Speaker Registration/Testimony - Granicus

From:

CLK Council Info Sent:

Sunday, March 17, 2019 12:12 PM Subject:

Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Speaker Registration/Testimony

Name Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony

Lisa Heitman 650-380-4594 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

1 am writing in favor of establishing fair and reasonable vacation rental standards and in support of Councilwoman Fukunaga's version of Bill 89. Oahu needs vacation rental legislation that puts an end of the last 30 years of vacation rental warfare.

I oppose any bill that requires a homeowner's exemption as that would unfairly restrict the number of rental days available. I oppose any bill that limits the number of rentals in a residential area to 1% of the housing stock. And YOU should be opposed to any bill that cripples Hawaii's vacation economy by limiting the rental options of visitors who are so vital to the state's financial health.

I have owned a house here on Oahu for the last 30 years. My husband and his siblings went to Kailua HS and a have a great attachment to the area. Our children (now grown) have vacationed here every summer of their lives and are VERY attached to both the island and our house here. We want to maintain our connection to Kailua for them and our grandchildren.

We are responsible vacation rental owners and take great pride in providing a quality product for our tenants. We are on good terms with our neighbors who have the phone number of our on-island property manager if there are ever any issues. We employ a property manager ($500/month), a housecleaner ($1200/month) and a gardening service ($325/month) who would lose income if we were

1

forced to stop renting our home. Businesses in Kailua and other parts of the island would suffer without the influx of vacation dollars that my tenants and others bring in to support local businesses.

I am sympathetic to the concerns of full-time residents on the island (although many of them, may I say, must have moved to the island knowing that their neighbors were supplementing their income through vacation rentals and now choose to complain about it!) But there has to be some reasonable compromise between those who want to "keep it Kailua" (again„ may I say THAT ship has sailed!) and those who want to be able to enjoy the beauty of the island and supplement their income at the same time.

In any event, I urge the Council to stop horsing around and make a decision one way or the other. This discussion has been ongoing for our last 30 years of home ownership. Time to make a decision so that everyone can move forward, knowing the rules.

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement

1

2

From: Nelson Lindsay <nlindsay©hawaiisr.com> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 11:08 AM Subject: Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 3/18/2019)

Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 3118/2019) ...

Testimony for Planning Committee Mfg on 3/18/2019

Dear Chair Anderson, Vice Chair Tsuneyoshi, and Members:

I OPPOSE Bill 89. Let's work on enforcement before allowing more vacation rentals in our residential neighborhoods. Housing is needed for locals. And, for those who need the income to make ends meet, renting to locals is an option.

Please protect our housing inventory for the residents of our island. Thank you for your consideration.

Mahalo, Nelson Lindsay

Agree (All public hearing transcripts and testimony are public documents. Therefore, any testimony that is submitted verbally or in writing, electronically or in person, for use in the hearing process is public information.)

i.

From: Joy Higa <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 7:35 AM Subject: Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 3/18/2019)

Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 311812019)

Testimony for Planning Committee Mtg on 3/18/2019




Mahalo, Joy Higa


1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 4:53 AM Subject: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Kris Anne Gustayson Phone 4083910403 Email [email protected] Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council/PH

Council Committee Agenda Item Bill 89 Your position on Oppose the matter Representing Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the No hearing?

Written Testimony


I grew up in Kailua and live on the mainland now. I like to visit my family but have no hotel to stay on the Windward side. If there is no vacation rental options in Kailua or Kaneohe or only the two expensive hotels on the North Shore it will greatly hinder my ability to come visit family. Also, this bill would shut down the essential vacation rental industry, eliminating most of the $1.2 Billion dollars and 7000 jobs it brings to Oahu. It would be a crushing blow for many families, mine included. Please come up with a bill that will help the tourism industry and residents. Please, don't pay attention to the Waikiki lobbies who don't have residents in mind, just their own profits.

1

1

From: Sent: Subject:

Written Testimony

CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:17 PM Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Registration/Testimony

Mario Bettencourt 9706180496 [email protected] 02-18-2019

Council

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Not allowing small business to succeed in Hawaii is detrimental to society as a whole in Hawaii. Short term rentals are a small business, with a large impact on the influx of tourism to the entire state of Hawaii .If protocol, rules and regulations As set by the state, are followed re: taxes, that should constitute legal procedure. Simply because state government is being pressured by the large Hotel corporations is no reason to deny small business owners!! Not unlike the pressure that was put on Uber and Lyft buy the taxi cab companies.

Speaker Name Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms 1 and Agreement

1

From: Christine Otto Zaa <ottozaa©gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:15 PM Subject: Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 3/18/2019)

Testimony: OPPOSE Bill 89 (Planning 3118/2019)

Testimony for Planning Committee Mtg on 3/18/2019




Mahalo, Christine Otto Zaa


1

From: CLK Council Info

Sent:

Friday, March 15, 2019 5:17 PM Subject

Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Mufi Hannemann

Phone

8089230407 Email

[email protected] Meeting Date

03-18-2019 Council/PH Committee

Planning Agenda Item

Bill 89 (2018) Your position on the matter

Support

Representing

Organization Organization

Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Yes Written Testimony Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement

1

From:


Friday, March 15, 2019 6:20 PM Subject:




Written Testimony


Laurel Matsuda 8086401812 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Planning

Bi1l89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose a ban on vacation rentals. I do not believe this is in the best interest of Oahu or the state. Vacation rentals bring tourists to Hawaii, who contribute millions if not billions to the economy and support local businesses and tour operators. They provide alternative places to stay when hotels are near capacity and options for visitors of all budget levels. Please continue to support vacation rentals, especially small operations run by local families. Mahalo.

1

From:


Saturday, March 16, 2019 4:22 PM Subject:




Huong Hoang 1(808) 227 - 7502 [email protected] 03-18-2019 Council Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Written Testimony


I oppose the Bill 89 The cost of living in Hawaii force me to do something so that I am able to remain in the island that I love

1

1

From:






Written Testimony

Eric Miyasato 808-230-5423 [email protected] 03-19-2019

Planning

Bill 89 CD1

Oppose

Self

No

Growing up in Hawaii and choosing to stay in Hawaii has been quite an ordeal, mainly because of housing prices. AirBNB and VRBO has been contributing to this. Investors who pay cash have been buying up properties in neighborhoods and illegally renting them out to visitors via AirBNB, VRBO, and other online sites. When you're bidding on a property, who do you think the seller is going to go with? The person who has to get a loan to pay for the property, or the person who has the cash on-hand? This leaves us hard working locals with very little to work with.

These illegal rentals are introducing too many hardships to our communities. We now have monster homes, which take up all the street parking. We have unrecognizable people coming in and out of our neighborhoods on a daily basis. These vacation rentals are starting to block off right-of-ways so that visitors can have their own private beach. None of this contributes to a better community.

AirBNB is spending a lot of money on facebook clickbait ads with propaganda to try and sway the public opinion. Everything about them is horrible, and this needs to stop.

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and 1 Agreement

From:


Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:23 PM Subject:



Name

SharLyn Foo Phone

8086385950 Email



Council Agenda Item

89 Your position on the matter

Oppose

Representing

Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:


Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:54 AM Subject:




Written Testimony

Bryan Holt 8085911972 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

bill 89

Support

Self

No

Dear Committee Chair Ikaika Anderson and Planning Committee Members, I am writing in favor of the establishment of fair and reasonable regulations for the vacation rental industry. This is why I support Councilwoman Fukanaga's version of Bill 89 I have been generally supportive of bill 89, but the last version included changes that forced me to switch my position in disgust. I was not alone. I saw from the testimony that almost everyone on both sides of the issue opposed it. I think Councilwoman Fukanaga's new version gets the entire conversation back on track I cannot support any bill that does not do 3 basic things: * Allows a limited number of TVUs to be permitted in Residential areas * Requires TVUs to have a Homeowners Exemption to qualify for a permit * Puts an unreasonable limit on permitted TVUs in residential areas. This is why I was so excited to see Carol Fukanaga's version of Bill 89. It reestablishes many of the points from the bill developed by the last Council, that showed such progress. I am still supportive of Council's efforts to find a fair and equitable solution for regulating the vacation rental industry that limits any negative implications for the industry, the $1.2 Billion in direct and indirect taxable revenue it brings and the 7000 jobs it has created here on Oahu. Thank you for considering my testimony and i hope you will think about it as you continue to craft this bill. [ Please write a personal story here. Please talk about at the positive benefits and experiences you and your family have had working in the vacation rental industry.

I

"I have lived in Kaimuki for 18 years, I rent to local families coming from other islands for family functions who all want to stay in the same place and can't afford to stay in hotels or want to be in the Waikiki madness. In addition, other visitors who want to be outside the rat race and get a local experience love our family home. I have had long term renters prior and they have disturbed my neighbors and impact the neighborhood far more than shorter term renters. I want to rent to whom I desire and what impacts me and my neighborhood less. Its not even close, short term rentals are the way to go and I would like to see this continue for all.

Aloha, Byran Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement

1

From:





Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date

Council/PH Committee Agenda Item

Your position on the matter

Representing

Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony

Meagan Kimsel

8083493071

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

Yes

Aloha Planning Committee,

My name is Meagan Kimsel and 1 oppose this bill. I am a Native to this island and so were my ancestors before me. As you already know, Hawaii is a major tourist destination overrun by colonialism in every way. The cost of living in Hawaii is high and it's only rising. My family and I have been forced to play this game in order to survive on our own ancestral lands. As you also know, our public school system has failed us. I'm from Makaha and have been forced to send my children to school outside of our community, outside of our city. Our commute is two hours to school and two, sometimes three hours back to Makaha. This has led to a poor quality of life for my family. With a vacation rental, we are able to subsidize renting a home closer in to town to reduce our commute and my children have a better quality of life and they do better in school. Supporters of this bill want to convince you that there is too many visitors coming in and out of our residential communities. If that's what this is about, let's focus on that and regulating that. However, this is not about that. This is about power, control, and money. We are forced to play this game to survive in a state that is heavily occupied and heavily commercial. Please do support this bill. Mahalo!

Testimony Attachment

Accept Terms and 1 Agreement

1

From:



Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments:

20190315163108_Bi11_89_.pdf


Name

Steven Jones Phone

972.672.4395 Email

[email protected]

Meeting Date



Bill 89 Your position on the matter

Oppose

Representing

Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony Attached file Testimony Attachment

20190315163108_Bill_89_.pdf Accept Terms and Agreement

1

RE: Bill 89 - I Support Fair & Reasonable Regulations

Dear Committee Chair Ikaika Anderson and Planning Committee Members,

I am writing in favor of the establishment of fair and reasonable regulations for the vacation rental industry. This is why I support Councilwoman Fukanaga's version of Bill 89

I have been generally supportive of bill 89, but the last version included changes that forced me to switch my position in disgust. I was not alone. I saw from the testimony that almost everyone on both sides of the issue opposed it. I think Councilwoman Fukanaga's new version gets the entire conversation back on track

I cannot support any bill that does not do 3 basic things:

• Allows a limited number of TVUs to be permitted in Residential areas

• Requires TVUs to have a Homeowners Exemption to qualify for a permit

• Puts an unreasonable limit on permitted TVUs in residential areas.

This is why I was so excited to see Carol Fukanaga's version of Bill 89. It reestablishes many of the points from the bill developed by the last Council, that showed such progress.

I am still supportive of Council's efforts to find a fair and equitable solution for regulating the vacation rental industry that limits any negative implications for the industry, the $1.2 Billion in direct and indirect taxable revenue it brings and the 7000 jobs it has created here on Oahu.

Thank you for considering my testimony and I hope you will think about it as you continue to craft this bill.

I have lived on Oahu for 7.5 years, we run a small vacation rental business and long term rental business. The vacation rental business caters to guests visiting for the first time, repeat clientele and to people who were raised here and come back for family reunions, weddings or to celebrate their family members who have passed, but all of them call Hawaii home. All of our clientele rely on us to provide larger homes so they can be together as a family.

Our company also supplies many people work with an actual living wage so they can afford to live in this beautiful place we all call home. The many industries we help range from housekeepers, window washers, carpet cleaners, appliance repairmen, laundry services, landscapers, handymen, electricians, roofers, plumbers, alarm companies,

solar companies, furniture & bedding companies, mom & pop shops, local restaurants & shops and the list goes on.

My lively hood and the many people I have listed above depend on the vacation rental industry to provide for their families. Our rental homes are in neighborhoods and we have worked very hard to build relationships with our neighbors to be the best neighbors possible. We take really good care of our properties to make sure they represent the owners and the area they are in in the best light possible. Our neighbors have open communication with us so if there is ever an issue they bring it up right away so we can address it. In the 7.5 years I have been in the vacation rental business in Hawaii we have had a handful of minor issues that have been addressed immediately and to the satisfaction of our neighbors.

Mahalo for your time and consideration,

Steven W. Jones, CHM (S) Estate Manager Private Homes Hawaii 972.672.4395 (Mobile) RS-74412 [email protected] http://www.privatehomeshawaii.com

From:






Written Testimony


Kandis McNulty 808-637-2460 kandis@mcengineerconn 03-18-2019 Council Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose any bill which will legitimize the proliferation of mini hotels in our neighborhoods.

1

1

From:





Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Representing


Written Testimony

Debby Hooks deJong

808 554 8798

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Council

bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I have been a primary resident of North Shore Oahu, 2003 and own my own home. During the early part of 2000 my mother's health, who lives in NC, became increasingly worse. To assist, with the care of my mother, I had to resign from my job so I could fly back and forth when needed. To supplement the income loss I began vacation renting a room in the downstairs area of our home. This allowed me income to assist in our household finances and also be able to leave at last moment notice when needed in NC. I rely on and employ local residence to care for our yard and cleaning of our vacation rental. I prefer vacation rental compared to long term so that I can block out our rental when friends and family visit. I greatly appreciate and respect my neighbors. So I have strict regulations that my guest must adhere to-and off street parking for one car. These rules are read by them before they decide to rent. So due to my monitoring and communication with our guest, there has never been complaints from our neighbors. Our island depends greatly on the income that is brought in by military and tourist.The vacation rental industry assist the military families in short term rental while they are looking for homes to buy and rent and also to assist their families to visit them. Many of our guest fall in that bracket and also grandparents visiting their local families. We have many return guest due to the above indicated. Our economy on the island would be greatly hindered financially if the vacation rental industry is not given legal rights and is not allowed to continue. The tourist industry would greatly suffer stores, restaurants:

1

tourist sights. Vacation rental is a desire for many travelers and some would stop coming to our lovely island if they are not allowed to stay in vacation rentals. The hotel industry is not hurt financially by the vacation homes. Their are some travelers that use both while on their visit. I feel that any person that owns their own home and resides in that home as their primary residence should be allowed to obtain a permit to vacation rent. Of course the permit would also require certain requirements to obtain the permit: Have at least one off street parking available, Limit to one bedroom 2-3 person occupancy showing square footage area they have for this purpose, have guest to adhere to house rules that show respect to fellow neighbors, allow only people on property that are on signed contract. Make sure homeowners are paying GE and Transient taxes properly. Homes that are vacation renting that are investment property should have very strict rules of number of guest and have someone living on property to manage. We also have many families that depend on vacation rentals to pay their mortgage payments. I greatly appreciate the time and coming together to make a decision to make vacation rentals permitted. I ask you please do not agree on a ruling to delete vacation rentals from state it would destroy many lives and hurt our economy tremendously. I oppose the bill 89. Please rewrite a bill that will HELP the residence here that love sharing and giving aloha to others visiting. Thank you Mahalo


1

2

From:

CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 3:54 PM

Subject:


20190315155401_SONHawaii_Enforcement_Strategies_2019-11trhd.pdf



Written Testimony


Lawrence Bartley 8082610598 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Planning

bill 89 (2019)

Oppose

Organization Save O'ahu's Neighborhoods

Yes

Oppose all forms of bill 89. We must have proven effective enforcement before losing more neighborhoods, condos, and apartments to short-term rentals.

20190315155401_SONHawaii_Enforcement_Stsategies_2019-11trhd.pdf

1

1

0 expodia group-

March 18, 2019

Honolulu City Council Planning Committee The Honorable Ikaika Anderson, Chair The Honorable Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Vice Chair

RE: OPPOSE Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 Relating to Transient Accommodations (Council Member Anderson Submission)

Dear Chairman Anderson, Vice Chair Tsuneyoshi and distinguished members of the Honolulu City Council Planning Committee:

On behalf of Expedia Group - the globe leading travel technology platform that em-powers travel and tourism throughout Hawai'i - I'd like to thank you for the opportun'ty to share our story and provide insight into how policies like Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM An-derson Submission) could impact the Honolulu's robust travel and tourism ecosystem.

Collectively, Expedia Group brands cover virtually every aspect of researching, plan-ning, and booking travel, from choosing the best airplane seat, to reading personal travel reviews of hotels, to planning what to do in a destination once you arrive. The Ex-pedia Group portfolio serves both leisure and business travelers with disparate needs and budgets—and includes trusted brands like Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Egencia, Trivago, HomeAway, VRBO, and others.

Over the course of two decades, Expedia Group has put the power and thrill of experi-encing all Hawaii has to offer at the fingertips of global travelers, first through their desk-top computers, then phones and eventually even voice powered devices. With more than 750 million monthly visits to some of our most well-known online travel sites, Expedia Group brings a high volume and diverse customer mix to potentially experience the beauty of Hawaii. The rise of online travel agencies has also fostered a revolution for ho-tel, airline and other local travel providers that have come to rely upon Expedia Group's highly diversified travel platform. Through those supply partnerships, we've helped large and small hotels, airlines, tourism authorities and businesses reach a new and growing world of travelers,

One of the new trends in tourism is travelers' increased reliance on alternative accom-modations, or vacation rentals.

Expedia Group takes immense pride in our long-standing commitment to local travel providers, vacation rental homeowners, the small business communities they serve, and the millions of families that have used HomeAway and VRBO to experience Hawaii in a unique and special way.

