Diamond Head Neighborhood Board Meeting DECEMBER 2024 Minutes

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024 AT 6:00 P.M.

PAKI HALE MEETING ROOM (MAIN FLOOR) -- 3840 PAKI AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96815

AND ONLINE VIA WEBEX

Video Recording of Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNadGOfjuds

Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WKnOJqdvqoRuGhJ7E9rg5u7AtruuZZZn

1. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:37]: Chair Welch called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was NOT established with 6 members present. This 15-member board requires 8 members to establish a quorum and to take official board action.

Board Members Present: Winston Welch, David Beutel, Julia Allen, Rafia Hasina (arrived at 6:03 p.m.), Alex Kahn, Angie Knight, Michelle Matson (arrived at 6:25 p.m.), Margaret Murchie, Dylan Whitsell (arrived at 6:29 p.m.), Linda Wong (arrived at 7:13 p.m.), and Bruce Wong (arrived at 8:19 p.m.).

Board Member(s) Absent: Arleen Velasco, Dan Decker, and Laura St. Denis.

Guests: Lieutenant Leonard Nishimura (Honolulu Police Department District 7); Lieutenant Steven Ono (Honolulu Police Department District 6); Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Dean Carol Hoshiko (Kapiʻolani Community College); Anton Krucky (Mayor Blangiardi); Ryan Aguilar (Governor Green); Amanda Zepeda (City Council Chair Waters); Reuben Sierra (Senator Chang); Representative Ikaika Olds; Alexi Drouin, Allison Guard, Audrey Abe, Catherine Conrad, Cheryl Severn, Chris Cooper, Daisy Murai, Grace Benson, Heidi Hirsa, Juanita Liu, Kimo Cameron, Laura Ruby, Leolani Iwaki, Louise Hiatt, Noela, Sharlene Chun (Residents/Guests); Commissioner Larry Veray (Neighborhood Commission); Curtis Hayashi (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name not included if not legible or stated for the record. There were 39 total participants.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHLY REPORTS -- [0:01:10]

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD), Waikīkī Station -- [0:01:12]: No representative present.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 6 -- Waikīkī/Kapiolani Park/Diamond Head -- [0:01:27]: Chair Welch called this agenda item at this time.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 7 -- Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights/East Honolulu -- [0:01:42]:

Lieutenant Nishimura provided the statistics for November 2024 and holiday precautionary safety tips.

Rafia Hasina joined at 6:03 p.m.; 7 members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:03:34]

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) District 6 -- Waikīkī/Kapiolani Park/Diamond Head (Continued) -- [0:08:13]: Lieutenant Ono provided the statistics for November 2024 and holiday precautionary safety tips.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:09:56]

[3]. FILLING OF ONE (1) OPEN BOARD SEAT -- [0:10:56]: Chair Welch called for any interest in filling the Diamond Head Sub-District 3 seat. There were no interested residents or nominations.

[4]. PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTS AND EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [0:11:26]: Chair Welch mentioned the length of the agenda and provided an explanation relating to a ruling by the State Office of Information Practices (OIP).

Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) -- [0:12:34]: Kathleen Elliot-Pahinui reported there were no water main breaks in the community over the last month, provided advisory reminders concerning utility payment scams, and reported that BWS' water system and fencing projects are continuing to progress.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:13:51]

Kapiʻolani Community College (KCC) Updates -- Carol Hoshiko -- [0:19:07]: Dean Carol Hoshiko provided information regarding the following announcements: KCC Fall Commencement on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the Diamond Head Theatre; community interest classes; and tuition paid for by Good Jobs Hawaiʻi for both a court interpreter training course for those who are bilingual through continuing education, and a sustainability and resiliency class beginning in late March 2025.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:21:43]

Michelle Matson joined at 6:25 p.m. Quorum was established with 8 members present.

Honolulu City Charter Article XIV: Neighborhood Boards Commission Update -- Larry Veray, Neighborhood Commissioner -- [0:26:35]: Chair Welch called this agenda item and there was no representative at this time.

[5]. PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS & EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS OPEN FORUM -- [0:28:04]

Proposed Bridge Over the Ala Wai Canal and University Avenue and Kalaimoku Street Residential Neighborhoods Site -- [0:28:06]: Chai Welch called on Mōʻiliʻili resident, Laura Ruby, who acknowledged the board for passing the resolution requesting a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed bridge over the Ala Wai Canal, and provided updates and further information.

Dylan Whitsell joined at 6:29 p.m.; 9 members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:30:57]

Concerns Relating to Mākālei Beach Park and Lē‘ahi Beach Park -- [0:32:00]: Resident Allison Guard shared concerns regarding Mākālei Beach Park and Lē‘ahi Beach Park, including the sidewalk with a lot of activity from walkers, dog walkers and runners, a narrow section of Diamond Head Road that is not a designated lane, but there are bicyclists and drivers, relating to the environment with respect to oil and gas running over reefs because of vehicular parking in parks close to the beach, and adding parking inside the park changes the use and aesthetics of the park.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:33:37]

A roll call was conducted at 6:36 p.m. Quorum remained, now with 9 members present.

