Printable version (copy and paste into browser):

 http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/nb20/07/20_2007_02Min.PDF

AIEA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING                                          

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007

AIEA PUBLIC LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Clark called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., a quorum was present

MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Sugimura,Tracy Arakaki, Ryan Distajo, Ruby Hargrave, Sandra Thompson, Martha Aldinger, William Clark, George Passmore, Monica Texeira, Sam Heth, Ron Mobley.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Dave Arakawa, Wilbert Ho (excused), Ross Lee.  One vacancy in Subdistrict 1 serving Halawa, Halawa Heights, Stadium, Halawa Valley and Ford Island.

GUESTS: Mike Wilcox, Darrick Rodrigues, Gina Rodrigues, George and Jeanette Grace, Scott Chinen, Evelyn and Franklin Souza, Rodney Gouvea, C. Grace, Les Vallarano (Save Our Race Track); Steven Antonio (Representative Lynn Finnegan’s Office), Breene Harimoto (Councilmember Gary Okino’s Office), Hiroko Nakamura (Councilmember Romy Cachola’s Office), Robert Piper (Governor’s Office/Deputy Director Department of Budget and Finance), Ross Tsukenjo (Senator Donna Kim’s Office), Barney Hanson, John Mariani, Captain Robert Main (Honolulu Fire Department, Aiea), Tracy Burgo (Board of Water Supply), Claire Tamamoto (Aiea Community Association, Susan Sheldon, Suzette Adversalo, Representative K. Mark Takai, Warren Munro, David Tanoue (Mayor’s Office/Department of Planning and Permitting), Eileen Clarke (Board Of Education),Stanley Mersberg, Nola J. Frank (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

ROLL CALL OF BOARD MEMBERS: Ten Board members were present (Arakaki, Distajo, Hargrave, Thompson, Aldinger, Clark, Passmore, Heth, Texeira, and Mobley.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Tonight’s guests introduced themselves at this time.

PUBLIC SERVICE REPORTS:

Honolulu Fire Department – Captain Main reported statistics for the month of January 2007 included four structures (all food left on stove), five rubbish, 1, vehicle, fifty-eight medical six hazardous conditions (auto accidents, hazardous materials, etc.), three service calls (broken hydrant, assist invalid, animal in distress, etc.) fifteen good intent (calls cancelled enroute, services not needed, etc.), and eight false alarms (malicious and accidental). The Fire Safety Tip stressed the importance of having working smoke detectors installed near sleeping areas on every level of a home. Captain Main was thanked for attending the meeting.

Honolulu Police Department – No representative was present.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Tracy Burgo reported one main break on January 22 occurring at 98-822 Nahiolea Street. Dean Nakano is the new BWS Deputy Manager & Chief Engineer. Water Saving Tip – Repair your dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using. Tracy Burgo was thanked for attending the meeting.

Board of Education (BOE) – Eileen Clarke circulated the BOE Highlights and showed a sample of the Superintendent’s 17^th Annual Report. Copies will be provided to Board members at the next meeting, or log on to www.boe.k12.hi.us to review the report. Eileen Clarke was thanked for attending the meeting.

7:45 p.m. Sugimura arrived (11 members present)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 2007: Chair Clark asked for corrections or additions to the January 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes:

• Page 3, last paragraph should read, “…Halewiliko Street…”
• Page 7, Questions and concerns 2^nd sentence should read, “… The response was that Representative Takai will mention the Halawa Bridge Landing in his report…”
• Page 7, Representative Takai line 8 should read, “Kaahele update is that the City approved the changes for left pockets (acceleration lanes).
• Page 7, Governor’s Representative should read, “… Deputy Director of Budget and Finance…”
• Page 7, Mayor’s Representative should read, “…The next step for the Department of Transportation Services is proposing minimum operable segment…”
• Page 8, line3 should read, “… Regarding about drainage/flow easement over a resident’s Makalapa property, the resident is requesting sandbags along the park fence within the park adjacent to the resident’s property.

Without objections the January 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes were accepted as corrected.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Thompson reported the Operation and Publicity budgets have been combined into one. The balance in the account was $1,732.63 with expenditures of $82.49, leaving a balance of $1,650.14; the Refreshment Account had no action leaving the balance at $120.00. The Treasurer’s report was accepted, subject to audit.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

Save Our Race Track (SORT) – Jeanette Grace representing SORT (Save Our Race Track) requested of the Chair to be placed on the March 2007 agenda to do a ten minute presentation.

Hekaha Street Crosswalk – Resident Stanley Mersberg raised a safety concern for children crossing Hekaha Street and cars speeding. The crosswalk is located near Waimalu Elementary School where there is a pedestrian bridge from the school campus to Hekaha Street. There are no crossing guards or Junior Police Officers monitoring the crosswalk to guide students across the street.

