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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of August 20th, 2008 Posted
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REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Wednesday, August 20,
2008
Lili'uokalani Elementary School
Cafeteria
I. Call
to Order: The meeting was called
to order by Chair Vernon Tam at 7:02 p.m. with a quorum of nine members.
Note: This board of 11 needs a quorum of six (6)
members.
Board Members:
Daniel Carvalho, John Cater, Abigail
Leong, Ginny Meade, Sharon Schneider, Dori Smith, Leonard Tam, Vernon Tam, Lori
Yamada.
Members
Absent: Randolph
Hack.
Guests:
Jay Ishibashi (Mayor’s Representative); Lieutenant Maurice Asato, Sergeant
Alan Rivers, Officer Jason Hendricks (Honolulu Police Department, District 7);
Fire Fighter left on emergency (Honolulu Fire Department, Kaimuki Station);
Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Stan Fichtman (Staff of Charles Djou);,
Representative Calvin Say, Representative Lyla Berg, Lydia Chock (Leahi
hospital), Caron Wilberts, Rayma Lee, John Kobayashi (Kaimuki Professional
Business Association), Chester Kanehira, Joan Shinn (Representative Barbara
Marumoto), Charles Schuster, Michael Forman, Chester Kanehira, Ray Terada,
Eunice Terada, Glenn Yamasaki, S. Sonoda, Julia Allen, N.C. Tinebra, Lynn
Nakagawa, Candace Van Buren, Richard Speen, Margaret Lau, Eugene Azuma, Gail
Sugita, Debbie Sekine, Susan Jackson (Governor’s Representative), Gordon
Tam, Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, Ken Loui, Bill Kominek, Reid Ranslam, John Lane
(Neighborhood Commission
Office).
II.
Filing Vacancies:
There were no volunteers for the open
seat in Sub District 1
III. PUBLIC SAFETY/
COMMUNITY AGENCY REPORTS:
A.
Honolulu Police Department
(HPD): Sergeant Lee, District 7,
distributed the July statistics sheet and noted there is comparison sheet that
covers different neighborhoods in this district for the last six months.
Burglaries 11, Thefts 16, unauthorized entry in to a motor vehicle (UEMV)
12.
· For solutions to longstanding problems, report it on their website, www.honolulu.org/patrol/d7 and they
will respond within 48 hours.
Questions, comments, and concerns:
None
B. Honolulu
Fire Department (HFD): Fire Department
had to leave unexpectedly due to emergency. Chair Tam reported from
handout:
· The July statistics were 2 structural, 0 rubbish and 1 vehicle fires; 75 medical calls, 3 search and rescue and 25 miscellaneous calls. There were no major incidents.
· Safety Tip: The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) investigates reports of smoke to determine if a fire exists. While some fires are allowed or authorized under state and county regulations, most are unauthorized. When the HFD encounters an unauthorized fire, the Fire Captain will request that the fire be extinguished or have the fire crew extinguish it. If the fire is allowed, the Captain must determine if the fire is safe and properly contained and not a nuisance to others.
Examples of fires allowed when conducted safely and contained properly include:
Cooking fires – such as barbeques, grills, or imu; or bathing fires such
as a fire to heat a furo.
Examples of unauthorized fires include: bonfires on public beaches, burning of
household refuse and burning of yard
waste.
Questions, comments, and concerns:
None.
C.
Board of Water Supply (BWS):
Lorna Heller distributed,
“How does water get to your tap” brochure and made the following
announcements:
There were 2 main breaks in the month of
August, one on Kokua Street and the other on the bottom of Sierra
Drive.
The BWS, along with the Department of
Environmental Services and the Commission on Water Resource Management, has
extended the Ultra-Low Flush Toilet Rebate program to at least June 30, 2009. If
you are connected to the City’s sewer or water system, and replace an
existing non ultra-low flush toilet (1.6 gallons or less per flush), you could
qualify for a $100 rebate. For more details about the program, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.
Did you know:
1) The BWS pumps an average of
150 million gallons of water every day?
2) The BWS maintains a water
system that includes approximately 2,000 miles of pipes, four shafts, 12
tunnels, and 84 well stations?
