Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting November 2017 Minutes

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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting November 2017 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 1/17/2018.

With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017
KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH, FELLOWSHIP HALL

CALL TO ORDER - Chair Sharon Schneider called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. A quorum was established with 10 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, Mark Hagadone, Paul Hoe, Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, Sharon Schneider, Molly Pierce, Brian Kang, Lori Yamada and Calvin Hara.

Board Members Absent - none

Guests - Captain Jay Shimabuku (Honolulu Fire Department); Director Mark Wong, Department of Information Technology (Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative); Councilmember Trevor Ozawa, Kenny Amazaki and Karen Yorimoto (Councilmember Trevor Ozawa's Office); James Larson (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi's Office); Representative Bertrand Kobayashi; Speaker Emeritus Calvin Say; Senator Les Ihara Jr.; Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Deputy Director Leonard Hoshijo (Department of Labor and Industrial Relations); Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Eric McCutcheon, Julian Allen and Elwood (Residents); Anela Kekoolani (Neighborhood Commission Office).

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Captain Jay Shimabuku reported the following:
• October 2017 Statistics: There were 1 structure fire, 1 nuisance fire, 8 activated alarms (no fire), 66 medical emergencies, 1 motor vehicle collision with pedestrian, 1 motor vehicle crash/collision, 3 mountain rescues and 1 hazardous material incident.
• Fire Safety Tip: Cooking Safety - Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity, and can be relaxing. However, cooking fires are the number one (1) cause of home fires and home injuries. By following a few tips, you can prevent these fires:
o Caution - Cook with caution. Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove or stovetop.
o Placement - Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking.
o Flammable Materials - Keep anything that can catch fire, including oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, and towels away from the stovetop.
o Children - Keep children at least three (3) feet away from the stove.
o Fire Handling - If you have a small grease fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
o Evacuation - If you have any doubt about extinguishing a small fire, get out of the house and call 911. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
o Turkey Fryers - With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the HFD discourages the use of turkey fryers. Turkey fryer usage can lead to devastating burns and injuries and destroy property due to the large amount and high temperature of oil being used.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) - Lorna Heller reported the following:
• Main Break - There was one (1) main break on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 5115 Maunalani Circle.
• November, 2017 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Scenarios - As mentioned last month, the BWS is developing a long-term Financial Plan and Water Rate Study. A key element is our 30-Year CIP. With the Water Master Plan we completed last year as its foundation, the CIP identifies the timing and costs of projects needed to keep the water system healthy. Over the past few months, we have evaluated a number of CIP scenarios whose main difference is how much and how fast to replace our 2,100 miles of pipelines. The Water Master Plan recommends replacing about 1% of the system, or 21 miles of pipe, each and every year. Current replacement is about six (6) miles per year. The number of main breaks on Oahu is about the national average for a system of this size. But, if the rate of pipe replacement does not increase, main breaks will increase substantially in the future. At its September, 2017 meeting, the BWS Board provided guidance for pipeline replacement, recommending that we should be "as aggressive as possible without being unrealistic." This means gradually increasing the rate of pipeline replacement to about 21 miles per year over the next decade or so. Paying for this increase, and the impact on customer's water rates, are the subjects of our long-term Financial Plan and Water Rate Study. We expect the BWS Board to consider adoption of the long-term Financial Plan at the end of this year. New water rates will be considered by our Board in the summer of 2018. The soonest new rates would go into effect is 2019. Water rates fund the replacement of Oahu's water infrastructure, as well as day to day maintenance of the system to meet BWS's operational requirements and to ensure system reliability. With full commitment to an open and transparent process, the BWS has been meeting with our Stakeholder Advisory Group since 2015. All of their meetings, and also our Board meetings will be shown on Olelo. Meeting locations, dates and times, are posted on our website at www.boardofwatersupply.com. Also on the website is a new survey so you can provide us with your opinions about important issues for the financial plan and water rate study. I encourage you to take it, and also tell your friends and family. Again, our website is www.boardofwatersupply.com.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Construction - Hagadone stated that BWS is doing construction on his street to replace and add new fire hydrants and this construction is causing major parking problems.
2. Informed - Chair Schneider stated that there will be construction on the street she lives on as well to fix and add fire hydrants. Chair Schneider asked if the residents can be informed of where these fire hydrants will be placed ahead of time.
3. Who to Contact - Hagadone asked who to contact to talk to about where these fire hydrants will be placed.

