NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
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 and Neighborhood Commission staff present.

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

 COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:     Ray Galas.

  STAFF:                                     Benjamin Kama (Executive Secretary),  Dean Chu.

 GUESTS:                                  Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31: Debbi Glanstein, Kathleen Bryant-Hunter, Jim Corcoran; Clifton Takamura (McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No.8), Michael Abe (Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4), Linda Ure (Maunawili Community Association), Tom Heinrich (Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7), Lucky Wickramaratna, Erin Kaichi (City Corporation Counsel Office).

 PUBLIC INPUT:

 1.         Clifton Takamura, McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8, reported that at this month’s meeting, his Board received a presentation from Elwin Spray, Neighborhood Commission Office, on various proposals to revise the Board’s boundaries and number of Board members’ seats.  The Board is reviewing the proposals.

 2.         Debbi Glanstein, Jim Corcoran and Kathleen Bryant-Hunter, Kailua Neighborhood Board, reported that members of the Board are incurring personal expenses to copy materials for Board and committee meetings, and would like to be reimbursed.  They noted it is often not practical for them to come into the Neighborhood Commission Office to have copies made.  They suggested opening an account at a neighborhood copying business.  Executive Secretary will follow up with the Board members.

 3.         Kathleen Bryant-Hunter requested the Neighborhood Commission assist the Board in holding an executive session with a representative from the City Corporation Counsel Office, to advise her Board’s members on matters relating to conflict-of-interest, and disclosure.  Kama noted the Board would have to take formal action on this request.

 Discussion followed.  Several of those present  supported this course of action to deal with concerns the Kailua Board has with the actions of one Board member.  Heinrich suggested making a training video on this subject.

Corcoran suggested that the Neighborhood Commission send Board advisory letters of matters of this type.

 Bryant-Hunter noted the need to have this matter addressed in executive session to help clarify it to Board members, and that a written response on this matter would be insufficient, that a presentation and a question and answer session is needed to properly address this matter.

 APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 12, 2003 MEETING – The following correction was made:

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

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 Page 4, under Neighborhood Plan, the last sentence of the first paragraph should read “…then be held and the Plan…”

 Gudoy arrived during the above portion of the meeting.

 Wickramaratna moved and Sanchez seconded that the minutes be approved as corrected.  The motion carried, 6-0-1.  Gall abstained.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE:

Gall has been invited to attend the Lt. Governor’s task force meeting on ice as the Neighborhood Commission’s representative.

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS:

CHAIR – None.

COMMISSION MEMBERS – NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING OBSERVATIONS:

1.         Sanchez reported attending the July meeting of the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board.  He did not introduce himself and only observed the meeting and found it interesting.

2.         Ryan reported attending this month’s Kailua Neighborhood Board meeting and was later advised about an incident that occurred involving Board member Babineau and guest Sarah Fry, and another Board member when Babineau left the meeting while it was in progress.  Babineau felt threatened by the other Board member and plans to file a formal complaint with the Neighborhood Commission Office.

Corcoran noted that such information received by a Commissioner should be shared with the Board so it can try and resolve the matter itself.  Chair Iwamoto noted there is no requirement for information received by Commissioners to be shared as such.

Ryan noted that she only received the information earlier today.

Kama reviewed the process for the filing of a formal complaint, which includes providing all the Board’s members with a copy of the complaint once it is received and signed in person at the Neighborhood Commission Office.  Ryan’s receipt of the information is insufficient to file a formal complaint. 

Ryan noted that Chair Iwamoto previously received related information on this matter and that Kama sent a letter to one of the parties involved.

Heinrich supported the Board’s use of an executive session to address this matter, and noted that the minutes of the meeting would remain confidential until the matter was resolved.  He noted that no formal complaint has been filed and the Commission can not do anything about this matter at this time.  It was also noted that only Board members and residents can file complaints, a non resident, such as someone who owns a business in the area, is not eligible to file a complaint, per present provisions of the Neighborhood Plan.

Additional discussion followed on defining a formal and informal complaint, and defining what information should be disseminated, in the proposed executive session.

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3.         Shim-Sakamoto reported attending the last Liliha/Puunui/Alewa/Kamehameha Heights Neighborhood Board meeting, and commended the chair’s handling portions of the meeting.  She also noted the Board spent an excessive amount of time approving the minutes of the previous meeting.

4.         Wickramaratna reported attending the last Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting, and that the Board is considering changing the number members’ seats from nine to eleven.

5.         Iwamoto reported attending the last Palolo Neighborhood Board meeting.  The major topics of discussion were an upcoming town hall meeting on September 23, and the Palolo Chinese Home’s expansion project.  She noted the Home is working with area residents to try and resolve their concerns.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT:  No report.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION UPDATE – Heinrich reported the Third Draft Revised Neighborhood Plan is not yet ready for submission to the City Corporation Counsel for its review.  After it is submitted for Corporation Counsel review, it will be reviewed by the Neighborhood Plan Committee, at a Special Meeting of the Neighborhood Commission, Neighborhood Boards, and at public hearings.  He noted that the public hearings will be held 45-days after the Plan is submitted to the Neighborhood Boards for their review.

Takamura noted that the Boards should encourage their members to submit comments at the public hearings.

Corcoran commended Heinrich for his work on the Neighborhood Plan.  He also expressed concern about holding public hearings during the upcoming holiday season.

COMMISSION REPRESENTATION ON STATE’S ICE TASK FORCE – Chair Iwamoto reported that Gall has been invited to represent the Commission.

Kaichi noted that the City Corporation Counsel had some concerns about what Gall’s role would be.

Chair Iwamoto commended Gall for being willing to serve on the task force and attend various Neighborhood Board meetings to update them on what the task force is doing.

Heinrich noted the revised Neighborhood Plan addresses the appointment of Commissioners as delegates, clearly authorizing such appointments.  He also noted by his interpretation, the City Charter also authorizes such appointments, and that the Charter Commission could clarify this in the future.

Bryant-Hunter noted that no Neighborhood Board members have been invited to serve on the task force.

Shim-Sakamoto moved and Sanchez seconded that the Commission supports Gall representing the Commission at the Task Force on Ice.  The motion carried unanimously.

STATUS OF COMMISSIONER ATTENDANCE – Chair Iwamoto reported that the Commission Office staff has tabulated the attendance of Commissioners at Commission meetings and will write letters to those who have missed three or more consecutive meetings, requesting that they indicate their intention to serve on the Commission.

NEW BUSINESS:

ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE AUGUST 2003 – JULY 2004 TERM – Wickramaratna suggested that Chair Iwamoto continue to serve until the work on the revisions to the Neighborhood Plan is completed.  Chair Iwamoto noted that her replacement may be named shortly and that a new chair needs to be selected.

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CHAIR - Discussion followed.  Shim-Sakamoto declined suggestions that she consider serving as chair.  Gall nominated Wickramaratna. Sanchez seconded the nomination.  Wickramaratna was unanimously elected Chair.

VICE CHAIR – Wickramaratna nominated Gall.  Shim-Sakamoto seconded the nomination.  Gall was unanimously elected.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:  None.

SCHEDULING OF THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – The next meeting is scheduled for October 14.  It was noted the November meeting falls on Veterans’ Day.

Heinrich noted that when the Third Draft, Revised Neighborhood Plan, is completed, the Special Meeting can be scheduled.

OTHER:  In response to a question from Ryan, no formal complaint has been filed related to the actions of a member of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board.

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Submitted by,

Dean Chu

Neighborhood Assistant