Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting March 2018 Minutes

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Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting March 2018 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 4/18/2018.

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

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018
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 seven (7) members present. Note: This 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present - Calvin Hara, Paul Hoe, Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, Sharon Schneider, Lori Yamada (arrived at 7:11 p.m.), Becky Gardner, Mark Hagadone, and Molly Pierce.

Board Members Absent - Brian Kang and Walt Ross

Guests - Captain Douglas Hu and Firefighter Ryan Dung (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Hayamoto and Sergeant Scott (Honolulu Police Department); Kenny Amazaki and Councilmember Trevor Ozawa (Council Member Trevor Ozawa's Office); Councilmember Ann Kobayashi; Representative Bertrand Kobayashi; Speaker Emeritus Calvin Say; Senator Les Ihara Jr.; Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Mark Manfredi and Kathy Isobe (Navy); Vulker Roeber (University of Hawaii); Tha Perry and Roxanne Kwon (Department of Health); Chris Watanabe, Barbra Ichinose, Eric McCutchen, Julia Allen, Daniel Sherman, Malia Nolan, Sarah Chinen, Natalie Iwasa, and Tommy Waters (Residents); Melissa Miyashiro and Anela Kekoolani (Neighborhood Commission Office).

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Captain Douglas Hu reported the following:
• February 2018 Statistics: There were 0 structure fires, 0 wildland/brush fire, 0 nuisance fires, 7 activated alarms (no fire), 74 medical emergencies, 1 motor vehicle collision with pedestrian, 7 motor vehicle crash/collisions, 1 mountain rescues and 0 hazardous material incident.
• Fire Safety Tip: Electrical Safety -
o Plug one (1) heat-producing appliance into a wall receptacle outlet at a time.
o Major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and power taps or strips should not be used.
o Ensure electrical cords are not running across doorways or under carpets.
o Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a licensed electrician install additional receptacle outlets to eliminate the need for extension cords.
o Ensure that electrical work is performed by a licensed electrician.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) - Lieutenant Hayamoto circulated a handout and reported the following:
• February 2018 Statistics: 7 motor vehicle thefts, 17 burglaries, 37 thefts, 16 unauthorized entry into motor vehicles (UEMV) and 6,236 calls for service.
• Safety Tip: A handout was circulated on how to react to an active shooter:
1. Run
2. Hide
3. Fight

Yamada arrived at 7:11 p.m. There are now eight (8) board members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Next Door - Hagadone stated that he is a member of the site next door and receives notifications.
2. Suspicious Activity - A resident asked at what point if you see suspicious activity do you call 911.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) - Lorna Heller reported the following:
• Main Break - There were two (2) main breaks.
o On Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 3414 Kaimuki Avenue.
o On Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 3941 Pahoa Avenue.

• Subsidies ??? As part of our continuing updates on the BWS's Water Rate Study, this month's topic is Subsidies. The amount of subsidies and who pays for them are important considerations for our water rates. BWS is evaluating these subsidies, looking at moving closer to the cost of them, and continue to extend some of these subsidies. As we look at the rates structure, other subsidies have been suggested; like, supporting customer assistance programs, affordable housing, homeless, and fire sprinkler conversions. The basic structure of BWS's water rates has not changed since 1993. Non-residential customers like hotels, restaurants, other businesses, and government institutions pay more than the total costs for agriculture, non-potable, recycled water, and single family residential customers. With full commitment to an open and transparent process, the BWS has been meeting with our Stakeholder Advisory Group since 2015. All their meetings, and BWS Board meetings, are publicly noticed and open to all. We encourage you to attend. Our Board meetings are also shown on Olelo. Meeting locations, dates and times, are posted on our website http://www.boardofwatersupply.com.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: How Long - Hagadone stated that Nioe and Niele Street is all torn up and asked how long that work will take to get done.

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

PUBLIC INPUT

• HI Good Neighbor - Resident Sarah Chinen and Christine thinks that Kaimuki needs a master plan. They have set up a committee against monster homes.
• Aircraft Noise - Malia who is a committee member of the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board No. 3 regarding Aircraft noise control stated that they are working with Senator Chang's office coming up with a resolution.
• City Council - Natalie Iwasa announced that she is running for City Council District IV.
• Tech Fair - Carol Hoshiko announced that Kapiolani Community College (KCC) will be having a tech fair on Saturday, April 4, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phase one (1) is in progress building an auditorium and classroom.
• City Council - Councilmember Trevor Ozawa announced that he is running for reelection for City Council District IV.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative - A representative was not present.

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi - Councilmember Ann Kobayashi reported the following:
• Resolution 18-050 - Resolution 18-050 relating to the Ala Moana Park master plan. The intent of this legislation is to address the public's concerns regarding the proposed Ala Moana regional park master plan. Councilmember Kobayashi believes that the park budget should be more spread out to improve local parks.
• Resolution 18-052 - Resolution 18-052 relating to addressing trees in our community. The purpose of this legislation is to address community concerns regarding City trees and the decreasing amount of canopy throughout the island.
• Monster Homes - Senator Chang's bill needs to pass to help monster homes. Councilmember Kobayashi wants to see these homes knocked down to show enforcement.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Glamorization - Yamada asked how the glamorization ideas of Ala Moana Park or Thomas Square come about. Councilmember Kobayashi stated that the administration keeps putting money in the budget to do this and is not listening to the council.
2. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) - Hara stated that a DPR representative has never come to a neighborhood board meeting to address local parks.
3. Kaimuki Parking Lot - Hagadone stated that Kaimuki Parking lot needs to be redone and thanks Councilmember Kobayashi for her help.
4. Maunalani Circle Park - A resident stated that the City spent $1 million to fix Maunalani Circle Park then locked residents out. It is still not yet opened.
5. Master Plan - Chair Schneider stated that Envision Kaimuki is working on a master plan.
6. Bill 78 - Gardner asked about Bill 78 regarding sponsorship of a park. Councilmember Kobayashi responded that they were having difficulties with making it a tasteful recognition. Gardner wants more people to be aware about this bill to start getting donors.

Councilmember Trevor Ozawa - Councilmember Ozawa circulated a handout and reported the following:
• Sponsorship - Councilmember Ozawa stated that his office met to talk about the sponsorship of a park but it is taking forever. Different parks get faster treatment.
• Parking Lot - Money was put into the budget to repave the Kaimuki parking lot three (3) years ago and it is only getting done now.
• Change in Council Leadership - Council Chair Martin appointed new council committee chairs.
• Parks - Money was put into the budget for Maunalani Circle Park a year ago and it is still not yet open. Councilmember Ozawa is now the budget chair and Councilmember Kobayashi is the parks chair so they will make sure that community parks get improvements.
• Flooding - Neighborhoods from 15th avenue to 18th avenue, Pahoa and Maunaloa Street reported flooding due to heavy rains. A letter was sent to DDC expressing concern about health and safety of residents and their property that continuously experience excessive flooding due to the lack of poor drainage infrastructure.
• Vegetation ??? Vegetation is being covered by concrete from all of these monster homes being built. There needs to be a green percentage and tree replacements for developments being built.
• Urban Canopy - A resolution was drafted to increase urban canopy 35% by 2035.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Sustainable Improvements - Hagadone stated sustainable improvements is one thing to get the money but to maintain the improvement so it goes into the future.
2. Malama o Ka Aina - Chair Schneider stated that Envision Kaimuki is joining Malama o ka aina and meeting with the Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) to start working on small projects.
3. Landscaping - Chair Schneider asked if there is anything the council can do to require landscaping on private property.
4. Bad Actors - Gardner stated that we should target the bad actors regarding monster homes and asked if there were any consistencies and if so we should target them. Councilmember Ozawa responded that there are consistencies. The same couple construction companies always pop up.

Senator Stanley Chang - A representative was not present. An email was sent to Gardner and she read off the following:
• Senate Bill (SB) 2092 - Sato thanked everyone for their support with SB2092 which passed the second hearing.
??? Safe Zones - A decent amount of money has been spent on safe zones.
• Moving to the House - SB2497 and SB2498 will be moving to the house.
• Judiciary Support - SB270 is moving onto judiciary and support is needed.
Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Safe Zones - Hagadone asked how you define safe zones. Sato responded it would be State land with private entities. There would be showers and somewhere for people to keep their things and set up structure.
2. SB287 - Yamada asked the status on SB2087 (relating to emergency rescue devices). Sato responded that SB2087 is moving onto judiciary this week.
Senator Les Ihara - Senator Ihara reported the following:
• Bills - The senate bills will be moving to the house and vice versa.
• Committee - Friday is the last day for bills to go to committee. Senate is expecting a lot of nominations.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Death with Dignity - A resident asked Senator Ihara's position on death with dignity.
Representative Calvin K.Y. Say - A newsletter was circulated and Representative Say reported the following:
• Abandoned Vehicles - House Resolution (HR) 77 is urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to allow the counties to use vacant State lands as storage for abandoned vehicles.
• Kupuna Act - The kupuna act has passed.
• Kaimuki Parking Lot - The Kaimuki parking lot is only being patched not repaved yet. Department of Design and Construction (DDC) will be redesigning the parking lot.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Mailboxes - Resident Sarah Chinen asked why all the ugly mailboxes are out on the street. Mailboxes are federal.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi - Representative Kobayashi reported the following:
• Puuhonua - The proposed puuhonua behind the Kaimuki fire station is no longer an option. The House passed a bill saying what the zones would have and Kaimuki did not qualify.
• Homeless ??? $30 million was spent on homeless this year. Affordable housing is not included in that budget. The number of homelessness is leveling out.
• Teacher of the Year - The teacher of the year was from the Kaimuki district. She is a special Ed teacher at Liholiho elementary school. This is the third year teacher of the year has been from this district.
• Health Committee - The health committee passed the bill for Red Hill main thing is the water is safe to drink.
• Monster Homes - There were the same multiple names appearing dozens of times on permits for monster homes.

