NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

FEBRUARY 10, 2004

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERS: Chair Roy Wickramaratna called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with a quorum present.  At this time, the Commissioners introduced themselves.

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Kalene Sakamoto, Pohai Ryan, Roy Wickramaratna, Ed Gall, Benjamin Sanchez, Jeanette Nekota.

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Benjamin Gudoy, Ray Galas, Karen Iwamoto.

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

GUESTS: Bill Woods (Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No. 16), Tom Heinrich (Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7), Clifton Takamura and Ron Lockwood (McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), Jim Corcoran and Debbi Glanstein (Kailua Neighborhood No. 31), Linda Wong and Michelle Matson (Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Neighborhood Board No. 5), David L.M. Pagan, Linda Ure, Seth Harris (City Corporation Counsel).

PUBLIC INPUT:

1.                  Clifton Takamura reported that at its February 8, 2004 Regular Meeting, the McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board passed a motion to support redistricting of its board area.

2.                  Bill Woods, Chair, Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No. 16 reported that since August 2003 the Board has revitalized, reviewed and adopted a master plan to build community pride.  A letter was sent to the Neighborhood Commission and City Council informing them of the Board’s efforts.  The board has decided to start a demonstration project by airing its monthly meetings on Olelo beginning on February 11 thru June 2004 to keep the community updated on its issues and concerns.  Woods also noted that the Board’s current publicity budget is not enough to cover a full year of videotaping and suggested that each Board be allotted the same amount for publicity as the charge for airing monthly meetings range from $100 to $300.  Currently, the publicity budget for each Board is determined by the amount of residents in a Board area.

Nekota suggested utilizing the media program from schools in the area to cut videotaping costs.

Woods stated that they are awaiting response from area schools regarding videotaping of the board meetings.

3.                  Debbi Glanstein thanked Tom Heinrich and Ben Kama for speaking in favor of Resolution 04-18 relating to amending the Neighborhood Charter to require five (instead of three) of the nine Commissioners serve at least on full term on a neighborhood board before being eligible to serve on the Neighborhood Commission.  The Resolution will be up for second reading before the City Council’s Executive Matters Committee on February 18.

Gall complimented Glanstein for a great testimony given before the Executive Matters Committee at its last meeting.

4.                  Tom Heinrich, Chair, Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 noted the following: (a) The Neighborhood Commission was encouraged to add the agenda the Commission’s support for Resolution 04-18.  (b) Corrections to the January 13, 2004 minutes.  (c) The Manoa Neighborhood Board has voted at its last meeting in favor of making sub-district boundary revisions.

5.                  Ron Lockwood, Chair, McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8 reported the following: (a) the board has completed its boundary seat distribution and thanked Elwin Spray of the Neighborhood Commission for his help.  (b) At its February meeting the board voted unanimously in support of Resolution 04-18.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2004: The following corrections were made to the minutes:

            Page 1, Guests: “Seth Harris (City Corporation Counsel)” should be added.

Page 1, Public Input, No. 3b should read: “Suggested that the Neighborhood Commission encourage all neighborhood boards to review their initiative petitions and evaluate whether any amendments regarding neighborhood district or subdistrict boundaries, or board composition (number of members and whether elected on an at large sudistrict, or both basis) were desired to be proposed in time to be effective for the 2005 election cycle.”

Page 1, Approval of Regular meeting minutes of January 13, 2004 should read: “Approval of Regular meeting minutes of November 18, 2003”.

Page 2, first sentence should read: “Sakamoto moved seconded by Iwamoto to approve the November 18, 2003 meeting minutes as amended.”

Page 2, New Business, paragraph 2 should read: “Sakamoto moved seconded by Gall that the Neighborhood Commission send a letter to the Honolulu City Council, as the appointing authority, requesting that it remove Ray Galas from the Neighborhood Commission on the basis of his number of absences from Commission meetings.  The motion carried unanimously, 7-0-0.

Page 2, New Business, following the above correction should read: “Ryan moved and Iwamoto seconded a motion that the Neighborhood Commission recommend to the Honolulu City Council the appointment of Tom Heinrich to the anticipated vacancy on the Commission.  The motion carried unanimously, 7-0-0.

Sakamoto moved seconded by Gall to approve the January 13, 2004 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE: Chair Wickramaratna announced that the Commission would be hosting an informational budget presentation for all neighborhood board chairs or representative on Monday, January 23 in the Mayor’s Conference Room at 6:30 p.m.

COMMISSION REPORTS:

CHAIR – Wickramaratna reported that he attended that last Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 meeting.

COMMISSION MEMBERS – Gall also reported attending the last Manoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 meeting.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT: Kama reported the following: (1) He attended the last Council meeting in which Clara Ching was questioned by Council members regarding her appointment to the Neighborhood Commission.  He commended Ching for a good job in addressing the questions by Council.  (2) Complaints against the Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights and Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Boards have been filed at the Neighborhood Commission Office.

Discussion followed:

Commissioner Ryan asked Kama to explain more regarding questions directed to Clara Ching by Council.

Kama stated that Councilmember Tam questioned the behavior of Board members relative to the residents who attend the meetings and added that residents are treated badly by members of the Board as opposed to working with them.

Chair Wickramaratna stated that he also attended the last Council meeting and reported that Councilmember Tam noted that he received complaints from his constituents that some of the Boards were very arrogant.

Commissioner Gall also reported hearing the same about Neighborhood Boards at the drug summit he attended when trying to encourage participants to utilize the Neighborhood Boards to disseminate information.

Commissioner Ryan stated that residents who feel as if a Board is displaying themselves arrogantly, should raise such concerns to the Board.

Sheri Kajiwara called a Point of Order and suggested that the issue be put on the agenda for discussion.

Ryan moved seconded Sakamoto by to add “Common concerns of Neighborhood Board practices” to the March 9, 2004 meeting agenda.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

BOARD PROPOSALS FOR BOUNDARY/SEAT DISTRIBUTION CHANGES – Kama reported that as the next Neighborhood Board election approaches, a letter was sent to all Boards requesting that those Boards interested in changing its boundary and/or seat distribution submit its proposal as soon as possible.  The Neighborhood Commission would like to set up public hearings for such Boards before the next election.

RESOLUTION FOR CIVIL SERVICE STATUS FOR COMMISSION STAFF – Kama stated that he spoke in favor of the Resolution 03-54 at the last Council hearing.  He also recommended that the Commission support the resolution.

Sakamoto moved seconded by Gall to add “Support of Resolution 04-18 and Resolution 03-54” as two separate items to the agenda under New Business.

Discussion followed:

Commissioner Ryan noted that she is not familiar with the wording of Resolution 03-54.

Kama stated that Resolution 03-54 primarily states that the staff of the Neighborhood Commission would be transferred to civil service status at the end of December 2004.

The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REVISION EFFORT UPDATE – Heinrich reported that he is wrapping up the draft of the Revised Neighborhood Plan 2004 for presentation to Corporation Counsel on or before February 23, 2004.

STATE’S “ICE” TASK FORCE UPDATE – Gall reported that the Lt. Governor is continuing to work with participating agencies and that the matter is in the hands of the Legislature for funding.

BRIEFING ON BUDGET PRESENTATION FEBRUARY 23, 2004 – Commissioner Sakamoto reiterated that the presentation would be held on Monday, February 23 in the Mayor’s Conference Room at 6:30 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS:

SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 04-18 – Glanstein stated that the Kailua Neighborhood Board introduced and adopted the resolution as a proposed amendment to the City Charter.  She added that the resolution would be up for second reading on February 18.

Jim Cochran noted his support for the resolution and acknowledged Glanstein for her hard work.

Heinrich encouraged the Commission to support the resolution.

Michelle Matson questioned if it would be considered a “conflict of interest” for a current neighborhood board member to also serve as a commissioner at the same time.

Kama stated that Corporation Counsel is reviewing the issue.

Heinrich added that the City Charter does allow a current Board Member to also serve as a commissioner at the same time.

Ryan expressed concerned about Board members serving as commissioners at the same time. 

Gall moved seconded by Sanchez that the Neighborhood Commission support Resolution 04-18 by written and/or oral testimony.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

Commissioner Ryan questioned the status of a whether or not it is considered a  “conflict of interest” for a Board member to serve dually as a commissioner.

Seth Harris, Corporation Counsel stated that he will research the issue and has no legal answer to the question at this time.

Heinrich referred to section 13-119 of the Neighborhood Charter and stated that it allows a person to dually serve on the Neighborhood Board and Commission.

Ryan moved seconded by Nekota to add “Discussion on Conflict of Interest” to the agenda.

Discussion followed:

Kama recommended that the issue be discussed at the next Commission meeting so more information on the issue can be obtained first.

The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 03-54 – Copies of Resolution 03-54 were distributed to the Commissioners.

Sakamoto moved seconded by Ryan that the Commission support Resolution 03-54.

Discussion followed:

Nekota noted her opposition to the existing staff being transferred to civil service status without necessity of examination as they are appointed by the Mayor to their positions.  She added that the hiring process be open to all qualified individuals.

Kama indicated that an amendment to the resolution was made to require that the staff meet the minimum civil service requirements.  However, a copy of the amended resolution was not available for review at this time.

Gall questioned if appointed employees are tested before being hired.

Kama reported that prior to employment, appointees are given typing and writing tests.

Sanchez stated that he agreed with Nekota.

Corcoran commented that the hiring process should be left open to the public to get the best possible talent available.

Heinrich recommended that the Commission defer any action on Resolution 03-54, as the CD-1 was not available.

Sheri Kajiwara personally spoke in favor of the resolution and noted that if the resolution is not passed, the Neighborhood Commission staff could be dismissed at the end of December.

Sakamoto withdrew the motion and Ryan withdrew the second.

Sakamoto moved seconded by Sanchez to have a Special Meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 to further discuss Resolution 03-54 and Conflict of Interest.  The motion carried unanimously, 6-0-0.

DISCUSSION ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST – Deferred to Special meeting on February 17.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN – No report.

BUDGET – See Briefing on Budget Presentation.

ELECTIONS – No report.

EVALUATION – No report.

SCHEDULING OF THE NET NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9 2004.

ADDITION ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.

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

Chair Wickramaratna adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.

Submitted by,

Kelley Santiago