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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board - Minutes Of March 18th, 2009 Posted
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Source Neighborhood Commission Office
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009
LILI'UOKALANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Sharon Schneider at 7:15 p.m. with a quorum of eight (8) members. Note: This board of 11 members needs a quorum of six (6) members to have a quorum and take official board action.
Board Members: Daniel Carvalho, John Cater, Abigail Leong, Ginny Meade, Sharon Schneider, Dori Smith, Leonard Tam, and Lori Yamada.
Members Absent: Vernon Tam, Mark Terry.
Guests: Lieutenant Gary Lum-Lee, Sergeant C. Sukekane, Officer K. Takamiya (Honolulu Police Department, District 7), Captain Robert Marshman (Honolulu Fire Department), Ann Wong (Board of Water Supply), Stanley Chang, Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Susan Jackson (Governor’s Representative), Representative Barbara Marumoto, Jay Ishibashi (Mayor’s Representative), Bertrand Kobayashi (Staff of Duke Bainum), Duke Bainum, S. Sonoda, Senator Les Ihara, Kendys Min, Caron Wilbert, Glenn Yamasaki, John Lane (Neighborhood Commission Office).
Filling Vacancies: There were no volunteers or nominations to fill the open seat in Sub District 1.
PUBLIC SAFETY/ REPORTS:
Honolulu Police Department (HPD): Lieutenant Gary Lum-Lee, District 7, distributed the February statistics sheet and noted there is a comparison sheet that covers different neighborhoods in this district for the last six months. The statistics included:
Burglaries 17, Thefts 53, Unauthorized Entry into a Motor Vehicle (UEMV) 22.
For solutions to longstanding problems, report it on the district 7 website, www.honolulu.org/patrol/d7 and officers will respond within 48 hours.
Questions, comments, and concerns:
There were some cases last year involving thieves poisoning dogs and robbing houses, but no cases have been reported this year.
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): Captain Robert Marshman reported the statistics for February: Ladder 5 responded to 4 fires and 83 emergencies. Engine 5 responded to 10 fires, 28 emergencies, 8 false alarms, and 7 miscellaneous calls.
1) Fire Safety
Tip: Although cooking at home can be a fun family activity, please ensure care
is taken by adhering to the following fire safety tips to avoid accidents in the
kitchen. Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. If
you are cooking and must leave the kitchen, even for only a few minutes, turn
off the stove. Avoid distractions while cooking. Keep ignitable items at least
three feet away from the range top. Keep an ABC-rated fire extinguisher near the
kitchen and learn how to use
it.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires and fire injuries nationwide.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires and fire injuries nationwide.
Board of Water Supply
(BWS): Ann Wong
reported:
BWS Contact Numbers: Do you have a question about your water bill or about a BWS construction project in your area, but you’re not quite sure where to call? Well BWS prepared a contact card, available on the table for everyone, listing common community concerns and the appropriate phone number within the BWS to call.
Report broken water mains, fire hydrants, water in a meter box, or low or no water service by calling the BWS 24-hour water emergency hotline at 748-5010. Water bill payment or billing questions may be addressed with the collection and credit section at 748-5020. To update account information or to start, stop, or transfer water service, call the customer service representatives at 748-5030. Construction project information is available by calling 748-5730. Report water waste or obtain information about public education and tours programs by calling our communications office at 748-5041. Water quality concerns may be shared with laboratory staff: If your concern is about discoloration, particles in your water, or chemical testing, call 748-5840. If your concern is about odor, taste, chlorination or bacterial testing, call 748-5850.
If unsure what number to call, call the Board of Water Supply main line at 748-5000.
2nd Annual Decorate an Egg, the Xeriscape Way Easter Workshop – April 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Try something new this Easter holiday by decorating an egg the xeriscape way, where keiki will decorate eggs using leaves and twigs from the BWS garden, creating imaginative, naturally inspired designs! Also, keiki will enjoy a garden-fun egg hunt after the event! Register for this exciting workshop by calling 748-5319 or emailing tours@hbws.org.Visit our website, www.boardofwatersupply.com, for a list of supplies or for more information about classes at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden or the Board of Water Supply.
