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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting APRIL 2022 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 5/11/2022.

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

Diamond Head / Kapahulu / St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5

March 2022 Minutes

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

6:00 P.M.

Video recordings of Regular Meetings may be found at:

https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-sitearticles/1657-board-meeting-video-archive.html

Written materials for this Regular Meeting may be found on OneDrive at:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!BIst49_N_u8YbJVHY5DlpKNlBnk?e=NbFRm1 with password "SchoolStarts"

CALL TO ORDER - Chair Andrew Salenger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with 9 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, Margaret Murchie, Bertram Narita, Bruce Wong (arrived at 6:46 p.m.), John Beutel, Wendell Murakawa, Keolu Peralto (arrived at 6:10 p.m.), George West, Don Persons, Andrew Salenger, Michelle Matson (arrived at 6:04 p.m.), Laura St. Denis (arrived at 6:03 p.m.), Linda Wong.

Board Members Absent: Rafia Hasina and Mela Kealoha Lindsey.

Guests: Captain Elden Tanaka (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Steven Ono and Lieutenant Taro Nakamura (Honolulu Police Department); Anton Krucky (Mayor Rick Blangiardi's office); Isaac Choy (Governor David Ige's office); Dean Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Renee Espiau (Renee Espiau); Keola Fisher (Council Chair Tommy Waters' office); Councilmember Calvin Say, Melvia Kawashima, and Janel Denny; Representative Bertrand Kobayashi; Taylor Date (Representative Scott Nishimoto's office); Alan Titchenal (Ocean Safety Division); Laura Ruby, Daisy Murai, Joannie Dobbs, Arleen Velasco, Marilyn Mick, Karen Swann, Curtis Chee, Winston Welch, Anna Kerr, Dana Bergeman, Elden Tanaka, Noe Nekotani, Jing Zheng, Wes Fujita, Danny Wassman, Paula Mac, Steve Ono (Residents); Casey Ishitani (Neighborhood Commission Office). Names not included will not be provided. 48 attendees total.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): [6:01 p.m.] HFD Captain Elden Tanaka reported the following.

• February 2022 Statistics: There was one (1) structure fire, six (6) nuisance fires, two (2) activated alarms, 57 medical emergencies, three (3) motor vehicle collisions, two (2) mountain rescues, one (1) ocean rescue.

• Safety Tip: Residents were encouraged to install and maintain smoke alarms for added fire safety.

Matson and St. Denis arrived at this time. There were 11 Board members present.

Honolulu Police Department District 6: [6:04 p.m.] HPD Lieutenant Steven Ono reported the following.

• February 2022 Statistics: There were nine (9) robberies, 11 burglaries, 128 thefts, 32 unauthorized entries of vehicles, 23 assaults, two (2) sex assaults, 44 sidewalk violations, eight (8) speeding citations, 2530 parking citations, 172 park closure citations, 5,322 total calls for service.

Peralto arrived at this time. There were 12 Board members present.

Honolulu Police Department District 7: [6:22 p.m.] HPD Lieutenant Taro Nakamura reported the following statistics.

• February 2022 Statistics: There were 10 motor vehicle thefts, seven (7) burglaries, 37 thefts, 16 unauthorized entries of motor vehicles and 6,538 total calls for service.

Ocean Safety Division: [6:29 p.m.] There was no representative at this time.

Neighborhood Security Watch: [6:30 p.m.] Matson reported that there has been increased encampments on the mauka side of Diamond Head and at Diamond Head Beach. There have been reports of fires and unsafe conditions due to litter from encampments. Neighborhood Security Watch has reached out to Office of Housing (HOU) and Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE).

CITY AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Rick Blangiardi: [6:32 p.m.] Department of Community Services (DCS) Director Anton Krucky reported the following.

• HONU Program: The HONU program will relocate from Keehi Lagoon to Old Stadium Park, starting Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

• Leahi Avenue: The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has been coordinating the acquisition of Leahi Avenue extending from Monsarrat Avenue to Noela Street for the Safe Route to School project.

• Homelessness: Resident raised concerns regarding homeless individuals camped under the Kapiolani Avenue and King Street Bridges of Palolo Stream. HPD reported that on the week of Sunday, February 27, 2022, HPD officers and the Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) conducted cleanups in the various locations and parks within the Moiliili/McCully area. The area under the bridge at Kapiolani Boulevard/King Street will require the DFM to utilize a boom truck.

• Third Floor: Board member raised concerns regarding a house on Diamond Head Road and Palaoa Place possibly adding a third floor. An investigation on Friday, February 18, 2022, conducted by the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) Building Inspection Section (BIS) revealed a new two-story, single-family dwelling structure under the approved plans of Building Permit (BP) No. 857206, issued on November 18, 2020.

• Cement Wall: Board member reported a cement wall being built at 3807 Diamond Head Circle on the Monsarrat side, onto the sidewalk. An investigation on Friday, February 18, 2022, conducted by the DPP BIS revealed the owners of the property removed and rebuilt the Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) fence wall at the rear of the property without first obtaining a Building Permit (BP). Notice of Violation (NOV) No. 2022/NOV-02-116 was issued for rebuilding the wall without a BP.

• Kapiolani Park: Board member reported vehicles being parked around 6:00 p.m. on grass near Beach Café. While patrolling in hot spots to deter violent and property crimes, HPD District 6 (Waikiki) Third Watch officers did not observe any vehicles parked on the grassy area in Kapiolani Park near Beach Café.

