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Passed by a majority of the Maui County Council, the seven charter amendments on the November ballot were authored by Kelly King, Shane Sinenci, and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez. All seven of the charter amendments were vetted by the County Council and approved by a super-majority of the members,” says Councilmember King. “They were fine-tuned during multiple council committees and council hearings and some have been worked on and discussed for a decade. Read more

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Mainland SuperPacs and old guard are trying to stop yes votes on these Amendments. Banners urging Vote NO on all Maui County Charter Amendments are proliferating around Maui, while an off-island Super PAC is also disseminating more fear during this trying pandemic imploring support for the conservative old guard that has ruled Maui politics. Read more

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Charter Amendment 1. 
Extend the affordable housing fund

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This will make these needed funds available in perpetuity.  It will also increase the funds received from 2% to 3% of the certified real property tax revenues, which for 2020 is based on $51.28 Billion in taxable real property for Maui County.

 

Ballot question:

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“Shall the Charter be amended to require that a minimum percentage of the certified real property tax revenues be appropriated into an affordable housing fund beyond Fiscal Year 2021, to be used for the provision, protection, and expansion of affordable housing and suitable living environments; and to increase the minimum required percentage from 2 percent to 3 percent of the certified real property tax revenues, effective July 1, 2021?”

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Charter Amendment 2.
Hire a professional managing director for the executive branch

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Most Counties throughout the United States have adopted this professional manger structure. This does not involve an additional paid position, it changes the position which already exists. It does allow a top qualified professional to run county operations and manage the departments without political agendas or favoritism.

Presently the mayor selects the position and oversees the managers and all county operations. 

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By voting yes, we will have a top-notch manager running our county without political ties. The appointment would be made by the citizens, council members and the mayor. It will raise the bar of professionalism, have advancement be more tied to performance, support all departments to work together as teams, provide greater transparency, increase efficiency and save money.

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Ballot question:

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“Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2023, to reorganize the executive branch for the County of Maui to establish an Office of the Managing Director, wherein a Managing Director, hired by the Mayor through a recruitment and selection process involving the Mayor, Council Chair, and a three-member citizen group, shall function as the County’s chief operating officer responsible for the County’s daily operations, the appointment and removal of most department heads, and the implementation of County policy; the Mayor shall be the County’s chief executive officer responsible for supervising the managing director’s work, representing the County in intergovernmental affairs, having the authority to approve or veto bills, nominating board and commission members, and enforcing provisions of the Charter, County ordinances, and all applicable laws; and authorizing various housekeeping revisions?

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Charter Amendment 3

Stricter terms limits for Council members

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Establish stricter term limits for council members by limiting the

number of terms a person may serve to five two-year terms

Establish stricter term limits for council members by limiting the

number of terms a person may serve to five two-year terms.  

Presently, three County Council members have exceeded

the proposed term limit. However, this is not retroactive, it

will only apply going forward.

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Ballot question

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“Shall the Charter be amended to establish stricter term limits for Council members by limiting the number of terms a person may serve as a Council member to five full terms?”

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Charter Amendment 4
Establish standards for interpreting and complying with the charter

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Establish standards for interpreting and complying with the charter, including requiring judicial action to be filed within 30 days to seek clarity when a conflict in the interpretation of the charter is raised.  This conflict arose twice, with the injection well case and the disagreement with the Mayor on department appointments. This will allow greater representation for the people.

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Ballot question

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“Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2021, to establish standards for interpreting and complying with the Charter, including by requiring a viable judicial action to be filed within 30 days to seek clarity when a conflict in the interpretation of the Charter is identified?

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Charter Amendment 5
Authorize the council to appoint nine members and the mayor to appoint two members of the 11-member Charter Commission.

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The charter establishes Maui County’s organizational structure of the county’s legislative and executive branches and how the county is governed. It is the legal foundation involving all matters of Maui County’s Laws. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. It is too important to leave this decision with one elected position, that in the past has been prone to cronyism.

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This Charter Amendment authorizes the council to appoint nine members and the mayor to appoint two members of the 11-member Charter Commission.  The nine-member council will appoint nine of the Charter Commission’s 11 members. The Charter Commission will convene by March 1, 2021, for the purpose of comprehensively reviewing and revising our Charter Amendment.

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Ballot question:

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“Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2021, to authorize the Council to appoint nine members and the Mayor to appoint two members of the 11-member Charter Commission, which is required to study and review the operation of the County government?”

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Charter Amendment 6
Establish stricter term limits for the mayor

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Establish stricter term limits for the mayor by limiting the number of terms a person may serve as mayor to two full four-year terms making a maximum of 8 years a person can occupy this seat. This will end practices of the past like our previous Mayor who served for 16 years.

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Ballot question

“Shall the Charter be amended to establish stricter term limits for the Mayor by limiting the number of terms a person may serve as Mayor to two full terms?”

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Charter Amendment 7

Establish a Department of Agriculture

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Establish a separate department focused on agriculture to reduce the County’s dependence on imported food, promote food sustainability and resiliency and boost economic growth in the agricultural sector. It would ease regulatory hurdles, form cooperative support, further develop local food hubs, and apply for agriculture grants. It would be a boon for small and mid-size farms.

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Ballot question

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“Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2022, to establish a Department of Agriculture to develop a sustainable regional agricultural system for Maui County?”

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Agricuture and Maui's Future

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Ag is monetized most effectively by value adding…that is where $3 of natural product is fermented into a $10 jar of 

health…or a freeze dried package of health…Maui is a BRAND…anything branded Maui is going to be a top seller in the Asian Pacific Rim…and on the mainland and look out Europe…we should be protecting the BRAND Maui…and promoting the brand…that creates careers in a growth industry…plus the US Gov’t is providing grants that a Dept of Ag can address..