Sierra Club honcho tapped
for land-use panel
Mayor Jeremy Harris has appointed outspoken environmentalist Jeff Mikulina to serve on the city Planning Commission, which decides land use issues on Oahu.
"I look forward to taking part in the discussions of how we use land on Oahu. I think I'll be able to bring an important voice to the table," said Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club's Hawaii chapter.
Mikulina's appointment raised immediate concerns with developers.
"I think obviously the concern would be if he was going to be able to be balanced," said Dean Uchida, executive director of the Land Use Research Foundation, an advocacy group representing landowners and developers. "The Planning Commission, like any other government agency, should be able to balance the needs of everybody."
Uchida said that people will be watching whether Mikulina will fairly weigh issues.
Mikulina said his background is in engineering, which requires him to balance various concerns.
"My day job, I represent environmental interests and members who want to protect Hawaii's environment, but I very much recognize that there are trade-offs involved with any decision," Mikulina said.
The mayor said yesterday that he believes Mikulina will do a good job.
"While Jeff and I haven't always agreed, he's very articulate and a well-read individual, especially on issues regarding urban planning," said Harris, who worked with Mikulina on sustainability issues. "I think he'll bring a lot of insight into the commission."
Harris said that being a member of the Sierra Club should not pre-empt anyone from being on the Planning Commission, an advisory board that makes recommendations on zoning changes and other land use issues.
"I don't know why he would be any less able to leave that behind when other members of the commission have affiliations with, for instance, construction unions and things such as that," the mayor said.
Uchida said he does not want to disqualify anyone for their beliefs, "but then people have to be aware of what their role and responsibilities are on a commission such as the Planning Commission."
Mikulina said he plans to recuse himself from any votes or issues on which the Sierra Club has taken a position. While on the Planning Commission, he will be representing the people of Oahu and not the Sierra Club, he said.
"I think anyone who has worked with me in the past decade knows that although I represent environmental interests for the Sierra Club that I'm fair and I'm honest, and I think I'm objective when it comes to the issues and recognize both sides -- the economic side and the environmental side," Mikulina said.
Mikulina, 29, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering specializing in environmental quality, from the University of Illinois, and is working on his master's degree. He was named the Sierra Club's director in December 1998.
If confirmed, Mikulina's term would expire in 2007. He will replace Brian Yahata, whose term has expired.
The City Council first takes up Mikulina's appointment Wednesday, before referring the appointment to the Council planning committee. A final confirmation vote is slated for next month.