[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6025406,"mediaKeyId","5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86","parentId",5755426,"title","Neighborhood boards seek greater notice for small SMA projects; planning department warns of added delay","audioSeconds",4642,"startMs",2871305,"endMs",7513309,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86&start=2871&end=7513","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86/thumbnail_2871305.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6025406/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Neighborhood-boards-seek-greater-notice-for-small-SMA-projects-planning-department-warns-of-added-delay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025406-71a49937f22c9c34861de015317618ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136911&Signature=DH489XFUv6GiF8xocNRlQic0Zr4QqfcUnMlkZsibPf8okTMUvdkBX3101A8loWKqWnSL~b210EF~Mi~twMkJpOe8dSa6RDv7~QF1Az-mS2zEMMez9HnVvSm0vUCWvXF60fM2lGWnnNi-UbzWFkThMnqigntNgIXi3lrugxriul5Vudpgi0y8lKDjHOV-7ggZVfHoGL~LcvEMnwWhZ-MPpGcTicqS3a4qALPJTAsBbm6xl1ajf2c2PKZ6bs2kStTITGNON8NVLeje2LZ9uImjq1pYiOR3EulCkqPvtv3VV0A2a83prYGWBDdTidG6l5BeurmjKb8S44HfE8LfNMoVtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Honolulu, HI","date","2025-09-04T11:41:13Z","article","A proposed change to the Special Management Area (SMA) process drew debate at the Honolulu City Council over how much public notice and neighborhood-board review should be required for projects currently classified as “minor” SMA applications.

Raquel Achiu, vice chair of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, testified that developers sometimes subdivide or phase projects to avoid SMA major review, using cost/value thresholds to keep individual phases below the major threshold. She told the council that the result can be minimal disclosure to communities and limited review of environmental, cultural and shoreline impacts.

The proposed ordinance (Bill 56) would require additional neighborhood-board notice for minor SMA filings to give communities earlier opportunities to vet projects. Supporters said the change would force fuller, more accurate submittals and reduce a pattern of projects being broken into smaller applications in order to avoid major SMA review.

Department of Planning and Permitting Director Don Takeuchi Apuna told the council his department opposes the change as drafted, saying the current minor-SMA process includes a 10-day period to receive a completed application and 45 days for processing; adding a 60-day neighborhood-board review would more than double timelines and could burden many small property owners. “A minor SMA is for smaller-valued and lower-impact projects,” Apuna said during committee discussion, and he warned that additional mandatory neighborhood-board hearings would increase cost and processing time for routine projects.

Sponsor Council Member Weier said the intent is to give communities notice and the opportunity to provide information to staff before decisions are made, and she emphasized the proposal could reduce litigation by making the process more transparent. Other council members, including those representing rural districts, said they worry a new step could be onerous for small homeowners who lack resources to attend additional hearings.

Discussion vs. decision: The council passed the first-reading motion for bills on pages 7–10 (which included Bill 56) and sent the measures to committee; members recorded reservations on Bill 56. Council Member Kea Aina said he would vote with reservations and preferred further committee discussion.