Discussion followed: Chair asked if additional crosswalk signs could be put up in both directions for motorists to see. A comment was made that the crosswalk is faded and needs to be repainted. The principal of the school was approached with the problem for a crossing guard, but the response was that it is not the school’s responsibility. HPD must recruit crossing guards, but the problem is there are not enough qualified people. Mayor’s representative Tanoue, Representative Takai and BOE representative Clarke will follow up.

COMMUNITY REPORT

Aiea Community Association (ACA) – Claire Tamamoto reported the next meeting would be on Monday, March 26, 2007, Aiea Intergenerational Center, at 7:00 p.m. ACA is offering Micro-Business Training Classes (at the Aiea Intergenerational Center, Aiea Town Square) for low to moderate income individuals who make products. For more information email Claire@hawaii.rr.com (Claire Tamamoto) or call Kapiolani Silva at 484-0641. A handout with the class schedules was available for interested persons to review. Claire Tamamoto was thanked for her report.

Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi – No representative was present.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Selection of Representative for Board Vacancy, Sub-district 1 – Chair Clark asked for nominations to fill the Board vacancy in Sub district 1 (Halawa, Halawa Heights, Stadium, Halawa Valley and Ford Island) and explained the term would end on May 31, 2007. There were no interested persons present to fill the vacancy.

Proposed Nextel Antenna Facility at 98-302 Kamehameha Highway (TMK (1) 9-8-018:039) Update –No report

NEW BUSINESS:

Halawa District Park proposed closure hours, 10 PM to 5 AM – Brandon Kono was not in attendance this evening. Claire Tamamoto reported that Kono requested the closing hours (10 pm to 5 am) for Halawa District Park because of homeless camping at the park. Per the Director of the Department Parks and Recreation Board support is needed for action to be taken. Mobley added he would like to request that night park closure signs be placed on the March 2007 agenda to include all parks in Aiea. Tamamoto offered to send Chair Clark a list of specific (by name) Aiea parks.

Thompson moved and seconded by Hargrave to follow the recommendation of Brandon Kono to have signage indicating park closure hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at Halawa District Park. The motion carried unanimously, 11-0-0.

Neighborhood Board Elections – Mobley reported he attended the Commission Meeting last month and the discussion was to start online voting for Board elections because not many people were voting. Also, there were a sufficient number of candidates, but those in uncontested races were not allowed their exercise to vote. The new method being planned was to allow all voters to go online to vote, if they not want to vote online they would need to contact the Neighborhood commission for a written ballot. The audience at the meeting disagreed and raised concern about seniors not knowing how to go online to vote or taking the time to call for a mail in ballot. Because of this, the position of the Commission was changed to allow voters to register to vote online and to automatically send mail in ballots who did not register to vote online. In response to Passmore, Mobley said “if a person registers to vote online he/she will not receive a ballot through the mail.”

REPORTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS:

Representative K. Mark Takai – The next Town Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 2007, Waimalu Elementary School at 7 p.m. The topic of discussion for the night will be Identity Theft. Update on Kaahele Street – He has been working for five years to get the street restriped. Finally restriping will be done in the next couple of months. There is an issue of repainting over the existing striping or grade down. Representative Takai is also working with the State Department of Transportation and the Kamehameha Highway Task Force. Brenanan Morikawa, Deputy of the State’s Highways Division is co-chair of the Task Force. A discussion relative to traffic and transportation issues in Aiea and Pearl City will be held in late April of this year at a Town Meeting; date and time to be announced. He introduced HB 282, HD1, relating to the Aloha Stadium with House Concurrent Resolution 39 attached. Copies of a Honolulu Advertiser article relating to Aloha Stadium were circulated.

Questions and concerns: 1) Thompson mentioned she heard if the Aloha Stadium is demolished, nothing else could be built on the land. Representative Takai replied the property was deeded from the Navy to the City and to the State. The property would have to revert back to recreation or affordable housing. Since the original deed was with the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie is looking into the matter. 2) Heth asked who is saying that the stadium is safe. The response was probably the stadium authorities. Representative K. Mark Takai was thanked for attending the meeting.

Senator Donna Kim – Ross Tsukenjo distributed the monthly report and was available for questions.  Ross Tsukenjo was thanked for attending the meeting.

Representative Lynn Finnegan – Steven Antonio distributed the written report and announced meetings with the Aloha Stadium authorities are held the last Thursday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 22, 2007, 10 a.m. in the Administration Office Conference Room at the stadium. Steven Antonio was thanked for attending the meeting.

Councilmember Romy Cachola – Hiroko Nakamura circulated the monthly report and announced a joint Council Budget and Transportation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, 2007. Nakamura was available for questions. Hiroko Nakamura was thanked for attending the meeting.

