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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />DATE: February 18, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:19 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 136 <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred <br />Communication No. 136, reports as follows: <br />Communication No. 136, transmitted by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated January 29, 2025, requests <br />the Council's review and confirmation of Chris K. Toafili to the Leeward Planning Commission. <br />Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda was present in the Kona Chambers to introduce <br />Mr. Toafili, who was also present in the Kona Chambers, to the Committee. Executive Assistant <br />Alameda highlighted that Mr. Toafili understands the importance of attending the meetings for <br />quorum and pledges to show up to the scheduled meetings. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked Mr. Toafili what his views are around land planning. <br />Mr. Toafili said he wants to listen to the diverse views of the public and help bridge the gap between <br />public concerns around the General Plan. Member Galimba mentioned that the Planning Commissions <br />have been receiving a large amount of testimony from a particular group of testifiers regarding the <br />General Plan and asked what his views were on that. Mr. Toafili said that it seems like the public feels <br />that they aren't being heard regarding zoning changes and that they aren't receiving enough education <br />or time to understand the changes being made. Member Galimba asked if he had any hands-on <br />experience in building and going through the permitting process. Mr. Toafili said that yes, he <br />encountered issues when building on Department of Hawaiian Homelands when he was told the <br />County didn't have jurisdiction over the permits for that area. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas highlighted the importance that Mr. Toafili understand that the <br />Council relies on a level of scrutiny on issues that come from the Planning Commission before they <br />comes to Council. She also mentioned that her concerns around the climate change deniers and <br />conspiracy theorists who have been showing up to the Planning Commission meetings and dominating <br />the discussion and encouraged him to listen but have the courage to say no to those things that do harm <br />to our community. <br />Committee Members Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and James Hustace spoke in favor of the <br />appointment. <br />GOEAC Report No. 24 <br />