City Charter Update Offers Opportunities For Kaneohe Residents To Get Involved

The city is updating its charter, and Kaneohe residents can take part in the process.

The update is led by the Honolulu Charter Commission, which the city assembles every 10 years to study and review the operation of city government. According to its website, “The Commission may propose amendments to the Honolulu City Charter which, as the city’s ‘constitution,’ lays out the foundation, structure and operations of city government.”

Kaneohe Neighborhood Board member Mahealani Cypher has been tracking the Commission’s work and reports to the Board on a regular basis.

Meetings, Public Hearings & More

Currently, the Commission is about halfway through the review. The deadline for submitting proposed amendments has passed, but there are still opportunities to influence the outcome.

For example, the Commission will meet Monday, January 25, at 3:30 p.m. in the committee meeting room of Honolulu Hale, 530 King St. Click on this link for the agenda.

The Commission plans to hold public hearings throughout Oahu, starting this month and continuing to May. After that, the Commission is to develop proposals to be placed on the ballot for the November 2016 election. A Commission timetable is available by clicking on this link.

The list of proposed amendments is available on the Commission website. They cover subjects like affordable housing, open government, the environment, the Police Department and the Fire Department. There is even a section on neighborhood boards and the Honolulu Neighborhood Commission.

The full text of submitted amendments also is available on the website.

You can submit testimony and submit comments using links on the site.

We Welcome Your Suggestions

Share your ideas with us. You may add comments to any item on this blog by clicking on the link with the word “comment” directly below it.

Thank you for your interest in our community and the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board.