Bill 11 - info

SAVE KAILUA AND KALAMA BEACH PARKS FROM COMMERCIALIZATION BY CALLING, E-MAILING, AND TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF BILL 11 CD1 BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE @ THE CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 11! Do your part and pass this message forward!

Bill 11 CD1 will ban commercial activity at Kailua and Kalama beach parks by preventing the City from issuing vendor permits (making kayak dropoffs illegal) and preventing tour buses from dropping off tourist in our beach parks. Please find 8 arguments in support of Bill 11 CD1
and allow them to help you when drafting an e-mail or communicating to our councilmembers (their contact info is listed at bottom of message).

You may use a few or all arguments or draft your own points in support of this bill.  The main thing is you get your message out to them before the City Council hearing on July 11th.

1. The City and County of Honolulu will be in violation of HRS § 343 if they issue permits allowing commercial uses at Kailua Beach Park.  According to the Final Environmental Assessment for the Revised Master Plan for Kailua Beach Park conducted in 1996, windsurfing was the only commercial use considered.

2. The City Council needs to pass a law stopping all commercial uses at Kailua Beach Park to ensure compliance with HRS 343 and avoid costly litigation against the City.

3.  When Camp Kailua was condemned for purposes of expanding Kailua Beach Park, the City and County of Honolulu promised in writing that they would not allow tour buses in the beach park.

4. An overwhelming majority of Kailua residents and the Kailua Neighborhood Board has testified, petitioned, and communicated via e-mail and phone their support for Bill 11 CD1 to the City Council.

5. Kailua and Kalama beach parks lack the infrastructure necessary to handle businesses and tour bus drop-offs at the parks, which pose serious health and safety issues.  For instance, Kailua Beach Park was never designed to accommodate tour buses and commercial activity. If such activities are allowed, emergency vehicles will have difficulty entering and exiting our beach parks in a timely manner.

6. Passage of Bill 11 CD1 would ensure that all Kailua's businesses are treated fairly by requiring them to operate in Kailua Town.  A few businesses should not be allowed to profit off of Kailua's natural resources and beach parks while others cannot do the same. Let’s support legal businesses!

7. Kailua needs to preserve and protect its limited amount of open space.  Kailua is home to over 38,000 residents and receives many visitors with only one very small beach park (Kalama Beach Park) and one medium size beach park (Kailua Beach Park). If commercial activities are allowed at any of these beach parks, Kailua residents and its visitors will not have the open space needed for recreational activities and family gatherings.
8. Passage of Bill 11 CD1 would set good precedent for Oahu's communities: All communities are unique with unique problems or challenges calling for unique solutions.  A community should have a say in how its parks are used since taxpayer dollars pay for them.

Please E-MAIL AND CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS asking them to support Bill 11 CD1 before July 11th. AND Please testify on July 11th @ 10 a.m. at the Honolulu Hale in support of Bill 11 CD1.