Ending: The item will return to committee, where council members expect to balance the neighborhood boards’ call for earlier notice against the planning department’s warning about added time and cost for minor projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-09-03 Regular Council Meeting PT1","oneSentenceSummary","A proposed ordinance to require neighborhood-board notice for minor Special Management Area filings drew split reaction: neighborhood leaders said the extra notice would stop piecemeal projects that avoid scrutiny, while the planning department warned it would more than double processing timelines for small applicants.","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},6025411,"Council advances proposed transit fare changes; disability advocates and others warn of costs and access impacts",899,7911625,8810725,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86&start=7911&end=8810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86/thumbnail_7911625.jpg","/articles/6025411/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-advances-proposed-transit-fare-changes-disability-advocates-and-others-warn-of-costs-and-access-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025411-df52d39d9cdda40527dbb18fff2f3990/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136911&Signature=EqoaXGDf5fKfo3sRzQzjr~Bdm1nW1e5vZI3xKr1~jp44f85~B1VXmmb6wokM0AeACDXoZlWXs0H3wwrZjxuK1n1gS2XOf07S3GdgpjFCIvJnSeGzht4oDMsPFLiEcc-Lmh~djYQRK8aZyA7vVW1A8AGsc6suF9YXoSR9Ba04Ift-9GmSuYzKWF018mygvpp7aK4~XJwygDW2zvadgBle0HEX18Nxj0MWKecnfWLq7CLR0C5cmQCva-m3K3VEORllw0keyMHGxPmUWvRKGSlst97DA8FSfP5kjngiQQ2CqjzH4QVbbSkJO4O~VfU2n8MnhN5IiHqV76HmXx7P3pLOTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Council advanced a package of changes to transit fares and fare policy (Bill 54, CD1) to a second-reading vote, but the measure drew objections and calls for revisions from disability advocates, transit riders and several council members.

Bill 54 would adjust fares, add fare caps and expand some reduced-fare categories, while also proposing changes that would end the automatic free ride for a personal care attendant (PCA) accompanying a rider — an item that drew strong testimony in opposition from disability advocates. Brian Mick, speaking for the Disability and Communication Access Board, asked the council to restore Medicare cardholders to the reduced-fare eligibility list and opposed changing the PCA waiver. “We are concerned with the changes to the current policy of waiving the fare for a personal care attendant,” Mick said.

Several public witnesses who rely on paratransit or who accompany disabled riders urged the council to keep the PCA waiver. Kailey Swan and Don Sakamoto described real-world difficulties if attendants had to pay per ride. “Bill 54 changes that; we will have to pay,” Swan testified, asking the council to maintain free PCA rides.

Council members also debated the fare levels and the distributional impacts. Council Member dos Santos Tam described public opposition from bus riders and said the proposed per-ride increases would disproportionately affect youth, seniors and low-income riders. She said the city’s low-income fare program was under-used and urged greater outreach: “As of July 2025, we have had 1,097 people apply for this program — that is very small compared to those who are eligible,” she said.

Several council members said they were open to amending the bill in committee. Council Member Cordero recorded reservations about the increases and noted concerns about students and teachers who depend on bus service. Council Member Weier objected to the measure at final action, and other members recorded reservations on the record, but the committee report (CR265) and Bill 54 CD1 were adopted and passed second reading. The council noted objections and reservations tied to the bill as it moves on.

Discussion vs. decision: The motion to adopt the committee report and pass Bill 54 to second reading succeeded; however, council members asked for further committee discussion and asked the Department of Transportation Services to provide more information on outreach and on fare-waiver mechanics before final adoption.

Ending: The council advanced the fare package but signaled it expects more committee-level revisions — particularly to keep access for riders with disabilities, to restore Medicare cardholders to reduced-fare lists and to improve promotion of the low-income fare program so eligible riders can enroll.","The City Council voted to advance proposed changes to public transit fares to second reading, but disability advocates and some council members warned the bill would reduce access for paratransit users and increase out-of-pocket costs for frequent riders without better outreach and safeguards.",{"_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},6025421,"Council advances Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District after wide public support and Chinatown inclusion debate",1906,9358485,11264966,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86&start=9358&end=11264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86/thumbnail_9358485.jpg","/articles/6025421/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-advances-Downtown-Honolulu-Business-Improvement-District-after-wide-public-support-and-Chinatown-inclusion-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025421-a141559f513d61a5da0cc8f2d9f4781c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136911&Signature=hbEeM3fV~4AAkagQ3zYHyN4iPZ6mDLFfxK79p5ZErHcdeSnxjxW6GiajHr4-zahTPEkt1xe3NcMva23vMGZI~vAyB7ZJgj7sa22KaDpyNCA41ZORRUJ7Dfd8xsAiXKDd8xxmU5pkagaBZy1ste2K4NLReyj4HJuWFQTpJVvnLb4Eb-kEGP-ce4oM5qyDwzyHBgw17sG24Zsa8UEwGs-XFW~vgN1EbTlPrOuwABca4EcYEPl65KlzMQzMGpP819923m5UTzDsKPwam1FDM7lDQ58kzhreSIVCO9cQCSRNr7FAz-tXFgaD5Bgb4tYgOR8JVIO4LKjz0Ml9gEa2XjmZ1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Council voted to advance Bill 51, a proposal to create a Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), after a long public hearing that included business owners, property managers and community leaders from both downtown and neighboring Chinatown.

