NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.
Kapālama Hale – Room 153
925 Dillingham Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96817
AND VIA WEBEX

This meeting location is open to public participation.
Other available options include participating by computer, phone or by video system.
WebEx and phone-in instructions are as follows:

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m533b588483fdd248d9d115a0a6ef21b5
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2485 548 7512
Password: NC00 (6200 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Recordings of Board meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice

Meeting Materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0

Rules of Speaking: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to raise his or her hand, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Speakers are to keep their comments under two (2) minutes. Public testimony taken on each agenda item. Please silence all electronic devices.

Note: The Commission may take action on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless properly added to the agenda.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE MINUTES
A. Monday, June 16, 2025 Written Summary for Video Record

III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Consider written proposal covering the “Complaint Procedures sections (Chapter 18, §§2-18-101 – 105) – modified proposals based on last month’s discussion:
(see CompalintsProposal_250705.docx in Meeting Materials)
1. Review of edits made from last month’s meeting
2. §2-18-101(d)(2) – addition of allowing Complaint to not alter original complaint.
3. §2-18-101(d)(2) – addition of 10 days period for submission of defect correction
4. §2-18-101(e) – relocated from former §2-18-101(h) for better flow
5. §2-18-101(g)(2) – added “facilitator” language
6. §2-18-101(g)(2) – deleted respondent response language as redundant (see §2-18-101(e))
7. §2-18-101(g)(3) – added deadline for submission of report.
8. §2-18-101(g)(3) – added allowance for Respondent to submit objections
9. §2-18-101(h) – added to manage Mediation process.
10. §2-18-101(l) – review “mail and email” requirement. Consider only one option required.
B. Review of Complaints from each option of §2-18-101(c) (see ComplaintProcess.pdf)
C. Any other general questions, concerns or issues with any of the provisions of Chapter 18.
D. Discussion of how to proceed with review process. May include approving draft of Chapter 18 provisions, incorporating any modifications made at this meeting.

IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meeting Of the Neighborhood Commission: The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. on Webex, and at Kapālama Hale First Floor Conference Room 153.
B. Next Meeting: The next meeting is To Be Determined.

V. ADJOURNMENT

A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive this board’s agenda and minutes. Additions, corrections, and deletions to the mailing list may be directed to the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) at Kapālama Hale, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817, by telephone on (808) 768-3710, fax (808) 768-3711, or e-mailing nco@honolulu.gov. Agenda documents and minutes are also available online at http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards.html

All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours of the meeting, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the Board at the meeting. If submitting written testimony, please note the Board and agenda item(s) your testimony concerns. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, HI 96817, fax (808) 768-3711, or email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call the Neighborhood Commission Office at (808) 768-3710 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or send an email to nco@honolulu.gov at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

DRAFT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025 – 6:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 153 – 925 DILLINGHAM BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HI 96817
AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDbaEMgpwAo

Meeting materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:04]: Committee Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

Committee Members Present: Mahealani Bernal, Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui, Steven Melendrez, Richard Oshiro, and Patrick Smith.

Committee Members Absent: Lloyd Yonenaka and Larry Veray (Chair Smith noted that Veray was present earlier but had to leave due to a family emergency).

Guests: Greg Misakian (Waikiki Neighborhood Board No.09); Claire Santos (Makiki Neighborhood Board No.10); Mike Buck (Honolulu Emergency Services Department – C.O.R.E); Laura Ruby, Austin Salcedo, Kalei Salcedo, Pikachu Shelby Billionaire (Residents); Dylan Whitsell, Travis Saito, and Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office). There were 17 total participants. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.

II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:00:50]

Term Limits and Meeting Management – [0:00:57]: Laura Ruby shared concerns about Neighborhood Board meetings, suggesting term limits for Chairs, allowing double terms, implementing time limits for speakers, and better time management by Chairs.

Nonprofit Organization Conflicts – [0:04:54]: Austin Salcedo requested language be added to the Neighborhood Plan regarding conflicts of interest when Neighborhood Board officials are affiliated with nonprofit organizations. He suggested Board Members should recuse themselves from voting on matters related to nonprofits they are affiliated with, similar to legislative requirements.

Neighborhood Board Boundaries – [0:08:36]: Claire Santos stated she would be pursuing district subdistrict changes for Neighborhood Boards 10 and 12 regarding special district guidance. She also inquired about contacting the Charter Commission. Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui suggested contacting Kevin Wong at the Managing Director’s Office.

Waikiki Neighborhood Board Concerns – [0:10:20]: Greg Misakian expressed concerns about violations of the Neighborhood Plan and Sunshine Laws by the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. He stated that despite having an OIP (Office of Information Practices) opinion, the Chair violated Sunshine Laws at the most recent meeting. He also raised concerns about the election process. Chair Smith clarified that the Commission does not adjudicate Sunshine Laws, which falls under OIP’s jurisdiction.

