General Plan Chair Baisa Offers Testimony Tips

By Wendy Osher

Gladys Baisa, file photo by Wendy Osher.

The chair of the General Plan Committee, Councilmember Gladys Baisa, offered tips to testifiers yesterday, saying those who provide input on the Maui Island Plan would help their cause if they submitted written testimony. While both written and verbal testimony are welcome, she said written testimony is especially conducive to quick comprehension and legislative action.

“It makes it much easier for the committee to take appropriate action based on the testimony,” Baisa said.  “It’s also beneficial to have testimony focused on the portion of the Maui Island Plan listed for consideration on the meeting agenda.”

The Council’s deadline for enacting the Maui Island Plan – which will establish environmental, economic and social objectives for the Valley Isle through 2030 – is Dec. 31. It will also establish growth boundaries for the first time in County history, pursuant to the County Code.

The next General Plan Committee meeting is at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Council Chamber. The committee will continue its review of the draft Maui Island Plan’s Chapter 2, entitled “Heritage Resources.”

The committee has already incorporated revisions to the Maui Island Plan requested by testifiers several times this year, and will continue to consider testimony.

Councilmember Baisa is also working with staff to develop a system, consistent with the State Sunshine Law, by which Council members’ proposed revisions to the Maui Island Plan would routinely be made in writing.

The General Plan Committee began its review of the first proposed Maui Island Plan in January, picking up on the work of the prior Council’s Planning Committee.

Testimony can be submitted in person or via email to:  [email protected].

*** Supporting information courtesy General Plan Committee.