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Department would handle water, the Research and Development <br /> would handle economic development. But all of those considera- <br /> tions , water, parks , roads, economic development and so forth, <br /> would then have to be packaged and balanced and that is the <br /> function of the Planning Department through its regulatory <br /> controls of zoning, subdivision and whatever regulatory <br /> requirements that are currently assigned to our office. <br /> Very briefly, Mr. Chairman, that is generally <br /> how I believe the planning and research development have been, <br /> and should be organized. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: Do any of the commissioners <br /> have any questions to ask Mr. Fuke? <br /> MRS. KOBAYASHI : Mr. Chairman. We also have <br /> something from legal counsel regarding the setting up of some <br /> changes to the section on the Planning Department. Would <br /> questions be..it' s not the subject but I just wondered if the <br /> Planning Department was aware of the changes that legal counsel <br /> is suggesting. <br /> MR. FUKE: Just generally. Through the newspapers , <br /> the West Hawaii Today and the Tribune Herald, I have been made <br /> apprised of what the proposed changes are. I would like to just <br /> generally add that in relation to giving the county council the <br /> authority to initiate general plan amendments, I think that it <br /> is made rather clear in the legal memorandum prepared by the <br /> corporation counsel ' s office in relation to the general plan <br /> amendments that the council , by virtue of the existing language <br /> of the charter, does already have the authority to initiate <br /> general plan amendments. What they did back in 1971 was they <br /> passed an ordinance which was a general plan which delegated <br /> the responsibilities of initiating general plan amendments from <br /> the council to the planning director. So I do not necessarily <br /> believe and, again, based upon the strength of the corporation <br /> counsel ' s opinion whether, in fact, specific language to that <br /> effect would be needed in the charter. With respects to whether <br /> the Planning Commission should be in a position to initiate <br /> general plan amendments, generally--if I can back up, I have <br /> developed procedures for council ' s consideration right now which <br /> would allow the county council to initiate amendments to the <br /> general plan. This has already met the corporation counsel ' s <br /> office test as far as whether the proposed bill meets the require- <br /> ment of the existing language of the charter and their office at <br /> this point in time concludes that it does. With respects to the <br /> Planning Commission initiated amendments at this point in time <br /> I would have some reservations unless other changes are made. I <br /> think that what we must really understand was when the charter <br /> was first prepared and developed I read into the charter where the <br /> Planning Commission on major policy issues , planning policy issues <br /> would basically be assigned the responsibility of testing. You <br /> know, testing whether the Planning Director' s proposal is acceptable <br /> from a lay body which is the Planning Commission and then it would <br /> go over to the county council on major planning policy issues. On <br /> things dealing with day to day kinds of operations, the Planning <br /> Commission would also be charged with the responsibility of granting <br /> variances or denying variances, use permits, or whatever have you. <br /> These would be the day to day operations as distinguised from <br /> general plan amendments which are long term and have broad policy <br /> implications. <br /> -6- <br />