FILLING OF VACANT BOARD SEATS - There is one (1) vacancy in Sub-District 3, West Kaimuki. No applicants for this vacancy.

PUBLIC INPUT

Crane Park - An email was sent to Chair Schneider regarding homeless in Crane Park. Chair Schneider responded to the email to let the resident know that Crane Park is in the Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No. 5 district and forwarded the email to the Chair of that Board.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative - Director Mark Wong, Department of Information Technology (DIT) reported the following:
• Parking Meters - Hoe asked if parking meters will be replaced after Kaimuki Municipal Parking Lot #2 is resurfaced. Department of Transportation Services (DTS) responded, the existing parking meters will be reinstalled upon the completion of the resurfacing of the Kaimuki Municipal Parking Lot #2.
• Cars Not Moving - On Anuhea Street between 16th Avenue and Wilhelmina Rise there is only enough room for one car to get by at a time forcing cars to move over and wait. A lot of cars will not move over to let the car with the right of way pass by forcing cars to skim pass each other with little to no room almost causing accidents. Cars are speeding down this road with not enough time to move over and there is a huge blind spot which can cause a head on collision. DTS will be conducting an investigation, which may require research, site observations, and an analysis of the traffic history. The board will be informed of the results the investigation by February 2018.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Crime Spike - Chair Schneider stated that there has been a spike in crime on Wilhelmina Drive and wonders if this is a fluke or a trend.
2. Park Rangers - Hagadone asked if the Board can get information on volunteering to patrol parks after hours.
3. Kapalono Park Lights - There is an ongoing problem with the lights not coming on at night at Kapalono Park. The Board would like an update.
4. Overgrown Lawn - There is a vacant lot that at the end of Bethshan Road in the Kaimuki area that is overgrown with weeds and is encroaching onto the property located at 3641 Bethshan Road. The homeowner reports that the vacant lot is under ownership of the City and County and would like workers to clear the overgrowth in the lot.
5. Fallen Student - A student in a wheelchair and service dog fell over due to a curve in the sidewalk on Kiluea Avenue and 18th Avenue. The resident wants to know who to contact to get this curb fixed.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi - James Larson circulated a newsletter and reported the following:
• Request for investigation and Service Report (RISR) - Larson suggested to residents that if they have City issues to call their office and submit a RISR.

Councilmember Trevor Ozawa - Councilmember Ozawa reported the following:
• Bill 94 - Bill 94 establishes a moratorium on issuing building permits for the development of large residential structures in residential zoning districts. No building permit applications may be accepted and no building permits may be issued by Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) for a new large detachable dwelling.
• Purpose - The purpose of Bill 94 is to provide the City Administration, the Planning Commission, and the Council sufficient time to explore and evaluate the rapidly increasing rate of development of large detached dwellings in residential districts. It also allows time to determine what permanent regulatory controls are necessary and reasonable to address this issue. This will be heard in the Committee on Zoning and Housing meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.
• Bill 100 - Bill 100 creates a new property tax class for High Density homes. High Density Residential homes are properties that have heights greater than 20 feet, the size of the home is larger than 45% of the land it sits upon and is zoned R-7.5, R-10, or R-20.
• Resolution 17-276 - Resolution 17-276 which limits the number of bedrooms and wetbars in homes and requires more parking be provided by the property owner for large residential homes.
• Kaimuki Parking Lot - Councilmember Ozawa stated he did not know what is going on with Parking Lot #2. Department of Design and Construction (DDC) stated they released the funds but have not started construction.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Involvement - Hagadone asked why only City Council is getting involved with these monster homes and not the State/Legislation. Zoning is more of a City issue.
2. Bill 94 - Gardner asked how Bill 94 squares with construction of an ADU.
3. Height Issue ??? Pierce asked if DPP is measuring the height of a house and it is on a slope where do they take the measurements. Amazaki responded that the home is measured at every point.
4. Kapalono Park - Board Members asked about the lights at Kapalono park. The lights have been on for seven (7) years and now the lights are off. The Board Members reached out to Kathy Cho at Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in an email and Cho responded back telling the Board Member that she is not in charge of that and just dismissed the Board Members without any referrals. Councilmember Ozawa apologized and said he will personally look into Cho.
5. Christmas Tree - Board Members were concerned that the Christmas Tree at the park above Kaimuki Fire station would not be lit this year.
6. Speed Up Projects - Hara asked if there was a way to speed up projects because it seems like it takes years to complete a project and that is hard to complete in a four (4) year council term.
7. Neglected Park - Chair Schneider stated that Mayor Caldwell has been talking about park improvements but has not mentioned Kaimuki Park. Yamada stated that Mayor Caldwell use to be a Board Member of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board.

