HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 052 2020/08/18 2018-2020REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: August 18, 2020
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 10:17 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 1027
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 1027, reports as
follows:
Communication No. 1027, dated July 31, 2020, and transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim,
submitted for the Council's review and requesting favorable confirmation of his nominee,
Barbara DeFranco, of Council District 6, to the Leeward Planning Commission. Ms. DeFranco is
the Executive Director and Founder of Paleaku Peace Gardens currently employed as a manager
and design consultant for Indich collection. She attended the University of California of
Los Angeles and Hawaii Community College. She has resided in Hawaii for approximately
50 years and was a member of the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action
Committee for four years and served as chair for one year. She volunteers for numerous
community organizations, and is not a member of any political party. If confirmed, she would
serve a five-year term to end March 31, 2025.
Executive Assistant to the Mayor Rose Bautista appeared before the Planning Committee in the
Hilo Council Chambers and Ms. DeFranco via videoconference from the Kona Council
Chambers. Ms. Bautista introduced Ms. DeFranco and presented an overview of her
qualifications and experience as noted in Communication 1027.
Ms. DeFranco stated that she appreciated the Council Members' time and consideration and
expressed what a pleasure and honor it is to be nominated to serve the community.
Committee Member Maile David spoke in support of Ms. DeFranco's nomination, considering
her dedication to South Kona and the community in general. She stated that Ms. DeFranco was a
notable participant in the Kona CDP process and that her presence on the commission would
provide benefit and perspective from the CDP lens.
Committee Member Karen Eoff echoed Ms. David's sentiments and thanked Ms. DeFranco for
her many years of service and interest in helping plan our communities.
Planning Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked Ms. DeFranco for her continued dedication to public
service and expressed appreciation for her ideology that we need to be moving toward conscious
PC Report No. 52
PC- 52 Page 2 August 18,2020
development and making sure we balance community, economic development, and the
environment.
The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a positive
recommendation and passed with six "ayes."
Chair Kierkiewicz informed Ms. DeFranco that she is not required to appear at the next Council
meeting.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication
No. 1027, and recommends confirmation of the appointment of Barbara DeFranco to the
Leeward Planning Commission.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER _ x ASHLEY L. KIE' WICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 52
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: SEP 0 2 2020