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Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu City Council considers sponsorships for public facilities
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. 1 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. 2 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. A Honolulu City Council measure to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities to garner more revenues for the city is scheduled for further review today. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 revisits aspects of a prior law, Ordinance 17-16, that established nonproperty tax revenue sponsorships in 2017. That law all but disappeared after the pilot measure's five-year repeal clause took effect in 2022. As drafted, Bill 4 would seek to '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 bill would 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. 'All sponsorship agreements for a financial contribution of $50, 000 or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, ' the bill states. 'All sponsorship agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. During the Council's Jan. 29 meeting, the panel reviewed and adopted Bill 4 on the first of three readings. Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, said his environmental group generally opposed the bill's current language. He said Hawaii's 1926 law that prohibits outdoor signage and billboards—created with the advocacy of The Outdoor Circle during Hawaii's territorial days—should not be overlooked. 'Our concerns are especially about the signage, and I think the reason why this bill was not utilized before (was because ) it became toxic, ' Welch said at the meeting. 'And we don't need to go down that road again.' Such an ordinance also contributes to the 'over-commercialization of our public spaces, ' he added. But Council Chair Tommy Waters challenged Welch's assertions that the new measure would harm the environment. And he noted that under Bill 4 all sponsorship agreements must first be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council. Waters said the potential for revenue-generating sponsorship 'was vitally important ' to the city. Bill 4 is also being advanced with accompanying legislation. City Council Resolution 50 urges the city Department of Enterprise Services to specifically pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for the city-owned Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant individuals or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, like a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. 'Such a sponsorship would provide the city with an alternate revenue stream and thus enable it to make much needed upgrades and modernization improvements to the more than 60-year-old Blaisdell and increase services offered to users and the community at large, ' the legislation indicates. As an example, the resolution notes that in 2020 the University of Hawaii and the 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-designate Dita Holifield has said her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. But Holifield noted 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. Today's City Council meeting begins at 10 a.m. inside the City Council Chamber, 530 S. King St.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council ponders bill on revenue-generating sponsorships
For the second time in nearly 10 years, a Honolulu City Council measure that would allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities is drawing concern from some in the community who fear the legislation will clear the way for large billboards and other outdoor advertising signs that could mar the natural beauty of Oahu. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 revisits aspects of a prior law—Ordinance 17-16—that established nonproperty tax revenue sponsorships in 2017. That law—first known as 2015's Bill 78 and introduced by former Council members Kymberly Pine and Ann Kobayashi—all but disappeared after the pilot measure's five-year sunset clause took effect in 2022. As drafted, Bill 4—which mirrors the language of the earlier measure—would seek to '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. In appreciation of such support, the measure states it's 'the policy of the city to equitably acknowledge the contribution of private sponsors.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. If adopted, the new bill would 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. 'All sponsorship agreements for a financial contribution of $50, 000 or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, ' the bill states. 'All sponsorship agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council.' During the Council's Jan. 29 meeting, the panel reviewed and adopted Bill 4 on the first of three readings. At the Council's Budget Committee meeting Tuesday, city Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram confirmed the administration's support for Bill 4 as a way to generate 'alternative revenue streams.' 'And the one thing I'd like to share with the committee at this point is that we're taking a look at this bill with various departments to understand why it was underutilized before, and to come up with suggestions, if any, that we will route through the budget chair, ' Jayaram said. But Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, said his environmental group 'is opposed to the (bill's ) current language, but I don't think that our concerns are insurmountable.' Still, he noted Hawaii's 1926 law that prohibits outdoor signage and billboards—created with the advocacy of The Outdoor Circle during the island chain's territorial days—should not be overlooked. 'So our concerns are especially about the signage, and I think the reason why this bill was not utilized before (was because ) it became toxic, ' said Welch. 'And we don't need to go down that road again.' Such an ordinance also contributes to the 'over-commercialization of our public spaces, ' he added. 'In fact, the people of Hawaii have shown for 100 years that we do not, should not and cannot sacrifice our visual environment for revenue, ' Welch said. But Council Chair Tommy Waters challenged Welch's assertions that the new measure would, in fact, harm the environment. And Waters noted that under Bill 4 all sponsorship agreements must first be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council. 'So that gives you and others an opportunity to come back and say, 'Hey wait, we don't like that idea, '' Waters added. In response, Welch said 'it would be much more sensible to determine those things, and what that looks like, from the beginning. Why would we want to bring that up every time ?' Waters replied, 'Because it gives the public an opportunity, and yourself and your organization, to weigh in.' The Council chair also queried Welch on whether his group 'wouldn't have a problem ' with privately sponsored signage at the basket ball court at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena or similar locales. Welch replied, 'That would be OK, because the logo is not emblazoned on the building.' Later, Waters noted the potential for revenue-generating sponsorship 'was vitally important ' to the city. To that end the Council's discussion of the new measure comes as the nine-member panel 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 to 2040. 