Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source and permission from: Neighborhood Commission Office

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KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD


MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

MAY 17, 2006

LILIUOKALANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL





CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Abe at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present.



Chair Abe noted the passing of Board member Edison Lum last week and today‚s funeral. There are now four vacancies in subdistrict 1.



MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Cone, Eduardo Hernandez, Daniel Nahoopii, Mike Abe, Daniel Carvalho, Randolph Hack, Sharon Schneider.



MEMBERS ABSENT: None.



GUESTS: Kapono Ryan (Chaminade University), James Toyooka (DOE), Eugene Young, Eric La‚a (Representative Scott Nishimoto‚s Office), John Kobayashi (Kaimuki Business and Professional Association), Lenny Yamasaki, Chester Lao (Board of Water Supply), Stan Fichtman (Councilmember Charles Djou‚s Office), Jay Ishibashi (Mayor‚s Office), Julia Allen, Senator Les Ihara, Jr., Tom Kawal (BC Burrito), Dayton Moffitt (Blimpie Subs); Major Mark Nakagawa, Capt. R. Green. Lt. A. Ahlo, Sgt. G. Maekawa, Detective S. Forman, Officer Jay Hernandes (HPD, District 7-East Honolulu), Capt. M. Tamanaha (HFD-Kaimuki Station), Sumiko Obaia (Restaurant Maguroya), Lydia Chock, Ernie Bedovd, Nadine Tenn Salle, Gordon Tam, Lisa Lum, S. Sonoda, Helga and Charles Frankel, Linoa Talaro, Mel Kihara, Steven Ly, Councilmember Ann Kobayashi, Nennifer Macagnone, Karen Essene, Lori Yamada, Sam Suzuki, Representative Barbara Marumoto, Darren Furuyama, G. Fujishima, Toru Hamayasu (Department of Transportation Services), Dean Chu (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).



PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS:



HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT ˆ Lt. Ahlo introduced Major Nakagawa, the new commander of District 7, Capt. Green, Sgt. Maekawa, Detective Foreman, and Officer Hernandez, and reported the written report distributed earlier includes statistics for April and a copy of a brochure „A Family Guide to Using the Internet.‰ Other statistics include the ATV unit handling 5 misdemeanor and 12 warrant arrests; 18 liquor law violation, 2 dogs in park, 190 moving and 40 parking violations citations.



Questions, answers and comments followed:



1.            Thanks were extended for the recent graffiti tagging arrests. Everyone was encouraged to report graffiti tagging to police when they see it occurring and provide as much information as possible.



2.            Arrests have been made of two burglary suspects who had been committing burglaries in the Kahala to Hawaii Kai area.



Lt. Ahlo was thanked for his report.



HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT ˆ Capt. Tamanaha reported the following:



1.            Last month the station responded to 7 structure fires, 1 hazmat, 84 medical calls, and 12 miscellaneous calls.



2.            The Fire Safety Tip is „Prepare a fire escape plan. Map out your escape routes with at least two ways out of each room. Designate a location outside of the house where everyone can meet. Know where the closest phone is located to call 911.‰



Capt. Tamahana was thanked for attending the meeting.



WATER ˆ Chester Lao, from the Board of Water Supply, reported the following:



1.            The recent rains resulting in most of the rain running off and not being absorbed into the ground.



2.            Work is being done with the Department of Parks and Recreation to take over maintenance of the Board of Water supply‚s Waialae Shaft grounds next to Mau umae Park at Claudine and 16th avenues.



3.            Follow up will be done about a previous month‚s question on damage to the street following repair of a valve at 12th and Alohea avenues.



4.            There were no main breaks in this area last month.



5.            Winners of the water conservation poster contest received a $100, $75, or $50 savings bond and will have their posters published in a calendar.



6.            The Board of Water Supply approved the rate increase which will be implemented on October 1, raising the rate from $1.77 to $2.00 per thousand gallons. Homeowners are allotted 22,000 gallons over a two-month period, then a higher rate structure takes effect, and there is a 5,000 gallon allotment for sewer fees (based on a percentage of water used) before a higher rate structure takes effect.



Questions, answers and comments followed:



There is no change or special incentive in the rate structure for using less than the 22,000 gallon allocation.



ELECTED OFFICIALS:



MAYOR‚S OFFICE ˆ Jay Ishibashi, representing the Mayor‚s Office, reported the following regarding questions from last month‚s meeting:



1.                   A crosswalk at 12th and Alohea avenues was repainted on May 2.



2.                   Regarding problems with bulky item pick up, it helps the Department of Environmental Services if persons calling in indicate what type of item needs to be picked up as different types are trucks are used depending on the type of item to be picked up.



