NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 15, 2005

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

HONOLULU HALE

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Roy Wickramaratna called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Gall, Jeanette Nekota, Tom Heinrich, Kalene Sakamoto, Clara Ching and Roy Wickramaratna.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Ben Sanchez and Ben Gudoy.

GUESTS:  Jennifer Waihe’e (City Deputy Corporation Counsel), Clifton Takamura and Ron Lockwood (McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), and Mike Ellis (former chair of Nuuanu Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No. 12).

STAFF: Executive Secretary Baybee Hufana-Ablan, Michelle Kidani, Maureen Andrade and Elwin Spray.

INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONER’S: The Commissioners introduced themselves.  There were six members present.  (Gall, Nekota, Heinrich, Sakamoto, Ching and Wickramaratna)

INTRODUCTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION’S EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: Wickramaratna introduced the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Baybee Hufana-Ablan, Michelle Kidani, Maureen Andrade and Elwin Spray of the Neighborhood Commission.  He also acknowledged Jennifer Waihee, Deputy Corporation Counsel.

Hufana-Ablan stated that she looks forward to working with the Commission to better the Neighborhood Board system.  She added that she is working closely with Waihee to complete previous business left undone.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2005:

Sakamoto moved seconded by Heinrich to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, January 11, 2005.

Ching made the following corrections and additions:

1.      Page 1, number 2.  Add to the end of the paragraph “Neighborhood Commission members acknowledged Ben Kama with a kukui nut lei and Hawaiian delights in a carved Hawaiian bowl.”

2.                  Page 2, July 13, 2004 Minutes, under 2, strike out sentence “After further discussion Ching was encouraged to submit any amendments in writing at a later time;” and add “Ching made corrections to the minutes (page 10) and submitted them in writing to the Neighborhood Commission Assistant.” 

3.                  And the motion ”Nekota moved, seconded by Ryan to approved the July 13, 2004 Minutes as corrected.”

4.                  The note should be:  “Strike out, subject to future amendment, at page 10.“

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 15, 2005

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5.                  For Commissioners report, #2:  “Ching raised concerns that the meeting minutes of the Manoa Neighborhood Board have not been provided to the Board since April 2003.” To add:  “For approval after Neighborhood Commission Office luncheon December 7, 2004.  Present were Manoa Neighborhood Board Chair Tom Heinrich, Executive Secretary Ben Kama, Elwin Spray, Terry Morris, Neighborhood Commission Chair Roy Wickramaratna, and Vice Chair Ed Gall.  Manoa Neighborhood Board Chair replied it was the Chair’s decision and it would be available as soon as possible.  Vice chair reiterated the Manoa Neighborhood Board chair’s remark.”

6.                  And to add:  “As a follow up. Ching inquired whether the Neighborhood Commission had reviewed the Neighborhood Assistant’s draft minutes of the Manoa Neighborhood Board July 2004 meeting as requested.  Executive Secretary Kama responded that he was waiting for the video of this meeting, and.”

Chair Wickramaratna asked if this was all the corrections.  Ching responded that these were all corrections.

Ching continued:

And under Commission Concern #1:  where it says Ching reported, down 5, Ching raised conflicts of interest “ to add “as a Neighborhood Commission member appointed by the Mayor she informed the Mayor’s representative in his office that she currently serves as a Manoa Neighborhood Board Member.  Her first question posed to the Mayor was weather there would be any conflict of interest.   After some consultation, they assured her that they did not consider that an issue.  Ching stated that she considered it her duty to fulfill her obligations as a Manoa Neighborhood Board Member, to complete her term of office, because of the many important issues in Manoa that needed to be addressed, education and research is her primary concern.” 

Gall questioned if the corrections submitted were “after the fact” additions.

Ching noted that the corrections included facts stated at the meeting but were not included in the minutes.  Nekota agreed.  Ching asked why the above items were not included.

Heinrich noted that he was asked to assist the Neighborhood Assistant, Kelley Santiago with the production of the minutes.  He added that Minutes are a summary and as submitted, it accurately summarizes the statement by Ching on Page 3.  Heinrich also raised concern regarding the corrections on Page 2, under Commissioner’s Reports, Item 2.  He did not recall the statement being made as submitted by Ching but had no objections to the corrections.

Nekota questioned when a copy of the motions made at the last meeting regarding the complaints would be made available to the Commission.

Heinrich reported a copy of would be available to the Commission upon review of Corporation Counsel.

Ching questioned if it is a violation of the Sunshine Law because the minutes are not available.  She asked when Corporation Counsel would complete their review.

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Sakamoto moved and Ching seconded to approve the January 11, 2005 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended to exclude the New Business section.   The motion passed unanimously, 6-0-0.

