COM 0048.000 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Assist with overseeing departmental operations, managing 79 positions, including the Director and Deputy Director roles, with a budget of approximately $5.2 million. Ensure alignment of resources with strategic goals and regulatory requirements. • Assist with the preparation of the updated Comprehensive General Plan Amendment and the updated Comprehensive Zoning Code and Subdivision Code Amendments. • Supervised staff and managed division operations in West Hawaii, including assuming the role of West Hawaii Division Manager for over a year until the vacancy was filled. Once filled, provided training and support for the new Manager up to the present. • Provides technical guidance on planning and land use matters to the Mayor, Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions, the Hawaii County Council, and other County Departments. Prepare in-depth reports, advise on compliance with laws, and provide actionable recommendations on policy and procedural improvements. • Oversee and provide a thorough review of staff work products, and ensure deliverables meet departmental standards and timelines. • Currently oversee all Special Management Area (SMA) staff. Review all correspondences and permit requests for SMA determinations. The goal is to create a new division that would focus on all SMA and shoreline matters, including permitting, enforcement and public access. • Engage with legislators to advocate for laws and regulations that support county planning objectives, such as affordable housing, environmental protection, and infrastructure funding. Ensure departmental policies remain compliant with evolving state and federal regulations. • Assist in leading public engagement efforts to foster transparency and inclusion in the planning process. This includes organizing public workshops, responding to community feedback, and engaging with community groups, developers, and local businesses to align plans with public interests and needs. • Mentor and guide Department staff, fostering professional growth and promoting efficiency. Support team dynamics and lead initiatives to enhance service quality and workflow, including overseeing division operations as West Hawaii Division Manager for over a year during a staffing transition. • Review staff work products to maintain high departmental standards, ensure compliance with timelines, and meet project deliverables. Monitor permit tracking to enforce adherence to deadlines and maintain process integrity. • Identify and implement process improvements to streamline workflows, such as digitizing records, improving permit processing times, and enhancing customer service to increase public satisfaction with the planning process. • Assist in implementing amendments to the Zoning Code and departmental rules, in collaboration with the Planning Commissions and the Hawaii County Council. Conduct comprehensive research, draft rule amendments, and prepare background reports for public hearings to support informed decision -making. • Take an active role in emergency planning and response, coordinating with emergency management teams to integrate land use planning in disaster preparedness, evacuation planning, and post -disaster recovery strategies. • Represent the Department at the Hawaii County Council meetings, Planning Commission hearings, and public forums. Present departmental updates, explain policy implications, and address public inquiries on planning matters. County of Hawaii Planning Department December 2016 to December 2020 Planning Program Manager Responsible for supervising a Planner VI position, a Planner V position, 2 Planner IV positions, and 3 clerical positions with overseeing work product and assisting with training in planning matters. Prepare job evaluation reports for employees. Responsible for assigning all incoming correspondences and permits to appropriate staff member(s). Oversee and review work product generated by staff in preparation for the Planning Commissions and the Hawaii County Council Hearings as well as all generated responses to correspondences submitted to the Planning Division, including but not limited to, permit condition compliance letters, annual progress reports, general inquiries, etc. Responsible for managing and preparing all schedules and agendas for the Windward and Leeward Planning JEFFREY W. DARROW I RESUME