Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for April 16th, 2011 Meeting

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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for April 16th, 2011 Meeting
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Next meeting is 5/18/2011 - Read the agenda. . Click here.

Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source Neighborhood Commission Office

Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 DRAFT MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2011
QUEEN LILI`UOKALANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Vernon Tam called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m. with a quorum of nine (9) members present. Note – This 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish quorum and take official Board action.

Members Present: John Cater, Daniele Carvalho, Paul Hoe, Ginny Meade, John Perez, Sharon Schneider, Leonard Tam, Vernon Tam, and Lori Yamada.

Members Absent: Abigail Leong.

Vacancy: There is one seat vacant in sub district 2.

Guests: Leon Kau, Mr. Elwood, Jadine Lee. Lydia Chock (Leahi Hospital), Karen Yorimoto (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi’s Office staff), Lt. Carl Thorstad, Sgt. A. Kawasaki, and Officer Mark Mitchell (Honolulu Police Department), Lisa Shorba, Gordon Tam, Lyle Bullock, Candace Van Buren (Representative Scott Nichimoto’s Office staff), Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply), Trevor Ozawa (Councilmember Stanley Chang’s Office staff, and Gloria Gaines (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

FILLING OF VACANT BOARD SEATS: Chair Tam announced that due to an error in the printing of last month’s agenda, Lyle Bullock could not officially fill the seat left vacant in Subdistrict 2. Chair Tom asked if there was anyone else interested in filling the vacant seat. Since there was none, Bullock shared his qualifications and resume with the Board. Bullock maintained his interest in filling the seat.

A motion to accept Lyle Bullock as a Board member to fill a vacant position in Sub District 2 was ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0-0 (Aye: Cater, Carvalho, Hoe, Meade, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam and Yamada) Chair Tam welcomed Lyle Bullock to the Board to fill vacancy in Sub District 2.

A short recess was taken to administer the Oath of Office to Lyle Bullock; ten members present.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS: (Limited to 3 minutes each)

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): Lt. Carl Thorstad reported the following:

· April 2011 Statistics: Included 24 burglaries, 42 thefts, 22 unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle (UEMV) for a total of 88 calls.

· Safety Tips: With regard to scams, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Especially in the sweepstakes scam, a stranger will call and claim they represent a lottery or contest organization. The caller will say that you have won the sweepstakes and may claim your prize money. However, before you can claim your prize money, the caller will tell you that you have to pay for the taxes on the prize, usually around $3,000. While paying $3,000 to get a much larger prize sounds like a great deal, it’s not. It’s a scam.

Questions, concerns and comments that followed:

There was concern over the larger report. Lt. Thorstad explained that the larger report was a standardized report that detailed the monthly statistics that were reported on. There is no cause for alarm.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): No representative present; no report.

Board of Water (BWS): Lorna Heller reported the following:

Water System Improvement Projects: Which Mains to Replace and When? Much of Oahu’s waterlines are nearing their life expectancy – over 40 percent of BWS waterlines are 30 to 60 years old. The Board of Water Supply (BWS) must prioritize and implement projects to systematically replace aging pipes. To do this, the BWS analyzes information collected on the water system and prioritizes its pipeline replacement projects based on four factors.

· Condition assessment: Analyzing data such as main break records, pipe age and material, soil type, health, and other conditions helps determine which pipe segments have a high probability of failure.

· Fire protection improvement: The BWS puts priority on waterline projects that enhance fire protection for a community through increased water pressure, enlarging pipe size, or adding more hydrants.

· Public Impact: Priority is given to projects that replace pipelines where breaks would have a large impact on residents, businesses, or major traffic routes. Also, pipeline servicing customers that provide essential services (such as hospitals) or serve large numbers of people are also given higher priority.

· Project Coordination: Priority is given to waterline replacement projects that can be combined with a project by other utilities the City or State. This would reduce the project’s overall impact on residents or motorists.

The BWS recognizes the impact water system improvement projects have on the community. However, with a systematic and prioritized pipeline replacement program, the BWS aims to reduce the number of emergency repairs and ensure a continued safe and dependable water supply for customers. For more information about ongoing construction projects, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

Questions, comments, and concerns that followed:

1. Sewage Fees: There was a question as to the connection between water usage and sewage charges. Board member is asking why there are charges for wastewater when the sewage use is practically non-existent. Heller will find out if there is a relationship between sewage usage and water bill charges. Answer may be one that can be referred to wastewater sewage department.

2. Sinking of Roadways: There was construction by BWS about two years ago in the area of Wilhelmina Rise/Pukalani and Anuhea Streets. Between that time and now, sinkholes have begun to form. When will BWS be able to get to these problem areas. Heller will check on the status of work and report back directly to the resident with the questions.

PUBLIC INPUT AND CONCERNS: None.

OLD BUSINESS:

Request for Traffic Light at Harding and 12th Avenues: Chair Tom seeing no representative from the Department of Traffic Safety to report on this matter will defer the issue until further date.

