KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 31

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, June 12, 2025
7:15 to 8:30 pm
In-person at the Kailua District Park District Meeting Room
Chair: Travis Counsell. Members: Jay Etzenbach, Bill Hicks, Jade Lau, and Claudine Tomasa.
1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Minutes.
3. Announcements.
4. Continuing Issues.
a. Lanikai Traffic Management Plan.
b. Kailua Complete Streets projects.
c. Roundabout construction.
d. Pedestrian safety/Bicyclist safety/Roadway safety
e. Upcoming highway repaving projects.
f. Traffic management improvement at Ulupii St and Kalanianaole Hwy.
g. Traffic signal at McDonald’s intersection.
h. Mokapu Blvd. Improvements.
i. Kalaheo Ave. crosswalks needed near beach access points.
j. Kalaheo Hillside – Iliaina Street Speed Humps
k. SB897 – Relating to HECO Wildfire Liability established by PUC
l. Sewer Rate Increase – City Council Objection
5. New Issues.
a. eBikes on Sidewalks
b. No parking on Kaha Street between Kihapai Street and Kaha Park.
6. Resident and Community Concerns.
7. Adjournment.

Transportation and Public Works Committee
May 2025 Meeting Report
Chair, Travis Counsell

1. A committee meeting was held in-person on May 15, 2025, chaired by Bill Hicks, and attended by committee members Jay Etzenbach, Jade Lau, and Claudine Tomasa; and resident Karen Hanson.

2. The final DTS Lanikai Transportation Management Plan will be presented to the KNB at the June 5, 2025 meeting.

3. The Complete Streets Keolu Drive Project’s current plans are now available for review with a comment period open until May 30, 2025. Comments may be submitted to completestreets@honolulu.gov .

4. New issues that were added to the agenda at the May 1st KNB regular meeting were discussed, including:
a. Kalaheo Hillside – Iliaina Street speed humps. Iliaina Street resident Karen Hanson reiterated a request made at the May 1st KNB regular meeting for installing speed humps on Iliaina Street. It was noted that some motorists are now using Iliaina Street instead of Mokapu Blvd. specifically to avoid speed humps and that excessive vehicle speeds are frequently observed, including during the heavy pedestrian period when school ends. Karen Hanson’s brother-in-law, Michael Hanson, is the Director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety and is also the national Chair of the Governors Highway Safety Association. He observed the conditions on Iliaina Street during a recent family visit and remarked the conditions are very dangerous. He recommends speed humps to help control speed and protect pedestrians. The process to petition for speeds humps, as was successfully done on Kalama Street, was discussed and will be pursued. To maximize the chance for success, petition support from the Kalaheo HS principal and approximately 90% of residents is recommended. It was also noted that signs that are usually posted to advise motorists of a school zone are missing in the vicinity of Kalaheo HS. This will be reported to the DTS traffic engineer.
b. SB897 – Relating to HECO Wildfire Liability established by PUC. SB897 allows electric cooperatives to recover wildfire mitigation, repair, and restoration costs through an automatic rate adjustment or other mechanism; requires the Public Utilities Commission to initiate a proceeding for the adoption of rules, subject to the Governor’s approval, to determine an aggregate limit for liability for economic damages from a covered catastrophic wildfire; authorizes securitization of certain costs for electric utilities; requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct studies on whether the framework established in the measure adequately balances electric utility interests and compensation owed to catastrophic wildfire victims and on the establishment and implementation of a wildfire recovery fund and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.
(1) Discussion: Hicks – as a regulated utility, HECO can only implement and fund mitigation programs as approved by the PUC, therefore the PUC shares liability and responsibility, such as implementing automatic rate adjustments, to ensure the delivery of electricity remains viable. Lau – HECO should bear full liability for wildfire damage caused by their negligence, so object to automatic rate adjustments.
(2) Motion: Lau moved and Etzenbach seconded that the Kailua Neighborhood Board opposes Senate Bill 897 and requests that Governor Green veto the bill because HECO liability for wildfires should not be covered by automatic rate adjustments. The motion passed (AYE: Etzenbach, Lau, Tomasa; NAY: Hicks).
c. Sewer Rate Increase – City Council Objection. The KNB was briefed by ENV on March 6th that: Additional revenue is now required for wastewater operations and maintenance (O&M) and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). ENV’s CIP will cost $10.1 billion between 2025 and 2040. The largest CIP project is the final phase of the 2010 consent decree, the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, to be completed by 2035 at a cost of $1.8 billion. The CIP includes many other projects to repair and upgrade facilities to meet regulatory requirements and to continue preparing our critical infrastructure for climate change/sea level rise. Sewer fees must increase to fund these critical programs. The City Council has proposed that the rate increase profile be more gradual in the beginning, 6%, 7.5%, 8.5%, before reaching 9% in the 4th year – and only taper off in the final 2 years rather than the final 4 years.
(1) Discussion: Lau and Tomasa support the ENV proposed increases as necessary. Hicks felt the total increase looks the same with either approach and that the KNB not make a stand between the two different profiles. The committee declined to take action.

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone.  If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.