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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br /> GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br /> DATE: April 15, 2025 Re: Comm.No.226 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:01 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs,to which was referred <br /> Communication No. 226,reports as follows: <br /> Communication No. 226,transmitted by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated March 27,2025,requests <br /> the Council's review and confirmation of the nomination of Alexandria"Lexi"Ayers to the Leeward <br /> Planning Commission. <br /> Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda was present in the Kona Chambers to introduce <br /> Ms. Ayers,who was also present in the Kona Chambers,to the Committee. <br /> Committee Member Heather Kimball asked Ms. Ayers her opinion on Community Development <br /> Plans,public access, and short-term vacation rentals. Ms. Ayers said that she has only two parks in her <br /> district but that those were important to her upbringing and that she wants to support those and other <br /> opportunities to support keeping youth engaging in positive activities. She said she understands the <br /> importance of serving in this position and that she has no problem saying no to development when it <br /> may impact public access. Ms. Ayers said her goals from her background in hunting is to support <br /> projects that uphold the greatest possible public use. She said that short-term vacation rentals can have <br /> a positive role,but that there needs to be a balance for responsible use of vacation rentals in our <br /> community. Member Kimball explained further about the function of Community Development Plans <br /> and how they can impact public policy and asked how Ms. Ayers would weigh the content provided <br /> from the Community Development Plans in her decision-making. Mr. Alameda explained that he <br /> provided her with the General Plan and Community Development Plans to review. Ms.Ayers said that <br /> she was not planning on reinventing the wheel and would be relying on the documents provided and <br /> looking towards what is best for the community as a whole. <br /> Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked if she had experience in Native Hawaiian law <br /> training. Ms. Ayers said no. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder gave her information on how to engage in <br /> an upcoming free training on the law sets that create a guide regarding water, gathering, and hunting <br /> rights. He asked what she hoped to see for her community in the next 50 years. Ms. Ayers said that she <br /> wants to see local families be able to thrive here. She hoped that her grandchildren would have a lot of <br /> the same opportunities as those on the mainland, and that South Kona will have a tight-knit <br /> community that continues to take care of each other. She sees her role in the Commission by helping <br /> to encourage opportunities to keep youth busy and productive in positive roles. He also said that she <br /> can accomplish those goals by listening to and engaging the community in her decision-making. <br /> GOEAC Report No.35 <br />