Supporters told the council a BID would fund supplemental cleaning, power washing, graffiti removal and private security that local stakeholders say the city currently cannot provide at the needed scale. “This bill will allow us to capitalize on the momentum that’s happening downtown,” said Andrew Pereira of Pacific Resource Partnership, who testified in support. Several business owners and tenants — including a downtown bubble-tea shop owner and representatives of hotels and developers — described foot-traffic gains and said they wanted consistent cleanliness and security to sustain investment.

Opponents and cautious stakeholders raised two recurring themes: first, some property owners asked for more evidence the BID model (as currently structured) will deliver measurable reductions in homelessness and crime; second, Chinatown leaders urged either immediate inclusion of Chinatown parcels or a committed, short timeline to add the historic district in a second phase. “When downtown thrives, Chinatown breathes easier,” said a Chinatown property owner who urged inclusion in a near-term expansion. Several Chinatown speakers said they had insufficient public notice to organize and recommended the council adopt a phased approach — enact the BID now, but add Chinatown in phase two with a clear schedule and commitment of some initial district funds for Chinatown cleanup and security.

Council conversation reflected those split concerns. Council Member Kia Aina, who chairs Zoning and Planning, said the measure was not being rushed: the procedure would allow additional hearings and a return to committee for further refinements. After the hearing, the council adopted the committee report and passed Bill 51 to second reading by roll call, with nine ayes recorded.

Discussion vs. decision: The council advanced the bill past second reading, meaning it will return for further committee review and a subsequent vote. Several council members and speakers asked for follow-up items and committee briefings on BID governance, potential effects on Chinatown, and the proposed assessment formula for property owners.

Ending: Supporters described the BID as a pragmatic tool to fund day-to-day street services and community advocacy; Chinatown stakeholders urged that the measure include or quickly expand to include their district so improvements affect both neighborhoods simultaneously. The Council agreed to move the measure forward to allow additional committee-level discussion and to develop implementation details.","The Honolulu City Council voted to advance Bill 51 to second reading—creating a Downtown Business Improvement District—after supporters argued the BID will add cleaning and security services, while Chinatown leaders and some property owners urged either immediate inclusion of Chinatown or a formal near-term plan to add it.",{"_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},6025427,"Council hears tough questions as city nominates Kevin Auger to lead new Housing and Land Management department",2496,1509531,4006131,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86&start=1509&end=4006","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86/thumbnail_1509531.jpg","/articles/6025427/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-hears-tough-questions-as-city-nominates-Kevin-Auger-to-lead-new-Housing-and-Land-Management-department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025427-5bee3b0d5e04a17233b78207eda189f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136911&Signature=Nf9H8U5tdjhe4uYwc3roXy5UBPDpz4jh-uiKTxcxHGT8-c~iNbP6zcCRAL9mcqcXeWJQb28IE4myIvXjgJob2ODShLtcMqMOm3R-6rDjmOnIgT8laWFe9hmRbmDiKt8jAKd42ara4BX8JmcAHOf6NYo9h~H51BCYqLmZ8oPquLZTinZNnOlyHduM2eKd3YEagF1vQmm9QgfKhKnoYf6hWgzwgQY7MP1UYS4lBJZ6H-cbBqvoKiaWNC9Wsgm8KMePGMN0UkEQfcMuF~udOLRU2ijmQWyarfwj~zuxhJKJ2kDSwMTe5rw2pGBDUVZOIqMlsQno2YaPo0snKL36AEKrGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kevin Auger, the mayor's nominee to lead the new Department of Housing and Land Management, told the Honolulu City Council on Thursday that housing is an administration priority and that his office intends to move rapidly to create a pipeline of new units — but several council members pressed him for clearer plans on communication, community engagement and project financing.

