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With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018
PALOLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Randolph Hack called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was established with 8 members present. Note - This 13-member board requires seven (7) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: William Caron, Frank Farm, Randolph Hack, Paul Holtrop, Beverly Mau, Darlene Nakayama, Rusti Onishi, Earl Shiraki.

Board Members Absent: Barbara Armentrout, Bradley Rentz, Joshua Frost, Jaime Rincon.

Guests: Firefighter David Clark (Honolulu Fire Department); Sergeant Clifford Ramson (Honolulu Police Department); Bryan Gallagher (Board of Water Supply); Director Ross Sasamura (Mayor Kirk Caldwell???s Representative/Department of Facility Maintenance); Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Director Catherine P. Awakuni-Col—n; Cliff Kaneshiro (Councilmember Ann Kobayashi's Office); House Representative Calvin Say; State Senator Les Ihara; Kathy Bryan, Teresa Ng, Evan (Office of Senator Brian Schatz); Sharon Mertel (Palolo Korean Care Home); Dave Watase, Corey Kot, Julia Allen (Residents); Thomas Baldwin (Neighborhood Commission Office). 

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Firefighter David Clark reported the following:
• October 2018 Statistics: There were 1 structure fire, 26 medical emergencies, 2 motor vehicle collisions, and 1 hazardous materials incident.
• Fire Safety Tip: Cooking Safety: Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home injuries. HFD recommends the following to prevent these fires:
o Cook with caution and be on alert.
o Do not leave the kitchen when cooking.
o Keep flammable items away from the stovetop. 
o Keep children at least three (3) feet away from the stove.
o In the case of a small grease cooking fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
o In the case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
o If you have any doubts about extinguishing a small house fire, leave the house and call 911. Close the door around you to help contain the fire.
o HFD discourages the use of turkey fryers, as they can lead to devastating injuries and can cause severe house fires due to the oil and high temperatures used.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) - Sergeant Clifford Ramson reported the following: 
• October 2018 Statistics: There were 1 motor vehicle theft, 15 burglaries, 21 thefts, 15 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles and 6607 calls for service.
• Safety Tip: Theft Protection: Sergeant Ramson recommended residents keep their doors and garage doors locked and make their homes appear occupied with the use of lights and electronic devices. He recommended that residents not leave valuables, including yard tools, outside and unattended. He recommended residents install motion sensitive lighting and cameras if possible. Do not leave spare keys in expected areas, such as under a door mat. Keep a detailed inventory of your valuables to allow detectives to track stolen items. Use a safe to store luxury items such as jewelry. When your keys are missing, replace all home locks.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): Bryan Gallagher reported the following:
Scam Protection: Gallagher reported that there have been recent cases of individuals claiming to be representatives of the BWS who will call individuals or show up at their homes. These individuals will claim that a resident's bill is past due and demand payment. Gallagher commented that the BWS does not demand payments in this manner. He clarified that the BWS, when contacting a resident regarding a past due bill, will ask residents to call the BWS, visit the BWS location, or create an account online to pay the bill. The BWS will only call during normal business hours: 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 9-1-1 followed by the BWS to file a report if a suspected scam caller becomes aggressive. Residents can call 748-5030 to check the status of their account or check the BWS website. If there is an individual claiming to be from the BWS in person, check for BWS attire, identification, and using a BWS vehicle with the water drop logo and BWS on the license plate. 
Water Main Break: There was a water main break on Pehu Street on Friday, October 5, 2018.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Red Hill Fuel Storage Tanks: Shiraki expressed appreciation for BWS's stance on the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Tanks.

