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WAIALAE-KAHALA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 3

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009

WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

CALL TO ORDER:  Chair Kelley Roberson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present with eight (8) of nine (9) members present.

Members Present: Scotty Anderson, Gerri Digmon, Stan Fichtman, Linda Fulton,  Lester Fukuda, Sylvia Himeda, Kelley Roberson and Richard Turbin.

Members Absent: Lucinda Pyles.

Guests: Officer Keith Takamiya and Sergeant Alan Rivers (Honolulu Police Department – District 7, East Honolulu), Captain Mike Tosaki (Honolulu Fire Department, Kaimuki Fire Station), Ross Tanimoto (Mayor’s Representative), Lori Arizumi, Bryan Gallagher (Board of Water Supply), Representative Barbara Marumoto, Kathleen Kelly (Citizens Against Noise), Senator Sam Slom, Councilmember Charles Djou, and John Lane (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

INTRODUCTION OF BOARD MEMBERS AND GUESTS: Those present introduced themselves.

HONOLULU FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS:

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Captain Mike Tosaki reported:

• 7 structure fires, 3 rubbish fires; and 109 medical and 15 miscellaneous emergencies. No major incidents were reported.

• Fire Safety Tip: Although cooking at home can be a fun family activity, please ensure care is taken by adhering to the following fire safety tips to avoid accidents in the kitchen. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires and fire injuries nationwide. Do not leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even briefly turn off the heat and take a spoon or oven mitt with you to remind yourself of the food on the stove.

No questions, comments, or concerns followed.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Sergeant Alan Rivers reported: 1) The monthly statistic report was distributed and included the Home Security Safety Tips and a flyer with contact information for District 7-East Honolulu. 2) District 7 – East Honolulu website is www.honolulupd.org/patrol/d7; and using the “Report to Us” link, a response can be received within 48 hours.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

• Anderson asked if it was possible to view temporary restraining orders (TRO) online. Every time he reads about a guy assaulting or killing his girlfriend they usually have a TRO against them. Rivers stated that they are not available for public viewing because they are confidential.

• The Board has never taken a stance on the usage of cell phones while driving.

REPORT FROM CITY AGENCIES:

Mayor’s Representative – Ross Tanimoto circulated the Mayor’s report and highlighted: The upcoming curbside recycling schedule. When the program starts the first and third days of the week will be for recycled materials and the second and fourth days of the week will be for green waste. Opala.org has all the necessary information.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

• Anderson lives on Waialae Nui and since the other two cans were delivered some people leave them out on the curbside at all times. If the cans are out on the wrong day of the week then a sticker is placed on them to remind residents not to keep them there if it is not the day of the scheduled pickup. If the problem persists then HPD will be called.

• If a battery is placed in front of some ones yard then the City will have it disposed of if nobody else takes responsibility for it. Please place plastic made from material number five directly in to the trash. The City feels that up to this point the recycling program is working out as planned.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Bryan Gallagher reported: 1) No main breaks for the past month.

BWS Contact Numbers: Do you have a question about your water bill or about a BWS construction project in your area, but you’re not quite sure where to call?  Well BWS prepared a contact card, available on the table for everyone, listing common community concerns and the appropriate phone number within the BWS to call.

Report broken water mains, fire hydrants, water in a meter box, or low or no water service by calling the BWS 24-hour water emergency hotline at 748-5010. Water bill payment or billing questions may be addressed with the collection and credit section at 748-5020. To update account information or to start, stop, or transfer water service, call the customer service representatives at 748-5030. Construction project information is available by calling 748-5730. Report water waste or obtain information about public education and tours programs by calling our communications office at 748-5041. Water quality concerns may be shared with laboratory staff: If your concern is about discoloration, particles in your water, or chemical testing, call 748-5840. If your concern is about odor, taste, chlorination or bacterial testing, call 748-5850.

If unsure of what number to call, call the Board of Water Supply main line at 748-5000.

2nd Annual Decorate an Egg, the Xeriscape Way Easter Workshop – April 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Try something new this Easter holiday by decorating an egg the xeriscape way, where keiki will decorate eggs using leaves and twigs from the BWS garden, creating imaginative, naturally inspired designs! Also, keiki will enjoy a garden-fun egg hunt after the event! Register for this exciting workshop by calling 748-5319 or emailing tours@hbws.org.Visit our website, www.boardofwatersupply.com, for a list of supplies or for more information about classes at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden or the Board of Water Supply.

Councilmember Charles Djou –Councilmember Djou’s circulated his report and highlighted:

• Bill 67 was vetoed by the Mayor and council has it on its agenda to try and override the mayor’s veto.

• Djou is trying to get a solution to the camping at Kapiolani Park. He is looking for citizens to give their input on how best to solve the problem.

• $1.1 billion from the budget is designated for use on transportation. It is 29 percent less then last year. 

• The hand held cell phone ban was passed yesterday by City Council. Cell phones may still be used anytime in case of an emergency.  

