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  • Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of August 18th, 2007 Posted


KAIMUKI REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST15, 2007

QUEEN LILIUOKALANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order by Chair Hernandez at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present - Daniel Carvalho, Jim Cone, Randy Hack, Eduardo Hernandez, Abigail Leong, Dori Rybacki-Smith (arrived at 7:05 p.m.), Sharon Schneider, Vernon Tam.

Members Absent ˆ None.

Vacant Seats: Three in Sub District 1 bounded by Waialae, 12th and Alohea Avenues, Huanui Street, Puu Puunui Avenue and Luawai Street.

Guests: Jay Ishibashi (Mayor‚s Representative), Capt. M. Tamanaha (Kaimuki Fire Department), Sgt. C. Sukikene, Capt. G. Kilantang, Lt. E. Nishiyama, Officer J. Hendricks, Officer R. Manning (Kaimuki Police Department), Stan Fichtman (Councilmember Charles Djou‚s office), Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Susan Jackson (Governor‚s Representative, Department of Health), Senator Les Ihara, Representative Calvin Say, Representative Scott Nishimoto, Joan Shinn (Representative Barbara Marumoto‚s office), Councilmember Ann Kobayashi, Glenn Yamasaki, Richard Yoshida, Mark Terry, Helga and Charles Frankel, Gregg Hutchings (Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6), Rachel Glanstein (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS:

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) ˆ Sgt. Sukikene distributed the monthly statistics and reported that in most of the area there was a reduction in burglaries and car break-ins. Only on Waialae Avenue was there an increase in burglaries so HPD included information on how to secure homes and confidential information so you don‚t become a victim of identity theft. There were no questions.

Rybacki-Smith arrived at 7:05 p.m., making eight (8) Board members present.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) ˆ Capt. M. Tamanaha from the Kaimuki Fire Department. 1) The July statistics were: 1 structure, 4 brush, 3 rubbish, 1 vehicle fire, 78 medical calls, 20 miscellaneous calls and 3 hazmat incidents. The structural fire at 3611 Waialae Avenue at Kamuki Chop Suey had an estimated damage of $40,000 and contents were worth $10,000. The cause is still being investigated. 2) The Fire Safety Tip: Be careful driving near schools and be mindful of students crossing the street as August is the start of the new school year. Take time to teach children how to cross the street safely and remind them to call 911 for emergencies. 3) There was minor smoke damage to the buildings around Kaimuki Chop Suey. HFD responded to the fire at 5:50 a.m. and it was contained a half an hour later.

Board Of Water Supply ˆ Chester Lao was not present so Chair Hernandez said his report would be heard at the next meeting. 

Board Vacancies: There were no volunteers to fill the vacancies in Sub District 1.

PUBLIC INPUT AND CONCERNS:

1. Resident Wilberts asked for help with new little frogs that have invaded the Kaimuki area, one of which she caught; they sound like birds chirping. Her neighbors hear them and she wants them to be informed so they don‚t multiply like the koki frog has. Member Tam calls them greenhouse frogs. Chair Hernandez will pass this information along to reporters he knows to see if they might report on this issue in the media.
2. Matthew Lau, who lives at 1050 18th Avenue, reported a property was purchased on his block by a person who tore down the house and wants to operate a care home of a size larger than a residence, to be operated as a business like those he already operates. The said person is also looking at a lot three doors down for the same purpose. He has the reputation of working on Sundays, using jackhammers and several of the neighbors are not happy about the situation. Chair Hernandez said the Board has heard some of these issues before. Speaker Say mentioned at their last meeting that there needs to be a balance in neighborhoods between the increasing need for affordable long term care and the needs of residents who live in residential neighborhoods and don‚t want to have businesses established in homes in their neighborhood. Dr. Jackson asked for specific information so she can check the address and the owner to see if a residential license for a care home has been applied for. There are many things the builder has to consider but discrimination against this kind of operation is prohibited.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Issue of Kaimuki Neighborhood Board „At Large‰ Seats -  At the last meeting it was discussed that since it is hard to fill the seats in Sub district 1, a seat from each existing Sub district be taken away to become an „At Large‰ seat for a total of three „At Large‰ seats on the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board. The Neighborhood Commission explained to Chair Hernandez that there was a time when all the seats in the neighborhoods were „at large‰. Over the years various Boards have moved to have sub districts for many different reasons. The Commission office person said the Kaimuki Board could decide what they want to do regarding this issue suggested that Boards with had „at large‰ seats seemed more effective in terms of representation and greater participation from the public. The process for change requires the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board to make a recommendation to the Neighborhood Commission and they discuss it at a later date. The earliest date for „at large‰ seats to go into effect would be when the Board is elected in 2009. Hack moved and Rybacki-Smith seconded that one seat from each Sub District be designated an „at large‰ seat subject to the deliberation and subject to approval of the Neighborhood Commission and whomever else is necessary to affect the change. Discussion ensued. Tam mentioned that Neighborhood Assistant Trustin had checked on the census data for the sub districts and found Sub district No. 1 is the smallest in population and Sub district No. 3 is the biggest so he is asking that the Sub districts have the correct population proportion. Rybacki-Smith asked if there is a way that the Neighborhood Commission could determine if it is more reasonable for them to add at-large seats or redistrict. Chair Hernandez understood that the Board can make a recommendation to the Neighborhood Commission and if they respond about the population distribution, then they could ask to redistrict the districts at that point. Tam wants the representation in sub districts corrected before at-large seats are assigned. Hack amended his motion on the floor, seconded by Rybacki-Smith, to read that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 recommend that representation from each Sub District be properly corrected and at that time, that one seat from the corrected representation be designated as an at-large seat in the Kaimuki district. The motion passed by acclamation (8-0-0). (A vote of six is needed for a majority.)

Kaimuki Parking Lot Update ˆ Chair Hernandez reported that the lot is now open as an attended parking lot. Hack noted there is a lot of space in the large lot around lunchtime. Chair Hernandez agreed and feels there is a greater ease in finding parking and thanked the City and contract in getting the lot done as quickly as possible for the community even thought it is unfinished.

Jay Ishibashi was joined by a representative from the parking lot contractor, Republic Parking. Ishibashi heard good feedback about the 20 minute grace period for parking but mentioned the work is not done yet; it is being completed in phases. When he used the lot at lunch and dinner there was parking available. The lot opened on Wednesday, August 8 and the attendant heard nothing but positive feedback. One third of the transactions used the 20 minute grace period visit which people appreciated, very few drivers stayed longer than two hours. Over a 24 hour period there are about 2,000 cars entering and exiting the lot in a 24 hour period which means the lot turns over eight times a day with 250 spaces currently in use. They do have long term parkers who pay $13/day. Ishibashi reported the contractor has worked hard on the project. Republic said they will be installing the money stations after they are checked for their quality of operation. The lot is staffed from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on week days and on weekends from 6:00 a.m. to midnight; however it can still be accessed when the attendant is off duty. After all the stations are working, the broken and uneven sidewalks and curbs will be addressed and lastly the lot paving and striping will be finished within a year from last week.

Banner Update -  Chair Hernandez discussed it will be designed by Kapiolani Sign Company which he will have in advance of next month‚s meeting for a cost of $80; it will be posted in front of the school a week before the meeting the third Thursday of the month.

NEW BUSINESS:

Bicycle Safety Resolution - This resolution was presented by a resident at our last meeting. Hack moved to adopt the Bicycle Safety Resolution, seconded by Tam, subject to style, formatting and typographical changes. The motion was adopted by acclamation. (8-0-0). (See attached.)

Anti-Discrimination Resolution - Discussion ensued. Rybacki-Smith was concerned with the tone and flow of the document; she wants it to be more positive and state what the Board is looking for ˆ same sex marriage. Chair Hernandez called it „civil union.‰ Rybacki-Smith was not clear that it did not include marriage from the wording so Chair Hernandez agreed to change the title to „Civil Unions.‰ Hack is substantially in favor of the Resolution but wants to strengthen it cosmetically with changes in style and flow. Chair Hernandez explained that Speaker Say courageously introduced Civil Unions legislation (HB908) this session. Chair Hernandez presented this resolution to the Board, pursuant to a request from Speaker Say to build community support for this legislation, and encourage lawmakers to pass this important civil rights equality legislation. Chair Hernandez entertained a motion to adopt the said Resolution with the last paragraph being highlighted and the title changed to „Civil Unions‰. Hack moved and Schneider seconded the Resolution. The Resolution was adopted by a vote of 7-0-1 with Cone abstaining. (See attached).

