Highlights of the New

Neighborhood Commission Rules and Neighborhood Plan

1.         Comprehensive revision of the Rules and Procedures of the Neighborhood Commission

(Chapter 11) and Neighborhood Plan (Chapters 12 to 20).

2.         Creates the “conference of chairs” to include the chair and one vice chair of each board to promote communication among the boards, commission, executive secretary, and commission office.  [§ 2-11-203]

3.         Maintains the board term of office as two years, but changes the time period start from June 1 to July 1 to match the City’s fiscal year period (July 1 to June 30).  [§ 2-14-102] 

4.         Changes the election process schedule.  Moves the candidate registration deadline from the third Tuesday in January of the election year to the third Friday in February of the election year.  [§ 2-17-204(c)]

5.         Provides for the issuance of a new ballot to a registered voter who has moved after the voter registration deadline.  [§ 2-17-203]

6.         Specifies the powers, duties, and functions of the commission [§ 2-11-201] and the boards.  [§ 2-13-102]

7.         Applies the City Charter’s Article XI standards of conduct to all board members.  [§ 2-13-104]

8.         Clarifies the representative capacity of board members.  [§ 2-13-107]

9.         Clarifies that no term limits shall apply to board members.  [§ 2-13-108(d)]

10.        Reduces the required number of board regular meetings each year from 10 to 9.  [§ 2-14-109]

11.        Allows boards to communicate and cooperate with each other, especially on a regional basis.  [§ 2-13-102(c)]

12.        Clarifies the requirement for all board members to take the oath of office before being qualified to serve. 

[§ 2-14-101]

13.        Changes the determination of the board chair pro tem for the initial convening of the new term. [§ 2-14-103]

14.        Specifies the duties of board officers.  [§ 2-14-123]

15.        Provides for the establishment of committees [§ 2-14-124] and the appointment of delegates. [§ 2-14-125]

16.        Boards may establish committees from among their membership and the public.  [§ 2-14-124(a)]

17.        Disorderly persons may be expelled from board and committee meetings to maintain order and decorum.

[§ 2-14-117 and  § 2-14-124(f)]

18.        Provides for a recall process for the electorate to remove a board member. [§ 2-17-404]

19.        Changes the process to consider the removal of a board member on the basis of absences.  [§ 2-14-106]

20.        Provides that the board shall give the priority of business on the agenda to representatives of the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department.  [§ 2-14-112]

21.        Provides a means for board members to have items placed on their board agenda.  [§ 2-14-111]

22.        Provides that a voice vote shall be an allowed voting method, in addition to the present show of hands, roll call, and unanimous consent.  [§ 2-14-115(c)]

23.        Adjournment of meetings is provided for by § 2-14-119, including exigent circumstances that require immediate attention.

24.        Significantly revises the review and complaint processes as set forth in Chapter 18.  The commission, after conducting a hearing, may impose sanctions on a board or a current board member.  [§ 2-18-204]

25.               Provides a declaratory ruling process by the commission to consider questions related to the applicability of any statute or ordinance relating to the commission, or of any rule or order of the commission.  [§ 2-11-105]

26.        Extends the time for mandatory review of the Neighborhood Plan.  [§ 2-20-101]

27.        Includes the following in Chapter 16 based on recent commission actions related to initiative petitions:

            (1)  Amendments to the district boundaries of the Waianae Coast Neighborhood

                  Board No. 24.  [§ 2-16-224]

            (2)  Amendment of the name of the Wahiawa-Whitmore Village Neighborhood

                  Board No. 26.  [§ 2-16-226]

            (3)  Inclusion of the new Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board No. 36 and its

                  district boundaries.  [§ 2-16-236]