Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for DECEMBER 18 2013 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 DECEMBER 18 2013 Meeting
Tweet

Next meeting is 1/15/2014 Read the agenda. . Click here.

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Lyle Bullock called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with a quorum of seven (7) members present. Note -- This 11 -- member Board requires six (6) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Members Present: Lyle Bullock, Paul Hoe, James Larson, Brian Kang, Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, Sharon Schneider, and Leonard Tam.

Members Absent: Russell McGuire and Lori Yamada.

Vacancies: There are two (2) vacancies for Subdistrict 1.

Guests: Andrew Yee, Gwen Yee, Captain Bryan Goo (Honolulu Fire Department), Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply), Councilmember Ann Kobayashi, Lieutenant Clinton Sukekane, Sergeant Cyrus Hanuna, and Officer Cory Shiraishi (Honolulu Police Department), Michael Leong (Councilmember Stanley Chang's Office Staff), Tokuyama, Bertrand Kobayashi (State Representative), and Neil Baarde (Neighborhood Commission Office Staff).

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) -- Captain Bryan Goo reported the following:

· Holiday Safety Tips: Select a tree with fresh green garden needles that do not fall off when touched. Cut two (2) inches from the base of the trunk before placing the tree in a stand. Keep the tree at least three (3) feet from heat sources, such as candles, heat vents, or lights. Ensure that the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree stand. Use lights that have an independent testing laboratory label. Some lights are for indoor or outdoor use only. Replace strings of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections Connect no more than three (3) strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read the manufacturer's instructions for the number of LED strands that can be connected. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed. After Christmas, remove dried tree from the home; do not store it in the garage or against your house. Check with local community to find a recycling program. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays.

· November 2013 Fire Statistics: There were 5 fire calls, 74 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/rescue calls, 6 hazardous condition calls, 12 service calls, 19 good intent calls, and 16 false calls.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Hazardous Conditions: Chair Bullock asked what HFD considers hazardous conditions. Capt. Goo responded it can range from fluid spills to electrical lines that fell.

2. False Calls: Resident asked what the trend is for false calls. Captain Goo responded that most of them are actually good intent calls. For instance, people will see a car overheating and report it as a car on fire and when HFD arrives on scene to take care of the situation, HFD sees it as a car overheating and that constitutes as a false call.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) -- Lieutenant Clinton Sukekane, Sergeant Cyrus Hanuna, and Officer Cory Shiraishi provided a handout and reported the following:

November 2013 Crime Statistics: There were 19 burglaries, 1 robbery, 67 thefts, and 11 unauthorized entries into a motor vehicle (UEMV).
Safety Tips: Always lock all exterior doors and windows before leaving the house, even if it's for a short trip. Make the home look occupied by leaving on lights, radios, and make it difficult to break in. Always lock garage doors and sheds. Don't tempt a thief; store lawn mowers, mopeds/bicycles, surfboards, or any valuables out of sight. Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- Burglars know where to look for hidden keys. Be a good neighbor. If anyone notices anything suspicious in the neighborhood, call 911 immediately.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

Trends: Resident asked what HPD would have shown last year. Resident has asked for trends and HPD has not provided the community with one. Lieutenant Sukekane apologized and will look into it, and commented that the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) sets the guidelines for what information HPD has to report. Chair Bullock commented that the Neighborhood Assistant will also look into it and follow up.
Mau'ume Nature Park Lookout: Chair Bullock asked if their had been any patrols done by the lookout. Lieutenant Sukekane responded yes, also putting up a new sign with restrictions. Chair Bullock added that the Board had requested that the park would be closed and chained from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and also requested to remove the parking area to help reduce the crime in the area. Larson commented that prior to the meeting, he had passed by the lookout and saw two (2) cars with people around not moving very fast. Lieutenant Sukekane responded that HPD are patrolling the area but explained that HPD cannot be there all the time. Tam commented that as he was passing by one day, Tam had seen people parked there and another time saw people there without a car.
Dole Street: Schneider asked what happened on Dole Street in regards to the theft. Lieutenant Sukekane responded that HPD does not give the exact address but close to the situation. The report was shown to be at the University of Hawaii Manoa.

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

· Water Main Break: There was one (1) water main break in the Kaimuki area during November 2013.

Water Conservation Calendar: BWS thanked all those who participated in the contest and BWS's calendar presents artwork and poetry submitted by Oahu youth in grades K-12 who were selected as winners of the water conservation poster and poetry contests that were held earlier in 2013. The theme "Save Water, Save Energy" allowed students to demonstrate the mutual beneficial relationship between water and energy conservation by coming up with creative illustrations and writings. BWS would like to thank the program partners such as Hawaii Energy, friends of Halawa Xeriscape Graden, Matson Foundation, and Times Supermarkets, among others who contributed and helped ensure the calendars are made available to the general public by Monday, December 16, 2013 and will be distributed to the Neighborhood Boards at next month's meeting.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Main Repair: Chair Bullock read a letter from the Chief Engineer and it stated that BWS will be doing an 8 inch main repair construction project in the future, along Kilauea Avenue on 15^th Avenue to 18^th Avenue. Heller commented that she will look into the dates that BWS will be working on the repair.

