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Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source Neighborhood Commission Office
Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No.
4Kaimuki Neighborhood
Board No. 4
DRAFT REGULAR
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19,
2011
KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN
CHURCH
CALL
TO ORDER: Acting Chair Lyle Bullock called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
without quorum of four (4) members present. This 11-member Board requires
six (6) members to establish quorum and take official board
action.
Members
Present: Lyle Bullock, John Perez, Lisa Shorba (arrived at 7:05 p.m.),
Leonard Tam, Lori Yamada (arrived at 7:16 p.m.) and Jonathan
Young.
Members
Absent: Paul Hoe, Sharon Schneider and Vernon
Tam.
Guests:
Karen Yorimoto (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi’s Office staff), Lester Fung,
Glenn Y. Yamasaki, Gordon Tam; Sgt. A. Kurasaki and Officer M. Mitchell
(Honolulu Police Department), Bennett Chan, Candace Van Buren (Representative
Scott Nishimoto’s Office staff), Jacquelyn Chappel, Kathleen and Mamoru
Sato, Calvin Azama (Representative Calvin K.Y. Say’s Office staff),
Russell McGuire, Fred Martinez, Dan Sadler, Ian and Roungie Beattie, S. Sonota,
Firefighter Keola Young (Honolulu Fire Department), Allan Nakamura, Hunter
Kwietlowski, Tina Tao, Gail Urago, Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Daniel Yokoo
(KBPH), Gail Sugita, Buddy Bess, Abigail Leong, Tori Lee, Ron Lockwood
(McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8), Councilmember Stanley Chang, Lorna
Heller (Board of Water Supply), Senator Les Ihara, and Gloria J.P. Gaines
(Neighborhood Commission Office
staff).
At
7:05 p.m., Member Shorba arrived; five (5) members
present.
Acting
Chair Bullock announced due to the lack of quorum, the agenda was taken out of
order to hear the Public Safety
Reports.
PUBLIC
SAFETY
REPORTS:
Honolulu
Police Department (HPD) – Officer Mark Mitchell provided members with
a report and highlighted the
following:
·
Statistics for September 2011 – Included 17 burglaries, 43 thefts,
and 22 unauthorized entries to a motor vehicle.
·
Halloween Safety Tips – Tips for trick-or-treaters, parents, and
homeowners were also included in the packet.
·
Community Policing Team – Contact the community policing team and
neighborhood security watch by calling Officer Mitchell at 529-3628 or email at
mmithchell@honolulu.gov.
Honolulu
Fire Department (HFD) – Firefighter Keola Young reported the
following:
·
Statistics for September 2011 – Included 80 medical emergencies and
21 miscellaneous calls for service. There were no major or unusual incidents
reported.
· Fire
Prevention Week (FPW) – FPW is October 9th to 15th and the National
Fire Protection Association selected “Protect Your Family From Fire”
as its theme, focusing on keeping you, your family, and the community safe from
fire. In October 2011, children attending elementary schools statewide will
receive a Fire Fighter’s Safety Guide (FFSG) from their teachers. HFD
encourage parents to review the FFSG with their child, practice their fire
escape plan, test their smoke alarms, and consider the safety tips in the
guide.
·
Concern – Member Perez raised a concern about the number of propane
tanks allowed on a residential property. He knows of a resident with 40 propane
tanks on his property.
Board
of Water Supply (BWS) – Lorna Heller reported the
following:
· Main
Break – There were no main breaks to reports.
· Wildfire
Prevention and Watershed Protection – In the event of a wildfire, BWS
works closely with the HFD to provide efficient and reliable water service to
save lives and property. Wildfires devastate Oahu’s natural resources and
the watershed’s ability to collect rainwater and replenish ground water
supplies. BWS and HFD encourage residents to support wildfire prevention and
watershed protection activities in their communities. Practicing water
conservation will also assist in watershed protection by reducing the need to
use ground water essential for healthy watershed forests and stream
ecosystems.
PUBLIC
INPUT AND
CONCERNS:
Pu’u
O Kaimuki Mini Park – Member L. Tam provided members with a report
concerning the trees and plants drying out because of the broken irrigation
system at Pu`u O Kaimuki Mini Park. This item will be referred to the
Mayor’s report form with the attached report by Member L.
