REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Wednesday, November
19, 2008
Lili'uokalani
Elementary School
Cafeteria
Call
to Order: The meeting was called
to order by Chair Vernon Tam at 7:12 p.m. with a quorum of ten
(10)
members. Note: This
board of 11 needs a quorum of six (6)
members.
Board
Members: John Cater, Abigail Leong,
Ginny Meade, Sharon Schneider, Dori Smith, Leonard Tam, Lori Yamada, Vernon Tam,
Daniel Carvalho, Mark
Terry.
Members
Absent:
None.
Guests:
Lieutenant Keith Takamiya, Captain Jerry Wojcik (Honolulu Police Department,
District 7), Captain Robert Marshman (Honolulu Fire Department, Kaimuki
Station), Ann Wong (Board of Water Supply), Stan Fichtman (Staff of Charles
Djou), Representative Calvin Say, Chester Kanehira, Lydia Chock
(Leahi Hospital), Caron Wilberts, Lauri Clegg, Senator Les Ihara, S. Sonoda,
Julia Allen, Jay Ishibashi (Mayor’s Representative), C. Van Buren (Staff
of Scott Nishimoto), Council Member Ann Kobayashi, and John Lane (Neighborhood
Commission
Office).
Filling
Vacancies: There were no
volunteers for the open seat in Sub District
1.
PUBLIC
SAFETY/ COMMUNITY AGENCY
REPORTS:
Honolulu
Police Department (HPD): Lieutenant
Keith Takamiya, District 7, distributed the October statistics sheet and noted
there is a comparison sheet that covers different neighborhoods in this district
for the last six
months.
Burglaries
7, Thefts 19, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle (UEMV)
8.
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:
Mark
Terry inquired about the meaning of UEMV. UEMV involves automobile
theft.
John
Cater inquired on the differences between burglary and theft. Burglary is done
inside a residence, while theft is
not.
Chair
Tam inquired about the armed robbery on the corner of 9th Avenue and Waialae
Avenue involving a machete and shotgun. That robbery is still being
investigated.
Honolulu
Fire Department (HFD): Captain Robert
Marshman, Kaimuki Fire Station reported the
following:
· The October statistics from Ladder 5 included 1 fire and 60 emergencies; and from Engine 5 1 fire, 19 emergencies, 8 false alarms, and 7 miscellaneous. There were no major incidents.
· Fire Safety Tip: 1) This holiday season, consider a fire-resistant, artificial Christmas tree. If you purchase a natural tree, choose one as fresh as possible, keep it hydrated, and keep it away from heat sources in the house. Use noncombustible materials for decorations. Choose only Underwriter’s Laboratory-approved electrical decorations and follow
manufacturer’s instructions for installation and load. Do not overload
extension cords. 2) Holiday family gatherings often include extensive food
preparation and visiting guests. As a significant portion of home fires
originate in the kitchen, do not leave cooking unattended. Have an ABC-rated
fire extinguisher available near the kitchen and learn to use it. Turn off the
heat if you must leave the stove, even if only for a few minutes. Never wear
long, loose-sleeved clothing while cooking. Turn the handles on pots and pans
inward to prevent accidents. Keep children away from the kitchen. If you are
hosting overnight guests, share your home escape plan with them, including your
designated meeting place outside the
home.
No
questions
followed.
Board
of Water Supply (BWS): Ann Wong
reported:
· No main breaks in the month of October.
· BWS is offering three xeriscape workshops at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden, which offer hands-on activities teaching individuals about “unthirsty plants” and how they can be used to
craft stunning wreath decorations.
· Two Xeriscape Holiday Wreath Making workshops will be held on November 22, 2008 and November 29, 2008 also from 10 am to 12 pm. Pre-registration and a nominal fee are required to join. For additional information or to register, call 748-5363 or email tours@hbws.org.
