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NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OCTOBER 14, 2003 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Pohai Ryan, Benjamin Sanchez, Ed Gall, Roy Wickramaratna, Kalene Sakamoto, Karen Iwamoto. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Ray Galas and Benjamin Gudoy. STAFF: Benjamin Kama (Executive Secretary), Kelley Santiago, Sheri Kajiwara. GUESTS: McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8: Ron Lockwood (Chair), Clifton Takamura; Tom Heinrich (Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7), David Pagan, Knud Lindgard (Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31), Erin Kaichi (City Corporation Counsel Office). PUBLIC INPUT: 1. Clifton Takamura reported the following: (a) The McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board meeting the Board decided to reduce its Board representation count from 15 to 13 members and change its subdistricting to a vertical subdistrict using University Ave. and McCully Street as borders. (b) On behalf of the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board, Takamura presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the previous Commission Chair Karen Iwamoto for her outstanding community service. 2. Tom Heinrich raised the concern regarding the resignations of the chair and Board members of the Liliha Neighborhood Board. He suggested the Commission enhance board training for all Board members as some Board members are not as familiar with the neighborhood board system as others. Ben Kama agreed with Heinrich and noted the low turnout of Board members at workshops held by the Commission. 3. Knud Lindgard reported being told that he would be censored from the Olelo video production of the Kailua Neighborhood Board meeting held on September 4, 2003 for the way he spoke to Mr. D’Oleir of Kaneohe Ranch. He reviewed the minutes of the meeting for which he felt did not fully reflect his statements and did not recognize him by his name. He added that Commissioner Ryan received a complaint from a “businessman” about his actions and questioned who the “businessman” was. It was indicated that Mr. D’Olier was the complainant. He expressed concern that Ryan is also the President of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce of which D’Olier is the property owner and benefactor of the organization. Ryan responded stating that the Commission did not take an action to sensor Mr. Lingard and called his statements “erroneous”. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 – The following correction was made: Page 3, No. 4 should read: “Wickramaratna reported attending the last Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting, and that a group of individuals is considering changing the number members’ seats from nine to eleven.” Iwamoto moved seconded by Shim-Sakamoto that the minutes be approved as corrected. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE: 1. Chair Wickramaratna reported speaking to Commissioner Galas after a letter was received from him stating that he is on the East Coast. Galas stated that he would attend the next meeting. It was noted that including this meeting, Galas has missed four meetings. Kama reported sending a letter to Galas indicating the meetings he missed. It is unsure if Galas’ will be resigning from the Commission. Wickramaratna will contact Galas to find out his intentions. Iwamoto raised concern of not having a full compliment of commissioners at monthly neighborhood board meetings to help with the leadership of the boards and provide pertinent information as needed. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS: CHAIR – None. COMMISSION MEMBERS – NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING OBSERVATIONS. 1. Gall reported attending the September meeting of the Kuliouou-Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board and stated that Chair Bob Chuck is doing an excellent job in coordinating anti-drug efforts in Niu Valley. 2. Iwamoto reported attending the September meeting of the Palolo Neighborhood Board in which the main topic there was the Palolo Town meeting on drugs and crime. The Palolo Town meeting was held on September 23 where there was an excellent turnout. Subsequent to the meeting, a follow-up meeting was held to form neighborhood security watches in Palolo Valley. 3. Wickramaratna stated that he made a commitment to visit all Neighborhood Boards upon completion of his term as chair. So far he visited Aina Haina, Ewa Beach and Waipahu. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT: Kama reported meeting with the members of the Kailua Neighborhood Board in an executive session regarding the matters raised at the last meeting by Chair Kathy Bryant-Hunter relating to conflict-of-interest, and disclosure. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION UPDATE – Heinrich reported the Revised Neighborhood Plan should be ready for submission to the City Corporation Counsel for its review in a couple weeks. Shim-Sakamoto thanked Heinrich for his efforts and hard work with the Revised Neighborhood Plan. COMMISSION REPRESENTATION ON STATE’S ICE TASK FORCE – Gall reported attending the Drug Summit held by Lt. Governor Duke Aiona in which 361 registered and 144 organizations were represented. Eleven groups were formed to address issues such as centralizing a body, coordinating efforts, treatment philosophy, treatment access, legal changes, multi-sector collaboration, and community involvement. Recommendations from the sessions were submitted to the Lt. Governor’s administration. Ed Kubo, US District Attorney, would like to work with the Neighborhood Boards. A written report should be issued from the Administration by September 5. Concerns raised included the following: (1)Why no one from the Mayor’s office not present? (2) Neighborhood Boards viewed like “old boy networks”, same people are on the board for several years. Gall suggested promoting the Neighborhood Boards by including Board chairs as guests on the Mayor’s “Inside Honolulu” broadcasts and submitting incerpts of Board news in the local newspaper columns. Ryan moved seconded by Shim-Sakamoto to send a letter to the Mayor requesting participation by Neighborhood Board chairs as guests on “Inside Honolulu” broadcasts to further promote the mission and purpose of the Neighborhood Boards. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0. NEW BUSINESS: Ryan asked Kama to give more details of what happened at the executive meeting he attended with the Kailua Neighborhood Board members. Kama stated that he was asked to attend the meeting to clarify sections 4-4.1and 4-10.2 of the Neighborhood Plan, conflict-of-interest and disclosure-of-interest. Kama indicated to the Board the difference between the two. Questions were raised at the meeting as to how the Board would handle such issues. He stated that the Board felt that its meeting was not the proper place to address the issues. Minutes of the meeting were taken by the Board. Ryan noted her concern about the statements made by Lindgard earlier in the meeting. She stated that she resented the implications he made toward her and the Commission. Ryan also stated that she would like to see a copy of the minutes of the executive meeting held by the Kailua Neighborhood Board. She added that Lindgard’s name was never used in previous minutes the reason being that the Commission is more concerned with the process and dynamics of what was happening with the board and not its personalities. Wickramaratna called a recess at 7:41 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:46 p.m. COMMITTEE REPORTS: NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN – See Neighborhood Plan Revision Update. BUDGET – Kama reported that the NCO’s fiscal year 2005 budget must be submitted by the end of October. ELECTIONS – No report. EVALUATION – No report. SCHEDULING OF THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING: Iwamoto moved seconded by Gall that the meeting be moved to the third Tuesday (November 18, 2003). The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0. ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: Iwamoto moved seconded by Ryan to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0. Chair Wickramaratna adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m. Submitted by, Kelley Santiago |
| Tuesday, February 17, 2004 |