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WAIALAE-KAHALA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2006

WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

CALL TO ORDER:  Chair Lester Fukuda called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.; a quorum was present with six (6) members present.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Gerri Digmon, Stan Fichtman, Lester Fukuda, Sylvia Himeda, Leo Hura, Lucinda Pyles, Michael Troy. 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Kelley Roberson, Richard Turbin.

GUESTS:  Capt. Mike Tosaki (Honolulu Fire Department), Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply), Officer Shane Fujitani, Sgt. Lloyd Dabaluz and Lt. Alex Ahlo (Honolulu Police Department), Senator Sam Slom, Lavern Higa (Mayor's Representative), Kimberly Chu, Barbara J. Service, Lance Tom, Kamuela McCormick, Lauri Kauhane, Marie Richardson (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).  

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

HONOLULU FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS:

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Capt. Mike Tosaki reported: 1) 2 structure, 2 rubbish, 2 vehicle fires, 83 medical, and 20 miscellaneous calls for service. 2) Two house fires – Brokaw Street and Kuli'ou'ou Road (one fatality); eight companies in attendance. 3) The recent earthquake caused increase calls for persons stuck in elevators and activated alarms. 4) Community Relations – Holidays are a time for celebration, which means cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire due to heating equipment. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Use caution with holiday decorations, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant, or noncombustible materials, purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance. Do not overload extension cords, and try to keep live trees as moist as possible by daily watering. When purchasing an artificial tree, ensure it is made with fire-retardant materials.

No questions followed.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Lt. Alex Ahlo introduced Officer Shane Fujitani and Sgt. Lloyd Dabaluz and distributed the monthly statistic report. 1) Safety tip: Early preparations of your family will better help to cope when threatened with a disaster. 2) HPD is scheduled for an on-site assessment, December 10 to 13, as part of a program to achieve reaccreditation. Public comments are welcome by calling 479-6307 on December 11 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. or submit written comments to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.   

Questions and answers followed:

1.       Pyles inquired about the burglary incident in the Kahala area involving a stolen car;  and whether any arrest were made involving a homeless person living in someone's pool house. Ahlo noted several UEMV/burglary arrests were made and detectives are constantly addressing these types of property crimes.

2.       Digmon has noticed the Assess School buses pulling to the curbside on Malia Street to drop off the kids.

3.       Some arrests were made relating to the lock down incident at Star of the Sea School.     

REPORT FROM CITY REPRESENTATIVES:

Mayor's Report – Laverne Higa reported: 1) Council passed Bill 83, CD1 - to delay the excise tax for six months. 2) The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) conducted an analysis and determined that an all-way stop condition at the intersection of Ainakoa and Malia Streets was not warranted (Digmon). 3) The City does not have the authority to ban private refuse collectors from collecting refuse during peak travel hours (Turbin). 4) Repairs to the drinking fountains at Ainakoa Community Park will be completed by November 24, 2006. 5) Through Department of Planning and Permitting's (DPP) coordinating efforts with the neighborhood board (NB), parking restrictions implemented on Malia Street as a result of the Kahala Nui Project, were recently revised to address the NB's concerns regarding loss of on-street parking. However, if the NB wishes to pursue additional parking restrictions, DTS requires clarification as to the specific location, limits, and reason for the requested parking restriction, so an appropriate investigation can be conducted. 6) There was no response regarding the stockpile site at 4823 Kahala Avenue (TMK 3-5-59:8). 7) There was no response regarding the East Honolulu Development Plan (EHDP).

Comments followed:

1.       Concerns about the all-way-stop included: a) what would constitute a four-way stop, b) you cannot see the kids crossing down from Ainakoa because it is a blind curb, c) the greatest amount of pedestrian traffic is in the mornings; motorist are visibly disadvantage turning into the sun, d) all the traffic coming down from Ainakoa detours onto Malia, and e) residential areas and should be pedestrian friendly. Higa will try to get more information.   

2.       Clarification was made that the second drinking fountain was removed from Ainakoa Community Park; and requested it be returned. Email Fukuda with any information regarding water fountain and he will forward the information to Higa.

3.       Whenever Kalanianaole Highway is backed-up Malia Street becomes the bypass. Tom asked for restricted parking makai side of Malia Street from Alakoa to Ainakoa from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

4.       Pyles said this neighborhood board's boundary is more in common with the East Honolulu Development Plan. She said perhaps the board can address the matter before it goes to the public hearing process. Realizing it could be time sensitive issue, Higa will work on getting the details.   

5.       Digmon referred to a newspaper article (November 15) that read, "the City finds rail transit as resident's first choice," she felt was misleading and there are other options and the cost is a very big concern. McCormick said most of the people who attended the public hearing testified in favor of the rail system, but whether there would be enough rider ship is also a concern. Fukuda encouraged writing your Council members.    

