Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for DECEMBER 17, 2014 Meeting

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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Minutes Posted for DECEMBER 17, 2014 Meeting
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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4

DRAFT -- REGULAR MEETING MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH, FELLOWSHIP HALL

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Lyle Bullock called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. with a total of five (5) members present. Quorum was not established. Note: this 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Lyle Bullock, Brian Kang, James Larson, Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, and Sharon Schneider.

Board Members Absent: Paul Hoe and Lori Yamada.

Vacancies: There were two (2) vacancies for Subdistrict 1, one (1) vacancy for Subdistrict 2 and one (1) vacancy for Subdistrict 3.

Guests: Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply), Captain Jay Shimabuku and Firefighter Vail Minn (Honolulu Fire Department), Lieutenant Clinton Sukekane and Sergeant Allen Ishida (Honolulu Police Department), Representative Bertrand Kobayashi, Mark Wong (Mayor Kirk Caldwell's representative), Amanda Morales (Councilmember Stanley Chang's office staff), Aaron Landry (Ala Moana-Kaka‘ako Neighborhood Board No. 11), Kuuipo Kumukahi (The Arc in Hawaii), Corrie Uehara, Linda Knowles, Liberty Peralta, Maris Araki, Molly Jenkins, Eric McCutcheon and Uyen Vong (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

FILLING OF VACANT BOARD SEATS: There were two (2) vacancies in Subdistrict 1 (East Kaimuki and Business District), one (1) vacancy in Subdistrict 2, and one (1) in Subdistrict 3 (West Kaimuki). As there were no volunteers, this item was deferred to the next meeting.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): Sergeant Allen Ishida provided a newsletter and reported the following:

November 2014 Crime Statistics: There were 9 motor vehicle thefts, 15 burglaries, 43 thefts, 9 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV), and 6,518 total calls for service.
Safety Tip: Information regarding public safety tips can be found in the newsletter.
Contact Information: Contact information for officers assigned to District 7 (East Honolulu) can be found in the newsletter.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): Firefighter Vail Minn circulated a report and presented the following:

· November 2014 Statistics: There were 1 structural, 2 wildland, and 1 vehicle fire(s). There were 73 medical emergencies and 3 search and rescues calls. There were no major incidents.

· Firecracker Permits: Individuals choosing to use firecrackers on New Year's Eve are required to purchase a permit from any Satellite City Hall during business hours. Permits are on sale now and will be available until Friday, December 19, 2014.

· Christmas Trees: Dry Christmas trees and other natural decorations are extremely flammable and should be removed from the home as soon as possible. Consider recycling the trees at a green waste center.

· Fireworks The public can enjoy fireworks displays offered in various communities on New Year's Eve. As a reminder, Honolulu's fireworks ordinance does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to set off, ignite, or otherwise use firecrackers.

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

Water Matters Customer Newsletter: A copy of the Water Matters Customer Newsletter was inserted in the BWS December 2014 billing statement. The current issue includes information about a newly installed Heritage Garden at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden, interesting facts about gardening, and BWS' efforts to improve operations and customer service. Digital copies can be obtained at www.boardofwatersupply.com.
Honolulu City Lights: In celebration of this festive holiday season, trees decorated by the BWS will be on display at the BWS headquarters and at Honolulu Hale during the month of December 2014.

Question followed: Main Breaks: Heller answered for Schneider that any water main breaks occurring in December 2014 will be reported at the January 2015 Board meeting.

COMMUNITY KEIKI: There were none at this time.

BOARD ADMINISTRATION

Approval of the November 19, 2014 Regular Meeting Minutes: Due to lack of quorum, the approval of the November 19, 2014 regular meeting minutes was deferred to the next Board meeting.

Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Schneider reported a total of $27.50 spent during the month of November 2014 and a remaining balance of $414.46. The report was filed.

PUBLIC INPUT: Sit-Lie Bill: Resident Linda Knowles asked if the sit-lie bill applies to the Kaimuki district. Chair Bullock explained that the sit-lie bill impacts business areas in Kaimuki which are predominately located on a portion of 11th, 12th, Koko Head, and Harding Avenues, and nearly the entire Waialae Avenue.

OLD BUSINESS: There were none at this time.

NEW BUSINESS

The Arc In Hawaii: Kuuipo Kumukahi explained that The Arc in Hawaii ("The Arc"), founded in 1954, is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located on 3989 Diamond Head Road. She asked the public to contact her if they know anyone who is no longer receiving special needs services from the State Department of Education (DOE) but requires assistance, and explained that The Arc provides services to adults with developmental disabilities.

Kumukahi performed a song about The Arc.

H-1 Overpass Beatifically Efforts: A presentation was scheduled; no representative was available.

Chair Bullock passed the gavel to Secretary Larson.

Resolution 14-200: Chair Bullock explained that Resolution 14-200 and a similar bill, relating to Ohana dwellings, proposes an amendment to Chapter 21, Land Use Ordinance (LUO) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH). Chair Bullock presented the following:

ROH § 21-8: Under the proposed amendment in the bill, the title of ROH § 21-8 is changed from "Housing -- Ohana Dwellings" to "Housing -- Accessory Dwelling Units".
Bill Language: The bill is vague in defining what constitutes as adequate infrastructure and utilities and what the minimum threshold is to prompt a study to determine if there is adequate infrastructure and utilities.
Parking: Street parking may be adversely impacted by the parking provision that "an accessory dwelling unit with two or more bedrooms will require two off-street parking stalls".
Neighborhood Character: The most undefined part of ROH § 21-8 is that there is no definition for "neighborhood character".