Vacancies: No residents volunteered to fill District 4.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Councilmember Ann Kobayashi: Cliff Kaneshiro of Councilmember Anne Kobayashi's Office provided a newsletter and reported the following: 
Newsletter Update: Kaneshiro referred to the newsletter City Council and Committee schedule on Councilmember Kobayashi's newsletter. In addition, an update was provided regarding the Vision Zero Resolution, an effort to eliminate pedestrian traffic deaths. He added that Olelo Community Media was formally recognized for 30 years of service to the community.
Response related to Waimao Road: Kaneshiro reported that their office has limited access to information related to concerns with Waimao Road, commenting that claims related to Waimao Road must still be filed and processed by Corporation Counsel.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Monster Homes: Resident Rusti Onishi asked and Kaneshiro responded that he will follow up on specific issues related to monster homes.
2. Waimao Road: Resident Cory expressed concerns with a large bump that formed along the 2300 block of Waimao Road. He commented that the City likely will not fix it due to the litigation. He commented that residents in the area are deeply concerned with the safety issues, adding that the residential property closest to the bump has been seriously damaged due to the proximity. Kaneshiro responded that they notified the administration of the issues, and deferred detailed responses to DFM Director Ross Sasamura.
3. Monster Homes (continued): Farm asked about the significance of a recent bill passed to limit the permitted floor area of residential properties in order to curb monster home construction. Kaneshiro responded that he will take the question back to Councilmember Kobayashi, commenting that he cannot speak to the specifics of the legislation on her behalf. Shiraki recommended some inspectors be given later hours so as to increase the likelihood of observing residential violations unique to monster homes that would not be apparent during business hours. He clarified that residents that should not be living in the home may themselves be working and not present during business hours too.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative - Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) Director Ross Sasamura reported the following:
Land Use Ordinance (LUO): Director Sasamura reported that the City Council allocated funds for the first comprehensive update to the LUO, which has only been updated in fragments since 1986. The City has hired a consultant to begin collecting recommendations for the code's improvement. An official list of recommendations should be available by the end of 2018.
Waimao Road: Director Sasamura reported that the administration is aware of the bump mentioned by Resident Cory on Waimao Road. He commented that they must further review the cause of the bump before they can repave the road. He clarified that in 2017, the original contractor tasked with repaving Kuahea Street, among other streets, defaulted. The bonding company had to exercise its authority in naming a replacement contractor. He commented that this process involved a significant passage of time, and the City withdrew the work on the street due to earth movement; he clarified that the City needed to reevaluate the work due to the earth movement. Claims have been filed by affected residents against the City. The area around Kuahea Street will remain close while the City attempts to study and stabilize the earth movement. Emergency services have been made aware of the closure.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: 
1. Waimao Road/Kuahea Street: Farm expressed his concerns that residents must now navigate around the road bump, and non-residents traveling through Palolo are not aware of the bump at all. He asked and Director Sasamura responded that barricades should have been installed in the surrounding area to alert drivers of the obstacle. He added that barriers will be reinstalled if they are not present. Farm expressed his concerns with the ability for the City and County to resolve the problem without taking drastic measures that would severely impact nearby residents, but create a long-term resolution. Director Sasamura responded that it is unclear what measures the City would need to take to resolve the issue at this time. He commented that changing climate and weather patterns could presents challenges, as increased heavy rains year to year can cause sustained damage to infrastructure. He concluded that studies will need to be made before they make any recommendations. Shiraki expressed his concerns with the presence of the bump in the road. He asked and Sasamura responded that a temporary repavement of the road would create more problems, as it would only be a temporary solution and would not address the cause. He commented that repavement might cause more undesired earth movement. Resident Kot expressed concerns that the 800 affected residents are currently significantly impacted by the earth movement, and need a temporary solution for their safety, to prevent vehicle damage, and ensure access. Director Sasamura responded that his comments have been taken under advisement.
2. Monster Homes: Shiraku urged the administration to continue efforts to handle the issues with Monster Homes.
3. Waimao Road/Kuahea Street: Resident Phillip Tom, a resident of 2324 Waimao Road, commented that his property lies around 50 feet from the bump. He added that sinkholes have begun to develop in front of his property and along his driveway. He commented that he believes that the cause could be due to the improper drainage of Waimao Road, and the storm water may be draining under his driveway. He concluded that fixing the drainage might solve some of the problems. Director Sasamura commented that he would provide those comments to the DDC to assist in their assessment of the area. He commented that water seen from rainwater on the surface is only a part of the water present in Palolo Valley. Shiraki asked and Resident Tom responded that he has lived in his current home since 2012, the home constructed in 2009.

Governor David Ige's Representative - Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Director Catherine P. Awakuni-Col—n gave highlights from the September 2018 and October 2018 Capitol Connections:
• Scam Protection: Awakuni-Col—n reported that DCCA urges the same tips to prevent scams as Gallagher had during the BWS report earlier in the meeting. She commented that these tips apply to other utilities including electricity, gas, telephone, etc.
• Capitol Connection Summary: Awakuni-Col—n reported that the Capitol Connection for November 2018 includes stories related to Hawaiian Homelands lot selection and affordable housing projects breaking ground statewide.

