Maunawili Community Association

Maunawili Community Association Minutes October 1, 2002

Maunawili Community Association Minutes October 1, 2002

Maunawili Community Association
Regular Meeting: October 1, 2002
Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park

Present: Jim Corcoran (Director); Clifton Gadsden (Rep. Pendleton’s Office Staff); Rose Faria (Treasurer); Virginia Fine (Director); David Laeha (President); Tony and Barbara Lorcricchio; The Oba’s, Jones’ and Various Residents not identified; Suzanne McNalty, Regina Zsupnik, and Shawn Severse (Boys’ Home); Representative David Pendleton; Linda Ure (Secretary).

The meeting was called to order by Linda Ure, Secretary, at 7:05 p.m.

September 3, 2002 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved as circulated.

Treasurers Report: Balance from August 31 2002 was $4,581.22. Additional Household Membership Dues collected were $ 345.00. 141 households have now paid 2002-2003 dues. Olomana Community Association was forwarded $100.00 for Candidate Night Expenses. The Bulk Mail Permit was renewed for $150.00. The total balance of $4,676.22 includes the Stop Development Fund ($1492.25) and General Operating of $3,183.97. It was noted that Bumperstickers may require re-order as it was anticipated to order every third year. Current supplies are anticipated to cover resident’s needs this year.

Garage Sale Report: submitted by Joan Riggs: Planning the event in conjunction with Olomana’s Community Sale along with reminder signs posted on the bulletin boards, the addition of the Sandwich Board made by the Boy’s Home (stolen on Thursday before the event), balloons for the mailboxes of participating homes, maps to locate homes and sale items, advertising in the Advertiser, delivery of maps to participating homes several days in advance, fees due 10-12 days in advance so that maps could be created all worked well. The cost of the event was $117.18 to include the Sandwich Board, posters, balloons, advertisement and maps. The Board needs to decide whether to hold the event once or twice a year and whether that would be in conjunction with neighboring communities. The Sandwich Board was a good idea and a decision to make another, then chain it down to deter theft should be considered. More maps could be utilized at “first stop” locations along with youth setting up stations for snacks. Fax the request to have the trash picked up early and get the verification in writing. Event time could be considered 8:00 am to 2:00 pm to match neighboring communities. Contact Maunawili Estates Community Association to see if they wish to participate. Plan 2-4 months in advance and use a MUSE tear-off entry form. Utilize a Garage Sale Team: Director of overall coordination/decision making; Sign Maker; Map Maker/Home & Items (listed on back); and a person to Deliver Balloons and Maps (perhaps the youngsters). Those who participated certainly appreciated the Association’s determination to make this event happen. Input from the community would be helpful to know how often to hold the sales as well as how better to serve them in the process.

Candidate Night Report: It was reported that the Candidate Night event would take place at 6:30 pm at Maunawili Elementary School on Wednesday, October 2, 2002. Candidates are invited that would be representing all races for the Windward side as well as Governor and Lt. Governor. Maunawili Board members and Directors will attend and assist in the event. Pizza and beverage will be provided at the close of the question and answer session.

The Agenda was taken out of order to address pressing planning of upcoming events.

Halloween Event: It was determined that if no volunteers could be found to organize the Halloween Parade this year, via e-mail requests, the event would not be scheduled and the community members notified, by e-mail. As Halloween falls on Thursday it may be difficult to get organizers.

Christmas Event: It was determined that a panel of judges would again create a list of decorated homes, streets, cul-de-sacs and publish in the MUSE. It was suggested that a winter pot luck be held at the end of the Christmas Holidays in celebration of the season.

The Agenda was taken out of order to address community concerns surrounding the Boys’ Home in Maunawili concerning the addition of a youth from OYS.

Maunawili Boys’ Home: Shawn Severse, staff member, addressed the Board and the residents in attendance giving a brief history of the home located in Maunawili. It was determined that since 1996 the 8 beds in the home had been reduced to 6 and it was stated that all current residents were DOH referrals from Felix Consent Decree criteria. It was noted for clarification that OYS (Oahu Youth Services) is also known as HYCF (Hawaii Youth Corrections Facility).

It was motioned by the board that letters be sent to DOH and Child and Family Services, Inc. opposing the placement of sex offenders, violent offenders and criminal offenders in the Boys’ Home in Maunawili.