Proposed Queen Liliuokalani School Closure: Chair Tom requested that this issue remain on the agenda although there was no added information at this time. If in case the Board needed to address this subject the matter will be deferred until further information becomes available.

NEW BUSINESS:

Alternate Board Meeting Site to be Considered Queen Liliuokalani Cafetorium will be Unavailable After June 30, 2011: Again, this issue will remain on the agenda because the Board had been given a letter and Chair Tom received a letter from the Principal of Queen Liliuokalani. Chair Tom spoke to the regional director and checked on the availability of the cafeteria after June 1^st. Chair Tom has made an application for the use of facilities at Liholiho school. Other option is the Kaimuki Christian Church.

Board member L. Tam moved and was seconded by Board member Perez that the Board accept Kaimuki Christian Church’s offer as the new meeting area. Discussion followed.

A motion was made to accept the Kaimuki Christian Church’s offer to be the next meeting site. Motion FAILED 4-2-4 (Aye: Carvalho, Hoe, Perez, and L. Tam; Nay: Bullock and Schneider; Abstain: Cater, Meade, V. Tam and Yamada.)

Chair Tom would follow-up on the options and find out about using the public library for discussion at the next meeting.

S.B. 900, S.D. 2, H.D 2 – Relating to Homelessness. Proposes use of unused State facilities (e.g., the Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School Site that is slated for closure) as safe havens for the homeless; includes construction of facilities for sleeping, bathing, washing machines, dryers, restrooms, and lockers, as well as accommodation for a maximum of one pet.

Chair Tom asked for Board members refer to additional information mailed out with their agenda Discussion regarding concerns from the community followed. There were security issues and concern about safety of children in the area at early hours. One Board member made a point that the issue seemed moot because the bill had already been written. The issue was purposely kept alive to provoke discussion. No indications as to how the transformation of the school was to take place, or no set requisites when homeless can stay in the area.

Meade made a motion to adopt a resolution to concur with the opinions of “Partners in Care” which are in opposition to this bill, S.B.900. S.D. 2. H.D. 2. Schneider seconded the motion. The motion was ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 10-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Cater, Carvalho, Hoe, Meade, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, and Yamada.

ELECTED OFFICIALS: (Limited to 3 minutes each)

Mayor Peter Carlisle’s Representative: Representative not present. Report deferred until the next meeting.

City Councilmember Ann Kobayashi: Newsletter made available and Karen Yorimoto was present to report
that although the Councilmember was busy with hearings this evening. Yorimoto would take back any questions to be addressed by the Councilmember at the next meeting.

Questions, concerns and comments that followed:

Funding for Rail: A resident asked what is the Councilmember’s position on floating $2 billion of bonds in the rail project? He also asked this question to Councilmember Chang’s Office.

City Councilmember Stanley Chang: Trevor Ozawa reported that Councilmember Chang does not support floating $2 billion in bonds to fund a rail project that the people’s faith is failing in the project. His main concern is the public’s lose of faith.

Mauna Lani Park: Wanted to share the issue at Mauna Lani Park. Meeting with Director Gary Cabato of the Department of Parks and Recreation, where the issue creating a dog park. Board member Schneider clarified that she hadn’t asked about a dog park, but to allow dogs to be brought onto the park grounds.’

Gas Taxes: Councilmember Chang realizes that it is tough to survive, however, it costs money to use gas and he believes in trying to be reactive and by administration charging these fees, public can expect more.

State Senator Les Ihara (9th District): No representative; no report filed.

State Representative (House Speaker) Calvin K.Y. Say (20th District): No representative; no report filed.

State Representative Barbara Marumoto (19th District): No representative; no report filed. 
State Representative Scott Nishimoto (21st District): No representative; no report filed.

State Representative Mark Hashem (18th District): Representative Mark Hashem was present and reported that he just got out of budget hearings and apologized, speaking for the rest of the legislators who were most likely in hearings like himself. He stated that the bill that was discussed on homelessness that was discussed earlier in tonight’s meeting passed the House. Any bill that needs any funding has a slim chance of surviving.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 16, 2011 MEETING: There being no objections or corrections, Perez moved, Hoe seconded and the Board ADOPTED the regular meeting minutes of March 16, 2011, 10-0-0 (Ayes: Bullock, Cater, Carvalho, Hoe, Leong, Meade, Perez, L. Tam, V. Tam, and Yamada).

TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Yamada reported for the month of March 2011 that there was a previous balance of $1076.10, operating costs totaled $50.20 leaving a balance of $1025.90 remaining in the budget. Treasurer’s report was filed.

Chair Tom announced that the budget doesn’t allow for a newsletter so there will be no discussion for this term and the Board will discuss in the new term once the budget is set.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• The next meeting: of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 04 will be Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School Cafeteria.

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Submitted by Aisha Wang
Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by Vernon Tam
Chair

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

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