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KAHALU'U NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007

KEY PROJECT 

Members gathered at 7 p.m. and noticing the absences of Board officers, by consensus, designated Art Machado as presiding chair.

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Art Machado called the meeting to 7:10 p.m. with a quorum of eight members present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Cappella, David Henkin, Leialoha Rocky Kaluhiwa, Arthur Machado, Jr., Kurt Mench, Kenneth LeVasseur, Elwin Spray, Rich Vermeesch, Gregory Geboski.

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Emil Wolfgramm, George Okuda, Jean Paul Renoir, Wayne Panoke, Daniel Bender, Amy Luersen.

GUESTS: Palakiko Chandler and Jacob Brown (Boy Scout Association Troop 360); Ethel Serikaku, Charlottte A. Tsuha, Hiilei Kawelo, (Paepae o He’eia), Tom Dedowa, D. Keala Naluai, Captain R. Libed (Honolulu Fire Department-Kahalu’u), Tania Tom Hoon, Lt. John Cheong (Honolulu Police Department, District 4-Kaneohe), Barry Usagawa (Board of Water Supply), Jacce Mikulanec (Council member Donovan Dela Cruz Office), Don Cooke, Nola Frank (Neighborhood Commission Office Staff).

RESIDENTS/COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

Paepae o He’eia – Hiilei Kawelo announced a He’eia Fishpond Algae Clean-up on Saturday, May 26, 2007 from 8:30 to 1:00 p.m. Tours as well as a machine demonstration of the super sucker will be part of the day’s events. Algae will be removed manually and participants will need covered footwear and swimwear; gloves will be provided. Lunch will be provided by Tammy Ho Smith. Flyers and the Paepae o He’eia quarterly newsletter were available for interested person to review. Chair Machado mentioned that Kawelo, along with himself is a member of the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council and thanked Kawelo for her announcement.

Celebrate Kaneohe (96744) – Rocky Kaluhiwa announced the public is invited to attend the launching of Celebrate Kaneohe this Saturday, May 12, 2007, at the Windward Mall, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kaluhiwa was thanked for her announcement.

INFORMATIONAL SESSION:

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Captain Libed reported staff at the station this evening is one officer and three firefighters. Statistics for the month of April included five fires (rubbish), ten medical and eleven miscellaneous emergency response calls. The Fire Safety Tip is to prepare a fire escape plan. Map out your routes with at least two ways out of each room. Designate a location outside of the house where everyone can meet. Know where the closest phone is located to call 911.

In response to a questions asked last month relating to HFD requests for equipment – Requests from Fire Operations’ companies are submitted through channels to the Fire Chief. Requests must be justified and agreed upon by the Company Officers and Battalion Chiefs. The Department follows City and State procurement guidelines when purchasing equipment. Gifts – An individual, company, or group may request to donate funds or equipment, such as a rescue boat; however, the gift must be approved by the Honolulu City Council. Once approved, a member from the Administrative Services Bureau or Fire Operations will coordinate the purchase. If there are further questions on the matter please contact Captain Terry D. Seelig of Fire Operations at 723-7185. Chair Machado thanked Captain Libed for his report.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Lt. Cheong reported statistics for the month of April included burglary nineteen, theft forty-eight, unauthorized entry into motor vehicle thirty-one, auto theft twenty, and robbery four. The total April response calls for the Kahalu’u area was 1,192.  There were also ten warrants, nine D.U.I, and five drug/narcotics arrests. Regarding the robberies, four people were arrested for robbing a gas station.

7:20 p.m. Mench arrived; nine members present.

Questions, comments, concerns: 1) Chair Machado mentioned that Lt. Robinson was a guest speaker on the Perry and Price Radio Show discussing District 4’s area statistics. Lt. Cheong replied that statistics are differentiated by sector and burglary statistics fluctuates. An individual arrested last month for burglary admitted only to three. Officers’ address the issues in the best manner possible. Chair Machado thanked Lt. Cheong for his report.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) – No representative was present; the report was available for interested persons to review.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Barry Usagawa reported:

1. One main break occurred on April 4, at 47-528 Kamehameha Highway, to an 8-inch cast iron main that is 36 years old. Life expectancy for mains made of older materials is approximately 70 years.

2. Pumpage for the week ending April 26 was 147 million gallons daily.

3. Detect-A-Leak Week is from June 3-9. This is Board of Water Supply’s annual push to raise awareness about the importance of catching and fixing simple household leaks around the house. Dye tablets for toilets will be given out at various City Mill stores, satellite city halls, and at the BWS building on Beretania Street. Free home leak check-ups will be provided to winning customers through a contest that will be announced later. Special thanks to co-sponsor City Mill, and associate sponsors the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Sierra Club of Oahu for their help with this year’s Detect-a-Leak Week. Chair Machado thanked Barry Usagawa for his report.