Discussion followed:

Community Reaction: Schneider, chair of the Community Planning Permitted Interaction Group (PIG), stated that the amendment brought many concerns from residents, and commented that the new homes in Kaimuki are not built to coalesce with the character of the Kaimuki neighborhood.
Next PIG Report: Larson asked if the next PIG report will be available in the next two (2) to three (3) months. Schneider replied yes.
Next Meeting: Larson asked for the discussion on Resolution 14-200 to continue after the PIG report is given and at the next Board meeting when quorum is established. Chair Bullock replied yes.
Community Input: Schneider noted that the PIG welcomes any community input. Larson commented that members of the public can visit the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) website for the Board members' contact information or call directly to the NCO.

Secretary Larson returned the gavel to Chair Bullock.

ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative: Director Mark Wong, City Department of Information Technology (DIT) reported the following:

· 2015 Neighborhood Board Elections: Candidate registration for the 2015 Neighborhood Board elections has begun and the deadline to apply is Friday, February 20, 2015.

· Kilauea Avenue and 9th Avenue: The City Department of Transportation Services (DTS) will be conducting an investigation and will apprise the Board of its findings by April 2015.

· Kaimuki Neighborhood Plan Update: Board members should contact DPP regarding the Kaimuki Neighborhood Plan. If the main purpose of the update is to address mobility and circulation issues, then the appropriate department may be DTS or the State Department of Transportation (DOT). A community organization could also hire its own consultant.

· Atrazine in Water Supply: To date, there have been no recorded detections for atrazine in the water supply. Wong will forward a spreadsheet showing the results of the samples collected and tested by the BWS.

· Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Draft Guidelines: The draft guidelines requires the ADU to not exceed 400 square feet in a R5 residential zone.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. ADU Draft: Wong answered for Chair Bullock that the ADU draft will be made available online before or at the time of the public hearings.

2. ADU Kitchen Requirement: Wong answered for Schneider that ADUs are not required to include a separate kitchen.

3. ADU Enforcement: Chair Bullock asked how the amendment will be enforced. Wong replied there may be a cap on the rental charge. Wong also noted that the intent is not to raise property tax, but to create affordable housing.

4. General Excise Tax (GET): Wong answered for Schneider that whether homeowners will have to pay the GET is a state issue.

5. Commercial Business: Chair Bullock asked if there are legalities to using an ADU for commercial business. Wong replied that the idea was not discussed.

6. Impact on Infrastructure: Wong addressed Chair Bullock's previous concern that DIT is working on a system to find out the capacity level, line age, and other information about the property in real time, and if homeowners or developers submit simultaneous applications that will overload the system, then all requests for that property will be put on hold.

7. Rent Control: A resident commented that living conditions will be restricted if rent control is imposed. Wong replied that the City is trying to prevent expensive rental costs for residents.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi (City Council District 5): James Larson distributed Councilmember Kobayashi's newsletter and reported the following:

· Resolution 14-269: Resolution 14-269, relating to the recognition of the former Honouliuli Internment Camp site as a national historic site, has been adopted by the full council.

· Staff Contact Information: Larson can be contacted at 768-5059 or by email at jlarson1@honolulu.gov. Other staff information can be found in the newsletter.

Councilmember Stanley Chang (City Council District 4): Amanda Morales distributed a newsletter and reported that since today is her last Board meeting representing Councilmember Chang, any pending issues will be forwarded to Councilmember-elect Ozawa's or Councilmember Kobayashi's office.

Comment followed: Last Meeting: Larson and Chair Bullock thanked Morales for her service for the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4.

Governor David Ige's Representative: No representative was present; no handout was provided.

Senator Sam Slom (State Senate 9th District): No representative was present; no handout was provided.

Senator Les Ihara Jr. (State Senate 10th District): No representative was present; no handout was provided.

House Speaker Emeritus Calvin K.Y. Say (State Representative 20th District): No representative was present; no handout was provided.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi (State Representative 19th District): Representative Bertrand Kobayashi circulated a handout and presented the following:

New Cabinet: Governor David Ige has announced new members of his cabinet and subcabinet. Some cabinet members have been reappointed as holdovers.
House Reorganization: The reorganization of the House leadership and committee members can be found on the handout. The House Republicans have not announced its leadership team.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Hearing: A public hearing on a Special Management Area (SMA) Use Permit and a Shoreline Setback Variance (SSV) for two (2) residences on Kahala Avenue will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015 at Kahala Community Park from 10:30 a.m.
Next Meeting: The next regular meeting of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board No. 4 will be on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7:00 p.m. at the Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall at 1117 Koko Head Avenue.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Submitted by: Uyen Vong, Neighborhood Assistant I

Reviewed by: Neil Baarde, Neighborhood Assistant I

Reviewed by: Lyle Bullock, Chair

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