Governor Ige's Representative - A newsletter was circulated and Deputy Director Leonard Hoshijo of Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) reported the following:
• Roadway Improvements - Governor Ige and the State Department of Transportation (HDOT) are delivering the promise to improve roadways, launch major modernization projects for harbors and airports and maximize federal dollars to help communities statewide.
• Transportation Accomplishments - So far the accomplishments that Governor Ige's administration has made in transportation are:
o Finished more highway projects for easier commutes
o Reduce federal "pipeline" backlog
o Solidified HDOT's federal-state partnership
o Launched the long-awaited Honolulu Harbor modernization project
o Moved airport modernization forward
• Unemployment - The unemployment rate went down by 2.2%
• Gas Tax - Gas Tax will be going up.
• Homeless - The point in time count showed that the number of homeless has gone down.
• Low Income Housing - The State is working on low income housing but they need help with funding from the feds.
• Highway Project Maps - You can view the highway project map at www.hidot.hawaii.gov.

Senator Stanley Chang - A representative was not present; a handout was provided.
Senator Les Ihara Junior - Senator Ihara reported the following:
• Judges - The State approved four (4) judges so there is no need to go back into special session.
• Kapuna Program - Senator Ihara encourages residents to take advantage of the new Kapuna program.

Representative Calvin K.Y. Say - A newsletter was circulated and Representative Say reported the following:
• Crane Park - Representative Say stated that he got the email from the resident about the homeless in Crane Park and contacted the State Homeless Coordinator.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi - A newsletter was circulated and Representative Kobayashi reported the following:
• Open Enrollment - Hawaii Insurance Commissioner clarifies issues related to open enrollment period of Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual market. Open Enrollment is only for six (6) weeks from Wednesday, November 6, 2017 to Thursday, December 15, 2017.
• Diamond Head - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks announces updated full closure days and half-day closure dates for a continuing project to remove rockfall hazards along the Diamond Head State Monument summit trail.

Hawaii Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa - A representative was not present; a handout was provided.
NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Approval of Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Regular Meeting Minutes - Hoe moved and Hagadone seconded that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 the Wednesday, October 18, 2017, regular meeting minutes were APPROVED, by UNANIMOUS consent, 10-0-0 (AYE: Gardner, Hagadone, Hoe, Kang, Moniz-Kahoohanohano, Schneider, Pierce, Ross, Yamada and Hara; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: None).

REPORTS

Treasurer's Report - Total monthly expenditures were $25.91 and the remaining balance is $329.25. The report was filed.

Members Attendance at Other Meetings - Hagadone attended the Air B and B meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Small Business Saturdays - Kaimuki Business and Professional Association (KBPA) and EnVision Kaimuki are supporting Small Business Saturday on November 25, 2017. Information will be at Kaimuki Park along with some entertainment. There will be valet parking at Liliu'okalani School, Kaimuki High School and at the Honolulu Board of Realtors (HBR) parking lot on 12th Avenue and a trolley circulating from KokoHead to Kaimuki High School from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Reminder - the Kaimuki Christmas Parade will be on Thursday, December 7, 2017 starting at 6:00 p.m.
• Next Meeting - This board will recess for December and the next regular Board Meeting will be Wednesday, January 17, 2018, Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall 7:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.

Submitted by: Anela Kekoolani, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Aran Wilson, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Sharon Schneider, Board Chair

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