We believe travelers, communities and governments benefit from a fair mix of all type of accommodations choices—from boutique hotels and vacation rentals to B&Bs and brand hotels.

While we appreciate the City's—and in particular the Council's—efforts to adopt rea-sonable regulation of transient accommodations brokers and hosting platforms, we have significant concerns regarding Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission). We explain those concerns in more detail below, but first it is 'mportant to recognize the benefits that vacation rental industry provides.

• According to the HTA, in 2016 vacation rental visitors spent nearly $1.2 billion on lodging. In addition, it is estimated that they spent over $1.9 billion on food, en-tertainment, and souvenirs. And, HTA estimated that in 2019 visitors would spend about $1.6 billion on lodging and nearly $2.6 billion on other local goods and ser-vices. Taking over $4 billion out of Hawaii's economy would be devastating.

• The growth of vacation rentals in the hospitality ecosystem reflects two important realities: First, travelers are increasingly looking for family and group experiences in whole-home rentals. Second, the availability of those accommodations has become an important criterion for these vacationers. In other words, in some cases travelers rank the type of accommodations they can use ahead of the place they visit.

• Reports have shown that many families today prefer to stay in vacation rentals and would choose to stay in a different destination if no vacation rentals were available. They want to rent a home that has multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, a swimming pool, and a yard for their kids. For that growing segment of the tourist population, a hotel is not a suitable substitute for a vacation rental.

• This would mean over $430 million not spent in Hawaii on lodging and other lo-cal goods and services, causing a loss of over $37 million in TAT and GET. It would also result in lost jobs and potential loss of airlift into Hawaii.

• Even if vacation rental visitors were to switch to traditional resort lodging, there would not be enough hotel rooms to accommodate them. Traditional hotels have been operating at an annual capacity of 85% for the past six years, and it does not appear that this will slow down. This is widely considered to be maxi-mum capacity for a hotel. As the HTA has confirmed, vacation rentals are "grow-ing the pie," not taking market share from hotels.

For the City and County of Honolulu, HomeAway data tells us that:

• 90% of our owners operate 1-3 vacation rental properties,

• On average 66% of all Oahu listings are rented for 90 days or less per year. While the number of total listings fluctuates from year to year, the percentage of listings rented 90 days or less holds steady year over year. Our 2018 year-end estimate is in line with 2017 actual.

• 87% of owners use the services of at least 1 person to assist in operating the rental or provide maintenance services—driving local small business growth.

• 75% of those individuals who provide Service to an owner earn a minimum of 1.20 per hour—supporting local families and communities.

• 87% of our owners offer part-time use of their property, at times when they are not in residence. There is no reason to expect these owners to make their homes available on the long-term rental market.

Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission), will have a devastating effect on the va-cation rental operation in the City and County of Honolulu. In the aggregate, there is very little in the CD which we can support. And there are certain provisions which are particularly onerous.

• While not in the revised versions of Bill 89 submitted by the Mayor to the Honolulu Planning Commission, in decision-making, the Commission recommended the removal of the requirement that a non-hosted vacation rental have the real property home owners tax exemption. Inclusion of this requirement, essentially mandates that only a primary residence (a home occupied by the owner) can be operated as a non-hosted vacation rental.

• The reduction of the cap on the number of licenses from 1% to 0.5%, limit the number of available units outside the permitted zones to approximately 2,000. We did not support the original limit of 1% and any reduction in the limits only serves to further damage the broader tourism industry.

• In its original form, Bill 89 expanded the permitted zones for non-hosted vacation rentals to include A1-3, AMX 1-3 and BMX 1-3. The CD 1 deletes these provisions. Expedia Group acknowledges the concern related to expanding zones to in-clude the Apartment zones and suggest there may be ways to allow non-hosted rentals in Apartment zones with certain restrictions.

• As for AMX and BMX districts, given these zones are already designated as either residential mixed use or business mixed use, we see no rational for excluding non-hosted rentals, a use consistent with the "mixed use" nature of these zoning designations.

Expedia Group is committed to working with the County to maintain a healthy vacation rental industry while not creating an overly burdensome regulatory environment for the broader ecosystem of travel. To that end, Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission) has a well-intended goal but poses serious issues for the industry.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Ander-son Submission) and please reach out with any additional questions.

Mahalo,

Walter Gonzales Manager, Government and Corporate Affairs Expedia Group [email protected]

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:29 PM Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments: 20190315142900_Bi1189_CD1_Fukunaga1Final.pdf


Name Walter Gonzales Phone (512) 505-1615 Email wgonzalesghomeaway.com

Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council/PH Committee Planning Agenda Item Bill 89 CD1, Fukunaga Submission

Your position on the matter Support

Representing Organization Organization Expedia Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony Testimony Attachment 20190315142900_ Bi1189 CD1 FulcunagalFinal.pdf Accept Terms and Agreement

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:26 PM Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments: 20190315142616_Bill89_CD1 Andersoni_Final.pdf


Name Walter Gonzales Phone (512) 505-1615 Email [email protected] Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council/PH Committee Planning Agenda Item Bill 89 CD1, Anderson Submission Your position on the matter Oppose Representing Organization Organization Expedia Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony Testimony Attachment 20190315142616_Bill89_CD1_Andersonl_Final.pdf Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:





Name

Greg Mroz Phone

808-393-5716 Email

MrozHawaii®gmail.com Meeting Date




Oppose

Representing


1

From:






Written Testimony

Chin Lee 8082589881 chinhenggchinheng.com 03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Dear Committee Chair Ikaika Anderson and Planning Committee Members,

I am writing to thank you for tackling the issue of vacation rental regulation. It has been 30 years since there has been any major change to the law, and I admire you taking up this controversial issue and hope you are able to create a set of fair and reasonable regulations that works for everyone. I am writing in favor of the establishment of fair and reasonable regulations for the vacation rental industry. This is why I support Councilwoman Fukanaga's version of Bill 89

Please allow me share a few personal thoughts:

My significant other and I operate a total of three STRs on Oahu, and it has grown to become the main income for my significant other. She gets to stay home and work for our business, and spend the rest of the time taking care of the family. We have found that this create a nice work life balance for us. While one of our STR is in a hotel, that leave two other STRs in a building apartment and could potentially affected by the proposed law. We are also concerned about the growth of our business. My significant other and us spend considerable amount Of time to make sure our guests have the best experience while in Hawaii. This include creating personal guide for the visitor. We crest an experience for them while providing them alternative, otherwise their only option was to stay in a resort hotel in Waikiki.

We would like to provide these personal stories to you so that you can consider them when drafting future regulation.

We have been generally supportive of bill 89, but the last version included changes that forced me to switch my position in disgust. I was not alone. I saw from the testimony that almost everyone on both sides of the issue opposed it. I think Councilwoman Fukanaga's new version gets the entire conversation back on track


* Allows a limited number of TVUs to be permitted in Residential areas

* Requires TVUs to have a Homeowners Exemption to qualify for a permit

* Puts an unreasonable limit on permitted TVUs in residential areas.



Thank you for considering my testimony and i hope you will think about it as you continue to craft this bill.

Thanks, Chin Lee


a

From:





Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date

Council/PH Committee

Agenda Item


Representing


Alia Betts

(951) 295-7193

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Written Testimony


Accept Terms and Agreement

Vacation rentals offer our guests an affordable choice, when the hotels are a) BOOKED and b) high priced.

When we, as hosts pay our taxes and abide by regs, we are enriching the tourist's accommodations choices and making Hawaii more affordable. Not everyone can afford $300-$400 a night!

1

From:






Written Testimony


Jennifer L Molesworth 8084367549 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Planning

BIll 89

Oppose

Self

Yes

I moved to Hawaii 5 years ago to be in my husband's hometown. I was lucky to find employment through a small family owned property management company that has a 30 year history on the island. We have since been able to even offset my husband's income through maintenance work during times of low employment with his company. I have met dozens of hard-working committed housekeepers, painters, appliance technician's, handymen, landscapers, and even chefs and masseuses who depend on our little company for their income, and the income for their respective employees. Without the work generated through our rental business many hard-working local people will lose the means to support themselves and their families.

1

i

From:




20190315144817_Supporting_Bill_89__CD1.pdf


Name

William Page Phone

808-262-6776 Email




Bill 89 CD1 Fukunaga Your position on the matter

Support

Representing

Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Yes Written Testimony Testimony Attachment

20190315144817_Supporting_Bill_89SD1.pdf Accept Terms and Agreement

1

From: William H. Page Regarding: I support Bill 89 CD1 from Councilmember Fukunaga

Mahalo members of the City Council for hearing our testimony on this measure.

This testimony is submitted in support of Bill 89 CD1 as submitted by Councilmember Fukunaga.

I support Bill 89 CUf as presented without exception. I especially appreciate:

E. In Sections 21-5._(b)(1)(iv) and 21-5._(b)(2)(iv), requires a real property tax home exemption for B&Bs only.

This allows TVU outside of resort areas for more than 90 days per year. Mahalo. This will allow local economies to flourish all around the islands.

G. In Section 21-5. (b)(3)(ii), provides for a maximum of four guests over the age of 18 years permitted within the B&B at any one time.

This allows families to enjoy staying at B&B homes.

H. In Section 21-5. (b)(3)(v), provides that the property manager is responsible for responding to complaints or problems at the property.

This should be the first stop in addressing any complains or problems at the property.

J. Adds a new Section 21-5._(b)(7), which provides that the guest registry is subject to inspection u orance of a subpoena by the DPP director in accordance with law, and prohibits the director from disclosing information that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy.

Thank you for adding these practical and needed changes to this bill.

This bill is not an end point in regulation of short-term rentals. It is a beginning that is very promising. I believe that 1-1/2% will prove too small and will not allow this industry to grow. But it is a great place to start.

I encourage all of you to support this measure.

Mahalo, Will Page

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:27 PM Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments: 201903151427022019-03-15_Testimony_Letter_re_BM_No._89.pdf


Name David M. Louie Phone 808-754-4878 Email dmlaitsglaw.com Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council/PH Committee Planning Agenda Item Bill 89 (2018) Your position on the matter Oppose Representing Organization Organization Kobayashi Sugita & Goda Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Yes Written Testimony Testimony Attachment 20190315142702 2019-03-15_Testimony_Letterre_Bill_No._89.pdf Accept Terms and Agreement 1

1

Bert T Kobayashi, Jr.' Kenneth M Nakasone"

Alan M. Coda' Gregory M. Sato'

Jesse W. Schiel.

John R Aube' Craig K. Shlkume

Charles W Gall Lex R StnIrh-

Neal T Gota Joseph A. Stewart'

Clifilord K. HIga Anthony F Stietsugu

Robert K. Ichikawa' David B. Tongg•

Christopher T. Kobayash• Maria Y Wang

Jan M L. Y. Kursima.-

David M. LOU e• 'A Law Corporation

Nicholas R. Monlux

Jonathan S Moore Of Counsel

Bruce A Nakamura' Kenneth Y. Sugita'

Wendell H Fu] -

Jonathan A. Kobayashi

Bun T. i..au•

John F. Lezale

Larry L. Myers'

Jesse 0 Franklin-Murdock

Char as D. Homer

Chelsea C. MaJa

Aaron R. Mun

GabrIele V. Piovenza

Nicholas P. Smith

Brian D Tango

Caycie K G. Wong

KOBAYASHI SLIGITA & GODA, LIP

March 15, 2019

Chair Ikaika Anderson and Members of the Committee on Planning Honolulu, Hale 530 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Re: LETTER ON BEHALF OF AIRBNB PROVIDING TESTIMONY RE: BILL NO. 89 CD1.

Dear Chair Anderson and Members of the Committee on Planning:

We write on behalf of our client, Airbnb, to oppose and provide comments regarding serious legal concerns as to proposed ordinance, Bill Number 89 (2018) CD1 ("Bill 89 GDP). Airbnb provides a marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations and experiences, connecting travelers at any price point in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.

Bill 89 CD1 contains problematic language that will render it invalid, unworkable, and unenforceable. The intended purpose of Bill 89 CD1 is "to better regulate short-term rentals." However, the current proposed language violates two federal laws: (1) the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. § 230 ("Section 230") and (2) the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 121 §§ 2701-2712 ("SCA"). Section 230 and the SCA are two laws which provide vital protections that ensure a free and open internet. Bill 89 CD1 is therefore preempted by these federal laws, and would thus be unenforceable if passed. Furthermore, Bill 89 CD1 violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 7 of the Hawaii Constitution, as well as Hawaii case law, and is therefore invalid.

We will first discuss Section 230, SCA, and the constitutions of Hawaii and the United States before discussing the specific provisions of the Bill 85 CD1 which violate federal and state law and are thus unenforceable.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

999 Bishop Street, Suite 2600, Honolulu, HI 96813 Te': 808.536-5700 I Fax' 808.535-5799 www kaglaw corn I ate ksglaw.com 1636920 1

Chair Ikaika Anderson and Members of the Committee on Planning March 15, 2019 Page 2

Although a municipality may regulate in various areas, it must do so in a manner that does not conflict with federal law. Section 230 is considered the cornerstone of the legal framework that has allowed the internet to thrive, and it "protects websites from liability for material posted on the website by someone else." Doe v. Internet Brands, Inc., No 12-56638, 2016 WL 3067995, at *3 (9th Cir. May 31, 2016). It does so through two key provisions. First, "[n]o provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1). Second, "[n]o liability may be imposed under any State or local law that is inconsistent with this section." Id. at § 230(e)(3). As the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii observed, "so long as a third party willingly provides the essential published content, the interactive service provider receives full immunity regardless of the specific editing or selection procession." Sulla v. Horowitz, No. CIV. 12-00449 SOM, 2012 WL 4758163, at *2 (D. Haw. Oct. 4, 2012) (quoting Carafano v. Metrosplash.com, Inc., 339 F.3d 1119, 1124 (9th Cir. 2003)).

Accordingly, courts across the country have regularly found that Section 230 preempts state laws that attempt to hold websites liable for third-party content. See e.g., Backpage.com, LLC v. McKenna, 881 F.Supp.2d 1262, 1273 (W.D. Wash. 2012). Section 230 also protects websites from being forced to screen or otherwise verify third-party content. See, e.g., Doe v. Friendfinder Network, Inc., 540 F.Supp.2d 288, 295 (D.N.H. 2008) ("§ 230 bars the plaintiff s claims that the defendants acted wrongfully by ... failing to verify that the profile corresponded to the submitter's true identity."); Doe v. MySpace, Inc., 474 F.Supp.2d 843, 850 (W.D. Tex. 2007) (finding that Section 230 barred claims that MySpace was liable for policies relating to age verification); Fair Hous. Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommates.com, LLC, 521 F.3d 1157, 1180 (9th Cir. 2008)("webhosts are immune from liability for ... efforts to verify the truth of third-party statements posted on the website); Prickett v. Info USA, Inc., 561 F.Supp.2d 646, 651 (E.D. Tex. 2006) ("The Plaintiffs are presumably alleging that ... the Defendant is liable for failing to verify the accuracy of the content. Any such claim by the Plaintiffs necessarily treats the Defendant as 'publisher' of the content and is therefore barred by § 230."); Mazur v, eBay Inc., No. CIV 07-3967 MTV, 2008 WL 618998, at *9 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 4, 2008).

The Stored Communications Act

In 1986, Congress enacted the SCA, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 121 §§ 2701-2712, to give persons using internet platforms statutory protection, similar to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, against access by the government to stored electronic private information held by those internet platforms, without due process such as a search warrant. Orin S. Kerr, A User's Guide to the Stored Communications Act, and a Legislator's Guide to Amending It, 72 GEO. WASH. L. REV. 1208, 1209-13 (2004). The SCA limits the government's ability to compel internet platforms to disclose information in their possession about their users, and limits the internet platform's ability to voluntarily disclose information about their users to the government, absent a subpoena, warrant, or court order. The SCA contains both criminal and civil penalties for violations. Numerous courts have held that the SCA applies to internet platforms and websites.

1636920 1

Chair Ilcaika Anderson and Members of the Committee on Planning March 15, 2019 Page 3

See e.g., Brown Jordan Int'l Inc. v. Carmicle, 846 F.3d 1167 (11th Cir. 2017); Crispin v. Christian Audiger, Inc., 717 F.Supp.2d (C.D. Cal. 2010); Campbell v. Facebook, Inc., 315 F.R.D. 250 (N.D. Cal. 2016).

In a recent example, a federal judge restricted the city of Portland from enforcing some of its lodgings tax regulations against HomeAway, a vacation rental website. Homeaway.com, Inc. v. City of Portland, Civ. No. 3:17-cv-00091-PK, (D. OR. Mar. 27, 2011). That case involved regulations by the city of Portland which required HomeAway to provide information to the city — including customer names, listings, and rental addresses, and potentially lengths and prices of stays arranged through its website — without a subpoena or other legal process. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled that significant portions of the regulations would violate the SCA. See http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2017/03/post_588.html.

Bill 89 CD1 Impermissibly Violates Section 230.

A. Numerous Provisions in Bill 89 CD1 Improperly Make Hosting Platforms Responsible for the Content and Veracity of Information Provided by Users.

At the core of Section 230's protections is the idea that hosting platforms cannot be held responsible for the content provided by their users and cannot be required to verify such information. Bill 89 CD1 contains numerous provisions that violate these federal protections by seeking to penalize hosting platforms for the content provided by users and further for not verifying the accuracy of that user-provided content. For example, Bill 89 CD1 makes hosting platforms responsible for the content included in advertisements prepared by users. Proposed Section 7, § 21-5(c)(2)(A) provides:

(A) It is unlawful for any person to advertise or cause the advertisement of a bed and breakfast or transient vacation unit without including in the advertisement:

(1) A current registration number obtained pursuant to this section, or nonconforming use certificate number obtained pursuant to Section 21-4.110-1 or Section 21-4.110-2; or

(2) For bed and breakfast homes or transient vacation united located in the resort district, resort mixed use precinct of the Waikiki special district, and in the A-2 medium density apartment zoning district pursuant to subsection (a), the street address, including, if applicable, any apartment unit number, for that bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit.