[6]. RESOLUTIONS FOR BOARD ACTION -- [0:37:33]

Resolution Urging the Department of Transportation Services (DTS), and the City & County of Honolulu to Address the Safety Concerns/Routing of the Newly Installed TheBus Route 200 -- [0:37:33]: Chair Welch provided background information regarding this resolution.

[4]. PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTS AND EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (CONTINUED) -- [0:11:26]:

Honolulu City Charter Article XIV: Neighborhood Boards Commission Update -- Larry Veray, Neighborhood Commissioner -- [0:39:21]: Chair Welch revisited this agenda item with Neighborhood Commissioner Larry Veray present. Commissioner Veray presented information relating to the work of the Neighborhood Commission, including the following: election process monitoring; Neighborhood Commission Survey; and Neighborhood Plan. Commissioner Veray provided recommendations to have a well-balanced and cohesive Neighborhood Board.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:49:05]

[0:49:56] -- The Webex connection for in-person participants was lost at 6:52 p.m. and was restored at 6:53 p.m.

Resolution Urging the Department of Transportation Services (DTS), and the City & County of Honolulu to Address the Safety Concerns/Routing of the Newly Installed TheBus Route 200 (Continued) -- [0:57:22]: Chair Welch provided background information regarding this resolution titled "Resolution Urging the Department of Transportation Services DTS, and the City & County of Honolulu to Address the Safety Concerns of the Newly Installed Bus Route 200."

• Resolution:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-aU9hGzm-d_HDtA1_1irJ_aAJZYNNgj8mvXs1gw6Fjk/edit?usp=drive_link

• Resolution Addendum:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aO3xqzOw8KRlUCRW_g8lIc70rxcXdsVL0er7bPV-950/edit?usp=drive_link

• Honolulu Complete Streets Design Manual Excerpts:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UZwQPC-MV8HkVb95mEsLwx8lPD38gWRtMhjVSKH07RE/edit?usp=drive_link

• DTS Response Letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m_wobuKkCqDn42l3DHpUCMaSL9A56oUK/view?usp=drive_link

[0:58:29] -- Knight MOVED and Murchie SECONDED to adopt the Resolution Urging the Department of Transportation Services DTS, and the City and County of Honolulu to Address the Safety Concerns of the Newly Installed Bus Route 200. Discussion followed. A roll call vote was conducted. The Resolution Urging the Department of Transportation Services DTS, and the City and County of Honolulu to Address the Safety Concerns of the Newly Installed Bus Route 200 was ADOPTED; 9--1--0 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Kahn, Knight, Matson, Murchie, Welch, Whitsell, L. Wong; Nay: Beutel; Abstain: None) -- [1:20:37]

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:20:53]

Resolution Urging the City and County of Honolulu to Prohibit Motorized Vehicle Parking Within Mākālei Beach Park -- [1:22:26]: Chair Welch provided background information on the resolution.

• Resolution:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WdpVNV0-tyBA4BR5HyFLbvc3IHeBxyr5/view?usp=drive_link

[01:24:44] -- Knight MOVED and Matson SECONDED to adopt the Resolution Strongly Opposing Construction of a Parking Lot within Mākālei Beach Park as written. Discussion followed and a roll call vote was conducted. The Resolution Strongly Opposing Construction of a Parking Lot within Mākālei Beach Park as written was ADOPTED; 8--0--1 (Aye: Allen, Hasina, Kahn, Knight, Matson, Murchie, Welch, L. Wong; Nay: None; Abstain: Beutel) -- [1:52:32].

Dylan Whitsell left at 7:37 p.m., 8 members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:52:40]

[7]. PRESENTATIONS -- [1:56:30]: Chair Welch announced there were no presentations.

[8]. CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU MONTHLY REPORTS -- [1:56:34]

Mayor's Representative -- Anton Krucky, Department of Community Services Director -- [1:57:58]: Anton Krucky, Department of Community Services Director, provided an acknowledgment regarding the Board's two Resolutions to DTS and the City Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and responses to resident Laura Ruby's shared concerns. Director Krucky highlighted the following: City's proposal of a potential new landfill site; and the new DPR Director, new Chief Information Officer, and new Housing Director who was previously the Deputy Director. Director Krucky provided responses to concerns regarding the following from the agenda: relating to mopeds and collapsing seawalls; wall collapse at Queen's Beach; and TheBus Route 200. He provided responses to other DTS-related and street repaving concerns.

• Newsletter: https://www8.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter/

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:02:45]

Department of Transportation Services (DTS) -- Director Roger Morton: Chair Welch stated earlier in the meeting that DTS was unable to attend the meeting and that the listed items will remain on the agenda -- [0:27:34].

