Hawaiian Shores ---Architect Committee Meeting

WATCHDOG © 2011

Aloha Watchdog Readers,

Shall we try this again? Is it true the 3rd time is the charm? Will there be quorum? Will there be positive work accomplished? Will the Agenda reflect the concerted efforts of those who have requested membership on this committee and who have performed their home work from last month?

Of interest is the continuing discussions:

• Neighbor notification process
• Lot Clearing
• Maintenance and management of Lot

While the Architect Committee has a larger Agenda they are discussing, most of that has been agreed to and is simply awaiting recommendation to the Board. The three topics outlined above however are very fluid discussion ALL OF WHICH AFFECT YOU, the owner. If you look back over the last couple of month's recaps here on this site the Watchdog has endeavored to provide a window into the mindset of discussions that have evolved regarding these topics. Neighbor notification, as a process, needs to be clearly defined. It needs to convey the 'ideal' involved to 'encourage' neighbor communication. As it stands currently, there is a bit of a misconception, and rightly so, that this process will give opportunity for a neighbor to meet with the Committee when a particular project comes up for review and lodge some concern/s and perhaps have that concern carry some weight in the decision process in approving or not approving an application. This was discussed thoroughly at the June committee meeting. The consensus after much discussion was to continue the discussion after some review of other Homeowner Association policies. 

Lot clearing is another touch and go discussion. One member wants to approve every single tree felled, some want to 'define' what constitutes 'lot clearing' -- a single tree felled -- done by machine vs hand -- and 'policy' and 'procedure' on when and how the lot is to be cleared is being recrafted.

Regarding Lot maintenance and management; tying this into the 'lot clearing' the idea being floated about for consideration is a mandatory landscaping plan to be formally delivered for approval by the Arch Committee before any lot clearing can be done and then the owner would be held to that plan through the maintenance and management regulation. This discussion hasn't seen its completion as yet. 

This committee has given itself a September deadline for handing all recommendations over to the Board for review and ostensibly adoption/approval for the next ballot. After they go out to the members the vote will bind the association until the next change is made by Membership vote. 

Please remember, you, the home/lot owner, are bound by decisions others are making in your absence. Are you okay with that?

Will we see you at 5P tonight at the Honu Street facility?

Hawaiian Shores -- July ByLaws/Policy Committee Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

Aloha Watchdog Readers,

The graphic [left of this text] summarizes the accomplishments of the ByLaws/Policy Committee Meeting last evening. With only 3 actual committee members in attendance and one member of the community there was insufficient quorum to do business.

All who would be there last night showed up before the 6P start time whereupon the dominant conversation drifted to war stories only without Oliver North. By 1818 when no one else showed up the meeting was cancelled.

In full disclosure, the ByLaws Committee in 2010 had some challenges in meeting quorum as well. We had to start weeding off the names of those who routinely did not show at the meetings. However, when there was policy or By Law changes to be made we always had quorum. Business the Board felt compelled to accomplish cannot be held up due to lack of participation of committee members. There has been sufficient number of meetings to determine there is at least one individual who has not attended any of the BL meetings.

It is IMPORTANT for members to be present at all committee meetings as a witness to the historical record. You should be present to make sure your concerns are discussed; present to understand what is happening to your Home Owner's Association and present to observe the level of commitment by individuals who have volunteered to serve the community. Also important is observing with your own eyes and understanding the individual contribution of all volunteers. This is important because rumors, mostly ugly and mostly fallacious, are floated out into the community on a routine basis and without first hand knowledge by being present and knowing what the facts may be leaves the hearer vulnerable. Your investment here is as important as anyone's and no one is going to look out for you better than you! Please consider spending the few hours a month at meetings and contributing your sage to the discussion. What does that do? Besides the obvious -- the more minds focused the better the outcome -- it gives you equity when you begin to voice your concerns about the way things are being done one way or another. If you are present and have the facts you can speak with authority. This works especially for good when something positive is being developed to lend support for the activity or idea. You have credibility when you can speak from knowledge. As the adage says: Knowledge is power!

Hawaiian Shores -- By Laws Committee Mtg Notice

WATCHDOG © 2011

Aloha Watchdog Readers,

Please mark your calendars and tasks menus to remind yourself to attend tonight's By Laws and Policy Committee Meeting. The meeting starts at 6P at the Honu Street Facility. 

