Board of Directors Zoom Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2022
Conducted via Zoom: Present: J. Bean, G. Colbert, M. Compton, G. Gustavson, M. Novack, A. Richardson, F. Tannen, C. Turner, D. Young, and M. Spencer (Administrative Assistant).
Absent D. Dawson, C. Jewell, L. Jenks, and D. Medeiros
Guests: Bob Bourke, Scientific Advisor; Ralph Winnie, Resident of 816 Pamuhele.
The meeting was called to order by D. Young, President at 7:04 pm. A quorum was declared.
The President, D. Young announced that the meeting would diverge from the published Agenda, to allow those attending from off-island to participate more fully.
B. Bourke-led discussion about Lake Health:
B. Bourke, Scientific Advisor, opened the discussion with his observations on Lake health.
• Lake level is low.
• Several varieties of algae are thriving.
• A tilapia die-off has happened in two Lake locations: Kimo’s Cove and at the mauka edge of the wetlands.
C. Turner, Wetland Owner, added that the Wetlands have not recovered from the significant sediment inflow from upslope construction. Shallow, warmer waters have encouraged the growth of algae and she can’t dock the EcoHarvester at the shore because of the shallow waters.
Discussion then focused on what can be done to help the Lake. Several suggestions were made.
1. The sand berm separating the Kaelepulu Canal from the Kailua Bay should be opened on a regular basis. This led to questions about the status of the Permit that the City was supposedly submitting to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). There were many opinions as to the status, but it became clear that the status remains unknown.
8-1 TASK: Determine status of Berm opening permit** Yet to be determined
2. The long-proposed syphon project, intended to improve the water flow into Hamakua Wetland and beyond, will provide additional flow into the Lake and should be funded. This project has now drawn the attention of political leaders whose interest in the Hamakua Wetlands will actually benefit the entire Kaelepulu Estuary.
8-2 TASK: Determine status of funding for the Syphon Project and write in support of the Project??** Yet to be determined
3. Ideally, the algae should be removed. Turner stated that she and M. Compton had made a second run at Kimo’s Cove, but that they cannot get close to shore and are impeded by the large numbers of floating coconuts.
Discussion then focused on how to better remove the algae. Turner and Compton both agreed that using the old ELRA raft as a drying rack for the algae seemed to work. But they need more rafts. G. Colbert stated that he knows someone who might be available to recondition or possibly construct more of these simple rafts. After more discussion, G. Colbert made the following motion, which was seconded by D. Young:
Motion: ELRA will allocate up to $500 for the possible reconditioning of the two existing ELRA rafts. This motion was approved unanimously by the Board.
8-3 TASK: Oversee the possible reconditioning of existing ELRA Rafts** G. Colbert**
Bourke then turned to the Draft Storm Water Strategic Plan. As shown on the City’s web site, “This Plan describes the City’s vision and long-term goals for storm water over the next 50+ years, as well as the current strategies that will guide management and investment in City storm water operations”.
Recognizing that the Lake derives the vast majority of its fill from storm water runoff, it is very important that ELRA read and provide comments on the draft plan. Comments are due NLT Sep 16, 2022. B. Bourke volunteered to provide the comments.
8-4 TASK: Read and provide ELRA perspective comments on the Draft Storm Water Plan** B. Bourke**COMPLETE
C. Turner introduced an additional Lake Health issue; that of the continued neglect of the various contributories of the lake. There are several ditches and drains that feed waters into the lake, consistent with its “… time immemorial service as a natural ponding area for the drainage of surface and storm waters of the surrounding areas;…” (1963 Kaelepulu Pond Drainage Agreement)
This service is compromised when the canals, ditches and drains leading into the lake are not maintained and kept clean of vegetation and debris. Turner provided several photos illustrating these conditions.
This is not a new topic for the Board. G. Colbert brought this to the attention of the Board in Feb of this year when he observed vegetation being cut in one of the major canals that feed the lake and being left in the canal. D. Young agreed, citing his earlier experience with large clusters of “obviously freshly cut” grass surrounding his dock and onwards into the lake.
