Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of October 17th, 2007 Posted - Kaimuki

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item
Powered by MBC NewsMaker
Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of October 17th, 2007 Posted
Tweet

Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source Neighborhood Commission Office

KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2007

QUEEN LILI‚UOKALANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with a quorum of seven members present.

Members Present: Daniel Carvalho, Randolph Hack, Eduardo Hernandez, Abby Leong, Dori Rybacki-Smith, Sharon Schneider, Vernon Tam.

Members Absent: Jim Cone

Guests: Capt. Myron Yamanaha (Honolulu Fire Department) Sgt. H. Ishida, Sgt. S. Medeiros, Lt. Arthur Kurosu(Honolulu Police Department/ District 7) Michael Formby (Governor‚s Representative, Deputy Director of Harbors, Department of Transportation), Jay Ishibashi (Mayor‚s Representative), Stan Fichtman (Representative, City Councilmember Charles Djou‚s office), City Councilmember Ann Kobayashi, Senator Les Ihara, Representative Barbara Marumoto, , Representative Lyla Berg, Deena Dray (Executive Director, Diamond Head Theatre), Anthony Ching (New Hope Church), Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Chris Tavares (Chaminade University), Darin Mar, (Project Manager, Kamuki Parking Lot, Department of Transportation Services), Eric Wong, John Kobayashi (Kaimuki Business and Professional Association), Lori Yamada (Queen Lili‚uokalani School), C. Schuster, Pam Vessels, Tracy Ryan, Carol Lee, Lynda Kerwin, S. Suzuki, S. Sonoda, Bonnie Trustin (Neighbor Commission Office Assistant).

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) ˆ Sgt. Ishida (HPD/ District 7) covers the areas of Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise and Kaimuki and distributed September statistics for burglary, theft and motor vehicle entry and the months of July and August as was requested by the board to see a comparison. Safety tips for Halloween were on the back of the report for parents, children and homeowners.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. He reported that the serious accident at the bottom of Sierra Drive yesterday involved an elderly male driver exiting his driveway who lost control of his car. He was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition.

2. Sgt. Ishida was not aware of any neighbors‚ complaints in the area of Mikahala Way to warrant radar tracking.

3. Carvalho asked him to patrol for speeding cars from 10:30 ˆ 11:00 p.m. on 10th and Kaimuki Avenues.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Capt. Myron Tamanaha (HFD/Kaimuki Station) reported the September statistics as follows: 4 structure, 1 brush, 1 rubbish and 2 vehicle fires. There were 56 emergency calls and 17 miscellaneous calls.

§ Fire Tip: Select flame resistant Halloween costumes that are light weight and brightly colored. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape. Keep costumes short to avoid tripping. A

natural mask of cosmetics is better than those fitting over children‚s faces that restrict breathing or obscure their vision. Give children flashlights to light their way.

§ The cause for the fire involving two houses on Mariposa last month has not yet been determined although they are working on the investigation.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) ˆ Chester Lao was not present so Trustin reported on the two requests from last month as follows: 1) The traps were set for the chickens at Mau‚umae Park but they need a person there as an attendant to get the chickens to go into the traps. 2) Lao needed a more specific location to check for the sprinklers at Ft. Ruger because there are seven different meters on the property.

Board Vacancies ˆ There were no volunteers to join the Board for the three seats in Sub District 1.

Residents‚ Concerns

1. Resident Glenn Yamasaki read an article written by Larry Sabato from the October 14, 2007 Honolulu Advertiser asking the president to restore balance in the world by taking action to end it which he hopes others will encourage the President to do. Board member Rybacki-Smith noted that the power to create a declaration of war rests with the Congress, not the President.

2. Tracy Ryan, who is involved in the community in sex work reform efforts, announced that Senate Bill 706 introduced by Senator Carol Fukunaga and House Bill 982 introduced by Sylvia Luke were proposed to substantially reform the State‚s prostitution laws. She has heard the public frustration from prostitutes locating themselves in residential areas, the difficulty law enforcement has dealing with the problem and meanwhile the prostitutes are getting hurt. She suggests there be zoned areas where prosititution could be protected and monitored.

