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AIEA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

DRAFT – MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2009

AIEA PUBLIC LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM

CALL TO ORDER: Jane Sugimura called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. with six (6 members present. Note: This 15 - member Board requires eight (8) members for a quorum and to take official action. Vice Chair Sugimura announced that being there is no quorum the Board would take reports until a quorum is present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Tracy Arakaki (arrived 7:59 p.m.), Ron Fitch, Wilbert Ho, Ron Mobley, Kelsey Morinaga-Wells, Susan Sheldon, Jane Sugimura, Kelsey Morinaga- Wells.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Dave Arakawa, William, Clark, Danielle Lum.

GUESTS: Sharleen Oshiro (Office of Councilmember Romy Cachola), Ken Best (Office of Representative Blake Oshiro), Roger Obgario, Tracy Burgo (Board of Water Supply), Senator Norman Sakamoto, Jackie Burke (WESPAC), Debbie Hiramoto (Office of Senator Donna Mercado Kim), Captain Greg Ikeda (Honolulu Fire Department – Aiea), Kendys Min (Hawaiian Electric Company), Claire Tamamoto (Aiea Community Association), Karen Higa, Kehaulani Lum, Rodney Funakoshi, Jordan Lum (Aiea Community Association); Sgt. Roger Nitta (Honolulu Police Department, District 3-Pearl City), Pat Lee (HHCTCP), Erin Kealoha (Office of Representative Lynn Finnegan), Dennis Enomoto (Palekana), Steve Nawahine (Advanced Health Care), Representative K. Mark Takai, Barbara Annis (Office of Governor Linda Lingle), Suzette Adversalo, David Tanoue (Office of the Mayor/Director, City Department of Planning and Permitting), Nola J. Frank (Neighborhood Commission Office).

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS:

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Captain Greg Ikeda reported the following:

§         September 2009 Statistics – 3 rubbish, 3 wildland, 3 vehicle fires, 64 medical, 4 search/rescue, and 11 miscellaneous calls.

§         Fire Safety Tip - When selecting Halloween costumes, ensure they are flame-resistant, made of lightweight fabric, brightly colored, and clearly visible to motorists. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape. Keep the length of costumes short to prevent tripping. A natural mask of cosmetics is better than a mask that may restrict breathing or obscure vision. Children should carry flashlights to light their way.

ROLL CALL – Ronald Fitch, Wilbert Ho, Ron Mobley, Kelsey Morinaga-Wells, Susan Sheldon, Jane Sugimura; six (6) members present.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Sgt. Roger Nitta circulated the written statistics report and highlighted:

§         September 2009 Statistics – 14 auto thefts, 9 auto theft recoveries, 12 burglaries, 45 CPD (criminal property damage), 6 sex assaults, 74 thefts, 60 UEMV (unauthorized entry into motor vehicle), and 220 calls for service.

§         Hoomalu Street/Kamehameha Highway – HPD has increased enforcement in this area and issued several warnings and citations for speeding.

§         Haliwiliko Street – Patrols have made regular checks at the cul-de-sac and found no suspicious activities, and will continue to monitor the area.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s Representative - David Tanoue reported the following:

• Adult Care Home on Kealakaha Street and Aiea Heights Drive Follow-up – The Department of Planning and Permitting has no record of a Conditional Use Permit for any of the four lots near the intersection. An interior lot on Kealakaha Drive was given a “zoning clearance” in 2008 for an adult residential care home for five or fewer residents. The zoning clearance is only to confirm that the use is permitted in a particular zone district (R-10 Residential District) by the zoning code.
• Community Workshop 1 – Transient-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan community workshop is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2009. Pearl Ridge Elementary School (98-940 Moanalua Road) from 6:30-9:00 p.m.  The TOD will focus on land uses and potential development of areas surround the Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, and Pearlridge stations.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1)       Adult Care Home on Kealakaha Street and Aiea Heights Drive – There are no TLC care home vans parked on the adjacent empty lot.

2)       Kauhale Street – Repaving of this street was requested. Follow up will be done to find out if this street is city or privately owned. If a street/road is privately owned patch work would be done by the city.

