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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of Regular Meeting - October 18th, 2006 Posted
Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source Neighborhood Commission Office KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2006 LILIOKALANI ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. with a quorum of six members present. MEMBERS PRESENT: Eduardo Hernandez, Daniel Nahoopii (arrived at 8:00 p.m.), Mike Abe, Daniel Carvalho, Randolph Hack, Sharon Schneider, Abigail Leong, Jim Cone (arrived at 7:10 p.m., left at 8:50 p.m.) MEMBERS ABSENT: None MEMBER SEATS VACANT: - 3 Seats in Sub District 3 GUESTS: - Capt. R. Marshman (Honolulu Fire Department, Kaimuki Station), Maj. M. Nakagawa, A/Lt. L. Dabaluz, Sgt. K. Numasaki, Officer J. Hendricks (Honolulu Police Department, District 7), Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Chester Lao (Board of Water Supply), Jay Ishibashi (Mayor‚s Representative ), Senator Les Ihara, Representative Barbara Marumoto, Dr. Morgan Barrett (Governor‚s Representative, Department of Health), Representative Calvin Say, Councilmember Charles Djou , Stan Fichtman (Councilmember Charles Djou‚s Office), Representative Lyla Berg, Gladys Gerlich Hays (Candidate for District 9), Mike Hu (Candidate for District 21), Julia Allen (Candidate for District 20) Mark Bell, Matt Bell, Gordon Tam, Michele and Sony Acudo, Stan Louis, John Cater, Ginny Meade, Glenn Yamasaki, Bonnie Trustin (Neighborhood Commission Office staff) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS: Honolulu Police Department ˆ Maj. M. Nakagawa reported on the events of District 7 the day of the earthquake and thanked the public for heeding the advice of the police department by driving courteously. By 9:00 a.m. all major commanders were at headquarters planning and preparing while uniformed and plain clothes officers were patrolling to make sure no one was looting. As soon as the power went off we mobilized to key traffic intersections and at certain ones we took physical control. We were prepared to be on alert for multiple days but thankfully this watch lasted only 24 hours. Off duty officers were standing by at their homes via radios and had we called them, they would have come in to assist us. Questions, answers and concerns: 1. The Fort Ruger satellite station is scheduled for construction and they anticipate completion in December of this year. 2. A resident thanked the Police Department for their excellent response to the power outage. Officer Hendricks distributed a brochure comparing burglaries, thefts and UEMV statistics for the last two months. The back sheet included tips for Halloween Safety. There were no questions. HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT ˆ Capt. Marshman, Kaimuki Fire Station, reported the following: 1. There were many calls the day of the earthquake - a number of activated alarms and elevators that stopped working but there were no serious problems in our area. Our company statistics for Ladder 5: 1 structure, 57 medical and 1 search and rescue at Diamond Head. For Engine 5 we had: 14 structure, 3 miscellaneous, 7 activated alarms and 13 medical emergencies. 2. Fire Safety Tip: When selecting Halloween costumes, ensure that they are flame-resistant, of lightweight fabric, brightly colored and clearly visible to motorists. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape. Keep the length of costumes short to prevent tripping. A natural mask of cosmetics is better than a mask that may restrict or obscure vision. Children should carry flashlights to light their way and parents should go out with their children. 3. The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) would like to remind the community that we provide assistance to the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (HESD) by responding cooperatively when the need for emergency care arises. Due to the HFD‚s 42 fire stations and the HESD‚s ambulance units, we are able to respond expeditiously in a very short amount of time to provide quality patient care and protect the citizens of the City and County of Honolulu. There were no questions. BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY: Chester Lao from the Board of Water Supply reported the following: 1. There were two main breaks related to the earthquake in the area of 8th Avenue and on Kilauea Avenue. There were two problems on a fuse box on Kalama Ridge and Mariner‚s Ridge. We had water wagons out so no one ran out of water. The water levels are still high in the aquifers. 2. In the last Board minutes I was quoted as saying the future water supply could come to the Wailua but I said it was based on benefit cost ratio. And now with the change to ethanol if we go back to sugar, that water is gone. The desalinated water from Kaleloa is expensive. For sugar cane or some other bio fuel we will need water, so it appears there will be some competition on the horizon; how intense I don‚t know. To create ethanol it will take water for the crops ˆ if they choose to grow sugar cane that will take a lot of water. Questions, answers and concerns: 1. Cone was told making fresh water from salt water is in the plans of the Board of Water Supply from two deep wells of 1500 feet in Kaleloa. When fresh water flows to the ocean there is a counter flow. Cone was told it was too expensive to convert salt water to fresh water to grow crops as a backup plan when gas prices are too high because it takes so much water to grow sugar cane, it‚s not financially feasible. 