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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON PLANNING <br />DATE: January 4, 2011 Re: Comm. 15 <br />PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa <br />78 -128 Ehukai Street <br />Kailua -Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:34 p.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. 15 reports as follows: <br />Communication No. 15, from Mayor Billy Kenoi, dated December 7, 2010, requests <br />confirmation of the appointment of Mark Travalino of the Council District 8, to the Hawaii <br />County Leeward planning Commission. Communication No. 15 notes that Mr. Travalino, a <br />21 -year resident of Hawai'i, is employed at Laborers International Union of North America <br />Local 368 as a field representative. Mr. Travalino states that he is a Democrat. If confirmed, he <br />will serve a five year term to end on December 31, 2015. Mr. Travalino was in attendance at the <br />Keauhou Sheraton Bay Resort & Spa. <br />Councilmember Smart requested Mr. Travalino address concerns from testifiers regarding his <br />background. He responded he believes in development done right, that he is not biased, that he <br />is open, and that he supported O'oma because he believed it was a well designed, sound <br />development. He feels he makes well informed educated decisions. <br />Councilmember Pilago stated that Mr. Travalino brings a strong background in union and labor <br />related areas and asked about his experiences in environmental and community organizations. <br />He stated that he has been involved in park clean up projects and supports the food basket <br />program. Councilmember Pilago stated that he was concerned about Mr. Travalino's lack of <br />community services work <br />Councilmember Ford asked how he would handle concerns regarding historic sites, Hawaiian <br />traditions and Hawaiian practices in his decision making. Using `O`oma as an example, she <br />asked if he would be willing to vote against his own personal opinion in favor of the public's <br />opinion to help protect cultural resources. He replied that heritage is vital to protect and <br />confirmed he would be willing to vote based on public opinion. Councilmember Ford stated that <br />her opinion is that his nomination will create an unbalanced commission <br />Councilmember Yagong discussed the decision to divide into separate Windward and Leeward <br />Commissions and the need to keep the Commissions balanced. He stated that developers are <br />already represented but he would follow the lead of Westside Councilmembers on this <br />nomination, <br />PC Report No. 1 <br />