Don Bremner, a Keep It Kailua member and urban planner stated; “It was good to hear Steve Holmes (our former Councilman and now a candidate for the vacancy on the council) express his concern about proper enforcement of our zoning laws. The current office of the District 3 Council representative has ignored the pleas of the community to enforce our zoning laws. In fact, they have worsened the situation by perpetuating the myth that the zoning laws regarding illegal B&B’s and TVU's are unenforceable, despite the success of the residential community’s efforts in shutting down “illegal” operators in numerous neighborhoods. Steve Holmes’ proposal is the solution that should have happened 4 years ago!”

Highlights of Steve Holmes’ Plan:

DPP changes policies and proactively pursues illegal TVU’s & B&B’s.

Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of City inspectors.

Relieve the neighbors’ burden to file complaints and gather evidence.

Send a strong message to illegal operators that they will be caught and face steep fines.

Pass Bill 8 requiring existing legal TVU’s in residential zoning to list their permit # and address on all advertisements.

Proposes Bill requiring existing legal B&B’s in residential zoning to list their permit # and address on all advertisements. Please read Steve Holmes April 10, 2009, e-mail to Keep It Kailua:

Dear Keep It Kailua:

As you fully know, the City in 1989 promised Kailua and all of the Oahu residential communities that there would be NO NEW B&B’s or vacation rentals allowed in residential zoning in the future. The City must keep that commitment.

The City Council also needs to actively support the City’s enforcement activities against illegal vacation rentals and B&B’s.

In addition to supporting the City’s Department of Planning & Permitting (DPP) proposed Bill 8 which requires legal TVU’s with non-conforming use certificates to list their permit number and address on all advertising, I would also ask that the same be done for legal B&B’s.

I will also propose the City administration and the DPP change their policies and become proactive in their enforcement activities. Presently, the City and the DPP will only react to the issue if there are numerous complaints from neighbors and then request the neighbors do the majority of investigative work. This is not only a burden to the neighbors, it is inefficient and ineffective, and pits neighbor against neighbor. Often by the time the DPP conducts their investigation, the guests have departed.

I will propose the DPP pursue all violators who are providing illegal commercial visitor accommodations via their advertising or via other means. The current ordinance is very clear in stating “providing” this illegal accommodation is a violation of the ordinance.

My proposal avoids the need to send inspectors out at all hours to the accommodations hoping to gather the necessary evidence. It also sends a very clear message to illegal operators that violating our zoning laws is not acceptable. Unfortunately, our current District 3 Council office has sent out the wrong message to the violators by falsely claiming the laws can not be enforced. This is the wrong message and has encouraged the proliferation of these illegal businesses.

The problems at DPP a systemic and we really need a whole new approach. Even beyond the B&B/TVU issue, I'm hearing that contractors are not even bothering to get building permits for many projects and this reduces revenues used to support enforcement and puts public health and safety at risk. You have to show you are serious and then the regulatory framework starts to work again.

Aloha, Steve Holmes Candidate for Honolulu City Council District 3

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