The Agenda is not published but should include a review of the current Park Rules [for a copy to bring tonight for the discussion please go here ] for an update and consistency through out the HSCA Park System. Input is valuable and allows the individual Member to have a say in how their Park assets could serve themselves and their neighbors for 'fair' application and compliance. For instance, do you believe parking on the road shoulder at the Papio Ocean Park [formal adoption of name not in evidence] should be allowed? Or, do you think visitors to that park should park on side streets and walk to the Ocean Park? Who will enforce the parking rules and how? What accommodations will be made for the handicapped folks who visit this public park? Will there be any liability to HSCA by forcing people to park on side roads especially if they have a disability? 

Should non member renters be allowed to use the the 'recreational facility' which is a 'membership' benefit? If so, should there be additional charges made to those besides the 'guest fee' to cover the wear and tear of the facility?

The By Laws Committee is still firming up some of the By Law changes. They may also be reviewing some CCR changes. 

In any case, each of the changes recommended by this committee to the Board for approval to forward on to the Membership affects each member and their quality of life experience as a property owner within the Hawaiian Shores Recreational Estates subdivision.

We may not get through everything tonight but what ever is finished you would want to have a voice in.

See you there?

Hawaiian Shores -- New Water Billing

WATCHDOG © 2011

By now, if you do not pay your water bill in lump sums [quarterly; annually] you've received the hot pink flyer informing you of the new billing cycles adopted by the Board as a 'cost' cutting measure. To determine when your 2 months cycle begins you must figure out if you are in the 'Mauka' or the 'Makai' box. Mauka [the Watchdog's box] is everyone from Aama St Lot 75 to Lai Street lot 736. Those who live in the Mauka box must budget in the month of August for a double billing amount! Instead of paying $50 dollars they now have to pay $100 in August for Sept and Oct service. The Makai box has an additional month to organize their personal finances to accommodate the increase to their 'water' payment. 

Those who are conspiracy minded will likely not miss the point that the ones who live down in the area who serve on the Board and their supporters, the ones who have consistently belly ached about the water costs, have an additional month to get their 'personal finances' in order. The conspirator would automatically understand the Makai box being given an extra month to prepare will cut down on the squawking that would reverberate through the by ways of the Makai box area.

Every other month billing is something many people who move here from the Mainland are used to. And obviously, since the county water is billed every other month it is a practice that is not unique to HSCA. 

The costs saved is likely not going to be sufficient enough to countermand the comments by those who will not support this. It is however a chance to remind members if they really want to have any say in their lives and how this Association affects them they need to start making it to the Committee and Board meetings regularly or they will be caught unawares more and more.

The Watchdog supports watching the bottom line and making what changes can be made to lesson the burden of operations from a financial standpoint. Just hope this does not become one of those issues that further divides the community. Out of concern for those who have difficulty paying their water bill monthly the question was asked if the member could still pay monthly to cut down on the financial burden and the president responded yes, the member can pay monthly but 'it is up to them to manage their personal finances'. [sic] So there!

As in all things, if this creates more havoc than it controls reverting to a monthly payment system should be optional. It just takes a little while for the ebb and flow of change to become the norm. Perhaps in a few months after the natural discomfort of change has worn off this may be the best thing to have happened. Time will tell...or people will have their water shut off and that might be the worst nightmare any Board would have to contend with...an uptick in water shut offs due to lack of payment. The Water Board Rules should be reviewed by all members immediately to see when the office will now shut someone's water off. Please continue to check back on the official website to read the 'revised water service rules & regulations' as of this writing they are not yet posted though the flyer clearly directs the water consumer to the official website. Next question, will they be posted in Japanese?

Hawaiian Shores Community -- July Finance Comm Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

Woah! How embarrassing! The Watchdog is so relieved the folks in the community opted to not attend tonight's Finance Committee Meeting.  While the Chair was prepared to sit down and do some serious business 3 out of the 5 committee members were not so inclined.

Sadly, on a night when the next year's budget could have been laid out with the exception of some final numbers due the end of this month the time spent from 1810 to 1840 was spent discussing perceptions of the staff. Such comments like the staff is like some 'step and fetch' bunch of people, or, 'if they were mine I'd "bitch slap" them' was indulged at a committee level. The chair did not bring the discussion back to topic although after a bit he did say 'by the way the Finance Committee adjourned 20 minutes ago.' Perhaps the most dismaying demonstration of unprofessional behavior was from the President/CEO of the organization who shared her own negative thoughts about something she was unhappy with the office staff for not doing. Instead of listening to the complaints of the one member and kindly saying she would definitely take her concerns seriously and follow up on the report privately with the staff which is proper business practice she merely added her own complaints to the conversation which led the original complaining member to ask 'aren't you her boss' which was a lead in by the member to the comment about 'bitch slapping'. 