Tam.
Sierra
Drive Park – A resident raised a concern about the homeless
living in Sierra Drive Park making unsafe for the people who frequent the
park.
At
7:16 p.m., Member Yamada arrived; six (6) members present and quorum
established. The agenda resumed
order.
FILLING
OF TWO VACANT BOARD
SEATS:
Subdistrict
1 (East Kaimuki and Business District) – There were no
nominations or volunteers at this
time.
Subdistrict
3 (West Kaimuki) – Neighborhood Assistant Gaines verified Mr.
McGuire’s address to be in subdistrict 3. Russell McGuire introduced and
provided a brief background of himself. There being no other nominations,
by a show of hands, the MOTION FAILED, 5-0-1 (AYES: Bullock,
Perez, Shorba, Yamada, and Young; NAYS: None; ABSTENTIONS: L.
Tam). Acting Chair Bullock clarified the Board needs a quorum of six
votes to pass and due to the abstention, the motion failed. Mr. McGuire was
asked to return the next Board
meeting.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Update
on Harding and 12th Avenues – An evaluation study for the stoplight
requested at Harding and 12th Avenues is pending. As part of the evaluation, DTS
staff is currently canvassing the surrounding residents and
businesses.
Update
of Left Turn Lane at 5th and 11th Avenue – The left turn lane at 5th
Avenue will be completed by the end of October 2011.aving will be done this week
and striping next week. The 11th Avenue left turn project will begin November
2011. A community meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the
Kaimuki Recreation
Center.
Questions,
comments, and concerns
followed:
- 1. Concrete – Resident raised a concern about a
sharp piece of concrete sticking out from the sidewalk area posing a dangerous
situation on Kilauea Avenue near 16th Avenue.
- 2. Signs Knocked Down – Resident raised a
concern about signs knocked down by motorists and need to be erected on Kilauea
and 12th Avenue.
- 3. Overhanging Lights – A resident observed
motorists running the red light at the 8th and Waialae Avenue intersection and
suggested overhanging traffic signals, like the 9th and Waialae Avenue
intersection, may make it visible for motorists.
- 4. Lighting for Waialae Avenue – It was
suggested that additional street lighting is needed to enhance motorists’
visibility of the bike riders during the evening
hours.
NEW
BUSINESS:
Proposed
Bicycle Lanes, Waialae Avenue Rehabilitation, and Preliminary Report on
Traffic Study – DTS staff Kelly Cruz expressed the department’s
apologies to the businesses and residents for the inconvenience during the
traffic study for the proposed bike lane on Waialae Avenue from Tuesday,
September 20th to Thursday, September 22, 2011. One lane was coned to see if
Waialae Avenue is able to function with fewer lanes. Visual display of Waialae
Avenue indicated where the high traffic volume intersections occurred at
difference times of the day. The blue line indicated normal traffic, the yellow
line indicated the study, and pink was typical weekend traffic. The study
started from 11th Avenue to Sierra Road to Old Waialae Road. Some of their
findings included the
following:
Volume
Counts –
· 3rd
Avenue/Saint Louis High School Intersection – The Koko Head
bound traffic volume did not change during the morning peak traffic. The
afternoon peak traffic changed because there was no contra flow.
· 3rd
Avenue/Saint Louis High School Intersection – Ewa bound traffic
from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. peaked at 2,000 cars and is a concern of DTS. DTS
will be addressed this concern during the study.
· 5th and
Waialae Avenue – 5th Avenue is the “choke point” and
vehicles are backed up over the hill. DTS is concerned about the cars lining up
to McDonald’s Restaurant drive thru and blocking motorists from making
left turns.
·
Intersections Near Schools – The map also indicated where the
schools are located the traffic volume is high during the morning peak hours
from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
· Bicycle
Counts – During a 12-hour period from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. there
were 400 bicycles counted.
Questions,
comments, and concerns
followed:
1. Bike
Count – There was no differentiation made of the bikes riding on the
road or sidewalks. Also the bikes did not seem to conflict with the
motorists.
2. Harding
Avenue – The Harding Avenue Bike study was discussed as an alternate
route.
