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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-04 BOR Organizational MinutesCOUNTY OF HAWAII TAX BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING MINUTES — Or anizational Meetin Wednesday, March 4, 2029 Real Property Tax Conference Room 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, Hawaii CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Emygrace Reinhard called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Present were: Emygrace Reinhard, Board Member Michael Hughes, Board Member Nelson Harano, Board Member J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel Lisa Miura, Real Property Tax Administrator Keita Jo, Assistant Real Property Tax Administrator Wesley Takai in attendance from the public. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: APPROVAL of MINUTES: No statements were made. The following meeting minutes were distributed to the Board Members prior to the meeting for their review: October 29, 2019 There were no corrections made. Mr. Hughes moved to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr. Harano. Motion passed by a vote of 3:0. OLD BUSINESS: No old business discussed. NEW BUSINESS: ■ Welcome new Board Members. There were no new Board Members present. Mayor's office is currently seeking candidates to fill the vacant position left by outgoing members Wesley Takai and Reiko Ford ■ Election of Officers. Mr. Hughes nominated Ms. Reinhard as Chairperson. Ms. Reinhard declined. Mr. Harano nominated Mr. Hughes as Chairperson. No other nominations were received. Mr. Harano moved to elect Michael Hughes as Chairperson. seconded by Mr. Reinhard. A call from discussion was made. Motion passed by a vote of 3:0. Mr. Harano nominated Mrs. Grace Reinhard as Vice -Chairperson. No other nominations were received. Mr. Harano moved to elect Grace Reinhard as Vice -Chairperson. Seconded by Mr. Hughes. A call for discussion was made. Motion passed by a vote of 3:0. ■ Establishing Dates for 2020 Tax Appeal Case Hearings. A list of the tentative appeal hearing dates was distributed to the Members. The dates are as follows.- Hilo: ollows: Hilo: July: 71 8, 14, 15 September: 8, 9, 15, 16 December: 819 Kona: July: 14, 15 August: 11, 12, 25, 26 September: 81 9, 22, 23 October: 617 November: 17, 18, 24, 25 Board informed rooms were scheduled on both sides of the island for the same dates as not all dates will be utilized as schedule will be determined by the number of appeals received for the year. Hilo hearings will be held at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in the Aupuni Center. Kona hearings will be held in Building G, Community Hale at the Vilest Hawaii Civic Center. Members provided their dates of unavailability due to scheduling conflicts. Additional dates will be obtained should the number of appeal hearings exceed the number of days currently scheduled. • Establishing Workshop Date, Place and Agenda. The Annual Board of Review Workshop is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo and is an all -day event. Mr. Hughes indicated he be unable to attend as he will be travelling out of the country during that time. Mr. Jo will work with the Members and Council to coordinate a better time in June for all Members to attend. Members were informed to present their requests to the administration as to presentations on Real Property.Tax programs, procedures, etc., which they want to receive more information and/or training on at the workshop. Members requested Deputy corporation Counsel to cover what is expected of the Tax Board of Review during an election year including campaigning concerns and the sunshine law. Members requested to have a review of short term vacation rentals and a historical overview from Wesley Takai, outgoing Tax Board of Review Member. • Discussion of Bills Relating to Assessments. Mrs. Miura reported that there are no current bills pending relating to assessments and there was no action by Administration and county Council on the recommendations the Tax Board of Review made in the 2019 Annual Report. Legislature did have a bill which was "stalled" in January 2020 regarding the Board of Education establishing a tax rate for education purposes. • General Legal Discussion and Training. Mr. Yoshimoto informed the members that legal discussion and training will be provided at the Board's annual workshop in June. Comments from Real Property Tax Administrator Mrs. Miura thanked the Board Members and stated that the Real Property Tax Division is grateful to all of them for serving. Shared the challenges in having new Members due to the time commitment required. Other Miscellaneous Reports and Comments o The Statewide conference is being coordinated by City & county of Honolulu and is scheduled for May 29, 2020 at the Honolulu Airport conference room. Mr. Hughes indicated he be unable to attend as he will be travelling out of the country during that time. o Tax Board of Review Clerk Elizabeth Swain has continued to assist Mr. Jo and Mrs. Miura while we wait for her replacement to start. Ms. Sherlyn Aronce will be starting with the Real Property Tax office in a few weeks. o Mr. Hughes requested a review of the appeal meeting. Ms. Reinhard confirmed she was given one last year and it was very helpful. Mr. Yoshimoto will email to the Members. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Hughes moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Harano. A call for discussion was made. Motion to adjourn passed by a vote of 3:0. Meeting was adjourned at 10:41 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Miura Real Property Tax Administrator 3