Discussion followed: 1) A Board member asked if the referrals were directed to the Maunawili Boys Home after a Chest X-ray. It was explained by the CFS (Child and Family Services, Inc) staff that the referrals from HYCF are to a Kailua facility, Hale Kipa or Catholic Charities except for the Felix Kids which would come under the CFS contract with DOH (Department of Health).
2) Residents queried if the Maunawili Boys’ Home was run by the same contractor as was in charge of the 10 girls that escaped from the HYCF facility and whether the helicopters were searching for those escapees yesterday. It was noted that the helicopter was not connected to the Boys’ Home, and that the Maunawili Boys’ Home youth program requirements are more structured than standard State requirements because the youth at the Boys’ Home are Felix Consent Decree youth. The escape at HYCF is not under the control of the Boys’ Home staff. The Boys’ Home facility in Maunawili is to address Felix youth with behavioral problems and status offenders are given the group home structure so that they may reintegrate into community living. 3) It was noted by a community member that status offenders would not be incarcerated at HYCF. 4) It was requested by a community member whether or not the CFS had insurance coverage to address one of their residents engaging in criminal acts in the community. 5) It was strongly suggested by a community member that the contract of the organization (CFS) was indeed misrepresented to the community and questioned whether or not the contract was being implemented appropriately. 6) While it was stated by CFS that all 6 beds are filled with DOH referrals, and all those referrals are Felix Consent cases, the community voiced strong opposition to any referrals coming through DOH from HYCF to the Maunawili Boys’ Home. 7) A number of residents related prior years when the Maunawili home was housing girls instead of boys, and later, when the male residents were furloughs from OYS, both of which perpetrated infractions of the rules of the home as well as crimes in the community and against community residents. 8) Ms. McNalty stated that HYCF status offenders with behavioral problems and with escalations in behaviors were not violent offenders. Violent offenders from the HYCF would be inappropriate to be placed in the Maunawili program. 9) The community members expressed a strong lack of confidence in the Child and Family Services Inc in addressing this issue as the community had been told as recently as July, 2002 that no OYS kids would be placed in the home by the Staff of the Maunawili Boys’ Home. 10) While the communities continued to express the strong sentiment that the organization was not on the side of the community, the administrator, Ms. McNalty expressed her position that the organization was indeed on the community’s side as well as the youth’s side. 11) The community was not given a direct answer as to the nature of the offence of the youth referral from DOH that had been at HYCF because of confidentiality concerns involving a minor. 12) Representative David Pendleton recalled for the community that a resolution by the legislature urged an increase in beds at HYCF so as not to put pressure on the community sector as was demonstrated in the Maunawili Community a number of years ago when the home serviced both girls and later boys. 13) However the community members recalled that the increase in the size of a correctional facility was not in keeping with the community will and currently the “beds” in the correctional facility are 150-200% over-peopled and creates a situation that is being exploited by early release and placement into group homes on the Windward side, especially Kailua and the community of Maunawili. 14) Representative Pendleton stated that the ACLU takes the position that a correctional facility that is overcrowded violates the civil rights of all inmates. 15) It is of concern to community members that a Secure Custody Facility, also contracted to be serviced by CFS is currently over-crowded and the excess population is being transferred into the community-based programs. 16) It was pointed out that this is not an isolated problem: a.) OCCC is currently overcrowded and b.) early release is often the solution sought by the administration, and c.) the correctional system in Hawaii has only recently been allowed out from under Federal Control. 17) A problem identified is that the Felix youth with HYCF are also Felix-identified and CFS is bound by contract with DOH to service these youths and it was noted that the Attorney General oversees the dual classification. 18) It is the community’s understanding that as status offenders, the youth may be: oppositional, substance abusers, truants or runaways, therefore, how is it that a judge would send a youth to HYCF for this definition of status offences? 19) It is of great concern that false information has been given to the community while the Felix youth being served in Maunawili are being exposed to a full spectrum of criminal behaviors when in contact with HYCF Felix youth. 20) It was expressed by many community members that Kailua has a disproportionate share of group homes for offending youth. 21) The issue of group homes for offenders has frequently been addressed at both the Government and Community Services and the Planning and Zoning Committees of the Kailua Neighborhood Board and will be addressed concerning the Maunawili Boys’ Home as there appears to be a violation of land use law by the placement of group homes in residential communities. 22) Ms. McNalty was requested to furnish insurance indemnification information for the risk the community may encounter as a result of placing HYCF youth in the community group home.