I don't know when things went wrong in this world that mature adults, seniors, can get together in a business setting and make such comments as were made. I do know that the racial undertones with the statement made about 'step and fetch' made the Watchdog very uncomfortable. The demeaning reference to the staff should have been corrected by someone on the Committee as inappropriate; instead it laid the ground work to continue the complaint session for an extended period of time.

The last 18 minutes of the hour was turned back to the reason for the meeting, the business of the Finance Committee and then adjourned again because 'the board is having an executive session at 7', according to the President. 

On the matter of the Finance Committee Meeting for July, it seemed the Chair came prepared to try and get the first steps of the budget process initiated. It seemed however not everyone was on his page. He deferred the conversation to the August Finance Committee Meeting when the 3rd quarter figures would be out and they would have a better handle on the current budget and whether or not it is working out.

Lastly, and not least of all, there was some passionate discussion on whether or not to assess a higher assessment fee to those who have vacant lots as a means to raise revenues to compensate for those lots where nuisance tree removal may be required. The discussion started out with a suggested $50 fee and quickly moved to $100. The discussion ended after the Chair rationally stated that 'we must be fair' and 'if the amount collected doesn't really address the problem then why do it?' It is true there should be a revenue source for those 'emergency' tree removals the previous Board approved for the Budget but to penalize those who live off island and do not understand what kind of problems may exist or how to treat them may create an adverse situation. A systematic review of vacant lots with over growth, especially of a dangerous nature should be developed; perhaps letters suggesting the best way to manage the situation with a statement that if left poorly managed the Association may impose a 'management' fee of up to $XXX. This might be a feasible and reasonable solution. One the Watchdog would have supported had it been suggested while still part of the Board. But a blanket penalization fee for all vacant lots not being maintained by an undetermined standard may present a huge problem for some Board someday. 

The 'salary and wages' portion of the budget was discussed quickly. When the 2011 budget was approved there was 7.5 employees. Today, 6; according to the President, SOON to be reduced. Yet, a new position is being advertized which when filled will 'add' not 'subtract' from the total number of current employees. [Granted, it may be less salary] Even if they terminate one position they are merely renaming that position and redefining the job requirements and then filling the position! The Watchdog admittedly is not a 'numbers' person but 6 + 1 - 1 is still 6, no?

We will reserve judgement on the Budget to next time when the committee meets to discuss the Budget again. 

The next Finance Committee Meeting will be Thursday, August 18th @ 6P at the Honu Street Facility.

Hawaiian Shores Community -- Finance Committee Meeting Reminder

WATCHDOG © 2011

Aloha Folks,

Please make every effort to attend the Finance Committee Meeting this evening. The meeting commences at 6P and is held at the Honu Street facility. It was stated at the last Board meeting, and it is that time of year, the Budget will begin its process of emerging for the next fiscal year.

For those of us who may find all of this a tad boring, please understand, it affects YOU! This is the time when the numbers start to fall onto the page for the operational, infrastructure and reserve business of the association which eventuates into what the individual Member annual assessment will be. 

The Board of 2010 was able to accomplish something never before done ... a 7% decrease over the previous year's assessment! Members of the current Board campaigned on lowering costs to the Membership and tonight is the first opportunity we will see that plan put into motion. 

How is it playing out lowering costs so far...

• Right out of the gate they hired someone to take Minutes. Time will tell how much that winds up being but as we all did the math in our heads it will wind up being close to at least $2500 to do what was being done for free. Frankly looking at the Minutes -- when you strip away the aggressive agenda which results in many motions each meeting -- you will find Minutes that are not much different than what had been provided for years at no charge. Surely, a professional would have to justify the cost by beefing up the context because after all the money made is in the transcription afterwords; despite the fact that the computer is recording and translating to text in real time!
• Pending costs to have an HR firm handle some of the stuff already handled in the office which by admission of the Board will be a cost with NO NET GAIN! Instead, they anticipate doing away with a position [or SOMEONE'S JOB] to support a company's payroll elsewhere with NO NET GAIN!
• Advertizement costs for newspaper print ads [Please see July Agenda listing publication in two papers on 7/18 & 7/25]  to promote the RFP process. A cost that is not necessary to have incurred when letters [additional cost] are scheduled to go out to 'all' engineering firms in the state. Who might those Newspaper Ads be reaching if not all the engineering firms...unless they may be looking to score a 'mainland' company to do the job? That might raise some local eye brows. Just conjecture on the Watchdog's part, but food for thought nonetheless. 
• Motion to approve the process going forward to spend up to Eighty Five Thousand dollars [$85,000.00] for the pool filtration power upgrade
• Over Forty Thousand dollars [>$40,000.00] for roof repairs and termite treatment on an abandoned building

