NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

MAY 11, 2004

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Wickramaratna called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.  At this time the Commission member introduced themselves.

COMMISSIONER’S PRESENT: Kalene Sakamoto, Roy Wickramaratna, Ed Gall, Ben Sanchez, Clara Ching, Jeanette Nekota.

COMMISSIONER’S ABSENT: Ray Galas, Ben Gudoy, Pohai Ryan.

STAFF: Benjamin Kama (Executive Secretary), Kelley Santiago, Sheri Kajiwara.

GUESTS: Michelle Matson (Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5), Kathleen Pahinui (North Shore Neighborhood Board No. 27), Seth Harris (City Corporation Counsel).

PUBLIC INPUT:

Michelle Matson reported that the board accepted the three complaints she filed against the Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board in December 2003, January 2004 and February 2004.  She noted that the complaints would be heard by the Commission at its June meeting and questioned if she should provide information and a witness (who is also the Board’s Neighborhood Assistant) to substantiate her complaint.

Kama responded that he had assumed the three complaints were admitted to by the Board but was mistaken.  Instead, the Board admitted to the complaint filed in February 2004 only.  He explained that the Board failed to submit its response to the December 2003 and January 2004 complaints so he will recommend to the Commission that the complaints be accepted.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 13, 2004: Clara Ching reported that she did not receive a copy of the minutes.  The following corrections were made:

Page 1, last paragraph, the following should be noted: “Nekota also attended the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting on March 24”.

Page 3, Discussion should also include the following: “Ching recommended that the Executive Secretary schedule a meeting with Dudley to discuss his conduct at the board meetings”.

Page 3, the third to last paragraph should read: “Sheri Kajiwara clarified the complaint process and hearing procedures.  Kajiwara gave a simplified explaination that there are five steps considered in the complaint process.  Step one is for the complaint to be officially filed with this office.  Step two, the Board has the opportunity to review the complaint and take a position to deny or admit to the allegations.  If denied, the purpose of steps three and four is to define the contested issues – step three with a pre-hearing meeting and step four a public hearing involving evidence and witnesses.  Step five is when the Commissioners decide on the appropriate remedy to impose.  Usually if the board admits to the complaint (agrees), step three and four are skipped and the process goes directly to step five (remedy).  However, Kajiwara noted that it is always the Commissioner’s right to call for a public hearing whenever they feel it warranted.”

Gall moved seconded by Sanchez to approve the April 13, 2004 Regular Meeting Minutes as corrected.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE: Chair Wickramaratna reported the following:

1.                  Correspondence was received from Councilmember Romy Cachola noting that the removal of Ray Galas from the commission is to be done by the Mayor.

2.                  A fax was received from a Kapolei resident who requested to file an informal complaint.

The Neighborhood Commission Office (NC0) will contact the resident to inform him on the procedures of filing a formal complaint.

COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS:

COMMISSION MEMBERS:

1.                  Gall reported watching the Hawaii Kai and Kailua Neighborhood Board meetings on Olelo.

2.                  Sanchez attended the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting on April 28.  He commented that the Chair did a good job on informing the board members and guests about “order and decorum”.

3.                  Sakamoto also reported attending the April 28 meeting.  She reported the April 28 meeting.  She reported the meeting ran smoothly but was very full and a little too long.  She suggested that Sakamoto also reported attending now that we have a new training committee, the NCO and the commission should look at organizing training workshops for how to run more efficient meetings and setting up agendas.  Sakamoto stated that when a Chair takes control of the meeting there will be less conflict and more productivity.

4.                  Nekota suggested that the boards utilize its committee meetings to take up various issues.  She noted that by doing so, guests could be allowed more time to voice their opinions and the regular board meetings would be completed in a timely matter.

Sanchez suggested that board complaints be placed last on the agenda.  Michelle Matson agreed stating that discussions on complaints are usually long.

Gall agreed with Nekota and added that the Chair of the Kailua Neighborhood Board does a good job at delegating certain issues to its committees.

Kathleen Pahinui reported that there is no consistency when drafting an agenda and suggested that Chairs be trained on agenda building.

CHAIR – Chair Wickramaratna attended the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting on April 28.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT: Kama reported the following: (1) NCO is waiting for CD 2 from the Budget Committee, which should include the restoration of $18k for an election position.  It was stated by a member of Counsel staff that the monies would be restored, however, there is no written confirmation.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Request by Michelle Matson to call upon staff of NCO as a witness to board complaints – Kama reported speaking to Corporation Counsel on the request.  He noted that the NCO has no problem with a staff member testifying as a witness, however it is not required.  Kama added the staff member willing to testify will do so on behalf of his/her self and will not be paid.

Gall commented that the staff not be allowed to testify as witnesses to any complaint.  He suggested that by doing so, it would put the staff in an awkward position.

Gall moved seconded by Nekota recommending that staff not be used as witness to testify on complaints at neighborhood board meetings.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner’s Directory – Referring to the Commissioner’s Directory, Chair Wickramaratna raised concern on the “term dates” of Gudoy.  He added that as the NCO updates the directory, the term date for Gudoy is changed. 

Sheri Kajiwara will follow-up on the concern.

Hoike Lono – Nekota questioned when the last Hoike Lono newsletter was sent out.  Kama reported that the last newsletter was sent in May 2003.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Neighborhood Plan (NP) – Gall reported speaking to Heinrich who stated that the Draft Neighborhood Plan should be ready for review by mid June 2004.

Nekota questioned how long it would take for completion of the NP.

Kajiwara reported that it is the duty of the Commission to review the NP every five years.  The current revision done by Heinrich began five years ago.

Ching noted that she previously requested for copies of the revisions submitted by the Downtown Neighborhood Board No. 13 and did not receive anything.  She also suggested the minutes of the Manoa Neighborhood Board be reviewed for improvement and professionalism.

Sanchez called a point of order.

Nekota reiterated the importance of completing the Draft NP.

Gall stated that he would pass along the commission’s concerns to Heinrich.

Budget – No report.

Elections – No report.

Training – Nekota and Ryan will Chair the committee.

SCHEDULING OF THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING: The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, 2004.

ADJOURNMENT: Sakamoto moved seconded by Nekota to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

Chair Wickramaratna adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.

Submitted by, Kelley Santiago