City Council Chair Tommy Waters, City Council District 4 -- [2:19:23]: Amanda Zepeda highlighted the following: Bill 24 Primary Urban Center Development Plan is still being worked on; Bill 53 Special Management Area (SMA) Regulation Exemptions was adopted and approved by the Mayor (Ordinance 24-14); Bill 64 (2023), FD1, CD2 Land Use Ordinance amendment relating to use regulations was adopted; Bill 46, CD2 relating to real property taxation for the empty homes tax was postponed by Council Chair Waters to further discuss and await the study findings by Ernst & Young; Resolution 24-176, CD1 requesting the City Administration to take the steps necessary to acquire the Queen Theater property was adopted; Bill 59 single use plastics was not adopted; and Bill 61 [prohibiting] wheelies passed first reading.

• Chair Waters: tommy.waters@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-5004

• Amanda Zepeda (Constituent Services): amanda.zepeda@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-5043

• Webpage: https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/district4

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:23:57]

Councilmember Calvin Say, City Council District 5 -- [2:35:07]: No representative present.

9. FEDERAL & STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS -- [2:35:28]

U.S. Congressman Ed Case -- [2:35:30]: No representative present.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz -- [2:35:49]: No representative present.

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono -- [2:35:52]: No representative present.

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [2:35:54]: No representative was present at the time Chair Welch called this agenda item. Ryan Aguilar had made the following three areas of information available during the meeting:

• Newsletter: https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ke-Ala-Hou-Newsletter-December-2024-v3-FINAL.pdf

• Detention Center Inquiry Response: Immigration is a federal matter, handled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to the ICE website the only detention center in Hawai‘i is the Federal Detention Center in the airport area. https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities/federal-detention-center-honolulu-fdc-honolulu Statewide, facilities operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation houses pre-trial suspects accused of violating Hawai‘i law and post-trial convicts found guilty violating Hawai‘i law. At the county level, police departments have holding cells for arrestees, but they generally don't stay long. To our knowledge, no new centers are being constructed in the state to temporarily house undocumented immigrants who may face deportation once the new administration is seated in Washington, D.C.

• Ala Moana Pedestrian Bridge Inquiry Response: Completion will be pushed back from the end of 2024 to 2025. Clearance will be adequate for most vehicles and trucks that use Ala Moana Boulevard.

State Senator Stanley Chang -- [2:36:22]: Reuben Sierra provided the report and responded to a prior board inquiry relating to climate change.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:37:59]

State Senator Les Ihara, Jr. -- [2:38:50]: No representative present.

State Senator Carol Fukunaga -- [2:38:58]: No representative present.

State House Representative Tina Nakada Grandinetti -- [2:39:57]: No representative present.

State House Representative Jackson Sayama -- [2:40:08]: No representative present.

State House Representative Andrew Garrett -- [2:40:17]: No representative present.

State House Representative Ikaika Olds -- [2:41:05]: Representative Olds provided legislative office information, including that he is Vice Chair of the Committee on Human Services and Homelessness, and a member of the Committees on Health, Education, and Higher Education, and Vice Chair of the Keiki Caucus.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:42:04]

10. BOARD BUSINESS -- [2:46:48]

Chair's Report on the Monday, November 4, 2024, Meeting for Neighborhood Board Chairs and Vice Chairs called by the Neighborhood Commission Executive Secretary -- [2:46:51]: Chair Welch announced this agenda item would not be covered in this meeting, and provided remarks relating to the board's meeting minutes.

Board Committee Reports -- [2:48:01]: No reports.

Board Subdistrict Reports -- [2:48:26]

St. Louis Heights Subdistrict 1 -- [2:48:30]: Member Allen reported the next St. Louis Heights Community Association meeting will be on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at Hokulani Elementary School.

Kapahulu Subdistrict 2 -- [2:48:42]: Chair Welch announced there is no representative for Kapahulu Subdistrict 2 and asked to inform him of such interest.

Diamond Head Subdistrict 3 -- [2:48:50]: No report.

Reports of Board Members Attending Other Board and Public Meetings -- [2:49:08]: Chair Welch provided information relating to his attendance at the Ala Wai Bridge meeting that was hosted by the Department of Transportation Services.

Approval of Board Meeting Complete Written Minutes and Written Summaries of Board Meeting Videos with Meeting Recording Timestamps in accordance with HRS 92-3.7 (b)(6) and 92-9 (a) and (b) -- [2:50:22]: Chair Welch announced approving the following four meeting minutes: (1) Thursday, March 14, 2024; (2) Thursday, September 12, 2024; (3) Thursday, October 10, 2024; and (4) Thursday, November 14, 2024.

[2:50:53] -- Beutel MOVED to approve the Thursday, March 14, 2024, Thursday, September 12, 2024, Thursday, October 10, 2024 and Thursday, November 14, 2024 meeting minutes as written. Discussion followed. There was NO SECOND, the motion was NOT CONSIDERED -- [2:59:43].

Chair Welch announced this agenda item will be considered in January 2025.

11. ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [2:59:48]

Next Meeting -- [2:59:48]: Chair Welch announced the next Diamond Head / Kapahulu / St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5 regular meeting will be at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse [on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.].

12. ADJOURNMENT -- [3:00:21]: Chair Welch adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by: Curtis Hayashi, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO

Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO

Finalized by: