NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024 at 6:00 P.M.
Kapālama Hale – Room 260
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=m4ed0ce4c5871978ea94a35efd24063d1
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2482 418 5050
Password: NC00 (6200 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Recordings of Commission meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1DZJTKor6TTNYiqx5U-P2w

Google Drive: 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 (Hawaiʻi 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 BY PRESIDING OFFICER
A. Roll Call of Commissioners, Establishment of Quorum

II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – Limited to 2 minutes for items not on the agenda

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Monday, October 28, 2024 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record

IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT
A. Recap of briefing with Chairs/Vice Chairs regarding agenda setting guidance from the Office of Information Practices (OIP)

V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Kuliʻouʻou-Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board No.02 – Request to temporarily reduce the number of seats from 17 to 13 for the remainder of the 2023-2025 term to achieve quorum by removing 1 seat from the following subdistricts (SD): SD5 (Wailupe Peninsula); SD6 (Aina Haina); SD7 (Niu Valley); and SD8 (Kuliʻouʻou).
B. ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No.20 – Request to temporarily change the designation of 1 subdistrict 4 seat to an at-large seat for the remainder of the 2023-2025 term to resolve the issue of filling the vacant seat.
C. Resolution requesting that the Hawaiʻi State Legislature Amend Sunshine Law requirements for Neighborhood Boards Discussion and Allow Neighborhood Commission to Govern Sunshine Application for the Neighborhood Boards
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGrXG8i6dxVSqRm19hlcHymc9cdaCFGM/view?usp=drive_link

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Elections Committee – Chair Claire Tamamoto. Members: Bill Clark and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)
B. Survey Committee – Chair Steven Melendrez. Members: Mahealani Bernal, Claire Tamamoto, Larry Veray and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)
C. Neighborhood Plan Committee – Chair Patrick Smith. Members: Mahealani Bernal, Steven Melendrez, Larry Veray and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)

VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meetings: The Neighborhood Commission will recess in December 2024. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. on Webex, and at Kapālama Hale.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING

IX. ADJUDICATORY MATTERS – The Commission will exercise its adjudicatory functions in accordance with HRS § 92-6.
A. 2024-24 Wiencek v. Misakian
B. 2024-25 Wiencek v. Misakian
C. 2024-26 Wiencek v. Misakian
D. 2024-27 Wiencek v. Misakian

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 REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 260 – 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=3dpWwMFh9ok

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

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]: Chair Oshiro called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with 6 members present. Note – This 9-member commission requires 5 members present to establish quorum and to take official commission action.

Members Present: Mahealani Bernal, Steven Melendrez, Richard Oshiro, Patrick Smith, Claire Tamamoto, and Larry Veray.

Members Absent: Jon Ching, Bill Clark, and James Logue.

Guests: Colin Fujiki, Christian de Quevedo (Waiʻalae Kāhala Neighborhood Board No.03); Michelle Matson (Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No.05); Kathryn Henski, Sarah Worth, Greg Misakian (Waikīkī Neighborhood Board No.09); Kevin Lye (Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13); Adriel Lam, Donald Sakamoto, David Shizuma (Kāneʻohe Neighborhood Board No.30); Germaine Meyers (Nānākuli-Māʻili Neighborhood Board No.36); Natalie Iwasa, Jacob Wiencek, Allison Schaefers, Jyun Yamamoto, Tom Heinrich (Residents); Executive Secretary (ES) Lloyd Yonenaka, Dylan Whitsell, Travis Saito and Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office – NCO). There were 30 total attendees. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.

II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:01:10]

Agenda Templates – [0:01:22]: Sarah Worth offered to assist the NCO by drafting an agenda template that could address the recent letter of guidance from the Office of Information Practices (OIP).

Various Concerns – [0:02:33]: Kevin Lye raised the following concerns: (1) it is time consuming to rewatch the video recordings to find specific responses; (2) requested that the NCO reimplement the PDF attachment to the email notifications of agendas/minutes; (3) requested a summary of the Special Meeting rather than wait for the minutes to be posted; (4) inquired of any updates regarding OIP’s letter of guidance on agendas; and (5) requested that the Google Drive be reorganized.