Kaneohe Bay Regional Council (KBRC) – Art Machado reported the next KBRC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, 2007 to discuss changes to the rules. He encouraged all interested persons to attend this meeting because community input is welcome.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 11, 2007: Chair Machado asked if there were any correction or additions to the Regular Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2007:

• Page 3, Questions, comments, concerns, sentence 5 should read, “…Henkin said heavy water users should subsidize the program, which could be accomplished through a rate structure with large water users charged more…”

• Page 4, Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of March 14, 2007, Page 6, and “… 2) Geboski called the NCO for more clarification…”

• Page 4, Wetlands, last sentence should read, “…State Fish and Wildlife…”

• Page 5, Discussion followed, “(1) Henkin added that the Federal Fish and Wildlife Services has jurisdiction over protecting the birds…” Line 7 should read, “…LeVasseur explained the history of the area and said the City did not know it was a swamp…”

• Page 5, 2^nd discussion followed should read, “…4) Henkin suggesting adding a cc to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Services…”

• Page 5, 3^rd discussion followed should read, “…2) LeVasseur commented that as a last resort the $41 million could be used to reduce traffic by creating a situation having three lanes into Haiku and Kahalu’u and single lanes at the bottom of the gulch.
• Page 6, delete, “…8) Geboski commented that the politicians tested the water and found that a number of people want the widening…”

• Page 7, Planning, second sentence should read, “…The Department of Planning and Permitting website information discussed by the group and will have the information revised…”

Mench moved, seconded by Vermeesch accepting the April 11, 2007 regular meeting minutes as corrected. The motion carried unanimously, 9-0-0 (LeVasseur, Geboski, Machado, Vermeesch, Mench, Kaluhiwa, Spray, Cappella, Henkin).

TREASURER’S REPORT – Vermeesch reported the Operating/Publicity Account balance ending April 30, 2007 was $1,661.08; expenditures were printing agenda and minutes $15.02, mail out of agenda and minutes $43.68, and facility rental for January, February and March $195, leaving a balance of $1,411.38. No expenditures in the Refreshment Account leaving the balance at $120.00. Kaluhiwa moved seconded by LeVasseur accepting the treasurer’s report, to be filed subject to audit. The motion carried unanimously 9-0-0 LeVasseur, Geboski, Machado, Vermeesch, Spray, Kaluhiwa, Mench Cappella, Henkin).

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Kahekili Highway Widening – Chair Machado asked if information was available regarding the Board’s planned community forum. LeVasseur replied that Board member Panoke was the coordinator, is not in attendance this evening, and no update was available. Chair Machado said he voiced objection to having a forum due to the short time frame for the planning. LeVasseur responded that the urgency at last month’s meeting was dealing with the legislature. Mench added that the legislative session is over for this year.

Introduction of Guests – Palakiko Chandler and Jacob Brown from Boy Scout Troop 360 introduced themselves and said they were at the meeting to earn their Citizenship in the Community merit badge. Chair Machado thanked them for helping setting up the chairs for the meeting, and for being in attendance tonight.

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion of Zone Change from AG2 to County (47-572 Ahuimanu) – Tania Tam Hoon asked that this item be deferred until further notice. LeVasseur recommended that tax map key numbers and addresses be included with any agenda requests. He noted that he had a difficult time finding the above address on the Department of Planning and Permitting GIS website. Chair Machado thanked Tam Hoon for attending the meeting.

Discussion of City and County Plans for Maintenance of Kahalu’u Flood Control Lagoon – Mikulanec, from Council member Dela Cruz’s office reported a RISER (request for investigation and services report) was submitted this week and an update would be given at a later date.

Discussion of the small bridge at the head of Ahilama Road (starting) at Mapele Road – Mikulanec reported he spoke with personnel from the Departments of Transportation Services (DTS) and Design and Construction (DDC). A copy of the resolution passed by the Board was given to both departments by LeVasseur. All components will be looked at and an update would be given at a later date. Contact person for DTS is Layden Akasaki.

Discussion followed: 1) Mench asked if this is part of the by-pass issue. LeVasseur answered yes. Mench felt that the community from that area (re the by-pass) should have been part of the earlier discussion and invited to the meeting. LeVasseur noted that he has been communicating with residents of that area. Mench added he thought the idea was not to have accidents and make Kamehameha Highway safe. The Board is yet to approach the State to accommodate the Kahalu’u Regional Park entrance by creating a left turn lane from Kamehameha Highway. Rather than a by-pass the Board should be focusing for a safer Kamehameha Highway, which is also used by the north community as their daily route. He suggested splitting the highway lanes, adding a median so if an accident ocurrs the traffic could be re-routed to the other lane, which may result with fewer accidents. Mench stated the highway needs to be improved, made safer, and the funding used for what it is designated for. Ingress and egress is need for the mauka side of the park, keeping the estuary for the safety of the birds. It was also suggested to move highway lane mauka.(2) Chair Machado thanked Mench for his suggestions and added the subject was not on tonight’s agenda, but should be included with the community forum. All Mench’s suggestions would be taken into consideration. (3) LeVasseur noted the report lists the situation as a default by-pass. It is important that a policy is set allowing large vehicles the by-pass if an accident happens to avoid the accident scene. The City must speak with the owners to get the ball rolling regarding the road that is privately owned. LeVasseur added he would like to have traffic safety at the Kahaluu meeting and thanked Mench for his good ideas. (4) Spray asked Chair Machado if the issue should be referred to committee.