2. Member Schneider was told secondary treated sewage water for irrigation use in the Ewa plains has hormones and there could be other unknowns in it as well. We need to be cautious before using it. 3. Chair Abe questioned whether after the earthquake there was a need to conserve water because the pumps to fill reservoirs did not have power. Lao reported they have stand-by generators and it depends how full the reservoirs are if we have to conserve water or not. Mayor‚s Representative - Jay Ishibashi reported on the following outstanding projects: 1. Maunalani Recreation Center - the projected Notice to Proceed date for construction is October 23, 2006. The construction performance period is 180 calendar days; the contract completion date is April 20, 2007. 2. The bulbout in front of the Goodwill Store on Waialae Avenue will be there permanently. Questions, answers and concerns: Hernandez was told between the time the contract was awarded on the Maunalani Recreation Center and the date construction begins on October 23, 2006, there were some delays in 2004 and several delays since then. Councilmember Ann Kobayashi - Not present but sent a report. Councilmember Charles Djou ˆ Stan Fichtman, Representative from Councilmember Djou‚s office reported the Councilmember has given a review of the 12 Charter Amendments in his newsletter for voter‚s assistance. If you have any questions, please call his office at 547-7004. Governor‚s Representative - Morgan Barrett, M.D., representing the Governor‚s office, reported everyone did a very good job handling the power outage. Questions, answers and concerns: 1. Barrett reported the lack of information to the public the first 40 minutes after the earthquake was due to the loss of power ten minutes after the quake. Even within our department, many of us got our information from KSSK radio. The preparedness information distributed by Susan Jackson at your board meeting last month was to help you but we need a better and expeditious way to communicate with the public at large from the government at all levels. I don‚t know how that can be accomplished when only two radio stations and not even one television station was broadcasting. 2. Hernandez was told the government has communication that doesn‚t rely on cellular towers and there is satellite-based communication that civil defense and the state government has which worked effectively so police, fire and government agencies were able to respond and report for duty. 3. The Big Island did sustain a considerable amount of damage to schools and that is not good because they are part of our preparedness shelters. You can go to <http://www.katrina/Lessonslearned>www.Katrina/Lessonslearned which is sponsored by FEMA, by doing a Google search on the internet. This site provides disaster preparedness and response which is an outgrowth of the federal law. We had an „after actions‰ meeting with FEMA, who came the day after the earthquake, and they were very helpful. Pending Business: Kaimuki Parking Lot ˆ Discussion ensued on the following topics with the Mayor‚s Representative, Jay Ishibashi responding: 1. The Board noted they received notification from Ishibashi October 13, 2006 that the bids for the current Kaimuki attendant parking lot were available on line. 2. Ishibashi stated the specifications for the parking lot were lengthy at 84 pages but they are guidelines for the potential contractors. Ishibashi stated there will be two exits on 12th Avenue and one on 11th Avenue. The 12th Avenue exit closer to Waialae Avenue is a right hand turn lane and the one closer to Victoria Inn is two way, left and right. The other is left and right. Ishibashi was asked to clarify the entrances and exits on the specifications and maps because the maps don‚t represent what the specifications say and that could confuse bidders. 3. Chair Abe prepared a summation of the 84 page specifications that Ishibashi forwarded to the Board and asked if it was correct: He found there will be an entry by Happy Days Restaurant at 11th Avenue closer to Waialae Avenue where a person can turn right or left. The exit at 12th Avenue by First Hawaiian Bank is a right turn only. The entry/exit at 12th Avenue closest to Harding Avenue near Victoria Inn exits left or right going to Waialae or Harding. The 11th Avenue entry nearest to Harding and the freeway is only an entry point. Ishibashi wants to check on the one closest to Waialae Avenue. 4. Business members have told Hack their patrons will need more than two hours at reduced rates in the parking lot to do such things as be at the beauty parlor or go to the movies. Chair Abe feels that‚s why there is a difference of opinion. 