These are costs incurred so far in the first 6 months as a Board of Directors. 

To be fair, the investment in the pool filtration power system is a worthy investment. One that needs to be made. The investigation to determine wasted energy costs pointed up that someone wired the power to the office incorrectly, a statement made in an open meeting, which puts the Board on notice that any electrical damages done from now until it is addressed will constitute a bit of liability...but the pump and filtration system being upgraded is wise and in a sense providential. Why? Because the overriding negative input from some each time the refurbishing of the pool has been brought up along with the up to $90,000.00 price tag led to manifest dithering. In 2009 and 2010 each time movement was made to try and accomplish the pool upgrade it was met with 'how much is the pool used' or 'can we really justify the costs when we have a water system that needs repairs'...well, this Board just did it! They approved the process going forward to invest the $85,000.00 to be used to change over the system to an energy savings solar powered system and once completed they will have no excuse to deny the complete costs to refurbish the pool. But with those who do not want to spend the monies sitting in position of power who will forestall such advancement by debating the 'color' the pool should be painted we may have a nifty knew pump system with nothing to pump as the pool falls into deeper and deeper disrepair due to age. 

The monies spent to retard the damages to the abandoned building [the Stables aka Community Center] is admirable. It would have been more admirable if through the decades it was in use the General Manager and the Field foreman [both 20 yr employees] -- and the many boards that sat until they declared it unfit to use back in 2005 -- had insisted on routine termite prevention. Absent such oversight, doing it now seems feasible if they only knew what they were going to to with it someday. It is and has been an eyesore as it has decayed right before the eyes of everyone driving into the community; the 2008-2010 Boards were working through the option to demolish it because it is such a liability with kids giving into their natural curiosity sometimes traipsing into the building. 

Combined, these necessary expenditures [some approved; some moving along to approval] equals in 6 months costs incurred in 3 years for litigation that seems to just fry everyone. Everyone asks 'what did we get from the costs of litigation?' Great question...access to over a HUNDRED THOUSAND Dollars sitting in two banks FROZEN because individuals who had no authority created sufficient concerns in the minds of banking authorities that the accounts were under dispute as to ownership! Of course, when you remove the costs of unfreezing the accounts from the amount that had been sadly frozen what was left was not much. That was a major plunder of Membership treasures caused completely because 2 individuals who did not have the authority to do so went in and created circumstances that triggered a series of events that led to the accounts being frozen. The litigation back story and commentary will be the fodder of a post here in the near future. But, had the individuals who 'had the authority' to go in and cause concern acted responsibly for the Membership the very monies we had to spend to access those frozen treasures could have been spent on upgrading any one of our many aged assets. So, yes, the 2008-2010 Boards were limited in what was 'done' with tangible results and frankly wound up having to deal with a situation that was generated from the previous board. Unlike the current Board who is now in a place to begin to build on the previous 3 Boards efforts and start to invest in the Community's assets [Water System, Pool, Stables],  the former Boards had 'clean up' and planning to do to lay the ground work for this Board and what is now taking place.

About the Finance Committee Meeting tonight; please be there. It proves to be exciting times now that the bad stuff is all behind us and we begin to see things coming to life again in the way of improved assets. Be there tonight to chime in and give feed back on things you feel important in the Budget process. Be the community you want to live in by being active where it counts at Committee and Board meetings. The notes from the meeting will be posted in the next couple of days for those who cannot attend this evening.

Hawaiian Shores Community -- Back Story on the Water Upgrades

WATCHDOG © 2011

Ignorance can be bliss sometimes, one supposes. When ignorance begins to pose as a source of authority with a 'nothing-but-the-facts' indulgence in opinion and commentary -- while decrying those who have actual knowledge and experience -- it exposes a certain nescience that should embarrass.

