NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 12, 2002

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Sakamoto at 6:35 p.m.  A quorum was present.

INTRODUCTIONS:

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Kalene Shim Sakamoto, Roy Wickramaratna, Margaret Murchie, Ed Gall, Benjamin Sanchez, Pohai Ryan.

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Karen Iwamoto, Benjamin Gudoy, Ray Galas.

STAFF:                                      Elwin Spray, Benjamin Kama, Elwin Spray, Dean Chu.

GUESTS:                                  Tom Heinrich (Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7), Clifton Takamura, (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), David Pagan (Waipahu Neighborhood Board No. 22), Ivan Liu-Kwan and Chris Deebling (Budget and Finance), David Tanoue (City Corporation Counsel Office).

INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERS:  The commissioners introduced themselves at this time.

PUBLIC INPUT:

VACANCIES ON McCULLY-MOILIILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD – Clifton Takamura reported that his Board currently has five vacancies and that he is working on redrawing the subdistrict boundaries to address this matter.  He reported that he is considering different plans, including using mauka-makai or Ewa-Koko head bound streets as the boundaries instead of the current oddly shaped boundaries.

MERGING OF VISION TEAMS AND NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS – Commissioner Gall reported that the Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu Neighborhood Board No. 25 proposed the merging of Vision Teams and Neighborhood Boards.

Tom Heinrich, as an individual, opposed the merging of Vision Teams and Neighborhood Boards.   He noted that this matter will be addressed by the Neighborhood Plan Committee, and suggested that the Commission take a position on this matter.

Executive Secretary Kama noted that both the Vision Teams and Neighborhood Boards have been requested by the City Administration to prioritize capital improvement projects.  Both the Vision Teams and Neighborhood Boards have had their capital improvement project allocations reduced by 50 percent.  Boards  are not allowed to submit new projects, can fund previously approved projects, and have been provided lists of suggested road resurfacing projects.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2002 – Murchie moved and Ryan seconded to approve the minutes.  The motion carried unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE:

Copies of letters from John Breinich, Chair, Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board, supporting not sending out ballots in uncontested races in the upcoming Neighborhood Board elections; and from Patt Spencer,

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Nuuanu/Punchbowl Neighborhood Board, suggesting that in uncontested races, biographical data be send out to voters.

Murchie moved and Gall seconded that the correspondence be filed.  The motion carried unanimously.

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS:

COMMISSION CHAIR  - No report.

COMMISSION MEMBERS – Commissioner Ryan reported receiving a complaint from a member of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board against Executive Secretary Kama.  The complaint was forwarded to David Tanoue, Deputy City Corporation Counsel, for review.

Ryan also reported reviewing the Olelo broadcast of the Kaliua Neighborhood Board’s October meeting in response to a complaint she received.  She stated that she found no merit to the complaint.

Ryan also noted receipt of a complaint against the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board.  Executive Secretary Kama reported that he contacted Daniel Bender, Chair, Kahaluu Neighborhood Board, about the complaint and that Bender resolved the complaint.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Executive Secretary Kama reported the following:

1.                  Vice Chair Sakamoto was reappointed to another term as a Commissioner.

2.                  The Commission still has pending resolution of the complaints filed by Garry Smith and Earl Arakaki.

3.                  On November 7, 15 Neighborhood Boards were recognized for their 25th anniversaries, and the Neighborhood Board Elections are now underway.

4.                  There will be a workshop for Neighborhood Board members on parliamentary procedure, January 25, 2003.  Location to be determined.

5.                  Work is in process with the City Corporation Counsel on a plan to video tape Neighborhood Board Election candidates for broadcast on Olelo.

6.                  A delegation from the Peoples Republic of China was hosted by the Neighborhood Commission Office.  Members of the delegation were interested in the Neighborhood Board system.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION UPDATE:  NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 16, 2002, HUMAN RESOURCES PERSONNEL CONFERENCE ROOM, 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. - Discussion followed where the consensus was that from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., the meeting be limited to informal discussions, followed by the formal portion of the meeting to continue the recessed meeting of October 19.  Heinrich briefly reviewed the remaining portions of the Neighborhood Plan to be addressed by the Committee.

Takamura and Vice Chair Sakamoto commended Heinrich, Terry Morris and the Neighborhood Commission Office, for their work on the Neighborhood Plan revision.

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NEW BUSINESS:

UNCONTESTED NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD ELECTIONS, PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO REQUIRE BALLOT DISTRIBUTION AND TABULATION FOR UNCONTESTED NEIGHBORHOOD

BOARD SEATS – Vice Chair Sakamoto reported at the October 19 Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting, those present supported sending of ballots out in uncontested races.

Murchie moved and Wickramaratna seconded to keep the present system of not sending out ballots for uncontested seats.

Discussion followed.

Ivan Lui-Kwan, Director, Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, urged support of the motion.  He reported that the budget for the Neighborhood Board Election was cut by $48,726.  Based on the previous election where ballots were not sent out for uncontested seats, there was a savings of $41,000.  If ballots are sent out for uncontested seats, there will be an adverse impact on the election process.  If funds have to be diverted from other parts of the Neighborhood Commission Office budget, there could also be adverse impacts to its operations.

Heinrich reported that proposed revisions to the Neighborhood Plan would give the Executive Secretary, discretion on whether or not to send out ballots for uncontested seats, and that in the case of uncontested seats, notice be sent to voters.  He urged support of the motion.

Executive Secretary Kama urged support of the motion as a cost-savings.

The motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN – Vice Chair Sakamoto urged all commissioners and interested persons to attend the Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting, November 16.

Heinrich noted that only the Neighborhood Commission members have the authority to vote on the revisions.  The voting by anyone present at the Committee meetings is only a courtesy.

BUDGET  -  Executive Secretary Kama reported that there have been cuts to the Neighborhood Commission Office for Fiscal Year 2004.

In response to a question from Commissioner Ryan, Tanoue reported that it is possible for private donations be made to the Neighborhood Commission Office for uses such as holding or workshops.  Such donations have to be made to the City Council and designated for a specific purpose by the Neighborhood Commission Office.  Executive Secretary Kama noted that the instructor at a past parliamentary procedure workshop donated his services for the event.

Heinrich suggested that there be a budget workshop for the Neighborhood Commission and Neighborhood Board members.

Commissioner Ryan suggested ways be found to provide additional training services for Neighborhood Board members.

ELECTIONS – Elwin Spray requested the assistance of all commissioners in promoting the Neighborhood Board Elections.  Members present were provided with informational materials, including posters and candidacy application forms.

In response to questions, it was noted that the candidacy forms will appear in the MidWeek newspaper five times, and that the deadline to submit the forms is January 21, 2003.  Posters are in all City buses, public

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service announcement ads will be broadcast on Olelo, and have been requested to be broadcast on commercial stations.  The candidacy forms are also available on the Neighborhood Commission’s web page.

Takamura commented on his own efforts to promote the elections.

EVALUATION – Commissioner Murchie noted that 15 Neighborhood Boards were recognized for their 25th anniversaries.

Spray reported that plans are being made to mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of the City Charter, creating the Neighborhood Boards, later this year.

SCHEDULING OF THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING DATE – Murchie moved and Wickramaratna seconded that the Commission hold its regularly scheduled December meeting.  The motion carried unanimously.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Heinrich reported that the proposed revisions to the Neighborhood Plan also include changes to the information and review process, which should help expedite the complaint handling process.

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

Submitted by,

Dean Chu

Neighborhood Assistant