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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOEAC 035 2025-04-15 2024-2026 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DATE: April 15, 2025 Re: Comm.No.226 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i TIME: 9:01 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs,to which was referred Communication No. 226,reports as follows: Communication No. 226,transmitted by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated March 27,2025,requests the Council's review and confirmation of the nomination of Alexandria"Lexi"Ayers to the Leeward Planning Commission. Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda was present in the Kona Chambers to introduce Ms. Ayers,who was also present in the Kona Chambers,to the Committee. Committee Member Heather Kimball asked Ms. Ayers her opinion on Community Development Plans,public access, and short-term vacation rentals. Ms. Ayers said that she has only two parks in her district but that those were important to her upbringing and that she wants to support those and other opportunities to support keeping youth engaging in positive activities. She said she understands the importance of serving in this position and that she has no problem saying no to development when it may impact public access. Ms. Ayers said her goals from her background in hunting is to support projects that uphold the greatest possible public use. She said that short-term vacation rentals can have a positive role,but that there needs to be a balance for responsible use of vacation rentals in our community. Member Kimball explained further about the function of Community Development Plans and how they can impact public policy and asked how Ms. Ayers would weigh the content provided from the Community Development Plans in her decision-making. Mr. Alameda explained that he provided her with the General Plan and Community Development Plans to review. Ms.Ayers said that she was not planning on reinventing the wheel and would be relying on the documents provided and looking towards what is best for the community as a whole. Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked if she had experience in Native Hawaiian law training. Ms. Ayers said no. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder gave her information on how to engage in an upcoming free training on the law sets that create a guide regarding water, gathering, and hunting rights. He asked what she hoped to see for her community in the next 50 years. Ms. Ayers said that she wants to see local families be able to thrive here. She hoped that her grandchildren would have a lot of the same opportunities as those on the mainland, and that South Kona will have a tight-knit community that continues to take care of each other. She sees her role in the Commission by helping to encourage opportunities to keep youth busy and productive in positive roles. He also said that she can accomplish those goals by listening to and engaging the community in her decision-making. GOEAC Report No.35 GOEAC-35 Page 2 April 15,2025 Committee Member Michelle Galimba spoke about the need for affordable housing and how much of that need is addressed with housing located far away from the more urban centers,which leads to lack of water, lack of infrastructure, and long commute times. Member Galimba asked Ms.Ayers what her vision is to address the need for affordable housing. Ms. Ayers said that the Hina Lath Street 1 affordable housing project is the newest one she is aware of, and that something located closer to, or directly in the Kealakekua/Captain Cook area would help. She added that those who she assists in her work in Real Estate are local, first-time homebuyers and typically the only area they can find to purchase that is affordable is further out, in Ocean View,Ranchos, or Miloli`i. Ms. Ayers stated that housing people closer toward the hubs of services they use would really help. Committee Members Holeka Inaba and Rebecca Villegas spoke in favor of the appointment. Committee Chair Jenn Kagiwada asked Ms. Ayers to share additional ideas on providing affordable and work-force housing opportunities on the Leeward side of the island. Ms. Ayers said she believes that affordable housing must be located within proximity to jobs. Chair Kagiwada reminded her that as a member of the Leeward Planning Commission she will be seeing various items before Council Members do. Council Members will be relying on the Commissioners' careful review using the various documents mentioned earlier to guide their work. Pursuant to Article VI, Chapter 7, Section 6-7.4 of the Hawai`i County Charter,members of the Leeward Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication No. 226, and recommends confirmation of the appointment of Alexandria"Lexi"Ayers to the Leeward Planning Commission. slm AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted, GALIMBA X HUSTACE X COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL INABA x OPERATIONS AND KAGIWADA x EXTERNAL AFFAIRS KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X KIMBALL x JENN KAG ADA, CHAIR ONISHI X GOEAC REPO iu NO.: 35 VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: j 0 7 2025