Posted on: Thursday, September 16, 2004

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. There's a line of young trees planted along Wana'ao Road in Kailua near the flashing yellow light. Because the road and shoulder are narrow there, the trees force walkers, runners and bikers into the busy road. Is that legal?

A. City spokeswoman Carol Costa said workers from the Department of Planning and Permitting inspected the section of Wana'ao Road and found the trees had been planted without city approval, which is required because the area is a right-of-way. She said the city would issue a notice of violation to the property owner to correct the situation or face a fine.

Q. We have contacted the city and county, but we still have a bad roadway patch in Kailua that was left when the traffic-calming "bump" was removed near the intersection of Kahako Street and Kanapu'u Drive, by the unmarked crosswalk. Each time a car or truck goes over this patch, it creates a loud noise that is very annoying. What can be done?

A. It took several calls to track down the source of your "bump," which wasn't traffic calming but sewer work being done by the city Department of Environmental Services. Windward District Supervisor Clem Padeken traced the problem to the installation of a sewer lateral pipe in 1995.

After your complaint, his crews took a look at the road, recognized the problem and fixed it. "We redid the whole thing. We took care of that speed bump," he said.

Q. In Mililani on Makapipipi Street adjacent to Rec Center 4, we had a restroom facility with handicapped access, a water fountain and toilets. Then some genius decided to spend $183,000 to improve it. After two years, construction stopped, and the facility was cordoned off. There were portable restrooms until vandals burned those months ago, leaving a graffiti and vandalism magnet which does not function at all. What happened?

A. City spokeswoman Carol Costa said a restroom at Kealohi Neighborhood Park had to be renovated at a contract cost of $184,000 because of fire damage. She said the building continues to be a magnet for graffiti and vandalism, and acknowledged that portable toilets provided during construction had been burned. She said work is being completed on access for the disabled, and hopes the restroom can open soon, but doesn't have a completion date.

Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message with your name and daytime phone in case we need more information.