Board of Water Supply – Tracy Burgo reported the following

§         September 2009 Water Main Breaks – On September 10 at 98-1487 Kaahumanu Street; and September 14 at 98-411 Aiealani Place.

§         Wildfire Prevention and Watershed Protection – In the event of a wildfire, the BWS works closely with the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) to ensure there is efficient and reliable water service to save lives and property. The BWS fully supports HFD’s efforts to prevent wildfires on Oahu because each wildfire takes a toll on the drinking water supply. Wildfires threaten the island’s watersheds areas, which are fragile ecosystems that collect rainwater. If the watersheds ability to collect rainwater is compromised, less rainwater will filter down to replenish the ground water supplies. Nature does an excellent job in providing us with an abundant supply of drinking water, but nature needs our active participation to create a sustainable future on Oahu, in which there’s enough water for many years to come.

§         An informational brochure that explains how everyone can join the effort to protect the island watersheds and forests was circulated.

§         Water Conservation Tip – Support projects that remove invasive plants, and join the community watershed partnerships and educate others of the importance of watersheds. Conserving water daily reduces the need to use ground water that is essential for healthy watershed forests and stream ecosystems.

Councilmember Romy Cachola – Sharleen Oshiro circulated the written and noted it included a letter from the October 8, 2009 Star-Bulletin relating a lesson for rail transit; and was available for questions.

Without objections, the agenda was taken out of order to 7.D Elected Officials.

Elected Officials:

Governor Linda Lingle’s Representative – Barbara Annis reported the following:

• Trimming of Kiawe Trees along the Bike Path (along Rainbow Bay Park) – State Department of Transportation was thanked for trimming the branches. However, the City Department of Transportation Services did the maintenance. The request to trim branched hanging over the bike path was referred to Mayor’s Representative David Tanoue.
• Fencing along Kamehameha Highway – Regarding only pipes currently being installed, Rep Takai relayed that this is part of the Kamehameha Highway Improvement Project. Dot has requested that temporary pedestrian barriers be installed along the entire western corridor (Kamehameha Highway). The project has been delayed due to utility challenges. As mentioned since the start of the project, the chain link fence will be broken up by four-feet of canvas like materials with a Hawaiian motif on both sides. The transit project will improve the barriers. Updates will be discussed tomorrow at an Executive meeting at his office. Log on to www.kamehamehahimprovements.com.

7:59 p.m. Arakaki arrived; seven (7) members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1)       Illegal Dumping in Aiea Stream – Follow up will be done regarding a request to remove large mattresses dumped in the Aiea Stream; and if the stream is under city or state jurisdiction.

Senator Norman Sakamoto – Senator Sakamoto

• School Repairs and Maintenance – If released funding for school repairs and maintenance is below $3 million.
• Furloughs – Furloughs is not a legislative issue, but between the Administration and the unions. Parent opportunities for their children while on furlough days can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website.
• Use of the Hurricane Fund – No special session would be called on this matter unless requested by the Administration.

Questions, comments and concerns:

1)       Intermediate and High School Students on Furlough – Regarding concern raised that most of the focus is on elementary schools children, the YMCA, Kamaaina Kids, etc. will have activities for older students. He noted that the community needs to help.

2)       Board of Recognition – As a senior project, businesses are encouraged contact the high schools, gather volunteers, and mentor these students so that they may earn this letter of recognition.

Senator Donna Mercado Kim – Debbie Hiramoto reported the following:

• Task Force Meeting – House Concurrent Resolution No. 76 established a task force on reinventing government to examine the current operations and organization of state government and make recommendations on making state government more efficient. The first task force meeting will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2009 a report of its recommendations is expected prior to the Regular Session of 2010.
• Senior Fair – A Senior Fair will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the Pearlridge Shopping Center, Uptown from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; and will include 24 vendors.
• Keiki ID – Keiki ID event on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Pearl Kai McDonald’s from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Representative K. Mark Takai – Representative K. Mark Takai reported the following:

• Deployment – Happy to be home after seven months of deployment to Iraq.
• Executive Committee Meeting – A meeting is scheduled with the Directors of the State Department of Transportation, city Department of Transportation Services, and staff, to update the Aiea/Pearl City transportation project.
• Newtown Road Repave Projects – Kahele Street will be restriped with the striping supported by the community.
• Town Meetings – Since the Leeward Current no longer exists, it will be a challenge informing the community of upcoming meetings. A monthly mail-out has helped. The community is encouraged to call his office with ideas on how to publicize for next year’s meetings.

