HIGHLIGHTS OF OCTOBER 1, 2008 HCDA MEETING

Following is a summary of actions taken at the October 1, 2008 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA)

HCDA Officers for 2008-2009

Authority members re-elected current officers to again serve for the Fiscal Year 2008-2009.  They are:  Chairperson Jonathan Lai and Vice-Chairperson Paul Kimura.  Members did not elect the Authority Secretary at this meeting.

HCDA Kalaeloa Field Office

Authority members authorized the HCDA Executive Director to execute a lease agreement with James Campbell, LLC for leasing of suite #167 in the James Campbell Building in Kapolei.  The office space will be used to relocate the current Kalaeloa Field Office now located at the corner of Enterprise & Yorktown, Bldg. 1756.  The move is necessary because as the Kalaeloa Rules near promulgation and development activity nears, the focus of the HCDA staff will shift from community outreach to an operating field office that will need to service the public from its offices, as well as provide workstations for consultants and HCDA staff to assist in the planning and permitting.

HCDA Obligation for Improvements to the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center Building

HCDA members authorized the HCDA Executive Director to meet the remaining HCDA obligation for improvements to the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center (HCDC) building and to expend up to $250,000 of HCDA revolving funds to meet the obligation.  In 1996, the HCDA began construction on the conversion of the abandoned City and County incinerator in Kaka‘ako Makai into a home for the HCDC.  Although the Center has been in operation since 1997, HCDA’s scope of work for improvements on the structure have yet to be completed.  The Center is now expanding and remodeling the facility and has requested that HCDA complete the remaining obligations as early as possible.  The remaining work that HCDA is obligated to perform includes the painting of the smokestack and relocation of the Center’s main entry.  Because HCDC already has a contractor working onsite, it was determined that it would be appropriate and least costly to have the same contractor complete the remaining work that HCDA is obligated to perform.

Makai Area Open Channel and Box Culvert Improvements and Repairs

Authority members authorized the HCDA Executive Director to expend a total of up to $1,030,000 in available general obligation bond funds and HCDA revolving funds to repair and improve the Makai Area open channel and box culvert.  The existing concrete open channel and box culvert drain system is located along the western boundaries of the Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park and the John A. Burns School of Medicine.  The work to be done includes:  restoration of damaged concrete; backfilling of sinkholes adjacent to the open channel; reinstallation of protective fencing; and installation of preventive measures to halt the erosion of soil into the system and corrosion of the reinforcing steel in the concrete.  Much of the work will be performed in water and in a confined space.