Rail Transit Ballot Options Update -  Cone brought this to the Board because he doesn‚t think the decision makers have heard the true voice of the public on this topic. Rail transit is a huge issue that will take so much time, energy and expense of the taxpayers‚ money, that voters deserve a chance to vote on the matter. He wants the lawmakers to listen to as much data as possible to help them to choose the final outcome. Since he is not aware of any public opinion substantiated, he thought maybe through the neighborhood board system a ballot could be introduced to vote on rail transit. He hasn‚t contacted the Neighborhood Commission Office yet. Hack noted taxes have been raised but some of the stations and stops don‚t make sense such as the University of Hawaii and airport stops. Cone feels the lawmakers haven‚t completely decided whether it will be rail, highway or buses. Cone feels the tax was raised and choice of rail was instituted before they thought about the public. Cone would like to tailor a resolution asking the neighborhood board to utilize their balloting assets to ask the community if they want rail as it is currently planned or do they want further public discussion. Hack moved and Cone seconded to put this item on the September agenda and Cone can draft a resolution the Board could vote on. The motion was adopted by a vote of 8-0-0.

ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES:

Mayor‚s Representative - Jay Ishibashi followed up on the inquiries from the last meeting.

1. For the Maunalani Park usage policy when the park is open, the City Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) requested a Recreations Director and two attendant services positions for next year‚s budget so once they have that they will have recreational programs but until then they will only have part time staff to do the basic opening and closing of the park unless they can cover being involved in reserving the courts, etc.. He can make sure that the lights will be on when the park opens.

2. Regarding curbside recycling, the Mayor wants to expand the current green waste pickup to mixed recycling and plan to have it in certain communities in the fall with aluminum cans, glass, newspaper and plastic.
3. The City Department of Environmental Services (ENV) is currently working with the State Department of Health (DOH) to get HI-5 recycling containers into public areas. More details should be available within the next few months.

4. Ishibashi found that City Department of Transportation Services will install a left turn lane in the summer of 2008 at 11th and Harding Avenues to improve the traffic flow.

5. The work is progressing on Kapaolono Pool ˆ they have to negotiate with the contractor to find the fair and reasonable cost for the work performed.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Chair Hernandez is concerned about the outdoor lights at the tennis and basketball courts at Maunalani Park because they haven‚t worked since construction began so it can‚t be used at night. Ishibashi will follow up with the City Department of Design and Construction (DDC).
2. Ishibashi will check with DDC to see when the tennis courts in Kaimuki Park will reopen which are currently „closed until further notice‰ because lots of people want to play from 9th to 10th Avenue on Waialae Avenue.
3. Ishibashi will check and see why there are traffic counters at 16th Avenue, Sierra Drive and Harding Avenue.
4. He stated the City negotiated with the contractor who did the tile work that had to be redone at Kapaolono Park so it would be fair to both parties.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi:  Councilmember Kobayashi reported on the following:

1. The summer months call for some cooling recipes so she listed two salads and a smoothie recipe in her report.

2. Remember to apply before the end of September for the special break on property tax if your income is $50,000 or less so you‚ll only have to pay 4% of income. If you are 75 or older with an income of $50,000 or less you only have to pay 3% of your income.