A small effort, no expense excepting in time spent, and a bit of rational contemplation would create considerable edification in authentic fact regarding our water system upgrade and the history leading up to present and why courses were taken that were adjudged necessary for the sake of the water consumers and Membership as a whole. If a member were to go to the office and look over Minutes of meetings from as far back as the first of 2006 they will find the Treasurer/Chair of the Water Committee in 2006 requested of the General Manager [the title for the current Dir. of Opts & Mgt] to contact whoever necessary to have an 'assessment' done on our water system. For months thereafter, at each meeting, the Treasurer would inquire and the report would be given...at the time either no one was interested or the price they would charge was in the tens of thousands and finally, perplexed, the Treasurer in 2007 and the Board of the same year agreed to let RCAC conduct the 'assessment' and provide us with their report; an assessment done at NO CHARGE to the Membership in any way! In fact, to review the Assessment please feel free to contact the Business Office. The Assessment pointed up many disturbing things but most importantly it supported the 1989 PER that was done for HSCA which basically suggested our water system would no longer provide 'capacity'. As of July 2007 when the report was given to the Board of Directors, it was known by the Board, the agency under whose authority the Water System ultimately falls, it became obvious it was time to begin proactive plans to address what already exists -- insufficient capacity if all homes built to date were occupied full time -- and which at the time was building [pun intended] to absolute incapacity. Due to the recession building has slowed down to a crawl which gives any Board a bit of time to get things done to meet the inevitable -- increased demand for water from a system that may not be able to competently meet the community's needs.

Because Boards of the past were keenly unaware of the level of accountability they bore where the Water System was concerned, the Board of 2008 decided to have 4 monthly meetings to educate them on their responsibilities. Part of that was to understand the Assessment that was delivered in July 2007 and how to correct the most pressing issue that grew from that report. As fate would have it, in October of 2007 the Board was made aware of the 'condition' of the existing Water Tank. As options were discussed and considered which led right into the newly seated 2008 Board it was obvious more than just 'learning' was necessary of the Board if we were to address all the issues which were being manifest by an aging Water System. 

The 2008 and 2009 Boards of Directors made deliberate decisions with full discussions in the presence of members who attended the various meetings. In 2009 the Board of Directors felt the Water System was so important we decided to conduct quarterly board meetings which were confined to discussion of the Water System only. Each meeting was not only noticed on the Marquee but also on the Website. The picture above is one of the graphics developed with the text used on the website to direct members to the meetings. It has been modified for presentation here to emphasize the MEMBERS WELCOME portion of the notice. From time to time there were members but mostly it was the same folks who have been attending meetings all along and fully understand the reasons for everything the various boards have decided to do.

Ultimately, the Board of Directors is responsible for the maintenance and management of the assets of this organization. If they'd done nothing and the water system failed they would be held in derision by the membership. While some maintain an uninformed disgust for the decisions by former Boards, the Boards of Directors were vigilant in maintaining a healthy safe water system while ever working towards the fateful upgrade.

It is interesting to date to read the musings of those who indulge their pessimism on other sites often erupting in rabid foaming of the orifice and to date, never attended the quarterly meetings during 2008-mid 2010! Yes, they know not of what they speak from first hand personal investment. One must only read the official record of the meetings from the inception of the whole Water System discussion commencing in 2006 and running to the end of 2010 to see the 'thinking' and deliberation of the various Boards of Directors on this issue.

It is obvious the whole NEW BOARD of 2011 has opted to follow through on the work all the boards before them laid down and put into place as they solicit engineering firms through ads in papers both on Big Island and on Oah'u [ a little investigation will clue the reader as the 'cost' one would pay for these ads]; letters sent to the various engineering firms and from the link on the official website all relative to the RFP [Request for Proposal] process to secure a firm to conduct a PER [preliminary engineers report] the point the 2010 Board of Directors had already come to as a process. In June 2011 the Board put installation of water meters as a priority for the staff challenging a minimum of 10 meters a day be installed for the month of July. Meters: Some members of the 2011 Board -- while also serving on the 2010 Board -- wanted to know when they could expect the meters to be installed. There has been NO CESSATION of plans going forward. Instead, what has happened has been a thorough review of the process, wisely done, and a determination to move forward with the plans as determined for all the former years. In other words, the 2008-2010 Boards of Directors have all done the ground work and made the decisions necessary to set the upgrade in motion, plans and decisions which the current Board has built upon at the very place any Board would have to start at with all the ground work laid in place. 

