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MAKAKILO / KAPOLEI / HONOKAI HALE

 NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2006

KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL CAFETORIUM

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Maeda Timson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Brent Buckley, Kioni Dudley, Michael Golojuch, Shad Kane, Jane Ross, Maeda Timson, George Yamamoto, Linda Young.

MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

GUESTS:  Captain Gary Viela (Honolulu Fire Department), Mike Freitas, Councilmember Todd Apo, Carolyn Golojuch, Wendy Sefo, George Kuo, Michele Golojuch, Michael Golojuch Jr., Polly Grace, Georgette Stevens, Lei Furukawa, Kuku Jolonine, Barbara Gaboya, Damon Duhaylonsab, Jimmy Pontin, Janice Ganigan, Jeanette Grace, George Grace III, Rebekah DeCosta, Jackie Zahn, Charlie Zahn, Edward Vasconcellos, Franklin Souza, Kurt Fevella (Chair, Ewa Neighborhood Board No. 23), John McArdle, Ronald Joseph, Sam McCracken, Mike Chun, Michael Okuma, Kaulana Park, Charles Freitas, Ron Schaedel, Mike Stenneld, Paul Borges, Laurie Miyagawa, Linda Smith (Governor’s Representative – Office of the Governor), Robert Kaialau III, Roc Paiva, David Escalera, Lolita Takeda, Theresia McMurdo (Campbell Estate), Alan Gano, Janet Kelly, Puni Chee (Councilmember Nestor Garcia’s Office staff), Rusti Gephart, Gary Oliva, Daniel LeSuerson, Jack Lee Smith Jr., Denise Emery, Don Nunes, Roy Wickramaratna, David Gaboya, Evelyn Souza, Ryan Gouveia, Rodney Gouveia, Chris Gouviea, Mandy Akau, Linda Pacren, Les Pacren, Don Robbins (West Oahu Current); Major Mike Tamashiro, Lt. Fabian Loo (Honolulu Police Department); Henry Eng (Mayor’s representative – Director, Department of Planning and Permitting); Steve Kelly (Campbell Estate); Elwin Spray (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).

BOARD MEMBERS’ ROLL CALL AND WELCOME:  Five Board members were present (Buckley,  Golojuch, Ross, Timson, Young).  Chair Timson noted the need to treat each other with respect, to address questions through the chair, to observe time limits as listed on the agenda and to have the meeting end by 9:45 p.m. in order to secure the school.  She thanked those in the front who had brought signs for lowering the signs so those in the back of the hall could see the meeting.

MONTHLY REPORTS, PART I:

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – Captain Viela, of the Kapolei Station, reported three structure fires, five brush fires, six rubbish fires, two vehicle fires, 32 medical emergencies, one search-and-rescue call and four miscellaneous calls.  He reported one major event of a large fire that started in a garage where an individual was using a battery charger.  Viela reported a Fire Safety tip:

August is the start of a new school year. Be careful while driving near schools and be aware of students crossing the street. Take the time to teach your children how to cross the street safely and remind them to call 911 for emergencies.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – Chair Timson welcomed Major Tamshiro and his staff and asked for the monthly HPD report. Lt. Loo reported crime statistic comparisons for the general Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board area for June and July 2006 (format: June/July) – 2/9 robbery, 26/28 burglaries, 45/65 thefts, 26/19 auto thefts, 33/51 thefts from vehicles (UEMVs), 26/24 thefts from persons, 2/3 identity (ID) thefts, 91/95 motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), 2/3 driving under the influence (DUIs), 29/30 criminal property damages (CPDs), 3/5 drugs. There were 357/265 adult arrests, 93/77 juvenile arrests, and 450/342 total arrests.  Loo reported that crime statistic numbers tend to go up in the summer when juveniles and others generally have more free time, and, he reported a Crime Tip on Homeland Security issues:

Department of Homeland Security tips on reporting suspicious behavior and activity: Be aware of surveillance being conducted, aware of suspicious persons or questioning, attempts to test security of key facilities, deploying assets or stockpiling of suspicious materials and acquiring supplies or dry runs. Call 911 for emergencies or call the Joint Terrorism task force at (808) 566-4300.

