Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 Meeting Minutes For <font color="red"><b>Tuesday, June 14, 2016</b></font> Posted - Waikiki

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship. Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship.

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
News Item
Powered by MBC NewsMaker
Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 Meeting Minutes For Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Posted
Tweet

With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO 9

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016

WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robert Finley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with eight (8) members present, a quorum was not established. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Jermel Anderson, David Benson, Helen Carroll, Paul Ciliano, Robert Finley, Walt Flood, Jeff Geck (arrived at 7:06 p.m.), Jim Poole (arrived 7:05 p.m.), Patricia Shields, and Mark Smith.

Board Members Absent: Jo-Ann Adams, Jeff Apaka, Louis Erteschik, Jeff Merz, John Nigro, and Mary Simpson. Chair Finley noted that many of the members had notified him of their absences due to travel and illness.

Guests: Sergeant Stacey Christensen (Honolulu Police Department); Dominic Dias (Board of Water Supply); Mark Garrity (Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative); Lynn Fallin (Governor David Ige's Office); Rick Egged (Waikiki Improvement Association); Representative Tom Brower; Brian Bagnan (Outdoor Circle); Kurt Tsuneyoshi (Councilmember Trevor Ozawa's Office); Kathryn Henski; Louise Oberdofea; Thelma Diercks; Young Kim (SPOCUA Foundation); Franklin Chung; Robin Melchor; Ed Gatz; Barbara DelPiano; Dave Moskowitz; John Williams; C. Jakubowski; Rob Godaire; Keith Wong; Corey Dillman; Dawn Ward; Denise Boisued; Nicola Perez-Garreaud; Randy Tanaka (IUCN); and Amanda Ehe (Neighborhood Commission Office).

Vacancies: Chair Finley announced one (1) vacancy in subdistrict 2 that was created with the resignation of William Lofquist who moved out of the Waikiki district.

Moment of Silence: A moment of silence was observed to honor those killed, injured, and the loved ones of those affected by the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): Chair Finley extended best wishes to the HFD members who were injured during a training. No representative was present and no report was available.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): Sergeant Stacey Christensen reported the following: May 2016 Statistics: There were 7 robberies, 10 burglaries, 234 thefts, 33 speeding citations, 651 parking citations, 5 citations for loud mufflers, 162 citations and 9 arrests for park closures.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: Floatilla: Resident Dave Moskowitz questioned and Sergeant Christensen responded that she is unaware of any preliminary planning for a "floatilla" event in Waikiki.

At 7:05 p.m. Jim Poole arrived; nine (9) members were present and a quorum was established.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): Dominic Dias reported the following:

• Water Main Breaks: There were no main breaks in Waikiki in May 2016.

• General Water Announcement: An annual water quality report will be mailed to all BWS customers by Friday, July 1, 2016. If water waste is observed, please contact the BWS Waste Water Hotline at 748-5041 or contactus@hbws.org.

At 7:06 p.m. Jeff Geck arrived; 10 members were present.

RESIDENTS/COMMUNITY CONCERNS: There were none.

PUBLIC EVENTS 2016: The following events were announced and listed for public comment:

• Saturday, July 9, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Family Day (God's Ohana Day) Parade

• Sunday, July 24, 5:20 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tinman Triathlon

• Saturday, October 8, 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., World Peace and Unity in Korea Run/Walk

APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR LICENSES: Chair Finley noted that Suzie Wong's Hideaway was not included on the agenda. The following applicants were announced and listed for public comment:

• Thursday, June 16, 2016

o Goma Tai Ramen -- 2330 Kalakaua (International Market Place)

• Thursday, June 23, 2016

o STRIP Steak -- 2330 Kalakaua (International Market Place)

o Suzy Wong's Hideaway -- 1913 Dudoit Lane

 Resident Vera Fergenstrom submitted written and verbal testimony in opposition to the liquor license request referencing prior disturbances from illegal activities around the bar. The new owner of Suzy Wong's Hideaway, Rob Billier, assured residents that his intentions are to raise the value of the neighborhood and there will not be the same problems with the bar as before. Billier added that he would consider banning motorcycle parking in the area to help keep the noise to a minimum.

• Thursday, July 7, 2016

o Holoholo Café and Market (Food Pantry) at Hilton Garden, Package Sales

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative: Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) Mark Garrity reported the following:

• Park: The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been working with the Honolulu Rotary Club on their proposal to possibly develop a park in the Aloha Drive area. Discussions and meetings have been productive and there is no timeline at this point as discussions are ongoing regarding the proposal and an agreement.

• Street Signs: The Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) reported that the street name signage along Ala Wai Boulevard will be replaced as they become faded, unreadable due to graffiti, or are removed or lost. An inspection of the street name signs indicated that the names are spelled correctly, but the older signs do not have the appropriate okina or kahakou.

• Peddling: Police officers assigned to the Waikiki district have been addressing the peddling problem through enforcement and will continue to monitor the areas and take appropriate enforcement action when violations of the law are observed. Over the past two (2) years, the peddling situation has decreased due to the enforcement. Anyone who observes possible violations is encouraged to call 911 so that officers can be dispatched to make immediate checks to the area or to meet with the complainant.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Keoniana Street: A resident requested removal of a stop sign on the bus lane on Kalakaua Avenue near Keoniana Street and requests changing the one-way direction of Keoniana Street.