BOARD HOUSEKEEPING:

Approval of the February 20, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes – The February 20, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes were accepted as circulated by unanimous consent.

Treasurer’s Report – Roberson reported for February 2009, current operating expenses of $49.06 leaving a total balance of $2,342.01. No expenditures reflected in the Publicity and Refreshment accounts leaving the balances the same at $936 (Publicity) and $120 (Refreshment).

RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS: 

• There has been early morning crowing coming from one of the houses that is owned by Genshiro Kawamoto. Two years ago on the way to the summit of the Diamond Head Lookout there used to be three chickens. Now there are 16 chickens and ladies come there to feed them and give them water. Marumoto mentioned that there is a non-profit group that will come and catch all the chickens.

• For there to be a sidewalk installed on 22^nd avenue then most of the neighbors on that street must agree to it. That is a current provision in the law. A big problem with getting this accomplished is that the street was never turned over from the developer to the City. That issue must be resolved before anything else can be done. Tanimoto will find out if there has ever been a case where the City just pays for the sidewalks to be installed because the street in question is very close to a school.

REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS: 

Governor’s Representative – Mark Anderson circulated the Governor’s report and highlighted:

• Governor Lingle would not like to raise taxes or layoff anybody if it can be avoided. Somehow $240 million must be trimmed from the budget soon. Labor cost must be reduced. There will be a delay from when the legislature approves CIP projects to when they can actually be started.

• The State lost $2 billion in projects. The current bids that they are getting are 20%-40% lower then what they got before. There used to be one or two bidders now there are 15. Hawaii got nine hours of presentation given to them over rules regarding the stimulus money. All of the stimulus money will go to the State first so they can keep track of all of it.

Representative Barbara Marumoto – Distributed her report and highlighted the following:

• Taxes and fees will probably go up. She has introduced a resolution to have the City fine people who own a large number of homes in a little area if they do not keep their property clean.

• Some countdown timer lights have been installed at the corner of Waialae and 16^th avenue. It was the most dangerous intersection in the State. 

• The private citizens have filed a civil lawsuit against Kawamoto to get him to clean up his property but why do they have to go this route. It was commented that the government should be responsible for getting the situation resolved.

Representative Lyla Berg – Distributed her report and highlighted the following:

• Wailupe Elementary is slated to be the first school that is dissolved. 77 students will be affected. The law says that the property must be used for educational purposes

• There is a feral pig problem from Kuliouou to Kalama Valley. Many people have issues with the hunting dogs being let loose in the valley. Both domestic animals and humans have been attacked by hunting dogs in the past.

• In regard to projects that may be counting on the federal stimulus money, shovel ready may not mean shovel worthy. The administration has to have good policies in place soon.

Senator Sam Slom – Distributed his report and highlighted the following:

• The Superferry ruling raises concern asking for basic consideration. It was drafted in 2007 and there were many compromises that were done at the time. The courts’ ruling is perplexing; the vote was 5-0 in favor of shutting it down. Specific legislation is passed all the time but the court said that this specific legislation is illegal. The Superferry has proven it self in the 11 months that it has been in service. No whales have been hit and no invasive species has been transported. They have showed that there was a need for residents and small business’s to have another method of inter island travel.

• The stimulus package is a 1,000 pages long and no one who voted on it has read the paper in its entirety and the only person that he knows who has is Linda Smith.

OLD BUSINESS:

2009 Neighborhood Board Elections: This year’s election will be held only online and anyone with any questions can contact the Neighborhood Commission Office.

NEW BUSINESS:

Path Clinic Presentation: Presented by Julia Yoshimoto. The Path Clinic is a non-profit community clinic that specifically provides comprehensive prenatal clinical and social services to women with past or present substance abuse issues. It is located on 22^nd avenue in Kaimuki. They are funded by the State and other non-profits who have given them grants. The Path Clinic helps women from all over the island. If women can not get there they will send a taxi to pick them up. No agency is given any information about any woman who comes there. It is all confidential. Last year they helped to deliver 49 babies and 47 of them were born clean. When a crack baby is born it could cost up to 2 hundred thousand dollars of intensive care. If anybody has any questions you may get more information at www.pathclinic.org

Relocation of the Neighborhood Commission Office to Mission Memorial Annex: Turbin Moved to support the relocation of the Neighborhood Commission Office to the Mission Memorial Annex. Anderson Seconded. Motion is adopted unanimously. Aye: Anderson, Digmon, Fichtman, Fulton, Fukuda, Himeda, Roberson, and Turbin.

TASK FORCE / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

OMPO Traffic – Roberson appointed Fukuda the official OMPO representative

Land Use & Zoning – City Council actions or pending hearings – Waialae Country Club will be doing some minor renovations in the next few months.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Waialae Kahala Neighborhood Board No. 3 mail or City Council notices – Chair Roberson announced receiving the following correspondence:

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by,

John Lane

Neighborhood Assistant