She reported to Hack that these proposed bills do not request funding nor appropriate programs for prostitutes; other bills should be introduced to do that. Recently a residential house for transsexuals was closed which has caused a big gap in services. Hack approves of increased capacity, especially in the non-profit sector, to assist with problems that may be associated with people in the sex trade.

Pam Vessels, who worked with people who did sex work for 10 years, asked for public support when the bills come up for adoption because prostitution affects us all. She asked that people consider ways to empower people who do sex work, whether trying to exit the livelihood or not, and value them as human beings.

Carol Lee, from San Francisco, represented the Commission on the Status of Women on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her recommendations were to be able to regulate the industry for the protection of workers, decriminalizing the work, and instead of arresting them, finding a kinder way of dealing with these individuals.

3. Saturday, November 10th will be the Second Annual Holiday Fair at Queen Lili‚uokalanai Elementary School on their school campus from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

New Business

1. Lynda Kerwin requested three parking spaces be reinstated at Mahina and 13th Avenue where the No. 3 bus no longer travels so the space is now available. Senator Ihara supports the changes and Mr. Yuen, the Principal of Queen Lili‚uokalani Elementary School, does also if the spaces are indicated in such a way that will not negatively impact the student drop off location.

Hack moved and Schneider seconded that the City Department of Transportation Services allows parking at the corner of Mahina and 13th Avenues stripped to accommodate the drop off and pick up prior to and after school days at Queen Liliuokalani School and otherwise used by the public. The motion was adopted unanimously.

2. New Hope Diamond Head Church at Diamond Head Theatre ˆ Deanna Dray gave a history of Idamond Head Theatre (DHT) and noted that beyond their performances, this community cultural institution offers classes and volunteer opportunities for all ages as they seek to engage people in music and the arts.

DHT welcomed the New Hope Church in 2005 because they have had a church there before and the theatre does not operate on Sunday mornings. DHT has had a very good partnership with the church members who are involved in many volunteer activities at their theatre. When New Hope found they would need a minor electrical upgrade to the theatre, they were advised they needed a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) which requires they come to this meeting, ask the approval of the community and submit any comments with theirhis CUP application.

Tony Ching, representing New Hope Diamond Head Church, a congregation of 950, plans to have three Sunday morning services at 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. with a seating capacity of 400. Set up of chairs and tents will start at 4:00 a.m. and removed by around 2:00 p.m. The tents are for late arrivals, a hospitality area, parishioner support, and a children‚s care center with screened activities. On Halloween, Mother‚s Day, Father‚s Day, Easter and their church anniversary they might hold larger gatherings.

The church is very community oriented providing off site activities for people at locations such as Leahi Hospital, Diamond Head Theatre, Waikiki Elementary School and Kahala Nui. They have use of 102 parking spaces at the theatre and 300 stalls at Kapiolani Community College with some parishioners walking to the church. They responded to a complaint in July and made adjustments with which the complainant is satisfied. New Hope wants to be a good neighbor so they are employing techniques to minimize noise. Ching answered the following questions:

Growth of the congregation - Ching doesn‚t feel his church will grow. To control parked cars, they plan to have parking monitors so their cars are in the parking lots, not on the resident‚s streets.

Noise ˆ Leong asked those setting up seats and tents before 7:00 a.m. to be considerate of the residents because no one is supposed to make noise before 7:00 a.m.

Electrical Work ˆThe electrical lwork will be done by a licensed electrician, providing new cabeling to update the existing equipment. Their application and research shows they are in compliance for their Minor Conditional Use Permit because they propose no permanent structural changes to the site.

3. Senator Marumoto represents the area of the Diamond Head Theatre and she has received no complaints about the church‚s operations.

Chair Hernandez thanked the theatre community and faith community for their innovative relationship, coming together to serve the wider community. He acknowledged the Diamond Head Theatre for their long history of community service.