1636920 1


§ 21-5(c)(2)(A) makes hosting platforms require users to include certain content in every advertisement or otherwise face a penalty. See Internet Brands, Inc, No 12-56638, 2016 WL 3067995, at *3 (noting that Section 230 "protects websites from liability for material posted on the website by someone else"). In addition to making hosting platforms responsible for the content of the required information in advertisements, these sections further require hosting platforms to ensure that the information provided by their users is correct. See Fair Hous. Council of San Fernando Valley, 521 F.3d at 1180 ("webhosts are immune from liability for ... efforts to verify the truth of third-party statements posted on the website); Prickett, 561 F.Supp.2d at 651 (noting that claims treating hosting platforms "as 'publisher' of the content" is barred by § 230."); Horowitz, No. CIV. 12-00449 SOM, 2012 WL 4758163, at *2 ("so long as a third party willingly provides the essential published content, the interactive service provider receives full immunity"). In short, because § 21-5(c)(2)(A) hold hosting platforms accountable for the content and veracity of information provided by their users, these provisions clearly violate Section 230.

B. Bill 89 CD1 Improperly Imposes Excessive Fines Against Hosting Platforms for User Violations.

Furthermore, Bill 89 CD1 will assess fines (of at least $25,000.00 and up to $50,000.00 a day) against hosting platforms if a prohibited advertisement is posted. Section 21-5(c)(4) provides:

(4) Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not less than $25,000 and not more than $50,000 for each day that the advertisement is on public display beyond seven days from the date a notice of violation is received. Landowners, agents or any other person associated with the property shall be liable for each violation, whether or not they are named in the advertisement.

Because this provision could be applied against them, the penalties contemplated would directly punish hosting platforms for violations contained in its advertisements. As such, it violates Section 230. In addition to the fines based on advertisements, Bill 89 CD1 contemplates issuing civil and criminal penalties against hosting platforms, holding them liable for the conduct of its users. Section 12, § 41-_.3(b) specifically targets hosting platforms and provides:

(b) Administrative enforcement. In lieu of or in addition to enforcement pursuant to subsection (a), if the director determines that a hosting platform is violating any provision of this article, the violator is subject to the administrative enforcement provisions of Section 21-2.150-2; provided that notwithstanding the civil fines specified in Section 21-2.150-2(b)(1)(C) and 21-2.150-2(b)(1)(D),

1636920_7


a violator is subject to a civil fine of not less than $25,000 and not more than $50,000 for each violation, and a civil fine of not less than $25,000 and not more than $50,000 for each day the violation persists.

As such, Bill 89 CD1 gives hosting platforms an unreasonable choice: break federal law and avoid substantial fines or follow federal law and pay substantial fines. It is also worth noting that Bill 89 CD1 seeks to impose criminal penalties against hosting platforms for violations (including those of the users) in this bill, Section 12, § 41-_.3(a) provides:

(a) Criminal prosecution. A hosting platform violating any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to punishment in accordance with HRS Sections 706-640 and 706-663, as amended.

Accordingly, hosting platforms may be punished with criminal penalties if a person or entity who it does business with a hosting platform is not in compliance with each and every provision of Bill 89 CD1. This provision is in violation of federal law to the extent that Bill 89 CD1 is seeking to punish hosting platforms for the violations of its users. -

Furthermore, the proposed fines under Bill 89 CD1 are certainly excessive. See Collins v. S.E.C., 736 F.3d 521, 526 (D.C. Cir. 2013) (noting that penalties violate "the Excessive Fines Clause [of the Eighth Amendment] if it is grossly disproportional to the gravity of the offense"). Civil fines up to $50,000 a day and criminal convictions are grossly disproportionate compared to the money a hosting platform makes on a given transaction. Even if the county could hold hosting platforms liable for the conduct of its users (which it cannot), certainly the fines and penalties contemplated by Bill 89 CD1 are excessive.

Bill 89 CD1 Impermissibly Violates the SCA.

Bill 89 CD1 violates the SCA by requiring hosting platforms to make a number of disclosures to the county without any due process. For example, Section 12, §§ 41-_.2(b) and (c) provide:

(b) Commencing on the fifth day of the month that begins immediately following the effective date of this ordinance, and on the fifth day of every month thereafter, a hosting platform that provides booking services for any bed and breakfast homes or transient vacation units in the city shall provide the department with:

1636920_1

Chair ]kaika Anderson and Members of the Committee on Planning March 15, 2019 Page 6

(1) A signed affidavit verifying that the hosting platform has complied with subsection (a) in the immediately preceding month; and

(2) A record of all listings for bed and breakfast homes and transient vacation units in the city for the immediately preceding month.

(c) For not less than three years following the end of the calendar year in which a hosting platform provides booking services for a bed and breakfast or transient vacation unit in the city, the hosting platform shall maintain, and upon lawful request, provide to the director or the director's authorized agent the following information for each booking service provided by the hosting platform:

(1) Name of the owner, operator, or proprietor that offered the use of a bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit;

(2) The address of the bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit;

(3) The dates for which an occupant procured the use of a bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit using the booking service provided by the hosting platform;

(4) Any applicable nonconforming use certificate number for the bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit; and

(5) The applicable affidavit as required in subsection (b).

As such, Bill 89 CD1 requires hosting platforms like Airbnb to compile and produce reports "upon lawful request" containing confidential information of its users. Unless this requirement includes a subpoena or other form of due process, Bill 89 CD1 requires an internet platform to disclose the platform's users' private information in violation of the SCA. See Homeaway.com, Inc. , Civ. No. 3:17-cv-00091-PK (determining that a city ordinance requiring an internet platform to provide customer names, listings, rental addresses and lengths and prices of stays without a form of due process violates the SCA).

On top of the SCA violations, these disclosures appear to be an attempt by the county to require hosting platforms to provide "a wholesale replica of [their] databases as to" Honolulu users, which also violates the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, section 7 of the Hawaii Constitution. See Airbnb v. City of New York, 2019 WL 91990, at *16;

1636920 1

Very truly o s,

DAVID M. for

KOBAYASHI, SUGITA & GODA, LLP


see also State v. Navas, 81 Hawaii 113, 122, 913 P.2d 39, 48 (1996) (noting that Article I, section 7 of the Hawaii Constitution "provides Hawaii's citizens greater protection against unreasonable searches and seizure than the United States Constitution"). Further, the Fourth Amendment' of the U.S. Constitution protects "[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures[.]"

The right to privacy in both state and federal law protects "[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures[.]" The U.S. Supreme Court has held that "searches conducted outside the judicial process, without prior approval by a judge or magistrate judge are per se unreasonable subject only to a few specifically established well-delineated exceptions." City of Los Angeles, Calif. v. Patel, 135 S.Ct. 2443, 2452 (2015). Here Bill 89 CD I require hosting platforms such as Airbnb to provide private information of their users to the county without due process. Thus, the mandatory disclosures required under Bill 89 CD1 are unenforceable.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the problematic language of Bill 89 CD1 renders it invalid, or at the least, completely unworkable for hosting platforms. We therefore urge that Bill 89 CD I be held. Thank you for your consideration.

Because Article I, Section 7 of the Hawaii State Constitution largely tracks the language of the Fourth Amendment, and because Article I, Section 7 affords even greater protections than the Fourth Amendment, discussions of the Fourth Amendment is also applicable to Article I, Section 7 of the Hawaii State Constitution. Sec State v. Curtis, 139 Hawaii 486, 497, 394 P.3d 716, 727 (2017) ("We have often recognized broader protections li)n the area of searches and seizures under article I, section 7' than our federal counterparts".).

1636920 1

0 oxpodia group-

March 18, 2019

Honolulu City Council Planning Committee The Honorable lkaika Anderson, Chair The Honorable Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Vice Chair

RE: Support for Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 Relating to Transient Accommodations (Council Mem-ber Fukunaga Submission)


On behalf of Expedia Group - the globe leading travel technology platform that em-powers travel and tourism throughout Hawaii - I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to share our story and provide insight into how policies like Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fuku-naga Submission) could positively impact Honolulu's robust travel and tourism ecosys-tem.

Collectively, Expedia Group brands cover virtually every aspect of researching, plan-ning, and booking travel, from choosing the best airplane seat, to reading personal travel reviews of hotels, to planning what to do in a destination once you arrive. The Ex-pedia Group portfolio serves both leisure and business travelers with disparate needs and budgets—and includes trusted brands like Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Egencia, Trivago, HomeAway, VRBO, and others.

Over the course of two decades, Expedia Group has put the power and thrill of experi-encing all Hawai'i has to offer at the fingertips of global travelers, first through their desk-top computers, then phones and eventually even voice powered devices. With more than 750 million monthly visits to some of our most well-known online travel sites, Expedia Group brings a high volume and diverse customer mix to potentially experience the beauty of Hawaii. The rise of online travel agencies has also fostered a revolution for ho-tel, airline and other local travel providers that have come to rely upon Expedia Group's highly diversified travel platform. Through those supply partnerships, we've helped large and small hotels, airlines, tourism authorities and businesses reach a new and growing world of travelers.


Expedia Group takes immense pride in our long-standing commitment to local travel providers, vacation rental homeowners, the small business communities they serve, and the millions of families that have used HomeAway and VRBO to experience Hawaii in a unique and special way. We believe travelers, communities and governments benefit from a fair mix of all type of accommodations choices—from boutique hotels and va-cation rentals to B&Bs and brand hotels.

We very much appreciate the City's—and in particular the Council's—efforts to adopt reasonable regulatory framework for transient accommodations brokers and hosting platforms and we view Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fukunaga Submission) as a step in the right direction. And before getting to the specifics it is important to recognize the bene-fits that vacation rental industry provides.

• According to the HTA, in 2016 vacation rental visitors spent nearly $1.2 billion on lodging. In addition, it is estimated that they spent over $1.9 billion on food, en-tertainment, and souvenirs. And, HTA estimated that in 2019 visitors would spend about $1.6 billion on lodging and nearly $2.6 billion on other local goods and ser-vices. Taking over $4 billion out of Hawaii's economy would be devastating.









• 75% of those individuals who provide service to an owner earn a minimum of $20 per hour—supporting local families and communities.


Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fukunaga Submission), goes a long way toward creating a rea-sonable regulatory framework for Oahu's vacation rental industry. Specifically this pro-posal:

• Removes the requirement that a non-hosted rental have the real property homes owners tax exemption, as recommended by the Honolulu Planning Com-mission.

• Increases the cap on the number of licenses from 1% to 1.5%, which limits the number of available units outside the permitted zones to approximately 6,000.

• Includes TVUs as an allowed use in A1-3, AMX 1-3 and BMX 1-3 zones. Please know that Expedia acknowledges the concern related to expanding zones to include the Residential and Apartment zones and suggest there may be ways to allow non-hosted rentals in Apartment zones with certain restrictions.

Expedia Group is committed to working with the County to maintain a healthy vacation rental industry while not creating an overly burdensome regulatory environment for the • broader travel ecosystem.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fuku-naga Submission) and please reach out with any additional questions.

Mahalo,


From:






Written Testimony


Francine Hagstrom (808)262-6828 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

"Without learning from past mistakes, history is destined to repeat them." In the 1980s then illegal operating transient accommodations were "rewarded"by the Council granting them legal status with the stipulation that NO MORE units would be allowed in residential neighborhoods. In fact the opposite occurred with homes being bought up to be used as transient businesses and an explosive proliferation of these units. I have witnessed the degradation of island lifestyle and the erosion of a once tightly knit community, where one hardly knows their neighbors. Without clear and manageable enforcement of the laws, this illegal activity will continue to flourish & drive out locals who belong here. Please vote NO to Bill 89 until enforcement is guaranteed.


1

From:






Written Testimony


D'Arcy Kerrigan 8083715123 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strenuously oppose this bill to allow vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods. For years the City of Honolulu has ignored the rampant illegal vacation rentals that have proliferated in our residential neighborhoods. This is a disruptive activity to all of our communities. Furthermore, there has been no enforcement, or rather for 6 months last year there was a small group tasked with finding and fining vacation rentals. There were very few fined, even fewer stopped the illegal activity. We need enforcement of the existing rules and regulations to protect our communities. Many of our neighbors from all economic groups have been moving off island. They all have a story to tell and to be sure it usually has to do with non enforcement of regulations or increased taxing for yet another unicorn the city or state has pounced on. Let's pony up as a community and try and make this a great place to live.

I


1

From:


Monday, March 18, 2019 9 21 AM Subject:



Name

Steve Kulaka

Phone

808 263-4532

Email

[email protected]

Meeting Date

03-18-2019


Planning

Agenda Item

bill 89


Oppose

Representing

Self

Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No

Written Testimony

bad for local folks and economy.



1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 9:10 AM Subject: Planning Speaker Registrationfrestmony


Name Michael Czarcinski

Phone 8082826252

Email [email protected]

Meeting Date 03-19-2019

Council/PH Planning Committee Agenda Item 2 Bill 89

Your position on the Support matter

Representing Organization

Organization The Moana Surfrider a Westin Resort and Spa

Do you wish to speak at the No hearing?

• I'm here to urge the council to act now, and to take the steps necessary to regain control of what has become an unchecked, uncontrolled segment of the tourism industry.

• In Bill 89, the council now has sound legislation that would ensure transparency, enforcement, and accountability with respect to regulating online transient vacation rentals.

• Bill 89 is a measure that enables true home-sharing in a way that will benefit local Written Testimony Hawaiians and establishes a sensible framework that will help balance the benefits of

tourism with the needs of local residents.

• As a community, we have yet to successfully address the impact of unchecked TVR's on our island. As a community, we now have an opportunity in the form of Bill 89 to finally solve this serious problem.

• I respectfully urge this committee to pass Bill 89.



1

From:


Monday, March 18, 2019 9:32 AM Subject:



Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date

CounciliPH Committee

Agenda Item


Representing

Organization Do you wish to speak at the

Written Testimony



Nancy Taylor

8082351736

taylorn005ahawaii.mcom

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

1

hearing? No

1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15. 2019 10 46 PM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: captken@hawaii rr corn, Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registrat:onffestmony


Name Ken Middleton

Phone 8082274956



Council/PH Planning Committee

Agenda Item Vacation Rentals

Your position on Comment the matter

Representing Self

Organization

Do you wish to speak at the Yes hearing?

I oppose any bill, such as 89 dealing with the vacation rental industry that isn't fair and reasonable. I do like what Councilwoman Fukanaga has come up with and strongly support a bill with her revisions being enacted.

1 oppose any bill that requires that TVUs have a homeowners exemption. This would limit their availability to rent to 90 days, and with the other restrictions essential shut down all of this type of rental. I am for balance

Written Testimony Currently the bill limits permits to 1% of the housing stock in an area. This is too little and

will leave unused permits in some areas, and way too few in others. We need to raise the limit to a reasonable 3% level and distribute permits first to those who have been paying their GET & TAT taxes with our without a permit.

This bill would shut down the essential vacation rental industry, eliminating most of the $1.2 Billion dollars and 7000 jobs it brings to Oahu. It would be a crushing blow for many families.


267


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization Do you wish to speak Yes at the hearing?

Youngsoo Son

808 798 4004

[email protected] 03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject:

CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 9. 34 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Written Testimony



I strongly oppose Bill 89. Legal Vacation Rental our main source of income, so please allow us to do this business. Rather, focus on and find an illegally operate condominiums or houses.

1

247

From: CLK Counc.: Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:09 PM To: Uehara. Gail Cc: Barroshawaii@hotmail corn: Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Romolo Barros

Phone 8083928330

Email Barroshawaiiahotmai I.com



Agenda Item Bill 89

Your position on Oppose

the matter

Representing Self

Organization


'Aloha I strongly oppose Bill 89. This bill will hurt all Oahu residents. I work 3 jobs to make ends meet and with out this income I'll not be able to pay my bills period . • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found that severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity and 7K

Written Testimony • jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation units will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. Please regulate vacation rental and not bann it . Thank you



22.1


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:21 PM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item Your position on the matter


Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony


mark izbicki

8082767049

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bi1189 Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents.

1

199


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 121 PM Uehara. Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Jay Ka

8087727596 jka2360.:10gmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose Bill 89. It will hurt Hawaii tourism, economy and Hawaii residents. Written Testimony People come in Hawaii and stay in Airbnb or vacational rentals because they are unable to

pay expensive hotel fees. Collect taxes from vacational rentals but not ban..


I

200


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:08 PM Uehara, Gail jka2360©gmail.com; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item




Written Testimony

Jay Ka 8087727596

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose Bill 89, which ban on airbnb, vacational rentals. It will hurt Hawaii tourism, economy and Hawaii residents. Airbnb, vacational Rentals bring more tourists in Hawaii. It will make Hawaii more attractive. Don't ban but collect the tax from the hosts of airbnb's .


Accept Terms and i Agreement

202


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:07 PM Uehara, Gail williamvouk@yahoo com; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

William Ouk

Phone

8086727386

Email

williamvoukgyahoo.com

Meeting Date

03-18-2019


Planning

Agenda Item

Bill 89


Oppose

Representing

Self

Organization

Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No

Written Testimony


Accept Terms and Agreement 1

703


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 1 05 PM Uehara, Gail [email protected]. Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date


Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing

Organization


Written Testimony


DeAnne Buckwalter

9072305713 [email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

As an owner of a Hawaiian vacation rental, I oppose this Bill 89. More and more tourists are choosing to stay in a home environment to enjoy the conveniences such as a kitchen and washer/dryer. Often times it is also more affordable thank hotels, which frees up travel money to spend on local restaurants, local shops and tours. We support as many small businesses as possible when by promoting them to our guests. We have acquaintances that use vacation rental income to supplement their mortgage payments. These are wins for the local economy and for tourists looking to enjoy the islands. Please consider the economic and tourist impact overall and do not pass this bill.

