Latest news with #HonoluluCityCouncil
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu's proposed 115% hike in sewer fee under review
Mayor Rick Blangiardi administration's proposed 10-year, 115 % sewer fee rate increase that's expected to begin this summer remains under Honolulu City Council scrutiny. The Council's Budget Committee today is scheduled to review aspects of city-initiated Bill 60, which, if approved, will take effect July 1. The measure passed its second of three readings April 16. The city Department of Environmental Services says an average single-family residential sewer bill totals approximately $110.89 a month. By July 1 that bill could rise to $122.04 a month. ENV contends planned sewer fee rate hikes are necessary to address rising operational costs as well as fund critical projects within its $10.1 billion capital improvement program, scheduled for 2025 to 2040. That includes work to upgrade the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment, which will cost an estimated $2.5 billion. Potable water fee rates will not be adjusted, as they are separate fees administered by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. In October, ENV initially proposed to increase sewer fees annually for the next 10 years—by 9 % over the first six years, followed by smaller annual increases of 8 %, 7 %, 6 % and 5 % over the subsequent four years. But since that time other versions to Bill 60 have materialized—including a revision by ENV itself that supposedly lessens the initial blow of higher fees to its rate-paying customers. In April, ENV Director Roger Babcock presented to the Council's Budget Committee the so-called 6 % option—which sees sewer rates rise by 6 % on July 1. Those rates would increase by 7.5 % in 2027, 8.5 % in 2028, 9 % in the following four years, then rise by 8 %, 7.5 % and 7 % in the final three years, ending in 2035. Under this 6 % option, the city said, the same average single-family residential sewer bill in the first year would go to $119.18 a month instead of $122.04, a 2.3 % difference. Babcock said new rates should ensure the city is 'whole, in terms of operations and maintenance, debt service and new debt issued in order to do our (capital improvement program ).' But Council Chair Tommy Waters has said the city's new 6 % option is 'putting the big rate increases at the end of the 10-year cycle, rather than at the beginning.' With regard to Bill 60, Waters' tentative proposal to increase sewer fees annually for the next decade includes a 6.75 % increase for the first five years, starting July 1. The initial increases would be followed by an 8.75 % increase for the next two years, then a decrease to 7.75 %, 6.75 % and 5.5 % over the remaining years, 'thereby creating savings, ' he said. Waters said instead of a 100 % increase over the dec ade, 'it would amount to approximately about a 70 % increase over 10 years.' Legislation related to the city's sewer fund has also materialized. On May 5, Waters introduced Bill 43, meant to redirect a portion of the 3 % visitor-generated Oahu transient accommodations tax, which in part is earmarked for Honolulu's rail project, to the city's sewer fund. Bill 43, as drafted, would temporarily amend the disposition of the city's OTAT revenues so that 50 % would be deposited into the transit fund, while 41.66 % would go into the sewer fund. The legislation also allocates 8.34 % to create a special fund, one to be named by the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Serv ices, to mitigate impacts of visitors on public facilities and natural resources and 'supplement any funds regularly appropriated for that purpose.' If approved, Bill 43 would take effect July 1, 2027, and be repealed June 30, 2037. But critics of Waters' measure—including BFS Director Andy Kawano—say it's not a feasible option for the city to pursue. 'This measure will negatively impact the city's general fund and deviate from the intended purpose of the TAT, which is to provide general fund capacity to fund city services ; mitigate the strain visitors place on public facilities, emergency services, and natural resources ; and provide additional funding for rail (i.e., 'Skyline') construction, ' Kawano wrote in a May 12 letter to Council. Still, Waters previously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that 'Bill 43 offers a more strategic and equitable alternative to the administration's proposed 115 % rate hike.' 'By using the Council's existing authority to reallocate a portion of OTAT revenue, Bill 43 reduces pressure on working families, ' he said. 'It ensures that visitors who contribute heavily to the wear and tear on our water and wastewater systems contribute a fair share.' The meeting begins at 9 a.m. inside Council chambers, 530 S. King St.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council might widen surveillance at parks
Overt video monitoring at city-owned parks prone to high crime has advanced under a new Honolulu City Council resolution. On its first reading Wednesday, the Council voted to pass Resolution 128, which seeks to authorize the use of more video surveillance at Oahu's public parks to deter crime and provide 'a safe environment for city residents, visitors and employees.' The Council's Public Safety and Customer Serv ices Committee is expected to further review the legislation. Introduced in April by Council member Radiant Cordero, Resolution 128 says the Honolulu Police Department and other city agencies 'are currently utilizing video surveillance cameras and installing additional video surveillance cameras at various locations within the city, including but not limited to Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, East Oahu, and west side city parks.' The legislation seeks to quell violent crimes at city parks. 