Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting February 2021 Minutes

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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting February 2021 Minutes
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With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021
VIA WEBEX TELECONFERCING
7:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER - Chair Keolu Peralto called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with 13 members present via Webex Application. Note - This 15-member Board requires eight (8) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Julia Allen, John David Beutel, Rene Julian, Mela Kealoha-Lindsey, Michelle Watson, Bert Narita, Keolu Peralto, Dona Persons, Margaret Murchie, Winston Welch, George West, Bruce Wong, Linda Wong.

Board Members Absent: Stefan Mrozewski

Guests: Sarah Allen (Mayor Rick Blangiardi's office); Kathleen Pahinui, Ernest Lau, Matt Long (Board of Water Supply); Vince Baldemor, Elmer Kaai (University of Hawaii); Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Councilmember Calvin Say; Roy Amemiya (Councilmember Calvin Say's office); Melvia Kawashima, Marilyn Mick, Cynthia Nyross, Katia Balassiano, William Ammons, Michael Damian, Charles Kelley, Richmond Luzar Chung, Devin Moody, Dave Watase, Daisy Murai, Arleen Velasco (Residents); Casey Ishitani (Neighborhood Commission Office).

SPEAKING RULES: Chair Peralto told the Board and Community know that if individuals want to speak, to physically raise their hand and then when addressed, to unmute themselves. Chair Peralto continued that if individuals are not speaking, to keep audio muted for the duration of the meeting. Speakers are encouraged to keep their comments under two (2) minutes, those giving reports are urged to keep their reports under three (3) minutes, and to silence all electronic devices.

ROLL CALL: Chair Peralto performed roll call to establish quorum this meeting.

BOARD MEMBER VACANCY: This Item was deferred.

PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHLY REPORTS Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): The HFD representative read the statistics and safety tips. More information can be found at http://www.honolulu.gov/hfd.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Nuisance Fire: Resident Fannie Cline requested a definition of nuisance fire and the HFD representative responded that it includes garbage fires or small brush fires.

Honolulu Police Department District 6: The HPD representative read the crime statistics for District 6. Statistics can be found at https://www.honolulupd.org/.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Surf Racks: Murchie requested updates regarding the fires at the surf racks at Waikiki Beach.

Honolulu Police Department District 7: The HPD representative read the crime statistics for District 7 and safety tips.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. 1. Park Hours: Matson requested that City and County of Honolulu park hours be changed. Matson also inquired which parks are statistically safer. 2. Statistics: Welch requested a comparison of crime statistics between neighboring Boards. 3. Parking: Linda Wong requested a standard procedure for towing and the HPD representative responded that it depends if the vehicle is less than 10 feet from a fire hydrant. Resident Cline reported vehicles parking illegally on Diamond Head Road. 4. Canvasing: A resident requested that HPD assist in canvasing the Diamond Head are and the HPD representative responded that Department of Transportation Services (DTS) can assist.

Neighborhood Security Watch: Resident Cline reported that Council Chair Tommy Waters has requested data to factor in clean-up costs for the Diamond Head area. Makalei Beach Park showers require repairs and there are reports of human waste near them. Murchie reported break-ins and burglaries in the St. Louis Heights area.

STATE AND CITY ADMINISTRATION REPORTS Governor David Ige's Representative: There was no representative.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative: Community Services (CSD) Director Sarah Allen reported the following. Honolulu Historic Preservation Commission: A resident inquired if Mayor Blangiardi and the managing would agree to support historic preservation and the Mayor's office responded that he will. • Action Teams: A resident suggested action teams that could combine different entities of the City government together and the Mayor's office agreed to look into it. • Orange Fencing: Welch requested an update on orange fencing near the Ala Wai Dredging Project staging area and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) responded that they contacted the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), the area in front of the Ala Wai Golf Course near the Ala Wai Canal Dredging Project had orange fencing as a precautionary safety measure to the public because large heavy equipment is frequently entering and exiting the area.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. 1. DTS Backlog: Murchie requested updates regarding the DTS backlog. 2. Kaimana Beach: Linda Wong requested updates regarding Kaimana Beach showers and if Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) had a response from the State Historic Preservation Division. 3. Homelessness: Resident Cline requested updates on mitigating homelessness and Director Allen responded that economic revitalization will take precedence and will include utilizing Federal funds to obtain public housing. A resident raised concerns regarding timelines for City and County of Honolulu action.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): BWS representatives Kathleen Pahinui, Ernest Lau and Matt Long reported that security fencing will surround the Diamond Head 180 Reservoir to prevent break-ins and protect potable water resources. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) also factored in views of Diamond Head along with using native plants as vegetation.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. 1. Landscaping: Matson raised concerns regarding the ground cover around the fence. 2. Trespassing: Bruce Wong inquired who to contact is trespassing is witnessed and Pahinui responded that residents may report trespassing to 911 or BWS at 748-5872. 3. Water Status: Board inquired regarding the current status of potable water and Pahinui responded that there was a major drought in East Honolulu. 4. Red Hill Fuel Tanks: Matson requested updates regarding the Red Hill fuel tanks and Lau responded that a Hearings Officer will bring conclusions to the Department of Health (DOH).

