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

Ala Moana / Kakaako Neighborhood Board No. 11

 

January 2022 Minutes

 

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022, 6:00 P.M.

VIA ZOOM

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Ryan Tam called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Quorum was established with eight (8) members present. (Note: This 11-member Board requires six (6) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action. Chair Tam welcomed attendees to the Tuesday, January 25, 2022 regular monthly meeting of the Ala Moana/Kaka ako Neighborhood Board No. 11 via Zoom only.

Board Members Present: Rodney Chang, Dyson Chee, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Ryan Tam, Melissa Wong, Jason Wong, Kathleen Lee, Michael Zehner, and Joshua Nam (appointed at this meeting).

Board Members Absent: Ron Komine Jr.

Guests: Captain Casey Ferreira (Honolulu Fire Department); Erwin Kawata (Board of Water Supply); Culture and Arts Executive Director Makanani Sala (Mayor Blangiardi's Representative); Janelle Villanueva, Councilmember Carol Fukunaga; Council Member Calvin Say; Cory Chun (Council Chair Tommy Water's Office); Craig Nakamoto (HCDA); Chanel Matsumoto (Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii Youth Council); Kris Hui, Maheshi (Residents and Guests); and Spencer Johnson (Neighborhood Commission Office). There were 35 total attendees. Note: Names are not included if not legible on guest sheet or is a phone number on zoom.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): Captain Casey Ferreira reported the fire statistics and electrical safety tips which can be found at https://fire.honolulu.gov/.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): No representative present.

FILLING OF VACANCIES: There is a vacancy in Sub district 1 (SD01) and in Sub District 4 (SD04).

Former member Joshua Nam reported moving from SD04 into SD01. Resident Nam volunteered to fill the Sub District 1 vacancy.

Chang MOVED and Iwamoto SECONDED the Motion to appoint Joshua Nam to fill the Sub District 1 vacancy. The Motion PASSED by Unanimous Consent; (8-0-0). (Aye: Chang, Chee, Iwamoto, Lee, Tam, J. Wong, M. Wong, Zehner; Nay: None; Abstain: None.)

Nam was appointed at 6:12 p.m., nine (9) members present.

PRESENTATIONS

Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: Impacts on the Water Supply - Erwin Kawata, Water Quality Program Administrator, Board of Water Supply, presented the following. A diagram was shared to display the fresh water under the island, protected by caprock. The Navy's fuel tanks are stored 100 feet above the fresh water aquifer. BWS has shut down three (3) of the nearby water well shafts, including the Halawa Shaft, after reports of contamination in the Navy's Red Hill shaft. There have been 72 reported fuel releases in the 80 years of the fuel storage facility history. The most recent release occurred in November 2021. Contamination was first noticed by residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor at the end of November 2021. The Halawa shaft provides water to residents from Halawa to Hawaii Kai. Continued storage of Red Hill fuel above the aquifer endangers the resource from further contamination.

Questions comments and concerns followed.

1. Aquifer Status: Iwamoto asked if the aquifer has already been compromised. Kawata responded yes, contamination has been detected in the aquifer. Iwamoto raised concerns with misleading information provided by the Navy.

2. National Security: Zehner raised concerns about the status of national security, and as to why the fuel storage facility was created. Kawata responded that the storage facility was created during World War ll.

3. Alternate Locations: Lee inquired about alternative locations to store the fuel tanks. Kawata responded that any place above caprock would protect the aquifer.

4. Date: Resident Maheshi asked when the fuel tanks are scheduled to be emptied.

5. Test Wells: Chair Tam inquired about additional wells to test the surrounding area for contamination.

Youth E-cigarette Epidemic: Chanel Matsumoto, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii Youth Council presented the following. The Youth Council has been working to pass legislation to address the youth vaping epidemic for the past few years. Youth e-cigarette use has increased 135% between 2017 and 2019. Matsumoto shared the health impacts of vaping to the human body. The tobacco industry markets their product to interest young people, with over 15,000 e-liquid flavors. Currently, anyone can sell e-cigarettes making it difficult to enforce tobacco 21+ laws. Online sales make underage purchasing of nicotine easier. Matumoto requested the board's support of the resolution to prevent youth vaping.