'There are multiple reports of violent crimes occurring in parks operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation, the most recent being reports of gunfire on April 20, 2025, at Ala Moana Regional Park, which is one of the busiest parks on Oahu and is frequently visited by tourists, ' the legislation states. Resolution 128 also underscores HPD's vacancy of over 400 police officer positions. HPD 'is currently dealing with a staffing shortage that would impact the department's ability to maintain a physical presence at city parks in order to detect and deter criminal activity, ' the legislation says. To aid policing efforts, the resolution urges the city to implement 'a one-year pilot program, in order to achieve the legitimate public purposes and legitimate law enforcement objectives … including the detection and deterrence of criminal activity and ensuring the safety and security of the general public and its property.' It says the pilot program is authorized for 'at least one city park per Council district, to be identified by the Council member assigned to that Council district based on a pattern of high criminal activity at or ongoing public safety concerns for the respective park.' It says that 'overt video monitoring devices authorized under this resolution must be overt and clearly visible, with appropriate public signage to inform the public as set forth pursuant to (city laws ).' Cordero—whose Council District 7 spans Kalihi Kai to Waimalu Kai—previously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that her resolution 'was prompted by a series of break-ins at one of my district parks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger security.' 'The need for video surveillance in Oahu's city parks is driven by growing concerns over public safety and rising violent crimes, ' she said. 'Notable incidents include gunfire at Ala Moana Regional Park, two break-ins in a District 7 city park, and the recent fire at the Wahiawa District Park Playground.' 'By testing this approach through a pilot program, we can assess its effectiveness and make data-driven decisions for future expansion, ' she added. Cordero said the projected cost of her park surveillance program was not determined. HPD and 'the director of Parks and Recreation, and the director of Information Technology are responsible for implementing the proposed pilot program—this includes determining the projected cost and allocating the necessary funding, ' she said previously. During public comment Wednesday, Hawaii Kai resident Natalie Iwasa testified against the resolution. 'First, I want to make an important distinction : We're talking about government videos here, not private, and I oppose the government's surveillance, ' she said. 'Currently, it is possible for the city to tell when you leave your home, when you come back, what time you go get the mail, when you take your dog for a walk, when you come back, possibly when you're on vacation. A lot of things can be put together currently. 'And I've asked for discussions on this, ' Iwasa added. 'This is related to people who are on bus routes, because the cameras record for 30 days and they have thousands of recordings that are out there. I've never heard of how those cameras are secured, how that information is kept encrypted or anything like that. So I think that should be part of the discussion.' Waikiki resident Jacob Wiencek offered cautious support for the resolution. 'We do need to take all necessary steps to ensure that we have safe, clean public spaces, including our parks … that are enjoyed by the citizens of our city. I do believe this is taking the right step, ' he told the Council. 'However … we definitely need to make sure we put privacy and civil liberty concerns first.' 'Unfortunately, it can be a very thin line between using technology as a public safety benefit to turning into something much more worse, ' he said. 'So I would like to ask the Council that while I support this, I encourage that there be follow-on measures to address privacy and civil liberties concerns.' Before the Council's vote, Vice Chair Matt Weyer—whose Council District 2 includes the Wahiawa District Park Playground, which suffered suspected arson damage May 1—said the city's use of video monitoring raised 'questions in people's minds, but as far as I can tell from the resolution, it's specific to city infrastructure, ' including park facilities. 'Just historically, I know that there have been instances of crime, particularly violent crime, caught on video cameras at some of our parks, and it's a tool that's useful, ' he said. Weyer added that the resolution 'was an appropriate step in terms of protecting our city assets and also increasing public safety without overstepping or going too far.' Council Chair Tommy Waters also favored surveillance in public spaces. 'In our city parks there's rampant vandalism, graffiti and the recent arson in Council member Weyer's district, ' Waters said. 'The surfboard rack in Waikiki was burned down twice, and perhaps video monitoring could have either prevented it or catch the people who are doing these things.' After the meeting, the ACLU of Hawaii expressed skepticism over Resolution 128's intent. 'We understand the city's impulse to respond to recent events, but expanding surveillance in parks raises serious civil liberties concerns, ' Jongwook 'Wookie ' Kim, the organization's legal director, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 'Parks are vital spaces for protest, expression and community life. More cameras risk chilling First Amendment activity, and will disproportionately impact communities already overpoliced, especially houseless people who rely on parks for survival.' 