Community Representation Concerns – [0:14:25]: Pikachu Shelby Billionaire raised concerns about the RYSE project and issues with representation in the 96792 area, citing problems with sidewalks, street lighting, and safety. He also expressed frustration with how Neighborhood Boards are handling community concerns.

Communication with Community – [0:16:54]: Kalei Salcedo emphasized the importance of communication between Neighborhood Boards and community members. She expressed concern about Board Members not listening to community input and silencing residents, particularly kupunas.

III. APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE MINUTES – [0:20:56]

Monday, May 12, 2025 Written Summary for Video Record – [0:20:56]: Hearing no corrections, the Written Summary for Video Record was approved as distributed.

IV. NEW BUSINESS – [0:21:16]

Consider written proposal covering the “Complaint Procedures sections (Chapter 18 §2-18-101 – 105) – modified proposals based on last month’s discussion – [0:21:22]: Chair Smith introduced the current complaints proposal and noted that all days are highlighted in green for review to ensure consistency throughout the document.
• Proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WFVPjQKQlYqA_yLFxRYKlSn_RLlojC5A/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=112972764551395013814&rtpof=true&sd=true

§2-18-101(c)(1) – modification from combining to correcting defects – [0:22:29]: The committee discussed changing the language to allow petitioners to resubmit and correct any substantial defects in their filing. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to simplify the language to make it more understandable, particularly removing legal terms like “tolling” and specifying a 10-day timeframe for corrections.

§2-18-101(c)(5) – addition of mediation option – [0:40:15]: The committee discussed adding mediation as an option alongside party conferences. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to retain the proposal of adding the option of mediation.

§2-18-101(e) – addition of notice requirement to respondent – [0:43:57]: The committee reviewed language requiring notification to respondents of dismissed complaints if complainants fail to file timely appeals. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to simplify the language to make it clearer.

§2-18-101(f)(1), (2), (3) – modification of language/ consider required timetable to set up conference/ review slight word change – [0:45:05]: Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to insert “shall” to (f)(1) and “or” at the end of (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(ii).

§2-18-101 (h) – review a slight word change – [0:48:30]: Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to accept the language edits.

§2-18-101(i) – added reasonable period – [0:49:21]: The committee discussed the “reasonable period” language for placing appeals on the commission’s agenda. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to modify it to “a reasonable period not to exceed three months” to provide clarity while maintaining flexibility.

§2-18-101(k) – changes to delivery method of notice – [0:51:54]: The committee discussed Hawaii State law requirements for hearing notices to be sent by registered or certified mail, while allowing other types of notices to be sent by regular mail. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed to the addition of electronic notifications.

§2-18-102(d)(9), (10)(a-c) & §2-18-103(b)(3) – review 45 days response time (changed from calendar to business)/ review notice requirements/ review of business days – [0:55:45]: These decisions were made during the following agenda item.

General review of all “day” counting increments in Chapter 18 – [0:57:06]: The committee conducted a comprehensive review of all time periods in the complaint procedures, deciding to use “business days” consistently throughout the document for clarity. They also discussed the importance of specifying exact dates in communications.
The committee made the following specific decisions regarding timeframes:
• Changed “working days” to “business days” in sections 101(a)(3) and 101(a)(4)
• Maintained “10 business days” in section 101(c)
• Maintained “business days” in sections 101(d)(1) and 101(d)(2)
• Maintained “business days” in section 101(e)
• Changed “7 business days” to “10 business days” in section 101(c) for consistency
• Changed “45 calendar days” to “30 business days” in section 102(d)(9)
• Changed “30 calendar days” to “20 business days” in section 102(d)(10)
• Changed “60 calendar days” to “45 business days” in section 102(c)
• Decided to keep “60 calendar days” in section 103(b)(3) but modify the language to allow the commission to determine the period of suspension, which should not count toward absences

Review of how §2-11-104 (Declaratory rulings by the commission) effects Complaint provisions – [1:36:52]: The committee discussed deadlines relating to the utilization of §2-11-104 (Declaratory rulings by the commission) and this proposed complaint process. Hearing no objections, the committee agreed not to establish new time periods.

Review of Complaint flowcharts – [1:44:15]: Chair Smith presented flowcharts illustrating the complaint process. The flowcharts showed the path of a complaint from initial filing through resolution, including options for defect correction, dismissal, forwarding to commission, party conferences, mediation, and hearings. Committee members expressed appreciation for the visual representation and suggested considering including refined versions in the Neighborhood Plan as a tool for better understanding.

Discussion of how to proceed with review process – [2:04:35]: Chair Smith outlined the path forward, noting that the committee is close to finalizing its proposal for the complaint procedures. He indicated that he would make the agreed-upon changes and post an updated version to the Google Drive within the next week for committee members to review before the next meeting.

V. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:11:10]

Next Meeting: The committee agreed to change the next meeting date from Monday, July 14, 2025, to Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx.

VI. ADJOURNMENT – [2:12:26]: The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

Submitted by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Deputy, NCO
Finalized by:

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone.  If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.