3. Diverted
Traffic – A comment was that the study does not show the traffic
diversion onto Harding Avenue.
4. Delay
Time – The volume count does not show the delay time.
5. Parking
Concerns – Businesses are concerned if street parking is taken away,
they lose customer business. The parking on the makai side is recessed parking.
Twenty-two parking stalls will be impacted. The mauka side of Waialae has the
three lanes.
6. Lost of
Lane – A comment was to find a solution for a bike lane without losing
a lane.
7. Bike
Safety – Buses are instructed to lightly tap their horn to inform bike
riders the bus is behind them.
8. Bike
Riders – Bikers present support bike lanes over sharrows. A resident
added that a three-day study is not long enough to determine whether Waialae is
able to function with four lanes. He also was concerned that the sharrows on
Date Street are too far apart and should be closer together for motorists to be
aware of bikers
ahead.
Director
Yoshioka summarized the study is not complete and the department is still
evaluating their findings from the study. The department will be evaluating the
parking which will be part of the study. The evaluation will also determine
whether the third lane can be sacrificed. Also, what would be the appropriate
alternative, whether it is bike lanes on both sides; or a bike lane on one side
and sharrows on the other side; or maybe sharrows on both sides? He also
reminded residents that bike riders have the right to be on the road; sharrows
are used to help enforce their rights. Director Yoshioka reassured that everyone
in the community will be involved in the process. Director Yoshioka has
contacted both the Palolo and Diamond Head Neighborhood Boards and will be
updating the Boards as information
develops.
At
this time a resident
stated
ELECTED
OFFICIALS:
Mayor
Peter Carlisle’s Representative – Tim Steinberg reported the
following:
·
Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) – The APEC conference
will be held on Oahu from Monday, November 7, to Sunday, November 13, 2011. APEC
is a 21-member association of economies from the Asia-Pacific region that will
be meeting here with United Stated President Barack Obama. Due to security
considerations, inconveniences are to be expected, especially traffic. For more
information visit the APEC 2011 website at
www.apec2011hawaii.com.
· Mau`umae
Nature Park Lookout – The City’s Department of Parks and
Recreation (DPR) is coordinating efforts to remove all large and small debris
from the Mau`umae Nature Park lookout area. This effort will take place during
the Saturday’s “Make a Difference Day” on October 22, 2011l,
an island wide clean up.
· Queen
Lili`uokalani School – The school site is being used by the Department
of Education for offices, which is a permitted as a public use. Such uses are
permitted in all zoning districts under the jurisdiction of the Land Use
Ordinance, Including Residential Districts.
· City
Debt – Member L. Tam raised a concern about how is the City planning
to pay its debt of over $5 million? Explained how bonds are borrowed at lower
interest rate which pays for the debt. Also that Mayor Peter Carlisle has put a
cap on the borrowed amount by the City.
Councilmember
Ann Kobayashi – Karin Yonemori provided members with a report and was
available for
questions.
Councilmember
Stanley Chang – Councilmember Chang provided members with a report and
highlighted the following:
·
City’s Outstanding Debt – Councilmember Chang provided
members with a copy of the City’s outstanding debt report.
· Upper
Maunalani Heights – Councilmember Chang is working with the
residents of upper Maunalani Height on a dog park.
· Bill
54 – This bill will allow the removal of stored items or private
property being stored on public sidewalks.
· Bill
55 – The noise ordinance was changed to both “produce and
reproducing” sounds and the distance was changed from 30 feet to 100 feet.
A motorcycle producing a loud sound and is now enforceable by HPD. If an HPD
officer hears the motorcycle within 100 feet he will be able to cite the
motorcycle rider.
· Water
Safety Bills – City Bills and resolutions will be presented to the
State Legislature as part of the packet of the Hawaii Association of
Counties.
· Disaster
Preparedness – A disaster preparedness workshop will be held on
Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Kaimuki Library at 2:00 p.m. More information is
available at the Kaimuki Library website.
· Blood
Drive – There will be a Blood Drive on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at
Kaimuki Christian Church from 7:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
· Totally
Against Grafitti (TAG) – Together with Councilmember Kobayashi and
community groups, there will be a TAG paint-over and clean up in the
McCully-Moiliili to Waikiki area on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Volunteers are
welcomed.
