WAIK K NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 9

  November 2018 Minutes

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO.9
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018
WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER

CALL TO ORDER - Chair Robert Finley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; quorum was established with 13 members present. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official board action. 

Board Members Present - Jeff Apaka, Jerome Bautista, Helen Carrol, Louis Erteschik, Robert Finley, Walt Flood, Mark Garrity, Grant Giventer, Kathryn Henski, Laura McIntyre, Jeffrey Merz, John Nigro, and Patricia Shields. 

Board Members Absent - Robert Boyack, Mark Smith, and Kenneth Wilder.

Guests - Sergeant King (Honolulu Police Department); Captain Alan Park (Honolulu Fire Department); Mark Yonamine (Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative); Dylan Whitsell (Neighborhood Commission Office); Bryan Gallagher (Board of Water Supply); Lynn Fallin and Scott Glenn (Governor David Ige's Representative); Councilmember Trevor Ozawa and Kenny Amazaki (Councilmember Ozawa's Office); Senator Sharon Moriwaki; Representative Tom Brower; Rick Egged (Waikiki Improvements Association); Richard Schwarz, Cherryl Leeson, Carolyn Menegas, Steve Thompson, and Sue Thompson, Brian Bagnall, Lynn Mariano, Melissa Filek, Ed Springer, Moa Mahe, Kyle Detve, Chelsie Arashiro, Pam Walker (Community Members); and Harry Cho (Neighborhood Commission Office). (Name was not included if not legible on the attendance sheet)

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) - Captain Park reported the following:
• October 2018 Fire Statistics - There was 1 structure fire, 2 wild land/brush fires, 1 nuisance fire, 2 cooking fires, 11 activated alarms with no fire, 124 medical emergencies, and 6 motor vehicle crash/collisions. 
• Fire Safety Tip - Cooking Safety: Cook with caution. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove or stovetop. Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Keep anything that can catch fire, including oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, and towels away from your stovetop. Keep children at least three (3) feet away from the stove. If you have a small grease cooking fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have doubt about extinguishing a small fire, get out of the house and call 911. When leaving, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. With the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday, HFD discourages the use of turkey fryers. Turkey fryer usage can lead to devastating burns and injuries and destroy property due to the large amount and high temperature of oil. 

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) - Sergeant King reported the following: 
• October 2018 Crime Statistics - There were 5 robberies, 20 burglaries, 192 thefts, 26 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV), 43 assaults, 8 sex crimes, 11 bicycle and 11 skateboard warnings, citations, or arrests, 5 speeding citations, 577 parking citations, 1 loud muffler citations, 87 park closure warnings, 96 park closure citations, 26 park closure arrests, and 4,127 total calls for service. Additional statistics are available online at www.honolulupd.org. 

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Crime Increase: Flood raised concerns with an increase in crime statistics due to Halloween. 
2. Loud Mufflers: Shields raised concerns with vehicles with loud mufflers. 
3. Homeless: Henski raised concerns with homeless people sleeping at bus stops. She stated that the homeless person at the Kuhio Avenue/Paoakalani Avenue bus stop is still there and has not been removed. 
4. Hotel Strikes: Giventer asked if extra officers will be staffed to mitigate the hotel strikers. 

Board of Water Supply (BWS) - Bryan Gallagher reported the following:
• Main Break Report: There were one (1) water main break in October 2018 at 1704 Ala Wai Boulevard.
• General Water Announcements: Be wary of scam calls or visits. The BWS is reminding its customers to be wary of potential scams involving fraudulent phone calls or visits from people claiming to represent the water agency, stating the account is overdue, demanding immediate payment. This warning comes as scammers have approached customers using these tactics. Anyone who receives unexpected and or aggressive phone calls demanding payment for a past due bill are encouraged to call the BWS for verification. Do not give any information to the caller. Here are a few tips to help protect yourself from scams that may use water bills as a lure: Know your account status. Call BWS customer service staff at 748-5030 or sign up for online billing services for accurate information about your account. Understand BWS collection procedures. BWS does not call customers outside its business hours Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to request for payment. BWS does not call customers, demand payment, and collect payment all in the same phone call. If a customer is contacted for overdue payment, he or she will be asked to call 748-5030 to make a credit card payment. Safeguard your personal information. Never give your credit or debit card number or personal information to any caller or visitor without knowing their true identity.

