There’s a lot happening this week. We try to cover all that might be of interest –from today’s city zoning committee hearing on the Ala Moana Plaza to upcoming briefings and meetings and some other information to help you during the holidays.
ALA MOANA PLAZA DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION PASSES ZONING COMMITTEE
Today (Wednesday), Resolution 20-315 passed the Zoning Committee in CD1 form with little substantive changes to address concerns raised about the density and height and the need for more affordable housing. Among other things, the posted CD1 deleted condition B in the original resolution which required that the maximum floor area ratio for the project be 7.0. You can see the justification of this action in the posted CD1 here. The amended resolution will likely be heard next Wednesday, December 9, before the full Council. Developer Brookfield Properties seeks interim approval for a 400′ tower at Piikoi & Kona that would be allowable under a draft Ala Moana Transit Oriented Development Plan that has not yet been approved by the City Council. The December 9 Council agenda has not been posted yet, so they will not be accepting testimony until then. We will notify you in a future message when it is available. To review the developer’s plan, click here.
MCCULLY – MOILIILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETS TOMORROW (12/3); OTHER BOARDS RECESS
The Neighborhood Board will meet at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2062 South King Street, at 6:30 pm. On the agenda for New Business is Ala Wai Watershed Flood Risk Management Project revisions. To see the agenda, click here. Other district boards will not be meet until January: Kakaako-Ala Moana, Makiki-Tantalus, and Waikiki Neighborhood Boards are on holiday recess. They will resume in January.
SENATE COVID-19 COMMITTEE MEETS THIS FRIDAY (12/4): DOH Update
The Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 is holding an informational briefing on program updates and plans for prevention and containment of covid, including their work on investigation and contact tracing and findings on clusters. We’ll hear from Department of Health Director Libby Char, Deputy State Epidemiologist Sarah Kemble,and Disease Investigation Branch Chief Emily Roberson. The committee will also get an update on the DOH dashboard – specifically how the cluster data is obtained and used to identify outbreaks; how it helps prevent surges; and ultimately how the data can assist the State to open safely and remain open. This briefing will be held on Friday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. and broadcast on `Ōlelo, channel 49, as well as streamed online on our Senate Facebook page and YouTube Channel. To view the informational briefing notice click here.
LEGISLATIVE KUPUNA CAUCUS MEETS FRIDAY, DEC 4
The Kupuna Caucus composed of members of the House and Senate along with advocates for seniors and interested parties meets this Friday, December 2, at 2pm on Zoom. Up for discussion are proposed bills to help seniors. You can join the discussion and share your thoughts on Zoom here. If you prefer to just watch but not participate, you can watch it live (or later) on YouTube here.
ALA WAI FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT MEETING: SAT., DEC. 5
If you live near the Ala Wai Canal, the watershed flood mitigation project is no stranger to you. Feel free to chime in on the last of 4 meetings this Saturday, Dec. 5, 8:00 – 11:00am hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In partnership with the City, it will make changes to the project plans based on new data and community input. Local experts will be proposing design concepts At Saturday’s meeting. . Login details are below:
The objective of this project is to reduce the damages and risks to the Ala Wai Watershed in severe flooding. The USACE estimates a major flood in the watershed could damage 3,000 structures and cost more than $1.14 billion.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST ON DIS & DAT
COVID-19-POSITIVE VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Help to Detect The Virus – If you had covid and want to help in screening for virus carriers, you might want to join a 2-month Oahu-based study to explore the feasibility of training dogs to screen for the virus in public places like airports, shopping centers, and Hawaii schools. If interested and you meet the following criteria then call (808)691-8761 or click here.
You have tested positive one to three days before applying.
You are 18 years or older.
You are willing to take samples for the study. You will be sent a T-shirt, mask, socks, and a wrist band. Wear them for about 12 hours, and then send those samples back.
CITY ISSUES $500 GROCERY GIFTCARD: For Covid-impacted – This $500 gift card will go directly to 4,000 individuals and households who were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Here are the details:
The first set of recipients should get their cards around Dec. 7. and will have until Dec. 27 to use the card.
Who gets the card: Anyone who applied and qualified for COVID-related aid from the city.
You cannot use the card for alcohol, tobacco, bus passes and gift cards.
The cards can be used only at grocery and convenience stores for purchasing essential goods like food and other household items.
The card does not apply to farmers markets.
If you do receive a card, hang on to it because additional funds may become available.
KUPUNA: HELP IN FINDING LONG -TERM CARE SERVICES: CareSift – A placement service called CareSift works with 1,200 care providers on Oahu to help match families with the right long- term care services. A free, navigation service helps families find any type of care– adult day care program, home care, assisted living, care homes, foster homes, and nursing homes. Find out more by calling (808) 400-9992 or click here.
ONE-STOP WEBSITE SHOP FOR BUYING LOCAL : Pop-Up Makeke – For local businesses that are managing to keep their heads above water, there’s a ray of hope in “Pop-Up Makeke.” It’s an online shop with merchandise from every island. To date, more than 50,000 products have been sold and shipped around the world. All proceeds go to the vendors. Click here to support them.
PREVENT HOLIDAY PIRATES STEALING GIFTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR – Stealing any piece of mail can be charged as a felony and can be punished by up to 5 years in jail, depending on the value of what is taken. But prevent the theft following the tips below:
Make sure the package is delivered to a person.
If you are not going to be home, have it sent to your workplace or a trusted neighbor.
Track the package, so you know when it will come.
Pick up packages at the delivery company, post office, or stores
Install a camera to watch over deliveries.
Be on the lookout at your home and your neighbors for packages and any suspicious activity.
If you do have a package stolen, call the police immediately. Timely reporting can help investigators nab porch pirates while they are still targeting packages.