Councilmember Gary Okino – Breene Harimoto distributed Councilmember Okino’s monthly report and noted their office is continuing to monitor the situation at the intersection of Moanalua Road and Kaonohi Street. Overall assessment is that traffic flow has improved although there are some issues that must be addressed. The office is working with the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) to address the issues. Councilmember Okino’s vision for the Moanalua Road/Kaonohi Street traffic improvements has always included the widening of Kaonohi Street fronting Kam Drive-In. He introduced Council Resolution 07-026 to amend the infrastructure map, which is the first step in this process. The measure is necessary because it requires the dedication or condemnation of private land. The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has 75 days to consult with other governmental agencies and community organizations, and make a recommendation to the Council. Several complaints have been received from Puaalii residents regarding the road conditions resulting from a BWS Project. Harimoto was pleased to report that the trenches were repaved during the week of February 1.

Questions and Concerns: Passmore expressed concern about the Moanalua Road/Kaonohi Street intersection, saying that it is impossible to cross the street due to drivers making a right turn from Moanalua Road on to Kaonohi Street not stopping for pedestrians or stopping when they have a red light.  He requested right turn enforcement from Moanalua Road onto Kaonohi Street. Harimoto will follow up with HPD. Chair Clark said he spoke with management for the Swap Meet who said they will try to move traffic further in to the drive-in lot to help alleviate traffic congestion on Kaonohi Street and keep it flowing. Breene Harimoto was thanked for attending the meeting.

Governor’s Representative – Robert Piper distributed Governor Lingle’s Update and copies of the Lingle-Aiona Administration 2007 Initiatives. There were no questions from Board members or guests. Robert Piper was thanked for attending the meeting.

Mayor’s Representative – David Tanoue apologized for not having all the responses to last month’s concerns, which will be reported at the next meeting. Chinese New Year’s (Year of the Boar) ribbons were distributed with a booklet offering discounts at certain establishments through the month of February. A special Transportation/Budget meeting is scheduled for February 13, to discuss the minimum operable transit segment (20 mile). Numbers relative to maintenance and operations for a transit system can be found on the Alternative analysis Report on the City’s website. Follow up regarding antennas, they are regulated by federal law and a copy of the general laws was given to Mobley. The Federal government is intent in promoting wireless antennas, which restricts what cities can do relative to regulating. Substantial evidence would be needed by DPP for an antenna application to be denied. Regarding the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Moanalua Road congregation parking on the street, the Seventh Day Adventist Church is a non-conforming church (grandfathered in) and meets all requirements. Under today’s standards a Conditional Use Permit would be needed. Follow up will be done with HPD if this is a safety concern.

Questions and concerns: 1) Munro said at the DPP meeting it was mentioned that DPP would make it easier for a citizen to find out the status of permit applications and the progress. Tanoue replied most information could be found on the website at www.honoluu.dpp.org. The website receives over a million hits per month. However, information pertaining to land use permits are not yet available on the web. In response to a question about demolition permits, Tanoue replied he thinks they are also posted on the web. 2) Regarding church parishioners parking on the street, Texeira added further down the road (east bound) cars are parked on the road fronting residences. Tanoue answered if it is a safety issue, no parking signs are warranted. In answer to Mariana, a report would be given at the March meeting if the status report regarding drainage/flowage at the Makalapa Park is complete. Follow up will be done about the sandbags. Hanson explained that in 1996 the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) can in with their own design for the easement. Mariani stated that he and his neighbor clean the inlet channel and the area still flood during heavy rains. He suggested that DPR find a way to eliminate the water run-off from the park onto his and neighboring properties. David Tanoue was thanked for attending the meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Transportation – Sugimura reported relative to the City’s Alternative Plan for the rail, the State is proposing an elevated toll roadway from Ewa to town via Nimitz Highway and that the presentation was impressive. An audience member shared that as a resident who lived on the mainland, the toll roadways are not working in some states. Through his experience, an accident on the toll road does cause a backlog of traffic. The only difference is one has to pay to use the tow road, and being stuck in traffic on the H-1 Freeway is free. Sugimura added that the Waikiki Neighborhood Board is against rail or an elevated toll road, and has suggested express bus guide ways. Tanoue noted that the Mayor was never in opposition to toll roads, which could be used to complement the rail system; it is a public issue being paid for with tax dollars and added there is a multi mode of transportation options. Mobley said his position is that the purpose is to provide transportation for those going to and from work. Putting in more funding is not a solution and that the issue has not been adequately researched. He offered his services free to the government. Tamamoto noted that the tow road rates would fluctuate, be higher during peak hours, and would be built by a private company with private and public partnerships. Comments were made that tow roads would not work because no one will pay to use them. Jane Sugimura was thanked for her report.

There were no other Committee reports.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Submitted by: Nola J. Frank, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by: William Clark, Chair