Comm No 0007.07 - Response from Leeward Planning Commission

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Harry Kim Mayor OCT 1 2 2018 County of Hawaii LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION Aupuni Center • 101 Paualti Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, 1-latvai`i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Douglas Shipman Adams, Chair Hawaii County Charter Commission 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402 Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Adams: Keith F. Unger, Chair Oliver "Sonny" Shimaoka, Vice Chair Nancy Carr Smith Scott Church Perry Kealoha Michael Vitousek Faith "Faye" Yates e�.. SUBJECT: Hawaii County Charter Commission — Seeking Input Thank you for your letter dated July 31, 2018 requesting input from the Leeward Planning Commission as to how the County Charter affects its role and any proposals it may have to amend the Charter. At its public hearing on September 20, 2018, the Leeward Planning Commission voted to provide two recommendations to the Charter Commission. The first recommendation is to delete all of Section 6-7.6. (Transitional Powers) and the last sentence of Section 6-7.5. (b) (Duties and Functions of the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions), which states "The existing rules of practice and procedure of the Hawaii county planning commission, except for meeting places, shall apply to both commissions until the new uniform rules of practice and procedure are adopted." On April 1, 2009 the Hawaii County Planning Commission was split into two Planning Commissions; a Windward Planning Commission and Leeward Planning Commission. The sections requested for deletion related to procedures for transitioning from one to two Planning Commissions and are no longer relevant. Additionally a uniform body of rules of practice and procedure was adopted by the Commissions and became effective on April 14, 2010. The second recommendation is to delete the last sentence of Section 6-7.4. (c), which states "In addition, the director of public works and the manager of the department of water supply, or their designated representatives, shall serve as ex -officio members of the leeward planning commission, without power to vote." The Leeward Planning Commission believes it is not necessary to have ex - officio members since they do not have the power to vote and anyone from the public or county departments may participate at the Commission's public hearings. Hati-val i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Comm. No. 7.7