Representative Blake Oshiro – Ken Best reported the following:

1)       Keiki ID Drive – Reiterated the Keiki ID event on Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Pearl Kai McDonald’s.

Representative Lynn Finnegan – Erin Kealoha reported the following: Community Conference – A community conference will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at Radford High School Cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.

RESIDENTS’/COMMUNITY CONCERNS: The following concerns were received via email:

1)       Illegal Dumping of Material on City Streets in Aiea and Pearl City for Bulky Item Pick-Up – Bulky items put out too early for pickup were reported on Kaahumanu Street and the corner of Noelani and

2)       Kaahumanu Street. Contractors and homeowners are stripping out their old cabinets and just dumping them on the street near the west side of Hillside Terrace and other areas in Pearl City and Aiea (Kaahumanu Street and both sides of the street for the Pearl City and Aiea Neighborhood Board boundary).

3)       Monthly Movie Night in Residential Area – Concern was received regarding a movie shown publicly monthly on a Friday evening on Kalaloa Street, causing excessive noise in the neighborhood. A comment was that the movie is being shown at the Halawa View Apartments from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., once monthly, hosted by the Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP).

4)       Excessive Dog Barking – Excessive dog barking in the evening hours along Ohekani Loop, but the main concern is that there may be hoodlums walking around the neighborhood.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES SEPTEMBER 14, 2009:  Deferred.

BOARD BUSINESS:

Honolulu Rail Transit – Pat Lee reported the following:

• Pearlridge Station Community Workshop #2 – The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Pearl Ridge Elementary School (98-940 Moanalua Road); the public is invited to attend. The purpose of these workshops series is to gather residents’ ideas about the design of their rail stations. Workshops have been completed for Kapolei, Waipahu, and Leeward Community College. Today, the Hawaii Congressional delegation and Mayor Hannemann announced that the Honolulu rail Transit Project has entered the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s new Starts funding program; a key step to the process. With the entry of the preliminary engineering phase, the project maintains eligibility for approximately 41.5 billion in federal funding for rail constructing after completing further engineering design and refinements of financial and management plans. In addition, the project can immediately utilize $39 million in federal funds, including $4 million stimulus money, which has been appropriated by Congress. Congress is working on as much as an additional $30 million appropriation for FY 2010. These federal funds are in addition to the federal stimulus funds, and are being used to keep and add more new jobs in Honolulu and throughout the state.

• Rail construction will generate or sustain an average of 10,000 jobs per year in both direct and indirect jobs, according to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• The Project’s upcoming milestones in 2009 include publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, the Federal Transit Administration’s issuance of the Record of Decision, which will conclude the environmental review, award of its first construction contract, and groundbreaking.
• The City expects to award several construction contracts in the near future: the first 6.5 mile segment of rail guideway this fall; the maintenance yard after the New Year; and the total value of the contract is about $1 billion for this portion of the project.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1)       Groundbreaking Delays – Delays would depend on the Federal Transit Administration’s who oversees various financial plans.

2)       Comment – It was mentioned that no one is watching the stimulus funding, so why is the FTA watching over this project.

Aiea Community Association (ACA) Resolution recommending the ACA as a Community Based Development Organization for the specific development of the `Aiea Town Center Plan – Claire Tamamoto reported the following:

• At the last ACA Board meeting the possible opportunity of a partnership with a private entity would move forward in the master plan, Boards members agreed to receive a copy of the master plan via email from Tamamoto. The master plan was completed in 2002; and a meeting is needed to verify that the community’s wants are still included in the plan. The ACA would like to be designated as a Community Based Development Organization and submitted an application and is seeking Board

support. Once designated the town center plan can be implemented. Initially there is no money involved since the City purchased the land in 2002.

