City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Board System

From dKosopedia

The Revised City Charter of Honolulu (1973) called for the establishment of a nine-member Neighborhood Commission. The Commission was responsible for developing a Neighborhood Plan outlining a uniform system of neighborhood boards on Oahu. Neighborhood boards were then formed in accordance with the Plan. [1]

Contents 1 Neighborhood Plan 2 Neighborhood Commission 3 Functions of a Neighborhood Board 4 Eligibility for serving on a Neighborhood board 5 External links

Neighborhood Plan

The Neighborhood Plan designates neighborhood boundaries throughout Oahu and provides procedures for forming neighborhood areas and neighborhood boards. Some of the Plan's major points are [2]:

• Boundaries for 35 neighborhood areas.
• Initiative petition of 100 registered voters or five percent of voters within the area (which ever is less) for the formation of a neighborhood.
• Election of board members by residents 18 years and older.
• Neighborhood board members seve for two years.
• Neighborhood boards serve an advisory role in local government.
• Neighborhood boards are required to hold monthly meetings.

Neighborhood Commission

Consists of nine members each serving 5 year terms:

• Four are appointed by the Mayor,
• four by the City Council,
• one appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Present Commissioners.

A total of five members must have had one full term of prior board service. The Commission is responsible for the periodic review and evaluation of the Plan and neighborhood boards, and assists in the formation of neighborhood boards upon request. [3]

Functions of a Neighborhood Board

Neighborhood boards voice community desires and act in an advisory capacity with regard to:

• the delivery of basic government services
• economic development and land use questions of thier community
• study and review of capital improvement projects
• zoning concerns.

Boards may conduct informational forums on governmental decision-making process and may establish community goals, objectives, and priorities. [4]

Eligibility for serving on a Neighborhood board

All residents 18 and older, who reside in the neighborhood area and subdistrict are eligible to serve on the neighborhood board. Neighborhood board elections are conducted biennially through a mail ballot system. A candidacy declaration form must be filed but no filing fees or nominating papers are required. [5]

External links

• City and County of Honolulu NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OFFICE
• White, Doug. Web voting for Neighborhood Board races this year Poinography!, January 11, 2007.
• Star-Bulletin staff. Neighborhood board vote online Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 17, 2007.
• Shapiro, Dave. Volcanic Ash: System flawed, but worth re-energizing Honolulu Advertiser, May 9, 2007.
• Hoover, Will. Nanakuli asks for its own board Honolulu Advertiser, December 22, 2007.