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County of Maui issues first building permit for Lahaina wildfire rebuild
KITV: … The Alexanders were among the first to visit the center when it opened on April 29 at the County of Maui Service Center in Kahului. They navigated the application process with the help of Hipolito, who guided them through the Customer Self Service portal in MAPPS (Maui’s Automated Planning & Permitting System).
“It was very rewarding to watch him from the beginning, not knowing where to start,” Hipolito said. “So the whole process was rewarding. They were the ones that would call me every day. To see them actually hold their permit in their hand is unexplainable, I try not to get emotional about it,” she added….
4LEAF Inc. was contracted by the County to run the center, which opened less than three weeks ago to streamline permitting for owners rebuilding in fire-impacted areas in Lahaina and Kula. The company processes Disaster Recovery Building Permits for alterations, repairs, reconstruction, and new construction of structures affected by disasters or civil defense emergencies.
Rich Alexander initially thought it would take years to rebuild, but now the couple aims to complete their house within eight months….
SA: Maui County issues first rebuilding permit for wildfire survivors
read … County of Maui issues first building permit for Lahaina wildfire rebuild
Rail Operating Budget Soars 27%, Employees Flee, Trainwreck Bids Due in July
SA: …As the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation suffers the loss of key personnel, an embattled leader’s current work contract that might not be renewed and long-standing employee vacancies, one rail official posed a question about the future of the nearly $10 billion Skyline project.
“Are you confident that we have a strong enough team to manage the City Center Guideway and Stations contracts once that’s (approved)?” asked board member Anthony Aalto during HART’s board of directors meeting Friday.
Aalto’s question to HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina pertained to the design and construction of the rail line’s third and final leg — from Kalihi to Civic Center in Kakaako by 2031 — which HART says is scheduled to receive final builder bids July 23….
…For the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, which begins July 1, HART says its proposed operating budget totals over $138.3 million, a 27% increase over its current $109.2 million budget. HART’s proposed capital budget for next fiscal year — which includes the CCGS project — totals $574 million, a nearly 1% increase over the current $569 million capital budget….
The Honolulu City Council is expected to approve HART’s budgets by June, according to Council staff….
KITV: Kahikina's contract will be discussed at Hart's next human resources committee meeting on June 7.
read … Honolulu’s rail agency ‘stretched thin,’ CEO says
Ethics Commission to reintroduce 2 bills to improve transparency
SA: … He plans to introduce a new version of House Bill 1884 — which passed the 2023 legislative session but in a watered-down form. And Harris hopes to reintroduce a version of HB 1885 that would expand the definition of lobbying….
Best Comment: “the definition of lobbyist would be changed in HB1885 to include certain people who submit 10 testimonies or more per year. It seems to me this would include some people who testify often who are not being paid to lobby on others' behalf, which could result in less participation in the legislative process.”
read … Ethics Commission to reintroduce 2 bills to improve transparency
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