With a number of innacuracies, and omissions in the current roll of honour plaques, a focus of the meeting was on defining eligibility criteria for the new ones.
A photo of the roll of honour in storage was shown to the meeting, in response to there being "a belief that council don't hold those plaques".
The bronze plaques were in "very good condition", Mr Ropitini said, however the granite plaques had sustained some damage, mostly around the edges, which was "natural" as a result of being removed.
"I do want to assure you those plaques are in the possession of [NCC], the perpetual flame is with [NCC]. The flame still burns."
Discussion also veered toward the centre's name, with the chairman acknowledging a motion from Alan Rhodes tabled at the two previous meetings calling for "War Memorial" to be returned to the centre's name.
"We've heard loud and clear that there is a want to return the war memorial title to the building," Mr Ropitini said. "We're not going to get into that discussion, we've got that message. It's now to be put to our elected officials to consider."
The name's return was also advocated for by the hall's original architect, Guy Natusch, "to reflect the importance of memory", in a letter read on his behalf at the meeting.
"The site is still first and foremost a war memorial site, and any community events or functions such as conferences should be secondary to memory."
While discussing the criteria for the roll of honour, attendees discussed what constituted a Napier citizen, what service was needed for a person to be eligible, and how the names should be presented, among other topics.
A number, like Jeremy Nash, felt that if a person had not been included in the original plaques but had some tie with Napier, their name should be memorialised on the roll.
"If a person has a connection with the district, he should be honoured in this district."
Attendees were also asked how important it was that only those who have died overseas in active service be commemorated on the roll.
Whether to include the names of those who died during the dates of a post-1945 conflict, or as a result of service within two years of returning to New Zealand would be the "hardest decision of the Napier War Memorial Steering Committee", Mr Ropitini said.
While some felt doing so would "open a can of worms", others felt those who died indirectly should be honoured.
Standing in for steering group member Graeme Taylor, his fellow Taradale councillor, Tania Wright, told the meeting they understood the desire to have the issue resolved.
"In the meantime we have a rare opportunity to look forward, review and update our roll of honour, and reinstate a memorial honouring the legacy of those who fought and died for our freedom."
Information from the workshops will be collated and presented to the council for consideration.