[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6210790,"mediaKeyId","3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19","parentId",3707773,"title","Council members debate operating-budget floor drafts after chair’s proposal to set aside general-fund cash for sewer activities","audioSeconds",2952,"startMs",31300,"endMs",2983360,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19&start=31&end=2983","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19/thumbnail_31300.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210790/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-members-debate-operating-budget-floor-drafts-after-chairs-proposal-to-set-aside-general-fund-cash-for-sewer-activities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210790-9e4850fc7867d5a6c317738168680b46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441330&Signature=mWG45A7itcwoYz4aS5u-bbTtlS0mP6o-S8Ll7Cr7En8wzwt7Es5PAd~AYkMIJuGjmwubLAgUZyJbb8zqQvTan~hmje72ZE2kCNV5cW0V36jxFn1tTQbSMtSVH~mpQGnoAJNhLxQFktEG96EY~A0-jhAdq0Qll5yz53D1gWMY4PDSX59kZvEyvfw-qjca0Yn1ubyCMmbc7JUxCyEgyWMkrbTIue-nF-14bkEF9WStSJVWFuvMjCS9hkJO1tPJn0sqjATVFo1vXVoj19jHPU9MRPvQxJJ3ywEmpTDlNDBp9WcwofhRtjViHl7UwKQ1cL2zJbP-C9y85UrX1qP2dDOtCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Honolulu, HI","date","2025-06-07T11:01:05Z","article","Chair Waters opened debate on a set of competing operating-budget floor drafts, including a hand-carried draft that would set aside general-fund cash to a provisional sewer account.

The matter drew public comment and extended exchanges among council members and department officials. Natalie Wasa, testifying during public comment, said, \"I oppose the FD1 that Chair Waters just read ... here we are looking at $19,100,000 in a provision for sewer activities.\" She argued using cash instead of bonds could jeopardize the city's bond rating and make the move \"not good fiscal policy.\"

Council member dos Santos Tam explained his own floor-draft changes and the committee's versions before the council discussed specific re‑allocations. Budget chair and other members described proposals that would repurpose vacancy balances across several departments to fund new council priorities; one floor draft listed more than $8.5 million in council-directed additions including data‑science support, federal grants coordination, community‑policing teams, park improvements and ocean‑safety items.

Administration officials and department directors warned that repurposing vacancy funds can constrain hiring and operations. Andy Coano (Budget & Fiscal Services) testified that some departments would see significant cuts to salary funding under one draft and that those cuts could require departments to prioritize which positions to fill. Coano said the budget committee's draft replenished some previously cut positions but that using vacancy savings to fund the sewer provisional would reduce funds available for departments.

Council members pressed the administration about the legal and fiscal consequences. Roger Babcock, director of Environmental Services, said the city has flexibility to sequence cash-funded vs. bond-funded CIP projects and that some project sequencing changes could moderate the immediate cash requirement for sewer capital work. But he did not provide a guarantee that sequencing alone would cover the proposed provisional amounts.

After extended debate and public testimony, the council did not vote on the operating-budget measure and instead agreed to postpone the item to the end of the calendar for further work and drafting of written floor drafts by OCS. \"Seeing none. Okay. So ordered. We put this at the very end of the calendar,\" the chair said when members agreed to delay action.

The discussion left several points unresolved: the council must decide whether to fund some sewer activity with general‑fund cash or bonds; how much of the one‑time vacancy savings to repurpose; and which department personnel or programs would be cut or restored if the council repurposes lapsed salary balances.

Looking ahead, council members said they will continue to weigh the operating budget drafts, seek written amendments from OCS, and coordinate with Budget & Fiscal Services and affected departments before making a final decision at the calendar's end.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 06 04 REG COUNCIL PT2","oneSentenceSummary","Chair Waters opened debate on competing operating‑budget floor drafts after a hand‑carried version proposed moving general‑fund cash into a provisional sewer account.","taxTitle","Honolulu City, Honolulu County, Hawaii","taxId",61746,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210775,"Council adopts overt video‑monitoring pilot with privacy guardrails after committee amendment",296,6376455,6672810,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19&start=6376&end=6672","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19/thumbnail_6376455.jpg","/articles/6210775/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-adopts-overt-videomonitoring-pilot-with-privacy-guardrails-after-committee-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210775-5cbc859b45bbee59a98d179ac9ffe878/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441330&Signature=AmvsTrw84zMYzg0NBg4l1NEhCpPqTLLM31n9zNiuFeLb3KYfFJOK-JyjAvvouSzhgoxjrUGSeePipRokkmPPEWQ2Yhfs1tly3JsM6T7pC6BeTK85MozvhBM4-5romFWiP3rDxFwySRmOVQdp-9qFvDfjOPAnHXW3hqZRE-yyGL9v~3t4XrmaKzvDT7hON8J90A-UjgPDcyowTYC87vnZY-ES9oP2LVgalgcF-dI449ZzDDIo~S-ckK-7ccoetplTTCcROqLA4X7ChG~yigeedKbeMWqkp0B4zmQGyDDXJa6v8sa3L4Kr4apXDMuxGSw477dZhiw0Ke3wIoJPb77vQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council adopted Resolution 25‑128 (CD1 FD1) authorizing overt video monitoring in city parks and park-and‑ride facilities, and amended the proposal to add a privacy safeguard that monitoring devices must not face private property.

