Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for July 20th, 2011 Meeting

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item
Powered by MBC NewsMaker
Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for July 20th, 2011 Meeting
Tweet

Next meeting is 8/17/2011 - Read the agenda. . Click here.

Courtesy of Neighborhood Commission Office
Source Neighborhood Commission Office

Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4

DRAFT – INTITIAL CONVENING MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011
KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Tam called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. without a quorum of five (5) members present. NOTE - This 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish quorum and take official Board action.

Members Present: Lyle Bullock, Paul Hoe (appointed this evening), John Perez, Sharon Schneider (arrived at 7:06 p.m.), Leonard Tam (arrived at 7:03 p.m.), Vernon Tam, Lori Yamada (arrived at 7:06), and Paul Young.

Members Absent: Lisa Shorba.

Vacancies: There is one vacancy in Subdistrict 3.

Guests: Firefighter Kani Dougan (Honolulu Fire Department), Lieutenant Carl Thorstad and Officer Allen Ishida (Honolulu Police Department), Councilmember Ann Kobayashi and Karen Yorimoto (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi's Office staff), Councilmember Stanley Chang and Steve Uyeno (Councilmember Stanley Chang's Office staff), Representative Calvin Say, Senator Les Ihara Jr., Tim Steinberger (Director, Department of Environmental Services/Mayor's Representative), Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply), Freida Menezes, Leon Kau, Lydia Chock, Keoni Mattos, Mike McFarlane, Gordon Tam, Elwood, Marumoto, Abigail Leong, Catherine Hughes, J. Sunoda, Paul Hoe, and Aisha Wang (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

7:03 Board member L. Tam arrived; quorum not established with five (5) members present.

7:06 p.m. Board members Schneider arrived; quorum established with six (6) members present.

The agenda was taken out of order to fill the vacancy. Paul Hoe who was a board member last term did not run in the election and wishes to continue as a board member from Subdistrict 3. Agenda item 4 was taken out of order. A quorum of seven (7) members present.

FILLING OF VACANT BOARD SEATS: A total of three vacancies as of July 1, 2011. Total seats 11, Subdistrict 1:4 seats with 1 vacancy; Subdistrict 2:4 seats with no vacancies; Subdistrict 3:3 seats with 2 vacancies on Kaimuki Neighborhood Board. One vacancy exists in Subdistrict 1 – East Kaimuki and Business District and Two vacancies exists in Subdistrict 3 – West Kaimuki.

Bullock moved and was seconded by L. Tam to appoint Paul Hoe to fill the vacancy in Sub District 3. The motion was ADOPTED by ACCLAMATION, 7-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.). Quorum was established with eight (8) members present

ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE TO ALL ELECTED KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEMBERS: A short recess was called to allow Neighborhood Assistant Wang to administer the Oath of Office to all board members in attendance.

INTRODUCTION OF ALL ELECTED KAIMUKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 4 MEMBERS: Chair Pro Tem Tam introduced all elected members of the Board present tonight in Sub District 1: John Perez and Jonathan Young; in Sub District 2: Lyle Bullock, Sharon Schneider, Leonard Tam, Lori Yamada and in Sub District 3: Vernon Tam. Board Member Lisa Shorba was out of state and could not be in attendance. There are three vacancies on the board.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

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

· June 2011 Statistics: Included 12 burglaries, 1 robbery, 46 thefts, and 25 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV).

· Safety Tip: Make your car a safe place by always locking your car and taking your keys, even if you'll be gone only a short time. If you're coming or going after dark, park in a well-lit area that will still be well lit when you return. If carrying packages or valuable items, store them in your trunk. If you do leave packages, clothing or other articles in the car; make sure they are out of sight.

Questions, comments and concerns that followed:

1. House Calls: When planning to be away from home for a long period of time, call 911 to have house checked by HPD during routine sweeps of the neighborhood.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): Acting Captain Kani Dougan reported the following:

· June 2011 Statistics: Included 3 structure fires, 72 medical emergencies, and 34 miscellaneous calls.

· Fire Safety Tip: With youngsters on summer break, this is an opportune time to review your home surroundings for potentially dangerous situations. Take the time to childproof your home. Check for situations that may cause electrical shock, accidental falls, or poisoning from unsecured medications, cleaning products, or house plants. Ensure swimming pools are properly fenced and gated. An alarm on the door from the house to the pool can help prevent unattended children from drowning. Keep matches and lighters in a safe secured place away from children.

· HFD Administrative Services Bureau: To contact, call 723-7114.

Questions, comments and concerns that followed:

1. Home Inspections: A board member suggested having a home inspection done to check and replace two pronged outlets which are not grounded and can cause fires because of this.

2. Maunalani Response: HFD was asked if they often responded to the Maunalani property which is a senior living home. The response was yes, when it is required.