Questions comments and concerns followed.

1. Adults Affected: Zehner raised concerns about legal-aged adults being affected by the banning of flavored nicotine.

2. Effectiveness: Iwamoto inquired about if this strategy has been effective in any other places.



BOARD BUSINESS

Approval of the Tuesday, November 23, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes.

The Board approved the November 23, 2021 regular meeting minutes as written by UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Attendance at other meetings:

• Reapportionment: Chair Tam reported attending the reapportionment committee meetings on January 13, 2022 and January 22, 2022.

• Ala Wai Flood Project: Chair Tam reported attending the Ala Wai Flood Mitigation Meeting on January 20, 2022.

• Tri-Neighborhood Meeting: Chair Tam reported attending the joint meeting with Manoa, Makiki, and Kalihi Palama Neighborhood Boards regarding the Red Hill on January 5, 2022.

Neighborhood Updates:

Biki Bike Share Location: Chair Tam reported an emergency relocation of a Biki Location, of 400 feet to be moved in front of 24 Hour Fitness on Kapiolani Boulevard due to an updated property survey boundary.

Attack: Kris Hui, Symphony Honolulu Association (Building on Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard) reported an elderly resident was attack on Kapiolani Boulevard near Pacifica during the middle of the day.

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC): None.

Chair's Report: Chair Tam reported submitting testimony in December for the City Council Bill regarding Red Hill. Chair Tam also submitted testimony regarding the reapportionment based on the November 2021 Board resolution.

Treasurer's Report: Iwamoto reported the December expenditures were $28.69, and the January expenditures were $7.80. The remaining balance of $382.93.

Selection of Secretary: None.

OLD BUSINESS (DISCUSSION/ACTION)

Discuss COVID-19 pandemic and response: Chair Tam provided the current numbers of statewide and nationwide Covid-19 deaths and infections.

Update on resolution regarding State Reapportionment Plans: Chair Tam reported updated maps will be released on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Iwamoto commented on the Hick's plan.

NEW BUSINESS (DISCUSSION/ACTION)

Consider resolution regarding Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: Discussion Followed.

Iwamoto MOVED and Chee SECONDED the Motion to adopt the Resolution regarding the decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Tanks. The Motion PASSED; (8-1-0). (Aye: Chang, Chee, Iwamoto, Lee, Nam, Tam, J. Wong, M. Wong; Nay: Zehner; Abstain: None).

Zehner commented he voted "no" to the resolution as written because it does not address national security needs.

Discussion Followed.

Zehner MOVED and Chang SECONDED the Motion to amend the Resolution to urge the relocation of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Tanks. The Motion FAILED; (5-3-1). (Aye: Chang, Lee, Tam, M. Wong, Zehner; Nay: Chee, Iwamoto, Nam; Abstain: J. Wong).

Consider resolution regarding Youth E-Cigarette Use: Discussion Followed.

Hearing no objections, the Board decided to differ this item to February 2022.

RESIDENTS' AND COMMUINITY CONCERNS

ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS

Mayor Rick Blangiardi: Culture and Arts Executive Director Makanani Sala was available for questions.

Councilmember Carol Fukunaga: Councilmember Fukunaga reported the following.

• Condo Owners' Concerns on Fire Sprinkler Requirements: Bill 37, CD1, which proposes amendments to Ordinances 18-14 and 19-4, passed second reading during the Council's November meeting. The laws mandating installation of fire sprinklers in individual units and common areas within a condo property impose significant financial obligations upon residents living in residential condo buildings built before 1975.

