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==Neighborhood Boards== Mission The only government-supported civic engagement system in Hawaii, Oahu’s Neighborhood Board System was created in 1973 to assure and increase community participation in the decision-making process of government. The system applies the concept of participatory democracy, involving communities in the decisions that affect them. It establishes an island-wide network of elected neighborhood boards as communication channels, expanding and facilitating opportunities for community and government interaction. What is a Neighborhood Board? The process for development of the Neighborhood Board System began when 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. The 33 neighborhood boards, with their 437 volunteer board members, serve as advisory groups to the Honolulu City Council, the City administration, departments, agencies, and other public officials of the state and federal governments. Oahu’s neighborhood boards meet monthly, and function as an island-wide communication conduit, expanding and facilitating opportunities for community and government interaction. 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: * 35 neighborhood areas (boundaries). * Initiative petition of 100 registered voters or five percent of voters within the area (whichever is less) for the formation of a neighborhood. * Election of board members by residents 18 years and older. * Two-year terms for board members. * Advisory role for all neighborhood boards. Who can serve on a Neighborhood Board? All residents of Oahu, including military personnel and legal resident aliens, who reside in the neighborhood board area and subdistrict and who are at least eighteen (18) years of age are eligible to serve on the neighborhood board. Neighborhood board elections are conducted biennially. How can a citizen participate in the system? Community participation is encouraged and welcomed by the boards. There are many ways in which the community can participate, some of which are: * Voicing your concerns to your board representatives though personal contact or letters. * Attending the regular monthly meetings, public forums and other community events sponsored by your board. * Volunteering to participate on a board committee. You can help resolve community problems or work on a community project. * Responding to surveys conducted by the board. * Be a candidate and/or vote in your board’s election. ''The following Honolulu Neighborhood Boards are current as of April 2015:'' 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Neighborhood Boards of Honolulu」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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