3. Ground Flow Indicator (GFI): A board member relayed his experience of smelling an electrical burning smell in his house. When he checked the circuit breaker he found that the GFI had been tripped and this prevented a house fire.

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

· Water Main Breaks: There were two water main breaks in the Kaimuki area during the month of June. One on June 17, 2011 at 703 6th Avenue at 8:48 p.m. which was installed in 1935 and the other on June 25, 2011 at 3650 Kawelolani Place at 9:36 a.m. which was a 4 inch main.

· 2011 Halawa Xeriscape Garden: BWS will be hosting its 23rd annual Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale on Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

· Unsubscribe from CheckFree: BWS will be implementing a new customer billing system to better manage and maintain billing and account information. However, the electronic bill payment (e-bill) service currently used, CheckFree will not be a part of this new customer billing system. As a result, any customers currently using e-bill will need to cancel their subscription to CheckFree by October 31, 2011.

· Social Media Sites: Residents can subscribe to BWS social media sites to receive information on upcoming BWS events and workshops, conservation tips and coverage of past activities. Nixle is a messaging service where users may receive email or text alerts regarding water-related emergencies such as water main breaks, traffic advisories, etc. For more information on the usage of these sites, please read the BWS Social Media Policy at www.boardorwatersupply.com or call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041.

· Proposed Water Rate Schedule: The BWS is proposing a revised water rate schedule to fund the operations, maintenance and replacement of Oahu's aging water infrastructure. A public hearing will be held on August 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the BWS board room at 630 South Beretania Street. Concerned residents may submit comments in writing or verbally at this hearing. For more information on the proposed rate schedule, please visit www.boardofwatersupply.com or call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041.

There were no objections to taking the agenda out of order. L. Tam moved and Schneider seconded the motion to give special recognition to former board member Daniel Carvalho at 7:20 p.m.

7:50 p.m. the meeting reconvened to agenda item 6.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS TO SERVE FROM JULY 1, 2011 TO JUNE 30, 2012:

Election of Chair: L. Tam nominated Vernon Tam to the position of Chair. There being no other nominations, Vernon Tam was elected by ACCLAMATION, 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young).

Election of Vice Chair: L. Tam nominated Sharon Schneider to the position of Vice-Chair. There being no other nominations, Sharon Schneider was elected by ACCLAMATION, 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

Election of Secretary: Yamada nominated Lyle Bullock to the position of Secretary. There being no other nominations, Lyle Bullock was elected by ACCLAMATION, 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

Election of Treasurer: L. Tam nominated Lori Yamada to the position of Treasurer. There being no other nominations, Lori Yamada was elected by ACCLAMATION, 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

PRE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD'S MONTHLY REGULAR MEETING DAY, TIME AND PLACE:
L. Tam moved to move day of meeting to the third Tuesday of each month to avoid the conflict with council meeting. There was no second, therefore THE MOTION FAILS. There was no objection to hold meetings at the Kaimuki Christian Church through the year 2011 and hopefully further and continue to have meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

Bullock moved and was seconded by Schneider to recess in December 2011. The motion was ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

Consideration of Any Budgetary Actions Necessary for the Board to Convene its Regular Meetings and Video Record of the Regular Meetings: Consideration of Proposal to Appropriate Fiscal Year 2012 Funds for the Meeting Location for the July 2011 to June 2012 Regular Meetings: Because the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 does not get charged for use of facilities and does not wish to videotape, they have no appropriation of funds to determine at this meeting.

Consideration of Proposal to Appropriate Fiscal Year 2012 Funds for the Video Recording of the July 2011 to June 2012 Regular Meetings: Bullock moved and Yamada seconded to retain the newsletter and not videotape. The motion was ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

BOARD ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING:

Approval of the June 15, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes: Hoe moved and Bullock seconded that the minutes of the June 15, 2011 regular board meeting be approved with the following corrections. The minutes were ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 8-0-0 Bullock moved and Yamada seconded to retain the newsletter and not videotape. The motion was ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 8-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Perez, Schneider, L. Tam, V. Tam, Yamada, and Young.).

Treasurer's Report: Item was deferred.

Grant Authorization to the Neighborhood Commission Office to Notify Board Members Upon the Accumulation of the Three Absences: Item was deferred.

Consideration of Establishing Standing Rules of the Board: Item was deferred.

Establishment of Committees and Permitted Interaction Groups: Item was deferred.
NEW BUSINESS:

Celebrate Kaimuki Kanikapila: Lydia Chock of the Kaimuki Business & Professional Association (KBPA).presented the following: The KBPA will be holding a craft fair and street festival on Saturday, October 29, 2011. She is requesting Board support required for closing of Waialae Avenue from 11th Avenue to Koko Head Avenue from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Questions, comments, concerns that followed:

1. Parade: An inquiry was made as to having a parade with these festivities. The response was that the KBPA has a Christmas parade.