• Covid-19 Testing Hours: The testing site is located in the Diamond Head Tour Group Area of HNL Airport (just past Baggage Claim 31) and is now open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

• Public Survey Available Regarding Honolulu's Federal Recovery Funds: The public survey can be viewed at: https://www.oneoahu.org/frf, and participants can rank its funding priorities, and provide written comments.

• Monthly Report: The link to Councilmember Fukunaga's full report is: https://tinyurl.com/CMFukunagaNB11Rpt.

Councilmember Calvin Say: Councilmember Say shared a link to his December Newsletter and was available for questions. https://calvinsay.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/cm-say-year-recap-2021-newsletter-final.pdf

Questions comments and concerns followed. Meadow Gold: Chair Tam inquired about the status of the Meadow Gold abandoned building.

Council Chair Tommy Waters: Cory Chun was available for questions.

State Representative Adrian Tam: Representative Tam shared a link to his newsletter and was available for questions.

State House Speaker Scott Saiki: No representative present.

Senator Sharon Moriwaki: Heather Saenz reported the following.

• Legislative Priorities: The Legislative priorities are homelessness, crime, unwanted noise, sea level rise, conservation, government effectiveness, and advocating for our kapuna.

• Newsletter: To subscribe to receive Senator Moriwaki's newsletter: https://senatormoriwaki.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5e4fd2f967a75c22634a78184&id=132834932c.

Governor David Ige: No representative present.

U.S. Congressman Ed Case: No representative present.

AGENCY REPORTS

Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA): Craig Nakamura provided a link to a survey and was available for questions. HCDA Mauka Area Rule Amendment Process. To complete the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSRFGJl4x-JH9VUwkMqQOvEi9qfoR19vHrO0oG1UFETFmFPw/viewform.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART): Harry Cho provided the following update. The first 10 miles of guide way and nine (9) stations are fully constructed and being tested. The last phase of testing is expected to be completed by mid-2022. The second section of rail (airport portion) is nearing completion. The final section (City section) is finalizing a contract, and construction is expected to begin this year.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS): Chair Tam reported the following. There was an 8 inch water break on December 18, 2021, at 1600 Makaloa Street. Manage your water use with the BWS Water Smart Portal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Covid-19 Vaccines: Find a vaccine provider near you at: https://www.oneoahu.org/find-vaccine.

• Permit Reviews: Development proposals that require neighborhood board input are posted at: http://www.honoluludpp.org/ApplicationsForms/ZoningandLandUsePermits/NeighborhoodBoardMaterials.aspx.

• W w malu Beach: The City and County of Honolulu has installed boulders to conserve and protect the undeveloped W w malu Beach shoreline section of Sandy Beach from off-road vehicles. Park rededication ceremony is on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.

• Liquor Commission Hearings: All hearings are held at 711 Kapiolani Boulevard, 6th Floor

• The Social Honolulu (1170 Auahi Street #250) - Restaurant Category No. 2 (with live entertainment); Hearing on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

• Kamitoku Ramen (1200 Ala Moana #657) - Restaurant Category No. 1 (consumption on premise); Hearing on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

• Next Meeting: The next regular meeting of the Ala Moana/Kaka ako Neighborhood Board No. 11 is scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. via zoom and location TBD.

• Action Committee Meeting: The next Community Action Committee Meeting for the Ala Moana/Kaka ako Neighborhood Board No. 11 is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. online via zoom.

• lelo Broadcasts: Broadcasts of the Ala Moana-Kaka ako Neighborhood Board No. 11 meetings are on lelo 49 on the first and third Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., and every second Sunday at 6:00 p.m. The full schedule is at https://olelo.org/tv-schedule/) or full archive at https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-sitearticles/1657-board-meeting-video-archive.html.

ADJOURNMENT - As there was no further business before the Board, Chair Tam adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.

Submitted by: Spencer Johnson, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Deputy

Finalized by: Ryan Tam, Chair

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