8-5 TASK: Write Letter to Esther Kia’aina, City Council Dist 3, (with CC to DFM) describing the situation, complete with photos, and asking for relief **D. Young ** COMPLETE
Lastly, B. Bourke raised the issue of the continued lack of a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) plan for the Kaelepulu Estuary.
8-6 TASK: Write a letter to EPA (Need to know what part) requesting assistance** D. Young** Yet to be determined
Minutes: The draft Minutes for July 2022 had been circulated previously via email.
Following a brief discussion, G. Gustavson moved approval and F. Tannen seconded the motion that the Minutes be approved. A. Richardson abstained since he was not present at the July meeting. The remaining members approved the report unanimously.
Finance: G. Gustavson, Treasurer, stated there are no significant changes in the ELRA finances in July 2022. We closed out the 2021-2022 fiscal year at the end of June very close to our budget for repetitive line items.
The American Savings Bank May end of month balances are $2252 in Savings and $53,030 in Checking.
There are three major recurring expenses that were paid in early August: $3100 for D&O insurance, $3342 for insurance for the eco-harvester and security boat, and $300 for the 2022-2023 property tax. These expenses are consistent with our expectation and our budget.
Thanks to Alan Richardson and Adam Bookatz for their continued support of the ELRA finances.
With no objections, the Finance Report was unanimously accepted, subject to audit.
A. Richardson stated that he was working on the upcoming year’s budget and that it had been distributed to the Executive Committee for their review. There will be more to follow on this.
D. Young thanked G. Gustavson for the names for the new residents of 964 Iopono.
8-7 TASK: Write Welcome Letter to new residents of 964 Iopono **D. Young ** COMPLETE
Administration:
Communications Log: D.Young had shared his log prior to the Meeting. There was no discussion.
Report from Kailua Neighborhood Board August 4, 2022
D. Young reported that, despite notifications KNB meetings would only be held at Kailua Rec Center pavilion, 24+ attended online; only 10-12 in person.
Not much occurred directly impacting the Lake or surrounding waterways.
Board of Water Supply: 3 water main breaks in Lanikai; 3 at Bluestone. There was a plea to reduce water consumption by 10%.
MCBH: KBAY Festival full day of events August 13 & 14, 6 am to 7 pm. No schedule of events will be released. Use carpools. Buses, Uber, Lift to provide access, or walk in.
Community Concerns: Cutting trees down at Kailua Beach. Will they be replaced?
Annual Membership Dinner Meeting, October 15: M. Novack reported that it appears that the Board is current with the variety of tasks necessary to produce the Annual Meeting.
The first notice about the Dinner to membership was an email sent to ELRA members on July 31, 2022. This included a means to indicate attendance, nominate a candidate for the Board, and to name a proxy. The hard copy invite will be sent via USPS on Sep 1, 2022.
Elections: Numbers of possible vacancies on the Board needing to be filled continue to fluctuate. Nonetheless, it has been increasingly difficult to attract new Directors who are willing to serve. Novack recommends the Board take this post-pandemic year to focus on rebuilding the Board.
Dinner: The dinner price has increased a bit with the additional requirement to have a security guard present, due to the no-host Bar. The projected costs for attendees will be $25 for the household’s first dinner and $45 for the second dinner. We hope to have 63 or more participants.
The Planning Committee will meet at the Koolau Ballroom on 13 August 2022, to participate in a tasting session to select the menu for the evening.
C. Turner reminded that there is a significant deposit was due NLT 30 August 2022.
Derek Esibill has been confirmed as the evening’s speaker. He indicates he has his own projector if needed as backup to G. Colbert.
Following discussion, it was agreed without a vote to invite three of Kailua’s community leaders and their guests to the dinner and to pay for their meals.
Annual Report: D. Young requested that all Committee Chairs begin preparing their input to the written Annual Report. The dates should encompass 1 July 2021 to 19 Aug 2022.
Young requests the drafts be to him NLT 19 August.
Maintenance Fees for 2023: D. Young reopened the July discussion about Maintenance Fees. At this time there was even less unanimity than was seen then and the July Motion was withdrawn.