Loo added that the neighborhood needed to be the eyes and ears for the whole community and that all needed to share their concerns.  Loo reported that he had discussed Chair Timson a number of graffiti problems, reporting that graffiti tagging has become a larger island-wide concern, with a serious rash of recent taggers, especially at the skateboard construction site and the comfort stations.  Chair Timson referenced distributed graffiti pictures of the new construction and discussed with Sefo that significant monetary rewards exist to encourage reporting taggers of community sites; $500 each from Campbell Estate and D.R. Horton Homes, as well as through the Crime Stoppers program.

Young noted an increase in graffiti in the Malina area.  Jeanette Grace asked if the increase in accidents may be attributable to street racing, to which Loo noted that there had been an increase but that this increase frequently occurs in summer. 

Polly Grace reported that the H-1 Freeway is not illuminated at night and people are walking on the freeway; Loo said he would report the lights out to the State Highways department. 

Chair Timson noted that this State issue would normally be referred to Governor’s representative Linda Smith but that she was not present, continuing that the answer includes the need to stop people from stealing the copper from the highway electrical systems.

Tamashiro discussed staffing with Chair Timson, explaining six new officers were assigned to the district in July and that 12 positions will come to the district with the new budget, probably in the first quarter of next year.

George Grace asked where HPD officers train since the race track has been closed; Tamashiro reported that the Waipahu training facility is used for vehicle training but not for high speed practice. G. Grace asked if the failure to train was a major concern; Tamashiro explained that officers were prepared for emergencies.

Mayor’s Representative – Henry Eng, Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, represented Mayor Hannemann and distributed copies of the Mayor’s community report for August 2006.  Eng reported on the following issues: 

1.      Mayor Hannemann has invited the community and members to the annual Recycling Fair on September 21-23, 2006, to be held at the Blaisdell Center.

2.      HPD staffing is increased, as Major Tamashiro just reported, with 12 new positions being designated.

3.      Kapolei Park hula mound and parking lot are covered under a single contract and the notice to proceed is planned to be released in November, 2006.

4.      An exit to Makakilo Drive at St. Jude’s Church will be provided for the Easter Seals’ 450-unit development.

5.      “No parking” is already designated at the Ala Hoi Road intersection (“no parking” on Makakilo Drive).

6.      Makakilo Drive widening is a project of Castle and Cooke, which is also extending the roadway about 3000 feet.

7.      Kapolei Parkway has several projects ongoing, with the Kamokila extension’s needing right-of-way and historic clearance, Ewa Villages to North/South Road (Renton to North/South Road) construction to begin mid 2007, Fort Barrette and Makakio interchange being State projects and the Makakilo Drive 2^nd access needing additional funds to secure environmental assessment preparation.

8.      The Waimanalo Gulch Landfill community benefits package (Multi-Track Benefits Program) was limited by the Council to Council District 1 communities (generally Waianae Coast and Honokai Hale).

9.      The City’s Energy Efficiency Code already requires a wide variety of energy reducing features in homes, including solar rebates.

10.  The level of housing that could be expected on Oahu are listed on the City’s website, www.honoluludpp.org where there is an annual report for Fiscal Year 2005 “Planning Information” which has many individual projects.

11.  Parking concerns on Uluohia Street are being reviewed.

Yamamoto arrived at 7:25 p.m.; six members were present.

Chair Timson reported the need to place a crosswalk fronting the State Library on the newly opened Manawai Street extension roadway, as well as other Manawai signage and to discuss the possible re-routing of buses to Manawai.  She also reported the planned closure of the federally funded swimming pool and fitness center at Kalaeloa and reported that the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is looking at taking over the operation.  Yamamoto commented that Renton Road is a State roadway.

Dudley arrived at 7:33 p.m.; seven members were present.