· BWS will be participating in the annual decoration of Honolulu and Kapolei Hale. BWS employees and their ohana will participate in the City’s Christmas parades on December 6, 2008 in
downtown and on December 13, 2008 in Kapolei. Please visit the annual Christmas
light display at Honolulu
Hale.
Questions,
answers and
concerns:
Regarding
the question asked at the last meeting inquiring about someone dying from
drinking water from rusty pipes, Leong mentioned she saw the inspectors and
inquired whether the pipes to the drinking fountains are dangerous. Wong
answered that the BWS is only in charge up to the meter and after that the
property owner takes on the responsibility of the
pipes.
Chair
Tam asked if any parks use non-potable water and Wong responded with not in
Honolulu.
PUBLIC
INPUT AND
CONCERNS:
Caron
Wilberts inquired if there is a type of neighborhood arbitration since some
neighbors have been smoking meats and the ashes and smoke have spread out and
clouded the neighborhood. She is worried about health concerns and has to run
the air conditioner in order to breathe. This is happening at 741-16th Avenue.
Mediation services are offered at the Mediation Center of the
Pacific.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
None.
NEW
BUSINESS:
Application
to Re-zone 4,248 sq. ft. Portion of Property Located at 1039 11th Avenue from
R-5 Residential to B-2 Business
District
Lauri
Clegg reported that the application to the City & County of Honolulu to
rezone the 4248 sq. ft. of a portion of the property located at 1039 11th Avenue
is in the submitting process. This is a remnant parcel that was recently sold to
the adjacent property owner. The lot is split zoned and will eventually become a
parking lot. The area is separated from the Freeway and Lunalilo by a chain link
fence.
L.
Tam inquired if Diamond Head Plumbing owned the parcel and Clegg replied that it
does. Chair Tam mentioned that his ads say he is also a general contractor.
Clegg responded that yes the owner of Diamond Head Plumbing is also a general
contractor.
Planting
of and Subsequent Notice of Removal of Tree in Front of 748 21st Avenue by City
& County of Honolulu, Due to “Private” Road Designation of 21st
Avenue
Martha
Staff reported that HPD sometimes would or would not enforce the parking along
the street. Discussion on the subject
ensued.
Smith
moved to have the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board request that the appropriate agency
whether State, City and/or County determine the owner of the frontage and street
area for the 700 block of
21st
Avenue ranging from residential property to residential property to include all
frontage and street area. Terry seconded. Aye: 10(V. Tam, L. Tam, Cater,
Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, Yamada, Carvalho, Terry.) Nay: 0. Motion
is adopted
unanimously.
Update
on Kaimuki Christmas Tree (above Koko Head Avenue Fire station):
Chair Tam announced that the Honolulu
Advertiser printed a big article on the Kaimuki Christmas Tree. L. Tam reported
that the tree was surveyed last month and a lot of the hardware was found to be
corroded. The City was asked to take it down in January or February and treat
the corrosion on the pole. All components that are brought down will be fixed by
L.
Tam.
Jay
Ishibashi noted that the Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM) had
inspected the tree and decided that after a few small repairs that the tree is
in good working order. L. Tam responded that the electrician he is working with
feels that the tree needs repair and will not last long in its current
condition. Ishibashi will follow up with
DFM.
Board
Participation in Kaimuki Christmas Parade:
Meade reported that regarding the
Kaimuki Christmas Parade, which the Board will participate in, to not plan on
parking on Waialae, Mahina, or Koko Head. The parade begins at Chaminade and
will work its way up to Koko Head. L. Tam and Meade will be the Grand Marshalls
and Carvalho will ride on the car with them. All members participating should
arrive by 4:45 pm and remember to bring their own water to keep hydrated. Yamada
will be passing out the Christmas hats. Yamada mentioned the challenge in
meeting by 4:45 pm since many streets in the area will be
closed.
Holiday
Recess in December 2008: Chair Tam
noted that the normal practice for Board meetings has been to recess in
December. Terry moved to support
Board recess in December; seconded by
Meade.