House Representative Calvin Say - Representative Say distributed a newsletter and reported the following: 
• Waimao Road/Kuahea Street: Representative Say expressed his sympathy for the concerns of residents in Waimao Road and Kuahea Street, and provided background on historical development of the surrounding area. 
• Kalua Road and Trespassing: Representative Say reported that HPD has been made aware of incidents of trespassing to steal fruit grown on properties along Kalua Road. 
• Stop Light: Representative Say reported that an extension of the stoplight at 8th avenue and Waialae Avenue is being explored to improve visibility for West-bound drivers.
• Private Driveways: Representative Say reported that the ingress of egress of private driveways in regards to families or renters parking too close to entrances is being explored.
• Monster Homes: Representative Say reported that there have been 30 reported monster homes in the area.
• 100 Year Storm: Representative Say urged the administration explore the hundred year storm in regards to the condemnation of properties around Waimao.Road.
• Waimao Road/Kuahea Street (continued): Representative Say reported that he contacted the Director of the DDC to discuss the issues with the roadways. He commented that the problem may have occurred when they endorsed the development of Kuahea place, which diverted the water down to Waimao Road.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: Sanctuary City: Shiraki asked and Representative Say responded that he supports Hawaii being a Sanctuary City. Shiraki expressed his concerns with the position and Representative Say responded that Hawaii's residents are descended from immigrants, and that fact behooves him to accept other immigrants as well. Shiraki responded that he supports legal immigration, not illegal immigration. Chair Hack commented that this issue between the Representative and Board member had been thoroughly explored at previous meetings. 

Senator Les Ihara Jr. - State Senator Les Ihara reported the following:
• Senate Majority Policy Retreat: Senator Ihara reported that the Majority Caucus of the Senate is still committed to implementing policies to meet the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, following a Senate Majority Policy Retreat. 
• Senate Organization: Senate Ihara reported that the Senate organization ought to be announced soon. He commented that he expects to continue as Majority Policy Leader.
• Ala Wai Project: Senator Ihara provided an update on the Ala Wai project. He commented that Congress utilized an emergency appropriations bill which will provide 300 million dollars for the project, with the State sharing 35% of the total cost. The cost to the state has a 30 year deferred payment option. He added that the Chair of the DLNR is currently discussing the financing details with the City and County of Honolulu. He added that there will be public outreach efforts once they figure out how to approach the project. 11 projects. Chair Hack asked and Senator Ihara responded that the deferred payment would likely be interest free. 

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: Sanctuary State: Shiraki asked and Senator Ihara responded that he supports Hawaii be a Sanctuary State. Shiraki asked and Senator Ihara responded that they explored the issue thoroughly in the past, and encouraged Shiraki and interested residents to look at minutes of previous meetings.

RESIDENT/ COMMUNITY CONCERNS

Ala Wai Project: Resident Dave Watase distributed a handout and reported his opposition to the Ala Wai Project. He commented that the Army Corps of Engineers is doing a 100 year flood protection mitigation for the Ala Wai Watershed. He clarified that two (2) weeks before the end of the public comment period, the Army Corps notified him that they wish to obtain his and a portion of his neighbor's private property to build a 30 foot tall retention basin. They will dredge the natural stream for the capacity. He commented that according to the initial EIS, they would destroy between 400 - 500 feet of stream. He commented that since the end of public comment, they expanded the scope to six (6) properties to acquire. He commented that this addition was not advised in the public comments, and the decision was made without public oversight. He commented that as a personal landowner, he should have been made a stakeholder from the beginning of the consideration to utilize his property. He reported that he was notified of the project and their wish to use the property well into the design phase. He commented that the public comment period is now closed. He commented that those downstream of the retention basin were not notified. The six (6) new landowners are not aware that their properties are under consideration for use by the Army Corps of Engineers. He distributed sample documents related to the final EIS and summarized its contents. Chair Hack commented that the discussion will continue in a fuller capacity at the next meeting.

Korean Care Home: Resident Karen Inouye asked and Chair Hack responded that the Korean Care Home representatives will be speaking and can answer questions at that time. 

PRESENTATIONS

Senator Brian Schatz's Office: Kathy Bryant, and Interns Teresa Ng and Evan of Senator Brian Schatz's Office reported the following:
• Student Programs: Ng reported on three (3) student programs, including the Senator's Senior Program. Interns of the program work with the Senator's Honolulu Outreach Staff and identify issues related to Hawaii's schools and community. She commented that Senator Schatz's Senate Youth Program brings two (2) high school upper classmen to Washington D.C. for a week to better understand public service as a career. She added that any school freshmen interested in joining a military academy, Senator Schatz's Office can provide the necessary congressional letter/nomination.
• Community Outreach: Evan reported on Senator Schatz's Outreach efforts related to case work and constituent services in regards to federal agencies. He commented that Senator Schatz's Office offers case work for those who need assistance in dealing with federal agencies/ services. Those interested can go to Senator Schatz's website at https://www.schatz.senate.gov/ or call the Honolulu office at (808) 523-2061.