FILLING OF VACANCY - There is one (1) vacancy in Sub district 2: There were no candidates for the vacancy

RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS
• Saratoga Road: Nigro stated that the Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM) is scheduled to road work maintenance on Saratoga Road during the last week of November 2018. 
• Queen Kapiolani Hotel: A community member raised concerns with the kitchen scrubber/vent at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel releasing fumes, odors, and disruptive noises directly into the homes of the neighboring building. A community member distributed photos of the kitchen scrubber/vent and its proximity to the neighboring residential lanais. A community member stated that this was an addition to their facility, and was never in their original plan or design. 
• Shootings: A community member raised concerns with the recent shooting in Waikiki. He suggested an increase in police patrol in the Waikiki area. 
??? Neighborhood Board Elections: Dylan Whitsell from the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) stated that the Neighborhood Board Elections will take place in 2019. Candidate and voter registration runs from December 2018 to February 2019. Voting runs from April 2019 to May 2019. The results will be released in June 2019, and the new Boards will be implemented in July 2019. The public may contact our office for additional information related to the election 768-3710 or email nco@honolulu.gov. The NCO is always looking to improve public awareness of the Neighborhood Board System. NCO visits communities across the island putting up posters around the community with the neighborhood's respective board contact information, as well as brief information about the function of the Board. If anyone would like a poster or knows a community organization that would like more information, please contact the NCO.

PUBLIC EVENTS - Chair Finley noted that all events were submitted and awaiting City approval/denial.
a. Friday, November 23, 2018, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Waikiki Holiday Parade
b. Saturday, December 1, 2018, 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Waikiki Ohana Festival
c. Sunday, December 2, 2018, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Street Bikers United Toys for Tots Caravan
d. Friday, December 7, 2018, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade
e. Sunday, December 9,2018, 2:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Honolulu Marathon
f. Monday, January 21, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR LICENSES
a. Thursday, December 20, 2018, Sunpark Hawaii LLC, 2250 Kalakaua Avenue (International Market Place) for a Category 2 Liquor License
b. Thursday, December 20, 2018, Kona Coffee Roaster at Queen Kapiolani Hotel
c. Thursday, December 20, 2018, Seoul Tofu House, 2299 Kuhio Ave Space C for a Category 2 Liquor License 

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Representative - Mark Yonamine reported the following: 
• Announcement: The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has begun an update to the Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUC DP). The PUC DP covers the area from WaiÔalae to K hala to Pearl City and includes growth and development policies and guidelines that implement the comprehensive vision of the County's General Plan. The PUC DP is a visionary document for the region that addresses zoning, infrastructure investments, and other City codes and standards. Critical issues for the plan update include affordable housing, transit-oriented development (TOD) and transportation mode choices, infrastructure, parks, and planning for climate change and sea level rise. The public may visit the project website www.pucdp.com for the latest project information. There the public can take a survey, see upcoming opportunities to get involved, and contact the project team.
• Follow Up on Concerns:
o Homeless: HPD stated that it is not a crime for homeless individuals to be at bus stops. Persons who are homeless must be afforded the same civil rights guaranteed to all citizens. Therefore, they may remain in public places if they are not violating any laws. The homeless individual at the bus stop on the intersection of Kuhio Avenue and Paoakalani Avenue is well known to the police officers assigned to the Waikiki district. Numerous checks have been made and this individual is currently not in violation of any laws or rules, including Ordinance 18-5, relating to Bus Stops. The officers will continue to monitor the area and will take appropriate enforcement action when violations of the law are observed. The DFM, Division of Road Maintenance's Stored Property Ordinance and Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance Team, with the assistance from the HPD, conducts weekly enforcement operations in the Waikiki area.
o Ritz Carlton Lighting: On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, an inspection by the DPP, along with the Ritz Carlton's general contractor, and electrical consultants, revealed and confirmed that the illumination in the exit stairwells of Ritz Towers 1 and 2, are illuminated during the evening hours to the minimum required by the Building Code. The motion sensors, previously installed and tested with increased illumination, will remain on for 5 to 15 minutes. In the event the fire alarms are activated, the motion sensors will stay on for one hour or more. There were no violations observed for this investigation.
o Queen Kapiolani Hotel: DPP stated that excessive noise from the kitchen vent/scrubber at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel is not under the purview of DPP. Excessive noise is regulated by the State Department of Health (DOH), Indoor and Radiological Health Branch, Noise Section, at 586-4700.
o City Vehicles on Kalaimoku Street: DFM stated that investigation of the reported City vehicles taking up public parking spaces on Kalaimoku Street between Kuhio Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard revealed no City-owned vehicles being parked at that location. There are privately owned construction equipment being parked on Kalaimoku Street that appear to be involved with a Department of Design and Construction (DDC) project. DDC stated that we understand the concern for parking and face the same challenges in staging equipment necessary to support infrastructure improvements. The construction equipment belongs to Haron Construction, Inc., and is being used for the Waikiki Improvements, Phase 2 project. The contractor has an approved City Street Usage Permit to park along Kalaimoku Street.
o Panhandling: HPD stated that panhandling in itself is not illegal. According to the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) 1990, Section 29-17.2, relating to Aggressive Panhandling, an individual cannot panhandle within 10 feet in any direction of an automated teller machine (ATM). However, police officers are not able to initiate action against the panhandler without a formal complaint by a member of the public. HPD officers have been utilizing the Sit-Lie ordinance in instances where the panhandler is sitting on the ground with a sign asking for money. 
o Crosswalks on Monsarrat Avenue: The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) previously completed an evaluation of the Monsarrat Avenue/Trousseau Street intersection, which included a review of the traffic collision history within the past three (3) years and have determined that marked crosswalks are not warranted at this time. According to the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Section 291C-1, defines a crosswalk as "that part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway." As such, pedestrians are able to legally cross Monsarrat Avenue in an unmarked crosswalk.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Queen Kapiolani Hotel: Erteschik stated that the kitchen scrubber was initially supposed to be on the 26th floor rather than the 4th floor. He requested for DPP to review their initial proposal and plan. 
2. Biki Station: Henski raised concerns with BikeShare Hawaii installing a 40 feet Biki station on Cartwright Road which is a narrow one-way road. She asked if their construction was completed with the proper permits.
3. Ritz Carlton Lighting: Senator Moriwaki stated that DPP should enforce the lighting of the Ritz Carlton and stated that the lights may need to be shielded. Flood also raised concerns with the lights from the Ritz Carlton and stated that they should remain off when not in use, and have automatic sensors to turn on in the case of an emergency. 

