HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0263.004 2020-2022 P/PC
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From: Janice Glennie
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2021 9:42 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Villegas, Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka
Subject: Communication 263 appointments to KCDP
Aloha council members,
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Mahalo to council rep Villegas for bringing this resolution and discussion to the floor.
I can't speak to the needs and vacancies of the Kailua Design commission, but I feel that it's critical for this body to
be fully active and supportive of our little downtown -- its look, its uses, its access and, in the end, its appeal as a hub
to local businesses and residents. Working with shop owners is essential as is finding ways to implement village
design guidelines in order to make our downtown as inviting, safe, and walkable as possible— aka all of the other
attributes that help local businesses, their employees and area residents prosper and connect with one another.
Regarding KCDP, I'm currently on its action committee and have been involved in the plan since its inception. At this
time, I feel it's critical to continue to hold over any Action Committee members willing to stay on the committee for
at least one more year. There are many reasons why I think this is important. One is that group memory and a deep
knowledge of the plan and its history are important for holding true to the plan's tenets. That's not to say new blood
and some change isn't positive, but since there were some serious amendments made to the plan not long ago, we've
had relatively few meetings because of funding lapses and then covid. Speaking for myself and possibly others on the
Action Committee who've been hanging tight throughout the process, handing leadership of the project over to a
majority of new members who would likely have had no or very little experience with the plan (likely not having even
attended meetings since very few community members have in recent years) seems onerous to the plan's intended
implementation. At the same time, leaving vacancies on the committee isn't helpful either, but this is true only when
there are suitable applicants to choose from.
Speaking of which, this is more important to the CDPs than many other boards and commissions. One of the core
parts of the KCDP working in a fair and win-win way is that its membership remain sincerely diverse. This is far
different from choosing someone steeped in development activities who pays dues to Sierra club and calls themselves
an environmentalist (or even committed to environmental principles) as would be the case if an environmentalist
called herself a social worker because they donate clothes to Hospice. The activities, words and actions of the people
the mayor nominates are as important as their title in this or that professional or other role.
So far, this administration has shown a troubling lack of understanding of that key concept. Without copping to that
requirement, the mayor(and this council if they approve a poor nomination) could help take this plan further from
being the win-win document it's meant to be (grassroots with representatives coming from mixed perspectives).
Unfortunately, it can be much easier to find a development- and tourism-friendly applicant than from other
professions since could stand to gain financially from the decisions that committee makes.
Again, the KCDP Action Committee used to meet monthly until funding was cut for its support in recent years.
We've barely met in nearly two years. There's lots to catch up on. This doesn't seem like the best time to start
training and educating new Action Committee members.
Having said that, administration support for the work of the KCDP and its core principles is the only way we'll ever
get out of the gate we've been waiting to open for over 10 years.
Comm. No. _
Mahalo and sincerely, Ref. To:
s Ref. Dte 2021
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