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  • Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting August 2017 Minutes

With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office
DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017
KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH, FELLOWSHIP HALL

CALL TO ORDER - Chair Pro Tem Sharon Schneider called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. A quorum was established with 8 members present. Note: This 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present - Becky Gardner, Walt Ross, Molly Pierce, Mark Hagadone, Paul Hoe, Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano (arrived at 8:00 p.m.), Sharon Schneider, Calvin Hara, Brian Kang, Lori Yamada (arrived at 7:10 p.m.) and Will Kokolus (appointed at this meeting.)

Board Members Absent - none

Guests - Sergeant Clifford Ramson and Jacob Bower (Honolulu Police Department); Captain Regienaldo Gawiron (Honolulu Fire Department); Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Karen Yorimoto (Councilmember Trevor Ozawa's Office); Representative Calvin Say; Senator Les Ihara Jr.; Steven Uyeno (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi; Cameron Sato (Senator Stanley Chang's Office); Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); and Anela Kekoolani (Neighborhood Commission Office).

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Captain Regienaldo Gawiron reported the following:
• July 2017 Statistics: There were 1 wildland/brush fire, 1 nuisance fire, 6 activated alarms (no fire), 76 medical emergencies, 2 motor vehicle crash/collision, and 6 mountain rescues.
• Fire Safety Tip: Grilling Safety - Each year a national average of 8,900 home fires are grilling-related and almost half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. Follow these simple tips for safe grilling:
o Propane and charcoal barbeque grills should only be used outdoors.
o Grills should be placed well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
o Keep children and pets at least three (3) feet away from the grill area.
o Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup.
o Never leave your grill unattended.
o Ensure that the gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
• Charcoal Grills:
o Charcoal chimney starters allow you to light the charcoal using newspaper as fuel.
o If you use a starter fluid, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add any other flammable liquids to the fire.
o Keep charcoal fluid out of children's reach and away from heat sources.
o After grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing it in a metal container.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) - Sergeant Clifford Ramson reported the following:
• July 2017 Statistics: There were 7 motor vehicle thefts, 22 burglaries, 29 thefts, 13 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV) and 6,613 total calls for service.
• Safety Tip: A handout was passed out on Hurricane Preparedness.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Calls for Service - Ross asked what calls for service meant and is 6,000+ calls for service normal. Sergeant Ramson responded that calls for service is anything that is a non-criminal case and district seven (7) is a big district so that number is average.

At 7:10 p.m. Board Member Yamada arrives; there are now 9 members present.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) - Lorna Heller circulated a handout and reported the following:
• Main Break - There was a six (6) inch main break on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 on 10th avenue. The pipe was installed in 1935.
• Summer Water Conservation - With the hot summer months upon us, home water consumption typically rises. That is why the BWS is reminding all residents to be vigilant and avoid wasting water. There are a few simple things you can do to save water:
o Check for property leaks
o Avoid watering lawns between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
o Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Park Bench - Chair Schneider asked if a park bench can be placed at Maunalani Park near the reservoir that BWS is currently working on. Heller states that might be through Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) but she will check.

FILLING OF VACANT BOARD SEAT

Chair Schneider opened the floor to volunteers for the vacancy

Will Kokolus volunteered to be a Kaimuki Neighborhood No. 4 Board Member. Seeing no objections by UNANIMOUS CONSENT WILL KOKOLUS JOINS THE KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO.4 9-0-0 (AYE: Gardner, Hagadone, Hara, Hoe, Kang, Schneider, Yamada, Ross and Pierce; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: None).

A RECESS WAS CALLED AT 7:20 FOR WILL KOKOLUS TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. THERE ARE NOW 10 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative - A representative was not present.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi - Steve Ueno circulated a newsletter and reported the following:
• Resolution - Councilmember Kobayashi is putting forth a resolution urging the City administration to provide an update of the 2005 residential fire safety advisory committee report.
• Bill for Ordinance - Bill 67 (2017) the purpose of this ordinance is to address fire safety. More specifically, this ordinance requires existing high-rise residential buildings to retrofit when necessary to comply with specified fire safety standards.

Councilmember Trevor Ozawa - Karen Yorimoto reported the following:
• Resolution ??? Resolution 17-198 is urging the director of Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) to increase enforcement and propose any modifications to the department's administrative rules or legislation the director deems necessary to address the problem of the illegal use of large residential structures in residential zoning districts.
• Testimony - The councilmember encourages constitutes to participate by submitting written testimony and/or testify in person when the measure is heard. Councilmember Ozawa is hopeful that it will be placed on the next Zoning and Housing agenda.