Google Drive, Resolution & Waikiki NB – [0:05:50]: Greg Misakian shared the concerns raised by Kevin Lye regarding the Google Drive, raised additional concerns with the draft resolution on tonight’s agenda not being posted 48 hours prior to the meeting, and briefly discussed ongoing complaints with the Waikiki Neighborhood Board.

Benefits of a Good Chairperson – [0:07:35]: Germaine Meyers commented that majority of the concerns raised to the Neighborhood Commission and the Neighborhood Commission Office could be solved by the Neighborhood Boards internally with an efficient chairperson and productive members. Meyers also expressed gratitude towards the NCO and Executive Secretary Yonenaka.

Google Drive – [0:10:45]: Natalie Iwasa commented that she could not find the resolution listed on tonight’s agenda ahead of the meeting and requested that such documents be made available for public review prior to the meeting.

ADA Concerns – [0:11:39]: Donald Sakamoto commented that as a legally blind individual he struggles with navigating through the Google Drives.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programs – [0:12:57]: Christian de Quevedo commented that he can share information about an AI program that could help with drafting meeting minutes and transcripts.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:14:18]

Monday, September 23, 2024 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record – [0:14:18]: [0:14:35] – Veray MOVED and Tamamoto SECONDED to approve the September 2024 Written Summary for Video Record as written. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 6-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:14:43]

IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT – [0:14:49]

Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) Survey to all Neighborhood Board Members – [0:14:49]: Executive Secretary (ES) Yonenaka reported that the NCO is interested in surveying the Neighborhood Board Members that is different from the survey that is currently in discussion with the Neighborhood Commission Survey Committee. The purpose of the NCO survey is based around improving NCO operations and to better understand the current level of familiarity Board Members have with the Neighborhood Plan, Sunshine Law and Roberts Rules of Order.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:18:05]

V. NEW BUSINESS – [0:20:58]

Resolution requesting that the Hawaii State Legislature remove Sunshine Law requirements for Neighborhood Boards – [0:20:58]: Before discussing the resolution, Vice Chair Smith noted that the resolution was not made available to anyone prior to the meeting as it was being drafted prior the start of the meeting. Vice Chair Smith presented the resolution and highlighted that the purpose of drafting this resolution was to address concerns with OIP’s guidance on board operations, and shared that a solution could be to exempt Neighborhood Boards from Sunshine Law thus authorizing the Neighborhood Commission and the Neighborhood Plan to better address Neighborhood Board operations. Vice Chair Smith clarified that the intent would be to retain the spirit of Sunshine Law while providing the flexibility to establish and interpret rules that improve Neighborhood Board operations.
• Draft Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11_IdFQ5o74JwV_6WCjOge5dytICVecEs/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:28:06]

[0:58:50] – Veray MOVED and Melendrez SECONDED to include additional creative language in the resolution based on tonight’s discussion and postpone any action to the next meeting. Discussion followed. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 6-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:05:23]

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS – [1:06:14]

Elections Committee – [1:06:14]: No report.

Survey Committee – [1:06:22]: Committee Chair Melendrez reported that the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 21, 2024. [1:07:30] – Melendrez MOVED and Smith SECONDED to replace Jon Ching with Larry Veray regarding the Survey Committee membership. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 6-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:08:01]. Committee Chair Melendrez also reported that there were discussions at the previous committee meeting regarding the establishment of a Permitted Interaction Group, but he is still considering that concept and it will be discussed further at the next committee meeting.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:08:50]

Neighborhood Plan Committee – [1:12:12]: Committee Chair Smith provided the report and highlighted that progress is being made on amending the proposed version section by section. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 18, 2024.
• Unofficial Website: https://n-plan.org/

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:12:55]

VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:14:33]

Next Meetings – [1:14:33]: The next Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale. The next Survey Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale.

NCO Briefing with Chairs/Vice Chairs – [1:15:20]: ES Yonenaka announced a reminder that he will be meeting with the Chairs and Vice Chairs on Monday, November 4, 2024 to further discuss the OIP letter of guidance regarding agendas.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT – [1:16:03]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 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.