City and County of Honolulu
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

ATTENDANCE

COMMISSONERS PRESENT: Karen Iwamoto, Gail Gomes, Kalene Shim-Sakamoto, Ray Galas, James Kimo Kaonohi, Sally Amantiad.

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Margaret Murchie, Benjamin Sanchez, Benjamin Gudoy,

STAFF: Ben Kama, Sheri Kajiwara, Dean Chu.

GUESTS: Reid Yamashiro (Corporation Counsel), Terry Carroll (Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31), Teresa Russell (Liliha-Kapalama Neighborhood Board No. 14), John Kato (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), Clifton Takamura (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), Knud Lindgard (Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31), George Gonsalves (Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31), Jeb Brown (Councilmember Andy Mirikitani's Office), Malcolm Tom (Managing Director's Office).

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Iwamoto at 6:30 p.m. A quorum was present.

PUBLIC INPUT:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT _ Theresa Russell expressed opposition to the proposed Neighborhood Plan amendment that for the initial convening of a Board, in the event of a tie or uncontested race, the chair pro tem would be selected alphabetically, by surname. Chair Iwamoto thanked Russell for her comments and noted that this item will be taken up later in the meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 9, 2001 _ Gomes moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded that the minutes be approved. The motion carried unanimously.

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 30, 2001 _ Gomes moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded that the mintues be approved. The motion carried unanimously.

CORRESPONDENCE: Gomes moved and Kaonohi seconded that the correspondence be filed. The motion carried unanimously.

COMMISSION REPORTS:

COMMISSION CHAIR _ Chair Iwamoto had no report.

COMMISSION MEMBERS, BOARD MEETING OBSERVATIONS _ Commissioners reported the following:

GOMES _ She attended the last Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board meeting. The Chair handled the meeting well.

There were no other reports.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Kama distributed a written report and highlighted the following:

1. To better improve service that the Neighborhood Commission Office provides, he will be the contact person for the Commissioners and will be calling them to discuss concerns.

2. Sheri Kajiwara will now be the office staff person to work with the Commissioners.

3. Dean Chu will now be the office staff person to prepare the minutes of Commission meetings.

4. The Commission Office budget request for 2002 was submitted to the City administration for review. It totals $695,000, and the City administration revised the request to $640,000, a compromise of $647,000 was reached. The budget includes $471,000 for salaries, and the remainder for other operating costs.

The 2001 budget is $955,000 and includes funding the Board elections.

In response to a question, Galas was informed that the budget includes funding for Boards to purchase refreshments to be provided at their meetings.

In response to a question, Shim-Sakamoto was informed that the 2001 budget includes funding for temporary staff to work on the Board elections, and 16 regular staff positions.

Tom Heinrich reported that the Commission needs additional funds over the next few years to better enable it to carry out its mandate of increasing community participation in the decision making of government, and for revisions to the Neighborhood Plan.

Kama reported that the Commission Office has been using the services of Lillian Hong and Olelo to create television public service announcements to encourage more community participation or events such as the Board elections.

5. The written report also contains the Neighborhood Commisison Office organization chart and employee listing.

6. Three temporary staff have been hired for the Board elections.

7. A Neighborhood Assistant has resigned to go back to school. The Neighborhood Assistant position continues to have a high turnover rate compared to other positions within the office. Kama noted that several years ago the Neighborhood Assistant job classification was upgraded from an SR-10 to SR-11 position in an effort to reduce the turnover rate.

In response to a question, Galas was informed that Commission Office staff positions are appointed positions, and civil service classifications are used.

Kato reported that reclassification of Neighborhood Assistant positions, to make the job more challenging and more complex, could be pursued, but that the process is not simple, and could take a long time, as long as 5-10, or even 20 years, as has been the case in situations he is aware of.

8. Chair Iwamoto requested that the Commission Office continue to forward relevant correspondence received by the Commission Office, to all Commissioners.

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
PAGE 3



9. The change to the Board elections process to not send out ballots in uncontested races, will make it unnecessary to print and mail ballots and other election materials to some 64,000 voters.

10. The Neighborhood Board Installation Ceremony is scheduled for May 26, 2001.

11. A group photo of the Commissioners has been posted in the Commission Office, and will be posted with the photos of Board chairs in City Hall and on the Commission Office web page.

