Mikulina seen as watchdog on planning panel
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Sierra Club Hawai'i president Jeff Mikulina to the city Planning Commission yesterday after he pledged to not let the environmental group's policies dictate his decisions.
Advertiser library photo • Jan. 12, 2000
"I'll be fair and look out for all parties with an open mind," said Mikulina, who was nominated to the post by Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Jeff Mikulina says he won't let Sierra Club policies affect his decisions.
Mikulina said he would recuse himself from decisions regarding issues the Sierra Club has taken a public position on, so there would be no appearance of a conflict of interest. He has headed the group's Hawai'i chapter since 1998, and is its chief spokesman and lobbyist.
He acknowledged that the club has criticized naming people closely linked with developers and big land owners to government panels that oversee land and water use.
Mikulina said his appointment was different because the Sierra Club is not in a position to make money from his decisions on the Planning Commission.
Council members said having an environmental watchdog on the nine-member panel would help ensure big decisions are scrutinized closely.
"I think it will fill out the body in a very wonderful and needed way," Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said.
Councilman Mike Gabbard likened Mikulina to Paul Revere, and said he was confident Mikulina would give early warning of environmental planning problems.
Mikulina replaces commissioner Brian Yahata for a term that expires in 2007.
The Planning Commission advises the council and administration on planning issues, holds public hearings and makes recommendations on all proposals to adopt or amend the city's general plan, development plans and zoning ordinances.
The council also passed a resolution urging the administration to look for alternative ways of handling the 1.5 million tons of garbage produced on O'ahu each year, rather than rely on landfills.
The administration last year sought proposals from companies to build a plasma arc plant that would blast garbage with superheated air and burn it into a glassy substance that could be recycled as a construction material.
But the offers were rejected out of concern that the process was too costly, that the companies didn't have enough experience handling the amount of trash Honolulu generates, or it would take too long to build the plant.
The council asked that plasma arc option be revisited. The council has until December to select a site for a new landfill or apply to expand the present dump at Waimanalo Gulch.
Gabbard also introduced a resolution calling on the administration to seek proposals from firms that would ship O'ahu's garbage to the Mainland. He said a landfill he visited in Klickitat County, Washington, is interested in such a plan.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
