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Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting MAY 2023 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 6/8/2023.

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

DIAMOND HEAD - KAPAHULU - SAINT LOUIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 5

May 2023 Minutes

DRAFT WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023

PAKI HALE - 3840 PAKI AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96815

AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

6:00 P.M.

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaZOQGnPIV0

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn

I. CALL TO ORDER - [0:00:01]: 6:01 p.m.

Chair Whitsell called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Quorum was established with nine (9) members present. Note - This 15-member Board requires eight (8) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action. Board members must be in-person or have video access.

Board Members Present: Rafia Hasina, Margaret Murchie, Bertram Narita, Bruce Wong, John Beutel, Dylan Whitsell, Don Persons, Laura St. Denis, Arleen Velasco, Winston Welch (6:04 p.m.), Julia Allen (6:05 p.m.), Michelle Matson (6:08 p.m.), and Linda Wong (6:46 p.m.).

Board Members Absent: Wendell Murakawa.

Guests: Captain Elden Tanaka, Firefighter I Cameron Mandaguit (Honolulu Fire Department); Director Anton Krucky (Department of Community Services); Director Roger Morton (Department of Transportation Services); Claudia Rapkoch (State Energy Office); Allen Borsky, Michael Conger (Honolulu Disc Golf Association); Amanda Zepeda (Council Chair Tommy Waters); Janel Denny, Melvia Kawashima (Councilmember Calvin Say); Evelyn Hee (Representative Jackson Sayama); Arielle Black (Senator Stanley Chang); Laura Ruby, Joannie Dobbs, Keolu Peralto, Jeff Hawkins, Daisy Murai, Matt Kralevich, John White, Noela Von Wiegandt, Stan Ching (Residents); Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 39 total participants.

II. FILLING OF VACANCY - TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2023 - [0:00:19]

One (1) seat in Sub-District 2: Chair Whitsell opened the floor for any volunteers interested in filling the vacancy for Sub-District 2. Hearing no volunteers, Chair Whitsell postponed this to the next meeting.

III. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS - [0:00:56]

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - [0:02:00]: Firefighter Mandaguit provided the report, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 6 - [0:03:42]: No representative present.

Welch joined the meeting at 6:04 p.m.; 10 members present.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 7 - [0:04:01]: No representative present.

IV. COMMUNITY CONCERNS / PUBLIC TESTIMONY - [0:04:15]

Allen joined the meeting at 6:05 p.m.; 11 members present.

Matson joined the meeting at 6:08 p.m.; 12 members present.

Ruby provided testimony in opposition to the proposal to build a concrete pedestrian bridge over the Ala Wai Canal due to potential impacts to protected native Hawaiian creatures such as the Kolea and White Tern. B. Wong provided testimony in opposition to development in the Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights area and requested that the neighborhood remain as single-family homes.

V. GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION REPORTS - [0:15:23]

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Office - [0:15:27]: Director Anton Krucky (Department of Community Services - DCS) provided the Mayor's report, which can be found at: https://www.oneoahu.org/newsletter, and follow up responses to questions raised at the previous meeting. Director Krucky also brought Director Roger Morton (Department of Transportation Services) to the meeting to discuss concerns about streets, street lights, trees, and other issues relative to Leahi Avenue. The public has expressed concerns about the development of the Royal Waikiki Gardens at the Ala Wai Golf Course and the potential for it to turn into another section of Waikiki. Director Morton discussed various issues such as development plans, affordable housing, street lights, and pedestrian pathways. Director Krucky, Matson, and Welch also discussed the unsightly construction base yard, the Honolulu Salary Commission, and the lighting at Kapiolani Park. Director Morton discussed the parking spaces around Leahi Avenue.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) - [0:44:01]: No representative present.

Kapiolani Community College (KCC) - [0:44:25]: No representative present.

Governor's Representative - [0:44:38]: Claudia Rapkoch (Hawaii State Energy Office) provided the report, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn. She discussed the importance of alternative forms of transportation and the progress of renewable energy in Oahu. Rapkoch also mentioned the Governor's interest in meeting with board representatives to discuss a resolution previously passed by the board.

L. Wong joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m.; 13 members present.

VI. PRESENTATIONS - [0:57:33]

Honolulu Disc Golf Association (HDGA) - Proposal for Disc Golf Course at Wa ahila Ridge State Recreation Area - [0:57:37]: Borsky and Conger (HDGA) provided the presentation, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn. It is a proposal to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) for the installation of an 18-hole disc golf course at Wa ahila Ridge State Recreation Area. The course would include metal baskets, natural tee pads, and signs. The course would provide an inexpensive form of recreation for people of all ages and skill levels, and would have low impact benefits such as exercise and increased park safety. The Association has previously worked with the City of Honolulu to install the first public disc golf course in Waipahu. Borsky proposed a disc golf course in an underutilized area of a park, which would involve clearing some of the vegetation and working with mountain bikers to avoid conflict. Residents raised concerns about the noise, safety, and potential damage to the environment. The board discussed the need for etiquette and fairways, and the potential for conflicts with other park users.

VII. BOARD BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION - [1:31:08]

City Complete Streets Plan - Mixed Use Proposal for Ala Wai Boulevard - [1:31:12]: Postponed to the next meeting.

VIII. ELECTED OFFICIALS - [1:32:40]

Council Chair Tommy Waters - [1:32:43]: Zepeda provided the report, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn, and the following updates on issues raised last month.

• HPD and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) completed an enforcement and clean-up of Kuilei Cliffs, including the look-out on Diamond Head Road, on May 5.

• The Kapi olani Park Trustee meeting is scheduled for May 23 at 1:00 p.m.

• HPD conducted an operation in Paki Park, which resulted in two (2) arrests, the removal of over 100 pounds of trash, several citations for camping, and one individual to be extradited out of state.

• DPR and the State DLNR are working on cleaning up the plants on their respective sides of Diamond Head Road.

• Officers gave several verbal warnings and issued a citation for mopeds in M k lei Beach Park in April and will continue monitoring, while DPR will install new signage at the entrance stating no vehicles allowed.

Murai and L. Wong questioned the pending 64% pay raise for the Mayor and Council Members as excessive. Matson reported that the Diamond Head State Monument Foundation worked with State Parks, which confirmed that they have a contractor to remove the dead naupaka plants and install irrigation and indigenous plants. Von Wiegandt and L. Wong requested that Chair Waters hold a town hall meeting. B. Wong requested property tax relief for permanent residents, and Zepeda responded that the City Council is looking into providing that. The City Council recently established a permitted interaction group (PIG) to discuss the issue and are taking a hard look at over 30 different measures to provide relief. Board members are encouraged to provide feedback on the issue.

Councilmember Calvin Say - [1:49:01]: Denny and Kawashima provided the report, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn, and apologized that Councilmember Say could not attend, because he was at the regularly scheduled Makiki Neighborhood Board meeting tonight. The real property tax measures under consideration can be viewed at: https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/rptmeasures?fbclid=IwARORkJW6Z3JqVgP3FDjr3jkgFyg1USH7Fdze7T5gld7rR-2zVKAVGqVJIUQ and the Council's final look at the budget will be on June 7. Denny relayed that DPP reported multiple notice of violations on the burnt house on Date Street, are getting a property lien on it, and more action is forthcoming. Ruby requested a report on 50 years of future public expenses incurred by the development of Kuilei Place and the pedestrian bridge across the Ala Wai Canal, and requested that paid street parking permits be established for residents only.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi - [1:53:00]: No representative present. A report was submitted, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn.

Representative Jackson Sayama - [1:53:14]: Hee apologized for Representative Sayama being unable to attend tonight, due to being off island. Murai raised concerns about the Disc Golf Course proposal for Wa ahila Ridge State Recreation Area. Von Wiegandt requested that Representative Sayama hold a town hall meeting.

Chair Whitsell passed the gavel to Vice Chair Welch at 7:57 p.m.

Whitsell requested that the Sunshine Law be changed to allow a third option of solely virtual public meetings. L. Wong requested that online meeting participants make themselves seen via video.

Senator Stanley Chang - [1:59:18]: Black provided the report, which can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn. Black reported that the legislative session came to a close a few weeks ago; Senator Chang introduced and passed SB 865, his Aloha Homes pilot program, which makes low cost condos available for sale to Hawaii state residents; worked with the committee on Health and Human Services to pass SB 898, which expands the state rent supplement program for kupuna who are homeless; worked with the House to pass a number of housing bills, including one that authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a five-year revolving fund equity pilot program, and another that establishes the support of housing pilot program in the Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions; and the Diamond Head State Monument received nearly $2,000,000 over the next two fiscal years for improvement of facilities. Whitsell repeated his request to allow solely virtual meetings.

Chair Whitsell reclaimed the gavel at 8:02 p.m.

Senator Les Ihara, Jr. - [2:02:19]: No representative present.

IX. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - [2:02:33]

Regular Meeting Minutes - Thursday, February 9, 2023; Thursday, March 9, 2023; Thursday, April 13, 2023 - [2:02:39]: Beutel MOVED and Allen SECONDED to approve all of the minutes as written. Matson objected, stating that these minutes lacked accurate and required information, and recommending that the Board adopt the corrections that she provided, instead. Welch reiterated Matson's objections, and gave an example of the February minutes misconstruing a statement of his, which Matson corrected. Beutel objected to Matson's corrections, and gave an example of a motion in the April minutes which was correct at written, according to the video, but incorrect in Matson's corrections. Welch suggested meeting with Beutel to reach an agreement on the corrections. Matson and Welch also discussed the need for better trained staff and more extensive meeting minutes from the Neighborhood Commission Office. Beutel stated that he did not want to try to correct the corrections. The motion WAS NOT adopted; 6-4-3 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Narita, Beutel, Velasco, St. Denis; Nay: Murchie, Welch, Matson, Persons; Abstain: B. Wong, L. Wong, Whitsell) [2:19:04].

Matson MOVED and Welch SECONDED to approve all of the minutes as amended by Matson. [2:20:50] Velasco noted that she just received the amendments today, and that is not enough time to look at them. Matson explained that she had previously submitted her February and March corrections to the Board members, and tried to submit her April corrections yesterday, but could not get any information about how to submit them to the Board's drive until midday today. Matson agreed that all Board members need to have adequate time to review the corrections and video. Welch urged all Board members to compare the versions of the minutes and the video. Matson requested that the NCO provide the draft minutes to the Board members within two weeks after the meeting, creating a policy to improve upon the Sunshine Law requirement of within 40 days. Matson withdrew her motion. The item was postponed to the next meeting.

X. SUB-DISTRICT REPORTS - [2:26:08]

St. Louis Heights - [2:26:10]: No report.

Kapahulu - [2:26:19]: No report.

Diamond Head - [2:26:35]: L. Wong reported that the water fountains will be finished September 1.

XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS - [2:26:44]

No committee reports were provided, as no committee meetings were held leading up to this meeting.

Leahi Avenue - [2:26:45]: No report.

Parks, Recreation & Environment - [2:28:04]: No report.

Planning & Zoning - [2:28:04]: No report.

Traffic & Public Safety - [2:28:04]: No report.

XII. REPORT OF BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING OTHER BOARD MEETINGS - [2:28:16]

St. Denis reported that she attended that Mayor's Town Hall meeting at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse on Thursday, May 11, 2023 to discuss community concerns.

XIII. ADJOURNMENT - [2:31:39]

As there was no further business, Chair Whitsell adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m.

Submitted by: Dylan Buck, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by: Naomi Hanohano, Community Relations Specialist

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

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Kaimuki Hawaii News Item

Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting MAY 2023 Minutes

DIAMOND HEAD - KAPAHULU - SAINT LOUIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 5

Kaimuki Hawaii
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