Council member Okimoto introduced the measure on behalf of the public‑safety committee. Council member Cordero moved an amendment to the posted FD1 clarifying that overt video monitoring \"must not face private property,\" and members approved the amendment. Council member Tupelo described the pilot as a way to deter crime and support enforcement in parks that have reduced police presence, saying the technology could help \"restore a sense of safety in high risk areas.\"

Testimony included opposition from residents concerned about surveillance and specific effects on immigrant communities. Natalie Wasa told the council she opposed the measure, citing concerns that \"immigrants and legal nationals\" are particularly sensitive to video monitoring and that crime could shift to adjacent locations. Community members who supported monitoring said targeted, overt cameras provide evidence for enforcement and can be limited by strict placement and data‑use rules.

With the posted FD1 amendment—restating the requirement that cameras not face private property—the council adopted the resolution and directed the administration to proceed with pilot deployments consistent with the approved restrictions.

The council asked the administration to report back on pilot outcomes and to include safeguards on placement, notice to the public, and data governance. Council members said they expect follow‑up reporting during implementation.","The council adopted a measure authorizing overt video monitoring in city parks and park-and‑ride lots, and amended the resolution to specify that cameras must not face private property. Supporters said monitoring will deter vandalism and drug activity in parks; opponents raised immigrant‑community privacy concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210780,"Council amends HPD transfer: reduces proposed transfer and schedules further consideration after staffing questions",1041,3660390,4701625,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19&start=3660&end=4701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19/thumbnail_3660390.jpg","/articles/6210780/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-amends-HPD-transfer-reduces-proposed-transfer-and-schedules-further-consideration-after-staffing-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210780-72422970074a9c60a54bead348b20833/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441330&Signature=ZgoouuNJv0-ZBqGpZpHHtS219MXHcE~tfQIzkAH1Gv90kJ4yNN~tlcz2QdjycE3zZwoBiFEsNclRX7Y8MgjLuXDR~CTYj6HDegY6VxJ3AJRZSiHvlzsgLnHDAu~chCOhIjPQWRwtiD-xFn5KkgclaV2g~o6nxcz-rhiZkWnODeQC5DohS5MbUypk98qHsiZ9w00DL8mubYycsuxLLV9~-z3xjcW~srgM~GauSPMnzE2-aMf07MrBj9~jUQkIjwIYc8PIEhow8LDesjfR7fXOdXgXXp9A7usLBzPeDVTrY3jsy-6kP1p7pd2KLYaZ3zCF~voMmKtWvkwGCWzT4bQxEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council debated a request to transfer funds to the Honolulu Police Department to cover projected overtime and patrol costs and ultimately amended the transfer to reduce the amount and postponed final action.

At the committee report motion, the council considered resolution 25‑146, a request to transfer $13.5 million in general‑fund monies to patrol activities. Several members voiced concern about timing and the size of the transfer given fiscal‑year timing. Council member Di Polo (spoke as reservations) and Council member Cordero raised concerns about the timing of transfers late in the fiscal year and asked HPD for clarification on unallotted funds and how the department was estimating its shortfall.

Major Ryan Hiranaka of HPD's finance division explained the department's quarterly allotment process and said that because overtime spending exceeded earlier quarterly allotments, funds were moved internally from the fourth quarter into earlier quarters to balance payroll. He told the council that an earlier projection of a $13.5 million shortfall had since been revised downward to approximately $7.5 million after updated payroll data.

Given the new figures, Council member Tupelo proposed a friendly amendment to reduce the requested transfer to $8.5 million. HPD indicated they would accept the lower figure; council members then moved the resolution to the end of the calendar to allow OCS to prepare the hand‑carried FD. \"Yes. We would,\" Major Hiranaka said when asked whether HPD would accept the lower amount.