12. The Commisison Office will have business cards printed for Commissioners who desire them.

13. Galas requested that contact information for Commissioners include email addresses.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION EFFORT UPDATE _ Kama reported that the draft revision has been completed. Kama indicated that the committee is completing the explanatory Ramseyer document. response to a question from Gomes, Kama reported that he and Neighborhood Commission staff member Terry Morris can be contacted for more information.

CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED AGENDA ITEM 3.3 OF THE JANUARY 30, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING _ Gomes moved and Galas seconded to take this item off the table. The motion carried unanimously.

Galas moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded to amend Section 4-4.1a to be consistent with the published legal notice concerning procedures for initial convening of a new neighborhood board.

Discussion followed on the proposed amendment which would select the chair pro tem for the initial convening of a newly elected Board, in the event of an uncontested race or tie, alphabetically by surname. Yamashiro, Deputy Corporation Counsel, reported that this matter is not a significant change, amendment can be made without having to go back to a public hearing. If the amendment passes, the Mayor can approve the amendment by signing the amendment; or not approve it by not signing. Not signing the amendment is not a veto, but the amendment is not approved.

Heinrich, as an individual, spoke in favor of the amendment, for administrative efficency.

Kama reported receipt of opposition to the proposed amendment, and for the existing process to select the Chair pro tem by lot, from Board's including the Liliha-Kapalama, Kalihi-Palama, and Kalihi Valley.

Gomes spoke for the proposed amendment as it is needed to deal with uncontested races.

Chair Iwamoto spoke for the proposed amendment.

Galas spoke for keeping the selection as is, by lot.

Russell spoke on the need to address the selection of the chair pro tem in uncontested races.

Takamura noted that a candidate is running on what he/she can do for the community.

Galas moved and Gomes seconded to amend 4-4.1a to add uncontested race language.

A recess was called at 7:42 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 7:53 p.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
PAGE 4

Galas withdrew the motion. Gomes withdrew the second.

Heinrich, as an individual, spoke in favor of the selection of the chair pro tem, alphabetically, by surname, in the case of uncontested races. He cited the case of the Manoa Neighborhood Board where there are four subdistricts, and three of the subdistricts have uncontested races.

In response to a question by Chair Iwamoto, Kama reported that in a case such as in Manoa, the chair pro tem would be selected from the remaining subdistrict with a contested race, per provisions in the Neighborhood Plan. He also stated that determining the winner by lot has not been a problem in the past, and does not foresee problems in the future.

Heinrich stated that if the chair pro tem is determined by the winning voter in only one of four subdistricts, it is unfair to the candidates in the remaining subdistricts, and favors the proposed selection, alphabetically, by surname.

Gomes moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded to amend Section 4-4.1a to be consistent with the published legal notice. The motion failed, 0-5.

NEW BUSINESS:

TO RESCIND ACTION ON JANUARY 30, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM 3.1 TO AMEND SECTION 1-2.1 TO ADD A NEW DEFINITION FOR “UNCONTESTED RACE” _ Gomes moved and Kaonohi seconded to rescind the action of January 30, 2001 Special Meeting to amend Section 1-2.1 to add a new definition for “uncontested race”. The motion carried unanimously.

TO AMEND SECTION 3-1.1 TO ADD A NEW DEFINITI0N FOR UNCONTESTED RACE _ Gomes moved and Kaonohi seconded to amend Section 3-1.1 to add a new definition for uncontested race.

Discussion followed where Takamura reported that the number of votes a candidate receives is an indication of what kind of job a candidate is doing. In response to a question, Gomes reported that not sending out ballots in uncontested races is being done as a cost savings. Chair Iwamoto reported that there is no process to evaluate the work of Board members. The motion carried unanimously.

CONSIDERATION AND ACTION ON PROPOSED APPPOINTMENT OF MR. RUSSELL MOKULEHUA AS CHIEF MONITORING OFFICER FOR THE 2001 NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD ELECTIONS _ Kama reported that Mokulehua has served in this capacity in previous elections. Galas moved and Gomes seconded that Mokulehua be appointed as chief monitoring officer. The motion carried unanimously.

PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES THE SERVICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEMBERS BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION _ Kama reported that the written report contains a list of seven suggested ways: 1) five or more full or partial terms of service, 2) current Chair with most terms as chair, 3) most full or partial total terms served, 4) most consecutive full or partial terms served, 5) current members with service on more than one Board, 6) list all members and number of full or partial terms served, 7) best attendance during previous year's term; Board members could be recognized for their service . Galas moved and Gomes seconded to begin recognition with the seven suggestions and add an eighth item to list, “as the Neighborhood Commission sees fit”. Discussion followed. Chair Iwamoto indicated that she intends to ask Commissioner Murchie to take this project as part of her Evaluation Committee's work. The consensus was for details to be worked out by Murchie's Evaluation Committee. The motion carried unanimously.

COMMISSIONER GALAS, LETTER OF CONCERNS _ Galas reported he has received a response to his letter from Kama and is satisfied with the response.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
PAGE 5

Kaonohi moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded to go into executive session. The motion carried unanimously.

At this time, 8:20 p.m., the meeting was recessed for the Commission to go into Executive Session.

Gomes moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded to end the Executive Session. The motion carried unanimously. The Executive Session ended at 8:47 p.m.

COMPLAINT HEARINGS:

COMPLAINT FILED BY JAMES ANTHONY AGAINST THE KOOLAULOA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 28 _ Kama reported that Anthony originally did not complete the complaint form and with allotted time, failed to complete the complaint form. Galas moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded that the complaint be dismissed. The motion carried unanimously.

COMPLAINT HEARING BY OLIVERIA AGAINST EWA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 23 (OCTOBER 14, 1998) _ No parties in the complaint were present. Galas moved and Gomes seconded that the complaint by Oliveria against the Ewa Neighborhood Board be dismissed. The motion carried unanimously.

COMPLAINT HEARING BY OLIVERIA AGAINST EWA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 23 (MARCH 25, 1999) _ No parties in the complaint were present. Galas moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded that the complaint be dismissed. The motion carried unanimously.

COMPLAINT HEARING BY LINDGARD AGAINST KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 31 (JUNE 23, 1999) _ Knud Lindgard, Terry Carroll and George Gonsalves from the Kailua Neighborhood Board were present. Lindgard reported that the complaint is in regard to the election of the chair at the initial convening of the Board for the 1999 _ 2001 term. At the meeting a vote was tied, 9-9-1. After the vote, Board member Kimberly Nichols changed her vote and Faith Evans was elected chair. He felt this process was improper, as it did not follow Roberts Rules of Order, and filed the complaint that Chair Pro tem Gonsalves should have followed Roberts Rules of Order. In view of the complaint process, Lindgard suggested there be a process to handle matters such as this without having to go through the lengthy complaint process.

Terry Carroll reported that it is normal procedure for the Board not to strictly follow parliamentary procedure and Roberts Rules of Order in the interests of expediency, and that rules are strictly followed when the situation warrants. He acknowledged that the chair pro tem allowed the change of vote instead of requiring a revote. He suggested that the complaint be dismissed.

George Gonsalves acknowledged the events at the meeting occurred as previously presented, and added that no objections were made to his allowing the change of vote. He suggested that the complaint be dismissed.

Lindgard also raised concerns about Board members lobbying other members prior to the initial convening of the Board, on choosing a chair.

Chair Iwamoto provided some comments on possible violations of the sunshine law and that the Neighborhood Plan Committee has been reviewing this matter. Gomes suggested that Lindgard serve on this committee

Galas moved and Kaonohi seconded that the complaint be dismissed. The motion carried, 5-1. Amantiad opposed.

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
PAGE 6

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY RECOMMENDATION TO CLOSE ALBERT FURUTO COMPLAINT AGAINST McCULLY-MOILIILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 8 (NOVEMBER 2, 2000) _ Kama reported that the complaint relates to Furuto's comments made at the meeting being edited out of the minutes by the Board member reviewing the minutes, and the Neighborhood Assistant not questioning this action. The Board, in response to the complaint, failed to submit a formal response within the timelimit, thereby admitting to the complaint.

Galas moved and Shim-Sakamoto seconded to sustain the Executive Secretary's recommendation to close the complaint. Discussion followed where additional background on the complaint was provided. Takamura also reported that the Board has, to this date, failed to approve the minutes of this meeting, despite the deleted comments being replaced as part of the approval process at the following meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

Gomes moved and Galas seconded that the Committee Reports portion of the meeting be deferred. The motion carried unanimously.

NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: The next meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2001, City Council Chambers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:26 p.m.

Submitted by,

Dean Chu
Neighborhood Assistant

Commission Information