The motion was called and read before the vote. Letters be sent to DOH and Child and Family Services, Inc. opposing the placement of sex offenders, violent offenders and criminal offenders in the Boys’ Home in Maunawili. The motion passed unanimously.

The agenda was returned to order

Update on the Boys’ Home and Community Projects: A letter from the Maunawili Community Association was given to Suzanne McNalty on behalf of the community for their participation in the Garage Sale in making the Sandwich Board. The Boys’ Home still needs to be provided with a folding pruning saw to work with the vegetation at the entrance to Maunawili Valley as authorized by the Board. Ms McNalty accepted the letter and stated that the Boys’ Home appreciates this opportunity to work with the community in assisting the boys to move through their program of community service.

MUSE Report: The August-September edition included a flyer for Candidate Night and the Community Garage Sale. Coordination was done With Joan Riggs on the Garage Sale and with Gary Wiseman on the Candidate Night.

Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill – Kapaa Quarry: Corcoran reported the temporary solution to raise the height of the landfill has been approved of the Department of Health. This measure is only a temporary solution until the EIS is completed for the Expansion of the WGSL which the local community opposes. The Kailua Neighborhood Board remains in opposition to the addition of Kapaa Quarry as a replacement site for a sanitary landfill and urged the city to use other technologies to address the old ideas of landfills. The KNB supported the City Council Resolution 02-191 which also opposed the Kapaa Quarry site and supported new technologies to address the problem of continuing to use sanitary landfills. Kapaa Quarry remains a real concern to our residents despite DES Director Tim Steinberger’s promise that about 2008 no more landfills will be used on Oahu. Steve Holmes has stated in his news notes that the EPA regulations on leaching would prevent Kapaa Quarry from being used as a sanitary landfill and would impact Kaiwainui Marsh. It remains of note that Kailua has a disproportional share of closed and open landfills operating in Kapaa Valley. It was reminded that as the EPA Regional Offices are in San Francisco, regulation over the current administration’s practices concerning landfills may not be well supervised. While the City Council has budgeted $6M to examine advanced technologies and $60M to put in the 3rd unit at H-Power it has not thoroughly addressed bioremediation (organisms); plasma arc- for extracting precious metals and manufacture of glass beads; mixed aggregates of wood, concrete, plastic for manufacture of building materials, and composting companies producing soil and mulch from green waste are still a viable alternative.

Candidate Night: The schedule has been confirmed for Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. Last time over 100 persons attended to listen and query candidates at all levels of elected government.

Maunawili - Old Government Road: The report addressed the concerns of the community that the Na Ala Hele Trails System included the Maunawili Trail and the Maunawili Falls Trail. The Oahu Trails Director, Mr. Aaron Lowe has had conversations, and walked the grounds with Weinberg/HRT Planning Consultant, Kurihashi, that would give the State owned (that’s us) Old Government Road in a Quit Claim process to Weinberg/HRT in consideration of 1) a parking lot near the entrance of Maunawili for the Olomana Mountain Hiking Trail, 2) a contour trail at the 800 foot level on the south side of Olomana Mountain 3) A parking lot and Comfort Station across from the Hedeman Home on the Luana Hills Property. It was further reported that 1) Environmental Assessment must be conducted, and 2) inform the Maunawili Community Association and the Kailua Neighborhood Board just what is being planned concerning OUR Old Government Road. While Weinberg/HRT states OGR cuts through their property of the undeveloped golf course, and Weinberg/HRT is proposing to build a golf academy, food facility and pitch ‘n putt on the undeveloped golf course, the Old Government Road is the access to 900 acre Windward Regional Park now in negotiations (possibly for additional monies) with the City and County and Weinberg/HRT. It remains suggested that a simple map of the area be placed in the MUSE to illustrate the scheme suggested by Weinberg/HRT. There still remains no direct communication between Weinberg/HRT and the MCA or the KNB. The next meeting of Na Ala Hele Trails will be attended by representatives of Maunawili Community Association.

Coqui Frogs Report: The letter from the Maunawili Community Association to the Governor in support the Kailua Neighborhood Board resolution for the eradication of Coqui Frogs was sent to the Governor and also forwarded to the EPA to extend the authorization from EPA to use caffeine to eradicate the Coqui Frogs.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.
Submitted by Linda C Ure, Secretary