2. Booths: There was a question as to what type of booths were being sought and Chock answered that they required items made in Hawaii be top priority.

L. Tam moved and Hoe seconded that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 support closing of Waialae Avenue for the Celebrate Kaimuki Kanikapila.

At this time, Chair V. Tam proposed that the board address Residents' concerns which were mistakenly not included in the agenda.

Revitalization of Petrie Park: Mike McFarlane from Island Recreation, an organization coordinating the revitalization of Petrie Park. They plan to hold a planning event on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Petrie from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to decide on how to revitalize the park. Any suggestions can be sent to savepetriepark@gmail.com. At this time, McFarlane is attempting to achieve a not-for-profit status so that the organization can receive donations.

ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES:

Mayor Peter Carlisle's Representative: Tim Steinberger reported the following:

· Maunaloa Road: Steinberger explained in response to a previous concern regarding the paving of half the road that the half that was complete didn't have utilities such as sewer, water and telephone manhole covers. As soon as those utilities are complete, then the re-paving of the road can be done.

· Map of Roadwork: Steinberger shared with the audience and board members the map of work that is slated for the Kaimuki area. It included a large percentage of roads that audience had concern with. Waialae Avenue, the main thoroughfare will most likely not start this year to avoid construction conflicting with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and ongoing work on Harding Avenue.

Questions, comments and concerns that followed:

1. Sierra Drive: The repaving of the Sierra Drive is not done, steel plates still cover potholes that have not been filled in.

2. Paving of Roads: A question was raised as to how often roads are repaved

City Councilmember Ann Kobayashi: Councilmember Kobayashi reported the following:

· Budget: 77 million dollars will be going into budget for road repaving in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

· Fees: The Councilmember reiterated that she didn't know how people on fixed incomes would survive with the rate hikes such as sewer, water, electricity, etc. are going up faster than salary increases.

City Councilmember Stanley Chang: Councilmember Chang reported the following:

· Follow-up: The 77 million dollar addition to the budget was approved by Mayor Carlisle.

· Council Reorganization: Ernie Martin now the Council Chair and Ann Kobayashi named Chair of the Budget committee.

· Rapid-Transit: The Honolulu Authority on Rapid Transit (HART) officially began operations on July 1, 2011 with its inaugural meeting and new board members to approve several measures including the Board's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

· Playground: Chang spoke of Totally Against Graffiti (TAG) function that utilized about 800 volunteers to assist in cleaning the graffiti around community parks.

Questions, comments and concerns that followed:

1. Historic Homes: With the change in requirements, the audience wanted to know if owners of historic homes be taxed at a higher rate.

2. Maunalani Park: A question was raised as to whether the public could use the Maunalani Park. Chang to follow-up.

State Senator Les Ihara Jr: Senator Ihara reported that the Senate plans to recess in January. The state issue that is a hot topic item is the age of homes in the Kaimuki area and there is a coalition for electricians which deals with homes that are re-built.

State Representative (House Speaker) Calvin K.Y. Say: No representative present; no report available.

State Representative Barbara Marumoto: Representative Marumoto reported the following:

· Agriculture Bill Veto: A bill on the Governor's potential veto list refers to a requirement for certification claiming that the requirement for certification in order for farmers to sell their wards at local farmer's markets.

· Neighborhood Bill on Meetings: Legislature finally provided an exemption to the Sunshine law for Neighborhood Boards. "...only neighborhood boards, and not other state or county boards, can take testimony or hear presentations without having a quorum, and they can receive public input on items not listed on the agenda.

· Kalani High School: Has again topped the state for the percentage of students who went on to higher education; 77 percent of the 2010 grads enrolled in college!

· Energy Saving House: Kudos to the Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA) for the eco-friendly home which was constructed at 747 22nd Avenue which features a 4.7 Kilowatt PV system, solar water heater, low-emitting double paned windows and other energy saving features.

·         Queen Theatre to Save Building: Tribute to owner of the Queen Theatre who is attempting to do something with the iconic Kaimuki landmark.

State Representative Scott Nishimoto: No representative present. No report available.

State Representative Mark Hashem: Representative Hashem was present to take any questions.

Questions, comments and concerns that followed:

A Board member wanted to know what was happening to the plans of the property at 3633 Waialae Avenue, the Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School. His concern is that the school was closed down for no purpose. Hashem to follow up on the situation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board will be August 17, 2011, 7:00 p.m. at the Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1117 Koko Head Avenue.

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 9:29 p.m.

Submitted By:   Aisha Wang, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed By:     Vernon Tam, Chair

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

Like Our Facebook

Kaimuki, Hawaii News Item

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item