HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.039 2020-2022 P/PC
COMMA
From: mak221
Seat: Thursday, December 31, 2020 1:22 PM
To: Chung, Aaron; David, Maile; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kimball, Heather;
Lee Loy, Sue; Inaba, Holeka; Richards, Tim; Villegas, Rebecca; Council Testimony; Chung,
Aaron; David, Maile; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kimball, Heather; Lee Loy,
Sue; Inaba, Holeka; Richards, Tim; Villegas, Rebecca; Council Testimony
Subject: In opposition to Zendo Kern appointment Testimony by Mark Koppel, Umauma
Aloha Honorable Councilmembersa
First, Happy New Year
Second, T agree with the following testimonyF
Aloha Councilmembers, M
Although Zendo Kern deserves credit for his successful business and his contributions to t:he
community as a volunteer, he does not appear to be the right choice for Planning Director.
I - He does not have the qualifications required by the County Charter, Section 6-7.2, quoted
below:
The planning director shall have had a minimum of five years of training and experience in a
responsible planning position, or a degree in planning, engineering, architecture, geography, or,
another planning-related field and three years of experience in a responsible planning
position. No less than three years of experience shall have been in an administrative capacity.
He appears to have no training or experience in planning as defined by Oxford Languages
"Planning" is defined as "the control of urban development by a local government authority,
from which a license must be obtained to build a new property or change an existing one."
Google/ Oxford Languages/ law definition
https-//ww.google.com/search?q=planning+definition&riz=iClSQJL_enUS882US882&oq=pla
ening+definition&aqs=chrome..69i57jOl7.3793jljl5&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
He does not appear to have any college degree.
He also appears to have no administrative experience in a government position----only in a
business.
2 - Mr. Dern would be hampered in fulfilling the duties of Planning Director, Since he would
need to recuse himself from a number of projects that he worked on through his business.
1Comm.No.. 41M
Refi.To.
Ret.Date
3 - Mr, Kern donated $2,700 to Mitch Roth's campaign. This may pass muster with the Ethics
Board, but casts a cloud over his appointment.
4 - Mr. Kern has done consultation for projects that raised serious concerns, For example:
Royal Kona Village, which has recently sparked community concerns about traffic, school
capacity, water needs, and archaeological sites.
The Hickey request for an after-the-fact permit to host weddings on agricultural land, in
September 2020. The Planning Department did not support the proposal because of concerns
about noise and light pollution; safety with visitor, staff, and truck traffic; inappropriate use of
agricultural land; and nonconformance with the General Plan and Kona Community
Development Plan.
Fairview in Kona, which proposed a 40-room lodge on agricultural land in August 2020. A
dozen testifiers opposed the project. The Planning Department did not support the proposal
because of concerns about noise; safety with visitor, staff, and truck traffic; invasive species-,
lack of water and wastewater infrastructure; and inappropriate use of agricultural land.
Please do not support Mr. Kern's nomination.
Mark Koppel
IJ rn a u rn a