Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for October 19, 2011 Meeting

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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for October 19, 2011 Meeting
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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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