The motion was ADOPTED by unanimous
consent.
(Aye:
Cater, Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, L. Tam, V. Tam, Carvalho, Yamada,
Terry).
ELECTED
OFFICIALS:
Mayor’s
Representative: Jay Ishibashi reported:
Honolulu City Lights is coming up on December 6, 2008 at Honolulu Hale and
Kapolei City Lights will be on December 13, 2008 at Kapolei Hale. Regarding the
issue of bus drivers getting complaints about being late, instead of complaining
to the bus driver, the complaints should be directed to OTS Customer Service at
848-4500 with specific information to allow investigation and resolution.
Regarding the telephone pole on 11th
and Harding Avenues that protrudes
out onto the street forcing the bus drivers to proceed very slowly in order to
avoid hitting the pole, HPD reported back that no telephone pole appeared to be
leaning or protruding into the roadway. However, HPD reported a damaged
traffic light pole and DFM and the Department of Transportation Services (DTS)
was notified to
investigate.
Meade
inquired if the two broken benches are ever going to be fixed and Ishibashi will
follow up on this
issue.
City
Councilmember Ann Kobayashi: A
report was
circulated.
City
Councilmember Charles Djou
Representative: Stan Fichman passed out
a report and highlighted: The City Council held a session last week regarding
the issue on the Bed & Breakfast Homes and it is an ongoing issue.
Councilmember Djou feels if B&Bs are allowed to exist that there needs to be
an enforcement agency above it similar to the Liquor Commission. Councilmember
Djou and Councilmember Apo met to propose a change in the route for the rail
transit system from Salt Lake to the airport. Tomorrow, a Bill will be discussed
concerning banning driver’s text messaging while
driving.
Leong
mentioned that all types of bugs are living in her curbside recycling green
waste bin. Fichtman noted that if there is a problem with the bins that the City
Waste Management site should be notified or to check
www.opala.org.
Carvalho mentioned that bins should be left on the
street.
Governor
Linda Lingle Representative: No
representative was
present.
State
Senator Les Ihara (9th District):
Senator Ihara reported that the Senate has organized and he will continue to be
the Majority Policy Leader. If anyone has any ideas, email him since the Board
is not meeting in December. A Maunalani Heights resident was concerned about the
care homes in their area and it was recommended that the State give more
discretion to the counties pertaining to care homes. This is a two step process
and if the state allows this, then the counties have to set up zoning
parameters.
Smith
mentioned that the City gives out a permit to get the building set but the State
doesn’t always approve the building once it is completed. The State is
concerned about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
requirements.
State
Representative (House Speaker) Calvin K.Y. Say (20th
District): Representative Say
passed out a handout and was available to take any comments or concerns. Meade
is concerned that her neighbors are hacking into her phone because when she was
using her cell phone and hung up, she heard a click on the phone. Say noted that
the judiciary has to approve any wire tapping if this is
happening.
State
Representative Barbara Marumoto (19th
District): A report was
circulated.
State
Representative Scott Nishimoto (21st
District): A report was circulated and
Candace Van Buren made herself available to any comments or
concerns.
State
Representative Lyla Berg (18th
District): A report was
circulated.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 15, 2008 REGULAR
MEETING corrections
followed:
· Page 4 – Mark Terry was present but
not yet a member of the board.
· Page 4 – Sharon did not vote on the
last 4 issues because she left early.
· Page 3 – Lawrence not
Laurene.
Terry
moved; Cater seconded to adopt the October 15, 2008 minutes as corrected. The
motion was ADOPTED by unanimous
consent.
(Aye:
Cater, Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, L. Tam, V. Tam, Carvalho, Yamada,
Terry).
TREASURER’S
REPORT: Report
deferred.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chair Tam announced the
following:
· The Board will recess in December. The next board meeting will be January 21, 2009.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 8:57
p.m.
Submitted
by:
John Lane, Neighborhood
Assistant
Reviewed
by:
Vernon Tam, Chair
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