204

1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 1. 01 PM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]: Murayama. Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name f.leanor Himes

Phone 8082649697



Council/PH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item B 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization Do you wish to speak at the No hearing?

Written Testimony



I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

205


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 12 53 PM Uehara, Gail Portiasteve@dreamcaper net, Murayama. Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item

Your position on the matter Representing

Organization

Do you wish to speak at the

No hearing?

Portia Igarashi


03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

Written Testimony



Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.

21:IG


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 12:12 PM Uehara, Gail Demesillo©hotmail.com; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email Meeting Date





Written Testimony

Cecille Demesillo


03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pm a sales associate in a retail business. My business has dramatically drop so does my earning since I solely work for commission only. The high cost of living in Hawaii makes it harder to make ends meet. Airbnb has helped me with making my mortgage payments. I'm asking to please let us tax paying people to host guests in our home. This help us pay our bills and not force to move to the mainland or lose our home. This will create a disaster in the housing market since we will no longer afford to pay our mortgage. We are helping the economy and the visitors of Hawaii to come to our island at a more affordable price. Many guests tells me that if it wasn't for Airbnb they can't come to Ilawaii their dream destination because of high price. Since tourism is the main source of our income in the island please let local people earn some money too. The money earned from local people like us goes back to the community compare to the big hotel (corporation) where they don't spend their money here. I believe that this is now the way of how people travel and make some income. I strongly oppose Bill 89. 1 strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. Thank you for your time.

207

Sincerely, Cecille Demesillo



NS


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 12.02 PM Uehara. Gail [email protected]: Murayama. Gail Y Panning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item



Jason Aston


03-18-2019

Planning

bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I absolutely rely on the income from my vacation rental. If I had to give up the rentals, I would be forced to a) close my home business; b) lose my home and be forced to move (possibly out of state).

Written Testimony

You strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.



209


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:52 AM Uehara, Gail jmszdv@aol,com; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony



JaNell McCullough

435-901-1115 jmszdvTvaol.corn

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Many of us are doing a great, very professional job of renting our condo• we have happy guests and pay a lot in HI taxes. I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. 'Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. 'Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

210


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16. 2019 11:48 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama. Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Organization


Victor L Redding

808-780-0434 2happycoconutsih.gmail.com

03-18-y019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

We strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents.

Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and

Written Testimony make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.

1 feel that severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.


211


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:47 AM Uehara Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gad Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Phone

Email Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony

Hartley Phillips

(808) 640-8472

hamofhawaii:`4zmail.corn

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Aloha! This effort to abolish all vacation rentals is another example of Hawaii governments shooting themselves in the feet. The prime industry here is tourism. Tourists like the most diverse set of lodging choices they can get...from hotels to tents on eco farms. Why try to defeat your primary customers by listening to limited number of special interests and,or disgruntled people. Please limit regulation of lodging providers to safety issues (reasonable code violations) instead of again destroying industries and livelihoods of your constituents. Mahalo!

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and I Agreement

212


CLK Counc Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:42 AM Uehara. Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker RegistrationfTestimony


Name Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Organization


Barbara Engdahl

7077475112 yahoo.com

03-18-19yy

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

AirBNB and other vacation rentals significantly ADD to the earnings of Hawaii, both as a Written Testimony state and for the residents themselves who have another means by which to earn

supplemental income. 1 see it as a win win allowing short term vacation rentals.


1

213

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16. 2019 11 35 AM To: Uehara Gail Cc: evetyn@discoverkauaiproperties corn, Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Evelyn Basnillo

Phone 8086527249

Email evelyn4discoverkauaiproperties.com



Agenda Item "Bill 89"


the matter

Representing Self


Written Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe

Testimony restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.



214


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:20 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected], Murayama. Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Jie Ming Xie

Phone

8082770435

Email

jieming.xiel±_:!yahoo.com

Meeting Date

03-18-2019

Council.) PH Committee

Planning

Agenda Item

Bill 89


Oppose

Representing

Self Organization

Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony

Vacational rental help bring tourism. Testimony Attachment


1

215

From:


Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:18 PM Subject: Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date

Councils PH Committee

Agenda Item



Written Testimony

Amy Anderson

8082834431

mauitoes@gmaiLcom

03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 89

Comment

Self

No

Short term vacation rental

I have lived in Maui for 24 years, I have used vacation rentals as I visit the other islands and it is so much more affordable then a hotel with my family of 6. Without vacation rentals we would not be able to visit the other islands and explore their beauties and support their economies. Hotels and resorts are too expensive to be a travel option for us.

My husband works in the visitor industry in security and he talks to many people that love to come to Hawaii and stay for extended periods of time in a vacation rental. These are domestic and international travelers and they are good people that love our aloha. They will not be able to come if we do not have vacation rentals.

We own our home in Maui and we have worked hard to get the mortgage paid off. I do not think that the government has the right to control what I can do with my property. If I want to have a long term or short term rental on my property, that is my right. Our cottage is reserved for family visiting and it is a real boost to our supplemental income to be able to rent it out when it is vacant. It seems silly to just leave my house there empty. Short term renting allows me to turn my empty house into something that can produce money for the community.

There are a lot of people looking for housing in Oahu and Maui and I understand that there is a shortage on the housing market. I also know that I am very careful who I want to allow to live in my back yard. I have children and property to protect. Many of the people looking for housing are not the caliber of people that I would rent to. What a blessing it is

to be able to choose who can live in my ohana. What if this right would be the next right removed by the government? What if they decided to tell me who I had to rent to? Basically this is what is happening. The regulations are trying to control the demographic that I can rent to - long term. STOP this now. Limit government control of the private citizen. Rental regulation is not needed or wanted. We can govern ourselves and we should not be penalized for exercising our freedom of choice and judgement of what use of our private property benefits us best.

Aloha, Amy Anderson


Accept Terms and i Agreement

2

From:



Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Larry Goulden Phone

916-508-3356 Email


03-18-2019 Council. PI-1 Committee

Zoning Agenda Item


Oppose

Representing

Self Organization

Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No

Written Testimony


Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:






Written Testimony


Patricia Dilworth 808-885-8021 [email protected] 03-18-2019 Zoning Bill 89 Oppose Self

No

This bill not only hurts homeowners, but also hurts so many tourists that search for alternative stays.

1

1

wr


CLK Council Info Friday, March 15, 2019 8:29 PM Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony



Written Testimony

Margaret Taylor 808-351-6160 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I was born and raised in Hawaii. I have raised my 4 children here. I grew up in Lanikai where we have owned a house there since 1964. My mother just recently passed away and we are struggling to keep our family home. Property taxes are over $30,000 per year. My 2 siblings and I have inherited the family home, but we will have to occasionally rent the house to pay for delayed maintenance and the high property taxes. The house is currently listed as a Residential A classification.

I support regulation of TVU's but oppose Bill 89 as written. I think that Ms Fukunaga's version of the bill is much more reasonable, in that it opposes requiring a homeowner's exemption in order to apply for a License. I would like to rent my house once in a 30 day period, not once in a 90 day period. This will enable us to pay our property taxes and keep this house in our family, for generations to enjoy. Please revise this bill so that it is reasonable, fair and allows us to keep our family home. I want to be licensed and regulated, and will pay my share of TAT and GET taxes. THank you for your consideration .

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and / Agreement

i

From:

CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 8:35 PM

Subject:



Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony

Sarah VanSteenkiste

808-600-9025

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Zoning

Vacation rental ban

Oppose

Self

No

I believe there is a viable middle ground to vacation rentals on O'ahu and other islands. Guests need affordable housing options (hotels are very limited on the majority of the island) and home owners have the right to do what they will with their own property. Common sense, consideration for others and rules and guidelines can certainly help relieve some of the current problems and provide solutions without extremes (bans). Think of the time, energy, effort and funds it will require to control this issue. I'm sure there are better places to focus government time, energy and funds.


Accept Terms and I Agreement

1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 4:16 PM Subject: Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Sadler

Phone 8082378808

Email sadler.aw7®gmail.com

Meeting Date 03-16-2019 Council/PH Committee

Zoning

Agenda Item Bill Your position on

Comment the matter

Representing Self

Organization


Written Testimony

I see nothing wrong with went to go help room in my house and rm paying taxes I do however wonder about buying a house and renting the whole thing out to Air BNB OI see nothing wrong with renting a house room in my house and I'm paying taxes I do hell ever wonder about buying a house and renting the whole thing out to Air BNB a and that seems kind a wrong because and then my friends cannot find a house to rent



1

From:

Mark Albert <albertgalitigators.com> Sent:

Sunday. March 17, 2019 10:00 PM Subject:

Fwd CouncrI/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Fyi

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy Tablet

Original message From: [email protected] Date: 3/17/19 9:50 PM (GMT-10:00) To: [email protected] Cc: Mark Albert <[email protected] vchung honolulu.gov, potto 1 @honolulu.gov, [email protected] Subject: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date




Do you wish to speak at the

Written Testimony



Mark Anchor Albert

3234228853

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Council Honolulu Planning Commission

Oppose Self

1

hearing? Yes

From:

CLK Council Info Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2019 11:31 PM

Subject: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Huong Hoang Phone

1(808) 227-7502 Email



Council Agenda Item


Comment

Representing


T.

From: Huong Hoang ‹[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 2:14 PM Subject: Re: Huong Hoang's Testimony for 13W 89

Hi Thank you for the email I oppose the Bill 89 As you know The cost of living in Hawaii force me to do something so that I am able to remain in the Island that I love

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 15, 2019,

Aloha Huong Hoang,

Thank you for your attached Testimony.

Your position on the matter states "comment", however there was no comment written or attached.

If you wanted to include a comment, please resubmit with your comment.

Mahalo,

City & County of Honolulu - City Clerk's Office

- Huong Hoang.pdf5

1

03/16/2019 10:52 808--944-3912

FEDEX OFFICE 2801 PAGE 02

expodin group

March 18, 2019

Honolulu City Council Planning Committee The Honorable lkaika Anderson, Chair The Honorable Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Vice Chair

RE: Support for Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 Relating to Transient Accommodations (Council Mem-ber Fukunaga Submission)


On behalf of Expedla Group - the globe leading travel technology platform that em-powers travel and tourism throughout Hawai'i I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to share our story and provide insight into how policies like Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fuku-naga Submission) could positively impact , Honolulu's robust travel and tourism ecosys-tem.

Collectively, Expedia Group brands cover virtually every aspect of researching, plan-ning, and booking travel, from choosing the best airplane seat, to reading personal travel reviews of hotels, to planning what to do in a destination once you arrive. The Ex-podia Group portfolio serves both leisure and business travelers with disparate needs and budgets—and includes trusted brands like Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Egencla, Trivago, HomeAway, VRBO, and others.

Over the course of two decades, Expedia Group has put the power and thrill of experi-encing all Hawaii' has to offer at the fingertips of global travelers, first through their desk-top computers, then phones and eventually even voice powered devices. With more than 750 million monthly visits to some of our most well-known online travel sites, Expedia Group brings a high volume and diverse customer mix to potentially experience the beauty of Hawaii. The rise of online travel agencies has also fostered a revolution for ho-tel, airline and other local travel providers that have come to rely upon Expedia Group's highly diversified travel platform. Through those supply partnerships, we've helped large and small hotels, airlines, tourism authorities and businesses reach a new and growing world of travelers.


03/16/2019 10:52 808-944-3912


Expedia Group takes immense pride in our long-standing commitment to local travel providers, vacation rental homeowners, the small business communities they serve, and the millions of families that have used HomeAway and VRBO to experience Hawaii in a unique and special way. We believe travelers, communities and governments benefit from a fair mix of all type of accommodations choices—from boutique hotels and va-cation rentals to B&Bs and brand hotels. '

We very much appreciate the City's—and in particular the Council's—efforts to adopt reasonable regulatory framework for transient accommodations brokers and hosting platforms and we view Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fukunaga Submission) as a step in the right direction. And before getting to the specifics it Is important to recognize the bene-fits that vacation rental industry provides.

• Accordina to the HTA, in 2016 vacation rental visitors spent nearly $1.2 billion on lodging. In addition, it is estimated that they spent over $1.9 billion on food, en-tertainment, and souvenirs. And, HTA estimated that in 2019 visitors would spend about $1.6 billion on lodging and nearly $2.6 billion on other local goods and ser-vices. Taking over $4 billion out of Hawaii's economy would be devastating.







03/16/2019 10:52 808-944-3912






Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fukunaga Submission), goes a long way toward creating a rea-sonable regulatory framework for Oahu's vacation rental industry. Specifically this pro-posal:

• Removes the requirement that a non-hosted rental have the real property homes owners tax exemption, as recommended by the Honolulu Planning Corn-mission.

• Increases the cap on the number of licenses from 1% to 1.5%, which limits the number of available units outside the permitted zones to approximately 6,000.

• Includes TV1Js as an allowed use in A1-3, AMX 1-3 and BMX 1-3 zones. Please know that Expedia acknowledges the concern related to expanding zones to include the Residential and Apartment zones and suggest there may be ways to allow non-hosted rentals in Apartment zones with certain restrictions.

Expedia Group is committed to working with the County to maintain a healthy vacation rental industry while not creating an overly burdensome regulatory environment for the broader travel ecosystem.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Fuku-naga Submission) and please reach out with any additional questions.

Mahal°,


03/16/2019 11:04 808--944-3912

FEDEX OFFICE 2801 PAGE 02 •

expectia group

March 18, 2019

Honolulu City Council Planning Committee The Honorable Ikaika Anderson, Chair The Honorable Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Vice Chair

RE: OPPOSE Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 Relating to Transient Accommodations (Council Member Anderson Submission)


On behalf of Expedia Group - the globe leading travel technology platform that em-powers travel and tourism throughout Hawai'l - I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to share our story and provide insight into how policies like Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM An-derson Submission) could impact the Honolulu's robust travel and tourism ecosystem.

Collectively, Expedia Group brands cover virtually every aspect of researching, plan-ning, and booking travel, from choosing the best airplane seat, to reading personal travel reviews of hotels, to planning what to do in a destination once you arrive. The Ex-pedia Group portfolio serves both leisure and business travelers with disparate needs and budgets—and includes trusted brands like Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Egencla, Trivago, HomeAway, VRBO, and others.

Over the course of two decades, Expedia Group has put the power and thrill of experi-encing all Hawaii has to offer at the fingertips of global travelers, first through their desk-top computers, then phones and eventually even voice powered devices. With more than 750 million monthly visits to some of our most well-known online travel sites, Expedia Group brings a high volume and diverse customer mix to potentially experience the beauty of Hawaii. The rise of online travel agencies has also fostered a revolution for ho-tel, airline and other local travel providers that have come to rely upon Expedia Group's highly diversified travel platform. Through those supply partnerships, we've helped large and small hotels, airlines, tourism authorities and businesses reach a new and growing world of travelers.


03/16/2019 11:04 808--944-3912


Expedia Group takes immense pride in our long-standing commitment to local travel providers, vacation rental homeowners, ' he small business communities they serve, and the millions of families that have used HomeAway and VRBO to experience Hawaii in a unique and special way. 11

We believe travelers, communities and Jovernments benefit from a fair mix of all type of accommodations choices—from boutique hotels and vacation rentals to B&Bs and brand hotels.

While we appreciate the City's—and in particular the Council's—efforts to adopt rea-sonable regulation of transient accommodations brokers and hosting platforms, we have significant concerns regarding Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission). We explain those concerns in more detail below, but first it is important to recognize the benefits that vacation rental industry provides.

• According to the 1-ITA, in 2016 vacation rental visitors spent nearly $1.2 billion on lodging. In addition, it is estimated that they spent over $1 .9 billion on food, en-tertainment, and souvenirs. And, HTA estimated that in 2019 visitors would spend about $1.6 billion on lodging and nearly $2.6 billion on other local goods and ser-vices. Taking over $4 billion out of Hawaii's economy would be devastating.

• The growth of vacation rentals in the hospitality ecosystem reflects two Important realities: First, travelers are increasingly looking for family and group experiences in whole-home rentals. Second, the availability of those accommodations has become an important criterion for these vacationers. In other words, in some cases travelers rank the type of accommodations they can use ahead of the place they visit.






03/16/2019 11:04 808-944-3912


• On average 66% of all Oahu listing are rented for 90 days or less per year. While the number of total listings fluctuat s from year to year, the percentage of listings rented 90 days or less holds steady year over year. Our 2018 year-end estimate is in line with 2017 actual.




Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission), will have a devastating effect on the va-cation rental operation in the City and County of Honolulu. In the aggregate, there is very little in the CD which we can support. And there are certain provisions which are particularly onerous.

• While not in the revised versions of Bill 89 submitted by the Mayor to the Honolulu Planning Commission, in decision-making, the Commission recommended the removal of the requirement that a non-hosted vacation rental have the real property home owners tax exemption. inclusion of this requirement, essentially mandates that only a primary residence (a home occupied by the owner) can be operated as a non-hosted vacation rental.

• The reduction of the cap on the number of licenses from 1% to 0.5%, limit the number of available units outside the permitted zones to approximately 2,000. We did not support the original limit of 1% and any reduction in the limits only serves to further damage the broader tourism industry.

• In its original form, Bill 89 expanded the permitted zones for non-hosted vacation rentals to include A1-3, AMX 1-3 and BMX 1-3. The CD 1 deletes these provisions. Expedia Group acknowledges the concern related to expanding zones to in-clude the Apartment zones and suggest there may be ways to allow non-hosted rentals in Apartment zones with certain restrictions.

• As for AMX and BMX districts, given these zones are already designated as either residential mixed use or business mixed use, we see no rational for excluding non-hosted rentals, a use consistent with the "mixed use" nature of these zoning designations.

Expedia Group is committed to working with the County to maintain a healthy vacation rental industry while not creating an overly burdensome regulatory environment for the broader ecosystem of travel. To that end, Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Anderson Submission) has a well-intended goal but poses serious issues for the industry.

03/16/2019 11:64 808--944-3912


Thank you for the opportunity to provideomments on Bill 89 (2018), CD 1 (CM Ander-son Submission) and please reach out Min any additional questions.

