HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0796.003 2022-2024p COEAC,
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Aprit 15, 2024
Re: Bill 145
Aloha, Chair Evans and members of the GOEA Committee
My name is Joy Dillon, I am a Hilo resident and 1 am submitting testimony opposed to Bill 145.
It is already difficult to fill Planning Commission vacancies. Leeward Planning Commission has had
to cancel quite a few meetings due to not having a quorum. Hawaii County already has a Cultural
Resources Committee. Why can't Planning Commission members consult with the Cultural
Resources Committee members if there is a question about Native Hawaiian cultural practices?
The dedicated members of our Commissions are volunteers who graciously give up a lot of their
time to sit on these Commissions. Note the recent Windward Planning Commission meeting that
lasted 8 hours.
Please do not complicate matters and make it more difficult to attract and approve members for
our Planning Commissions by requiring expertise in "Native Hawaiian traditional and customary
practices, Native Hawaiian law, or traditional Hawaiian Land usage, land use planning, policies,
principles; land development and construction; or environmental science, environmental
protection, or land conservation, and that each category be represented by a different member."
How do you plan to attract experts such as these that are willing to volunteer their time? And what
does "...each category be represented by a different member"? It is not clear howyou would find
volunteers for each one of these categories. In my opinion this is going to make the process of
attracting and approving volunteers for our Planning Commissions very difficult if not impossible,
Thank you for your consideration,
Maa
Joy Dillon
1302A Ainaola Dr
Hilo, Hi 96i20
COM- iS _
Ref. To:
Ref. Date AN 6 2024