3. The City Council is hoping to have more discussion on mass transit. In September, 2006 they passed a bill that became an ordinance that said the Council will choose the technology for the mass transit so that is why they call all the bills call a „fixed guideway system.‰ The decision has not been made yet whether we are going to put cars on it, should it be train cars with tracks or a bus system without tracks. She feels since this will be costing $5 billion of the taxpayers‚ money there should be more discussion on the alternatives available which would be approved on a federal level. The Federal Transit Authority said they would approve a bus fixed guideway system; however, discussion on this issue has been very difficult to bring up in committee but it was accomplished a couple weeks ago and now the public finally knows about this alternative to rail. It will look like rail without tracks in the road so if there is a disaster the buses can be taken off the road to make way for emergency vehicles. The same bus will operate like a train on an elevated dedicated road. There can be a bus that goes straight from Hawaii Kai onto the elevated road and one from Waianae.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Councilmember Kobayashi doesn‚t think there will be any more public forums. She asked the administration at the hearing if they favor rail and they said „no‰ but the Mayor favors it. The City Council will make the final decision.

2. Hack will draft a motion next month that will include some of the things mentioned tonight. He doesn‚t think it makes sense to exclude UH, the airport and possibly Waikiki as transit stops. The only way the route would change is if the engineers think it is impossible to go to Salt Lake or the Airport. Whether it‚s rail or a bus system, it shouldn‚t delay things.

Councilmember Charles Djou: Stan Fitchman reported for Councilmember Djou. He thanked Troop 10 for attending the meeting 1) Today, at the City Council meeting, Councilmember Djou introduced Bill 61 to increase the parking rate in the City‚s downtown municipal parking lot. When he read a recent study that people in Honolulu who park in downtown lots pay the highest rates in the United States, he thought city workers‚ rate should be more commensurate with them although his proposal is still only 50% of the median downtown Honolulu rates (a raise at the Fasi Municipal Building from $35 to $70.) 2) Alex Santiago, Legislative Analyst, appeared before the City Council and answered questions about his job. 3) Djou‚s office also received calls about no lights at the Manalani courts which they hope will be corrected soon. 4). The DDC reported the tennis courts should be completed next month. There were no questions.

Governor‚s Representative: Dr. Susan Jackson was on „hurricane duty‰ but since hurricane Flossie was downgraded to a tropical storm, she could attend the meeting. When a hurricane watch or warning or a tsunami watch or warning is issued, the emergency operation center is staffed with lots of professionals including those from DOH. The professionals reminded operators of the island of their responsibilities to their clients and also to review the emergency plans. Fortunately there was no major impact from this storm. Dr. Jackson reminded everyone of the importance of having a 72 hour „go-kit,‰ filled with food, medicines and other essential items in the event that you have to evacuate your home on short notice. Also discuss with your family and friends what your plans will be and perhaps designate an out of state contact person to assist you in sharing information when the hurricane comes because „it‚s not a matter of if there‚s going to be another hurricane but it‚s a matter of when‰.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Please read the Op-Ed article by Ted Liu, Director of the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in the Governor‚s Neighborhood Board report and consider attending the International Women‚s Leadership Conference whether you are male or female. Dr. Jackson has attended all four conferences and it is extremely interesting hearing women on the national and international scene having risen to leadership roles.

2. Responding to Cone‚s question about whether there has been a rise in communicable diseases particularly among the homeless, the DOH doesn‚t have statistics presented that way. They do have a group that goes out for the AIDS branch of their team that visits all the homeless who do blood tests on the spot and counsel about communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS. There are teams from their tuberculosis and Hansen‚s disease branches that visit all the shelters. They have not noticed any kind of increase in those communicable diseases. Jackson offered to speak further about this with Cone at a later date.

3. Jackson doesn‚t know the status on the Waialua fire.

Senator Les Ihara: Senator Ihara passed out his report and discussed the following:

1. Senator Ihara requested a correction to the July 8, 2007 minutes at the top of Page 5, on Number 3 to add „He was working with‰ the acting Executive Director. He asked the new Executive Director on Aging, Noemi Pendleton, be mentioned (which was found to be included in the sentence noted).

2. They are seeking a new Executive Director for the State Office of Information Practices. He will work with the Neighborhood Commission to build the groundwork to create a bill for a more flexible Sunshine Law regarding quorum requirements where you need to take action at a meeting before the next one occurs.