· City
Reapportionment – A map of Council District 4 indicated no changes to
the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board boundary areas. The 9th Avenue boundary remains
the same. A portion of Kapahulu will be added to the Council District
4.
· Resident
Concern – There will be no change to the penalty amounts. Change was
made to the kind of
noise.
Senator
Les Ihara – Senator Ihara reported the
following:
· 2012
Legislature – Next year’s legislative session will open the
third Wednesday of January, 2012. the State Senators had their first caucus and
will begin working the members of the State House of Representatives and the
State Administration to communicate more.
· Ethics
Issue – Senator Ihara is working on ethics issues and has met with the
Ethics Commission who reviews the legal interpretation of the law.
·
Webcast – A closed caption video stream may be required. There
would be an additional $150.00 per hour for a court reporter–like
technician to do the closed captioning. A software application for close
captions would not be able to interpret those giving testimonies. There are some
digital difficulties that need to be worked out with Oceanic TimeWarner Cable
before video streaming all hearings at the same time.
· State
Reapportionment – Senator Ihara’s district would extend to
Kahala Mall area and include the Marco Polo condominiums. St. Louis Heights will
no longer be with Palolo, and Kaimuki and will be with Manoa Valley. The lawsuit
pending concerns about 50,000 non-resident military not providing information of
where they live (due to the privacy). The Supreme Court will make their decision
addressing the non-resident military personnel who completed a census
report.
·
Broadband Issues – Consultants did a research on undersea cable
from the mainland and across the Pacific Ocean. A longer route to Hawaii under
the ocean would be expensive as well as the cost to repair if an undersea system
fails.
· State
Debt Service – Senator Ihara provided a report of the bonded debt of
the State of Hawaii of about $5 billion and less than 12 percent in debt
service.
Questions,
comments, and concerns
followed:
- 1. East-West Center – The East-West
Center is a federally funded international research and exchange center. Many
leaders of other countries were students of the East-West Center.
- 2. Helicopter Noise – Senator Ihara
stated he is aware of helicopters that are loud when flying over residential
areas of Maunalani Heights. Also, the State does not have jurisdiction over
federal
helicopters.
Representative
Calvin K.Y. Say – Calvin Azama provided members with a report
responding to questions regarding the outstanding debt of the State of Hawaii,
the annual debt service payments, and how much will the State borrow the rest of
the fiscal year. A chart was also attached to the
report.
Representative
Barbara Marumoto – Representative Marumoto reported the
following:
· State
Reapportionment – Kaimuki, Diamond Head and half of Kahala will no
longer be in Rep. Marumoto’s district. Aina Haina, Niu Valley, Kuliouou
and part of Hawaii Kai will be added to her district.
· Ethics
Commission – The Ethics Commission sets the guidelines for
legislators. Such as whether or not a legislator may attend a fund raiser event
for a local private school. Also reminded residents that they are welcomed to
bring up issues with the Ethics
Commission.
Representative
Scott Nishimoto – A representative or report was not
available.
Representative
Mark Hashem – A representative or report was not
available.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Yamada moved and Perez seconded that the Kaimuki Neighborhood
Board No. 32 approved the regular meeting minutes of September 21, 2011 as
corrected. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED, 6-0-0 (AYES: Bullock, Perez, Shorba, L.
Tam, Yamada, and Young; NAYS: None; ABSTENTIONS: None). The
corrections were as follows:
· On Page 1,
under Members Present, correct Member Bullock’s first name to read,
“Lyle” not “Kyle”.
· On Page 3,
under Preliminary Results, line 2, correct DTS Director’s name to read
“Yoshioka” not “Yoshioko”.
· On Page 3,
under Drug Houses in Community, How Can You Help, the correct word should be
“intolerant” not
“tolerant”.
ANNOUNCMENTS:
The next Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 meeting will be Wednesday, November
16,
2011.
Submitted
By: Gloria J.P. Gaines, Neighborhood
Assistant
Reviewed
By: Lyle Bullock, Acting
Chair
V. Tam, Chair |
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