Questions,
answers and
concerns:
1) Leonard Tam mentioned that
when the fire hydrant across the street from his house went out of service for
an extended period of time he called the BWS trouble line and they told him
that, yes we are going to fix it and hung up on him. It’s the same issue
that Smith asked about last month. Lorna Heller answered that she would check on
it and the answer would be forthcoming.
IV. Public Input and
Concerns
A.
Resident from
16th
Avenue has brought pictures of the house across the street from where she lives.
Her neighbor has recently finished up renovations and added a two-car driveway.
she would like to find out if this person has a permit and how can someone get a
permit that takes away a public parking spot. The address of the property in
question is 744
16th
Avenue. she would like to stay anonymous and will leave her pictures as
evidence.
V. Unfinished
Business:
None.
VI. New
Business:
A.
Application to re-zone property
located at 1049
12th
Avenue from R-5 Residential to B-2 Business District – Lauri Clegg, Donald
Clegg, Analytical Planning Consultants, Incorporated.
The owner/applicant would like the 7500 square foot property zoned to match the
other properties in the area. Presently it’s a single family dwelling that
is being used as an early preschool daycare center. If it was zoned B-2 then
they could have 6-12 kids instead of 2. They could also add one more parking
space. The Department of Planning and Permitting has agreed that it is a good
choice.
Resident John Kobayashi
is the owner of the parking lot next door, and the Office building next to it.
Kobayashi made the following statements, the proposed property is located in a
cull-d-sac and parking is illegal there because emergency vehicles would not be
able to turn around. The residents of the street feel there is too much traffic
there already and not enough street parking. The business plaza had an issue
with mango’s encroaching onto the center and falling onto the cars. When
they were asked to cut the branch’s back the owners refused. They park
boats on the street and use all the street parking. He knows that there is
asbestos and lead paint that has just been covered in recent years and not
removed. He was asked to purchase this house by the owners and when they were in
negotiations all this information was disclosed.
Resident Lynn Nakagawa did not come prepared to speak but she knows that the
preschool can operate under a special use permit. If they get re-zoned
what’s to stop the day care from selling it to someone who starts a less
desirable business. There have been enough of these re-zonings in Kaimuki
already.
Donald Clegg answered that now the spotlight is on. There will be enough parking
created on the premises to handle all new traffic.
Chair Tam asked Clegg if the board had to
take a vote on it. Clegg responded that no they didn’t. All that is
required is that the presentation be made.
Smith questioned if the owners checked to see
if a special use permit would allow them to have more children at the daycare.
Clegg responded yes that would allow them to have more children.
Smith asked if the new proposed parking lot
would be able to handle the boats as well. Leonard Tam added that he passed by
the property a few hours ago and he doesn’t believe that the boats can fit
on that property. Clegg answered that if the boats don’t fit on the
property then they can’t run the business.
Leong feels that the health hazards need to
be cleared up before the next time that this proposal is brought before this
board. Clegg responded that they will have to be cleared up anyway to get the
permit or run the daycare. There will be six to seven more public hearings
before this matter is settled so all the facts should come out by the
end.
NO ACTION
TAKEN
B.
Island curbside recycling roll-out, beginning November 2008 in East Honolulu
– Suzanne Jones, City Recycling Coordinator.
Kaimuki community is included in the
very next phase of the project. You may have already received the new bins or
you will in the next three weeks. Pilot programs were conducted to see how well
the community would receive the three new bins. The final report on the pilot
project was turned into the City Council in July. Anyone who wants to view the
report can find it at www.opala.org. Between
Hawaii Kai and Mililani 96% of residences didn’t need more than 1 can for
trash. Both bins will come with instructions printed inside of a brochure. There
will also be a collection calendar passed out at that time. The program promises
to be cost efficient with the largest cost by far being the bins themselves. The
cost for 260,000 bins is over 20 million dollars.
Charles asked where the money is going to go
from the recycled products. Jones answered that it’s going to offset the
cost of the program.
Leonard Tam is worried about the food waste.
What’s going to happen letting that food sit for one week. The bins are
going to get smelly and infested with creatures. Jones answered that only on
Christmas and New Years do the collectors get the day off. The once a week
collections are still more than most places in the country. The Big Island has
no collection at all. The islands of Maui and Kaui currently only have once a
week pickup.
C.
Wilhelmina Rise Sewer Rehabilitation Project- Parson Construction Group.