Dudley asked about Wal-Mart making a presentation to the Neighborhood Board; Eng reported that Wal-Mart building on a commercial site would be reviewed by his office and that there was no requirement for a special review, saying that he would notify the Board of an application and would look at any information submitted by the Board.  Chair Timson said a separate meeting could be scheduled to deal only with the Wal-Mart issue.  Michael Golojuch Jr. asked why the Waimanalo Gulch landfill benefits package applied only to Waianae-to-Honokai Hale (Council District 1). G. Grace thanked the City and Mayor Hannemann for the recent Waianae Coast cleanup and offered his company to assist in future cleanups.  C. Golojuch asked about requiring an environmental assessment for Wal-Mart’s proposed location, with Eng explaining that an assessment had been conducted when the area was re-zoned two years ago.  Gephart said it was sad that a possible locating of a business could not be fully reviewed because the issue is closed. 

Councilmember Todd Apo – Apo reported on several community issues:

1.                  The planned closure of the Kalaeloa Recreation Center was being reviewed by the City and that a plan to involve the YMCA as an operator was being developed.  He reported he visited the site last week, has sat with Mayor Hannemann, and also may involve the City’s Enterprise Services Department to deal with the $12 million facility.

2.                  Light timing for Ft. Barrett Road was being worked on.

3.                  He is involved in securing a crosswalk fronting the State Library.

4.                  Proposed affordable housing sales are being reviewed, with a commitment to insure that restrictions in the deed will keep the land in the “affordable” classification.

5.                  Mass transit issues will soon be reaching a Council-level decision point, with reports being made in September and October and Apo asked the Board to be prepared to testify.

Chair Timson noted that Gary Omori (of the High Capacity Rapid Transit Corridor Project) was suggesting a board meeting dedicated to the transit corridor issue, perhaps jointly with the Ewa Neighborhood Board; Apo commented that the ultimate decision on the transit corridor project would be in the Council.  Chair Timson thanked Apo for his efforts on the pool and fitness center.  M. Golojuch said he echoed the thanks for the pool and fitness center efforts and asked if Apo could provide the Board with the numbers that the State is using with regard to the area’s homeless, with Apo reporting he would pursue the numbers. 

Dudley asked about the location of the vacant parcels identified for use in Apo’s raceway park proposals.  Apo reported that he is exploring the need for the raceway and was not stuck on the location, but that the old site would have to have a designation on the Public Infrastructure Map (PIM) as the first step on for  a condemnation proposal; Apo reported that the resolutions are still in the Council for voting.  Apo reported several items on the racetrack: a business plan would have some of the answers, the track probably needs an industrial zoned site, and if an alternative to the old site could be identified then that new site would be considered.  Yamamoto said he thought the racetrack was working and it needed to be saved.

Chair Timson reminded the audience that the room needed to be vacated no later than 9:45 p.m. in order to allow the custodians to close up. 

Gano asked why the project required industrial instead of entertainment zoning; Apo explained that the definitions were in the Land Use Ordinance.  An audience member asked about the referenced business plan; Apo said it needed to come from the Save Our Race Track – SORT – group.

Apo reported that the old variance, which had expired, could be applied for.  M. Golojuch Jr. asked if condemnation of the raceway property was possible, what about the Wal-Mart site; Apo said that he has met with both groups and condemnation was not necessary considering the issue, pointing out that he takes seriously the power of government to condemn. 

C. Golojuch pointed to the need for sidewalks and lights on Ft. Barrett; Apo said the State has plans to widen to 4 lanes and he will report back.

Councilmember Nestor Garcia – Puni Chee represented Councilmember Garcia, distributed a written report and highlighted $500,000 in State funds was available for the environmental assessment of the Makakilo Drive extension.  He also reported that the parking for the park, which was believed to be 250 stalls, is now at 96 stalls; he said that Councilmember Garcia would work with Apo to explore possible alternatives. Chee reported on traffic concerns for Farrington Highway, noting that the traffic entering the highway is a dangerous mix of farm, construction and commercial for which they are seeking additional signage (“Farm Vehicle Crossing” and others) and a flashing caution light (repair of existing). 

Kane arrived at 7:50 p.m.; eight members were present.