'Any expansion must come with strict safeguards, transparency, and oversight to prevent abuse, ' Kim said. 'We are glad to hear that this is only a one-year pilot program.' Meanwhile, DPR spokesperson Nate Serota confirmed there are currently 165 surveillance cameras installed at 16 city parks on Oahu. 'There have been cameras in city parks for well over a decade under a variety of initiatives, ' he told the Star-Advertiser via email. 'Our most recent batch of surveillance cameras installed included 25 new surveillance cameras within Ala Moana Regional Park.' Serota said previously there were 23 cameras inside Ala Moana park, on or near bathrooms and bathhouses. 'Now there are 48 cameras total, with the 25 new ones on street lights around the park, ' he said. 'These cameras were installed as part of technological improvements to the park. The primary goal of which was to improve network connectivity (internet and phone ) to the park, police, and lifeguard facilities in Ala Moana. So, basically the cameras were an added element to these improvements.' Cameras are installed and maintained with in-house city staff, while costs depend on the particular cameras used as well as who paid for them, he added. Organizations, like the Hawaii Tourism Authority, sponsored 75 cameras, including at Kapiolani Regional Park. 'For instance, HTA-sponsored cameras cost $38, 800 for 75, while the eight security cameras installed at Sandy Beach Park's bathroom buildings (and the data retention system ) cost about $3, 200, ' he said. Serota said that 'footage from these cameras is not continuously monitored.' 'Instead staff and law enforcement will review the footage should it be needed for an investigation, ' he explained. 'They are ultimately intended to be a deterrence and to help prevent criminal activity.' As far as their active use, he said that 'so far this year HPD has requested footage from park surveillance cameras 12 times.' 'I know there was a case of a stolen beach wheelchair at Ala Moana Regional Park where the surveillance footage helped to locate the stolen wheelchair, ' he added. As far as park vandalism is concerned, Serota said the parks department will 'spend between $300, 000 to $400, 000 annually addressing vandalism through in-house maintenance.' 'This doesn't include more egregious cases, like the recent arson case where the playground at Wahiawa District Park was torched, ' he said. 'That alone will cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.' All in all, he said new surveillance cameras will be welcomed at city parks around Oahu. 'We certainly will work with each of the Council members to determine where they would like to see these cameras installed, ' Serota said. 'This will also be dependent on the existing infrastructure and connectivity of these locations.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council OKs sponsorship of public facilities
Legislation to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities in order to garner more revenue for the city was unanimously adopted Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 will 'create and enhance public-private relationships, including with individuals, corporations, and other organizations, through the creation of commercial sponsorships.' 'Private sponsorships will create alternate revenue streams that will increase the city's ability to deliver services and to maintain city assets, including its facilities, parks, programs, equipment, and tangible property, and provide enhanced levels of service and maintenance beyond the core levels funded from the city's general fund for the benefit of users and the community at large, ' the bill states. The measure will also allow the director of a city agency to enter into a sponsorship agreement, but only for a term of less than five years, with a financial contribution of less than $50, 000. Sponsorship agreements of $50, 000 or more and agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, the bill says. Bill 4's approval comes as the nine-member Council and city administration allege budgetary constraints for the coming 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Those multimillion-dollar costs include siting the city's next solid-waste landfill on Oahu ; operating and maintaining ongoing city rail services toward downtown ; and implementing a total increase of 115 % for sewer fees across all rate-paying classes over a 10-year period to address rising operational costs and fund critical sewage treatment projects within the city's $10.1 billion capital improvement program, scheduled for 2025-2040. During public testimony, Kaimuki resident Tim Garry lauded Bill 4. 'This could be a game changer for so many things, to where we don't have to tax everybody to death, ' he said. Garry said the measure's intent could be like the city's Adopt a Park program, 'where somebody takes responsibility for a certain part of the public ' properties. 'The possibilities are endless, ' he said. 'There are so many trusts, and foundations that are set up that have to give away money every year.' And he added, 'I hope to see all of the Council people in NASCAR uniforms, with sponsorships all over their body.' Council member Andria Tupola said the measure 'really gives us a real pathway to bring in revenue, create partnerships and move our city forward.' Representing the Leeward Coast, Tupola said her focus for sponsorships included approximately 400 acres of former Barbers Point Naval Air Station lands, also known as Kalaeloa, that the city officially took possession of in June. Mayor Rick Blangiardi's administration asserts that many in the public had asked for Kalaeloa to feature city parks and other recreational opportunities, including a racetrack. 'There is just no way we're going to come up with the kind of funds that we need to create a sports facility or a racetrack, ' said Tupola. 