Ken Lui - Project Manager, Reporting: The completion date for the Wilhelmina
Rise Rehabilitation Project is November 2010. They sent flyers to all the
residents in Wilhelmina Rise. They will be working between the hours of 8:30 to
3:30. They are not planning on closing any roads even though they are dealing
with 38,000 linear feet of sewer lines. They will give as much advance notice as
possible to any updates that are going on. If any residents are planning
construction of their own please let Parson’s know.
VII. Elected
Officials:
Mayor’s Representative Jay
Ishibashi: Jay Ishibashi distributed
the Mayor’s report and responded to questions from last month’s
meeting as follows:
1) A resident asked
why an intersection at
16th
and Kilauea avenues that has been closed for years at two stone pillars was
opened a few weeks ago. She asked if it was a permanent change so she can advise
her neighbors. Ishibashi responded that the Department of Transportation
Services conducted a field investigation and found that the area of concern is
the back entrance to Kapiolani Community College (KCC). Requestor should check
with KCC on the change.
2) Leonard Tam asked
how much does the City anticipate collecting from the general excise tax
surcharge for each year breaking down the yearly amount for every year until
2022. Ishibashi responded that collections, in millions by Fiscal Year, are to
be in the following ranges: 2007: 48 (actual); 2008: 170 (actual); 2009:
180-192; 2010: 185-204; 2011: 191-214; 2012: 196-225; 2013: 199-237; 2014:
207-250; 2015: 216-263; 2016: 225-278; 2017: 234-294: 2018:244-311: 2019:
254-328: 2020: 264-346; 2021:275-365;2022: 286-386; 2023:146-199.
3) Leonard Tam asked
how much the City is planning budgeting for the rail project each year. Wants an
itemized breakdown for every year from this budget year and for the next ten
years. Ishibashi answered just look at the six year CIP. Ten year is not
available.
4) Leonard Tam asked
how the rail project is going to affect property taxes over the next ten years.
Ishibashi answered that there are no expected changes due to the rail
project.
5) Leonard Tam asked
what resources have the city used for the rail project so far. Ishibashi
answered the CIP budget and the operating budget.
6) Leonard Tam asked
how many city employees have been working on the rail project. Ishibashi
answered 8.
7) Leonard Tam asked
how much money has been spent on the rail project so far. Ishibashi answered
approximately 25 million.
8) Leonard Tam asked
how much time away from other jobs has been spent on this project. Ishibashi
answered None, The project has dedicated staff not sharing the responsibility
with any other projects.
9) Leonard Tam asked
how much money is being spent on special consultants to convince the public this
is a good project. Ishibashi answered none.
10) Jenny Morris asked what
the policy is for parking company or fleet vehicles on the street. Owners are
parking multiple fleet vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, for
extended periods of time. HPD responded that vehicles over 10,000 pounds and 20
feet long cannot be parked on the street. Report it if you see it and the
vehicle will be tagged.
11) A resident mentioned
that at the Kumon Schools parents sit in the small lot not paying for a parking
space or park along the side of the school. Kids run out and into the lot and
traffic with no supervision – saw a child put outside by himself with no
one to watch him and was left to cry. He is asking for gates as soon as possible
to control the issue. Darin Mar (City & County of Honolulu) answered that he
will talk to the school about their children just leaving before parents have
arrived.
12) John Kobayashi stated
that the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association requested the City
provide them a fifty foot cherry picker needed to do their decorations for
Halloween and Christmas. The Department of Facility maintenance responded that
although the City & County of Honolulu did provide this service years ago,
the City has not provided this service in recent years due to liability concerns
and the perceived misuse of taxpayer’s funds for what is seen as a private
endeavor.
13) Ginny Meade noted that
since employees cannot use the newly completed parking lot they are parking all
the way up Koko Head Avenue to the top of Center Street using street parking
that residents used to use. Mar responded that the lot itself is for the
customers. No customers used to have parking during peak hours and now they have
ample parking. Employees can still park there as long as they pay the
appropriate fees. The lot does have a 20 minute grace period.
Questions, comments and
concerns:
1) Leong heard that
the black garbage bags that are being used all over the state are not
bio-degradable and that they cost a lot of money. Ishibashi responded that
putting waste directly into cans becomes cleanliness and a health issue.
He’ll check with Suzanne Jones to see if they can start to use
bio-degradable bags.