PUBLIC INPUT AND CONCERNS:
Caron Wilbert stated that there are two new houses being constructed on one lot and they are being called single family dwellings. Certain neighbors are saying that it will be a half-way house for people that have abused drugs. She asked who she can call to find out what is being built. Jackson said that there is no one to call until after the house is built.
Leonard Tam commented that he has been driving around town, and noticed that the flow of traffic is not like it used to be, and there is more stop and go traffic than before. Traffic does not clear many intersections before the light turns red.
The majority of the traffic goes east to west, but, he noticed that the green light time for east-west traffic is shorter than mauka-makai traffic. Something is not right. he also noticed that the cycle of an intersection is shorter than before. That’s why vehicles can not clear the intersection before the light turns red.
The City should synchronize the traffic lights for efficient flow of traffic. What the City is doing now is impeding the flow of traffic, causing motorists to use more gas and cause more air pollution.
On Monday, it took him three cycles to turn left from King Street to Dillingham Boulevard, which is too long.
Areas that he found that need fixing are: Waialae Avenue, King Street, Beretania Street, Kapiolani Boulevard, Ala Moana Boulevard, Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City/Aiea, Lunaililo Street at Pi’ikoi Street and at Pensacola Street.
Bainum answered that the lights are synchronized to some degree. There is more traffic on the streets then ever before. The traffic management system is being manned more than eight hours per day. Ishibashi commented that there are different cycles used throughout the city at different times of the day.
A resident stated that on April 22, 2009 City Council will be voting to raise property taxes, and requested people to please call and let them know that residents do not want them to be raised.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
BWS Contact Numbers: Do you have a question about your water bill or about a BWS construction project in your area, but you’re not quite sure where to call? Well BWS prepared a contact card, available on the table for everyone, listing common community concerns and the appropriate phone number within the BWS to call.
Report broken water mains, fire hydrants, water in a meter box, or low or no water service by calling the BWS 24-hour water emergency hotline at 748-5010. Water bill payment or billing questions may be addressed with the collection and credit section at 748-5020. To update account information or to start, stop, or transfer water service, call the customer service representatives at 748-5030. Construction project information is available by calling 748-5730. Report water waste or obtain information about public education and tours programs by calling our communications office at 748-5041. Water quality concerns may be shared with laboratory staff: If your concern is about discoloration, particles in your water, or chemical testing, call 748-5840. If your concern is about odor, taste, chlorination or bacterial testing, call 748-5850.
If unsure what number to call, call the Board of Water Supply main line at 748-5000.
2nd Annual Decorate an Egg, the Xeriscape Way Easter Workshop – April 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Try something new this Easter holiday by decorating an egg the xeriscape way, where keiki will decorate eggs using leaves and twigs from the BWS garden, creating imaginative, naturally inspired designs! Also, keiki will enjoy a garden-fun egg hunt after the event! Register for this exciting workshop by calling 748-5319 or emailing tours@hbws.org.Visit our website, www.boardofwatersupply.com, for a list of supplies or for more information about classes at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden or the Board of Water Supply.
PUBLIC INPUT AND CONCERNS:
Caron Wilbert stated that there are two new houses being constructed on one lot and they are being called single family dwellings. Certain neighbors are saying that it will be a half-way house for people that have abused drugs. She asked who she can call to find out what is being built. Jackson said that there is no one to call until after the house is built.
Leonard Tam commented that he has been driving around town, and noticed that the flow of traffic is not like it used to be, and there is more stop and go traffic than before. Traffic does not clear many intersections before the light turns red.
The majority of the traffic goes east to west, but, he noticed that the green light time for east-west traffic is shorter than mauka-makai traffic. Something is not right. he also noticed that the cycle of an intersection is shorter than before. That’s why vehicles can not clear the intersection before the light turns red.
