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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting AUGUST 2022 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 9/8/2022.

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

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

August 2022 Minutes

DRAFT REGULAR MINUTES

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022

ALA WAI CLUB HOUSE AND 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 Pro Tem Andrew Salenger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was not established with two (2) members present via Webex Application and five (5) members at the Ala Wai Club House. Note - This 15-member Board requires eight (8) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Julia Allen, Rafia Hasina (arrived at 6:02 p.m.), Margaret Murchie, Bertram Narita, Bruce Wong (arrived at 6:05 p.m.), John Beutel (arrived at 6:02 p.m.), Winston Welch, (arrived at 6:02 p.m.), Wendell Murakawa, Dylan Whitsell, George West (arrived at 6:02 p.m.), Andrew Salenger, Michelle Matson (arrived at 6:03 p.m.), Don Persons (arrived at 6:15 p.m.), Laura St. Denis, Linda Wong (arrived at 6:15 p.m.).

Board Members Absent: None.

Guests: Sergeant Kerri Nagasawa and Lieutenant Leonard Nishimura (Honolulu Police Department); Director Roger Morton (Department of Transportation Services); Isaac Choy (Governor David Ige's office); Steven Norstrom (Board of Water Supply); Keola Fisher and Adam Doo (Council Chair Tommy Waters' office); Dean Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Melvia Kawashima (Councilmember Calvin Say's office); Representative Bertrand Kobayashi; Representative Jackson Sayama; Lynn Robinson (Senator Stanley Chang's office); Senator Les Ihara Jr.; Laura Ruby, Fannie Cline, Joannie Dobbsm Andrew Pereira, Marilyn Mick, Daisy Murai, Karen Swann, Keolu Peralto, Anna Kerr, Jack Karbens (Residents); Casey Ishitani (Neighborhood Commission Office). Names not included will not be provided. 35 attendees total.

Reports may also be found at https://1drv.ms/u/s!BIst49_N_u8YbJVHY5DlpKNlBnk?e=NbFRm1; Password: SchoolStarts

As there was no quorum, Chair Salenger deferred Election of Officer Election and had Public Safety Reports at this time.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): HFD District 7 report was provided and uploaded to OneDrive with the following statistics for July 2022: one (1) structure fire, two (2) wildland fires, seven (7) nuisance fires, one (1) cooking fire, four (4) activated alarms, 62 medical emergencies, two (2) motor vehicle crashes, six (6) mountain rescues, one (1) ocean rescue, one (1) hazardous materials incident.

Hasina, Beutel, Welch, Matson and West arrived at this time. There were 12 Board members present. Quorum was established.

Honolulu Police Department District 6: Sergeant Kerri Nagasawa reported statistics for July 2022, which may be found on the OneDrive.

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

Honolulu Police Department District 7: Lieutenant Leonard Nishimura reported the following July 2022 statistics: 11 motor vehicle thefts, six (6) burglaries, 32 thefts, eight (8) unauthorized entries of motor vehicles and 6,730 total calls for service.

Hearing no objection, Chair Salenger had Officer Election at this time.

OFFICER ELECTION

Secretary: Matson nominated Linda Wong, who was not present. Beutel nominated himself.

West Moved and St. Denis Seconded to close nominations. The Motion was Adopted by Unanimous Consent, 13-0-0 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Murchie, Narita, Bruce Wong, Beutel, Welch, Murakawa, Whitsell, West, Salenger, St. Denis, Matson; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

Linda Wong and Persons arrived at this time. There were 15 Board members present.

In a roll call vote, Beutel was appointed at Secretary, 12-1-2 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Murchie, Narita, Bruce Wong, Beutel, Whitsell, Murakawa, Welch, West, Person, St. Denis; Nay: Linda Wong; Abstain: Salenger, Matson).

CONCERNS REGARDING LEAHI AVENUE FOR BOARD ACTION - PUBLIC SAFETY

Department of Transportation Services (DTS) Director Roger Morton reported that the City will acquire Leahi Avenue from Safe Leahi LLC, with a quitclaim that must be signed over by Friday, August 12, 2022. City planning toward the roadway will be available at a later date. The roadway would be returned to the state it was prior to Safe Leahi LLC acquired it. Residents raised concerns regarding parking availability.

St. Denis Moved and Whitsell Seconded to adopt a letter of support for community involvement regarding parking, safety and sidewalks along Leahi Avenue. The Motion was Adopted by Unanimous Consent, 15-0-0 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Murchie, Narita, Bruce Wong, Beutel, Whitsell, Murakawa, Welch, West, Person, St. Denis, Linda Wong, Salenger, Matson; Nay: None; Abstain: None)

CITY AND STATE ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Office: Director Morton reported the following.

• Mayor's Newsletter: The Mayor's newsletter may be found at https://www.oneoahu.org/newsletter.

• Date Street: Board raised concerns regarding refuse on Date Street along the Ala Wai Golf Course. Department of Environmental Services (ENV) and Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) responded that they will monitor the area and that residents may report illegal dumping to the City Refuse Office at (808) 768-5220.

• Makalei Beach Park: Resident raised concerns regarding railing and walkway falling apart along the shore. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) staff inspected all of the rails at Makalei Beach Park, but could not locate any fallen rails on DPR property. The walkway between Makalei and Leahi has newer rails along seawall with one section that has fallen over into ocean/sand area. This walkway/rail between the two City parks is under the State jurisdiction.

Chair Salenger relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Whitsell.

Governor David Ige's Office: State Director of Taxation Isaac Choy reported that the State will regulate the Navy's cleaning and decommissioning of the Red Hill fuel storage facility.

Chair Salenger reacquired the gavel.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): BWS representative Steven Norstrom reported that there was a main break in July 2022 on St. Louis Drive. Residents were advised to reduce shower times, laundry and dishwashing. More information may be found at https://www.boardofwatersupply.com/conservation.

RESIDENTS INTERESTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS

Neighborhood Security: Resident Fannie Cline reported that there will be a beach cleanup at Diamond Head Beach Park in association with the Surfrider Foundation.

Ala Pono Bridge: Resident Laura Ruby raised concerns regarding the proposed bridge over the Ala Wai Canal.

Kapiolani Community College (KCC): KCC Dean Hoshiko reported an upcoming campus event on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. There will be food and entertainment.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Council Chair Tommy Waters: Adam Doo of Council Chair Waters' office reported that his office will investigate permits for a gondola tour operating in the canal.

Councilmember Calvin Say: Melvia Kawashima of Councilmember Say's office reported the following.

• Homelessness: Councilmember Say will look into homeless encampments in Kapahulu streams.

• Utility Lines: Conditions of utility lines in St. Louis Heights have been acknowledged and work orders will be submitted.

• Property Tax: Residents have until Friday, September 30, 2022 to file for property tax exemptions.

Chair Salenger relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Whitsell.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi: Representative Kobayashi reported the following.

• Primary Election: The Office of Elections had received approximately 163,000 mail-in ballots in the 2022 Primary Elections, short of the 2020 count.

• Tax Revenue: The July 2022 tax revenue has increased by 41 million dollars due to tourist spending in the islands.

Representative Jackson Sayama: Representative Sayama reported that he was working with Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) to repair utility poles in St. Louis Heights.

Representative Scott Nishimoto: There was no representative.

Senator Stanley Chang: Lynn Robinson of Senator Chang's office reported the following.

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Hawaii's crisis hotline has become available with 24 hour service at the phone number 988.

• Fall Interns: Fall interns for the Hawaii State Legislature may apply at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hjobs.aspx.

Senator Les Ihara, Jr.: Senator Ihara reported the following.

• Legislature: The next convening of the Legislature will be in January 2023.

• 2022 Election: All 25 Senate seats will be up for election in 2022.

Chair Salenger reacquired the gavel.

BOARD BUSINESS

Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUC-DP): Chair Salenger inquired if there would be two (2) representatives of the Board to attend PUC-DP meetings.

Welch nominated Matson. Murchie volunteered. Matson nominated Hasina as an alternate. Welch volunteered as an alternate.

Hearing no objections the Board appointed Matson and Murchie as Board representatives to PUB-DP meetings, with Hasina and Welch as alternates, 15-0-0 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Murchie, Narita, Bruce Wong, Beutel, Whitsell, Murakawa, Welch, West, Person, St. Denis, Linda Wong, Salenger, Matson; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

Consideration of Topics for Committees to Explore: Chair Salenger inquired if there were any topics for Committees to consider.

• Leahi Avenue: There were no suggestions.

• Parks, Recreation and Environment: Linda Wong suggested Waikiki Shell issues.

• Planning and Zoning: Bruce Wong suggested Honolulu property tax issues.

Chair Salenger called a recess at 8:00 p.m. and reconvened at 8:05 p.m. Matson left at this time. There were 14 Board members available.

SUB-DISTRICT REPORTS

St. Louis Heights: There were no reports.

Kapahulu: There were no reports.

Diamond Head: Linda Wong reported that Kaimana Beach repair issues have been brought up with City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Leahi Avenue Standing Committee: St. Denis reported that the Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2022 at Paki Hale.

Parks, Recreation and Environment: Welch reported that the Committee will take up Waikiki Shell issues.

Planning and Zoning: There was no representative.

REPORT OF BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING OTHER BOARD MEETINGS

St. Denis reported that she attended other Board meetings regarding Ala Wai issues. Whitsell reported that he attended the Neighborhood Commission meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

Submitted by Casey Ishitani, Public Relations Assistant

Reviewed by: Lindon Valenciano, Public Relations Assistant

Final approval by

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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting AUGUST 2022 Minutes

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

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