8-8 TASK: Follow-up with Kamehameha Schools with regard to their payment of Maintenance Fees** G. Colbert**
Committee Reports:
Dredging Committee Report: G. Colbert reported that he has attended several meetings. His report covered three separate meetings.
Meeting with Lisa Martin (State House District 51), Randy Cates, Chris Lee (State Senate District 25), the city’s Department of Health (Clean Water Branch), D. Young, and others to discussion how to improve the health of the Hamakua Wetlands and the interconnected Kaelepulu Stream/Canal. The wetlands are very dry.
The urgent need to have the City complete the permit relating to the opening of the sand berm between the Canal and Kailua Bay was mentioned, but the focus was on how to increase flow from the Kawainui Marsh and the Hamakua Wetlands. The concept of “increased headwater” through these interconnected waterways is dependent on having a greater flow from the Marsh which is, at present, dependent on a permanent installation of a previously tested syphon system. Funding for the proposed Syphon Project will be sought by Lisa Martin and Chris Lee.
As part of this meeting, the use of the proposed dog park on Hamakua Drive to store dredge material was raised, as was the possibility of identifying low-lying DLNR land in Waimanalo for that use, but without resolution. The dog park would be a longer-term future option but would not meet current timing expectations. Colbert will follow up with Chris Lee regarding possible use of DLNR lands in Waimanalo.
Meeting with Lisa Martin (State House District 51) concerning her contacts with Peggy Leong. Lisa reports that Peggy has finished her part of the review and will probably recommend that the State not take on the liability for the dredged material at the Hawaii Youth Corrections Facility (HYCF). We are still looking for a formal response from the Department of Human Services.
Meeting with Todd Gray (Land Asset Manager, Kamehameha Schools (KS)) concerning possible collaboration with KS on their lands off Keolu Drive. Discussion centered on possible future development of these properties and if and how KS and ELRA could work together. Gray pointed out that the lands in question have low monetary value and that any development was low on the school’s list of priorities. He suggested that ELRA might want to lease the land or perhaps buy it for a $1.00.
Colbert reminded Gray that during the DPP negotiations KS had agreed to pay the annual assessments, but that it had not yet happened. Colbert will follow up with KS to look at payment mechanics.
Environment Committee: No report. See early part of meeting minutes for environment discussion.
Operations Committee: No report.
Membership Committee: Discussion relevant to this Committee, taking place earlier in the meeting, is recorded here. D. Young opened the discussion saying that ELRA owed an answer to an individual who had requested permission to kayak on the Lake.
There are three membership options that allow Lake access: Assessed Members, Voluntary Members, and Associate Members. Each of these require a fee. Access has also been granted to local Canoe Clubs, based on their agreement to waive all liability from their actions on the lake.
Over the years, the Board had received requests from individuals who do not wish to pay for membership but would like to simply access the via kayak or SUP. These requests have always been denied. In the meantime, the Security Officer acknowledges that individuals continue to enter the Lake without membership or permission.
Discussion centered on whether there were other ways to authorize entry to the lake, short of requiring membership, that would not result in large numbers of outside individuals filling the lake. How could ELRA be a good neighbor without jeopardizing the private nature of the Lake? Several possibilities were discussed, but each seemed to have major drawbacks.
Eventually it was agreed, without vote, to offer the individual in question the opportunity to apply for Associate Membership.
8-9 TASK: Respond to individual requesting to Kayak to offer Associate Membership** D. Young ** COMPLETE
Next Meeting Date: The next Board meeting will take place at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Tuesday, Sep 13, 2022, at 7pm. The next KNB meeting will be Sep 1, 2022, at the Kailua Rec Center, M. Novack is scheduled to attend.
Adjournment: F. Tannen moved adjournment, which was seconded by G. Gustavson. The affirmative vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 9:26 pm.
Respectfully submitted
M. Novack
Tasks from previous months still needing to be completed.
1-3 TASK: Board member to visit ELRA Members who are in arrears in their assessments ** G. Colbert.
2-1 TASK: Contact local mountain and motor bike clubs to seek cooperation concerning trails. Consider writing letter to private owner making them aware of the impact of the trails on down slope homes and Lake. ** Relevant, to be addressed in the future.