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Committee advances Lokelani Brandt to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission; members urge virtual access and scheduling fixes
Summary
The committee forwarded Lokelani Brandt’s nomination to the PONC with a favorable recommendation and discussed quorum problems and moving commission meetings to virtual platforms to improve participation and speed application review.
The Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs voted to forward Mayor Alameda’s nomination of Lokelani Brandt to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) and discussed ways to reduce canceled meetings and improve access for commissioners.
Micah Alameda, executive assistant in the mayor’s office, introduced Brandt as a preservation professional who has worked across Hawaii Island on archaeology and ethnographic consultation. Alameda noted Brandt’s local ties and said the mayor’s office is trying to increase virtual access for boards and commissions to address quorum challenges and improve participation: “We recognize how difficult it is to volunteer…hopefully, in the very near future…we will have PONC up and running on the Zoom platform,” Alameda said, referencing Resolution 287-23 that directed efforts to expand online participation.
Brandt told the committee she has roughly 15 years of field experience and would like to help protect wahi pana (storied places) and involve communities in stewardship for District 3. When asked about the commission schedule, Brandt said she had reviewed dates and noted one potential conflict in May related to a Minnesota conference but said she expects to be available otherwise.
Councilmember Kirkowitz urged the mayor’s office to consider changing the commission’s meeting frequency because canceled meetings have created backlogs in application review and delayed reports to the council. “If there is a meeting that is scheduled and then canceled because they can't meet quorum, they don't meet till a few months later and what that does…is cause a backlog on the administrative side,” Kirkowitz said. Alameda agreed to follow up with PONC staff.
A motion to forward Brandt’s nomination (moved by Councilmember Kirkowitz; seconded in the record by Councilmember Kaguata) carried with six in favor; Councilmembers Inaba, Galimba and Villegas were absent. The nomination will be forwarded to full council for confirmation.
The committee adjourned at 9:28 a.m.