'We are going to need to really rely on these community partnerships.' Council Chair Tommy Waters also supported Bill 4. 'And I just want to assure the public we're not talking about renaming the Fasi Building or Honolulu Hale, but really we're talking about things like … the basketball court at the Blaisdell Center, or the stage at the Tom Moffatt Shell, or … a sponsorship of the lawn at the Shell, ' he said. 'We're just being creative and finding other ways of raising revenues for our city.' And alluding to a first-reading measure he had introduced at the same meeting, Waters quipped that sponsorship revenues could even be deposited in the city's sewer fund to offset costs associated with the city's pending 115 % sewer fee hike. In March the Council adopted Resolution 50, which urged the city Department of Enterprise Services to pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for Neal S. Blaisdell Center at 777 Ward Ave. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant people or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, such as a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. As an example, the resolution notes that in 2020 the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii entered into a 10-year, $5 million sponsorship agreement for the naming rights of the Stan Sheriff Center, now known as the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, at UH's Manoa campus. DES Director Dita Holifield previously told the Council her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. But she also said that based on discussions with the city Department of the Corporation Counsel, existing city laws do not allow for the sponsorship of naming rights. The Blaisdell Center, originally called the Honolulu International Center, was built in 1964.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council advances bill to offset sewer fee hike
Honolulu City Council legislation to defray costs associated with the city's planned 10-year, 115 % sewer fee rate hike slated to start this summer has advanced on the first of three readings. The Council voted unanimously Wednesday to pass Bill 43, meant to redirect a portion of the 3 % visitor-generated Oahu transient accommodations tax, which in part is earmarked for Honolulu's rail project, to the city's sewer fund. The Council's passage of the bill—sponsored by Chair Tommy Waters—comes as the city plans for new fee increases to address rising operational costs and fund critical sewer-related projects within the city Department of Environmental Services' $10.1 billion capital improvement program, scheduled for 2025 to 2040. That includes work to upgrade the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. Bill 43, as drafted, temporarily would amend the disposition of the city's OTAT revenues so that 50 % would be deposited into the transit fund, while 41.66 % would go into the sewer fund. The legislation also allocates 8.34 % to create a special fund, one to be named by the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Serv ices, to mitigate impacts of visitors on public facilities and natural resources and 'supplement any funds regularly appropriated for that purpose.' If approved, Bill 43 would take effect July 1, 2027, and be repealed June 30, 2037. But in a letter sent Monday to the Council, BFS Director Andy Kawano stated Bill 43 was not a feasible option for the city to pursue. 'This measure will negatively impact the city's general fund and deviate from the intended purpose of the TAT, which is to provide general fund capacity to fund city services ; mitigate the strain visitors place on public facilities, emergency services, and natural resources ; and provide additional funding for rail (i.e., 'Skyline') construction, ' Kawano wrote. He added 'enterprise funds, such as the sewer fund, are structured to be financially self-sustaining through user fees.' 'Redirecting public tax revenues to subsidize an enterprise fund introduces long-term financial risks, including potential violations of bond covenants, possible downgrades to the city's bond rating, and increased borrowing costs, ' the budget director asserted. 'Furthermore, such a diversion may lead to service reductions or tax increases to balance the budget in future years as more dollars will need to be allocated to fund collective bargaining increases, rail operation and maintenance and increased public safety and health needs, et cetera.' 'We respectfully oppose the bill as it compromises sound financial principles, risks long-term fiscal sustainability, and unfairly shifts the burden of enterprise operations onto taxpayers who may not benefit from those services, ' Kawano stated. At Wednesday's meeting, ENV Director Roger Babcock also spoke in opposition to Bill 43. 'It is, of course, your purview and kuleana to use revenues however you want from the tourists' transient accommodation tax, ' he told the Council. 'The problem though is this was previously slated to go into the general fund, to be used for various other purposes. If it's not used for those other purposes, then it either cannot happen, or funding from those would have to come from other places.' 'So it is no different than taking real property tax and putting it from the general fund into the sewer fund, which we have been very clear from testimony that that is very problematic, ' Babcock said. Waters generally disagreed with the city's perspective, questioning the ENV director on the efforts the city had taken to lower costs to ratepayers. 'Because I believe that a 100 % increase is going to be devastating to local families, ' he added. In response, Babcock replied, 'The program is very efficiently run.' 