Young suggested a possible permanent radar speed sign, since the suggested portable one had been rejected as unsafe and perhaps too large a target for theft; Chee will check on the suggestion.  Mike Golojuch asked how long the graffiti at the Makalani Park is likely to remain; Chee will also check on that, saying that the Parks department and the community often work together on graffiti cleanups.  Mike Golojuch Jr. asked that Garcia develop a benefits package for this area; Chee will pass the request on. 

Chair Timson reminded the audience that the room needed to be vacated no later than 9:45 p.m.

Board of Water Supply – George Kuo represented the BWS and reported one main breaks for July 2006, that the annual informational workshop for Board members would be September 30, that the rate increase information was available, and suggested that audience members put together a hurricane emergency kit.

Chair Timson noted that Gary Omori was not present.

PRESENTATIONS

Oga, Kelly & Gaytan – Chair Timson welcomed attorney Janet Kelly, a community business owner, to the meeting for the purpose of introducing herself and her company to the general neighborhood.  Her law office is in the James Campbell Building, specializing in trusts, wills, power of attorney and advanced directives, and was endorsed by member Ross.

University of Phoenix – Lei Furukawa invited the community to a September 6^th open house at its Kapolei Campus, located in the Kapolei Building. Dudley asked about classrooms, which Furukawa described as three floors, ten classrooms, and which were available for day rental.

Costco – Mike Chun and Michael Okuma were present to update the community on proposed construction of a Kapolei Costco store.  Chun reported that the company’s chairman had announced in a Pacific Business News interview that construction would start in 2007 with an April 2008 opening.  The unit would include both the store and retail gas operation.  Chun reported 12 acres are correctly zoned but 5 acres are being requested to be changed to reflect the relocation and covering of the originally planned drainage ditch – which is not now in exactly the planned spot – but which will be altered to the property line with the new zoning.  The zone change request will be in September 2006, then to the Planning Commission, and then to the Council in 2007.  The operation will be similar to the Waipio and Iwilei stores:  16 pump gas station, 770 parking stalls and four points of ingress and egress, with the main point being Kapolei Parkway.  He noted Kamakila will be extended to Roosevelt and a traffic study is now being done.  Mike Golojuch asked about the location of the rezoning, which will be along the makai side of the property.  Dudley said the alterations to roadways should be finished before the store should be approved; Chun explained that the roadway changes would be finished before the store opened.  Yamamoto asked about the size of stacking lanes, which were reported to be 200 feet at the light. P. Grace welcomed businesses coming but she expressed concern that traffic studies must include assessments of early morning, noon and late afternoon traffic, when there seems to be major gridlock occurring, stressing that the infrastructure must be done first.  Freitas expressed the need to landscape the building from the roadway.  C. Golojuch encouraged completion so she could shop.  Swenson reported that the project seems to be in a sensible location.  G. Grace discussed that this project seemed to have no trouble with being placed on the agenda although his request could not be accommodated; with Chair Timson saying that a previous presentation had been made and that this was a follow up to that earlier presentation.  Michelle Golojuch thanked Costco management for paying a living wage to employees.  Young thanked for the transportation plan, stating that it looked good, with Ross agreeing.  Buckley asked about number of employees (200), container handling (containers to be delivered to back before store opens) and suggested the Kalaeloa Harbor be considered as delivery port.   Golojuch moved and Young seconded for the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board No. 34 to recommend approval of the Costco rezoning request to B-2 BMX. The vote passed, 5-1-2.  Aye: Buckley, Gojoluch, Ross, Timson, Young. Nay: Dudley.  Abstain:  Kane, Yamamoto.

Kalaeloa Transitional And Emergency Shelter – Kaulana Park introduced himself as the Governor’s homeless effort representative on the Leeward side.  Park described his background as a Stanford University engineering graduate who worked in mainland and Hawaii financial institutions, and, at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, before becoming the third person in charge at the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.  In the first week of July 2006 (56 days), he was appointed by Governor Lingle to work with the homeless, and has since been working five days a week and has established a working office, met with government and community leaders, and is devising several plans of action including several emergency shelters which will open in the next several months.