Apaka departed at 8:00 p.m. 12 members present

Governor David Ige's Representative - Lynn Fallin reported the following: 
• New Governor's Representative: Lynn Fallin will be retiring and Scott Glen will be working with the Waikiki Neighborhood Board as the new representative for the Governor. 
• Queen Kapiolani Hotel: The Queen Kapiolani Hotel is zoned as a Mixed Resort Use by the City and County of Honolulu. This is called a Class B Zoning District under the State Noise Code. The maximum sound should not exceed 60 decibels (dBA) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for more than 10% of the time within any 20 minutes period. The applicant submitted his extensions request for a community noise permit to the State Department of Health (DOH). The DOH contacted area residents and received feedback. There were suggestions for the DOH to conduct noise surveys. Regarding the three (3) parking garage air conditioning units. The Queen Kapionlani Hotel general manager has a community noise permit until Thursday, December 6, 2018 and to comply with the noise code. In the interim, the hotel will voluntarily shut off the air condition units from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven (7) days a week. Regarding air quality and odors due to the changing of vents, the DOH will also be conducting a detailed review and investigation. 

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Thank You: Henski thanked Fallin for working with the Board for the past seven (7) years. She noted that Fallin has helped the Waikiki community tremendously and that the Board would not have been able to accomplish as much as they did without her help.
2. Biki Station: A community member raised concerns with the new Biki station on Cartwright Road which is a narrow one-way road. 

