HIGHLIGHTS OF MAY 2, 2007 HCDA MEETING

Following is a summary of actions taken at the May 2, 2007 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

Ground Lease Annual Base Rent Adjustment for University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)

HCDA members authorized the HCDA Executive Director to execute an agreement consenting to the JABSOM sublease with BioXene for 102 square feet of office space in the JABSOM education building.  The sublease fulfills the requirements of a U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration Grant.  In 2002, HCDA entered into a 57-year ground lease with the University of Hawaii for 9.9 acres of land for the construction and operation of the JABSOM complex.  JABSOM is required to obtain HCDA’s approval for any transfers or subleases of the property. 

Emergency Back-Up Generator for the Radio Tower in Kaka‘ako Makai

The Authority authorized the HCDA Executive Director to consent to Salem Media of Hawaii, Inc.’s request to add an emergency back-up generator to its radio tower on Ahui Street with no change in the current rental rate.  Salem operates an AM/FM radio broadcasting and transmitter facility on the State-owned waterfront land and the Hawaii State Civil Defense requested that the company install an emergency backup generator for the existing Japanese language station KZOO.  The generator will not expand commercial activities, but is intended for emergency purposes to keep the public informed in the event of a natural disaster/electrical power outage.

Informational Update on the Kaka‘ako Makai Advisory Working Group

The first of several community meetings necessary to organize the Kakaako Makai Advisory Working Group (AWG) was held in the Cupola Amphitheatre of the Honolulu Design Center on April 10, 2007.  During the meeting, community members indicated a strong desire to make participation in the AWG open to individuals as well as organizations.  Community members felt that residents of Kaka‘ako, individuals with strong ties to Kaka‘ako, or individuals with special expertise planning, design, and development should be able to participate even if they did not belong to any organization.  Townscape Inc., which facilitated the meeting, suggested that it was up to the AWG to determine who else needs to participate in the AWG and could open the membership to individuals as well as organizations.  (Click here to access notes from the April 10 AWG meeting.)

Townscape also called for volunteers for a Bylaws Drafting Committee and a Facilitator Selection Committee and several community members volunteered.  These two committees met on April 23 and 26, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., respectively,  at John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), and will be providing updates at the next AWG organizing meeting.  Time and date for these meetings were posted on the HCDA web site for public information. 

The next AWG organizing meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2007, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at JABSOM, Room No. 314, and the notice has been emailed to interested parties as well as posted on HCDA web site for public information.  Reports from the committees, as well as sharing perspectives, are expected to be on the agenda.