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On April 11th, community board members, area legislators, school principals and other members of the Pearl City community gathered for the second Waimano Ridge Task Force meeting of 2007. Co-chairs Senator David Ige and Laurence Lau, Deputy Director of the Department of Health (DOH) were joined by Senator Clarence Nishihara and Representative Roy Takumi. Held at the Pearl City Cultural Center Meeting Room, the formal agenda lasted from the scheduled 7:00-8:30PM, and many community members stayed to speak with the agency officials afterward.
WAIMANO RIDGE PROPERTY UPDATE - State Departments and Agencies
Deputy Director Lau commenced the formal agenda with an update on Waimano Ridge. Among the major developments were resolutions to concerns raised by community members at the last meeting. Lau noted that the facility manager position was filled effective April 4, 2007 and DOH is currently undergoing the process of making the position permanent and full time. Maintenance and repairs were also made to the fence and guardrail area, and a hazardous waste contractor was hired to identify and remove all unwanted materials as pointed out by the Pearl City Neighborhood Board.
Design of the water system improvements will be done by Wilson Okamoto Corporation, as funds have been released by the Governor's Office. The Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), DOH and the Board of Water Supply have already met to discuss system requirements. DAGS, by means of the Department of Budget and Finance, also submitted a request for release of funds on December 22, 2006 to the Governor's Office to initiate work on the Hale Complex improvements in order to relocate DOH staff from Dole Cannery.
Dr. A. Christian Whelen informed the community members of the State Laboratory's goal to increase their capacity to test for influenza. Their target routine testing is 40 tests per day, while they receive an average of 60-70 samples from local hospitals. The ultimate goal is to perform 60 tests per day and to offer all-around-the-clock access to laboratory data for environmental and public health testing programs, thus improving the overall level of disease prevention and intervention for the local community.
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
Senator Ige continued the agenda, updating the task force on legislative initatives that are currently moving through the legislative process. Senate Bill 810, a bull that will authorize the issuance of state monies for capital improvements to the Waimano Ridge facilities and lands and appropriates funds to support the task force for operating expenses and for creating a comprehensive master plan, was kept alive as it moves through the House with the help of dedicated comminity members. In addition, the DOH request made through the Executive budger were included in the State budget draft and are currently moving along in its current form.
HO'OKI'EKI'E STREET: Safety and Noise Level Concerns Raised by Community Members
One of the lengthy discussions of the night involved ongoing problems articulated by several community members regarding the disruptive noise and potential safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists due to cars racing along Ho'oki'ekie Street, a stretch of road currently maintained by the Principal of Momilani Elementary School. Officer Wesley Mundy, representing the State Law Enforcement Division of Conservation and Resources addressed these concerns by clarifying the security protocols involved with accessing the Waimano Ridge property both during business and after hours. In order to improve the process, Lau will follow up with Law Enforcement to ensure that Ho'oki'eki'e Street will be closely monitored to improve the safety for all. These community members also urged the Pearl City Neighborhood Board members to attend upcoming members to voice their concerns.
VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WAIMANO RIDGE
Included in the land use discussion were several proposals from the community members to make recreational and educational use of the property. Among the suggestions were to provide more parking for the Pearl City Cultural Center, a senior living facility to accomodate the aging population within the community, dog and pet parks, public access to Waimano Ridge hiking trails and medical and physician offices.
There was a general concensus among the community board and constituents to support a Pearl City High School vocational program called the SUN project. Members from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board informed attendees that the program has progressed with the cooperation of the masonry, carpentry and other labor unions. At present, the proposed vocational plan would be attached to a university course through a construction academy and/or community colleges.
Senator Ige was pleased to see the strong support and participation from the attendees at this meeting. Many of the community members spoke with area legislators, Laurence Lau, Dr. Whelen and Officer Mundy following the meeting.
Get involved in the decision-making porcess by attending the next Task Force meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 at Pearl City Cultural Center from 7:00-8:30PM.
Posted on April 18, 2007 2:09 PM | Permalink