WASSP Committee Discusses Bill 133 for Safe Parking Pilot Expansion — October 20, 2026

On October 20, 2026, the Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks (WASSP) Committee of the Maui County Council held a discussion (Rule 7B) on Bill 133 (2026). The bill proposes amending Chapter 10.76 of the Maui County Code to expand the temporary safe parking pilot program by allowing vehicle habitation on any county-owned or managed parcel (not just designated parking lots) and reducing participation barriers. The goal is to urgently address the needs of individuals living unsheltered along Pulehu Road. No legislative action was taken, but the Committee identified needed clarifications for the bill's second and final reading on Friday. Note: The agenda and transcript list the meeting date as Monday, October 19, 2026, while the assigned date for this summary is October 20, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Clark Johnson (Private Citizen): Expressed support for utilizing existing county parks with established infrastructure and urged clear plans for patrolling and managing safety.
• Stitch Gordon: Voiced strong opposition to the proposed Pulehu Road site, deeming it unsafe and lacking amenities. Supported using existing park infrastructure and distinguished between the needs of people who work and need overnight parking versus those living full-time in non-operable vehicles.
• Lisa Darcy (Board Member, Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Policy Committee, National Vehicle Residency Coalition): Expressed significant concerns about the lack of transparency and community input in the bill's development. Urged the council to slow down and incorporate bottom-up input from people with lived experience, citing the failures of the Tent City project.
• Laurie J. (Former Tent City Worker): Shared ground-level concerns regarding liability for uninsured vehicles, lack of safety checks, vehicle size limits, and the need for wraparound services. She provided emotional testimony about systemic failures leading to deaths among the unsheltered population and advocated for a "sorting hat" approach to create multiple solutions for different needs.
• Kanaka Kama (Calling in as 4945): Expressed full support for Director Maggie Willis and urged the council to let the administration execute the plan without obstruction from legal processes.
• Travis Liggett (Formerly unsheltered): Described systemic short circuits impacting the unsheltered population and advocated for the Hanaya Kikau Act and a housing-first model.
• Jim Langford: Offered neutral technical support and suggested a simple form system to track the multiple approaches required.
• Faith Chase (Private Citizen): Expressed deep frustration with the county's lack of progress on homelessness, calling the proposed effort too small and demanding more creativity and urgency.

Discussion Items

• Bill 133 Rationale (Director Maggie Willis, Dept. of Human Concerns): Director Willis explained that the current ordinance has too high a threshold for people living along Pulehu Road. The bill seeks flexibility to allow the department to design programs tailored to specific populations without overly restrictive legislative mandates.
• Temporary Site (Pulehu Road): The administration is planning a six-month, low-barrier temporary site on a county parcel south of Hansen Road. It will serve 50-60 people. It will have porta-potties, hand-washing stations, potable water, lighting, and 24/7 private security with trauma-informed training, but no cooking facilities. The administration aims to open it by the week of October 26, contingent on the bill's passage.
• Permanent Site (Kahului/AGON): Director Willis confirmed the original safe parking pilot site (awarded to AGON) is separate, still in development, and serves a different population with higher thresholds (e.g., operable vehicles, IDs).
• Liability & Removal of Enforcement Clauses: First Deputy Corp. Counsel Me Jardines stated the bill suspends the enforcement of certain rules to allow entry onto the lot, not the laws themselves. Detailed liability discussions were deferred to executive session or private calls with council members before the second reading.
• Rulemaking Authority & Structure: Corp. Counsel noted administrative rules take time and are not feasible for this urgent pilot. Several members expressed discomfort with the lack of a structured framework for anything that extends beyond a strict temporary pilot.
• Transition of Belongings: Unlike past encampment clearances, staff and providers will work with individuals on-site to sort and store belongings, offering property storage for those who decline entry into the new site.
• Alternative Locations: Member Paltin suggested her district office (60 Kenui St.) as a potential pilot location with existing facilities. Director Willis agreed to tour the site.
• Staffing and Capacity: Director Willis stated her Homeless Programs Division has three full-time staff leading the coordination with multiple other county departments.

Key Outcomes

• No legislative action was taken, as the item was noticed for discussion only (Rule 7B).
• The Committee directed the Office of Council Services (OCS) to draft non-substantive, technical clean-up amendments to Bill 133 in preparation for its second and final reading on Friday.
• Council members were invited to contact Corporation Counsel directly for detailed questions about liability before the Friday meeting.
• The meeting highlighted the necessity for a range of distinct solutions for different homeless populations—the temporary Pulehu site targeting those with complex barriers and the AGON site targeting those with fewer barriers.