5. Hernandez reported the parking lot is for a five year contract and he wants some planning to go into a design for that length of time. Cone reported since the plan was approved as an attended parking lot let‚s go ahead. The final proposals are due in by the end of this month, then the Council approves the pay structure and we can get the parking lot completed by Christmas. Let them build it and let‚s see if it works; the City is doing the best they can. 6. There were differing opinions about accepting the proposed lot being built or not and how to use the $250,000.00 if construction is halted. 7. The Kaimuki Business Association suggested there be a trial basis for the proposed lot and leave the meter heads standing in case the parking lot doesn‚t work out but Ishibashi thinks the medians and meter heads will be extracted. 8. Since the „Kaimuki Master Plan‰ is referred to only once as if an aside in the specification and the map contradicts the specifications on the points of entry and exit, how did they decide to design the parking lot and who did it? Ishibashi apologized that the timing has been difficult for Toru Hamayasu, the coordinator of this project, because of his involvement with the mass transit meetings. The master plan has evolved over the years and during that time the make-up of the Kaimuki shopping complex has changed also. 9. Chair Abe is concerned that the contract specifically says the concessionaire shall maximize gross revenues without consideration of the impact on business and the community. 10. There was concern over number of stalls and parking lot structure ˆ could it be multilayered to accommodate more cars? Ishibashi reported that even with ADA regulations, there shouldn‚t be a loss of stalls with the new lot configuration compared to the current number. 11. Ishibashi reported that part of the reason the lot is full much of the time is the type of businesses you have ˆ the restaurants ˆ 10-15 years ago those spaces were retail outlets. Unfortunately restaurants require a lot more personnel to work shifts so the thought was to increase the rates from the third hour on to discourage employee parking. In the downtown area, attendant parking improved the number of stalls available to the general public and employees found parking elsewhere. After the Board‚s approval of the City‚s proposal, the city has moved forward and believes the Kaimuki attendant parking will be successful much like the downtown lot. 12. Judy Mead reported she worked on the master plan of 13 years ago which did not provide for employee parking in the municipal lot; private people have to do what they have to do for employees. 14. Chair Abe replied the Motion of Reconsideration did come up but did not pass on the first vote because there wasn‚t a quorum and on the second occasion we fell short by two votes; so that‚s the sentiment of the Board on this point. So as the action stands, we supported an attendant parking proposal which differs very much from the plan voted upon by this Board two years ago. 15. Chair Abe closed the discussion reporting the City Council is required to take action on approving the rate increase of adding the Kaimuki Lot to the particular ordinance restriction before the contract can be awarded. The parking lot is a municipal community asset and privatizing it uses it as a revenue- producing asset as opposed to an asset that can transform the community and make it better. A recess was taken at 8:20 p.m. for the Candidates Forum for Senate and House Districts 9, 18, 19, 20 and 21 hosted by Hernandez who stated the rules: each candidate had two minutes to introduce themselves and then were given two questions to answer. Chair Abe reconvened the meeting at 9:02 p.m. New Business: Establish Permitted Interaction Groups of the Neighborhood Board Investigating Specific Issues and Attend meetings to Comply with Sunshine Law Requirements. Chair Abe reported there are restrictions in the Sunshine Law allowing for no more than two Board members in attendance at community meetings, workshops or forums on topics that will probably be discussed at their future board meetings. If a PI Group (an investigative sub-committee) is established, as many as one less than quorum can be in attendance, speaking at the meetings and among each other. The circulation of resolutions or other items of business to each other is acceptable as long as we are not advocating it or debating it outside the Board. We will come back to this when we have specific issues to pursue regarding it. Chair‚s Report - Chair Abe had no report. Approval of Minutes ˆ Hack moved to approve the September, 2006 Minutes and Hernandez seconded it. The motion carried unanimously. Treasurer‚s Report ˆ Treasurer Hack reported the following: The Operating/Publicity Account balance is $3,833.68 and the Refreshment Account balance is $77.39. ANNOUNCEMENTS: The next meeting will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2006. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m. Submitted by, Bonnie Trustin Neighborhood Assistant Back | Current News | FYI |
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