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NORTH SHORE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 27

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008

JOHN KALILI SURF CENTER

CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIR – Chair Lyons called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum of ­­13 members was present out of 15. A vote of eight (8) members is required to adopt any motions.

Members Present – Jeffrey Alameida, Jacob Ng, Reed Matsuura, Gil Riviere, Ollie Lunasco, Arlene Kawahakui, Michael Lyons, Carol Philips, Blake McElheny, Geraldine Meade, Antya Miller, John Hirota, and Roberts Leinau.

MEMBERS ABSENT – Leif Anderson and Warren Scoville.  

Guests – Galen Yoshimoto (Department of Defense; Governor Lingle’s Representative), Lt. Byron Martin (Honolulu Police Department) Firefighter Robert Kekoa (Honolulu Fire Department), George Kuo (Board of Water Supply), Reed Matsuura (Councilmember Dela Cruz’s Office staff), Anthony Moriocl,  Kalani Fronda (Kamehameha Schools), Mark Takemoto (Dole Foods and Castle & Cook), James and Alma Gamiao, Alfredo Antonio, Ruth Holribe, Bruce Bellows, Thomas Shirai, Roxanne Waite, Steve Wojitocetz, Daniel Nellis (Dole Foods), K.B. Van Der Leeden, Linda Koch, Katie Laing, Ambika Tamamarthy, Greg Takeshima, Mary Lacques, Kathleen Pahinui, Maxi Moto, Marvin Buenconsejo (Congresswoman Hirono’s Office), Jen Homay, Karen Gallagher, Corky and Deanna Smith, Dexter Hatchie, Lani Robinson, Stew Ring (Mokuleia Community Association), Laura Thielen (Director) and Dan Quinn (Department of Land and Natural Resources), Cedric Chang (Friends of Kaena Point), Josh Heimoritz, Stephanie Wu, Adam West, Ati Jeffers-Fabro, Kaliko Amona, Judy Fomen, Joanne Martin, Beau Suetl, Jeff and Mandy Phillips, and John Lane (Neighborhood Commission Office-NCO).

APPROVAL/ADDITION/CORRECTION OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: July 22, 2008 meeting: The Board approved the July 22, 2008 meeting minutes with the following amendments:

• Page 2; under residents concerns, 1) replace Cruz with Drews.

Ng moved to approve the July 22, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes; Matsuura seconded the motion. The motion was ADOPTED unanimously, 13-0-0. Aye: Alameida, Ng, Matsuura, Riviere, Lunasco, Kawahakui, Lyons, Philips, McElheny, Meade, Miller, Hirota, and Leinau.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Phillips reported expenses incurred in August were; Operating Account expended $41.80 for printing/postage of agenda/minutes, Publicity Account expended $250 for videotaping charges for the month of July. Refreshment Account incurred no expenses; leaving a closing balance for July of $3,509.99.

REPORTS FROM HONOLULU POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS:

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Lt. Martin reported statistics for the month of June included 10 burglaries, 19 unauthorized entry into motor vehicles (UEMV), 6 motor vehicle collisions and 21 thefts.

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Firefighter Robert Kekoa reported for July the following statistics: 1) 3 structure, 7 wildland, 16 rubbish and 4 vehicle fires; 69 medical emergencies, 35 miscellaneous and 17 search and rescue calls. 2) The major incident reported was the Pupukea brush fire involving the response of 3 engines, 2 tankers, AIR1, Tender 30, and BN5/1 all responded. 3) Unusual incidents included: 1 chemical spill – Opaeula Road, 1 ATV rescue – Kaena Point, 1 missing swimmer – E11 first-in, 2 persons pinned in a car – Pupukea, Farrington Highway; 2 flare sightings – Mokuleia, 1 high angle rescue – Kaena Point, and 1 missing hiker – Kaena Point (Waianae side). 3) Safety Tip: Fire Prevention Week (FPW) is from October 5 to 11, 2008, and the theme is "It's Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!" FPW has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire on October 8 to 11, 1861. Most fire injuries and fatalities are caused by fires that occur in homes, so this year's campaign will focus on preparedness (including having smoke detectors and a family fire escape plan) and underscore the importance of regularly checking homes for fire hazards. In October, elementary school children will receive a Fire Fighter's Safety Guide. Parents are encouraged to review the guide with their children.

Questions, comments, and concerns – Leinau asked where exactly those statistics pertain to. Kekoa answered that they cover the entire North Shore.

U.S. ARMY 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION: No representative or report was available.  

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Gil Riviere reported that the committee meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Waialua Community Association Cottage 2. The meetings are open to the public. This months meeting will be on October 15, 2008. The topic of discussion is the North Shore bike plan and they would like it to be unified with the state plan.

