Mike Bonin Hires 3 Staff Planners

Councilmember-elect Mike Bonin announced Monday the hiring of three seasoned planners to fill top posts on his staff and help him promote an agenda of “putting neighborhoods first.” 

Bonin, who takes office July 1 to succeed Bill Rosendahl as representative for the Westside’s 11th District, named Tricia Keane as his planning director, Noel Hyun as his senior planner, and Debbie Dyner Harris as his district director. 

The announcement comes after Bonin named Chad Molnar as his chief of staff and Laura McLennan as his deputy chief of staff shortly after his March election victory.

“This is a planning dream team,” Bonin said in a statement. “Tricia, Noel and Debbie are rock stars. Collectively, they know the planning and development process from every angle. They will help me and my constituents protect the Westside from overdevelopment and promote a strategy of smart and sustainable, neighborhood-friendly development.”

Keane was senior deputy county counsel for the property division of the County Los Angeles, where she advised the Board of Supervisors at public hearings and worked closely with board offices regarding land use matters, including complex and high-profile development projects. Prior to joining the County of Los Angeles, she was a senior associate for the environment, land and resources Department at Latham & Watkins LLP.

“Tricia is brilliant, has a great heart, and unmatched experience in both the public and private sectors,” Bonin said. “She is the complete package, the real deal, and she shares my vision for getting development ‘right’ on the Westside. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

Keane graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in English and German, and is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law. She was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Southern California Rising Star for 2006-2009. Keane is a Department of Recreation & Parks commissioner for Pasadena, and she volunteers her time as an officer of the board of directors of the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles.

Hyun, who has a special interest in mass transit and transportation policy, served as planning deputy for L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti. She recently assisted Garcetti with community and fundraising outreach during his successful campaign for mayor. She also served as a law clerk to Special Assistant Jane Usher to L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, where she worked on land use and zoning matters. Bonin said Hyun brings with her a wealth of experience working on transit-oriented development, billboard regulations, medical marijuana dispensaries, historic preservation, and other land use matters.

“Noel blew me away with her intense passion for this job, and her ability to thoroughly research and understand every aspect of a major development.” Bonin said. “When I listened to her strategic and comprehensive analysis of some of the biggest projects in my district, I knew I needed her on my planning team.”

Hyun was a board member of the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council from 2010-2012, and a Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate for Fiscal Year 2011-12. She graduated from University of Southern California with a B.A. in Sociology, and is a graduate of the USC Gould School of Law.

Dyner Harris, currently director of programs and government relations for The Jewish Federation, is a planning veteran with extensive experience working with Westside constituents. She was district director for former City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, as well as former City Councilmember Jack Weiss, where she worked closely with community organizations and individuals on local projects, including land use, public works, and transportation. She also served as planning deputy and field deputy for former City Councilmember Laura Chick.

“Debbie is a smart and seasoned professional who has a tremendous knowledge of and passion for this district,” Bonin said. “She has years of experience working with Westside constituents to get things done, and she is a fantastic supervisor. She gives my office an added dimension that is unique and extremely valuable, by allowing for the planning and land use function to intersect directly with the district operation. She completes my all-star planning team.”

Dyner Harris graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in History, and is a Master in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California.  At the Jewish Federation, she ran the organization’s Community Engagement and New Leaders programs, and coordinated service and volunteerism, hunger policy and education programs. 

Dyner Harris will oversee both of Bonin’s Westside field offices, his district staff, and his ambitious Access 11 community engagement program.