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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PLANNING <br /> DATE: May 31, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 806 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 9:01 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 806, reports as <br /> follows: <br /> Communication No. 806, transmitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated May 10, 2022, submitted <br /> for the Council's review and confirmation the nomination of Mr. John C. Cross to the Windward <br /> Planning Commission. <br /> Executive Assistant to the Mayor, Pomaika`i Bartolome, was present in the Hilo Chambers to <br /> introduce Mr. Cross. Mr. Cross is a lifelong Hawaii resident and a graduate of the University of <br /> Hawaii at Manoa with a Master of Science and Horticulture degree. He possesses extensive <br /> knowledge of East Hawaii lands, from Kohala to Ka`u, including land tenure, easements, roads <br /> and trails, parcels of record, and other unique features. Mr. Cross has volunteered his service as a <br /> Scout Master, a past Na Ala Hele Advisory Council Member, and a Steering Committee Member <br /> of Ka`u CDP, and Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association. If confirmed, he will serve a term <br /> ending December 31, 2023. <br /> Mr. Cross was present in the Hilo Chambers. He explained his experience in the sugar cane <br /> industry where he worked as a Land Manager for plantations after they closed and now works as <br /> a consultant. He has worked with the Planning Department throughout the years and considers <br /> himself friends with the staff and feels he's learned a lot about the government processes. He <br /> talked about his joy for working in the land, teaching others about land management, and how <br /> special the east side of the island is to him. With more free time on his hand, he thought he could <br /> contribute back to the land and his community through serving on the Windward Planning <br /> Commission. <br /> There was extensive conversation between Your Committee and Ms. Bartolome to clarify which <br /> vacancy Mr. Cross is proposed to fill and discrepancies in term dates. <br /> Committee Member Heather Kimball asked Mr. Cross how he felt towards public access to the <br /> shoreline and how they are regulated through Special Management Area(SMA)permits. <br /> PC Report No.: 68 <br />