Auger, introduced during the meeting as “director designate of the Department of Housing and Land Management,” said the department was formally established May 1 and has been building capacity since. “Working closely together with council members and your staffs is a paramount priority for us,” Auger said, and described three priorities he planned to present to the council committee: the department’s new housing platform, the department’s strategic plan and a follow-up on activities completed since January.

Council members asked detailed questions about where the department was in executing that strategy. Council member Tupelo asked Auger to list the three items he would present to the housing committee; Auger answered: the recently established platform, the strategic plan and progress under that plan. Council member Okimoto and others sought a more specific timetable for actions and for district-level coordination, saying they had seen development proposals appearing in district plans without prior council or neighborhood engagement. “If we're gonna suggest that there's housing in a particular council member’s district, that should be a collaborative plan with us and with the community,” Council member Tupelo said.

Auger described a six-part strategic approach the department had been pursuing: aligning development with rail/transit-oriented areas; building a new organizational platform for the department; identifying city-owned land for housing; developing alternative financing approaches; reviewing city policies for effectiveness; and developing analytical tools with the University of Hawaii’s economic research arm. He said the department had identified 10 city parcels that could accommodate “2,500 to 3,000 units” of housing and intended to issue requests for qualifications (RFQs) for all 10 parcels before the end of the year.

On questions about financing, Auger said the city has issued roughly $140 million of private activity bonds this year and is pairing them with low-income housing tax credits — federal tax-advantaged credits that have been a major source of affordable housing financing nationally since the Tax Reform Act of 1986. He said the administration was also working with outside experts (the Center for Public Enterprise and UHERO were named in council remarks) to build additional financing models and planned to deliver a model by year-end.

Council members also pressed Auger about departmental communication. Council member Cordero and others said they often learned about sites or solicitations from the media or constituents rather than directly from the department. Auger replied that the department had sent notification letters and planned additional briefings, and that new staff — including a director of housing policy — was reaching out to council offices.

Public witnesses generally supported Auger’s nomination and urged the council to advance it so the department could continue its work. Perry Errol Smith, director of policy at the nonprofit Housing Hawaii’s Future, testified that Auger had engaged nonprofits for input and vowed to continue collaboration; two disability advocates asked that the department consider accessible units in future planning.

The council referred the nomination (Resolution 25-206) to committee for further review, and committee consideration was scheduled to follow the standard confirmation process. That referral means the council will hear the nomination and hold a committee hearing before a final confirmation vote.

Discussion versus action: the council did not confirm Auger at this meeting; members questioned and directed staff-level follow-up and the nomination was formally referred to committee. No policy was adopted in this session.

