Council To Consider
Baldwin Beach House For Public Use
Funding,
volunteers sought to help clean up county-acquired house and property
for possible use as new Maui County Environmental Resource Center.
Rob
Parsons
PA‘IA—
The Maui County Council will be considering a proposal to open
the Baldwin Beach house for use as a public facility and environmental
resource center.
The proposal to utilize the County-acquired house and property
at Baldwin Beach as the Maui County Environmental Resource Center
(MCERC) was conceived in an effort to provide a visible location
for the County's environmental efforts, one that could be utilized
by dozens of existing environmental organizations for meetings,
displays, presentations, classes, fundraisers, and demonstration
projects.
The 2,250 square-foot beachfront structure on 1.5 acres on Baldwin
Beach in Pa‘ia was built as a private residence after permits
were issued under questionable circumstances. The County acquired
the property in August 2005 as part of the settlement agreement
with the previous owners. The terms of the legal settlement require
that the county use the property only for public purposes, and
not as a residence or for commercial purposes.
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New
digs. Will this be the new Maui County Environmental
Resource Center? County officials hope so. |
Under
the terms of the proposal, the house and garage/workshops would
be put to an appropriate public use, benefiting students, locals,
visitors, and anyone wishing to learn more about Hawai‘i‘s
island eco-systems and current efforts to preserve and protect
them.
Start-up funds are initially needed to retrofit the private residence
into a public facility that complies with county codes, state
laws, and ADA and tsunami zone considerations. Planning funds
are needed to plan, design, and install the educational components
of the Maui Environmental Resource Center. Ongoing funds will
be needed for staff, operations and maintenance of the Resource
Center including the house, yard, and security system to keep
the county facility operational.
The Mayor's Budget request to Council seeks $150,000 in the Fiscal
Year 2007 budget (begins July 1, 2006) for the Baldwin Beach house/
MCERC. This request is found in the Department of Public Works
and Environmental Management's "Special Maintenance Program—General
Fund" section. $100,000 is requested for maintenance and
upgrades to the house and property. The additional $50,000 would
support a conceptual planning and design study to utilize the
facility as an environmental resource center. Traditionally, the
County Budget process awards funding to those who are diligent
in communicating their needs and desires to the Council. For example,
Maui Economic Opportunity, which provides a myriad of valuable
services, even buses people in to community budget hearings to
provide testimony.
Tri-Isle Resource Conservation & Development, a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization, has set up a fund to support the MCERC.
Private funding is being sought, and donations are tax-deductible.
MCERC is also seeking volunteers to assist with the clean up of
the overgrown property. Additionally, furniture is being sought
and there are plans to clean the building’s windows, hardwood
floors, and treat some of the deck railings. If you wish to volunteer
or are able to bring tools, such as a weedeater, ladder, mop,
or squeegee, please contact Rob Parsons at 270-7960 or Nicole
Lambertson at 250-3701, or e-mail rob.parsons@co.maui.hi.us.
More info about MCERC can be found at: http://www.co.maui.hi.us/mayor/environment/partnership.htm
To submit written testimony regarding MCERC via e-mail or fax:
Address to the Honorable Dain Kane, Maui County Council Budget
Committee Chair: bf.committee@co.maui.hi.us or fax to 270-7686.