RESIDENTS CONCERNS:

1.       Suzanne Jones mentioned that the City & County of Honolulu’s curbside recycling plan will start in the  North Shore area very soon. Bins will be distributed to homes within a matter of weeks. Pilot programs were conducted to see how well the community would receive the three new bins. The final report on the pilot project was turned into the City Council in July. Anyone who wants to view the report can find it at www.opala.org. Between Hawaii Kai and Mililani 96% of residences didn’t need more than 1 can for trash. Both bins will come with instructions printed inside of a brochure. There will also be a collection calendar passed out at that time. The program promises to be cost efficient with the largest cost by far being the bins themselves. The cost for 260,000 bins is over 20 million dollars.

            Questions, comments, and concerns: 1) Katie Lang mentioned that some residents still do not have                              automated pickup, and are they going to be getting it now? Jones responded that there are many reasons                      why there are pockets that have no automated service, and still can not be serviced at this time by                                 automatic pickup. 2) Bob Leinau asked where the waste from the green bins go. Jones responded that the                   waste goes to Hawaii Earth Products at Campbell Industrial Park. 3) Lunasco inquired that if almost the                           entire island is going to be on this recycling plan then the landfills should be doing okay? Jones responded                      that with the curbside recycling and H-Power doing an extra 300,000 tons a year then the landfill space                                    should last longer then earlier projected.

2.       Mary Chun lives on Kilioi Place; she stated that it is a cul-de-sac of about 15 homes. There has always been a curb around the entire place. She went to work on Friday and when she came home it was a through street. The developers cut down all the foliage, graded the land, and cut the curb. The residents were told that it was an entry way for Castle and Cooke to reach their property.

3.       Lani Robinson lives on Kilioi Place also. She awoke on Friday to huge trucks starting construction with no advanced notice. If this entry way is left here then their quality of life will be diminished for years to come. She would appreciate their issue being on the next agenda.

4.       Kalani Fronda would like to announce that Kamehameha Schools has put in an application for a net tower to gather wind data to maybe do some renewable energy research. The tower is going up beginning of October. More information can be found online at N.S.plan@KSBE.EDU.

5.       Kathleen Pahinui announced there will be a Candidates Forum on October 9, 2008. Candidates include Gil Riviere and Michael Magaoay, both running for the State Representative seat from this district.

6.       Phillips mentioned that a few months back she brought up the problem of erosion at Haleiwa Beach Park. No matter how much repairs are done to the retaining wall the sand is still going to escape. This is a perfect opportunity to preserve sandy beaches for future use.

7.       Riviere remarked that Wailua Little League is struggling a bit and encouraged the help of the community to participate in the upcoming fundraiser, Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Puiki Pavilion.

8.       McElheny thanked everyone who helped with the Paumalu Community Property Committee do trail cleanups. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has been helping as well. For more information go online to:  www.NorthShoreland.org.    

ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORTS:

Mayor Hannemann Representative – No representative present; no report available.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – George Kuo reported: 1) One main break in a 16 inch PVC pipe. 2) Natural disasters, power outages, rolling blackouts, or other unexpected events can disrupt the ability of the BWS to provide water service to the community. September marks the observance of National preparedness month, so they distributed an informational flyer detailing how to prepare for an emergency. For more details, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com. 3) BWS Tip - Did you know: a) The BWS pumps an average of 150 million gallons of water every day? b) The BWS maintains a water system that includes approximately 2,000 miles of pipes, four shafts, 12 tunnels, and 84 well stations?

Councilmember Dela Cruz – Reed Matsuura reported: 1) People have been asking if they can get a refund if they overpaid their property tax bill. The answer is yes just call 768-3980. 2) Received an email from Jonah Ng about the North Shore Ranch development. The land is zoned Ag-1 and Ag-2. Since it was larger then the necessary size there was never a meeting regarding the development.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1.       Leinau mentioned that Matsuura earlier commented on a bill regarding boundaries which raises the question of the process of the emergency plan. Matsuura replied that the North Shore plan is still on and that the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board is stalled because the community is requesting more meetings.

2.       Hirota said that sidewalks in Haleiwa need repair. Two wheel chair bound residents wanted to go to the beach park but could not because the sidewalks are too narrow, in disrepair and not accessible. He requested looking into getting them fixed.

Governor Lingle's Representative – Brigadier General Gary Ishikawa reported that if the state continues to spend money at the current rate there will be a 903 million dollar deficit within three years; and have all been asked to adopt a different philosophy to stop wasting and to maximize resources.  

Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) – Chairwoman Laura Thielen reported having just passed her one year anniversary with the department and highlighted on the following: 1) The Haleiwa Harbormaster is not quitting he is just on vacation. 2) There have been some long standing issues on Kaena Point such as camping, seabirds, off-roading, and fishing. Different state departments are trying to make the area better and keep it clean. There is no restriction to fishing in the area, but driving is restricted to certain areas due to the re-growth of vegetation. The seabird population is doing well but the forest birds are not; mainly due to their susceptibility to disease.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1.       Leinau remarked that the ocean recreation plan is going to be revised. It says where you can surf, swim, and dive. Will the new plan include Kaena Point. Thielen responded that there are only eight specific areas across the state where the plan is being implemented and no other areas are being planned.