'We have operations and maintenance costs which we basically hold steady at current rates, except for inflation, ' he added. 'The other component is our capital program and our debt service … so we don't have any control over that, we have issued a lot of debt already over the past 20 or 30 years, and so we do have very large outstanding obligations, and that's about 50 % of the annual operating costs.' To that, Waters asserted the city's proposed executive operating budget for fiscal year 2026—Bill 22—includes a provision allowing the BFS director 'to transfer money from other departments, if there is excess, into the sewer fund, which, as far as I can tell, has never been done, but it's in the budget bill.' Others from the community also do not support Bill 43. In submitted written testimony, Honolulu resident Milton Kotsubo said he opposed 'this bill and all bills that move funds designated for specific purposes to other purposes.' 'This muddies the water so that it becomes difficult to observe what money is allocated for what purpose, ' he wrote, in part. 'All budget allocations should be clearly specified what the funds are for and the source of the funds.' Meanwhile, Waters' new measure likely will not stop the city's sewer fee hike as presented under city-initiated Bill 60. In October, ENV initially proposed to increase sewer fees annually for the next 10 years—by 9 % annually over the first six years, followed by four smaller annual increases of 8 %, 7 %, 6 % and 5 %. The city says, an average single-family residential sewer bill totals approximately $110.89 a month. By July 1 that bill could rise to $122.04 a month. But since that time other versions of Bill 60 materialized, including a revision by ENV itself that supposedly lessens the initial blow of higher fees to its customers. During an April 29 Council Budget Committee meeting, Babcock presented a so-called 6 % option that would see sewer rates rise by 6 % on July 1. Those rates would increase by 7.5 % in 2027, 8.5 % in 2028, 9 % in the following four years, then rise by 8 %, 7.5 % and 7 % in the final three years, ending in the year 2035. Under this 6 % option, the city said the same average single-family residential sewer bill in the first year would go to $119.18 a month instead of $122.04, a 2.3 % difference. At that meeting, Waters said the city's new 6 % option is 'putting the big rate increases at the end of the 10-year cycle, rather than at the beginning.' With regard to Bill 60, Waters' tentative proposal to increase sewer fees annually for the next decade includes a 6.75 % increase for the first five years, starting July 1. The initial increases would be followed by an 8.75 % increase for the next two years, then a decrease to 7.75 %, 6.75 % and 5.5 % over the remaining years, 'thereby creating savings, ' he said. Waters said instead of a 100 % increase over the decade, 'it would amount to approximately about a 70 % increase over 10 years.' The Council's Budget Committee is expected to review various versions of Bill 60 at its May 27 meeting.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu city council looks to use hotel tax to help lower projected sewer fee increase
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Sewer fees on Oahu are set to rise starting July 1, and while the Honolulu City Council is seeking ways to lessen the financial impact on residents, not everyone agrees on the best approach. COVID on the Climb: Health Officials Urge Caution, Not Panic 'We now have the second-highest rent in the country. Food is expensive. Electricity is expensive,' said Council Chair Tommy Waters. 'Now our sewer bill is going to go up by 115%? We've got to do something.' The original rate structure proposed a 50-50 split between fixed charges and charges based on water usage, with a 9% annual increase over the first six years, followed by decreases to 8%, 7%, 6%, and 5% in the remaining years. A revised proposal introduces a more gradual rate hike, beginning at 6% and peaking at 9% before tapering down to 7% by year 10. It would also shift the cost structure to 40% fixed and 60% variable, aiming to better align sewer charges with actual household water use and promote conservation. 'We need it because there's a lot of projects we have to do,' said Roger Babcock, director of the city's Department of Environmental Services. 'We have billions of dollars of sewer infrastructure — pipes, manholes, pump stations, and nine wastewater treatment plants.'To help offset the fee increases, the City Council is advancing Bill 43, which proposes diverting revenue from Oʻahu's transient accommodations tax — a hotel tax — from the general fund to a sewer fund. Supporters say the move could reduce the burden on residents. However, Babcock raised concerns about the plan, noting that hotels already charge guests a sewer fee and that shifting tax revenue could hurt the city's bond rating, which affects its ability to borrow for infrastructure projects. 'If you start moving money around from one source to another that wasn't part of the financial plan, bond ratings could be degraded,' Babcock said. Waters compared the idea to using a credit card to pay for necessities. 'Pay it up front in cash and save the money we're paying on interest payments,' he said. Bill 43 passed its first reading Tuesday but must still go through committee and pass two more full council votes before becoming law. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'No matter which bill ultimately ends up passing, we want to reduce the financial impact on our families while protecting the city's bond rating,' said Council Vice Chair Matt Weyer. 'And ensure we provide that core service — every time you flush or shower, that water has to go somewhere.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