3. Discussion on a skateboard park covered the following items: a) At this meeting a few months ago then Board member, Daniel Nahoopii, talked about working with the Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5 on a idea of a skateboard park idea in the area of Old Waialae Road and Kapahulu Avenue across from the Hawaii Self Storage Systems. b) The Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 wanted one but felt their community was too small for a skate park. c) Senator Ihara reported seeing people skateboarding all the way into the back of the Valley. At Harding and Kapahulu Avenues where the motorcycle testing area is now located, the Waialae YMCA ran a skate board park but when neighbors in the area complained about the noise they discontinued it. If the Board is interested in establishing a skate board park there, he will do the negotiating with the State but someone else needs to be responsible for the City. Chair Hernandez said they use the tennis courts at Maunalani Park for skateboarding and many skateboard down Sierra Drive at night which is so steep and dangerous. It‚s hard to catch those skate boarding there because by the time you would report it to the police, they would be gone. A Board member said people skateboard down 10th Avenue all the time. A St. Louis student came to the Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 wanting to establish a skateboard park but he seems to no longer be involved in the proposal. Chair Hernandez will consult with Troop 10 who is here tonight to see if they would be interested in advocating for the skateboard park.

4. He distributed a flyer on an upcoming Pedestrian Safety workshop co-sponsored by Speaker Say and Councilmember Kobayashi, other legislators and American Association of Retired Persons and there is a new Pedestrian Safety coalition comprised of many organizations concerned with this issue.

House Speaker Calvin Say:  Speaker Say is representing himself, Representative Nishimoto and Senator Berg and distributing reports for all of them. Legislators have been very busy in July and August with the following issues: 1) Land use and an example of that for the Kaimuki has been the Kahala Mall Shopping Center where some smaller businesses are going out of business having had month to month leases and Star Market is closing its doors along with other retailers. 2) The transition of our state hospital known as the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation that affects Leahi Hospital and Maluhia Hospital. 3) Noise pollution from mopeds, airplanes and helicopters. 4) Which alternative energy will be chosen as a replacement for fossil fuel? 5) The endangered species ˆ the beetle affecting the Wiliwili

trees, the koki frog on Kaui and the mites affecting our honey bees; they are really hurting our natural environment. 6) Caregivers support and long term care, how to finance those who are uninsured in Hawaii and how to support the doctors with reimbursements they are getting from insurance carriers.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Responding to Hack regarding the State increasing the amount and availability of insurance to the uninsured, legislators adopted the bill for uninsured children during the past session supported by the Governor. Speaker Say felt long term care and caregiver support was more important at this time.

2. Speaker Say said he will do his best to support civil union legislation (HB 908) but the vote tally of the legislators concerning civil unions a few months ago was withheld because it was a sensitive issue for legislators who represent conservative constituents who are against civil rights. The legislators are not necessarily conservative but wanted to protect their votes so they wouldn‚t be public. He feels if the timing is not right, why push? The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing a five or six hour hearing on this „special interest‰ bill for civil unions; that was his commitment to them. Although he agrees with Chair Hernandez that as the Speaker he could teach other legislators what civil rights are and the importance of standing up for equality, if you are on the Windward side or Central Oahu you have to be very responsive to how your constituents want you to vote.

Representative Barbara Marumoto: Joan Shinn, from Representative Marumoto‚s office, was present earlier; Representative Marumoto‚s report was available.

Representative Scott Nishimoto: He was present earlier; his report was available.

Representative Lyla Berg: Her report was available.

APPROVAL OF THE JULY 8, 2007 MINUTES:  The July 8, 2007 minutes were approved as corrected, with the following corrections.

Page 5 ˆ Senator Ihara‚s corrections were previously noted in these minutes.

Page 1 ˆ Add in „Call to Order‰ that there was no public address system at the meeting.

Page 4ˆ Under „Responses to Questions‰ #1 should read „State Department of Economic Development and Tourism.‰ And under #5 it should read State Department of Transportation (DOT).

The additions to the minutes were accepted as amended.

TREASURER‚S REPORT:  Hack reported in July the previous balance was $3,011.00, current expenses were $66.32, leaving a balance of $2,944.68. He requested the Neighborhood Commission break down the refreshment costs when that becomes available. The Treasurer‚s report was filed.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Submitted by:

Bonnie Trustin

Neighborhood Assistant

Thursday, September 13, 2007

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