Question: Recently, the city installed metal security poles around the perimeter of portions of Blaisdell Park so that cars cannot drive onto the grass. They also installed four removable poles for emergency access purposes. These emergency poles are made to be locked so that only authorized personnel can drive onto the grass area. However, the poles were never locked, so park users are removing the poles and driving on to the grass area. Yesterday the poles were removed, and a car was on the grass.

My question is, Why did the city spend the money to install all of the poles if they are not going to lock the four emergency poles? Seems like a big waste of money.

Answer: The work to secure the grassy areas from vehicles is not complete, so the locks on the bollards (posts) have not yet been installed.

In addition to putting in more bollards, the plan is to also add "cattle gates," said Lester Chang, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

The work is being done in-house by parks workers when they can be pulled from other tasks, he said.

"The intent is to block traffic," he said, but not until the whole area is blocked off. "We’re working to try to get some control over people who drive wherever they want to," Chang said. "That’s our challenge everywhere."

Question: What’s up with the rock wall and iron fence that was knocked down by a car at Makalei Park, at 3111 Diamond Head Road, months ago? The crash knocked rocks all over the place and mangled the iron fence and poles. Yellow crime tape is all over. It looks and is dangerous, as well as being a major eyesore for everyone coming out of Waikiki. Nothing has been done to repair the wall or even haul the rusting sharp iron away. Presumably the car running into the wall had insurance, so when is this going to be fixed?

Answer: The delay in repairing the wall/fence is because insurance is involved.

The city is "very close" to getting authorization from the driver’s insurance company to hire someone to clean up and repair the damage, Parks Director Lester Chang, told us on Tuesday.

Once that is given, the department still must seek bids from contractors to repair the "specialty fence," he said.

Consequently, he still can’t provide a time line as to when the cleanup and repairs will begin and be completed.

Question: Why are people allowed to bring pit bulls and Chihuahuas aboard a bus? I thought only seeing-eye dogs were allowed on a city bus.

Answer: One service animal per passenger, or small, secured nonservice animals, are allowed on buses, according to Oahu Transit Services (hsblinks.com/2k4).

But because service animals don’t have to be certified, owners don’t have to show "proof" that a dog is a service animal.

If it’s not apparent that a dog is a service animal, a driver is supposed to "politely" inform the owner that animals are not allowed on board unsecured.

However, if the passenger says an animal is a service animal, the bus operator will not question the owner further.

Nonservice animals must be small enough to fit into a cage or carrier that can be placed under the seat or on the passenger’s lap.

That all said, if a bus operator considers an animal’s behavior to be a threat to other passengers, the animal may be denied boarding.

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