University of Hawaii at Manoa: Associate Athletics Director Vince Baldemor and Director of Community Affairs Elmer Kaai reported that TC Ching Athletic Complex will serve as a temporary home field for UH football. HPD will be collaborating on traffic issues that may arise.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. 1. Athletics Updates: Bruce Wong requested updates on season tickets refunds due to the pandemic and inquired when athletics will return to UH. Director Kaai responded that the goal will be to have football back in September 2021. 2. Exit and Egress: Resident Daisy Murai inquired if the flow of traffic will remain the same and Director Kaai responded that traffic and parking concerns regarding the St. Louis Heights area have been taken into consideration.

RESIDENTS INTERESTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS Kapiolani Community College (KCC): Dean for the KCC Office for Community and Continuing Education Carol Hoshiko reported that she is compiling 46 facts about 1946 and that her contact is hoshiko@hawaii.edu.

PRIORITY COMMUNITY ISSUES Community Protection Permitted Interaction Group (PIG): Welch reported an increase in crime in the Diamond Head area. The PIG introduced a Resolution to mitigate Diamond Head Transient Encampments. Resident Charles Kelley raised concerns regarding homeless encampments near Diamond Head Memorial Park. Murchie reported that transients have been loitering near beach park showers. Beutel raised concerns regarding the relevance of the Resolution's opposition to Biki Bike Share hubs as well as the request to have the United States Army National Guard assist with the removal of homeless encampments. Biki Executive Director Todd Boulanger raised that if Biki bikes are being used for illegal purposes, residents may report to https://gobiki.org/contact/. Welch responded that the National Guard may count as a necessary request due to the City and County of Honolulu remaining in an Emergency Proclamation.

Watson Moved and Welch Seconded to Adopt the Resolution.

Discussion: Kealoha-Lindsey raised that HPD patrols engage in homeless mitigation at Kapiolani Regional Park.

The Motion PASSED, 12-1-0 (Aye: Julia Allen, Julian, Kealoha-Lindsey, Matson, Narita, Peralto, Persons, Murchie, Welch, West, Bruce Wong, Linda Wong; Nay: Beutel; Abstain: None).

Ala Wai Canal and Golf Course PIG: There was no report.

Tour Helicopter Safety and Noise PIG: Matson reported that there will be Bills in the 2021 Legislative Session regarding tour helicopters.

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Council Chair Tommy Waters: Council Chair Waters raised that HPD officers should be stationed near Diamond Head Road but also raised that affordable housing will need to be designated. Work-for-housing projects and renting of vacant hotel rooms have been proposed. Additional Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage (POST) facilities have also been considered.

Councilmember Calvin Say: Councilmember Say reported that residents may contact DPR regarding homelessness in City and County of Honolulu parks.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. 1. Bridge: Resident Murai raised concerns regarding a proposed bridge over the Ala Wai Canal in the event of a tsunami. 2. Homelessness: Welch raised that the previously adopted Resolution will also require City Council assistance to aide homeless.

Hearing no objection, Chair Peralto had the Agenda Item Leahi Avenue Private Ownership at this time.

Leahi Avenue Private Ownership: Resident Murai requested a Deed for Leahi Avenue, including stipulations regarding parking and landscaping. Resident Marilyn Mick raised concerns regarding street safety. Chair Peralto raised that the Planning and Zoning Committee may reconvene to address specific concerns. Matson requested a review of the neighborhood's master plan regarding Leahi Avenue. Council Chair Waters suggested that the private owners build a sidewalk for pedestrian safety and to mitigate parking concerns. Linda Wong raised concerns regarding the effects on unit rentals along Leahi Avenue due to the unknown status of parking.

The Neighborhood Assistant left at 9:04 a.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Board Correspondence: Additional Comments: Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting - Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual WebEx Board Meeting or as otherwise announced)

Submitted by Casey Ishitani, Public Relations Reviewed by: Naomi Hanohano, Neighborhood Assistants Final approval by:

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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting February 2021 Minutes

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