5) In response to an audience member regarding the lane width the by-pass would be, LeVasseur explained the by-pass area would entail Mapele and Ahuimanu to the fire station to Wailehua and be eighteen feet wide. A policy change would be need for the bypass. He explained a previous incident where two trucks were attempting to cross the small bridge at the same time (sixteen feet wide) that took them a half hour. 6) Kaluhiwa suggested a Board weekend workshop to discuss highways in Kahalu`u. 7) LeVasseur said that these two different issues and two separate workshops should be held. He suggested starting with the Kahekili Highway problems and then the modeling for Kamehameha Highway. Expand from the contra-flow to other traffic issues and if they are not being addressed, why? 8) Chair Machado asked why the Board committees are not having meeting prior to the Board’s regular meeting. He mentioned that the Kaneohe Board committees meet once a month prior to the regular meeting to do planning before presenting. LeVasseur asked if the meeting dates would be put on the agenda under announcements. Spray noted the committees’ could appoint other people to report back to the Board by creating a permitted interaction group. In response to Geboski, Spray replied that the Board must meet in the confines of Kahalu’u. Chair Machado thanked Jacce Mikulanec for his reports.

REPORTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS’:

Mayor’s Representative – No representative was present.

1. Regarding wetlands across from Waihee Road on Kamehameha Highway, Cappella asked if a cease and desist order could be issued because cutting of the grass resumed this past Monday and he found two dead ducklings. The cutting was ceased after he told the workers that they were in violation of federal law. He suggested a possibility would be to turn the area back into a hau bush so it does not attract the birds and stated the City should be held accountable. LeVasseur mentioned that a letter was sent to Les Chang, Director for the Department of Parks and Recreation and asked Spray if it would be appropriate for him to contact Wilbert Ho, Windward District Manager instead. Spray said original request was to Chang and any additional requests should be to Chang. LeVasseur said three weeks ago he requested a meeting and has received no reply. Geboski noted to his understanding the violation is of a federal law, and suggested seeking a federal agency for help. LeVasseur added that Wendy Lee from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said the issue should be referred back to the federal law that protects the birds. Regarding follow up, Henkin suggested calling the Fish and Wildlife Services to see if a “taking” permit had been issued. LeVasseur said the Fish and Wildlife Services have a short permit form and potentially the wetland is small. An audience member noted he does not think the koloa duck is listed as an endangered species due to its inter-breeding; the Koloa duck was reported as only one of the possible species involved. LeVasseur will do follow up on the matter.

2. Geboski reported receiving correspondence from the Neighborhood Commission Office about pending legislation and said he felt it was highly inappropriate for the office to be advocating a position.

Governor’s Representative – No representative was present.

U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono – No representative was present.

Councilmember Donovan Dela Cruz – Mikulanec circulated the written report and noted: 1) The budget Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on May 23, 2007 on Bill 31 to gather public testimony and discuss the FY08 Capital Improvement Projects slate of projects. District II has received funding for several projects including the Hui Iwa Street Median Project and modification for KEY Projects. 2) Requests for investigation and services reports (RISERS) have been submitted for removal of bulky items on Ahuimanu Road; stop signs at Melekula and Ahuimanu Road’ plans for dredging of the Kahalu’u Lagoon. 3) A response regarding the cutting of the wetland grass (across from Wahee Road) will be requested from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

Questions, concerns, comments: 1) Naluai asked about who owns the KEY Project facility. LeVasseur replied it is a combination of both City and State ownership; part of the commitment with a long term lease to KEY Project as a service provider for youth services. Mikulaned will follow up. 2) Spray asked if the RISER requests and responses could be reported to the Board.

Senator Clayton Hee – No representative was present.

Representative Colleen Meyers - No representative was present.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Water Conservation and Allocation – Deferred.

Safety/Transportation/Environment – Discussed earlier in the meeting. As Planning Committee Chair, Mench requested to be included with the Safety and Parks meeting. Spray informed all that anyone can attend the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, which is held on the 3^rd Wednesday each month, Honolulu Hale at 4 p.m. They do have a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and discuss transportation issues. Spray LeVasseur said he does a research online and receives email responses.

Parks and Recreation – No report

Planning – No report.

Preservation of Hawaiian Heritage – Deferred.

Legislation – Deferred.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Kaluhiwa announced the Annual Long Distance Canoe race, this Saturday from Kailua to Heeia Pier, to Kualoa Beach Park.
• Cappella announced that the Lot 79 issue has been resolved and the application submitted by the Kalopaa group was denied.

ADJOURNMENT – Without objections, Chair Machado adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

Submitted by,                                                                            Reviewed by,

Nola Frank                                                                                      Art Machado, Chair

Neighborhood Commission Office staff