Superferry

Senator Ihara reported the concepts of the Superferry draft bill allow the following conditions relating to the Superferry but they could change even during the special session:

§ Allow the Superferry to operate while an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being conducted.

§ The Governor would be required to set conditions to mitigate any types of impasse prior to the Superferry being operational and the Superferry will be required to accept all of those mitigations. Once the Superferry sails, a 13 member task force would give the legislature monthly reports on the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and any problems that arise during the EIS.

§ Require a performance audit on the actions taken leading up to the administration‚s granting an exemption to the EIS accepting Superferry operations and the construction of the harbor.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Senator Ihara explained that an EIS was not done earlier because the Superferry officials were relying on the response from the report from the Department of Transportation (DOT) stating they didn‚t have to do an EIS, although they could have done one. They knew they might have to do one in the future but they decided to take the risk.

2. Representative Berg reported the legislative session will convene next week but there is conversation about waiting for an apology from the Governor concerning her role in the EIS requirements. This is a challenge for the legislature, to decide whether the legislation to be proposed will be legitimate. Their greatest concern, besides the Governor‚s responsibility in this, is the issue of Chapter 343, an EIS for every other business is going to be circumvented so what do you do with this? There are three arms of the government involved ˆ the Judiciary has ruled, the Governor has exercised her executive capacity and now the legislature has to decide how they will participate.

3. Representative Marumoto explained that the Superferry project had to do with the need for $40 million harbor improvements for the pier for the Superferry. This is a state project using state money so the State is required to do the EIS. The DOT said „No, there is an exemption for harbor improvement. We don‚t see a reason to do a harbor improvement to do an Environmental Assessment (EA) since they have done other improvements at the harbor without doing an EA.‰

4. Michael Formby agreed with Representative Marumoto‚s comments. He feels there is a misconception about how the State Department of Transportation operates. When the Land Use Commission is approached by a developer to reclassify their land, the Commission can require the developer to do an EIS. However, the DOT Harbor Division is required by law to conduct an EA or EIS on harbor improvements, unless they are exempt, but they can‚t make a vessel owner perform one. In the case of the Superferry, the DOT proposed to restripe some of the payment, install lights and procure barges to float at the end of the piers. If the DOT decides the project will likely have a significant impact, an EA has to be done. Each DOT department has 10 exemptions with which they assess a project and if it falls within one or more of them, an EIS is not required. Barry Fukunaga, Director of the DOT Harbor Division at the time the Superferry approached his department, found the Superferry came under two exemptions so the DOT did not have to do an EIS of the Superferry project which is paid for with DOT funds. If the law changes, requiring every project that could come into the harbor be assessed for secondary impact on the environment, the DOT Harbor Division has to spend harbor funds to assess someone else‚s vessel although the DOT doesn‚t operate it, own it, or have data on the vessel.

5. The Superferry can operate before an EIS is completed because an EIS cannot deny a project to operate; it just suggests how it can be mitigated. The EIS must be completed by 2009.

6. Representative Marumoto reported the Senate has had public hearings on this issue and they passed the $40 million harbor bill almost unanimously.

Mayor‚s Representative: - Jay Ishibashi reported on the new Kaimuki Parking Lot since the project director, Darin Mar, was in attendance. Ishibashi has used the improved Kaimuki parking lot often and he has found stalls available on the makai end even while the restaurants he checked were mostly full.

§ Kaimuki Parking Lot Update: Darin Mar reported he will be attending these monthly board meetings until the parking lot construction is completed. Republic Parking is starting the first phase of their work on the curbs by digging out the sidewalks. To give more planting room for the trees, they are cutting up the median with the counsel of an arborist. Their work will be suspended at Thanksgiving and will not resume until early January. He answered the following questions:

§ The parking lots by Happy Days Restaurant are now open from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 ˆ 8:00 p.m. Beginning on Monday the hours will be extended to 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. He requested people be patient when they exit the lot, allowing enough time to leave. Soon three „pay on foot stations‰ will be installed to accommodate those who use the lot by inserting their ticket and paying without the need of an attendant.