The City should synchronize the traffic lights for efficient flow of traffic. What the City is doing now is impeding the flow of traffic, causing motorists to use more gas and cause more air pollution.
On Monday, it took him three cycles to turn left from King Street to Dillingham Boulevard, which is too long.
Areas that he found that need fixing are: Waialae Avenue, King Street, Beretania Street, Kapiolani Boulevard, Ala Moana Boulevard, Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City/Aiea, Lunaililo Street at Pi’ikoi Street and at Pensacola Street.
Bainum answered that the lights are synchronized to some degree. There is more traffic on the streets then ever before. The traffic management system is being manned more than eight hours per day. Ishibashi commented that there are different cycles used throughout the city at different times of the day.
A resident stated that on April 22, 2009 City Council will be voting to raise property taxes, and requested people to please call and let them know that residents do not want them to be raised.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW
BUSINESS:
Path Clinic: Presented by Julia Yoshimoto. The Path Clinic is a non-profit community clinic that specifically provides comprehensive prenatal clinical and social services to women with past or present substance abuse issues. It is located on 22nd Avenue in Kaimuki. They are funded by the State and other non-profits who have given them grants. The Path Clinic helps women from all over the island. If women cannot get there they will send a taxi to pick them up. No agency is given any information about any woman who comes there. It is all confidential. Last year they helped to deliver 49 babies and 47 of them were born clean. When a crack baby is born it could cost up to $200,000 of intensive care. If anybody has any questions you may get more information at www.pathclinic.org.
Maunalani Heights Facilities Improvement Project: Presented by Kendys Min, Community Relations Specialist, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). HECO is working on the existing infrastructure up to the Maunalani Nursing Home. They are replacing old and aging equipment. Their main concern in this project is the traffic problems that may occur. There will be some trenching that needs to be done. They may have to detour traffic away from the corned of Sierra Drive and Matsonia Road. They will not work on the roadway during peak traffic hours. All road work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, it will be very noisy. The jack hammering will take a few weeks and the entire project should take a few months. The Board of Water Supply also has a project up there.
SENATE BILL 673: Zoning; Performance Standards – Presented by Senator Les Ihara. The purpose of the bill is to address the problem of putting too many care homes in a very close area. They can cause problems with traffic and parking. Care homes can not be discriminated against because of federal law. Performance zoning will address the land use. The bill has already passed the senate. Next week will be the lateral deadline for the house. This would apply to any kind of an operation in a residential area. Smith commented that one of the things that performance zoning can do is to make certain restrictions like how many parking stalls need to be provided by the operation for their own use. Smith moved to support the resolution prepared by the board. Aye: Smith, Schneider, Yamada, Cater. Nay: Leong. Abstained: L.Tam, Carvalho, Meade. Motion was not adopted. 4-1-3.
ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s Representative: Jay Ishibashi reported: The administration unveiled the budget to the City Council and is looking at a $128 million shortfall. So far the shortfall has been trimmed down to $50 million. Some fees such as municipal golfing fees will be raised. Thirty cents per one thousand dollars will be the property tax increase. Hopefully the stimulus package from Obama will help. Carvalho asked why the City is always raising the taxes and hurting property owners. Ishibashi answered that the State has the GET tax but the City does not have much else but property taxes. The property tax will still be 60 cents cheaper per thousand than when this administration began.
City Councilmember Duke Bainum: Bainum stated that the stimulus is not for paying City workers. It is for construction and non-profits. It will not allow the City to stop the increase of property taxes. The budget is very sobering. The worst news is that the City is now $43 million short. The State is pondering a bill that would take away a GET tax and would balloon the shortfall to $100 million. Everyone is experiencing difficult times financially. Before Bill 6 should be passed there must be an agency created to regulate the vacation rentals; the proposal to create that agency is called Bill 8.
