NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

OCTOBER 8, 2002

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERS:  Chair Iwamoto called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  A quorum was present.  Chair Iwamoto introduced the commissioners, Neighborhood Commission Office staff, David Tanouye, (City Corporation Counsel’s Office), and Clifton Takamura (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board).  She also introduced the new commissioners present and asked the other commissioners to introduce themselves to the new commissioners, giving a short background on their experiences.

 ATTENDANCE:

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

 COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Benjamin Sanchez, Ray Galas.

 STAFF:                                     Benjamin Kama, Elwin Spray, Dean Chu. David Tanouye (Deputy City Corporation Counsel).

 GUESTS:                                  Clifton Takamura (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board).

 WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER ED GALL – Chair Iwamoto welcomed Ed Gall, a newly appointed member of the Commission.

 WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER POHAI RYAN – Chair Iwamoto welcomed Pohai Ryan, a newly appointed member of the Commission.

 REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER KALENE SAKAMOTO – Chair Iwamoto reported that Commissioner Sakamoto has been reappointed to another term on the Commission.

 PUBLIC INPUT:

 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 5, 2002  - Takamura reported he was impressed at the work done by the Committee and the Neighborhood Board members in attendance.  He stated that he hopes the revisions will better enable Boards to better manage their meetings and deal with problems such as disruptive members which has been experienced by his Board.  He also hoped for participation by Boards during the public hearing part of the revision process.

 APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 9, 2002 – Sakamoto moved and Gudoy seconded to accept the minutes.  The motion carried unanimously.

 The Commission did not meet in August or September.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE:  Chair Iwamoto reported the following:

1.       Receipt of a thank you letter from the family of the late Russell Mokulehua, who served as chief monitoring officer for the Neighborhood Board elections.

2.       The Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting of October 5, was recessed until October 19, Human Resources Meeting Room, 8:00 a.m.

 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

MNUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

OCTOBER 8, 2002

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  COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS:

 Chair Iwamoto reported attending last month’s meetings of the Palolo, and the Liliha Boards.  The Palolo meeting featured a candidate forum.  At the Liliha meeting, she spoke on the sunshine law regarding a meeting attended by several Board members to write the minutes of its July meeting.  One of the Board members who did not attend the minutes writing meeting had planned to file a complaint against the Board for holding what he felt was an illegal meeting.

 Ryan reported at this month’s Kailua Board meeting, there were parliamentary procedure challenges to the way its chair was conducting the meeting and the Board members tried to get the Neighborhood Assistant to make unqualified rulings.  Kama will follow up with the chair.

 EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Kama reported that the Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting on October 5, was productive.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION UPDATE EFFORT – Chair Iwamoto reported the October 5, Committee meeting was recessed to October 19, at which time they should complete their work which will be submitted to the Commission.   The public hearings portion of the process is to be scheduled.

 Kama reported that the Committee was working on comments received at its August 24, workshop.

 Murchie arrived.

 COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS, CONTINUED:

 MOKAPU NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 33 AREA – In response to a question by Ryan, Spray reported that when the Neighborhood Board boundaries were established, 32 Neighborhood Board districts were designated.  Residents of each of these districts then petitioned the Commission to form a Board.  Mokapu was set off from the Kailua area due the military being responsible for its own community services.  The Mokapu Neighborhood Board No. 33 area comprises the area of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  There has been no petition to form a Neighborhood Board for this area.  Ryan suggested the designation for this area be deleted.  It was suggested this matter be discussed at the Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting on October 19.

 NEW BUSINESS:

CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO APPROVE REQUEST FROM LILIHA/PUUNUI/ALEWA/ KAMEHAMEHA HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 14 FOR A BOUNDARY CHANGE – Spray reported that the Board has supported a change to its seat representation to 3 at-large seats, 2 seats in subdistrict 1, 2 seats in subdistrict 2, 4 seats in subdistrict 3, 1 seat in subdistrict 4, and 1 seat in subdistrict 5.  This change is to take effect for the 2003-2005 election.

 Murchie moved and Wickramaratna seconded to support the request.  The motion carried unanimously.

 CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO ACCEPT THE SECOND DRAFT REVISED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 2002, WITH AMENDMENTS – Deferred.

 CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO RECOMMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OFFICE SCHEDULE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN PUBLIC HEARINGS – Chair Iwamoto requested the Commission Office tentatively schedule the Neighborhood Plan public hearings, with the expectation that the Neighborhood Plan Committee will complete its work on Oct. 19.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN –  No additional report.

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

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OCTOBER 8, 2002

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BUDGET – No report.

 ELECTIONS – Gudoy reported election planning is continuing towards the January 21, 2003 deadline for candidate recruitment.  Draft election notice explaining the process for persons to file to be a candidate or register to vote in the Neighborhood Board elections, was distributed.

 SCHEDULING OF THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – Chair Iwamoto reported that the next meeting is scheduled for November 12, City Council Chambers, 6:30 p.m.  Vice Chair Sakamoto will preside at this meeting.

 ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 1.       Tanouye reported that the Commission has two complaints, one by Garry Smith, and one by Earl Arakaki, remaining to be resolved.  The hearings have been closed, and the Commission, when it is ready to take action, must accept or deny the complaint.

 ADJOURNMENT:   Murchie moved and Gall seconded that the meeting be adjourned.  The motion carried unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. 

Submitted by,

 Dean Chu

Neighborhood Assistant