Senator Stanley Chang - Cameron Sato distributed a handout and reported the following:
• Welcomed - Sato congratulated and welcomed all the new board members.
• Kanewai Springs - On Wednesday, July 12, 2017 the trust for public land and the maunalua fishpond heritage center announced the completion of a challenging seven (7) year effort to preserve Kanewai Spring. Kanewai Spring lies in at the base of Paiko Ridge in Kuliouou, where water from the ridge percolates into the aquifer traveling underneath the highway, and surfaces at the spring.
• Multi-Family Dwelling - Senator Chang's office has been receiving a lot of calls about the illegal multi-family dwelling units. DPP went to one of the homes that was reported and when speaking to the home owner they just lied and said it was family. There is no way for DPP to prove this either.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Kanewai Spring - Yamada asked if who owns Kanewai Springs. Kanewai Spring is owned by the maunalua fishpond heritage center.
2. State Level - Chair Schneider asked what the Senator can do at a State level about these multi-dwelling homes.
3. Parking - Pierce asked if there is a requirement of a certain number of parking spots per bedroom. Parking is a big issue in the Kaimuki area.

Representative Calvin K.Y. Say - A handout was passed out and Representative Say reported the following:
• Multi-Unit Homes - There is a multi-unit home on Harding Avenue that is being looked at.
• Abandoned Vehicles - There has been an increase in the number of abandoned cars.
• Traffic Light - A resident contacted Representative Say's office about a stop light that has been added on 7th avenue and Harding. Representative Say is questioning why another stop light was added and why was no one informed about this light.
• Sidewalk - Residents were concerned with the sidewalks on Koko Head Avenue after falling. Representative Say contacted Councilmember Ozawa's office who worked with Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) in putting up risers.
• Over Grown Grass - Over grown grass on 11th Avenue and Harding Avenue has been cut.
??? Palolo Pool - The Palolo Pool is now reopened.

Senator Les Ihara Junior - Senator Ihara reported the following:
??? Special Session - Special session will happen from Monday, August 28, 2017 - Friday, September 1, 2017. There needs to be two-thirds (2/3) signatures from the House and the Senate for the GET extension.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. History - Gardner asked the history of proposal transportation surcharge to pay for Rail.
2. Audit - Hagadone stated that there should be an audit done before special session. Hagadone also asked if any federal money will be put into Rail.
3. GET - A resident asked if the GET is extended to 2031 is that guaranteed going to be enough money.

Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano arrived at 8:07 p.m.; there are now 11 board members present.

OLD BOARD BUSINESS

Red Hill Resolution Brought Forward by Sierra Club - Jodi Malinoski circulated handouts and reported the following:
• Red Hill Tanks: The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage issue was discussed. Red Hill is a mountain ridge located between the ahupua'a of Halawa and Moanalua in the Ewa district of O'ahu. For more than 70 years the United States Navy has stored fuel inside the ridge 100 feet above O'ahu's primary drinking water supply. In that time, at least 200,000 gallons of jet fuel has leaked into the environment. The last known leak occurred in January 2014, when 27,000 gallons of fuel was released from a tank. This leak resulted in the retirement of the tank and a 20-year agreement, known as the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) between the U.S. Navy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Hawai'i Department of Health to study and monitor the storage facility. Malinoski expressed the concern of the Sierra Club that the AOC does not go far enough in preventing future leaks and cleaning up the fuel. The Sierra Club sent out a draft resolution to all Neighborhood Boards whose communities will be affected by the tanks at Red Hill.

Discussion: The Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No.4 discussed the resolution brought forth by the Sierra Club but could not agree on the exact wording. The Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No.4 supports the resolution but decided to form a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) to further discuss the resolution and to present a resolution with the correct wording at the next regular meeting.

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Appointment of Becky Gardner to the EnVision Kaimuki Committee - Chair Schneider appointed Gardner to the EnVision Kaimuki Committee.

Formation of a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) to respond with comments for the 2018 Neighborhood Plan Comprehensive Review - A PIG was formed consisting of Board Members Gardner, Pierce, and Ross.
Approval of the Wednesday, June 21, 2017 Regular Meeting Minutes: Hoe moved and Kang seconded that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 the Wednesday, June 21, 2017, regular meeting minutes were APPROVED, by UNANIMOUS consent, 11-0-0 (AYE: Gardner, Hagadone, Hoe, Moniz-Kahoohanohano, Kang, Schneider, Yamada, Ross, Pierce and Hara; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: None).

The Red Hill resolution that was attached to mail out is only a draft.

REPORTS

Treasurer's Report - Kang reported a remaining balance of $459.The report was filed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 will be Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at the Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1117 Koko Head Avenue.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

Submitted by: Anela Kekoolani, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Sultan White, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Sharon Schneider, Board Chair Pro Tem

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