'We don't want to raise taxes, ' said Waters, noting the benefits of outside sponsorships. 'We've got to figure out ways to generate revenue, right ?' Welch replied that the discussion was a repeat of Bill 78. 'We don't need to re-litigate this, ' he added. In early 2017, Bill 78 allowed the city to set up a five-year pilot program for individuals, community organizations and businesses to sponsor 'city facilities, parks, programs, equipment and tangible property.' As previously reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the former bill gained the support of then-Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Parks and Enterprise Services departments as well as a number of community organizations that contended public-private partnerships will allow them to enjoy more stewardship over the facilities they use. While much of the discussion centered on city parks and their facilities, the Caldwell administration claimed sponsors could help provide funds for other projects involving city facilities, including the renovation of the Blaisdell Center. At the time, Pine said city attorneys had reviewed the language of Bill 78 to confirm that it had not run afoul of any sign or outdoor advertising laws and that the city could not conflict with existing laws. Additionally, the older measure stated that 'any physical form of sponsorship must blend in with the surrounding environment.' In contrast, the newly introduced Bill 4 says that 'any physical form of sponsorship must be consistent with the surrounding environment as determined by the sponsorship agreement and applicable rules and regulations.' On Tuesday, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, the budget panel's chair, successfully recommended his committee draft of Bill 4 be passed on to the full Council for possible second reading review and adoption. The Council's next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 26.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City Council's budget panel to review sponsorship bill
STAR-ADVERTISER / AUG. 28 The city seeks to create public-private relationships to help maintain public facilities, parks and programs. A lifeguard keeps watch at Kailua Beach. STAR-ADVERTISER / AUG. 28 The city seeks to create public-private relationships to help maintain public facilities, parks and programs. A lifeguard keeps watch at Kailua Beach. Reestablishing the city's ability to obtain private sponsorships for publicly owned facilities in order to secure non-property tax revenue is the focus of new legislation now under Honolulu City Council review. Introduced in January by Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 would revisit aspects of a prior law—Ordinance 17-16—that established such sponsorships but was repealed in 2022. To that end the Council's Budget Committee is expected to review the measure today. As drafted, Bill 4 would seek to '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 serv ices 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. In appreciation of such support, the measure states it's 'the policy of the city to equitably acknowledge the contribution of private sponsors.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. If restarted, the new measure would 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. 'All sponsorship agreements for a financial contribution of $50, 000 or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, ' the bill states. 'All sponsorship agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council.' In addition, the measure says that 'all funds received pursuant to sponsorship agreements will be deposited into the appropriate fund as determined by the director of the (city Department ) of Budget and Fiscal Services, provided that such funds are expended for their designated purpose.' There are exclusions to this legislation, however. Those include :—Gifts, grants or unsolicited donations where no sponsorship agreement exists or is required.—Memorials and the naming of a city park, site or facility subject to city laws.—Parades or events sponsored or co-sponsored by the city pursuant to other ordinances or rules.—Facilities in Kapiolani Regional Park.—Facilities in Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. And restrictions for all sponsorship agreements exist, too. 'The city shall not relinquish any aspect of the city's right to direct, manage and control the city asset, ' the measure states. 'Sponsorship recognition, publications, and publicity must conform to all applicable laws and rules, including but not limited to (state laws ), pertaining to sign regulations (and ) to outdoor advertising, including billboards.' 'The sponsorship must not create a conflict of interest for the city as determined by the city's Corporation Counsel, ' the bill reads. During the Council's Jan. 29 meeting, the panel reviewed and adopted Bill 4 on the first of three readings. Before the vote, Winston Welch, representing The Outdoor Circle environmental group, said he looked forward to working with the Council's Budget Committee on Bill 4 and 'to make sure that any sponsorship measures that go forward comport with the (city's ) rightly guarded and stringent sign and off-site advertising laws, ' he added. Kaimuki resident Tim Garry said he strongly supported Bill 4's intent. 'It kind of ties into revenue so that you don't have to jack up the seniors' taxes, ' he explained. 'This is something that the city and county has neglected for years. … There's so much private money out there in the city. … There are trusts that have to give away money, according to their trusts.' With regard to outdoor signage related to potential city sponsorships, Garry said The Outdoor Circle 'might have some criticism ' of the measure, 'but it doesn't necessarily have to be a billboard sign that is invasive.' 'This can work for so many departments ; one of them is Ocean Safety, ' he said. 'There is a ton of money out there that wants to support them.' 'Whether they take a picture with the Ocean Safety (lifeguards ), use it to promote or market whatever product they have. Why would we turn that money down ?' he said. 'You want to jack up my taxes so you can keep feeding at the trough all of the time.' 'Let's get innovative and think outside the box, ' he added. 'Let's not be stale ; have some imagination.' Andria Tupola, whose Council District 1 spans the Leeward Coast, also supported Bill 4. She noted other U.S. cities have 'foundations or funds that are just for the parks.' 'I've had people call me on a regular basis asking if they could redo a park or help with it, ' she said. 'And in my district I actually have one park that's half private and half city and county. 'And you can imagine what both sides look like, but they don't match.' she added. 'And it's because privately run areas … have more funding, and you're able to do more with it.' Chair of the Council's Parks Committee, Tupola noted that the Navy's transference of 400 acres in West Oahu to the city in June meant more city parks could be developed. But 'I don't think we're actually going to be able to do anything back there if we don't have some type of foundation or sponsorship program, because we'll never have the funds to really develop that whole area, ' she said. The Council's Budget Committee meeting begins today at 9 a.m. inside Council chambers.