3.                   Development along the Kapiolani Boulevard Corridor in the area from the Honolulu Municipal Building to the State Convention Center is under the jurisdiction of the State‚s Hawaii Community Development Authority which reviews traffic infrastructure for adequacy and coordinates with City agencies in the processing of construction plans. The area from the Convention Center to Kaimuki is under City jurisdiction and is zoned largely for apartment use.



4.                   Maunalani Park recreation center renovations will begin soon. The contract has been awarded, and the contractor is obtaining permits and materials. It was noted that the roof is in need of repair.



5.                   A pothole at Koko Head/Pahoa and 12th avenues reported at last meeting, has been patched.



6.                   The cost of the new Honolulu Fire Department headquarters was $18,656,441 for the new headquarters and museum. The headquarters were formerly located near the airport.



Questions, answers and comments followed:



1.            The City is working with contractors on the use of alternate materials for road resurfacing and pothole patching due to the asphalt shortage. The shortage is due to one oil refinery no longer producing asphalt and another refinery temporarily not producing asphalt. Alternate materials are still oil based.



2.            Follow up will be done with a resident who reported bulky trash items are not being collected in one area.



Ishibashi was thanked for attending the meeting.



COUNCILMEMBER ANN KOBAYASHI ˆ Councilmember Kobayashi distributed her monthly report and reported that work is being done on the budget, and includes holding informational meetings in Laie and at Windward Community College this week. Final vote on the budget is scheduled for June 7.



Questions, answers and comments followed:



1.            Regarding property taxes, work is being done on implementing either a rate reduction or discount for homeowners.



2.            The budget also has to accommodate a charter amendment that will require one percent of the budget be used for housing and land banking.



There were no questions from the Board or guests. Councilmember Kobayashi was thanked for attending the meeting.



COUNCILMEMBER CHARLES DJOU ˆ Stan Fichtman, from Councilmember Djou‚s Office, distributed the monthly report and highlighted/added the following:



1.            Councilmember Djou is a guest on the Rick Hamada radio show, KHVH 830 AM, every Tuesday morning, 7:00 ˆ 8:00 a.m.



2.            Councilmember Djou has introduced a resolution calling for an investigation into the Waikiki sewer spill. All the Councilmembers would serve on the investigative committee.



There were no questions from the Board or guests. Fichtman was thanked for attending the meeting.



GOVERNOR‚S OFFICE ˆ Chair Abe reported a written report was received.



REPRESENTATIVE LYLA BERG ˆ Chair Abe reported a written report was received.



SENATOR LES IHARA ˆ Senator Ihara deferred providing a report and was available for questions.



REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT NISHIMOTO ˆ Chair Abe reported a written report was received.



REPRESENTATIVE CALVIN SAY ˆ Chair Abe reported a written report was received.



REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA MARUMOTO ˆ Representative Marumoto was not present at this time, but arrived later in the meeting, distributed her monthly report, but did not address the Board on her report.



PENDING BUSINESS:



KAIMUKI PARKING PROBLEM, PROPOSED SOLUTION - Chair Abe reported the following:



1.            A brief background on proposals to address the parking problem that included: a 1999 traffic calming study, surveys by the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance, the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association, the Board, and a 2004 City study on short and long term solutions. The short term solutions involved conversion of the municipal parking lots from all metered, to partial metered and partial attendant-controlled, all attendant-controlled, and long-term solutions included a parking structure of traditional drive in design or a mechanical system that parks cars for drivers.



2.            A parking study on traffic impacts from the attendant controlled, such as drivers waiting to get in the lot backing up traffic at access points, was not done.



3.            Costs of a parking structure are estimated at $30,000 per stall for a traditional type, and $45,000 per stall for a mechanical type. Either type of structure could be located on the portion of the larger lots near the realtor‚s building and Victoria Inn, taking up approximately 117 parking stalls, and providing approximately 271 stalls to provide the extra 100 stalls a study determined are needed.



4.            Three community meetings held earlier this month there was discussion on if a structure was built, it be done fast, how to mitigate adverse impacts on merchants during construction such as special promotions, providing employee parking and monthly reserved parking, concerns about blocking sunlight, and providing direct access from the structure to some businesses, provisions for a community meeting room and field office for police officers.