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Lorna Heller reported: 1) Main break - October 19, at 2291 Halehaka Street; 8-inch cast iron pipe. BWS is spending millions of dollars to replace them to insure reliable water service and help prevent main breaks. 2) General Water Announcements: a) Thanks to all BWS customers for conserving water during last month's earthquake; this effort helped to insure continued access to water throughout the day. b) BWS has a two-prong approach to sustaining water supply during a power outage - a 24-hour average storage capacity and permanent backup generators at key strategic facilities and mobile generators that allow for maximum flexibility. c) In the event of any prolonged power outage, BWS arranged with other city, state and federal agencies to pool resources. d) Water advisories will be issued during an emergency, but the key is to immediately and automatically begin conserving water when there is a power outage. e) BWS believes there is room for improvement and are currently re-evaluating their emergency response plans to ensure the response is better the next time.

Questions and answers followed:

1.       Heller was asked to follow-up on the overgrown BWS landscaped areas. Cleaning was done, but the rubbish needs to be hauled away.

2.       In response to the request for green fencing around BWS landscaping was noted that BWS want to keep in uniform with the silver fencing. Heller will take back the comment about residents doing the work to paint the fencing green.

3.       There are desalination studies currently, but that type of project is not cost effective or feasible.

4.       A concern was when do we not have to conserve water. BWS is only encouraging to conserve water for future generations and to use it wisely. The emphasis is that we should always try to conserve.    

Councilmember Charles Djou – Stan Fichtman distributed Council member's monthly report which primarily focused on the alternative to the rail. Councilmember Djou and other members of the City Council met with Florida transportation officials and inspected the elevated toll way system. See his monthly report for details of the facts and figures about the current proposal for rail. Costs of the proposed system have escalated for a full 28-mile rail system to $6.1 billion; and the mayor plans to finance the rail system with the half percent increase in the general excise tax which takes effect January 1, 2007 (an additional $450 a year to each family). The Councilmember suggested delaying implementation until more planning is done on the alternative selected; and more consideration be given to the alternative. The public should attend this month's Council and committee meetings, and public hearings to express concerns. The Council supported the alternative analysis report, and will be voting to select the preferred alternative before December 31, 2006. There will be public input in all facets of the system's design.

Questions and answers followed:

1.       Digmon said the people have no concept of what the rail system involves; Fichtman responds that the details need to come out to let the people know. Pyles asked if any other council members entertained the toll-way alternative; Council members Apo and Dela Cruz investigated the system in Tampa.

2.       Tom

BOARD HOUSEKEEPING:  

Approval of the September and October 2006 Regular Meeting Minutes: Correction to the minutes:

·         Page 2, under the Mayor's report, Question and answer portion, item 2 should read, "…trash collection on the main thoroughfares…".

There were no objections to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 19, 2006.

Treasurer's Report: Fichtman reported expenses reflecting in the Operating Account: for September $29.13 and October was $31.13, leaving the closing balance of $2,336.46; and the Refreshment Account is at $120.00. 

The Treasurer's Report was approved for filing.

RESIDENTS CONCERNS: 

Kahala Community Association – Kawamoto Rentals – No representative present.

Chevron on Waialae and Kilauea Avenue – Chevron is responsible for the cleanup of the property on Waialae and Kilauea Avenues.  

REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:

Senator Sam Slom – Senator Slom distributed his monthly report and highlighted: 1) due to the lack of liability insurance, the Nui Valley property which was to be used to store equipment during the sewer rehabilitation construction project has caused all construction to come to a halt in August. 2)

There were no representatives present or report available for Governor Lingle and Representative Marumoto; a written report was available for Representative Berg. 

TASK FORCE / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

OMPO Traffic Update – Fukuda reported

Land Use & Zoning (Council actions/pending hearings) - Lucinda Pyles

Waialae/Kahala/East Diamond Head Neighborhood of Excellence Task Force - Roberson/Troy

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Waialae Beach Park Update on City project – Fichtman reported that the project requires a Special Management Permit to redo the survey of the shoreline. Two weeks ago the contract was cancelled. DPP advised that DPR do the project as individual contracts

Dogs on the Beach Signage Task Force Report – The missing signs had been replaced; notify Fukuda if otherwise.   

Kahala Beach area (Vegetation Encroachments/Seawall Variances) - Update & Variance actions or responses

State DOT Landscaping Plan for Waialae/Kahala area – No report.

Ainakoa Community Park Update on City Maintenance – Reported earlier under the Mayor's report.

NEW BUSINESS:

East Honolulu Development Plan – An earlier discussion regarded consideration to be included within the East Honolulu Development Plan area.

Pyles moved, Digmon seconded to send a letter to Director Henry Eng reiterating that ---- Waikiki; be released from the PUCDP (Primary Urban Center Development Plan) and put into the East Honolulu Development Plan. Discussion followed: According to talks with the Department of Planning and Permitting, the matter has been put off to the side. In agreement was to get the consideration on record. A copy to be forwarded to Bob Stanfield (East Honolulu Development Plan). 

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fukuda announced: 1) the Hawaii 2050 Community Plan process is December 7 for   

ADJOURNMENT: Troy moved, Digmon seconded to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.; there were no objections.  

Submitted by

Marie Richardson

Neighborhood Assistant