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

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024 at 6:00 P.M.

ALA WAI GOLF COURSE CLUB HOUSE, SECOND FLOOR -- 404 KAPAHULU AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96815 AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c68qorx98s

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn

I. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:01]: 6:03 p.m.

Chair Welch called the meeting to order at 6:03 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: Julia Allen, David Beutel, Michele David, Dan Decker, Rafia Hasina, Angie Knight, Margaret Murchie, Arleen Velasco, Winston Welch, Michelle Matson (6:11 p.m.), Bruce Wong (6:15 p.m.), Dylan Whitsell (6:15 p.m.), and Linda Wong (6:28 p.m.).

Board Members Absent: Alex Kahn.

Guests: Firefighter Keith Ito (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Blake Arita, Lieutenant Leonard Nishimura (Honolulu Police Department); Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Dean Carol Hoshiko (Kapiolani Community College); Director Anton Krucky (Department of Community Services); Director Dita Holifield, Jay Park, Liz Shihara (Department of Enterprise Services); Administrator Roxanne Adams, Brandon Au (Division of Urban Forestry, Department of Parks & Recreation); Council Chair Tommy Waters, Keolu Peralto, Adam Doo; Councilmember Calvin Say, Andrew Phomsouvanh, Janel Denny; Kevan Wong, Laura Ruby, Brendan Shultz, CK Watanabe, Richard Manz, Ian Ross, Tina Grandinetti, Franklin Chung, Daisy Murai, Noela Von Wiegandt, CK Watanabe (Residents); Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 48 total participants.

  1. FILLING OF BOARD VACANCIES -- [0:00:15]

Diamond Head Sub-District 3 -- One Seat [0:00:15]: No volunteers at this time.

  1. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS -- [0:00:31]

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) -- Requested Report on Diamond Head Incendiary Open-Area Fires from January through March 2024 -- [0:00:31]: Firefighter Ito (Brush Fire Program) provided the monthly statistics for March 2024 and evacuation planning safety tips. As requested, Firefighter Ito reported that there were four fires around Diamond Head (2 brush fires and 2 rubbish fires) between January and March 2024 and the cause of all four fires is undetermined. Firefighter Ito highlighted that HFD cannot speculate if a homeless individual started any of these fires.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:04:57]

Matson joined at 6:11 p.m.; 10 members present.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 6 -- [0:11:53]: Lieutenant Arita reported the following: monthly statistics for March 2024; announced that there has been an increase in thefts; shared safety tips to prevent thefts at beaches; and updates regarding Kapahulu traffic safety efforts.

B. Wong & Whitsell joined at 6:15 p.m.; 12 members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:15:53]

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 7 -- [0:17:00]: Lieutenant Nishimura provided the monthly statistics for March 2024 and tips for communicating information during emergencies. Lieutenant Nishimura also addressed the conversation earlier in the meeting with HFD regarding homeless encampments around Diamond Head.

Oahu's Neighborhood Board system -- Established 1973

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:19:03]

  1. APPROVAL OF DRAFT MEETING MINUTES -- [0:22:00]

Thursday, March 14, 2024 -- [0:22:00]: Hearing no objections, this item was postponed to a later portion of the agenda.

  1. BWS, KCC, & PUBLIC EVENTS NOTICES/ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [0:22:18]

Board of Water Supply (BWS) -- [0:22:18]: Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui provided the report and highlighted the following: there were 2 water main breaks in March 2024; April 14-20, 2024 is ‘Detect-A-Leak' week; and updates regarding the Diamond Head Water System Improvement Project Phase III.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:23:34]

L. Wong joined at 6:28 p.m.; 13 members present.

Kapiolani Community College (KCC) -- [0:30:00]: Dean Carol Hoshiko presented images of construction updates on the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP). Hoshiko highlighted that significant progress has been made on the Innovation Center.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:32:28]

  1. COMMUNITY CONCERNS & OPEN PUBLIC TESTIMONY -- [0:38:42]

UH Manoa Grand Scale Project -- [0:39:25]: Daisy Murai raised concerns with UH Manoa President's Grand Scale Project as it proposes to convert the College of Education into a Student Activity Center, and questioned the decision to not utilize the property near Diamond Head Theatre that UH already owns.

Resolution on College of Education -- [0:40:44]: Laura Ruby thanked the Board for their support on resolutions relating to the Ala Wai Canal Bridge project, and encouraged the Board to consider a resolution relating to the relocation of the UH Manoa College of Education.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:42:33]

Pahoa Ridge Development Project -- [0:44:00]: Richard Manz inquired as to the status of the Pahoa Ridge Development project.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:44:38]

Piikoi Mini Park -- [1:00:08]: Ian Ross raised concerns that the City is considering selling the land that is currently the Piikoi Mini Park, and commented in support of keeping it as a park because it is one of the few green spaces in the community and is underutilized.

Campaigning -- [1:02:28]: Kevan Wong introduced himself and announced that he is running for the State House of Representatives District 20 seat.

Campaigning -- [1:04:29]: Brendan Shultz introduced himself and announced that he is running for the City Council District 5 seat.

Campaigning -- [1:05:07]: Tina Grandinetti introduced herself and announced that she is running for the State House of Representatives District 20 seat.