City Councilmember Charles Djou’s Representative: Dylan Nonaka passed out a report and highlighted: Djou is supporting the ban on handheld devices while driving. The number of general obligation bonds will not come down. L.Tam asked how much interest is being paid on those bonds. Bainum answered almost 19%. It is the children who will be paying off these bonds. The City still currently has a good bond rating. He is very concerned about the City’s long-range financial future.
Governor Linda Lingle’s Representative: Susan Jackson passed out a report and highlighted: The Council on Revenues needs to find another $90 million before the end of the fiscal year. The next two years look a little better. The State is following the stimulus package very closely. People are counting on it to be the magic bullet but it isn’t. It will have restrictions and a time-limit on the money. So far the stimulus package already is several hundred pages in length. It will provide low-interest loans to counties for their transit projects. Each department has been charged with following their areas of interest. Short form bills will be used to add things after the deadline. Governor Lingle left for Washington D.C. today with Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona for a meeting with Obama. Everyone wants to know how the Governor is going to close the budget deficit. The Governor is working with the legislature to do so. Jackson was asked if the Governor intends to use money from the rail transit fund to close the State deficit. She replied that the Governor has no public position on the issue.
State Senator Les Ihara (9th District): Senator Ihara passed out a report and highlighted that Smith testified on Senate Bill 673. There are some constitutional problems that stopped the bill last time. The current bill would authorize the counties to regulate care homes themselves. Schneider asked if someone wanted to build a house would they have to jump through all of these hoops. Ihara stated no, only building a care home should trigger these extra steps.
State Representative (House Speaker) Calvin K.Y. Say (20th District): No representative or report present.
Path Clinic: Presented by Julia Yoshimoto. The Path Clinic is a non-profit community clinic that specifically provides comprehensive prenatal clinical and social services to women with past or present substance abuse issues. It is located on 22nd Avenue in Kaimuki. They are funded by the State and other non-profits who have given them grants. The Path Clinic helps women from all over the island. If women cannot get there they will send a taxi to pick them up. No agency is given any information about any woman who comes there. It is all confidential. Last year they helped to deliver 49 babies and 47 of them were born clean. When a crack baby is born it could cost up to $200,000 of intensive care. If anybody has any questions you may get more information at www.pathclinic.org.
Maunalani Heights Facilities Improvement Project: Presented by Kendys Min, Community Relations Specialist, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). HECO is working on the existing infrastructure up to the Maunalani Nursing Home. They are replacing old and aging equipment. Their main concern in this project is the traffic problems that may occur. There will be some trenching that needs to be done. They may have to detour traffic away from the corned of Sierra Drive and Matsonia Road. They will not work on the roadway during peak traffic hours. All road work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, it will be very noisy. The jack hammering will take a few weeks and the entire project should take a few months. The Board of Water Supply also has a project up there.
SENATE BILL 673: Zoning; Performance Standards – Presented by Senator Les Ihara. The purpose of the bill is to address the problem of putting too many care homes in a very close area. They can cause problems with traffic and parking. Care homes can not be discriminated against because of federal law. Performance zoning will address the land use. The bill has already passed the senate. Next week will be the lateral deadline for the house. This would apply to any kind of an operation in a residential area. Smith commented that one of the things that performance zoning can do is to make certain restrictions like how many parking stalls need to be provided by the operation for their own use. Smith moved to support the resolution prepared by the board. Aye: Smith, Schneider, Yamada, Cater. Nay: Leong. Abstained: L.Tam, Carvalho, Meade. Motion was not adopted. 4-1-3.
ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s Representative: Jay Ishibashi reported: The administration unveiled the budget to the City Council and is looking at a $128 million shortfall. So far the shortfall has been trimmed down to $50 million. Some fees such as municipal golfing fees will be raised. Thirty cents per one thousand dollars will be the property tax increase. Hopefully the stimulus package from Obama will help. Carvalho asked why the City is always raising the taxes and hurting property owners. Ishibashi answered that the State has the GET tax but the City does not have much else but property taxes. The property tax will still be 60 cents cheaper per thousand than when this administration began.