There will always be people who are not happy with meters, with costs, with change from the flat rate consumer fee schedules that have always existed. The Watchdog was one of those. The Watchdog , personally, was never in favor of installing meters and changing from a flat rate water fee, however, the Watchdog was only one member of the Board and as the chair had to maintain a different persona supporting the majority of the Board's decisions whether or not they were in concert with the Watchdog's personal preference. Having said that, the Watchdog fully understands the rationale of meter installation and thus fully supported the process as a 'member' of the Board. There were very demonstrative and opinionated individuals who served on the 2008-2010 Boards of Directors none of which were led by a ring in the nose to follow any 'one' individual. It was a beautiful committee of individualistic thinking yet working with a single vision, what is best for the Membership as a whole. That means, the whole Membership, despite the few who are currently not thrilled with decisions.

The Watchdog is content with the years of service with everyone who served on each of the Boards. The intermingling of ideologies, the problem solving and the decisions arrived to were all done with integrity. No one will ever be able to take away the great memories and the time served in the think tank no matter the nay sayer rhetoric that is most unbecoming. The current Board is right on task with the next step in the process as it was laid out. The Watchdog believes such forward movement is all the evidence necessary of intelligent contemplation of a very heavy responsibility done by all 3 previous Boards.

Hawaiian Shores Community Rummage Sale; On? Off?

WATCHDOG © 2011

The Watchdog just checked the OFFICIAL WEBSITE calendar page for August 6th and it is not listed; however, there was clearly agreement reached --  though no quorum to make it official -- at the Community Relations Committee meeting on Saturday morning, July 9, 2011. It was announced later at the regular monthly Board meeting during the 'reports' portion of the Board meeting. 

The Watchdog is posting it here and will continue to keep an eye out on the calendar to see if it is listed. You should too. If you wish to reserve a spot please contact the office: hsca@hawaiil.rr.com and let them know. With your email information should the event not happen surely they will notify you. 

If you do go and the Rummage Sale is a go be sure to bring a table and seating; if you plan to display outside the Long House bring your pop up if you wish shade and/or shelter. 

The chair for the Community Relations Committee has not attended the last few meetings -- unlike the former chair who was immediately available via phone or email -- if you are interested in participating or attending the upcoming Rummage Sale it is best you contact the business office at the email address above for the latest information. Or, you can call them. Their contact information is listed @ the OFFICIAL Website.  The Watchdog is posting this here to give our readers the head's up in case they are interested in plenty of time to begin organizing.

Hawaiian Shores Community -- July Community Rel Comm Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

The meeting was called to order late while the Members present waited for the Chair to arrive. The chair did not arrive. The Meeting convened without quorum. No business could 'officially' be decided on without quorum. 

The following items were discussed:

• Rummage Sale Details

PLACE:         Honu Street Facility
DATE:           Saturday, August 6, 2011
TIME:           9A-1P [Set up @ 8A]
VENDORS: Anyone
COST:         Donation [Suggested donation cost of $10]

•  Papio Ocean Park Details

Park 'Blessing' will be scheduled after the Signage is up.
Signage should be done and in place in 2 weeks

NOTE: To date, there has been no discussion by or of the Board of Directors as to the 'official' name for this particular park. However, Papio Ocean Park has been the name used, though rarely during the meetings. To date, no approval by the Board of Directors has been done of the name. To date, most Members not living on Papio or close to Papio and who are not regularly included in the unnoticed Ocean Park Committee meetings have any idea of the name of the Park. Yet, Members in attendance for the Community Relations and Board meetings on Saturday found out the 'Sign' would be ready in a couple of weeks. This is important to note: During the June Board Meeting 'signage' for the Park was presented to the Board for discussion. There was no agreement on the signage so the topic was moved to the By Laws/Policy Committee. The signage discussed during this month's Community Relations Committee then must be the 'name' sign for the Park; a name not formally adopted by the Board of Directors nor known to many Members.

Hawaiian Shores Community -- July Infrastucture Committee Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

The Infrastructure Committee met directly after the July Board Meeting to discuss the following:

1. Status of the Form for individual Road Assessment.
2. Speed Bumps
3. Tenting Costs for Community Center
4. Condition of Maikoiko Street Facility
5. ADA Restrooms
6. New time for monthly meetings set for 10A the 3rd Saturday of each month.
7. Most of the members present for the committee meeting then proceeded from Honu Street Facility to the Maikoiko Street Facility to do a site inspection.