Bruce Wong arrived at this time. There were 13 Board members present.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): [7:07 p.m.] There was no representative.

Chair Salenger relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Allen.

Governor David Ige's Office: [7:07 p.m.] State Director of Taxation Isaac Choy reported the following.

• Leahi Avenue: Director Choy reported that he will inquire with the State Attorney General regarding trust history of Leahi Avenue.

• Red Hill: Red Hill fuel storage will be decommissioned.

• Covid-19: The State emergency proclamation and mask mandates are set to expire on Saturday, March 26, 2022, depending on the levels of infections.

• Energy Prices: The cost of electricity may increase approximately 10 percent due to the war in Ukraine affecting crude oil prices.

Vice Chair Allen relinquished the gavel to Chair Salenger.

RESIDENTS INTERESTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS

Culinary Institute of the Pacific: [7:20 p.m.] Kapiolani Community College (KCC) Dean Carol Hoshiko reported that the Culinary Institute of the Pacific will hold a virtual townhall on Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at http://go.hawaii.edu/Y5A.

Ala Pono Bridge: [7:20 p.m.] Resident Laura Ruby raised concerns regarding the Ala Pono Bridge project, requesting that Department of Transportation (DTS) provide updates.

BOARD BUSINESS

Board Member Three Absence Notice: [7:29 p.m.] Chair Salenger inquired if there was a Motion to vacate Board member Mela Kealoha-Lindsey's seat due to three (3) absences.

Linda Wong Moved and Julia Allen Seconded to Vacate Kealoha-Lindsey's seat. [7:32 p.m.] Motion WAS NOT CARRIED, 6-6-1 (Aye: Julia Allen, Murchie, Narita, Beutel, Salenger, Linda Wong; Nay: Bruce Wong, Murakawa, Peralto, West, Matson, Persons; Abstain: St. Denis). [7:34 p.m.]

Establishment of Leahi Avenue Standing Committee Members: [7:36 p.m.] Chair Salenger proposed the following for the Leahi Avenue Standing Committee -- Laura St. Denis (Committee Chair); Charlene Watanabe; Marilyn Mick; Rafia Hasina; Greg Eng; Joannie Dobbs; Noela VonWiegandt; Arleen Velasco; Lee Lockhart; Linda Wong.

Maston Moved and Peralto Seconded to Adopt proposed Leahi Avenue Standing Committee members. [7:37 p.m.] The Motion was ADOPTED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, 13-0-0 (Aye: Julia Allen, Murchie, Narita, Bruce Wong, Beutel, Murakawa, Peralto, West, Persons, Salenger, Matson, St. Denis, Linda Wong; Nay: None; Abstain: None). [7:42 p.m.]

Consideration of a Board Recess for April 2022: [7:42 p.m.] Chair Salenger inquired if the Board would consider a recess in April 2022 to accommodate the ending of the State's Emergency Proclamation. There was no Motion.

PRESENTATIONS

Complete Streets Administration: [8:00 p.m.] Renee Espiau of Complete Streets reported that an upcoming roadway rehabilitation project would propose a roundabout at the intersection of Monsarrat Avenue, Diamond Head Circle and Kanaina Avenue as a traffic calming measure.

CITY AND STATE ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

Council Chair Tommy Waters: [8:41 p.m.] Keola Fisher of Council Chair Waters' office reported the following.

• Fort Ruger Market: Council Chair Waters has spoken to the owners regarding dumpsters being placed near residences.

• Kaimana Beach Park: An update is pending from the Department of Facility Maintenance regarding Kaimana Beach Park showers.

• Noise Ordinance: Bill 43 has been introduced to mitigate noise violations in Waikiki.

Councilmember Calvin Say: [8:47 p.m.] Councilmember Say noted that his report may be found at https://calvinsay.wordpress.com/, he just got through with a four-day marathon on the City and County's budget for Fiscal Year 2023, and he will help Director Krucky address the Board's questions. He also expressed thanks for the City and County employees who attended this meeting.

Chair Salenger relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Allen.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi: [8:49 p.m.] Representative Kobayashi reported that the State has proposed 600 million dollars for Hawaiian homelands and 10 million dollars for homeless mitigation. There were 336 Bills moving from the House to the Senate and over 500 Bills from the Senate to the House.

Representative Jackson Sayama: [8:52 p.m.] There was no representative.

Representative Scott Nishimoto: [8:52 p.m.] Taylor Date of Representative Nishimoto's office reported residents may contact his office at repnishimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov or at (808) 586-8515.

Vice Chair Allen had connection difficulties, relinquishing the gavel to Secretary Beutel.

Secretary Beutel relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Allen upon her return.

Senator Stanley Chang: [8:58 p.m.] There was no representative.

Senator Les Ihara, Jr.: [8:58 p.m.] There was no representative.

Vice Chair Allen relinquished the gavel to Chair Salenger.

Leahi Avenue Standing Committee Chair: [8:59] Chair Salenger designated St. Denis as the Chair of the Leahi Avenue Standing Committee.

The remaining agenda items were deferred, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by Casey Ishitani, Public Relations Assistant

Reviewed by: Deputy Dylan Whitsell

Reviewed by: J. David Beutel, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No. 5

Final approval by

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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting APRIL 2022 Minutes

Diamond Head / Kapahulu / St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5

Kaimuki Hawaii
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