2. Pedestrian Bridge: Resident Franklin Chung asked and Deputy Garrity responded that the City does not have extra money in the budget to study a possible bridge.

3. Guides: Smith and several residents requested enforcement for illegal drug activity and peddling that happens in front of Urban Outfitters by Segway and trike guides. Smith noted that Segway's and trikes should not be allowed to operate on sidewalks or bike lanes.

4. Disturbances: Smith and several residents requested enforcement for religious protestors who disrupt the community by screaming obscenities and hate speech for hours on weekends at the corner of Kaiulani and Kalakaua Avenues and Kalakaua and Kapahulu Avenues using amplified speakers.

5. Skateboards: Carroll requested enforcement of skateboards on sidewalks.

6. Food Stand: Resident Kathryn Henski asked if the Cuban food stand on Cartwright Road is legal.

7. Regulation: Chung asked what the law is for operating the small rental cars with the flags and no roof with only two (2) seats.

8. Repair: Geck mentioned that the storm drain inlet at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Ena Road is broken.

Governor David Ige's Representative: Newsletters were available and Lynn Fallin reported the following:

• Funding: General funds have been appropriated to fund air-conditioning in schools.

• Veto: Governor Ige has until Monday, June 27, 2016 to veto bills; he is still reviewing House Bill (HB) 1753.

Councilmember Trevor Ozawa: Kurt Tsuneyoshi was available for questions.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Comfort Station: Flood asked and Chair Finley responded that Councilmember Ozawa removed comfort stations from the proposed community benefits package.

2. Carts: Moskowitz recommended putting locator devices on shopping carts and businesses will be able to locate them.

3. Development: A resident asked if Councilmember Ozawa supports the Ritz Carlton Towers and the Olohana Street development; Tsuneyoshi will follow up. Chair Finley shared that there will be a Planning and Zoning Committee meeting for the Ritz Carlton Tower 2 on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

4. Rail: A resident asked if Councilmember Ozawa requested $12-14 million to expand the rail; Tsuneyoshi will follow up.

Representative Tom Brower: Representative Brower encouraged the community to contact him with any issues.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Sports: Chung asked and Representative Brower said Waikiki constituents would likely be opposed to changing the Ala Wai Golf Course. Representative Bower responded to Smith that there is a strong sports community in the islands that should be maintained by hosting the Pro-bowl.

2. Comment: Representative Brower thanked Chair Finley for striving to keep the Neighborhood Board System intact.

Senator Brickwood Galuteria: No representative was present and no report was provided.

Chair Finley allowed for candidates for the House of Representatives, District 22, to introduce themselves.

Nicola Perez-Garreaud: Perez-Garreaud introduced himself as a young candidate raised in Hawaii and will focus on the importance of environment in his campaign.

Kathryn Henski: Henski shared that she is a Republican candidate running for office with extensive experience with homeless.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The May 10, 2016 regular meeting minutes were ADOPTED by UNANIMOUS CONSENT as published, 10-0-0, (Aye: Anderson, Benson, Carroll, Ciliano, Finley, Flood, Geck, Poole, Shields, and Smith; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH): No representative was present and no report was provided. Chair Finley shared that VASH is similar to the Red Cross and helps visitors of the islands.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conference: Randy Tanaka who is the executive director for the conference shared pertinent information with the community about the event that will be held from Thursday, September 1, 2016 through Saturday, September 10, 2016 and host approximately 8,000 participants. The conference has never before been held in the United States and will be a green conference promoting sustainability with the exhibition area of the convention center open to the public.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Safety: Chung asked and Tanaka confirmed there is a possibility of closing the Ala Wai Canal as a precautionary safety measure.

2. Recycling: Shields asked and Tanaka said the conference would practice recycling by promoting conserve, preserve, and restore (CPR).

3. Volunteer: Tanaka shared that to volunteer for the event visit www.iucn.org and click on the hibiscus flower.

Waikiki Improvement Association (WIA): Rick Egged shared that there is a homeless problem on the Ewa side of the Hilton and there is some consideration to place potable restrooms at the location.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. High Rise: Flood questioned and Egged shared that WIA is supporting the requested height increase because 25 feet is not appropriate zoning height for the area. WIA looks at capacity because the demand is there.

2. Buildings: Carroll shared concern of newer buildings with a lot of glass and Egged assured her that all buildings need to meet the required standards.

3. Residents: Shields commented and Egged agreed that WIA should consider residents needs and requests too.

Charter Commission Proposal to Eliminate Neighborhood Boards: Chair Finley shared that 300 testimonies in opposition and 22 support testimonies were submitted and the Commission voted to remove the proposal.

REPORTS

Treasurer's Report: Shields reported a remaining balance of $201.39. The report was filed.

Subdistrict 1 Report: No report.

Subdistrict 2 Report: Flood reported that Ritz Carlton Tower hallway lights are on all night disturbing residents. Chair Finley forwarded the concerns to the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) and wished Flood a happy birthday.

Subdistrict 3 Report: No report.

Chair Report: Chair Finley reported that the Board is still looking for ideas for the Community Benefit Program.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: The next Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the Waikiki Community Center.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

Submitted by: Amanda Ehe, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by: Neil Baarde, Neighborhood Assistant II

Reviewed and finalized by: Robert Finley, Chair

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

Like Our Facebook

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii News Item

Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 Meeting Minutes For Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Posted

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
News Item