§ To provide easier maneuverability through the lot and to streamline the cars lining up to exit, the angles of some of the parking stalls by American Savings and the Movie Museum will be changed, which should positively affect the queue lines.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Member Hack represented a resident who inquired if the No. 3 bus line operates past 1:00 a.m., which circulates between the Salt Lake and the Kaimuki areas.

2. Ishibashi responded to a request from Mr. Suzuki from the last meeting about the intersection of Date Street and Mooheau Avenue into Kapahulu Avenue. A study was completed supporting the need for a left turn lane arrow from Date Street and Mooheau Avenue into Kapahulu Avenue. Pending the availability of funds, the left turn signal will be installed in 2011.

3. Mr. Suzuki requested Ishibashi check the water accumulating in the middle of Kapalaono Park. Ishibashi reported that the restroom facilities were shut down because the pool was closed. They are projecting that the pool will open before the end of this year.

4. Leong reported the attendants at the Isenberg recycling location were unkind and would not give her a receipt. She asked the Department of Health to investigate the situation with the workers there.

Chair Hernandez asked residents to submit their questions to him at his email address before the meeting so he can have answers for them at the meeting.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi ˆ Councilmember Kobayashi thanked those who participated in the very successful recycling day at Kaimuki High School last Saturday. They took in 45,000 pounds of metal, two huge bins of paper and recyclable plastics, a truck load of cell phones and 1,000 phone books which raised cash for Kaimuki High School, Moiliili Community Center and Kapahulu Community Center.

§ This afternoon Cook Slater gave a presentation at City Hall on the high cost of transit and explained that mass transit doesn‚t have to be rail. He asked the public to make a careful choice

on the technology for transit or they will have very high bills to pay. Although this issue will not go

for a vote to the people, the City Council can accept public input as to which technology the people prefer before they vote on the technology.

§ Leong is grateful to the Mayor and the City Council for wanting to bring mass transit to our island. San Francisco and San Diego built double-decker bridges because people did not want traditional mass transit. Councilmember Kobayashi reported that since Oahu‚s whole rail system is only 30 miles long with 28 stops, why would we want a rail system stopping every mile that only travels 25 miles per hour? So we are looking at a less expensive rail alternative to fit the City and its financial budget.

Councilmember Charles Djou - Stan Fitchman, from Councilmember Charles Djou‚s office, distributed his newsletter and asked the residents to read about his views on the Boat. The City Council met today and adopted the bill for the curbside recycling test project in Mililani and Hawaii Kai. Councilmember Djou wants island-wide curbside recycling to be adopted soon after the test project is completed.

Linda Kerwin‚s request to put parking spaces on Mahina Avenue was requested and is supported by the Councilmember‚s office. He will report back when he has an answer.

Governor‚s Representative ˆ Michael Formby distributed the Governor‚s report and advised that she supports the Superferry and will be working with the legislature for the next couple of weeks on the issue.

§ Responding to a question from the last meeting regarding the definition of „family member‰ by the Department of Agriculture on the required Agricultural Declaration form, Formby summarized that they will defer to the adult completing the questionnaire.

§ Formby deferred to Senator Ihara to answer a resident‚s question who asked why Hawaii does not elect judges.

Senator Les Ihara: - Senator Ihara answered the question about Hawaii not electing their judges as follows: The State Constitution requires that an independent panel makes appointments from which one candidate is chosen. The trend is away from electing judges; in other states lawyers give money to judges who run for office and then appear in front of them so we probably don‚t want that situation, although politicians get donations from people and they appear before us.

§ Senator Ihara reported the September 29th Pedestrian Safety Workshop was very successful; well attended and informative with the Department of Transportation Director, Mel Kaku, in attendance.

§ Councilmember Djou‚s office has been working with an optometrist across the street from Queen Lili‚ukalani School, Jarren Kunimura of JK Optical, who wants to donate lights for the bus stop at Koko Head and Waialae which is so dark at night. Fitchman will be involved to get the lights installed.

§ Will Fischer will meet with the Mayor and ask that the property at Waialae and Kapahulu Avenues not be sold, leaving it for community use.