2.       Lunasco asked if Thielen received his complaint against a certain game warden. The warden is being overbearing. If you even have a towel on the ground or a pop up in your truck he’ll cite someone for camping. She has received it and takes it very seriously. She is researching the complaint. They will be taking appropriate personnel action. Thielen stated that people can camp there but they need to have a sanitation bucket, they can light a fire there but they need to have that fire in a container.

3.       Hirota asked if it was possible to get someone to share information about what is going on in the Harbor. In the last month or so there have been many gates and blockades being put up. Nobody knows anything about it. Thielen said that she will work with the boating director and harbormaster to see what is going on but they know that night fishing is going on in there so that is why they do not lock the gate.

4.       Lunasco said that this is not going to be resolved tonight and requested to possibly have some advance notice to talk about this again; Thielen replied in an affirmative to the request.     

State Senator Bunda – No representative.

State Representative Magaoay – reported: The Turtle Bay working group is not in escrow contrary to rumors. It is an ongoing discussion due to economic hardship.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono – Marvin Buenconsejo reported: 1) Congresswoman Hirono is currently in Washington D.C. 2) One of the main issues going on is the 700 billion dollar bailout. She wants to make certain that a blank check is not easily handed to anyone and those responsible of getting the nation into this mess is held accountable; and 3) the credit card bill of rights HR5-2544 – banning raised credit card rates if you are late on another card and penalizing you by charging your previous balance the late fee.

Lunasco commented that this is the first time anyone from Hirono’s Office has attended. Buenconsejo noted that this area will be revitalized for it holds a special place for all and will certainly make sure that the community’s voice is heard.  

NEW BUSINESS / PRESENTATION:

University of Hawaii (UH) Water Contaminants Final Report Update – Dr. Russell Yost, Principal Investigator, for the UH water quality project, passed out a folder for community input to show a listing of concerns and proposed actions. Some issues regarded flooding, sediment, and erosion issues and would like feedback from the community to get an idea of how desirable any of their actions would be. At the next meeting, Dr. Yost will be sharing the results of this survey. The analysis in the folder is supportive of the information they announced last February. There are excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. They do not want to cause alarm but these levels are too high. There is also some unusual contamination coming from Lake Wilson.

Questions, answers and concerns:

1. Ng offered to give Yost a little background about the community. Several years ago at the request of our community tests were conducted to count the number of people with cancer and diabetes. The affected amount of people was unusually high. It is a water contaminant issue. The two major rivers coming into the area are bringing down some very bad pollutants. Arsenic is definitely in the water. That in itself is a huge contributor to cancer and diabetes. Yost responded that they are in fact analyzing for Arsenic. That test is very expensive and their budget is not enough to give a clear result. There tests up to this date have provided conflicting reports.  Philips said the draft rules did not address gender equality in the permitting process and does not address women’s events.

2. Garret Augusta stated that he has been doing water research for five years. For many years sugar cane used the water from Lake Wilson to irrigate the fields. They say that the water is R-2 but it looks like R-3. Why are there no test results?

3. Leinau commented that to the extent that you are soliciting input there are no cost factors in here. If there are violations going on we need to talk to the EPA and the Department of Health. Yost responded that there were initially two columns. The other column that has since been left out was about feasibility. It is very difficult to estimate costs. We will make an effort to do more in terms of sharing the cost information.

Castle and Cooke Report and Update Regarding Crozier Drive Cottages – Dean Minakami reported that the cottages will be accessed off of Farrington Highway. The property is nine acres in size. It has been used for over 80 years as a recreational center. They do not want to change anything. It will be used for employee recreation. Our current problem is that the structures are close to the water. The high surf can hit the sides of the building. We want to tear down the old cottages and build new ones. This project predates the zoning and there is need a state special use permit. The project is early in the planning session and anticipates that the permits will take one to two years to get approved. Mokuleia Community Association has supported the project. Hirota commented that he is one of the users of the cottages and it is a wonderful benefit for the current and former employees of Castle & Cooke. Alameida moved to support the proposal put forth for renovation and replacement; Riviere seconded the motion. Discussion followed: Leinau would like that the project take due diligence and that the Board wait on taking any action at this time. Alameida rescinded his motion.

Quest extended medical program discussing Medicaid aged and disabled persons – Roxanne Waite introduced a new program for elderly and disabled people that anybody can have. There is nothing less then the old plan used to have but there are a few more benefits and everyone will have a primary doctor. For more information, please call 1-866-928-1959, Monday thru Friday during normal business hours. The enrollment period will be from October 1, 2008 to December 1, 2008. There are two different plans to choose from, the Ohana Plan or the Evercare Plan.   

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  

• The Haleiwa Art Walk will be held Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• The Protestant Church Festival will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; there will arts and crafts and the Royal Hawaiian Band.   

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.

Submitted by John Lane

Neighborhood Assistant        

Reviewed by Chair Lyons