Discussion was made that a standardizing of minute format was going to be considered for Boards.  Nekota and Ching asked to revert to the previous format for the Commission agendas; Chair Wickramaratna said the Commission agenda would change back. 

Public Input: None

Report on Status of the McCully/Mo`ili`ili Neighborhood Board No. 8’s Consideration

of Proposed Amendments to Its Initiative Petition Concerning Number of Seats and

Subdistrict Boundary Changes: McCully/Mo`ili`ili Neighborhood Board Chair Ron Lockwood reported the Board is actively working on alternatives, thanked the Commission for its support and advised that the Board would return to present a final revised plan in several months, with the following components:  no at large, 15 members (5,5,5), vertical lines, three sub districts.  Board Member Clifton Takamura reported that he was also hopeful of completion at the end of May 2005.

Presentation of Attorney General’s Videotape Concerning “Workplace Violence:” At the suggestion of several Commissioners, Chair Wickramaratna deferred the item, but reported that the tape was available to be viewed outside the meeting.

Executive Session -- Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Sections 92-4 & 92-5(a)(4)

& (8), for the purpose of consulting with the Neighborhood Commission’s legal counsel

on questions and issues pertaining to the commission’s powers, duties, privileges,

immunities, and liabilities, especially in relation to the agenda items listed below.  Sakamoto moved, seconded by Ching, for the Commission to go into executive session for the above purpose, at 8:05 p.m.

Return from Executive Session – The Commission ended executive session at 8:25 p.m.

Commissioners’ Open Forum: Opportunity for General Discussion Regarding

Commission Administrative Matters, Planning for Future Meetings and Activities,

Networking, Coordination with Other Agencies and Organizations, Members’ Concerns,

Attendance at Neighborhood Board Meetings, Announcements: Heinrich noted that the intent behind this agenda item was to allow Commissioners to exchange ideas. 

Several items were suggested, including: 

·         Developing an annual calendar (especially including June 1^st start of term, June budget approval, and the revision to the Neighborhood Plan process)

·         Development of a training schedule, recommendation that a five minute training be done at the Board meeting

·         Training be done of Commissioners

·         Perhaps have commissioner act as liaisons

·         Discussed that a Commission staff roster and Board assignments would be useful to Commissioners

Nekota reported that she had visited meetings for Neighborhood Boards 24, 34, and 35.

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Executive Secretary’s Report – Baybee Hufana-Ablan reported that staff assignments have been changed around, with a shuffling of Boards and Neighborhood Assistants.  She reported that half the Office staff is intending to move to a Kapolei Hale office, with herself to be there 2 days a week and in town 3 days; Michele Kidani will be there permanently. 

Report on Status of the 2005 Neighborhood Board Elections (Candidate Filing Deadline

was January 18, 2005; Ballots to be Mailed in Mid-March 2005) Baybee Hufana-Ablan reported that she anticipates a press releases about March 21, April 18 is the deadline to return and the installation ceremony will be May 14 (most likely in the Honolulu Hale courtyard).  The May 14 event will include an information practices workshop.

Report on Status of the Neighborhood Commission’s Request (Made On or About

October 12, 2004) for a Demographic Evaluation of Each Neighborhood Board’s

Composition – The Organization, 2000 Census Population, and Current Total Number

of Households per District and Subdistrict; Current Number of Seats (At Large/-

Subdistrict); Number of Persons Represented by Each Seat; Date of Original Formation;

and Information About Any Amendments to Each Board’s Initiative Petition – No report.

Consideration of the Fiscal Year 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Budget Process

(City Council Bill 12 Relating to the Executive Operating Budget introduced on March 2,

2005), Preparation of the Neighborhood Board System Budget, Preparation of Individual

Neighborhood Board Budgets, and Specific Budget Related Ideas -- No additional report.

Consideration of Honolulu City Council Resolution No. 04-387 “Requesting a

Performance Audit of the Neighborhood Board System” (Introduced on December 10,

2004; Referred to the Committee on Executive Matters) -- No additional report.

Report on Status of the City & County of Honolulu’s Sunshine Law Training Program

Established by Ordinance 03-30 (Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 3, Article 12;

Approved by Mayor Harris and Effective on October 15, 2003) [See Honolulu City Council Resolution No. 04-331 “Urging the City Administration to Implement the Sunshine Law Training Program Without Delay” (Introduced on November 8, 2004; Referred to the Committee on Executive Matters)] – No additional report.

Committee Reports

Budget Committee – Kalene Shim Sakamoto No additional report.

Elections – Benjamin Gudoy No additional report.

Neighborhood Plan Committee – Edward Gall & Roy Wickramaratna No additional report.

Training Committee – Jeanette Nekota & Pohai Ryan No additional report.

Adjournment :  Without objection, Chair Wickramaratna adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.