• Relative to the proposed resolution, in November 2008, Lots 7-14 (old sugar mill site-middle lots) were purchased by the City to be designed for a community center area. Lot 6 was purchased with federal funding for a senior facility.
• Follow up will be done if the Master Plan could be put on the Board’s website.
• Next Meeting – The next ACA meeting will be held on Monday, October 26, 2009, at the Aiea Public Library Conference room (address above) at 7:00 p.m.; (http://www.aiea-community-assoc.org/).

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1)       Board Support – If the Board supports the request, a letter must be sent to the City Department of Customer Services.

2)       Comment – Many community members have been involved in the planning process and the plan has always been to utilize the sugar mill site, which now sits vacant. Board members were encouraged to attend November’s meeting so that Board action could be taken on this important issue.

3)       Advanced Health Care (AHC) – Steve Nawahine and Dennis Enomoto relayed that AHC is interested in building a senior center at the site. A previous site considered on Mikilemi Street is no longer being considered.

Western Pacific Regional Fishery management Council (WESPAC) Feasibility of Community-Based natural Resource Management Project on Oahu – Jackie Burke circulated two brochures and highlighted the following: The Western Pacific Management Council is one of eight regional councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage offshore fisheries. The primary role of the council is to the management of the nation’s fisheries resources, prepare, monitor and amend management plans for offshore fisheries based in the Western Pacific Region or operating in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters within the Region. The Aha Kioli Advisory Council does the cultural management for Hawaii. The Hawaii Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) was developed to regulate harvests of non-pelagic marine resources in Hawaii’s offshore waters through an ecosystem-based approach. This approach is adaptive, as well as place-based. The Fishery Ecosystem Plan also identifies management objectives, delineates geographical boundaries, fosters increased coordination and community participation through various advisory bodies and appropriate management structure, designates managed species, and details applicable fishery regulations. For more information call (808) 522-8220 or log on to www.info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Fish Pond – Follow up will be done regarding the fishpond located at McGrew Point.

Hawaiian Electric Project (HECO) on Moanalua Road, Maintenance on 138kV Pole Line to Replace and Repair Insulators and Frame Arms – Kendys Min reported Starting on October 19, 2009, the maintenance project for the 138kV pole line (100-foot steel poles) along Moanalua Road and Salt Lake Blvd. will start. The project is to replace and repair insulators and frame-arms that are aging, prevent equipment failures which can cause lengthy outages and road closures. The power lines run from the Waiau Power Plant to East Honolulu. Specialized high-lift trucks will used to do the work and because of the footprint of these big vehicles, two lanes will be taken out of the road where work is being done. The work zone will involve as many as three poles and the trucks will be moving around from one day to the next as the work is completed. A problematic area will be at the Gateway sign (near the cemetery) on Moanalua Road. Traffic signs, cones, arrow boards, etc. will be used to control traffic and special duty police officers will assist with the traffic. Work will commence after rush hour traffic until 3:00 p.m. It is hopeful that the work will be completed by Thanksgiving.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1)       Future Underground Lines – Regarding underground lines for Aiea, there are different levels of voltage and because it is no feasible, there are no plans to put the 138kV lines underground. However, according to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), underground infrastructure must be put in by the developer (new developments). For older neighborhoods it would be costly and someone else would have to pay, not the electric company.

2)       Timeline – As previously mentioned work will start on October 19, 2009 in the Pearlridge area near the shopping center. Work should be completed in three weeks; and there is a moratorium stating that all major work must be done before the holidays.

3)       Comment – It was asked being that electricity is sent from Waiau to East Honolulu, could money be set aside and given back to a community such as Aiea to be used for future underground lines. Min noted that underground lines can be problematic sometimes, due to weather, etc.

REPORTS:

Treasurer’s Report – Deferred.

Committees’: There were no committee reports.

Permitted Interaction Group (PIG):

Aiea Community Association – Claire Tamamoto reported nominations and elections of officers will be placed on the association’s November agenda.

There were no other Permitted Interaction Group reports.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Ø       Next Meeting – The next Board meeting will be on Monday, November 9, 2009, Aiea Public Library (99-143 Moanalua Road), at 7:30 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.

Submitted by: Nola J. Frank,

Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by:

Jane Sugimura, 1st Vice-chair

William Clark

Chair