Request for Additional Trash Cans -- [1:08:16]: Winston Welch, on behalf of Alex Kahn, requested that the City install secured trash receptacles near Crane Park and Leonard's Bakery as it is a high traffic area and could prevent littering, as well as prevent houseless individuals from removing the trash.

  1. MAYOR'S OFFICE -- [1:09:40]

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi -- [1:09:40]: Director Krucky (DCS) provided the report and highlighted the following: Mayor Blangiardi is hosting 11 town halls across the island between March -- May 2024; main initiatives announced by Mayor Blangiardi in his State of the City Address; relocation of the Royal Hawaiian Band to the Waikiki Vista building; Kapiolani Park pathway renovations; and updates on the Kaimana Beach Shower Improvement project. Director Krucky also provided responses to questions raised at the previous meeting.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [1:14:07]

  1. PRESENTATIONS -- [1:37:08]

Department of Enterprise Services (DES) updates on the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Shell and Ala Wai Golf Course -- [1:37:47]: Director Dita Holifield presented the objectives and priorities of DES, which is to invest in necessary and lasting improvement to keep DES' doors open today and in the future. Director Holifield reported updates on the auditoriums, the Honolulu Zoo, the municipal golf courses, and concessions. Director Holifield intends on returning to these meetings to communicate plans and proposals as they come about.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [1:45:33]

Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) Division of Urban Forestry (DUF) updates on Kapiolani Park's Horticulture Building Draft Environmental Assessment -- [2:00:34]: Roxanne Adams (DUF Administrator) presented updates on DUF's plans to relocate their Nursery & Landscape Office into Kapiolani Park's Horticulture Building. The project's plans are being managed by the Department of Design and Construction, and the overall plan is to identify a new location for the entire DUF division that is more appropriate/accommodating than their current location. One of the proposed locations, which has been discussed for several years, is a section of land fronting the Ala Wai Golf Course.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [2:03:45]

  1. RESOLUTIONS -- [2:07:15]

Concerning Senate Bill 3202 Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1 -- [2:07:15]: Michelle Matson introduced the draft resolution, in strong opposition to SB3202 SD2 HD1, highlighting the concern that these bills will not benefit the community and will instead benefit developers.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [2:14:43]

[2:17:25] -- Matson MOVED and Murchie SECONDED to approve the resolution as written. Discussion followed. Hearing no further discussion, the Board conducted a roll call vote. The motion was ADOPTED; 9-3-0 (Aye: Allen, David, Hasina, Matson, Murchie, Velasco, B. Wong, L. Wong, Welch; Nay: Beutel, Decker, Knight; Abstain: None) -- [2:33:10]

  1. ELECTED OFFICIALS' REPORTS [2:36:48]

U.S. Congressman Ed Case's Representative -- [2:36:48]: No representative present. U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono's Representative -- [2:36:48]: No representative present. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz's Representative -- [2:36:48]: No representative present.

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [2:36:56]: No representative present. A report was submitted.

Senator Les Ihara, Jr. -- [2:37:03]: No representative present.

Representative Bertrand Kobayashi -- [2:37:13]: No representative present. A report was submitted.

Representative Jackson Sayama -- [2:37:22]: No representative present.

Senator Stanley Chang -- [2:37:40]: A representative provided the report and highlighted the following: general legislative updates relating to housing; and the City is beginning curb ramp project at various locations in East Honolulu.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [2:39:33]

Councilmember Calvin Say -- [2:40:00]: Andrew Phomsouvanh provided the report and highlighted the following: responded to a request for maintenance of vegetation overgrowth in Palolo Stream (near City Mill); responded to concerns regarding faded street markings and lane lines; ongoing reports of homeless individuals fronting the Board of Water Supply near Market City Foodland; and responded to reports of fallen and faded street signs throughout St. Louis Heights.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [2:41:54]

Council Chair Tommy Waters -- [2:44:08]: Council Chair Waters provided his report and highlighted the following: his reasoning for providing testimony with amendments in regards to Senate Bill 3202; clarified that Mayor Blangiardi is in support of the Ala Wai Canal Bridge project; and provided updates on the Primary Urban Core Development Plan.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [2:48:36]

  1. BOARD BUSINESS

Board Member Three Absence Letter: Postponed to the next meeting.

Committee Report -- Environment: Postponed to the next meeting. Committee Report -- Parks & Recreation: Postponed to the next meeting. Committee Report -- Planning & Zoning: Postponed to the next meeting. Committee Report -- Traffic & Public Safety: Postponed to the next meeting.

Sub-District Report -- St. Louis Heights Subdistrict 1: Postponed to the next meeting.

Sub-District Report -- Kapahulu Subdistrict 2: Postponed to the next meeting.

Sub-District Report -- Diamond Head Subdistrict 3: Postponed to the next meeting.

  1. REPORTS OF BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING OTHER BOARD AND PUBLIC MEETINGS: Postponed to next the meeting.

  1. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chair's Report -- Committee Agendas and General Announcements: Postponed to the next meeting.

Next Meeting: The next Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No.05 regular meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse and virtually via Webex.

  1. ADJOURNMENT -- [2:56:32]: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO Reviewed by: Lindon Valenciano, Public Relations Assistant, NCO Finalized by: J. David Beutel, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No. 5

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