Council committee amends, advances Shannon Smith nomination to Board of Review

Shannon Smith, a long-time Honolulu real estate professional, was introduced to the Committee on Budget and questioned by members about how she would evaluate mass valuations and comparables if confirmed to the Board of Review.

"My name is Shannon Smith. I moved to Honolulu in 1993, became a licensed realtor in 1998, and have been exclusively full time, selling residential real estate since 2003," Smith said, describing her professional background and service on a professional standards committee.

Councilmember Kia Aina pressed Smith on whether building class and finishes should affect comparable sales used in mass valuations; Smith said those factors do matter and that she would apply rules and evidence presented at hearings. Property Assessment staff cautioned about discussing active cases during the hearing, and committee members asked whether Smith would be able to resist outside pressure from agency staff when hearing appeals.

The committee amended Resolution 26-154 to the hand-carried CD1 language (which changed references to Board of Review 1 to Board of Review 2 and updated a mayor's message reference) and the chair recommended the resolution be reported out for adoption. There was no objection.

The committee’s action advances the nomination to the full council with the CD1 amendment; no final confirmation vote took place during the committee meeting.