At this point a member of the audience yelled for Park to hurry up, with Chair Timson asking for silence to allow Park to continue.

Park reported that there are 1300 to 4000 homeless, with four sites being considered in Kalaeloa and eight sites in Waianae. He reported he would return to the Board with a plan. He noted that the emergency shelters are not permanent facilities, with the commitment for the transitional shelters to be for two years, and he is also targeting permanent housing through affordable housing and rentals.  Park asked the community for help with social programs and agencies that will provide lasting help and stressed that the focus of his project is families with children, but that he is not there to just put up shelters but to give people a chance.  Park stated that 160 bed spaces will be targeted by October 1st in Kalaeloa and another 300 at the old UH building.  Kane stressed the need for action and communication.  Young asked about Board involvement; Park said he was looking to Boards to involve the community.  Mike Golojuch asked about bus transit, which Park said would not happen this year but would perhaps into spring and summer of next year.  Buckley asked where on Oahu homeless are coming from, with Park describing that as a question that is being researched although he said some comments were that there was migration from Waianae, to which Yamamoto reported also from White Plains and Hau Bush.  Dudley noted the need for services at Kalaelo or the need for transportation to services, with park saying that services might be provided on an interim basis.

Chair Timson reminded the audience that the room needed to be vacated no later than 9:45 p.m.

C. Golojuch reported that during the transformation from Barbers Point to Kalaeloa that the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had opposed low income housing on the Kalaeloa property, saying that schools are over-crowded now, with Park explaining, that at the most, he thinks there will be 250 people.  P. Grace suggested sponsorship of children, for which she offered to help. Michelle Golojuch noted that the buildings were substandard, including likely lead paint, with Park saying that the mentioned items were part of the cleanup effort. 

Chair Timson reminded the audience that the room needed to be vacated no later than 9:45 p.m.   

E. Souza reported that schools have been contacted are set up to assist. Chair Fevella, Ewa Neighborhood Board, reported he had visited the site and that it did not look like a ghetto, that the people looked like they were OK.  Chair Timson reported that HUD’s comment was that with a group of people in the same living / economic conditions it could likely appear to nonresidents to look like or be considered a ghetto.  With no objections, Chair Timson allowed an additional question by Yamamoto to Fevella. Yamamoto asked Fevella if he would support bringing more people to the Kalaeloa shelters, with Chair Timson asking if the new people would come from the Ewa beaches. Fevella said yes.  Park said they were targeting families first and he will report back to the Board later on numbers of likely shelter residents.

G. Grace said that Chair Timson was discouraging community comments by saying that the meeting needed to end at 9:45 p.m. when an important issue like homeless shelters was being discussed.  Chair Timson said that the meeting was intended to hear information from the speaker, as well as to ask him questions and that the speaker was not yet finished. G. Grace repeated several times to Chair Timson that people should be let to talk for as much as they wished.  Chair Timson repeated the one minute each rule as posted on the agenda and that several people have already talked more than once and longer than allowed as with Fevella.  Chair Timson ruled Grace out of order for his continued speaking on the time procedure already discussed and his failing to ask a question of the speaker after asking him several times if he had a question for the speaker.  He did not stop talking nor asked a question; Chair Timson called a five-minute recess.  Heckling from the audience members started and died down after two minutes, upon which Chair Timson reconvened (after being recessed for two minutes).  Community member Takeda had started to ask Park about homeless families and their access to schools when audience member Charles Freitas started to yell at community member Michelle Golojuch, who was on the phone and who he overheard calling the police. Chair Timson asked Freitas, who was yelling, to stop and to allow Takeda’s question to Park to continue.  Freitas started to shout obscenities at Chair Timson using the F word, the F hand and arm gesture, as well as obscenities from other community members at Chair Timson, and would not cease, although Chair Timson requested the cessation and a return to order.      

ADJOURNMENT:  Chair Timson adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.

Submitted by Elwin Spray, Neighborhood Commission Office staff.