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REPORT OF THE POLICY <br />COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, <br />LAND USE, AND DEVELOPMENT <br />DATE: July 23, 2024 Re: Comm. No. 929/13ill No. 179 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:00 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development, to which was referred Bill <br />No. 179, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 179, transmitted by Committee Member Holeka Inaba via Communication No. 929, dated <br />June 25, 2024, amends Chapter 16, Article 3, Section 16-5 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 <br />Edition, as amended), relating to Community Development Plan Committees. <br />The bill seeks to amend subsection (a) by requiring all members to have a "principal" residence <br />instead of "primary" residence, in accordance with Chapter 19, Subsection 19-71(e)(2) of the Code, <br />in the area covered by the Community Development Plan. <br />Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance was available in the Kona Chambers, while Planning <br />Director Zendo Kern attended via Zoom to answer questions. <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba explained that the bill clarified that the principal residence <br />of a nominee must be on Hawaii Island, addressing a recent incident where a nominee for an action <br />committee position was not a full-time resident of Hawaii County. <br />Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz noted the need to state within the Code that owning real <br />property is not a requirement, and pointed out that community members who rent and are full-time <br />residents should have the opportunity to serve. <br />Bill 179 was amended with the contents of Communication No. 929.1, which was introduced by <br />Mr. Inaba. The amendment addressed Chair Kierkiewicz's comments, ensuring that nominees do <br />not need to own real property but must have their primary residence in the district covered by the <br />Community Development Plan. All members voted in favor of the amendment. <br />Committee Members Rebecca Villegas, Jennifer Kagiwada, and Susan Lee Loy expressed their <br />support for the bill. Ms. Lee Loy highlighted that this change would allow for Hawaii Island youth <br />studying abroad to be nominated for this committee. <br />PCPLUD Report No. 11 <br />