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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-29 BOR Organizational Meeting MinutesTAX BOARD OF REVIEW Organizational Meeting Wednesday, March 29, 2022 Puna Conference Room 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaii MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Vice -chairperson Diane Blancett-Maddock called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. ROLL CALL: Present were: • Diane Blancett-Maddock, Board Member • Nelson Harano, Board Member • Michael Okumoto, Board Member • Dale Tokuuke, Board Member • J Yoshimoto, Corporation Counsel • Lisa Miura, Real Property Tax Administrator • Keita Jo, Asst. Real Property Tax Administrator • Sherlyn Aronce, RPT Appeals Board Clerk STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Mr. Wesley Takai thanked the Board Members for their service, time and commitment for serving on the Tax Board of Review. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Complaint Hearing minutes of October 19, 2021 were distributed to the Board Members prior to the meeting for their review. There were no corrections noted. Motion: Mr. Harano moved to accept the minutes of Oct. 19, 2021 as presented. Seconded by Mr. Okumoto. Motion passed by a vote of 4:0. OLD BUSINESS: No old business discussed. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Welcome New Board Members There were no new Board Member present. The Mayor's Office is currently seeking candidates to fill the vacant position left by outgoing member Michael Hughes. Ms. Miura reported that Mr. Hughes is interested in rejoining the Board, however there is a 2 -year waiting period before a board member can rejoin. 2. Election of Officers Motion: Ms. Blancett-Maddock moved to elect Nelson Harano as Chairperson. Seconded by Mr. Okumoto. A call for discussion was made. Mr. Harano accepted the nomination. Motion passed by a vote of 4:0. Motion: Mr. Okumoto moved to elect Diane Blancett-Maddock as Vice -Chairperson. Seconded by Mr. Harano. A call for discussion was made. Motion passed by a vote of 4:0. 3. Establishing Dates for 2022 Tax Appeal Case Hearings. A list of tentative appeal hearing dates were distributed to the Board. Tax Board of Review — Organizational Meeting I March 29, 2022 Page 1 of 2 The dates are as follows: The Board was informed that conference rooms were reserved on both sides of the island for the same dates as not all dates will be utilized. The appeal hearing schedule will be determined based on 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 or at the Former Liquor Conference Room at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Administration will work with staff on scheduling the hearings more efficiently. The Board was instructed to contact the Board Clerk if any of the dates listed conflicts with their schedule. The Board would like to have the hearings scheduled in the earlier part of the months. 4. Establishing Workshop Date, Place and Agenda The Annual Board of Review Workshop is an all -day event, typically scheduled in June just before the start of the appeal hearings. After reviewing dates and comparing schedules, the Board, Corp Counsel, and RPT agreed on scheduling the workshop on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at the Aupuni Center. The Board requested that the workshop begins at 10:00am to allow additional travel time for members who live on the west side of the island. One topic the Board requested to be covered was commercial values and the residential market. Additional topics requested were short-term vacation rentals — highest and best use and ag exemptions. Corporation Counsel will likely provide general legal information/updates, cover Sunshine Law, and roles of the Tax Board of Review. The members were encouraged to contact administration on other topics they feel would be beneficial to hear at the workshop. 5. Discussion of Bills Relating to Assessments Ms. Miura reported that there are no current bills pending relating to assessments. Administration will provide any legislative updates at the workshop meeting. 6. Comments from Real Property Tax Administrators Mr. Jo reported that there have been some staffing changes: Ryan Okamura, Brett Hosaka, and Brandon Cain have left RPT. Shannon Arquitola has been hired to fill the Appraiser V position, covering commercial / industrial parcels. 7. Other Miscellaneous Reports and Comments A close to accurate appeal count would be available at the end of April. There were approximately 40 appeals already submitted. ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Blancett-Maddock adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sherlyn Aronce Real Property Appeals Board Clerk Tax Board of Review — Organizational Meeting I March 29, 2022 Page 2 of 2 Hilo Kona July 26-27 12-13119-201 26-27 August 16-171 23-241 30-31 2-31 9-10116-171 23-241 30-31 September 20-21, 27-28 13-141 20-211 27-28 October 18-191 25-26 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 The Board was informed that conference rooms were reserved on both sides of the island for the same dates as not all dates will be utilized. The appeal hearing schedule will be determined based on 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 or at the Former Liquor Conference Room at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Administration will work with staff on scheduling the hearings more efficiently. The Board was instructed to contact the Board Clerk if any of the dates listed conflicts with their schedule. The Board would like to have the hearings scheduled in the earlier part of the months. 4. Establishing Workshop Date, Place and Agenda The Annual Board of Review Workshop is an all -day event, typically scheduled in June just before the start of the appeal hearings. After reviewing dates and comparing schedules, the Board, Corp Counsel, and RPT agreed on scheduling the workshop on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at the Aupuni Center. The Board requested that the workshop begins at 10:00am to allow additional travel time for members who live on the west side of the island. One topic the Board requested to be covered was commercial values and the residential market. Additional topics requested were short-term vacation rentals — highest and best use and ag exemptions. Corporation Counsel will likely provide general legal information/updates, cover Sunshine Law, and roles of the Tax Board of Review. The members were encouraged to contact administration on other topics they feel would be beneficial to hear at the workshop. 5. Discussion of Bills Relating to Assessments Ms. Miura reported that there are no current bills pending relating to assessments. Administration will provide any legislative updates at the workshop meeting. 6. Comments from Real Property Tax Administrators Mr. Jo reported that there have been some staffing changes: Ryan Okamura, Brett Hosaka, and Brandon Cain have left RPT. Shannon Arquitola has been hired to fill the Appraiser V position, covering commercial / industrial parcels. 7. Other Miscellaneous Reports and Comments A close to accurate appeal count would be available at the end of April. There were approximately 40 appeals already submitted. ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Blancett-Maddock adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sherlyn Aronce Real Property Appeals Board Clerk Tax Board of Review — Organizational Meeting I March 29, 2022 Page 2 of 2