BOARD ADMINISTRATION

Approval of the November 20, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes: Hoe moved and Larson seconded to adopt the November 20, 2013 regular meeting minutes as amended. The amendments were as followed:

Old Business: Discussion 2. When asked if the intruder was someone frequenting the lookout Chair Bullock responded it was likely but difficult to determine with accuracy.

Updated Motion: Chair Bullock stated that there was no clean up directly below the lookout in the shrub area. And no syringes were found at the Nature Park but at Mau'ume Lookout.

The minutes, as amended, were ADOPTED by UNANIMOUS CONSENT, 7-0-0 (Aye: Bullock, Hoe, Kang, Larson, Moniz-Kahoohanohano, Schneider, and Tam).

Treasurer's Report: Schneider read the financial statement for November 2013. Costs included $4.86 for printing, $20.70 for postage, leaving a balance of $490.38. The report was filed.

Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) Report: The purpose of forming the PIG was to generate ideas for improving attendance and publicity. The members have communicated via email and focused on getting a banner for the corner of the intersection advising people to come to the Neighborhood Board meeting. The Church had agreed on using the banner prior to the meetings unless there would be a school or Church function that needed the banner space. McGuire sent quotes to the other members and the group is working on finding a cheap and easy solution, if it is in the funding. Another aspect that the group was discussing was getting on other clubs' or organizations agenda in order for the Boards to work together.

Schneider moved and Larson seconded that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No.4 purchase a banner. The Motion was adopted by UNANIMOUS CONSENT. (7-0-0)

PUBLIC INPUT -- None.

OLD BUSINESS

Mau'umae Nature Park Lookout: Chair Bullock announced that the Board has sent a letter with their concerns to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), but they have yet to give a response other than putting the item on their agenda. The response that the Chair received was from John Reed and it read that the parks will close at 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and the parking will be restricted. Chair Bullock announced that the issue is in the public's eye and will be done, eventually, if there is room in the budget.

Questions, comments, or concerns that followed:

Closure: Tam commented that DPR should just close the lookout entirely.
Drugs: Resident raised concern about the problem with drugs at the lookout. Chair responded that is why the Board is trying to have HPD patrol the lookout as well as have DPR come and close the parking lot, to try and deter the crime that is occurring at the lookout.

NEW BUSINESS -- None.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative -- Mark Wong was not present but a report was given. Chair Bullock read the following:

Frequent Traffic: Leonard Tam asked why we are waiting in traffic more often.

· The Department of Transportation (DTS) noted that they are unable to determine what caused traffic along South King Street to back up on October 23 and on November 12. DTS checked the signal timing along the King Street corridor and found it to be set properly. It should be noted, as The City approaches Christmas, traffic along various roadways (especially near malls) will continue to become congested due to Christmas shoppers.

Traffic Cycles: Leonard Tam asked why the times of the traffic cycles have been reduced.

DTS noted that the traffic signal timing along various roadways vary throughout the day and weekends, and take into account peak traffic hours. During peak traffic, the cycle length of the traffic signals is longer due to increase in vehicular traffic.
Construction along Waialae Avenue has damaged all of the traffic sensor loops, and the traffic signals are operating on fixed time (not an efficient operation). Once the sensor loops are replaced, traffic flow along Waialae Avenue should return to normal.

DTS: Leonard Tam asked what is DTS doing and what is their goal.

DTS noted that due to the condition of the roadway pavement, many traffic signal sensor loops are broken and are the primary cause of inefficient traffic signal timing. One of the Mayor's priorities is to repave the roadways, and in doing so, will replace many of the failed traffic signal sensor loops.

Update from November 20, 2013: It was noted that there are parked cars blocking turning from Kilauea Avenue onto 11th Avenue going toward Waikiki. It was noted by DTS that an investigation will occur and the findings will be reported at the December 2013 meeting.

DTS noted that the investigation revealed that there is an existing parking restriction on the Koko Head side of 11th Avenue, mauka of Kilauea Avenue. The DTS found that there is a "No Parking Anytime" sign currently posted in the area of concern, and it is visible from the intersection of 11th Avenue and Kilauea Avenue. They also determined that the aforementioned "No Parking Anytime" sign is faded, and a work order will be issued by January 2014 to the Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) to replace this sign. In addition, a check of the traffic collision history on 11th Avenue for the last two (2) years did not reveal any unusual conditions that would necessitate any changes to the existing signage. Therefore, the DTS will be forwarding the parking concerns at 11th Avenue to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) for their action, as they are the appropriate enforcement agency. Residents may assist the HPD's enforcement duties by notifying them of any illegal parked vehicles in the area.