5.            The municipal lot currently generates approximately $900,000 annually; and revenue could pay for development of a parking structure, maintenance, and fund the Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikiki Trolley which would provide more public transportation reducing some need for parking spaces.



6.            Development of a parking structure could end efforts by developers to acquire this property.



7.            The City Council has allocated $250,000 that could be used for a study on development of the parking structure and there is $1.1 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for repaving and rehabilitation of the parking lots in 2008 - 09, and he suggested that this funding be used toward the $7.5 million needed for a parking structure.



Questions, answers and comments followed:



1.                   Support for converting to an attendant-controlled lot or changing the present meters to an automated type currently used at the State Convention Center.



2.                   Opposition and support for a HPD field office and support for a community meeting room, and suggestion that the community meeting room be on the top floor and be able to open up to the outside.



3.                   Employee parking is a major cause of the parking problem. Employers should be, and have encouraged and provided incentives for employees to park in other areas, some though are parking in residential areas creating problems such as blocking driveways.



4.                   Support for a parking structure as a long term solution.



5.                   Available, existing funds should be used now for conversion to an attendant-controlled lot, operated by a vendor that would pay for improvements to the parking lot. The vendor would need approximately two to three years to recover investment costs.



6.                   Different estimates were made that construction of a parking structure could take less than six months, noting the Wal Mart project on Keeaumoku Street was built quickly, or one to two years. The number of stalls developed would be determined by a study. During construction the entire parking lot could be closed.



7.                   Chair Abe was commended for his work on this matter.



8.                   Development of more parking is needed to accommodate growth of businesses and the community.



9.                   Restoration of the Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikliki Trolley would be part of a long term solution.



10.               Support and opposition of short and long term solutions.



11.               This property was originally condemned for development of a park, not a parking lot.



12.               Parking rates are too low, increasing rates would result in less use of the lot. This was done in the Downtown area.



13.               Parking is only a problem during certain hours, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 ˆ 8:00 p.m. Development of more spaces would be a waste of money.



14.               The hill behind the Kaimuki Fire Station should be converted into a parking lot.



15.               A solution is needed as soon as possible.



16.               Any parking lot improvements would have to include bringing it up to current Americans with Disabilities Act standards, including wider sidewalks.



17.               Changes in the types of area businesses, including more restaurants, has impacted demands on parking as the number of stalls no longer meets current requirements to accommodate these types of businesses.



18.               A past study did address traffic impacts related to drivers waiting to get into an attendant controlled lot.



19.               A mechanical parking lot allows more cars to be parked in the same area as a traditional type. The cost of a traditional parking structure is $30,000 - $40,000 per stall, while a mechanical type is $17,000 - $25,000 per stall. Security in a mechanical type of lot would be better than a traditional type as no one would have access to the vehicles as automated equipment parks the vehicles. The façade could be made to blend into the architecture of the surrounding area. Parking rates would be set by City policy.



20.               Previous studies did not do projections on future needs as it was not in the scope of those studies.



Nahoopii moved and Hack seconded that the Board request the Mayor and City Council to first support a short term solution of attendant parking, and second if funds and consensus are obtained, to pursue a long term parking structure solution.



Chair Abe relinquished the chair to Nahoopii.



Abe moved and Nahoopii agreed to amend the motion that the Board request the Mayor and City Council to first support a short term solution of attendant parking and second, appropriate funds to pursue a long term multi-level parking structure solution. Discussion followed.  The motion failed, 5-2. Hack and Carvalho opposed. The motion failed to receive the necessary six votes to carry.



Hack moved that the Board request the Mayor and City Council to first support a short term solution of attendant parking, and second if funds and consensus are obtained, to pursue a long term parking structure solution.  The motion failed for lack of a second.



Abe moved and Hernandez seconded that the Board request the Mayor and City Council to approve funding for a Kaimuki business district multi-level parking structure with a community meeting room and a police report writing room; and to consider applying some type of future revenues to subsidize the return of the Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikiki Trolley. Discussion followed.  The motion failed 3-0-3. Yea: Abe, Hernandez, Carvalho.  Abstain: Hack, Cone, Schneider. Nahoopii did not vote. The motion did not receive the necessary six votes to carry.



Discussion followed.



Hack moved and Cone seconded that the Board request the Mayor and City Council to first support a short term solution of attendant parking, and second, if necessary a long term parking structure solution.  The motion carried unanimously.



The remainder of the agenda was deferred.



ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.





Submitted by,



Dean Chu

Neighborhood Assistant