Mahal°,

Walter Gonzales Manager, Government and Corporate Affairs Dcpedia Group [email protected]

From:

CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:49 PM

Subject:




Written Testimony

lois crozer 8082268313 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 89

Comment

Self

No

Short-term owner-occupied rentals are a huge plus for our local economy. When the owner lives on the property and follows the rules and building codes, there is no parking problem and no noise, as the owner is there to supervise. The renter has a better experience as well. The cap is quite small for owner-occupied rentals, and I think it should be increased in areas that are high value.


I

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16 2019 4 03 AM To: Uehara Gail Cc: theaugied@gmail corn Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Test many


Name Laurie RL

Phone 970-948-4701

Email theaugiedggmail.com


Council/PH Planning Committee Agenda Item Bill 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization


Written Testimony

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals. It will hurt Oahu residents and will state a precedence and ultimately hurt all state of Hawaii residents down the road. These properties are vital to the tourism industry that sustains the Hawaii economy. Hotels are not, and should not be the only option for visitors. In addition, many small businesses depend on the services that are associated with this economy.

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and

1 Agreement

766

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 9:55 PM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Brian Y Lee

Phone 8082717613

Email blee641A'.gmai.com


Council/PH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item BILL 89

Your position on the Support matter

Representing Self

Organization

Do you wish to No

speak at the hearing? I wouldn't be able to meet my financial obligations without the Airbnb platform. It offers

Written Testimony me the ability to supplement my income so that I can afford to pay my mortgage. I strongly support any effort to keep this vehicle alive.


1

268

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 6:20 PM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Laurel Matsuda

Phone 8086401812




Agenda Item Bi1189

Your position on Oppose the matter

Representing Self

Organization


Written Testimony



I strongly oppose a ban on vacation rentals. I do not believe this is in the best interest of Oahu or the state. Vacation rentals bring tourists to Hawaii, who contribute millions if not billions to the economy and support local businesses and tour operators. They provide alternative places to stay when hotels are near capacity and options for visitors of all budget levels. Please continue to support vacation rentals, especially small operations run by local families. Mahalo.

1


CLK Council Info Friday, March 15, 2019 5 16 PM Uehara. Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Manning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony

Eric Miyasato

808-230-5423 [email protected]

03-19-2019

Planning

Bill 89 CD1

Oppose

Self

No

Growing up in Hawaii and choosing to stay in Hawaii has been quite an ordeal, mainly because of housing prices. AirBNB and VRBO has been contributing to this. Investors who pay cash have been buying up properties in neighborhoods and illegally renting them out to visitors via AirBNB, VRBO, and other online sites. When you're bidding on a property, who do you think the seller is going to go with? The person who has to get a loan to pay for the property, or the person who has the cash on-hand? This leaves us hard working locals with very little to work with.

These illegal rentals are introducing too many hardships to our communities. We now have monster homes, which take up all the street parking. We have unrecognizable people coming in and out of our neighborhoods on a daily basis. These vacation rentals are starting to block off right-of-ways so that visitors can have their own private beach. None of this contributes to a better community.

AirBNB is spending a lot of money on facebook clickbait ads with propaganda to try and sway the public opinion. Everything about them is horrible, and this needs to stop.



271

From:





Name

Jane Andrade Phone

8082273998 Email


03-18-2019

Council(PH Committee

Zoning Agenda Item


Oppose

Representing

Self

Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Yes

Written Testimony

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 7:38 AM Subject: Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name MARTIN HUBERT

Phone 7148830455



Council/PH Zoning

Committee

Agenda Item Opposition Bill 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization


We have faithfully paid both GET and Transient Taxes since we started operating our property as vacation rental and a changing the requirements/zoning would be detrimental to the financial balance.

Vacation rentals are great both for visitors in the decades we came to Hawaii as visitors we always stayed in vacation rentals as we do not like the hotel resort feel. Preventing this in

Written the future will be bad for the local economy as in addition to the substantial taxes we also Testimony pay substantial amounts to the Hawaii residents cleaning before each rental.

We propose a that ALL vacation rentals pay the same taxes we do to keep the playing field leveled, but would highly discourage limiting vacation rentals to resort zones. Especially on the Northshore where there should NOT be more resorts built to persevere the feel we enjoy so much and at the same time all the visiting surfers need places to stay.

Mahalo for your kind consideration.


Accept Terms and I Agreement

From:





Name

John Calhoun Phone

(206) 605-4000 Email



Zoning Agenda Item


Oppose

Representing


From: CLK Council Info Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 5:01 AM Subject: Zoning and Housing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Cheryl Hurst Phone 2533341020 Email Cherylahurst®Q.com Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council. PH Committee Zoning Agenda Item Bill 89 Your position on the matter Oppose Representing Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No Written Testimony Oppose this would hurst tourism Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:





Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Organization


Written Testimony

Ainslie Ports


03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 89

Support

Self

No

Esteemed members of Honolulu City Council!

I would like to voice my full SUPPORT for Councilwoman Fukunaga's draft of bill 89 and a strong OPPOSITION for all other drafts of the same bill.

The original Bill 89 that was recommended by DPP to the Housing commission, which in turn recommended it to the City Council, added B&B and TVUs as permitted uses in Waikiki's Apartment and Resort Mixed Use Zones.

This was fully aligned with Honolulu's Department of Permits and Planning Staff report that said "Waikiki will benefit from the greater diversity of visitor accommodations, and has the infrastructure and amenities to meet the needs of additional visitors".

This seemed like a perfect opportunity to increase city and state tax revenues while removing pressure from explosion of TVUs in other, more residential districts.

However, in most other drafts(including those by Councilmembers Martin, Elefante, Menor, Anderson and Pine), TVUs are either removed from Waikiki's Apartment zone, or handicapped by the Home Exemption requirement limiting operation to 95 days per year, which would essentially ban TVUs in Waikiki's Apartment zone.

Councilwoman Fukunaga's draft returns to the intent of the original bill and allows operation of TVUs and B&Bs in Waikiki's Apartment zone and I believe its the right move because not only is Waikiki a perfect place to capture tourist activities and dollars, it is also

fully equipped to do so with a vast range of tourist-oriented businesses within few hundred feet of any Apartment zone building.

Without a doubt you have a already received a number of testimonies stating the impact on the islands jobs economy if TVUs are banned. I believe lifting restrictions in Waikiki will provide the best of both worlds: keep economic benefit of the tourism industry on the island collect extra tax revenue remove some of the tourism pressure off more residential areas such as North Show & Kailua. I hope there is a way to responsibly regulate B&B and TVUs on the island without destroying them in one district that can actually handle them.

Thank you for your consideration!



7


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 2019 10 08 AM Uehara, Gail dspence5@my hpu edu, Murayama, Gail Y Panning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony

Douglas Spencer

18083127659

dspence5©my.hpu.edu

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I reject the vacation rental ban and strongly oppose Bill 89. This bill will hurt all Oahu residents. As a disabled veteran and full time student, I try to find anyway possible to continue to live on Oahu. However, due to the high cost of living and low wages, I find myself trying to make ends meet. Airbnb has saved hard working families by allowing them to rent out a bedroom in a home that they currently reside in as well. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found that severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity and 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation units will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.



231


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:05 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date Council/PH Committee

Agenda Item


Organization


Written Testimony

Don Hodge

8083523701

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. When I talk to visitors, I hear them say they couldn't afford to come to Honolulu without the vacation rental alternative. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. There has not been a true study, funded by an independent third party, that concludes vacation rentals cause a shortage of housing for island residents. A spare room in someone's house cannot be counted as part of Honolulu's housing inventory, but can help our visitors afford to come and stay and spend money in the economy. These vacation rentals do allow more of our kapuna to afford their monthly expenses. As our population ages and the prices of everything rise each year, extra cash is a real need.



232




Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date





Written Testimony


Judy Bishop

8083554345

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Please please do not allow vacation rentals short term housing or Airbnb or anything remotely similar to exist on O'ahu without significant lints to number of such rentals. Please do not allow such rentals in residential, apartment, or agriculture areas. I live in a residential area which is overrun with short term rentals. This has completely destroyed any sense of a neighborhood or community. It has forced family and friends to leave the islands for better housing. It prevents professional talent recruiters and local employers to find local talent because everyone moves away due to exorbitant housing costs and prevents importing mainland talent for the same reason plus no onevwdnysvyobrsusr s family with strangers everywhere every day! No more can you trust and rely on neighbors as they are all strangers. The noise, traffic, and danger are constant. No one feels safe anymore. Rude strangers appear st our door at all hours asking for varied kinds of help or to borrow food or household items, or fir help reaching the property owner regarding a complaint. It is really too much! The sick, elderly, and shift workers and babies cannot sleep/ they are constantly awakened by arrivals at all hours next door, across the street, people accidentally thinking our house is their rental, etc! It has got to stop NOW. We are ruining our neighborhoods, running off talented workers, and ruining the travel experience for most people who do not find the aloha spirit when they awaken sleeping babies at 5am! Do not let s fee lawbreakers and greedy people ruin hawaii. Stop this before it is too late. Mahalo Judy

233




Name

Phone Email


Agenda Item


Organization


Written Testimony

Coral L Miles

8088260333

coralseaiii;hawaii.rr.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

We live on Kauai and have a vacation rental in our home. My husband built our home and we raised our children here. They are grown and gone and we are now 73 and on SS. We have only been able to keep our home because of our vac. rental. We pay all additional taxes and the severe TAT tax. The visitors we host are mostly young travelers from all over the world and are very unlikely to stay in a hotel. They spend the money they save staying here on the local economy. We strongly oppose this bill.


xis

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:03 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Iliahi Curtis

Phone 808 -965-2361



Council/PH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


Representing Self

Organization


Aloha! My husband and own and rent out a vacation rental on the Big Island of Hawaii. We also come to Oahu for many reasons for medical and visiting Ohana. Many times, there is no

Written place stay and resorts and hotels are too expensive to for us locals. We stay in STVR's as Testimony they offer Military and Kamaina rates and are always cheaper! Please do not take this away

as it would it hurt many residents in Oahu and also others residents in other islands that rely on staying in STVR's. Mahalo nui loa.



1

236


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 10.03 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing


Natalie Spencer

8084976808

lamdaisydogrif:gmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I urge the committee to reject the vacation rental ban and strongly oppose Bill 89. This bill will hurt all Oahu residents.

Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found that severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.213 in economic activity and 7K

Written Testimony jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.

Severely limiting transient vacation units will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.



237


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 9.48 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected], Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date





Martin Lindsay

808-793-2989

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

As a Hawaiian property owner, I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals because it will hurt all Oahu residents and will ultimately negatively impact tourism on all the islands. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the Oahu economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, over 7,000 jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

Written Testimony Availability of accommodations goes hand in hand with tourism and tourism is vital to the local economy. Unnecessarily restricting accommodations means that the average resident will ultimately be the one who will feel the negative impact if Bill 89 passes.

Please be creative in drafting new legislation and enforcing current ones around the areas of GET & TAT to encourage compliance, but "throwing the baby out with the bath water" is the worng answer.

Thank you for taking the time to listen and consider.

Martin Lindsay


238


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16, 2019 9;47 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayamai Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony



James Gilroy

8087577577 mba rocketahoo.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

The AirBNB market allows tens of thousands of tourists to the islands who would normally not be able to afford it. We pay honest taxes on this income and it helps to provide jobs and prosperity. Please do not allow the voice of the few hotel and resort owners to out-weigh the needs of the many on Oahu.

240


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 9 44 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]: Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email Meeting Date





Written Testimony



CHITO GEBHART 9492912117 [email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

• I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

241


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16, 2019 9:41 AM Uehara, Gail vacations500@aincom Murayama, Gail y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item




Written Testimony

Gloria

8082957556

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, as the bill would hurt all Oahu residents. These types of alternative accommodations are vital to our local economy and is a preferred way of vacationing/accommodations for a fast growing global population who prefer the short term rental experience over traditional hotels. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7000(?) jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors since Oahu hotels operate at near capacity. Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead it badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on these visitors.

More devastating impacts for many long time Oahu residents who depend on the revenue to offset high mortgages would mean residents being forced to sell their homes and even could result in a spike in foreclosures on homes, setting off a damaging ripple effect in our economy that many already struggle with, in order to meet basic needs.

For many years, we longed to buy a home instead of losing everything to rent. Finally, we found a property with a set up where we could rent out a room, and we were able to buy the property. We have many medical bills that insurance does not cover - I have been dealing with an aggressive cancer off and on for 7+ years. Conventional treatments have failed, and insurance doesn't cover the treatments that are actually working for me. So we NEED this hard earned revenue (which in the end is not a large amount, but it really helps us). From the beginning, we have paid all the GET and TAT, and we use an accounting firm to make sure all revenue is reported properly and taxes are paid where they are due. Our arrangement has

242

not caused any negative impact to our community, as we provide a parking space inside our garage, have strict requirements that allow only a maximum of 2 guests, require our guests to agree to detailed, strict house rules (including quiet hours, no smoking, no drugs, etc) and we remind them of those rules multiple times.

It would be so difficult if this revenue source was taken away because of being unable to meet requirement(s) within this bill that are completely out of our control. Please don't create such brutal, increased financial burdens for our already financially-burdened people.

Please consider our testimony, as there are countless hosts in very similar situations, who love and respect our island and culture and take great care of our communities.



243


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16, 2019 9:36 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Phone

Email


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Candace Bryant

8082627949

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Written Testimony



I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals. Limiting transient vacation rental will not help Hawaii's housing problems. Travelers appreciate having many ways to stay in Hawaii. The local economy, especially restaurants and businesses catering to vacationers, will suffer a loss of revenue and possibly losing their business. Homeowners should have the ultimate say in how their homes are used. Limiting out of state owners and charging more taxes should be applied to non local owners or non residents. Living in a community with no hotels makes it impossible for the average guest to enjoy these areas.

1

244




Name

Phone

Email


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony



Chris Brashear

7146154369

chriswbrashear®gmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

248


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:26 AM Uehara, Gail ron@wIgnelcom; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Representing

Organization


Ron Glogovsky 8084919100

ronraiwIgnet.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bil189

Oppose

Self

No

Written Testimony



strongly oppose this Bill as it will hurt all a wahoo and Neighbor islands income jobs and revenue. Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.

Hilton grand vacation's just bought 2 to 3 new properties and are removing them from the hotel rental pool and turning them into high-priced timeshare accommodations on OAHU. On big Island the Westin has removed 1/2 of their hotel rooms and turning them into fee simple accommodations starting at $1.6 million for a studio, On big Island to mana Lani resort is now going to be charging well over $1000 per night for accommodations this is going to be in on sustainable price point for many people wanting to come and visit and spend money here on this island and OAHU. This Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

249


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16. 2019 9 21 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected], Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item



Written Testimony

James Jower

8083827080

jamescjower a yahoo.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

• To reject the vacation rental ban and strongly oppose Bill 89. This bill will hurt all Oahu residents. Airbnb and hosts bring in SO many people into the state of Hawaii. Limiting this could really affect local spending! Why would you want to change this? We want the HI economy to be healthy. This would be a step against this... • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found that severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity and 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation units will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.



250


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 9 11 AM Uehara, Gail Brianh59@gmail corn. Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Representing


Written Testimony



Brian Hickman

4087121547

Brianh59((fzmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity.

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:09 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: Jalaire,[email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Jalaire Hickman

Phone 8087659988




Agenda Item Bill 89

Your position on the Oppose

matter Representing Self

Organization

Do you wish to speak No at the hearing?

Written Testimony



Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors

1

Planning

252


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16. 2019 9.09 AM Uehara Gail [email protected], Murayama, GaIL Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date

Council PH Committee

Agenda Item


Representing

Organization Do you wish to speak at the

No hearing?

Paul Fruhauf

408-599-1301 paulfruhaufhotmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and

Written Testimony make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.



253


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16, 2019 9:08 AM Uehara, joshlongbottom@gmaitcom; Murayama, Gad Y Panning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Phone

Email Meeting Date

Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing


Joshua Longbottom 8083513900

joshlongbottomlipgmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Written Testimony


Limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors

1

251


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16 2019 9:08 AM Uehara. Gail wendy [email protected]: Murayama. Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Wendy St.John

Phone

8086399710

Email

wendy.stiohry?ijhotmail.corn

Meeting Date

03-16-2019


Planning

Agenda Item

Bill 89


Oppose

Representing

Self

Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? No

Written Testimony



I'm oppose restrictions on Airbnb's I'm in a legal vacation rental zone. I make my income by renting and pay my hotel accommodations taxes

255


CLK Council Info Saturday_ March 16, 2019 9_07 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Marcella Nowack

8083515911

lakefrontA.hawaiisr.com

03-18-2019

Planning

bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I oppose the bill. I honestly would not be able to keep my house or pay my mortgage without the income I receive from having a rental. I collect and pay all my taxes an report the income. I live in the house and only rent out a small portion. I have parking for my guests. I do no disturb my neighbors and keep my property looking nice.

Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony



256


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 8 55 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing


Written Testimony

Brian Lecompte 2508378525

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

We are in favour of legitimizing Short Term Rentals, but are opposed to the way this bill is written. The first step should be to allow all Vacation Rental Properties to Register and Pay the Fee, and carry on business (especially if they are already registered to Pay the GET & TAT) which shows these Hosts are honest. You could have a requirement to obtaining the Short Term Rental Permit "Enter your GET & TAT Registration Number". We are opposed to the restriction on where these Short Term Rentals can be located, and a restriction on the amount of Short Term Rentals. The Government needs to legitimize Short Term Rentals, and that is all. Today's Tourist Industry is dependant on short term rentals. Restaurants, Shopping, Tours, and the entire industry has been growing with the growth of Short Term Rentals. If Bill 89 is approved the way it is written it will be devastating to many businesses in the State ofllawaii.



