necessary staff to manage water collection and delivery systems acquired or operated by the water systems,” according to the resolution.
The first regional board to be set up would be the East Maui Regional Community Board whose focus would be on the Nahiku, Keanae, Honomanu and Huelo license areas. Other regional boards could also be established.
The resolution adds that the Maui Nui Community Water Systems would have the ability to obtain significant private, state and federal funding not available to private, for-profit entities to manage and upgrade the water delivery systems and to protect local watersheds.
Instead of the mayor picking the head of Maui Nui Community Water Systems, the regional community boards would select the administrator, who would respond to the boards.
Two other proposed charter amendments passed on first reading July 1 and will need a second reading July 15.
One proposal would ask voters if a county policy should be established to promote climate change adaptation, including the implementation of guidelines to allow telework and alternative work schedules for certain county employees.
The other proposal would seek approval to establish planning commissions for all community plan areas on Maui, and dissolve the Maui Planning Commission.
A guide on the charter amendments already passed by the Maui County Charter Commission that will appear on the general election ballot can be found at mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/134167/2022-6-24-Final-Digest or at mauicounty.gov/1791/Charter-Commis
sion.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.