Pond Could Replace Proposed Marina In Ewa

City Councilman Tom Berg

Years ago, when the state Land Use Commission and City Council approved a development project in Ewa Beach, the developer, Haseko, advanced a marina feature to garner public support.

The marina was proposed to create jobs, offer residents a boat slip, and provide transportation relief with a commuter ferry terminal.

The developer recently has reneged on its plans to follow through with presenting the community with a marina and instead will make a pond.

I have been asked to intervene and investigate how the City Council will or will not play a role in this private development endeavor.

In order to bring clarity to the matter, I am holding a town hall meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. July 18 at the Ewa Beach Library. I have invited Haseko to participate, and all are welcome.

On another note, when it comes to genetically modified organisms, or genetically engineered food (GMOs), I have planned for another town hall meeting that July 24 in the main courtyard at Honolulu Hale. From 4 to 6 p.m. there will be entertainment and festivities promoting organic food and GMO-free products. From 6 to 8 p.m., I will facilitate a panel of experts and activists trying to get food with GMOs labeled for the consumer’s right to know. Other topics will also include the bee colony collapse related to GMO production, which has been researched at UH, and legislation proposed to regulate GMO open field experimentation.

The council recently has passed the city’s budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, and the following Leeward Coast initiatives were championed:

1) New landfill/solid waste liaison position created to expedite permits for technologies that recycle all waste to make the need for a landfill obsolete

2) Additional $1.5 million for the Kapolei-NanakuliWaianae neighborhood boards to be expended on park improvements as compensation for housing nearby landfill

3) All park comfort stations in disrepair will be operational by the end of the year, and Oneula Beach Park will have a new comfort station in 2013

4) Largest road repair expenditure in the city’s history – $100 million going to road repairs

5) $150,000 to sustain Ewa Beach Weed and Seed Operations

6) More than $5 million for flood control from Ewa to Makaha

7) $50,000 is available for the Kalaeloa Master Park Plan to advance a new public gun/firing range on the old pistol range in former Barbers Point

For more coverage on city legislation, visit councilmanberg.com or call my office at 768-5001.