HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.068 2020-2022 pl?c
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December 30, 2020
Office of County Clerk
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Hawaii County Council members,
Please reject the nomination of Zendo Kern as Director of the Planning Department.
Simply put, he is not qualified for the job.
According to the County Charter (see enclosure), there is a two-part requirement to
qualify for the job and Mr. Kern does not meet the first part. It says:
"The planning director shall have a miniumum of five years of training and experience in
a responsible planning position, or a degree in planning, engineering,.....'°
Mr. Kern does not have a degree so to qualify he must have 5 years of training and
experience in a responsible planning position. Notice the Charter says "training AND
experience", not "training OR experience". Merriam-Webster dictionary says to 'train' is
'to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient'. Who taught Mr. Kern about planning
concepts and principles? Mr. Kern does not have training in a responsible planning
position.
Hawaii County is facing challenging times ahead and we need a Planning Director that
is undoubtedly qualified for the position.
All good coaches know not to put a rookie in the game with bases loaded and two outs
in the 9th inning.
Be good coaches and reject this nomination.
M�ao oa,
Gracie Aramal
Honalo
Comm.
Ref. To:
Ref. nate JAN ® 5 2021
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Section 6-7.2. Planning Director.
(a) The planning director shall be appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the council and may
be removed by the mayor. 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.
(b) The director shall be the chief planning officer of the county and the administrative head
of the department and shall:
(1) Advise the mayor, the windward planning commission, the leeward planning
commission and the council on all planning and land use matters_
(2) Prepare a general pian, implementation plans and any amendments thereto in
accordance with Section 3-15.
(3) Prepare proposed zoning and subdivision ordinances, zoning maps and
regulations and any amendments thereto.
(d) review the lists of proposed capital improvements contemplated by agencies of
the county and recommend the order of their priority.
(5) Administer the subdivision and zoning ordinances and regulations adopted
thereunder.
(6) Render decisions on proposed subdivision plans pursuant to law.
(7) flake recommendations on rezoning applications, special exceptions and other
similar requests.
(8) Fender decisions on proposed variances pursuant to law, except that, if any
written objections are made to the planning director's actions under this section,
said actions shall be subject to review by the board of appeals in accordance with
Section 6-9.2, unless otherwise provided by law or this charter.
(9) Perform such other related duties and functions as may be necessary or required
pursuant to law and this charter.
(1979. Prop. 5, Prop. 12, and Prop. 13; 1998, Curd. No. 98-83, sec. 2; 2000, Prop. 2, sec. 1 and Prop. 7,
sec. 2; 2008, Ord.No.08-01, sec. 3;2010,Prop. 7,sec. 18.)
Section 6-7.3. Windward Planning Commission.
(a) There is established a windward planning commission that shall have jurisdiction over
the area consisting of the judicial districts of Puna, South Hilo, North Hilo, Hamakua, and
K a`u.
(b) There shall be seven members on this commission. The commission shall include one
member from each of the judicial districts of Puna, South Hilo, North Hilo/Hamakua
combined, and Ka`u and three "at-large" members selected from these districts. Not
more than two members, appointed from any one judicial district, shall serve on the
windward planning commission.
(c) The members shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council in the
manner prescribed in Section 13-4. Each member representing a district shall be a legal
resident and registered voter of that district. 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 windward planning commission, without power to
vote.
(2008, Ord_No. 08-01, sec. 5; 2010,Prop. 7,see. 19.)
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