City Councilmember Ann
Kobayashi: Kobayashi had a
meeting today and the transit issue did not pass. It will not be on the ballot
to see if we need a public transit authority. There will be a question on the
ballot that reads should we have steel on steel rail transit. Volunteers got
50,000 signatures from the community and we should honor that. There was a vote
in the City Council that should there be a shortfall for the rail than should
the difference be made up by an increase in property tax. The City Council voted
yes. If the bus fares are raised than who will continue to take the
bus.
Questions, comments, and
concerns:
1) A resident asked
what if you can’t pay your new taxes. Kobayashi answered that is the exact
reason that she is against steel on steel. Once you start that type of transit
then you have to finish. With rubber on concrete than if the rail system
isn’t operating then normal cars can use it.
2) Meade asked about
the question regarding the planning commission. Kobayashi answered that there
will be a decision on that issue at the next meeting.
City Councilmember Charles Djou
Representative-Stan Fichman:
Councilmember Djou was very happy with
the result of the vote on rail transit. On August 1, 2008 the City got blasted
for how much money they spent on electricity. They used five percent more energy
but had 40 percent more cost. There are three energy initiative bills on the
newsletter. Councilmember Djou believes that one person should be in charge of
energy consumption and that’s why he has written two of these
bills.
Governor Linda Lingle Representative-
Susanne Jackson: Jackson passed out the
Governor’s report. One of the many ways that the Lingle/Aiona
administration discusses state issues is on Govtube. It features information on
many topics. A very important one displays all the states efforts to decrease
traffic congestion.
Questions, comments, and
concerns:
1) Cater asked if the
word depression ever enters their discussion. Jackson answered no; the economy
is still growing just on a smaller base.
State Senator Les Ihara
(9th
District): None
State Representative (House Speaker)
Calvin K.Y. Say
(20th
District): He passed out his
flyer and mentioned that a conference of chairs will cost an estimated five-90
million. It depends on how many people get elected to the
conference.
State Representative Barbara Marumoto
(19th
District): None
State Representative Scott Nishimoto
(21st
District): None
State Representative Lyla Berg
(18th
District): Berg passed out her flyer
and let the community know that
21st
Avenue is privately owned. Speeding and sidewalk parking is now an issue this
year. The citizens are willing to follow up but they don’t know where to
go. Ishibashi stated that most of the street is privately owned. It
doesn’t matter if you live in the front house or the back house both
parties must get involved. The cost must be shared by both parties. The
properties owner before Bank of Hawaii supposedly gave it to the City but there
is no record of it. Leonard Tam stated that we have to make
16th
to
21st
Avenues an improvement area. The Department of Planning and Permitting can help
to start the process.
VIII. Approval of Minutes from July 16, 2008 Regular Meeting Page three of seven, public input and concerns. 2. John Kobayashi, Kaimuki Business and Professional Association, asks for assistance from the City to have a 50 foot-cherry picker to help facilitate the inspection of the Kaimuki Christmas tree on the top of Pu’u-o-Kaimuki. Page three of seven, new business. Board approval for permit for Celebrate Kaimuki ... Second to last line re: bus reroute: “will be rerouted in both directions”. Page seven of seven, Treasurer’s report first line: June 2008 balance???? Page one of seven, filling vacancies: Leonard Tam, Delete last sentence. (He would like to bring the park back to what it was.) Page three of seven, # three, third line from the end. Change “sewers” to storm drains”. Page three of seven, new business, fifth line: change: closure November 1, 2008: “FROM” to “OF” Waialae Avenue. Page five of seven, questions, answers, and concerns. # six last line: change “an investigation” to “the information”. Cater moved; Smith seconded to adopt the June 18, 2008 minutes as corrected. The motion was ADOPTED by unanimous consent. (Aye: Carvalho, Cater, Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada). Treasurer’s Report: Yamada read the July 2008 Statement that showed a balance of $2,938.59, in the budget. Expenses for printing and mailing the minutes and agenda totaling $72.41 left a balance of $1,447.59. The publicity account has a balance of $1,371.00 and there is a balance of $120.00 in the refreshment account. Announcements: Chair Tam announced the following:
· The next board meeting will be September 17, 2008.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 9:08
p.m.
Submitted by:
John Lane, Neighborhood
Assistant
Reviewed by:
Chair Vernon Tam
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