ADEPT Committee Meeting on Transit Ads and Climate Fund – May 21, 2026
ADEPT Committee Meeting on Transit Ads and Climate Fund – May 21, 2026
The Agriculture, Diversification, Environment and Public Transportation (ADEPT) Committee convened on May 21, 2026, at 9:07 AM, recessed at 10:00 AM, and adjourned at 11:16 AM. The committee considered two items: Bill 13 (County Transit Bus Advertising) and an informational discussion on climate change impacts and a proposed Climate Action and Resiliency Revolving Fund. Public testimony was limited to one speaker on the second item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill 13 (Transit Advertising): No public testimony was offered.
- Climate Change Impacts / Resiliency Fund: Christina DeLeon (Taryn James Young Foundation) testified in full support of creating a dedicated fund, arguing that tourism revenue should help sustain the islands’ environment.
Discussion Items
- Bill 13 – County Transit Bus Advertising (ADEPT 6): Director Mark Takamori (Department of Transportation) presented the CD1 version, which limits third-party ads to commercial transactions, formalizes county-sponsored ads with the county seal, prohibits political/advocacy content, and extends rules to bus passes. He explained past difficulties with open-forum advertising (e.g., a vegan advocacy group’s request) that led to program shutdowns. Chair Kayla Kutaka (Commission on Children and Youth) described the “Talking is Teaching” campaign now displayed on buses, noting about one QR code scan per month. Councilmembers discussed content restrictions, vendor selection via RFP, and the need to prevent implied county endorsements. Corporation Counsel clarified that existing code gives the department discretion to reject ads that imply endorsement.
- Climate Change Impacts on Maui County (ADEPT 10): Chair Johnson (proposer of Bill 66) introduced the concept of a Climate Action and Resiliency Revolving Fund, funded by 20% of transient accommodations tax (TAT) revenue (roughly $14 million). Representatives from DEM, EPNS, OEV Resources, and Budget Director Leslie Milner offered support with concerns: EPNS worried about overburdening their division; Budget Director flagged that a charter mandate could affect bond ratings (county is AA+/Aa2). Deputy Director Zalinski noted bond agencies value revenue flexibility. Councilmembers debated whether a charter amendment or ordinance was preferable, with many favoring an ordinance to retain nimbleness. The discussion referenced the 169‑item Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) and the existing managed retreat fund. No action was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Bill 13 (CD1): The committee voted 6‑0‑1 (Councilmember Senancy excused) to recommend passage of Bill 13 (as amended by CD1) on first reading. The amendment replaced the original bill with the CD1 version that broadens the title, adds bus pass advertising, deletes “solely” from code, and clarifies that non‑county ads must comply with Title 11. The department will issue a new RFP for an advertising vendor once the ordinance is enacted.
- Climate Resiliency Fund: The item was deferred. Chair Johnson indicated he will bring Bill 66 (the ordinance version) forward for further discussion, rather than pursue a charter amendment at this time.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha. Will the Agriculture Diversification Environment and Public Transportation Committee meeting of May twenty first, twenty twenty-six please come to order. The time is now nine o seven. Good morning, everyone. Members, in accordance with the sunshine law. If you're not in the council chamber, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle, workspace with you today, and minors do not need to be identified. Also, please see the last page on the agenda for information on meeting connectivity, and remember to all silence all cell phones. And uh joining us today is a committee member Kanoi Batangan, Aloha council member. Aloha Kakahakakako. Aloha. And then followed is a committee member Tom Cook, Aloha Councilmember. Hello, good morning. There's uh currently no toastifiers in the key office, but we have staff on here. Great, thank you for that. And aloha, we have Councilmember uh Tamara Palton. Aloha, Kakako, shooting live and direct from the council chambers. Okay, thank you. Vice Chair Shane Senancy is excused today. Uh Chair Lee, we're looking forward to her joining us today, and Councilmember U Hodges will be joining us shortly. Non-voting committee members are always welcome. That would be Councilmember Rollins Fernandez and Council Member Sugemura. Uh, from the administration today, we have Department of Transportation Director Mark uh Takamari, uh, from the Department of Environmental Management today. We have Deputy Director Michael Peterson. And also from the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Manager, we have Cecile Powell, the from the Department of OEV resources. We have Deputy Director Kakai Robinson. We have Budget Director Leslie Milner, Office of the Corporation Council, Deputy Corporation Council Rifesnyder. Am I pronouncing your name correctly? Great. All right. And without objection, I'll designate our administrative administration personnel as resources under Rule 18A of the rules of the council. Do there's subject matter expertise related to these matters on the agenda? Any objections, members? All right, thank you for that. Uh, we also have some more resources resources today. We have uh Kayla Kutaka, Chair, uh Commission on Children and Youth. Aloha and welcome. Well, without objection, I will now date uh designate Chair Kutaka as a resource under rule eighteen a due to her expertise with the talking is teaching public awareness campaign, which includes advertising and county bus uh county transit buses. Any objections for okay, no objections. We now have adept committee staff uh with us this morning, so good morning. On the agenda members, we have two items, and that's Bill 13 2026, County Transit Bus Advertising Adepth or Parentheses Adept 6. Climate change impacts on Maui County, and that's adept one, parentheses 10. The committee may consider whether recommend passage of Bill 13 2026 with or without revisions and other related actions. The other item is informational only and no legislative action will be taken. And thank you all for being here today, members. Let's begin with public testimony on both items of the agenda. Staff, are there any testifiers today? Chair, there are currently no testifiers signed up. Would you like me to do a final call? Sure. Does somebody would like to testify in the chamber?
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