Representative Calvin Say: - Representative Say told Hack he would not be able to attend tonight because of the House caucus. His newsletter was distributed.

Representative Barbara Marumoto: She thanked the City Department of Transportation Services for the following planned road improvements:

§ Install the left turn signalization at 16th and Waialae, the second most dangerous intersection in the state.

§ Repaint crosswalks for greater visibility on Malia and Ainakoa Streets. The City continues to say the traffic density there does not warrant a four way stop or traffic light but neighbors still report close calls.

§ Assess traffic issues at 12th and Maunaloa Avenues at the request of a resident.

§ The City Department of Facilities Maintenance is planning to repave from 18th Avenue to Malia Street early next year.

§ The State DOT cannot widen the bike lane on Kalaniaiole Highway at Ainakoa but the traffic lights will be improved to reduce glare.

§ Countdown lights will be installed at three corners on Waialae Avenue; Kilauea Avenue by Macy‚s, Hunakai and 21st Avenues.

Representative Scott Nishimoto: Representative Nishimoto was not present; his report was distributed.

Representative Lyla Berg: - Representative Berg left for another meeting, her newsletter was distributed.

Chair‚s Report: - Chair Hernandez investigated the status of the Mauanlani Park project that began last October and reported the following:

§ The project was slated to be completed in six months and it is still in progress one year later.

§ The construction department‚s manager of the park project stated there have been eight status changes since the construction began adding $57,000 to the project bill.

§ Fixing the lights at the tennis courts was not part of the original project which required powering down the lights. At that time it was not known that powering them back up would create a problem. It has become so. A request has been submitted to the Facilities Maintenance Department to power the lights back up but as of yet it is unknown when work can be completed.

§ He is concerned about this park because he lives across the street from it. He questioned if political contributions influence the choice of contractors because this contract was awarded to Walter Arakaki who was recently convicted for fraud regarding the Honolulu International Airport and has been a big contributor to campaigns of politicians currently in office.

Ishibashi responded to the Chair‚s report on the Mauanalani Park as follows:

§ Some of the change orders were unexpected delays which people in construction are used to. One long delay was a HECO transformer that needed to be replaced delaying the project longer than the City wanted.

§ Walter Arakaki is the namesake of the company but there is more to the company than just him. His company was awarded the job when he wasn‚t convicted. The City is aware of bid rigging but the City takes precautions; there is a normal due process to award contracts which Arakaki‚s company was required to go through.

Corrections to the Minutes of September 17, 2007 were as follows:

Page 2 ˆ Under Board of Water Supply, change the spelling of Chester „Lau‰ to „Lao‰.

Page 2 ˆ In the next paragraph, change the spelling of the park from „Maomai‰ to ‰Mau‚umae‰.

Page 6 ˆ Under Questions and Answers, change line two of No. 3 to read: „∑Kapahulu Avenues years go because the City needed the area as staging for the freeway renovation.‰∑

The minutes were accepted as amended.

Treasurer‚s Report: Hack reported as of September, 2007 our previous balance was $2,840.28, current expenses are $46.40, balance is $2,793.88. Our expenditures are available for inspection by the public. The report is filed.

Comment: Mr. Suzuki reported that he sees all the Board of Water Supply sprinklers go on as he walks every morning along the fence at the Board of Water Supply Water Tunnel.

Announcement: John Kobayashi, President of the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association (KBPA) announced they are bringing back to the community the Celebrate Kaimuki Fair held on Saturday, November 3rd with lots of free entertainment and 90 outstanding handmade item crafters from all over the state. This is a fund raiser for a $2,000 scholarship given to a deserving senior who attends an area high school including Kalani, Kaimuki, Sacred Hearts and St. Louis. This year a St. Louis student received the scholarship.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Submitted by:

Bonnie Trustin

Neighborhood Assistant

<javascript:void(0);>Thursday, November 15, 2007

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

Like Our Facebook

Kaimuki, Hawaii News Item

Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of October 17th, 2007 Posted

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item