HIGHLIGHTS OF JUNE 6, 2007 HCDA MEETING

Following is a summary of actions taken and an informational item presented at the June 6, 2007 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

Kalaeloa Entry-Way Beautification Project

Authority members approved spending up to $20,000 of Kalaeloa community development revolving funds to proceed with implementing the Kalaeloa Entry-Way Beautification Project fronting the intersection of Ft. Barrette Road and Roosevelt Avenue.  The work will include ground preparation and the improvement of landscaping, and the installation of new signage and irrigation.

(Above, the areas to be beautified)

The Kalaeloa Community Network (KCN) workgroup was organized in November 2006, as part of HCDA’s continued community outreach.  The KCN consists of Kalaeloa stakeholders that include landowners, businesses, and residents.   Among many quality of life issues such as public transportation for the Kalaeloa District, pedestrian traffic safety, deteriorating lands and facilities, the workgroup sought authorization to beautify the entry-way to Kalaeloa at the intersection of Ft. Barrette Road and Roosevelt Avenue.

This beautification project design has been reviewed by the State Department of Transportation and has received the endorsement of KCN members.  The Entry-Way Project represents a tangible commitment and coordination of varying stakeholders within Kalaeloa to invest their time, talent, sweat equity, and creativity behind a public improvement project which will bring value to all who utilize the area.

Maintenance of Kaka‘ako District Parks

HCDA members authorized the HCDA Executive Director to execute Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the State Parks Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) for maintenance of the Kewalo Basin Park, Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park, and Makai Gateway Park for three-one-year periods beginning July 1, 2007.  Members also approved spending up to $188,000 of revolving funds per fiscal year for maintenance in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

DLNR currently provides certain maintenance services for the three Kaka‘ako District parks including custodial work, lawn mowing, tree trimming, cat feces clean up, along with daily monitoring of the parks and the payment of utility costs.  A private contractor provides supplemental landscape maintenance services (herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer programs; planter maintenance; lawn edging; tree trimming; and maintenance and repair of irrigation systems) for the Kaka‘ako Waterfront and Makai Gateway Parks, and HCDA intends to include Kewalo Basin Park when the supplemental landscape maintenance contract is let out for competitive bid in Fall 2007.

Recommendations by the Small Business Task Force

As an informational item, the recommendations by the HCDA Small Business Task Force to support small lot development in Kaka‘ako’s Mauka Area was presented.  This Task Force was created by HCDA Chairperson Michael Goshi in November 2006 to study small lot development in Kaka‘ako and to propose recommendations that would enhance opportunities for redevelopment.  Over the past seven months, the Task Force--consisting of HCDA members C. Scott Bradley, Amanda Chang, and Grady Chun--studied issues affecting small lot development, engaged in research on various relevant topics, and convened a focus group consisting of landowners and business owners and tenants to discuss concerns.  The Task Force also tested various development hypotheses.  The major obstacles identified by the focus group include high Improvement District assessments, rising property taxes, the lack of density for small lots to make development feasible, and the lack of public parking in Kaka‘ako in Kaka‘ako’s Central Business Precinct.  The Task Force recommendations included broad policy recommendations on improvement district assessment, density and parking.  The Task Force also recommended that HCDA establish an in-house resource center to assist small lot owners who are looking to develop their property.