259


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 8 49 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected], Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony

Jill M Paulin

9493002000

jillpaulinrc-z4mail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Many of us are concerned about the issue of short-term rentals. Many residents and businesses on the North Shore depend deeply on the income from visitors to this part of the island. With a lack of hotel accommodation, it may turn into a ghost town if all rentals are shut down. I believe in balance and think regulation is required to control and manage this important part of our island's economy. I live on a street where the majority rent a portion of their home to help out with the mortgage. The visitors are courteous and appreciative for the opportunity to stay in a quiet, safe area. We all have 'rules' that limit occupants, noise, parking issues and the overall sanctity of our neighborhood. It works! Limiting the North Shore area to 1 or 1.5% Short-term rentals will pit neighbors against each other. Why should we just favor a small few?

What about requiring someone on-site that will make sure parking, noise and other rules are followed. This would allow places like Kuilima Estates and Haleiwa Surf to continue to accommodate short-term visitors, as well as "B and B's" where someone lives on-site. I would bet these types of arrangements are not causing the complaints at this time. By requiring that all have permits, it would bring in even more needed income. It would also stop some short-term rentals for people renting that do not own the home or do not have someone living on-site (like large, stand-alone homes). This would eliminate most complaint issues and provide more long term rentals. Thank you for your time.


250

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 7:12 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected] Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Dr. Chase Spangler & Punahele Sabagala

Phone (808) 352-0661

Email drchaesriCrigmail.com


CouneillPH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization


Aloha, We strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. Please consider alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at

Written Testimony near capacity. Please note that severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. Thank you for your mindfulness in this matter, Dr. Chase Spangler & Punahele Sabagala



267

From: CLK Counci! Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 6:12 AM To: Uehara. Gail Cc: EALLENROGERS@AOL COM; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registrat.on/Testimony


Name ALLEN ROGERS

Phone 2817317924

Email EALLENROGERS a AOL.C'OM


Council/'PH Planning Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


Representing Self

Organization


Written Testimony



Being an Airbnb owner on Maui, we find many visitors to island that cannot afford the large hotels and resorts. They would not come to the island and therefore not support the many restaurants and other island services that accomodate these vistors. Oahu would suffer in much the same if this law is passed. Alternative accommodations are vital the local Oahu economy. All Oahu residents espcially the lower income would suffer if this law is passed.

1

263

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 5 30 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: kevin.william.kocher@gmail corn; Murayama. Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Kevin Kocher

Phone 7186085819




Agenda Item Bill 89


the matter Representing Self

Organization Do you wish to speak at the No hearing'?

Written Testimony

I am writing in favor of the establishment of fair and reasonable regulations for the vacation rental industry. This is why I support Councilwoman Fukanaga's version of Bill 89

I have been generally supportive of bill 89, but the last version included changes that forced me to switch my position in disgust. I was not alone. I saw from the testimony that almost everyone on both sides of the issue opposed it. I think Councilwoman Fukanaga's new version gets the entire conversation back on track


* Allows a limited number of TVUs to be permitted in Residential areas

* Requires TVUs to have a I-lomeowners Exemption to qualify for a permit

* Puts an unreasonable limit on permitted TVUs in residential areas.


264


Thank you for considering my testimony and i hope you will think about it as you continue to craft this bill.

I have been renting out my place in Makaha which is my main source of income and is also the only income of my housecleaner. I have been employing other locals throughout the year for Renovations etc.

Aloha,

Kevin Kocher


1

265

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 9:29 PM Subject: Legislative Matters Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Doug Miller

Phone 8083211065



Council/PH LegislativeMatters

Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization


Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my strong feelings on Bill 089. I am 20 year Oahu resident, father of two, and self employed. I found it important emough to come voice my opinion. I strongly oppose BM 89 as written, I strongly support the ability to operate short term rental outside resort zones, and i oppose the need to optain home exemption for the ability to operate. Why?

The life of rural Oahu depends on this.

From 2007 until 2013, I worked as a school based behavioral specialist in Central district, just as did Counsel/ chairperson Heid, who left the job to work on Ernie martin Campaign. When faced with furlough, i was also faced with foreclosure on a home my family had

Written recently purchased, a small home i Kaaawa. While searching for a more stable job, short Testimony term home rentals as an option for income, This is the reason we are still living in Hawaii. It

has also encouraged my entreprenuerial spirit. I have grown as a person and this helps the community as a whole. I respect with my own neighbors, and spend money in my own community. I have hired local contractors and have brought business to many local retail and restaurant establishments from Kaneohe to Haleiwa. This economic lifeline has allowed my kids to keep attending Kahuku High School full time. I understand that the intent of Bill 89 is to reign in rogue short term rental operations. But bad hosts are naturally eliminated via bad reviews, complains, and competition from hosts who LOVE what they do, to bring visitors the true Hawaii, outside of the resort areas. does the job in and in itself to shut down these bad hosts. 3 out of 5 stars simultaneously, and a host is banned. Each client that i host spends about $300 a day on dining, entertainment, surf lessons, with local businesses. right here in District 2. Please, do not

sever the NorthEast Shore's only thriving industry, which is the tourism, and vacation rental industry. I really need your support,. Please allow an economic lifeline to continue to help local families support themselves here in this unique part of Oahu. Sincerely, Douglas Miller, MEd



2

State House of Representatives Hearing on Bill 89

March 25, 2019

Aloha Chair and Committee Members,

My name is Martine Aceves-Foster. Thank you for allowing me to speak.

I'm a homeowner and a host of a bed and breakfast home. As a host, I am fully compliant with

all state and federal tax laws. I do not hold a non-conforming use permit because the means to

obtain one do not exist.

My Views on Bill 89 I think Bill 89 is an improvement on recent drafts, but I oppose Bill 89. I'll briefly state a few

points on which I agree and disagree:

First, points I agree with:

• I find the registration fees reasonable, and

• I am relieved to see that an increase in property taxes for small-time operators of bed

and breakfast homes is not included in this bill. I am ultimately counting on my job as a

host to supplement my very modest pension.

Secondly, the points I disagree with are as follows:

• In this bill (see page 2, paragraph 1), bed and breakfast homes and TVUs in residential areas —together--are limited to "no more than 1% of the number of residences in each

residential area. My opinion is that there should be a separate percentage for TVUs and

a separate designated percentage for bed and breakfast homes in order to prevent

unintended imbalance.

• Also, the limit of "no more than 1%" is vague. The law written in this way could easily be

interpreted to mean somewhere between 01% to 1. If more stringent limits are applied,

that will hurt individuals and families who rely on the income they earn from short term

rentals and, in the same way, many local businesses, employees of short-term rentals

and local businesses and, ultimately, Oahu's economy will be seriously harmed.

• Within the limits of .01% and 1%, I believe that using the lottery to select Oahu's

operators of TVUs and bed and breakfast homes is a really bad idea. To randomly select

Oahu's Ambassadors of Aloha without regard to prior quality of service and compliance

with tax laws leaves the City and County of Honolulu open to the possibility of many

more problems and complaints and truly does a disservice to those residents who have

acted honorably and with aloha.

Conclusion One minute is very short, so I hope I haven't overstayed my welcome. Thank you for taking the

time to listen to my testimony. While I see some good in this bill, please, oppose Bill 89. Let's

get short-term rental legislation right before passing a bill. The wrong bill will hurt many. The

right bill will benefit our community for a long time to come. Thank you & Aloha.

From:

Mark Albert ,[email protected]> Sent:


Fwd: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Fri

Sent from my Verizon . Samsung Galaxy Tablet

--- Original message --- From: [email protected] Date: 3/17/19 9:50 PM (GMT-10:00) To: [email protected] Cc: Mark Albert <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Subject: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Speaker Registration/Testimony Name

Mark Anchor Albert Phone

3234228853 Email



Council Agenda Item

Honolulu Planning Commission Your position on the matter

Oppose

Representing

Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Yes Written Testimony Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:

Stacy Sultana <[email protected]> Sent:


Re: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony

Our Ohana depend on our rental! Grandma CANNOT live on Social security alone! Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. Our house cleaners and gardeners also depend on that extra income for their families!

On Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 9:50 AM <[email protected]> wrote:



Written Testimony

Stacy Sultana (808)564-0232 smsultana68aornail.com 03-18-2019

Council

Bill 98, 89

Oppose

Self

Yes

Our Ohana depend on our rental! Grandma CANNOT live on Social security alone! Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors. Our Ohana depend on our rental! Grandma CANNOT live on Social security alone!


Be well, Stacy and Diana

1

From:





Name Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item

Diana Sultana (808) 722-4782 [email protected] 03-18-2019 Council Bill 89

Your position on the matter Oppose Representing Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony


Dear Oahu City Council, I cannot live on Social Secuirty income alone. We need our rental to live and feed our family! Our house cleaners and gardeners also depend on that extra income for their families!

1.

Yes

1

From: CLK Council Into Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 11.10 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: rehagstrom@aol corn: Murayama. Gatti Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Richard Hagstrom

Phone +8085510770



Council/PH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


the matter

Representing Self


Although Bill 89 looks like it will control TVUs and B&Bs, it will no only make the Written illegals legal, it will not decrease the number of illegal units, because the DPP still doesn't Testimony have the funding or tools to enforce either the new ones or others who thumb their nose at

"rules". Please OPPOSE Bill 89 and PASS Bill 85.


216




Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony


Candis Thomas

303-517-3404

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

Yes

Aloha. I am a resident of Lanikai for 12 years and I oppose Bill 89, banning vacation rentals on Oahu. A ban on vacation rentals will devastate the local economy which depends heavily upon tourism. The vacation rental industry has changed the way people travel over the past 10 years. Many travelers no longer use hotels as they've come to enjoy the family environment of a home with home cooked meals and more relaxing family time. If homes are not an option they travels will choose a different destination than Hawaii. I personally used to travel to Boulder, CO 3 times a year for 1 week of shopping, eating at local restaurants and attending local performances. Since they banned vacation rentals 4 years ago I have stopped traveling to Boulder. I have a second home in Lake Tahoe and they recently passed a similar ban on vacation rentals to deal with the housing shortage. Now there is an even greater housing shortage as hundreds of homeowners were forced to sell their second homes when unable to offset costs by short term renting. Now every other house on my street is for sale, flooding the real estate market and driving median house prices down. Additionally there is a shortage of vacation rentals so tourists are not coming to Lake Tahoe. Four local restaurants and 2 grocery stores have gone out of business in the past 6 months do to a major decline in tourists. Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter. Sincerely Candis Thomas

217


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16. 2019 1 1 04 AM Uehara. Gail [email protected], Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing


Written Testimony

Penny Layton

(415) 218-6147

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

We brought our house out of foreclosure and evicted the squatters and addicts. We spent a great deal of money on a remodel in anticipation of living in part of the house and renting another part with short term rentals. We will probably end up in foreclosure again if we are not able to do vacation rentals. The ice-heads and others will be able to once again invade the neighborhood.



219


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16. 2019 11:02 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]: Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date





Written Testimony

Kevin Davis 4153505054

Kevinfeesfurbanre.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

We brought our house out of foreclosure and evicted the squatters and addicts. We spent a great deal of money on a remodel in anticipation of living in part of the house and renting another part with short term rentals. We will probably end up in foreclosure again if we are not able to do vacation rentals. The ice-heads and others will be able to once again invade the neighborhood.



220

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday March 16, 2019 10 41 AM To: Uehara. Gail Cc: KAYBURGOYNE@GMAILCOM: Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker RegistrationaestEmony


Name Kay Burgoyne

Phone (415)741-8171

Email KAYBURGOYNE@GMAILCOM



Agenda Item 89


the matter

Representing Self

Organization


I have lived in Haleiwa for 19 years. I am a preschool/kindergarten teacher, one of the lowest paid professional. I found myself single and with the high cost of flood insurance, taxes and mortgage, 1 would have lost my home if not being able to share it with guests from

Written all over the world. Airbnb has saved me. Please allow us to continue to share what we have Testimony with others.

I am opposed to out of state investors buying up property to turn into vacation rentals. 1 do believe that if one lives on the property and shares their property with tourist to give them a true Hawaiian experience that this should be allowed.



1

223

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16. 2019 10:35 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Anthony Manzano

Phone 949-355-7032



Council/PH Committee Planning

Agenda Item Bill 89


matter

Representing Self

Organization

Do you wish to speak at No

the hearing?

Written Testimony


Hotels and Motels are too expensive to stay 30 days or longer. I respectfully request government maintain access to vacation rentals for 30 days or longer. Mahalo

1

224

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday. March 16, 2019 10:30 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Scott Stoltz

Phone 3037468806

Email Sto137Aaol.com


Council/PH Planning

Committee

Agenda Item Bill 89


matter

Representing Self

Organization

Do you wish to No

speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony


I have been living in Hawaii for over 25 years. I have seen this vacation rental phenomenon vastly help the local economy and improve the lives of individuals connected to the industry. I strongly urge the council to vote against this bill!

1

225


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:29 AM Uehara. Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone Email

Meeting Date



Organization


Written Testimony



No

The vast economical support that our bee keeping/ honey production business exists on is from the vacation renters throughout the State. Please do not let the minority special interest groups impact the economy of Hawaii.

1

Michael Kast

8086281607

Mkast44ritgmail.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

226


CLK Council Info Saturday, March 16, 2019 10.20 AM Uehara, Gail [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date

Council'PH Committee




Written Testimony

Linda Karr

8089815415 Rama aol.com

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

My family opposes this Bill. Vacation rentals like Airbnb bring visitors and money to the islands. Vacation rentals are a new a very popular way to travel around the world. We would be loosing plenty visitors who prefer vacation rentals if this Bill is passed. Mahalo for your kind attention and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely, Linda M. Karr



227

1


CLK Council Info Saturday. March 16, 2019 10 11 AM Uehara, Gail hitonebug©hotrnail,corn, Murayama. Gail y Plannirg Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name

Phone

Email Meeting Date




Written Testimony

Tony Baker

808-321-7819

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Planning

Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

I am against Bill 89, banning of vacation rentals ! I need to use Airbnb to share .' rent my condo in order to make ends meet ! The financial income generated helps pay my mortgage, bills etc. I obide by the law & pay my GET/Transient taxes. The cost of living here has continued to increase to a point of unaffordability for even the upper middle class! Airbnb visitors bring income & stability to the community, spending money on housing, shopping, restaurants, stores etc and in the big picture is a small part of the hospitality industry! Banning Airbnb would not help ease the homelessness, I would still have to rent my condo out for a higher rent than those in need could afford ! There's 100's of places for rent online, I look at them all the time!! They ( long term rentals ) are not offered at a price the homeless can afford, so banning Airbnb would not provide more housing, nor is it the cause for lack of housing!! What's needed by the state, government, city council is a stop the luxury high rise building & start the building of low income & affordable housing ! Airbnb is being blamed and the scapegoat for no housing & higher rents which is a false belief ! I implore you all to OPPOSE this Bill, the outcome will only hurt the regular Hawaiian residents trying to make it so we can continue living here !! The majority of residents utilizing Airbnb are regular folks just trying to survive day to day living on Oahu. Residents just trying to make a living, so we are not forced to move away from our home to the mainland Oppose this bill !!



228

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:08 AM To: Uehara, Gail Cc: [email protected]; Murayama, Gail Y Subject: Planning Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Leila Alli

Phone 18083663961




Agenda Item Bill 89

Your position on the Oppose matter Representing Self

Organization Do you wish to speak No at the hearing?

Written Testimony



Banning vacation rentals will hurt a lot of families that use the extra income to help make ends meet, as for my family we use the extra money to help pay for my daughter's education .

We pay transient tax and GE tax on all income and we provide a cheaper alternative to the tourists. These tourists also spend money in local businesses around.

1

230

From: CLK Council Info Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 10:37 PM Subject: Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Name Amy Cole Phone 9169552653 Email [email protected] Meeting Date 03-18-2019 Council/PH Council Committee Agenda Item Bill 89 Your position on Oppose the matter Representing Self Organization Do you wish to speak at the No hearing?

I am a long time member of the community and I oppose this bill. I understand the problems we have with vacation rentals but this particular bill isn't the right answer. We have a chance to integrate this new resource into our long term economy but not this way. Our economy depends on this commerce so heavily that I really fear

Written what will happen to our already struggling budgets. Please don't Testimony pass this bill. We can do better than this.

Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Amy Cole

I oppose bill 89 Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and Agreement 1

From:



Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments:

20190318011213_TVU_Perspective_Points.docx



Written Testimony


James Tanaka 808-888-2237 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Bill 89

Support

Self

No

I support councilwoman Fukanagais draft of bill 89, it is the most reasonable for Oahu. Please consider passing Bill 89, with no restrictions on all zoning classifications in Waikiki. PIs see my 11 point TVU Perspective attached.

20190318011213_TVU_Perspective_Points.docx

1

I

Here are my perspectives on the residential vacation rental situation and the current bill proposals by the Honolulu city and county legislature. I am a 20-year plus real estate broker and property manager. (Content and info contained herein also credited to Donald Envino, realtor and property manager).

1. We have an affordable housing problem, not a vacation rental problem. Vacation rental properties do not contribute to the affordable housing problem; they are the effect of not having affordable housing, not the cause. We need over 22,000 new housing units. The building dept., because of a lack of funding and staffing, is only granting 2,000 permits per year, so are short 2,000 units. There are only 6,000 housing units on Oahu, for 1 million residents. The number of vacation rental units on Oahu is around 10,000 on this island. This represents 1.5% of the housing stock, hardly a significant number. Yet their contributions amount to over 1.7 billion of economic activity annually, over 12,000 jobs, and over $77 million in tax revenue, and service 16% of lodging for visitors, according to the recent 2018 report by Kloninger/Sims.

If these are shut down it would be a significant loss of the economic engine on Oahu. These properties are not affordable by any standards and they are not taking away from the affordable housing inventory. By removing these rentals you're putting many residents in harm's way for being unable to afford the cost of living on Oahu. Many residents cannot afford to make the mortgage payment on this island if they didn't have the extra income provided by vacation rentals.