Councilmember Trevor Ozawa - Kenny Amazaki reported the following: 
• Newsletter: A newsletter was distributed to the Board and public which provided legislative updates.
• Bill 42: This bill allowed the use of city revenues as a source of funds for capital cost of rail project. Councilmember Ozawa voted "no" along with Councilmember Kobayashi.
??? Biki Stations: Regarding a concern that was brought up earlier in the meeting, BikeShare Hawaii was the organization responsible for the placement of the Biki stations. Henski was thanked for bringing the Cartwright Road station to Councilmember Ozawa's attention as they are currently having problems with two (2) other locations in the area. Councilmember Ozawa's office has asked DTS to revoke the permits at Waikiki Elementary School and Leahi Avenue, to encourage collaboration between stakeholders. Councilmember Ozawa's office has inquired as to the issuing authority of the permit authorizing the placement of the Leahi Biki station as the street is a private street not owned by the City. If the City doesn't own the street how is it we have the authority to issue a street usage permit?
??? Crosswalks: Councilmember Ozawa's office has had a hard time getting DTS and DDC to re-paint crosswalks that were inadvertently removed. The obstacle they have run into is the departments will not repaint the crosswalks if there are not curb-ramps installed, even if there were no curb-ramps before the accidental removal of the crosswalk. The process starts all over again and takes significantly longer.
• Lighting: Regarding light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, Councilmember Ozawa's office was contacted on both sides of the issue of bright LED lights. On one (1) side, the building renovating the light fixtures of the parking garage contacted Councilmember Ozawa's office because they obtained a permit for the installation but later received a Notice of Violation for no shielding. On the other side, residents of adjacent buildings complained that the light is shining right into their bedrooms. What has been found is that the plans are reviewed by an electrical engineer that is not looking to see if the specified light fixture comes with shielding and is mainly looking to ensure the wiring meets all the requirements. When a complaint is received on the code compliance side of the DPP, it is clear that no shielding is installed and that it is in violation of the Land Use Ordinance. Councilmember Ozawa's office will be working with DPP to address these types of issues.

Senator Sharon Moriwaki - Senator Moriwaki reported that she will be the new Senator representing Waikiki. 

House Representative Tom Brower - Representative Brower reported the following:
• Loud Mufflers: HPD stated that they were not able to give citations for loud mufflers because they do not have decibel readers. There have been an increase in loud mufflers recently especially with a new type of moped. 
• Parking: Representative Brower has been receiving complaints and has also spotted vehicles being parked on City streets in Waikiki for multiple days and long periods of time. He encouraged the public to contact his office or HPD if they notice cars being parked for over 24 hours at a time. 

Questions, comments, and concerns followed ??? Ferris wheel: Community members raised concerns with the proposed Ferris wheel in Waikiki. 

Waikiki Improvement Association - Rick Egged reported the following: 
• Honolulu Marathon: The Honolulu Marathon will be taking place soon. The starting line will be in Kakaako instead of Waikiki. There will be multiple road closures during the duration of the event.
• New Year's Fireworks: The Waikiki Business Improvement District Association will sponsor the fire work show on New Year's Eve at midnight. 
• Honolulu Film Festival: There will be 187 films presented during the event. 

APPROVAL OF THE TUESDAY OCTOBER 9, 2018 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
As there were no objections, the Tuesday, October 9, 2018 regular meeting minutes were approved by Unanimous Consent, 12-0-0. (Aye: Apaka, Bautista, Carrol, Erteschik, Finley, Flood, Henski, Garrity, Giventer, McIntyre, Merz, and Shields; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Waikiki Business Improvement District Association Presentation (WBIDA): Brandon Barbour reported the following:
• Overview: The WBIDA was established in June 2000 to improve the physical environment, enhance the pedestrian experience, and create a positive and healthy district identity. It is a 501(c)(3) corporation which was established in September 2000. Their website is www.waikikibid.org. 
• Vision: The WBIDA is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to creating a clean, safe, vibrant resort destination area reflective of its Hawaiian heritage that is attractive and welcoming to both visitors and residents, and contributes to the economic prosperity of Oahu, and the State of Hawaii. 
• Values: Based on the concept of stewardship of Waikiki, the slogan is Malama Waikiki (caring for Waikiki).
• Aloha Ambassadors: The hospitality and safety workers are present daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 
• Streetscape Maintenance: The custodial workers are present daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and landscape workers are present daily from 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Waikiki Security Cameras: Cameras are operated with a partnership between the City and WBIDA. There are 10 existing cameras on Kalakaua Avenue and Kuhio Avenue and a plan to install 40 new cameras. 
• Improvements: With the partnership between the City and WBIDA, there have been publication rack and refuse bin refurbishments. Other improvements and programs include way-finding maps, bike rack refurbishments, benchmarking, pre-disaster recovery planning, and security/public space management. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• The Board will recess in December 2018. The next Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
• View this meeting on Olelo Channel 49 at 9:00 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday each month, and at 6:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. View online at: http://olelo.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=30

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

Submitted by: Harry Cho, Neighborhood Assistant 
Reviewed by: Russell Ho, Neighborhood Assistant
Final Review: Chair Robert Finley

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