The Infrastructure Committee has been tasked with doing a road assessment of each of the 11 miles of streets owned and maintained by HSCA. A form will be created digitally which will be used to perform and record the findings.  When this drive through inspection and recordation will transpire has not been determined. 

Speed bumps were discussed with pricing still not ascertained as yet. 

The tenting costs were discussed during the regular board meeting however a comment was made that one of the termite companies locally provides a service for 10% of the tenting fee paid annually to guarantee the structure against termites for the life of the structure. The 10% fee would be paid an annual cost.

Discussion is still under way on the ADA Restrooms.

The site inspection for Maikoiko Street included the bathrooms and pavilion. There was some discussion a portion of the park is already primed for a dog park with the following considerations:

• The existing tennis court area already fenced off would be used for small dogs
• A fence would be erected from the end of the fenced pool area on the Malolo side of the pool to the fence on Malolo Street. A fence be erected from the end of the bathroom to the Maikoiko side of the fence. This would provide a specific area for the larger dogs containing waste issues to within an area with clear boundaries.

The bathrooms were initially judged to be in 'better' conditions than imagined but in need of some upgrades. 

The next meeting of the Infrastructure Committee will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011@ 10A, at the Honu St. facility.

Hawaiian Shores Community -- July Meeting Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

Aloha All, 

There was a collection of members in the audience for this month's meeting. A good thing. No one took advantage of the privilege to 'communicate' to the Board regarding their Agenda. The Board was complete minus one Director. The Meeting began on time at 10A

First order of Business was the Acceptance of the Minutes from the June REGULAR and SPECIAL meetings. The President called for 'a motion to accept' the June blah blah blah. The Watchdog wishes to take editorial license here and demand conformance to Robert's Rules of Order when addressing the Minutes. What 'educated' mind calls for a MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES before any sort of discussion is had to determine whether they are acceptable or not? Then turns around and asks immediately if there are any corrections? This has happened each month and each month it goes UNCONTESTED by the alleged PARLIAMENTARIAN who sits with the Board! Each month, except this one as there were no corrections, the President asks for a motion to accept and then follows up with corrections, then calls for a motion to amend, blah blah blah. Certainly she has not read and understood the direction given on pages 343, 344 &456 of the 10th Edition of RONR or she would be following it! It may also be acknowledged the alleged PARLIAMENTARIAN has opted to remain quiet with regard the suggested form for handling Minutes. [Could this be one of the things this alleged parliamentarian was referring to in March 2011 when she exclaimed before all the Minutes done by previous board was not done according to Robert's?]

Next order of business the various committee reports and the report from the Director of Ops and Mgt. The following Committees had business transacted one way or another:

1. Architectural
• The Report was acknowledged with no recommendations. One request was made. The request was to have the Business Office email the Architect Committee when someone has informed the office they will be bulldozing.[ For a recap of the Architectural Committee Report please review here. ]
2. By Laws
• The Report was acknowledged and discussed briefly with no recommendations. [For a recap of this committee's meeting please review here. ]
3. Community Relations
•  Announcement of pending Rummage Sale
• Update on discussion topics from June meeting with no recommendations. [For recap of this committee meeting please review here ]
4. Finance
• The Finance Committee Report was 'read' by the chair. 
• Brief discussion of 'water rates' between the directors. The President acknowledged if HSCA followed the formula for water fees from Hawaiian Beaches Water Company the rate would likely go up. One director announced that since we are NON PROFIT our rates should not be competitive with a FOR PROFIT water company. [ For discussion of the Finance Committee please review here. ]
5. Human Resources
• The president acknowledged discussion of HR Committee matters is confidential. However, a decision was approved by the HR Committee for recommendation of adoption by the Board regarding 'Sick Leave'; Sick Leave is now limited to a certain amount of days per year and is not carried over unto the following year, or, accumulated.  
6. Infrastructure
• The report for this committee was acknowledged with no recommendations. [Content of this committee's June Meeting can be reviewed here. Scroll towards the bottom of the page.]
7. Ocean Park
• The president announced there was no meeting but that she wanted to 'report' the grass is growing and there were several plants in her yard waiting for planting if anyone was volunteer minded to assist. 

