Requiring more accountability and oversight over Honolulu police and the city’s rail transit project are among the most talked-about topics before the Honolulu Charter Commission as it enters its next phase of work.

Saturday is the deadline for people to submit proposed changes to the Charter, which acts as the constitution for the City and County of Honolulu.

Commission Chairman Jesse Souki said Thursday he is encouraging folks who want changes in city governance to come up with constructive proposals they feel would help its operations.

“The commissioners are just citizens, too,” Souki said. “Maybe some of us have stronger opinions than others, but we just want government to work as well. And everybody has some perspective on how government should or shouldn’t work, and if you don’t come forward with an idea of what that change should be and are just grumbling, then nothing happens.”

The Internet is making it easier to submit proposals. A form is available on the commission’s website for people to identify an issue or problem that warrants an amendment, and the proposed change that would address the situation.

Everyone — from city agencies to private individuals, including the commission members themselves — uses the same submission form.

As of close of business Thursday, the commission had posted on its website 40 proposals offered by agencies, organizations, commission members and individuals.

To see the form and the amendments, go to honoluluchartercommission.org.

Several proposals would require more accountability and transparency among the Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu Police Commission. Both HPD and the commission have been criticized for not being responsive to accusations of improper activities lodged against police officers, including Police Chief Louis Kealoha.

State Sen. Will Espero, among those critics, wants the commission to have direct authority to punish officers for misconduct or bad behavior. He also wants the mayor to be able to initiate proceedings to fire a police chief, although a majority of commission members would still make the ultimate decision, under his proposal.

Charter Commissioner Kevin Mulligan wants the commission to be able to place the chief on leave or essentially place him on desk duty while an investigation is being conducted. Mulligan’s proposal also would insert language making it easier for the commission to dismiss the chief.

Charter Commissioner Donna Ikeda submitted a proposal requiring that HPD and the commission keep confidential the identities of those filing complaints against officers.

Governance over the city’s $6.57 billion rail project, the most expensive construction project in Hawaii history, is also high on the list of issues.

Private citizen Clifton Masayoshi-Hasegawa is proposing eliminating the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and placing oversight for the project entirely in the hands of City Council members.

Mulligan is proposing that HART members be required to have special expertise to deal with different topics tied to the project and that they be required to ride rail at least once a week. In a separate proposed amendment, Mulligan is calling for a single agency to deal with rail, bus and paratransit operations.

Improving government efficiency and eliminating waste are also priorities for commission members.

Commissioner Rick Tsujimura is proposing that the Council be required to evaluate and produce a study on the needs and costs of each city board and commission at least once every five years, and then have each of those boards and commissions go before voters to determine whether they should be kept.

Tsujimura said he isn’t the only commissioner who feels they should make sure all of the Charter’s language is still important and relevant to governing the city in the 21st century.

“There is a sentiment on the part of the Charter Commission to use the taxpayers’ money much more efficiently and effectively, and that what was doesn’t necessarily have to continue,” Tsujimura said. “Everything is up for examination. What we want is to throw things on the table so at least there’s a public discussion.”