PRESENTATIONS

Information on Biki Bikes - Justine Espiritu, Grants and Program Manager, Biki Bikes, provided handouts and maps. Espiritu reported the following:
• Overview - Biki is a nonprofit 501c(3) administrator whose operations are supported by private and public funding through grants and donations. Established in 2014. The system launched in June 2017 and there has been 560,000 rides since then.
• Kaimuki - It was suggested to Biki to add stations in Kaimuki along Waialae Avenue and by KCC. Eight (8) sites are being considered for this neighborhood.
• Open House - There will be three (3) community open house meetings regarding expansion plans. The meeting are free and open to the public for more information go to www.gobiki.org.
• Summer Expansion Plan - An additional 30-50 stations and 300-400 bikes have been funded by federal TAP funds.
• Status - Half a million rides in just over eight (8) months. Two-Thirds (2/3) trips were by Hawaii residents.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Downtown - Resident Sarah Chinen stated that bike issues came up at a City meeting downtown and business owners did not like where the stations were being placed.
2. Taking Up Parking - A resident asked if any stations will be taking up parking on Waialae. Espiritu responded that the priority for stations are private or wide sidewalks.
3. Helmets - A resident stated that he has never seen a Biki rider with a helmet on and asked what the helmet laws are. Espiritu responded that you are only required to wear a helmet if you are under the age of 16.
4. Another Approach - Hara asked when consideration for these sites are moving forward to come and approach the Neighborhood Board again.
5. Holding Up - Gardner asked how the bikes were holding up and if there has been any vandalism. Espiritu stated that there was some vandalism at first but there has not been anymore.

Red Hill Fuel Storage Tank Project Update - Mark Manfredi, Red Hill Regional Program Director/Project Coordinator reported the following:
??? Storing Fuel - The military is required to have somewhere to store fuel.
• Improperly Repaired - The tanks needed to be repaired so they were drained and inspected. There were 17 places that the contractor improperly repaired. It was assumed that the tanks were new and just not working properly but it was because the repairs were not properly fixed.
• Contractor - The contractor went bankrupt.
• Years to Fix - The Army has 22 years to fix those repairs an administration order of consent in 2015 - 2037 was given.
• SB2930 - SB2930 is acknowledged and endorsed. The Military is now looking at the best way to solve this. The military is looking at alternate study sites.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:
1. Why 22 years - A resident asked why the Army has 22 years to fix this when the tanks only took 3 years to build. The tanks were built in the 1940s and at that time they worked perfectly.
2. Sierra Club Resolution - Gardner stated when the Sierra Club's resolution went around there was a joint letter from the Department of Health (DOH).

Approval of Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Regular Meeting Minutes - Hoe moved and Yamada seconded the motion for the Wednesday, February 21, 2018, regular meeting minutes be APPROVED, the motion was passed by UNANIMOUS consent, 8-0-0 (AYE: Gardner, Hara, Hagadone, Hoe, Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, Schneider, Pierce and Yamada; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: None).

REPORTS

Treasurer's Report - Deferred

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Board of Water Supply (BWS) Community Meeting on "Urban Honolulu Current Water Use and Planning for the Future" on Thursday, March 22, 2018, 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. at the Ala Wai Elementary School Cafeteria, 503 Kamoku St, Honolulu, HI 96826.
• Biki Expansion Community Meeting Open Houses on Thursday, March 29, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 324 Kapahulu Ave and on Tuesday, April 11, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Makiki District Park, 1527 Keeamoku Street, Honolulu.
• The next regular Board Meeting will be April 18, 2018 at Kaimuki Christian Church, Fellowship Hall, 7:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.

Submitted by: Anela Kekoolani, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Melissa Miyashiro, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Sharon Schneider, Board Chair

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