Ending: The council hearing laid out the department’s early strategy and highlighted points of friction: council members demanded clearer district-level engagement and more precise short-term milestones, while the director-designate stressed rapid action on a pipeline of city-owned sites and on financing models. The nomination will return to committee, where members said they expect more detailed briefings on RFQs, financing proposals and community outreach plans.","The City Council advanced the nomination of Kevin Auger as director-designate of the Department of Housing and Land Management after extended questioning from council members about communication, project planning, financing and use of city land; the nomination was referred to committee for further review.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6025416,"Council moves forward with multi-tier property tax changes aimed at easing burden on million-dollar homes",676,7098190,7774395,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86&start=7098&end=7774","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5755426-7886a28cdf4b46a36fe6d47e057bfb86/thumbnail_7098190.jpg","/articles/6025416/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-moves-forward-with-multi-tier-property-tax-changes-aimed-at-easing-burden-on-million-dollar-homes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025416-5c501781ec9772b75d5dc809fb1c55df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136911&Signature=exuCl7OHncmOiqDWIZf8hV3AEHXk7YYqJCs6e7GyM6C6jqiTlH5ymfA0PFpDZ8NgFaof0K04xwgJ2wiHDMGsCX0LCoQzSt7Q6z0DnAMmz02VuF4KmqQcDWDZ247TnD4BqbhdAZkWaNlyg356Zcr3J0h4p5c4TJiPY5DDScQCG72k9jnun7Onv61RissoVVdeRz-BtCFX6oN83zDVGmu0Uf5534K8C-fDNq8spk7chwGc-lx8HAPVy1M0BkGa4qjMrwYTB2jpuPxwWRQ2KC2ob5Tc0bDu1KVpd3u5dVyrNms7yzQVZljGpBviyyWx31VMukNt2OqBNj6AvImDVSMgAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Council on Thursday advanced a set of property-tax changes that would restructure tax tiers for high-value residential properties and transient vacation units (TVUs), a proposal proponents say would reduce tax burdens on long-term homeowners pushed into higher tax brackets by rising valuations.

Council Member Kea Aina introduced amendments that would raise the threshold for the Res A high-value tier from $1,000,000 to $1,300,000 and create three tiers to better target tax relief. Under the proposal discussed in committee, the three tiers for single-family (Res A) properties would be: up to $1,300,000 (tier 1), $1,300,000 to $3,500,000 (tier 2), and greater than $3,500,000 (tier 3). The city would similarly create three tiers for transient vacation units with separate thresholds.

Proponents argued the changes reflect rising market values and would keep many long-term owner-occupants from being swept into the highest tax bracket. “A lot of my constituents’ home values have skyrocketed past a million dollars; this is a step in the right direction,” Council Member Kea Aina said during debate.

Critics, including several testifiers and some council members, warned of the fiscal impact. The department of Budget and Fiscal Services estimated the package could reduce city revenues by several million dollars, and council members asked for clearer data on how many properties fall into each proposed tier and how the thresholds should be indexed to inflation. “There is no adjustment mechanism for inflation,” testified homeowner Linda Howe, who described large increases to her assessment and urged an automatic inflation adjustment for thresholds.

The Honolulu Board of Realtors testified in favor of adjusting the thresholds and said the city should include a mechanism for periodic review. Testimony also urged the council to consider renter protections and the larger housing affordability landscape when adjusting tax policy.

Multiple bills and committee reports were acted on during the meeting: Committee Report CR260 and Bill 34 (2024 CD1) on thresholds passed second reading; subsequent related measures (CR263, CR264 and Bills 49 and 50) passed third reading. Several council members recorded reservations and asked staff to return with more detailed fiscal modeling. Council Member Talbot and others emphasized the need to identify offsets or budget strategies to cover the estimated revenue loss.

Discussion vs. decision: The council advanced the bills through second and third readings as part of the legislative process. The actions change tax-tier thresholds but do not themselves set the final tax rates; those remain subject to later budget and ordinance details.

Ending: The package aims to protect homeowners whose assessed values exceeded $1,000,000 during the recent housing appreciation, but council members signaled they want better data, an inflation adjustment mechanism and clarity on the fiscal impact before final implementation.","The council approved committee reports and passed multiple property-tax bills to create three-tier tax categories for high-value residential and transient vacation units, drawing both support and concern from homeowners, real-estate groups and fiscal staff about thresholds, inflation indexing and budgetary impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighborhood boards seek greater notice for small SMA projects; planning department warns of added delay

Council advances proposed transit fare changes; disability advocates and others warn of costs and access impacts

Council advances Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District after wide public support and Chinatown inclusion debate

Council hears tough questions as city nominates Kevin Auger to lead new Housing and Land Management department

Council moves forward with multi-tier property tax changes aimed at easing burden on million-dollar homes