Questions, comments, concerns followed: Department of Transportation Services (DTS): Tam asked if anyone from DTS was present. Chair Bullock replied No.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi -- Councilmember Kobayashi provided a newsletter and reported the following:

· Bills: Mayor Caldwell gave Council two (2) bills for minor permit fees, but the administration is searching for money. The other bill is for ads on the exterior of TheBus. Councilmember Kobayashi asked seniors for their input and most of them said that they do not mind the ads, as long as it increases bus services. The ads will be regulated, but the concerns that were raised were not about size but the content that would be shown.

· Housing Approvals: There has been a lot of concerns regarding the housing approvals all over the island. Not many people want to see developments in their neighborhood and that is the main concern. Council is trying to find a good balance between the country and urban areas. 30% of the development needs to be under affordable housing, for instance there is a newly renovated condominium on Atkinson by the YMCA and the developer is offering the units for 60% or below of income and agreed to keep agreement for 60 years.

Questions, comments, and concerns that followed: Affordable Housing: Tam asked why does Hawaii have the least affordable housing and yet still raising the cost of housing. Councilmember Kobayashi responded that's why 30% has to be affordable, Council did pass an ordinance for people to increase property tax, that way the City can use that to make affordable rentals. Tam asked how, can the affordable rentals have a higher assess evaluation each time. Councilmember Kobayashi responded that it is the land that increases in value. Tam asked how many people can buy. Councilmember Kobayashi responded that two (2) buildings have already sold out in Kakaako. Tam commented that when rent is too high, people have to move out. Councilmember Kobayashi commented that Council is still making cuts to try and increase revenue.

Chair Bullock warned Tam about making the discussion to a one on one conversation. Chair Bullock stopped Tam and continued with the agenda.

Councilmember Stanley Chang -- Michael Leong provided a newsletter and reported the following:

· Sierra Drive: Last month a resident raised concern about cars blocking a stop sign that turns onto Sierra Drive, the issue was brought to DTS.

· Manhole: A manhole cover was found loose and partially uncovered. The issue has been brought to BWS and the Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM) and will be taken care of.

Governor Neil Abercrombie's Representative -- Fred Pablo was not present; a report was provided.

Senator Sam Slom -- Senator Slom was not present and no report was provided.

Senator Les Ihara, Jr. -- Senator Ihara was not present and no report was provided.

House Speaker Emeritus Calvin K.Y. Say -- HSE Calvin Say was not present and no report was provided.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi -- Representative Kobayashi provided a newsletter and reported the following:

Fiscal Turn Around: Governor Abercrombie announced that the State of Hawaii ended the fiscal year 2013 with a positive fund balance of $844 million, marking the State's positive balance of $1.1 billion turn around since 2011.
Community Recognition:

Waikiki Elementary: Waikiki Elementary School was named one (1) of 268 schools nationally recognized under the national Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
Liholiho Elementary: The Hawaii Department of Education awarded Liholiho Elementary with $75,000 as part of the state's new Strive HI Performance System.
Kaimuki Middle: Kaimuki Middle Vice Principal CeliaAnn Main-Anakalea was selected as one (1) of three (3) Hawaii school administrators named as Hawaii's Metlife/National Association of Secondary School Principals of The Year.
Waikiki Elementary: Hawaii's 2014 State Teacher of the Year, Matthew Lawrence, is a 12-year veteran educator, who inspires his students through creative "hands on" projects.

Hawaii Five-0: Two (2) Kaimuki homes appeared on the TV show Hawaii Five-0.
Forewarning: Construction on 18^th Avenue at the State movie studio, should not have any road obstructions, because it is mostly the interior that is being renovated. It will be a two (2) phase project that will go into 2015, but will be working on it during the breaks of Hawaii Five-0.

Questions, comments, and concerns that followed: Historical Housing: Schneider asked if a home is older than 50 years, do the owners have to get a special clearance for a permit to do any renovations. Representative Kobayashi responded yes, but has sent a bill that will increase the year of the house to 75 years with an escape clause. Schneider commented that the City should designate an area for historical housing. Representative Kobayashi responded that right now the designation of historic homes is tied to the county and that is tied in with property tax.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

· Next Board Meeting: The next meeting of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 will be on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 7:00 p.m. at the Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1117 Koko Head Avenue.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Submitted By: Neil Baarde, Neighborhood Assistant I

Reviewed By: K. Russell Ho, Neighborhood Assistant I

Reviewed and Finalized By: Lyle Bullock Jr., Chair

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

Like Our Facebook

Kaimuki, Hawaii News Item

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item