NOTABLE MEASURES PASSED AND ADOPTED AT THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
BILLS & RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
● Bill 36 – Authorize the issuance and sale and specify certain terms of the City and County of Honolulu wastewater system revenue commercial paper.
● Bill 39, CD1 – Relating to building permits. (Removing affidavit requirements for building permit applications.)
“Bill 39 furthers our efforts to streamline our city’s permitting process. This ordinance is designed to reduce delays and significantly shorten wait times by eliminating the requirement for notarized affidavits in building permit applications. This change will enhance the efficiency of our Department of Planning and Permitting and support more timely project approvals.” – Zoning Committee Chair Calvin Say
● Resolution 24-216 – Urging the United States Department of the Navy and the United States Department of Defense, including the Defense Logistics Agency, to immediately implement weekly testing of all Navy Red Hill monitoring wells and drinking water wells for all chemical contaminants stemming from past fuel and hazardous materials that were used, stored, or released at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
“The U.S. Navy's slow and inadequate response to reporting the aquifer contamination following the initial and devastating fuel leak into our water supply at Red Hill was unacceptable. We must fully understand if fuel and other contaminants from the Red Hill facility are making their way to our other water sources. Real-time monitoring and reporting are crucial to understanding the underground situation and protecting public health. The Board of Water Supply is making efforts but needs access to the Navy's well data immediately. This testing and the resulting data are non-negotiable for us at this point.” – Council Chair Tommy Waters
“They (the U.S. Navy) and some of the experts are trying to tell us that this could not have come from Red Hill. That it came from some combustion source or house fire or something, but we don’t know for sure. So the question is if this is indeed a plume moving westward, what’s going to be our decision with Kaamilo wells? Which is about a half a mile to the west of ʻAiea wells. Should we shut it down? Should we install a treatment system? What do we do? So I’ll be coming back to the community with a decision that will be made in the near future on what to do with that well. – Honolulu Board of Water Supply Manager & Chief Engineer Ernie Lau (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hL6KNVjsCo, 3:41:00)
● Resolution 24-197 – Urging the City Administration to investigate the establishment of a Compensation Plus Program, or similar accountable reimbursement plan, for officers and employees of the Honolulu Police Department.
● Resolution 24-151, CD1 – Approving and authorizing the conveyance of the former Kalaheo Elementary School property in Kailua, O‘ahu, to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, in furtherance of the intent of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and to honor the legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, which includes his role in establishing the counties of the State of Hawaiʻi.
“My proposal represents a historic opportunity for the City and County of Honolulu to establish the first-ever Hawaiian Home Lands in Kailua and to honor Prince Kūhiō, who was not only instrumental in the establishment of the Hawaiian Home Lands Program, but was pivotal in the establishment of the City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi’s other counties. Through this city land transfer, we hope to address the critical need for housing on Oʻahu, while also helping our Native Hawaiian community. Kailua is a place rich in culture, history, landscapes, and moʻolelo. Establishing a Hawaiian homestead in Kailua will ensure that native Hawaiians will be able to continue to live and thrive in this special place.” – Council Vice Chair Esther Kia‘āina
“Our commitment at the Council to collaborate with communities and policymakers at all levels of government in finding solutions to the housing crisis for current and future generations is unwavering. In partnership with this City Administration, we have been diligently addressing the housing crisis through a series of innovative initiatives. Over the past five years, we have greenlit more than 8,400 additional units across Oʻahu. While this project is primarily focused on addressing the housing needs of our Native Hawaiian community, we recognize that its positive impact will extend beyond. As the saying goes, 'as the tide rises, all boats will rise.' We envision this project as a catalyst, propelling our entire community towards the development of kama‘āina housing solutions that are not only expedient but also considerate across all counties.” – Council Chair Tommy Waters
● Resolution 24-199 – Urging the Hawai‘i State Legislature to update and clarify the Hawai‘i laws relating to electric bicycles and electric dirt bike motorcycles.
● Resolution 24-204 – Resolution authorizing the Director of the Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu or the Director’s authorized representative to sign the intergovernmental agreement between the Department of the Army and the City and County of Honolulu represented by the City’s Department of Design and Construction for the Wailupe Stream Watershed, HI Study and authorizing the Director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services to expend funds relating to said project.
APPOINTMENTS – RESOLUTIONS
● Resolution 24-196 – Confirming the appointment of Malia Haumschild to serve on the Grants in Aid Advisory Commission.
● Resolution 24-194 – Confirming the appointment of Dr. Leanne Kealoha Fox to serve on the Climate Change Commission.
● Resolution 24-193 – Confirming the appointment of Edmund K.B. Hyun to serve on the Liquor Commission.
● Resolution 24-195 – Confirming the appointment of Kristina Bushnell to serve on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission.
● Resolution 24-209 – Confirming the appointment of Ryan Toyomura to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
● Resolution 24-212 – Confirming the appointment of Hazel Beck to serve on the Civil Service Commission.
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