Committee of the Whole

THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Time:                               10:00 A.M.

Call to Order:               Honorable Milton E. Potter, Senate President, 36^th Legislature

Roll Call:                       Shenika Dowe-Serrano, Chief Journal Clerk

CONSIDERATION OF FLOOR AGENDA:

The 36^th Legislature will convene in a Committee of the Whole to receive testimony on the following zoning requests:

BLOCK I

Bill No. 36-0033               An Act amending official Zoning Map STZ-9, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to rezone Remainder Parcel No. 19-1-2, Parcel No. 19-1-2-7 (Eastern portion), and Parcel No. 19-1-2-7 (Western portion), Estate Smith Bay, Nos. 1, 2, and 3 East End Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands from A-2 (Agricultural Zone) to B-3 (Business Scattered)

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Leia LaPlace-Matthew, Territorial Planner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Candice Lindqvist-Wallace, Applicant

Bill No. 36-0034                  An Act amending official Zoning Map STZ-9, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to rezone Parcel No. 19-1-2-4 Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands from R-1 (Residential-Low Density) to B-3 (Business Scattered)

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Leia LaPlace-Matthew, Territorial Planner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Najocki Boyd, Applicant

BLOCK II

The Committee of the Whole will receive testimony on the economic pressures impacting the cost of living in the U.S. Virgin Islands

COST OF LIVING IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Part 1:          CONSUMER GOODS

• Pricing structures of consumer goods
• Impact of freight and shipping costs
• Role of price controls and regulations by DLCA
• Perspectives from local businesses on economic challenge
• Recommendations to stabilize or reduce consumer goods prices

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs
Wayne Biggs, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Authority
Dr. Mark Wenner, Economist
David Goldberg, Manager, The Fruit Bowl
Willie Hamed, Vice President, The Market
Ahed Daas, President, Food Center
Michael Espinosa, General Manager, Cost-U-Less
Roy Infante, General Manager, PriceSmart
Jennifer Nugent-Hill, Senior Director, Tropical Shipping
John Woods, President, STT/STJ Chamber of Commerce

Part 2:          HOUSING & UTILITIES

• Rising costs of utilities
• Availability and affordability of housing
• Renewable energy initiatives and long-term savings

Invited Testifiers:
Eugene Jones, Jr., Executive Director, VI Housing Finance Authority
Kyle Fleming, Director, VI Energy Office
Karl Knight, Chief Executive Officer, VI Water & Power Authority
Geraldine Pitt, Chief Executive Office, VIYA
Daryl Griffith, Interim Executive Director, VI Waste Management Authority

The Committee of the Whole will reconvene on Tuesday, March 04, 2025, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room.