2. Contrary to taking away housing, these proposals would contribute more homeless to the equation. These rentals employ a multiplier 5 to 10 times more people, and these proposals would contribute more to the homeless situation. Thousands of semi-skilled workers — cleaners, caretakers, window washers, maintenance crews, bookkeepers and handymen and others, would be unable to provide these services elsewhere and would fall back in the affordable housing situation — that's approximately 100: 000 people! The City Council is focusing their energy on the wrong track and instead, they should be provide the funding to hire more personnel to use the improve the backlog of building permits on their desks now and focus on accelerating and permitting affordable housing. That will solve the affordable housing crisis, not shutting down vacation rentals.

3. These vacation rental funds that their properties are generating circulate back into the local economy dollar for dollar, versus hotel rooms that send their profits back offshore. These funds keep people from being homeless, as the trick-down effect of all their products and services go back to the local economic engine and productivity .

4. The proposed bill will adversely impact the second home investor market on Oahu. Investors have funds to invest anywhere, Hawaii is not be a good investment. Buying a second home does not pencil out, it is not a commercial property, you don't get a high rate of return on second homes here. The land, and maintenance and physical depreciation are too costly. The income these homes generate only helps to maintain the property first, goes to the workers secondly, and last to service the debt. It is not the moneymaker many think! These investors will spend their money

here because they love the island, and they come and visit they will contribute to the economy. If 30-day minimum rental regulations are in place, 2nd homeowners will not be able to come and visit their own property. Common people and the vast majority of visitors cannot take a 30-day vacation. Lawmakers must realize the consequences of their policies on this vital 2n6 home investor market. Otherwise, they will merely go elsewhere. Alternative accommodations on Oahu, and Waikiki in particular, is vital to the economic engine that is our number one industry. This is moreso for Hawaii than cities like Los Angeles or Tokyo or New York.

Furthermore, many if not most of the owners of TVUs are local residents or individual owners of 2nd homes on Oahu. They not only a part and contribute to the local economy, they work hard and take pride in offering "aloha" and a vital source of accommodations to Oahu's visitor market.

5. As a longtime property manager, I can attest that the vacation rental tenant is overall a better-quality tenant than the long-term tenant. Long-term tenants rarely leave the property better than when they got it. Many don't clean or maintain it, many damage the property resulting in small claims courts and the expense of legal costs, plus repairs, and many break their lease, with additional costs involved in lost revenue and litigation.

If vacation rental tenants are noisy or are causing problems, these are enforceable with exiting laws.

6. Vacation rental properties are highly maintained versus long-term rentals. The use and care of vacation rentals requires that they are in top shape all the time. This creates long-term value for the owner, versus the wear and tear and depreciation, damages, and cost of a long-term tenant. Funds generated to the owner of short-term rental properties goes into maintaining the property, the next goes to paying the workers, next goes to paying the mortgage and taxes, and not much is left over,

7. It is a loud minority that is creating these voices of protest. There is a silent majority that is not voicing their opinion. Alternative accommodations are the wave of the future, and helps people survive on Oahu, it supplements their income, it maintains the properties, and it supports the local economy. Waikiki is the primary driver of that engine.

8. Vacation rentals provide a required and demanded experience to the returning visitor who is looking for something different than a two-person occupancy hotel. Families, extended families are able to visit Hawaii thanks to alternative accommodations like two bedroom condos with full kitchens, and space for a family of four plus grandparents to stay in.

Pointedly, the supply of resort hotels on Oahu are maxed out with our increasing annual visitor count. That supply will not meet the increasing demand.

Additionally, if alternative accommodations were erased from the Oahu visitor market, airlift demand would be significantly reduced, and airlines would reduce their capacity flying to Oahu and the hotels would also be adversely affected. Oahu hotels are at 85% occupancy and cannot accommodate an increased growth. Of the 6 million tourists who visited Oahu last year, approximately 1 million stayed in off-site residential housing (16% of all tourists). If there is a loss of 1 million tourists a year, this will result in devastating consequences for the local people that are using those 1 million visitors to supplement their housing allowance,and their living wages and lifestyle. Don't eliminate the use of these second homes, many of whom are paying their GET and TAT taxes, as what these new legislative proposals are intending.

We have more visitors than hotel rooms, HTA said TVUs are necessary to provide more inventory and also more and more visitors EXPECT to be able to have the option to book alternative accommodations.

9. Waikiki is the engine that drives tourism for the island of Oahu. Waikiki and Oahu attract proportionately more international visitors than the state as a whole. Waikiki is a major platform for the export of the state's visitor services. In this role it facilitates the injection of billions of outside dollars into the rest of the economy. For this reason, Waikiki is not only a source of employment, income and taxes, but also one of the state's major economic-growth assets. It's effectiveness in competing for visitors and providing them a satisfying vacation experience is important to the stability and growth of the state's economy. Waikiki's visitors will spread their vacation spending around to other businesses on the island. Many visitors will also book neighbor island visits for a day, overnight or longer. Waikiki's major contribution to the economy is through its role as a resort destination. In particular, Waikiki generates a substantial amount of property taxes for the City and County of Honolulu. Millions of dollars more in property taxes were paid by residential owners in the district. It is estimated that Waikiki-based visitor activity accounted for about 48% of statewide tourism's total contribution.

That said, Waikiki as a resort area, has long been in need of proper zoning to include high-rise condos in the apartment zoned areas, many of which were originally developed to accommodate TVUs, and have done so for decades.

While other residential areas are arguably not set up for tourists, Waikiki has the infrastructure in place to accommodate our visitors. TVUs should AT THE VERY LEAST be allowed in all zoning districts of Waikiki without restrictions, because Waikiki is the only place where the infrastructure and amenities are in place for such accommodations.

10. Many are already paying their TAT and GET taxes, and all should be paying. The government should focus on properly and effectively collecting these taxes, rather than shutting them down. The rental platforms will be receptive to sensible policies to get their customers to follow the tax requirements of the city municipalities they operate in.

11. I don't support a homeowner exemption requirement for TVUs, it essentially destroys the vacation rental industry, as people won't be able to cover their expenses if they are only allowed to rent their homes for 90 days out of a year.

Thank you, council members for your time and efforts.

From:




Speaker Registration/Testimony Name Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony


Michael Hazzard (714)778-9980 [email protected] 03-18-2019 Council Bill 89

Oppose

Self

No

Dear Oahu City Council, We as tourists want to support the local economy and the Ohana of Hawaii. We met many local people who support Airbnb and the people from the mainland who visit. We oppose Bill 891

1

1

From:


Sunday, March 17, 2019 10 50 PM Subject:




Written Testimony

Ann Otteman 8083826758 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Bill 89

Comment

Self

Yes

Aloha Kakou,

I am writing in support of the amendments to Bill 89 proposed by Councilwoman Fukunaga and against Bill 85 and the amendments proposed by Councilmen Menor, Luo and Anderson. My name is Ann Otteman. I am a home owner, resident, and care taker living on Oahu's North Shore.

It is transparent that the goals of the amendments proposed by Councilmen Menor, Luo and Anderson are focused on eliminating the possibility of any but the wealthiest landowners from generating income through providing hospitality services to Hawaii tourists. The penalties are excessive and requirements obviously set to bar participation versus encourage appropriate regulation of a viable revenue stream for Oahu residents.

As an Oahu resident and homeowner I agree that better regulation of this burgeoning industry is needed. I have witnessed extreme abuse of the existing system, but I believe that those cases are the outliers. Your basic vacation rental provides regular employment for an average of 6 different people, from cleaners to plumbers, yard workers and caretakers all of which then pay taxes and spend their hard earned money supporting our local economy. Removing vacation rentals removes these much needed employment opportunities from our economy. Additionally they provide flexible

employment opportunities for non traditional employees. My employment from vacation rentals allow me to watch my own children and help create a better society by being a more attentive parent to my 5 children.

I think that because most of those currently involved in the "vacation rental" industry are afraid of government reprisals they are severely underrepresented. The current laws do not provide adequate opportunities for many to become legal enterprises and I am grateful that this Council is pursuing avenues to address this problem. I believe that those amendments proposed by Councilwoman Fukunaga best address these needed changes.

In closing, as the granddaughter of Samuel Kaaumoana Kalama III who was raised homesteading on Molokai I know that land in Hawaii is precious. I believe that it is the goal of most of us living here to establish a way of life here for our children. Land is precious in Hawaii. You as our chosen City Council are responsible for protecting this land and ensuring that the people of the City and County of Honolulu can provide a life for themselves and their children. I stand as a face for those who are afraid of persecution. We are regular upstanding taxpaying residents, not absentee corporations and hotel owners. Please keep Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands.


1

2

Aloha,

My name is Scott Brazwell, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.

My wife, Cheri, and I have worked in Leadership Training and Hospitality while living in Hawaii for last 15 years.

1 have recently retired. Home sharing has allowed my wife and Ito continue to contribute to our community through doing the work we have dedicated our lives to. Not only has it provided the supplemental income needed for us to stay in our home, it allows us and our guests to contribute financially to the local businesses. Equally important, we have built long lasting relationships with people wanting to experience a different type of stay in Hawaii. This work feeds our souls.

We support common sense regulations for short term vacation rentals and I have been voicing this opinion at a number of meetings over the past year. We want our business legitimized; something that has not been made available since 1989.

We were pleased when we saw Mayor Caldwell's original bill which reflected what we were hearing from many of our representatives: owner occupied rentals were not seen as creating issues or complaints, and the biggest concerns were parking and noise complaints from unhosted vacation rentals. We understand why these would be subject to reasonable density limits.

That line of thought seems to have been in lost in this proposed legislation. The restrictions are extreme and the fines draconian. In my opinion, it would not be much different than a doctor amputating your leg, because your toe hurts. This would not happen, of course, because medical students must take the Hippocratic Oath when they make the promise "first, do no harm."

This bill, as currently written, will do an excessive amount of harm, to individuals, local businesses, and government - where tax revenue is sorely needed. When our State is rated mediocre or poor in all areas infrastructure score card, a loss of tax revenue will have a major impact on all of our lives.

I do not envy you. I understand that regulating short term rentals is a complex issue and emotions run high, especially when the most egregious cases get the stories.

I also understand that there are some people opposed to the very concept of allowing the rentals in residential areas. Everyone is entitled to their opinion .

I am just asking that you look at data from other cities that have been faced with similar concerns and consequences, intended and unintended, before taking action.

Please, if nothing else, do no harm.

Mahalo

From: Desiree Hee <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 8:43 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Desiree Hee, dezhee©yahoo.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

Message Body: Dear Planning Committee:

I strongly support Bill 85 because it is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.

A federal appeals court in Santa Monica, CA recently upheld the city's ordinance that holds companies like Airbnb accountable when it lists vacation rentals that aren't licensed by the city.

Bill 85 has similar provisions that make Airbnb and other platforms take responsibility for the illegal listings on its platform, which will help preserve what little affordable housing is left in Hawaii.

I also support the enforcement provisions included in the proposed drafts of Bill 89.

Please move Bill 85 forward to preserve our affordable housing and our communities.

This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http://www.aikeahawaii.org)

From: Dezman Hee <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 8:44 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Dezman Hee, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








]

From: Daryl Hee <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 8:44 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Daryl Hee, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

Good Neighbor

March 18, 2019

Ikaika Anderson, Chair

and Members

Planning Committee, Honolulu City Council

530 South King Street, Room 202

Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813

Dear Chair Anderson and Members:

HI Good Neighbor is a group of concerned citizens from around the island who are strongly opposed to

the commercialization of our residential neighborhoods, specifically, the proliferation of large detached

dwellings (LDDs), also called "monster homes," throughout O'ahu. We support Bill 85 and the proposed

CD1. We oppose Bill 89 and all proposed drafts.

There's no coincidence between the recent wave of LDD construction and the flourishing illegal vacation

rental market in our residential neighborhoods islandwide. Many of these monster apartment homes

are being operated as illegal vacation rentals.

As law-abiding residents, we are deeply troubled by the expanding illegal activity being permitted in our

residential neighborhoods. Enforcement has been minimal, at best. According to the DPP, enforcement

of these illegal businesses has been difficult because of our laws. Therefore, we must provide the DPP

with effective tools for enforcement before we subject our residents to more commercial activity in our

residential neighborhoods.

The purpose and intent of the LUO is to "regulate land use in a manner that will encourage orderly

development" and "minimizfel adverse effects resulting from the inappropriate location, use or design

of sites and structures." Allowing these monster apartment homes and vacation rentals in our

residential zoning districts subverts this purpose and intent and has had many adverse effects on our

residents and our neighborhoods.

Please do not reward bad behavior. Please do not appease the small minority of people who have no

problem breaking our laws for profit. Please protect the majority of law-abiding residents who do not

want our neighborhoods commercialized for profit. For those who need the income to make ends meet,

there is always the option of renting to local residents who desperately need the housing.

We urge your committee to advance Bill 85 and/or the proposed CD1 for further consideration on the

Council floor. HI Good Neighbor and our diligent, community-minded friends from around the island

thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to continued vigilance from concerned

neighbors and robust enforcement afforded by Bill 85 to curtail the proliferation of vacation rentals in

our residential communities.

Mahalo,

HI Good Neighbor

Tyler Dos Santos-Tam I Sarah Chinen I Melissa Mai'i

Aurora Muir I Christine Otto Zaa Reyna Sueoka

Pat Watson I Trisha Kehaulani Watson I Steven Yamashiro

PO Box 283349 • Honolulu, Hi 96828 • [email protected]

From:



Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony Attachments:

20190317205644_Personal_Testimony_on_Bill_89.docx

Speaker Registration/Testimony Name Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing? Written Testimony Testimony Attachment 20190317205644_Personal_Testimony_on_Bill_89.clocx Accept Terms and Agreement 1

Patrick Yu 8084971473 [email protected] 03-18-2019 Council Vacation Rental Bill 89 Comment Self

No

1

Personal Testimony on Bill 89

I thank you for this opportunity to express my views on the ongoing discussion on how to seek a balance between the merits and benefits of the vacation rental industry and its unintended burdens on neighborhoods throughout Oahu. Hopefully we can all work towards a version of Bill 89 that can accomplish this.

My name is Patrick Yu and I graduated in 1978 from McKinley HS, then UH Manoa in 1982. I then obtained a MBA from Columbia University in NYC and, like many local kids, stayed to work on the Mainland and Asia for better career opportunities. I finally made the decision to move back to Honolulu several years ago, and at 54 years old then, found limited attractive career opportunities here. As a father of a 24 year old daughter with special needs which require 24 hour personal care, I felt fortunate to discover that operating a vacation rental allowed myself and my wife the freedom and flexibility of earning an income to support our move back to Honolulu and caring for our daughter.

In studying the proposal around Bill 89,1 find that Councilwoman Fukunaga has a reasonable approach to seeking the solution.

I oppose any bill which requires a Homeowner Exemption requirement, since this severely restricts homeowners' right to earn income from their homes. The high cost of living in Hawaii means we all have to do more to earn our privilege to live in Paradise.

I also believe that limiting the rental permits to 1% of the housing stock in an area is too low as the geographical boundaries are too arbitrary. Some areas are naturally more attractive to visitors and are perhaps better supported by infrastructure, especially on the human software, (meaning many are experienced at operating such rentals on the North Shore or Kailua for example).

Moreover, having a permit does not necessarily mean it is being utilized so a 1% limit may in fact mean much less actual available and active units.

In summary, I believe that as long as our homes observe the building codes such as number of people to be housed in a home with proper infrastructure such as "legal" bedrooms, parking etc. which causes minimum impact on the neighborhood, we should be allowed to participate in a growing segment of the visitor industry which we all know to be the most important for Hawaii.

Thank you for your attention.



CLK Council Info Sunday, March 17, 2019 9:00 PM Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registration/Testimony


Jesse Lovett 8083064017 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Short term rentals

Support

Self

No

I am in favor of allowing short term rentals in a limited and Written Testimony controlled manner. Some regulations are necessary but the value

for locals and tourists is important to Oahu's economy Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and 1 Agreement

1

From: Cheryl Gumboc <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 9:11 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Cheryl Gumboc, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Kerry Porter <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 10:04 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Kerry Porter, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Robert Thomas <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 1034 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Robert Thomas, blhawaiil @yahoo.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Sanford Yee <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:35 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Sanford Yee, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Nick Chagnon <wordpress©aikeahawaii org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:38 AM Subject: Testimony. SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Nick Chagnon, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Thaddeus Pham <wordpress@aikeahawaii,org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:10 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Thaddeus Pham, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: John and Lucy Witeck <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:25 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: John and Lucy Witeck, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


We very much support Bill 85 because it is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.



We also support the enforcement provisions included in the proposed drafts of Bill 89.



1

From: Jean Teo-Gibney <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16 2019 11:01 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Jean Teo-Gibney, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Victor Beebe <wordpress@aikeahawali orgy Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 11.19 AM Subject: Testimony SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Victor Beebe, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


I strongly support Bill 85 because it is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. it is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.






