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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PLANNING <br /> DATE: August 3, 2021 Re: Comm. 183 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 9:30 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 183, reports as <br /> follows: <br /> Communication No. 183, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated March 29, 2021, <br /> recommends the removal of Mark Van Pernis from the Leeward Planning Commission. <br /> Mr. Van Pernis's term is due to end on December 31, 2024. Mayor Roth recommended removal <br /> of Mr. Van Pernis on the basis of his conduct and behavior during commission meetings, which <br /> often became counter-productive and hostile. <br /> Communication No. 183 was first read during the Planning Committee on April 6, 2021, to <br /> which members of Your Committee had postponed the matter until May 4, 2021, to give <br /> Mr. Van Pernis a chance to adjust his conduct with better accommodations including a <br /> retraining on Sunshine Law and Roberts Rules, a hearing apparatus, and process to submit <br /> written questions for applicants that will be read by the Commission Chair. <br /> During the committee discussion on May 4, 2021, it was noted that although his conduct had <br /> slightly improved, one month was not sufficient time to properly make a decision on the <br /> recommended removal. Planning Committee Members Holeka Inaba, Maile David, <br /> Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Rebecca Villegas, and Aaron Chung supported a motion to <br /> postpone the matter for three months, to see if Mr. Van Pernis improved his behavior and <br /> conduct. <br /> On August 3, 2021, Communication No. 183 was before Your Committee following the <br /> three-month postponement. Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz summarized that <br /> Mr. Van Pernis has been given two chances to improve his behavior and conduct. Several <br /> accommodations were made to address his speech with Zoom capabilities. The County had also <br /> provided training opportunities on commission procedures and Robert's Rules of Order. She <br /> noted that the Leeward Planning Commission had sent a recommendation on Mr. Van Pernis' <br /> removal via Communication 183.57, which included meeting minutes from the July 15, 2021 <br /> commission meeting where a near-unanimous vote was held to recommend to the Planning <br /> Committee Mr. Van Pernis's removal, with Mr. Van Pernis voting "no" and Ms. Shani <br /> Armbruster abstaining. <br /> PC Report No.: 24 <br />