The Director of Ops and Mgt:

1. Leaks were fixed. The difference in a month's water consumption from previous to current is approximately 2 million gallons less due to the leaks being fixed.
2. USDA has acknowledged the monies for the Grants to convert cesspools/septic tanks to anaerobic systems will be made available in August and be funded for up to 5 at a time. The owners of the properties must agree to the conversion. It will be at no cost to themselves. The maintenance on the new installed anaerobic systems will be covered by the grant monies from the Feds. 
3. Road mowing was completed for the entire subdivision.
4. Pool filter tank was fixed.
5. CCR violations were noted.
• Chicken trap pricing was noted; expensive
• Chickens will be removed by HSCA staff at a cost to the owner.

Also discussed:

1. The search for pricing bids for the tenting of the 'Stables' [aka Community Center] is ongoing.
2. Effective August 2011 water bills will be done b--monthly [the Board must publish the change in rules after updating the Water Rules document.]
3. A Solar System company provided a Q&A for a system to convert the Pool filtration power system to Solar. The Board approved the process to move forward which could lead to a fee of $85k for the conversion . This is allegedly inclusive of PV panels, several pumps and filtration system.
4. Now that a Park has been officially established on one of the Ocean Park parcel the letter to the Real Property folks for a tax reduction is pending the sign being posted acknowledging the Park by its name. The name however has not been approved by the Board nor has the Community been officially notified as to its name. Will the tax reduction be only for the single parcel?
5. The revised RFP's for the water system upgrade have been approved for publication in newspapers for July 18 and July 25; they are also being sent to Engineering firms via USPS.
6. The Mid year packet will include a letter from the President, Rule changes, Audit, Annual Meeting Minutes for Member Meetings.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Saturday, August 13, 2011 @ 10A

Hawaiian Shores Community -- July Board Meeting

WATCHDOG © 2011

Hope you are planning to attend the upcoming Board Meeting on Saturday. The Agenda has been posted. Some of the items are listed below.

Of keen interest of course is the various reports. They are to reflect the activities of the various committees as well as a report from the Director of Operations and Management. The Watchdog has posted notes from each of the Committee meetings held this month that have been noticed to the community via the OFFICIAL HSCA Website Calendar. [See list below under 'Reports' to find the links to those notes.] You will note when arriving at the calendar the absence of the schedule for the "Ocean Park" Committee, though, once again they are on the Agenda with a report! The Watchdog schedules a weekly reminder to verify what is scheduled at the community calendar and no such meeting was noticed. For the past three months the Board has been queried as to the place and time of these meetings; each time the response was somewhat cavalier: "Oh, we just get together down there and talk and have our meetings..." Each time, members from the audience remind the Board such meetings are to be noticed so the public might arrange to attend. Still, a month later, another report and no public meeting noticed.

Reports:

• Report from the Director of Operations and Management
• Committee Reports and Recommendations
o Finance, Infrastructure, By‐Laws, Community Relations,  Architectural, Ocean Park,

Old Business:

• Status of actions on tenting/roofing the Stables – Kevin Wibberley• Revision of Water Rules to Allow billing to commence every 2 months – Eileen O’Hara

This may be an item you will want to voice an opinion about. The monthly fee currently is $50. Going to a 2 month billing cycle will mean the consumer will then budget $100 per billing cycle. Normally, businesses do not move their customers into a situation where certain failure through late payments will accrue and may wind up being so excessive the consumer loses their water service. What will they do with the "late fee?

• Status on Nenue foreclosed property – Eileen O’Hara"• Bid for solar system for Honu Street Pool – Mike Moylan, Pacific Solar Products• Tax status of Ocean Park site – Eileen O’Hara• Final review of draft of survey to be sent to members with mid‐year packet – Caroline Weber• Update on RFP publication and planning grant option ‐ Eileen O’Hara

New Business:

• Maikoiko Park utilization and maintenance issues

This issue is one the membership should be very involved in discussing. As decisions are made monies will be appropriated. The renewal of the Cell Tower discussion has been kick started. This one met with a great deal of angst and resistance the last time -- in 2007. Though most of the individuals who were most vocal and active in opposition no longer live here perhaps those who have moved in or still remain will have some objection. It could be a great thing to have a Cell Tower erected but it should be a great thing because many members are pleased with the idea.   

• Mid‐Year packet – Identify items for inclusion and specify target mailing date