Questions, comments, and concerns: Florida Elections: Shiraki expressed his concerns with Senator Schatz's comments related to the Florida Elections and Bryant responded that, due to the evolving nature of the issue, she would take the concern back and forward a response from the Senator to the Chair.

Update on 9th and 10th Avenue Sewer Relief Project: Construction Manager Aaron Hites of Road and Highway Builders provided an update on the Palolo Sewer Relief Project:
• Project: Hites reported that the project is meant to replace the existing eight (8) inch sewer line with a 16 inch sewer line and defined the boundaries of the project. The project is set to begin in early December 2018 to be completed by February 2020.
• Work Hours: Hites reported that the construction hours will be daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of rain events and holidays.
• Installation: Hites reported that the new sewer lines will be frequently testing during the installation process, with some requiring some brief sewer bypass.
• Equipment and Staging Area: Hites reported that the equipment staging area will advance along the street with construction.
• Parking: Hites reported that 200 feet of parking area will be occupied at any given time around a given construction area. 
• Services: Hites commented that they are coordinating with services such as TheBus and HandiVan to ensure seamless service.
• Traffic Control: Hites reported that traffic control measures will be in place during work hours, which will be directed by flaggers and officers in many areas. He advised drivers find alternate routes.
• Sewer Bypasses: Hites reported that sewer bypasses will be required along Kalua Road from 9th avenue to 10th avenue and at the end of Waimao Road. He summarized the process of sewer bypass which removes the flow from areas needed for work. He commented that the pumps utilized during this process are fairly quiet and should not cause any significant noise disturbances. He added that the bypass should not cause any further traffic congestion.
• Hotline: Hites reported that the 24 hour project hotline number is (808) 284-7298.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: Clarification: Shiraki asked and Hites responded that the new line will be 16 inch replacing an eight (8) inch line. Shiraki asked and Hites responded that a different alignment is in place except for areas needing a sewer bypass. Shiraki asked and Hites responded that they will be working on a couple of blocks at a time. 
Palolo Korean Care Home

Citing a miscommunication regarding the listed item on the agenda and the intended project, Chair Hack deferred this item. Chair Hack commented that discussion related to a Conditional Use Permit at the Korean Temple could be placed on the December 2018 or February 2019 meeting agenda.

Reports of Members Attendance at Other City Meetings

Envision Kaimuki: Chair Hack attended the Envision Kaimuki meeting.

BOARD BUSINESS

Community Recognition Committee Nomination: No meeting was held; no report was given. 

Special Committee on Monster Houses: No meeting was held; no report was given.

New Banner for Board

Mau moved and Shiraki seconded for the Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 to spend no more than $125.00 on a Neighborhood Board Banner. The motion WAS ADOPTED by UNANIMOUS CONSENT; 8-0-0 (AYE: Caron, Farm, Hack, Holtrop, Mau, Nakayama, Onishi, Shiraki. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None.)

Treasurers Report: No report was available. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. The P lolo Neighborhood Board's Next Regular Meeting is Wednesday, December 12, 2018 
C. Bulky Trash Pick-Up - Take out no-earlier-than one (1) day before the third Wednesday of every month) to preserve the beauty of the valley. Report via Honolulu 311 Smart Phone Application or https://appsto.re/us/SiStC.i Call 768-3203 for violations.
D. Farmers' Market - Every Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. - 7:20 a.m. at P lolo District Park 
E. 'Olelo Broadcast Slots - The P lolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 meetings will tentatively be aired on Channel 49 the first and third Sundays of the month at 12:00 p.m. and the 4th Thursday at 9:00 p.m. or online, anytime at http://www.olelo.org
F. Social Media - Join us informally at the Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 or "P lolo Valley Community" page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com. Also stay connected with P lolo at www.nextdoor.com 
G. Designated Board Members to Assist to Close-Up - Thank you to Shiraki for arranging.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m. 

Submitted by: Thomas Baldwin, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Public Relations Specialist
Finalized by: Randolph Hack, Chair

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