Creating the Oahu Historic Preservation Commission and its membership rules

(a) There is established a commission to be known as the “Oahu Historic Preservation Commission” which shall be attached to the department of planning and permitting. (b) The commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. The commission members shall be appointed from among professionals and persons with special interest in the following disciplines: (1) Architecture; (2) History; (3) Archaeology; (4) Planning; (5) Architectural history; (6) Hawaiian culture; (7) Anthropology; (8) Ethnography; and (9) Sociology; provided that the commission shall include an expert in Native Hawaiian culture issues and concerns and in archaeology. All members of the commission shall have professional, educational, or demonstrated work experience, or a combination thereof, in the disciplines listed in subdivisions (1) through (9). Members also shall reflect an ethnic diversity to carry out the purposes of the commission to identify, protect, preserve, and restore historic properties and artifacts of all ethnic cultures. The mayor shall solicit lists of two or more persons, recommended by the community and professional organizations, and appropriate ethnic organizations dedicated to preserving unique cultural heritages, including but not limited to the Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, the Hawaii Civic clubs, the Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and others, for consideration in making commission appointments. All commission members shall have a demonstrated interest, competence, and knowledge in historic preservation. (c) The disciplines of archaeology, architecture, architectural history, and history shall have professional representation on the commission, to the extent such professionals are available to the community. In the event such expertise is not available within the county, experts from the statewide community may be appointed to the commission. When one of the aforementioned disciplines is not professionally represented, the commission shall seek, through a consultant contract or other appropriate means, the expertise in the unrepresented discipline when considering national register nominations and other activities that will affect properties that are normally evaluated by a professional in such a discipline. (d) Whenever possible, the commission shall include members from different areas of the county who possess a knowledge and interest in local area history. (e) Applicability of charter. Except as otherwise provided in this article, Charter § 13-103, as amended, shall apply to the commission.