From: Maria Smith <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:39 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Maria Smith, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







In Solidarity, Maria Smith Medical Assistant Unite Here Local 5 member Waipahu


From: Cindy Aban <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:40 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Cindy Aban, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







In Solidarity, Cindy Aban Medical Assistant Unite Here Local 5 member Waipahu


1

From: Nenita Cabanilla <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 11:42 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Nenita Cabanilla, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







In Solidarity, Nenita Cabanilla Self Employed Home Owner Waipahu


1

From: Josh Williams <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 12:01 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Josh Williams, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Dana Alicia May <wordpress©aikeahawaii.org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 12:02 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Dana Alicia May, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Marcelino Medrano <wordpress©aikeahawaii.org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 12.54 PM Subject: Testimony. SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Marcelino Medrano, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Kevin Landers <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 5:09 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Kevin Landers, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Marsha Bruhn <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 5:22 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Marsha Bruhn, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








i

From: Morrison Luka <wordpress©aikeahawaii.org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 6:12 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Morrison Luka, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Morrison Luka <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 6:13 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Morrison Luka, mlukag5.unitehere.org Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Leona Souza <wordpress©aikeahawaii.org' Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 6:16 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Leona Souza, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:I/www.aikeahawaii.org)

:

From: Cynthia Rivera <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 7:51 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Cynthia Rivera, riveracynthia527©gmail.corn Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Scott Hamilton <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 8:48 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Scott Hamilton, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Scott Hamilton <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 8'49 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Scott Hamilton, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Lilibeth Herrell <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 9:06 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Lilibeth Herrell, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Lilibeth Herrell <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 9:07 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Lilibeth Herrell, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








I

From: Tina Tolentino <wordpress©aikeahawaii,org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 9:59 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Tina Tolentino, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Johnette K Fagaale <wordpress@aikeahawailorg> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 10:52 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Johnette K Fagaale, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Zuriel Fagaale <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 10:53 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Zuriel Fagaale, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http://www.aikeahawailorg)

1

From: Palesoo L Fagaale <wordpress@aikeahawailorg> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 10:54 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Palesoo L Fagaale, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Rachel Fagaale <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 10:54 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Rachel Fagaale, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Brandon Duran <wordpress©aikeahawaii.org> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 11:12 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Brandon Duran, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


I share your concern about the need for affordable housing in our community. As such, I strongly support Bill 85 because it is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.






From: Erin Kelley <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 11:58 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Erin Kelley, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








i

From: Nathan Yuen <wordpress@aikeahawait org> Sent: Saturday, March 16.2019 12:46 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Nathan Yuen, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Deanna Espinas <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 1:26 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Deanna Espinas, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact farm on AiKea Hawaii (http:/Iwww.aikeahawaii.org)

i

From: amefil agbayani <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 7:13 AM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: amefil agbayani, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:i/www.aikeahawaii.org)

1

From: Rev. Samuel L. Domingo <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday. March 16, 2019 8:38 AM Subject: Testimony SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Rev. Samuel L. Domingo, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


I strongly support Bill 85 because it is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing .

It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.






From: Nick Chagnon <wordpress@aikeahawaii org> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 12:38 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Nick Chagnon, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








I

From: Nerissa acdal <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 3:34 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Nerissa acdal, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Marian Heidel <wordpress@aikeahawaii erg> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2019 2:47 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Marian Heide!, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89










CLK Council Info Sunday, March 17. 2019 8:22 AM Council/Public Hearing Speaker Registratonfrestimony


Randall M. 8082854942 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Council

Vacation Rental Bills

Comment

Self

No

Vacation Rentals can work hand in hand with our existing Hotel and Residential living if all was on an even playing field. Strict enforcement should be placed on these Vacation Rental Operators paying their GE,STATE and FEDERAL TAXES. Honestly, I am in the long term rental business and contrary to what the media or other special interest groups might put out, there are a lot of Rental homes and units on the market for long term rentals. With ADUs increasing their entrance into the market, the Monster homes that are currently in play, there is no shortage of dwellings for long term rentals. At a time where i may get 4-7 calls a day on properties, I will receive 7 calls in 1-2 weeks if that even with my pricing being below

Written Testimony market and being a god product. Other business owners, Property Managers in the Rental business will also support THAT THE HAWAII RENTAL MARKET IS NOW SOFT so I AM NOT AGAINST HAVING VACATION RENTALS IN THE MARKETPLACE! Just take a look at all the CRAIGSLIST postings. Some keep reposting and reposting for weeks as no tenant closing on them, I do not agree that we have a shortage of dwelling units for long term rentals. The pricing has also being adjusted down according to the market. I would just like to see that these vacation rental owners pay their fair share of the Taxes owed to the State and the Federal Governments which I highly doubt they do.

1

If they did it would make things very competitive for the vacation rentals and the hotels may be significantly more competitive. Let's work on ways to go after those Vacation Rental taxes! One way to drive funds to the state and bring equity in the marketplace.

Respectfully, R.M.


2

AMERICAN HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION

March 18, 2019

The Honorable Ikaika Anderson

Chair, The Honolulu City Council Committee on Planning 530 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813

Regarding: Testimony in support of common sense short-term rental enforcement and home sharing

Aloha Chair Anderson, Vice Chair Tsuneyoshi and Honorable members of the Committee on Planning,

For more than 100 years, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has been the foremost representative of and advocate for the U.S. lodging industry. We advocate

for our members so they can do their best at what matters most: serving guests, employees and their communities. With more than 150 members in Hawaii representing 110,000 employees, this is a job we take very seriously.

We appreciate the valuable work you have been doing to ensure that Hawaii's tourism

industry continues to thrive. Specifically, your Committee's commitment to the eradication of illegal short-term rentals in Honolulu. Study after study has shown that

the vast majority of short-term rentals in Honolulu are owned and operated by out-of-State commercial hosts who are renting whole units. In many cases, these law breakers are operating 20 or more illegal whole home rentals. This is not home sharing; these are illegal hotels which destroy the aloha in our communities and drive up the cost of housing for our residents. Please accept this testimony as our

organization's express support for your Committee's efforts to sufficiently regulate short-term rentals in our communities. Specifically, we offer our comments on Bills 85 and 89.

Just this month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against HomeAway and Airbnb and their claims of CDA 230 protections in their litigation against the city of Santa

Monica. This is an enormous win for Honolulu as we work to regulate illegal short-term

rentals. In brief, this ruling upheld Santa Monica's short-term rental law, which was

1250 I STREET NW, SUITE 1100 \ WASHINGTON DC 20005 \ 202 289 3100 \ WWW.AHLA.COM

AMERICAN HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION

modeled after San Francisco's short-term rental law. This ruling means counties across the country can and should hold hosting platforms responsible for illegal

transactions that take place on their websites. The CD1 to Bill 89 offered by CM

Anderson (89CD1-Anderson) seeks to merge the enforcement concepts in Bill 85 with Bill 89. We support the enforcement concepts in Bill 85 and offer our express support

for 89CD1-Anderson. In light of the Santa Monica ruling, we offer the attached

amendments, that which are designed to strengthen 89CD1-Anderson against any

potential legal challenges.

In Summary:

1. The proposed revisions delete the existing Section 12 re: Hosting Platforms

(originally from Bill 85) and replace it with language we believe will strengthen

enforceability and compliance under the federal Communications Decency Act (CDA) and Stored Communications Act (SCA):

Under the CDA, a hosting platform cannot be held accountable as a

publisher or speaker of the content posted by users on its website or for the conduct of its users — it can only be held accountable for its own conduct. 89CD 1 -Anderson makes hosting platforms responsible for verifying that its users comply with the LUO. This creates potential enforceability issues under

the CDA. Our proposed revisions make hosting platforms accountable only

for their own conduct: collecting booking fees on illegal rentals. This is based on the San Francisco model, which was also adopted in Santa Monica and

just upheld by the Ninth Circuit.

The SCA prevents disclosures by platforms of user information without the users' consent. CD1-Anderson provides for limited reporting without host or platform consent (it is not entirely clear what is intended to be included in

the reports) and appears to require a subpoena or other administrative process to obtain more detailed host information including names, addresses, etc. The proposed revisions create a registration process by

which hosting platforms agree to disclose key information about hosts and their rental units (host names, addresses, etc.) and also agree to get the hosts' consent to the disclosures. The consent and disclosure provisions in the proposed revisions are critical to obtaining information needed for enforcement while also complying with the SCA and e Amendment. Note:

1250 I STREET NW, SUITE 1100 \ WASHINGTON DC 20005 \ 202 289 3100 \ WWW AHLA.COM

AMER CAN HOTEL & LO DC... NG ASSOCIATION

the recent New York ruling that struck down similar reporting requirements on 4th Amendment grounds is distinguishable because, in that case, the

hosting platforms themselves had not consented to the disclosures;

2. The proposed revisions add a registration fee for hosting platforms, in an amount to be determined by the Council (see Section 41-_.4, p. 24);

3. The proposed revisions delete the distinction between bed and breakfast

homes used for less than 30 days per calendar year and bed and breakfast homes used for 30+ days per calendar year in order to close a potential loophole; and

4. The proposed revisions make minor changes to the introduction to conform it to the substance of the bill.

With these changes, we believe the Committee on Planning and The Honolulu City Council will have an enforceable Home Sharing measure. The purging illegal whole home rentals from the market may add as many as 10,000 units back to the housing pool, and DPP has estimated the addition of 4,000 or more bed and breakfast home sharing units that will help local homeowners make ends meet. As amended, Bill 89

seeks to strike the right balance of enforcement while offering locals an opportunity to take advantage of bed and breakfast income, thereby giving our visitors a choice while prioritizing the needs and preferences of our kama'aiana.

The AHLA team is available to respond to any information requests that you or your

team may have. Thank you for your continued leadership on behalf of Hawaii's visitor industry, our hotel owners, operators, and our many valuable employees.

Mahalo,

Kekoa McClellan Spokesperson, AHLA Hawaii

ATTACHED: Bill 89 CD1-Anderson Proposed Amendments

12501 STREET NW, SUITE 1100 \ WASHINGTON DC 20005 \ 202 289 3100 \ WWW.AHLA.COM

From:

CLK Council Info Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2019 11:32 AM

Subject:



Name

Phone

Email

Meeting Date


Agenda Item


Representing

Organization


Written Testimony

Erica Lehmkuhl

808-271-4142

[email protected]

03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 85, Bill 89

Comment

Self

No

I am both a resident in Realtor in Haleiwa Hawaii and shirt term vacation rentals have both positive and negatively affected me and my clients. My neighbor was running an illegal vacation rental out of their entire house and it was extremely disruptive. They overpaid for the house by about $100,000 because they thought they could use it as a vacation rental. People stopped at my house shouted up sped down the driveway and in general had absolute disregard for our family's privacy and peaceful enjoyment of our property. We contacted the owners and due to our HOA were able to force them to either sell or move onto the property. They decided to move onto the property. They still vacation rent a small portion of the property, but because they are there to manage it it is no longer disruptive. I support vacation rentals being licensed ONLY if the OWNER lives on the property full-time. At no time do I support an entire house or condo being used as an a vacation rental. This would make the house a hotel, and condo buildings hotels. That is not with the zoning intends and it is highly disruptive to communities. Additionally he causes a severe shortage of rentals, Causes property prices to go up, rental prices to go up, and forces residents to move away from the island.

Testimony Attachment Accept Terms and I Agreement

From:


Sunday, March 17, 2019 11:32 AM Subject:



Name

Phone Email Meeting Date Council/PH Committee Agenda Item Your position on the matter Representing Organization Do you wish to speak at the hearing?

Written Testimony

Erica Lehmkuhl 808-271-4142 Toppmhawaii®gmail.com 03-18-2019

Zoning

Bill 85, Bill 89

Comment

Self

No

I am both a resident in Realtor in Haleiwa Hawaii and shirt term vacation rentals have both positive and negatively affected me and my clients. My neighbor was running an illegal vacation rental out of their entire house and it was extremely disruptive. They overpaid for the house by about $100,000 because they thought they could use it as a vacation rental. People stopped at my house shouted up sped down the driveway and in general had absolute disregard for our family's privacy and peaceful enjoyment of our property. We contacted the owners and due to our HOA were able to force them to either sell or move onto the property. They decided to move onto the property. They still vacation rent a small portion of the property, but because they are there to manage it it is no longer disruptive. I support vacation rentals being licensed ONLY if the OWNER lives on the property full-time. At no time do I support an entire house or condo being used as an a vacation rental. This would make the house a hotel, and condo buildings hotels. That is not with the zoning intends and it is highly disruptive to communities. Additionally he causes a severe shortage of rentals, Causes property prices to go up, rental prices to go up, and forces residents to move away from the island.


From: Colleen Rost-Banik <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:32 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; [email protected]

Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Colleen Rost-Banik, crostbanik©gmail.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:e7www.aikeahawaii.org)

12

From: Paola Rodelas Groves <[email protected] Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 1:33 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Reid Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; [email protected]


From: Paola Rodelas Groves, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







Warm regards, Paola Rodelas Groves Kalihi Valley resident

This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http: iiwww.aikeahawaii.org)

From: Cleo Mckeague <[email protected]>

Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 1:35 PM To: CLK Council info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,


Subject Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Cleo Mckeague, cwaimeagirl I [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







.... This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:flvvww.aikeahawaii.org)

LO

From: patrick k. shea <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 1:35 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymber y Marcos, Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael Manahan, Joey: [email protected]


From: patrick k. shea, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http: vwww.aikeahawaii.org)

9

From: chris abe <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:38 PM Subject SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: chris abe, [email protected] Subject: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


Please enforce our public planning policy and laws. Vacation rental companies and owners are making a mockery of our democracy. Their corporate greed is hurting people and our way of life and destroying our Hawaiian sense of place.


From: allison lum <[email protected]) Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:39 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol k, Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; [email protected]


From: allison lum, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


I strongly support Bill 85 because I am tired of seeing my friends and family having to move away because of the rising costs of rental housing, I was so happy when my little sister was able to move in with me, and now she and her partner are having a hard time finding affordable rental, coupled with good jobs to be able to stay and live in Hawaii. Both are graduated of UH and could contribute to our Hawaii.

Bill 85 is the only vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.





This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:ifwww.aikeahawaii.org)

From: allison lum <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 1:40 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,



From: allison lum, allisonlumO©gmail.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:Owww.aikeahawaii.org)

s

From: ism BIANCA <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:39 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi, Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; [email protected]


From: ISAKI BIANCA, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:/. www.aikeahawaii.org)

2

From: Sent To: Cc:

Subject:

Bryant de Venecia <[email protected]> Friday, March 15, 2019 1:39 PM UK Council Info

P.ne, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson, Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael, Manahan, Joey; de2021 @hawaii.edu Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Bryant de Venecia, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:Owww.aikeahawaii.org)

6

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:40 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; sarin_55 @hotmail.com


From: [email protected], [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








4

From: peter sturges <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:43 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,



From: peter sturges, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








3

From: Linda Opple <[email protected] > Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:43 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,



From: Linda Opple, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89





1 also support the enforcement provisions included in the proposed drafts of Bill 89.


This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:llwww.aikeahawaii.org)

2

From: Leslie Lopez <[email protected]>

Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 1:45 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,



From: Leslie Lopez, lesliealopez©gmail.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http: Iwww.aikeahawaii.org)

From: Earl Kaanoi <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 1:56 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,

Ikaika; Fukunaga, Carol A; Tsuneyoshi, Heidi; Formby, Michael; Manahan, Joey; earlk808 @hotmail.com


From: Earl Kaanoi, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:/www.aikeahawaii.org)

2

From: Douglas Miyoi <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:01 PM To: CLK Council Info Cc: Pine, Kymberly Marcos; Anderson,



From: Douglas Miyoi, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http;Owww.aikeahawaii.org)

1

From: Jessica Hardway <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 2:15 PM Subject Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Jessica Hardway, jhardway®5.unitehere.org Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








:

From: Kekoa Caseria <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:27 PM Subject Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Kekoa Caseria, tcaseria®gmail.com Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Marshall Cacalda <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:28 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Marshall Cacalda, mcacalda®5.unitehere.org Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http://www.aikeahawailorg)

1

From: James McDonough <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 233 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: James McDonough, jarnes_mcdonough@fastmaillm Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From Rita Ikeda <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 2:37 PM Subject Testimony SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Rita Ikeda, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Jo Ann Sakaguchi <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 2:43 PM Subject Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Jo Ann Sakaguchi, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89







This e-mail was sent from a contact form on AiKea Hawaii (http:ifwww.aikeahawaii.org)

From: Morgan Evans <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 2:56 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Morgan Evans, mevans(4)5.unitehere.org Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








)

From: Javier Mendez <[email protected]>

Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 3:38 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Javier Mendez, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








From: Faustino Molina <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 3:45 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Faustino Molina, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








a

From: James B. Gebhard <[email protected]> Sent Friday, March 15, 2019 4:18 PM Subject Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: James B. Gebhard, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Mark kamahele <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 4:13 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Mark kamahele, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From:






Written Testimony

Rebeca Zamora 8085851974 [email protected] 03-18-2019

Planning

bill 85/89

Oppose

Self

No

I strongly oppose the ban on vacation rentals, because it will hurt all Oahu residents. • Alternative accommodations are vital to the local economy. A recent study found severe restrictions on vacation rentals would cost Oahu $1.2B in economic activity, 7K jobs and make it harder to accommodate visitors at a time when hotels are operating at near capacity. • Severely limiting transient vacation rentals will not solve Oahu's housing shortage, but instead badly damage the local economy and hurt local tour operators and small businesses that depend on visitors.

As a manager of a tour company in Hawaii, I know first hand a lot of families and travelers would not be able to afford hotel prices and eating out in Waikiki had they not book an alternative short term rental.

It is my opinion that the housing shortage in Oahu can be address by using old inactive military housing for residents or subsiding renters like the military does for low-income families. The city and county can also figure out a different solution that does not hurt local owners trying to supplement a very high cost of living we all face by living in Honolulu.

Mahalo for your consideration.

Rebeca


1

From: anne towey joyer <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 3:31 PM


From: anne towey joyer, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








1

From: Lois Langham <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 3:32 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Lois Langham, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89


I strongly support Bill 85 because it is the ONLY vacation rental bill that adequately addresses the need to enforce illegal vacation rentals to protect our affordable housing. It is essential that we hold companies like Airbnb accountable and make sure it's transparent with their data on its hosts and listings.

Bill 85 has provisions that make Airbnb and other platforms take responsibility for the illegal listings on its platform, which will help preserve what little affordable housing is left in Hawaii.


Please pass Bill 85 to preserve our affordable housing.


From: Kanani Kai <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 5:05 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Kanani Kai, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








I

From: Kanani Kai <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 5.04 PM Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89

From: Kanani Kai, [email protected] Subject: Testimony: SUPPORT Bill 85 and enforcement provisions in Bill 89








Speaker Registration/Testimony - Granicus

Documents

Transcript of Speaker Registration/Testimony - Granicus