Members noted the department's large lapses in prior years (examples in the hearing: HPD lapsed about $50.5 million last year), and several councilors said the transfer would allow HPD to use funds that otherwise would lapse. Council member Di Polo recorded reservations about the process, saying the timing and planning for these year‑end transfers must improve. The council voted to postpone the resolution to the end of the calendar and to consider the FD1 that reduced the transfer amount.

Separately, the council adopted a task force resolution to examine HPD vacancies and retention strategies (resolution creating a task force to address vacancies and retention). Council members said the task force would develop short‑ and long‑term steps to address recruitment, retention, and equipment needs.","Faced with department questions about patrol spending, the council amended a transfer request for the Honolulu Police Department down from $13.5 million to $8.5 million and moved the measure to the end of the calendar for final action. Members pressed HPD to clarify why large vacancy balances coexisted with multiple transfer requests.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210785,"Council approves sewer rate package after debate over duration, EPA limits and finance options",1614,8733194,10348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19&start=8733&end=10348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3707773-d7ab05c3397a86e385ecd12a75650b19/thumbnail_8733194.jpg","/articles/6210785/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-approves-sewer-rate-package-after-debate-over-duration-EPA-limits-and-finance-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210785-52cbda054fa8b35c550164181fb0ac16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441330&Signature=GkkE1e34n7AdluLjVUc0WyZRqGRVVIzC9iZahoOgCkB5ZmLVzZS3F9nh1KyrpZB~Om5Kt9n4dBPch7KHp9X9IMFTKm~VJxiX7eFeQ0WZHQf0RCA3ovRkK29E1VrrTL3twc9WDWO-eogdLmg-x5waNLg23WeTgbQDgKbR-hIWdyggLbXywaIA546kTk8U-2ZRjwyPMV3GBO8BjLQ4ja~7pfWXyQ39-h6LZ2eNRg8WqOcewAs3zylK76IbK--0JtDqylatLMz1Gw5vYyX2CMHiLIhDsbGoU5T9~1joPI7qibWMjb1UXGktIbYs5hvQkgH6McuFZL7kJGdGy83QB-em4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Council adopted Bill 60 (CD2) to change sewer rates and the rate structure after several hours of public testimony and council debate.

Council member dos Santos Tam presented the committee report and the CD2 rate proposal. The measure changes the split between a fixed base charge and a volumetric charge to 40% base / 60% volumetric and phases increases through 2031; the CD2 also included language creating a customer assistance program. Multiple council members, including Council member Tupelo and Council member Cordero, urged shorter rate schedules or more time to consider alternatives; Tupelo introduced an alternate five‑year floor draft.

Public commenters and technical witnesses highlighted both fiscal and regulatory constraints. Natalie Wasa told the council she \"support[ed] the CD2 ... the 40/60 split is a fair way of doing that,\" while urging caution about alternative borrowing proposals. Director Roger Babcock (Environmental Services) and Budget & Fiscal Services director fielded questions about sequencing cash vs. bond funding and the city's ability to change CIP sequencing to moderate immediate rate pressure.

Speakers also discussed federal financing alternatives. A member of the public noted possible savings using WIFIA or TIFIA loans but the Department of Environmental Services cautioned that WIFIA/TIFIA terms can limit the ability to refund later if market rates decline. Testimony from community advocates and civic groups urged more low‑income assistance and time to coordinate with EPA.

After floor debate the council voted to adopt CR 191 and pass Bill 60 CD2 as amended. The council recorded a close vote; the package passed but with multiple members expressing reservations about the schedule and long‑term household impacts. Following the vote the chair said the measure will proceed as adopted and that the administration and council will continue to explore customer assistance and other relief measures.

The vote implements the new 40/60 base/volumetric structure and the schedule of increases included in CD2; it also directs the administration to continue planning the customer assistance program described in the ordinance.","The council approved Bill 60 (CD2) changing the sewer-rate structure and schedule after a lengthy public and council debate over using cash versus bonds, potential effects on bond covenants and alternatives including low‑interest federal loans and customer assistance programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council members debate operating-budget floor drafts after chair’s proposal to set aside general-fund cash for sewer activities

Council adopts overt video‑monitoring pilot with privacy guardrails after committee amendment

Council amends HPD transfer: reduces proposed transfer and schedules further consideration after staffing questions

Council approves sewer rate package after debate over duration, EPA limits and finance options