Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Learns About State Hospital Plans, OK’s Legislative Outreach

Our September meeting was informative and eventful. Below are some of the highlights. Watch this blog for more in the next few days.

State Hospital representatives address our

September meeting. They are Mark Fridovich,

adult mental health administrator for the

State Department of Health, and Kira

Downing of DTL.

State Hospital Master Plan: Hospital representatives told us they are approaching another key point in their work to build a new facility for high-risk patients.
Kira Downing of the strategic planning firm DTL said a draft environmental impact statement for the project should be ready for review by mid-October. She said the public will then have 60 days to comment. The new facility will have 144 beds and security features such as metal detectors and 15-foot-high fences. It will be built on the site of the Goddard Building, which is being demolished.

Hospital officials plan to award a contract to build the new facility by mid-2017 and to complete it by 2020. Additional information about the project is available from Brian Isa of the state Department of Accounting and General Services at brian.s.isa@hawaii.gov.

The hospital has been one of our top priorities for several years, as it is one of Kaneohe’s largest employers and has a significant impact on Windward Community College next door. You can learn more about our work on hospital issues by entering Hawaii State Hospital in the search bar at the top left of this page.

Victims’ Rights Resolution: We approved a resolution expressing support for stronger victims’ rights laws, and authorizing a work group to track and testify on legislation affection Kaneohe in 2017. The resolution passed with 10 votes in favor and two abstentions. Our vice-chairman, Bill Sager, developed the resolution. The 2016 Legislature considered a victims’ rights bill but did not pass it. Supporters have said they will seek passage in the 2017 session.

Vacant Seats: Two seats are currently open on the Board. They represent Sub-District 8, Kapunahala; and Sub-District 12, Pikoiloa.The Board is authorized to fill vacancies by appointment. Community members may indicate their interest by contacting Board Chairman Mo Radke or by attending a Board meeting. A map of the district is available online, as is a street index that is organized by sub-district (search for District 30 in the index, then find the sub-district).

Comments Welcome: Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly. Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.