City Councilmember Duke Bainum: Bainum stated that the stimulus is not for paying City workers. It is for construction and non-profits. It will not allow the City to stop the increase of property taxes. The budget is very sobering. The worst news is that the City is now $43 million short. The State is pondering a bill that would take away a GET tax and would balloon the shortfall to $100 million. Everyone is experiencing difficult times financially. Before Bill 6 should be passed there must be an agency created to regulate the vacation rentals; the proposal to create that agency is called Bill 8.
City Councilmember Charles Djou’s Representative: Dylan Nonaka passed out a report and highlighted: Djou is supporting the ban on handheld devices while driving. The number of general obligation bonds will not come down. L.Tam asked how much interest is being paid on those bonds. Bainum answered almost 19%. It is the children who will be paying off these bonds. The City still currently has a good bond rating. He is very concerned about the City’s long-range financial future.
Governor Linda Lingle’s Representative: Susan Jackson passed out a report and highlighted: The Council on Revenues needs to find another $90 million before the end of the fiscal year. The next two years look a little better. The State is following the stimulus package very closely. People are counting on it to be the magic bullet but it isn’t. It will have restrictions and a time-limit on the money. So far the stimulus package already is several hundred pages in length. It will provide low-interest loans to counties for their transit projects. Each department has been charged with following their areas of interest. Short form bills will be used to add things after the deadline. Governor Lingle left for Washington D.C. today with Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona for a meeting with Obama. Everyone wants to know how the Governor is going to close the budget deficit. The Governor is working with the legislature to do so. Jackson was asked if the Governor intends to use money from the rail transit fund to close the State deficit. She replied that the Governor has no public position on the issue.
State Senator Les Ihara (9th District): Senator Ihara passed out a report and highlighted that Smith testified on Senate Bill 673. There are some constitutional problems that stopped the bill last time. The current bill would authorize the counties to regulate care homes themselves. Schneider asked if someone wanted to build a house would they have to jump through all of these hoops. Ihara stated no, only building a care home should trigger these extra steps.
State Representative (House Speaker) Calvin K.Y. Say (20th District): No representative or report present.
State Representative Barbara Marumoto (19th
District): A report was circulated and Marumoto
highlighted: Last week was cross over day. If your bill did not cross over then
it may be considered dead. The House hopes to amend some senate bills. Marumoto
would like to ban the sale of Salvia to minors. It should be placed on the drug
classification list as a type 5 drug (This class includes psychedelics,
disassociatives, prescription sedatives, and cannabis.). There is a Senate bill
for controlled substances and hopefully it can be added to that bill. There is
also a bill being proposed that would make employers tell the Department of
Labor 60 days in advance if they are going to have
layoffs.
State Representative Scott Nishimoto (21st District): A report was circulated: No representative.
State Representative Lyla Berg (18th District): None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 18, 2009 REGULAR MEETING:
The February 18, 2009 regular meeting minutes were approved as circulated by unanimous consent (8-0-0) (Aye: Carvalho, Cater, Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, Tam, and Yamada).
TREASURER’S REPORT: The balance was reported as $2602.45.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Acting Chair Sharon Schneider announced the following:
State Representative Scott Nishimoto (21st District): A report was circulated: No representative.
State Representative Lyla Berg (18th District): None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 18, 2009 REGULAR MEETING:
The February 18, 2009 regular meeting minutes were approved as circulated by unanimous consent (8-0-0) (Aye: Carvalho, Cater, Leong, Meade, Schneider, Smith, Tam, and Yamada).
TREASURER’S REPORT: The balance was reported as $2602.45.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Acting Chair Sharon Schneider announced the following:
·
The next board meeting will be April 15,
2009.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
Submitted by:
John Lane, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by:
Vernon Tam, Chair
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
Submitted by:
John Lane, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by:
Vernon Tam, Chair
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