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It’s a new year, and Honolulu Hale is welcoming five new City Council members. Mayor Carlisle has seven weeks to go before he has to present his first budget, and the first committee meetings of the new year take place this week. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

City Transportation Hearing a One-Sided Affair

1:42 p.m.
What was supposed to be a conversation between the city and state governments regarding rail financing was more monologue than dialogue. Honolulu City Council Transportation and Transit Planning Committee Chairman Breene Harimoto started this afternoon’s hearing by announcing that the state Department of Transportation blew off the city’s request to explain the report prepared for former Gov. Linda Lingle by Infrastructure Management Group last year.

“We really tried our best to have an open discussion with the state on their report,” Harimoto said, adding that government agencies have the obligation to explain themselves when they write reports concerning other government agencies. “It’s not only a common courtesy, I believe it is professionalism.”

A crowd turned out for a fight. Seven council members attended, even though the committee has only five voting members. Incoming District 1 City Council member Tom Berg also listened in on the meeting. The only member of the council not present is its chairman, Nestor Garcia, who is out of town. Former City Council Chair Todd Apo was also there, and the small committee meeting room was packed with rail prononents and opponents alike.

In the absence of the Hawaii DOT and its consultant, IMG, city transportation chief Wayne Yoshioka and rail project manager Toru Hamayasu presented their rebuttal to the state’s report. Civil Beat previously reported on the city’s response when it was released last month.

Budget Committee Cautiously Advances Measure to Introduce Camping Fees

1:13 p.m.
Members of the City Council’s Budget Committee this morning spoke at length about , which would introduce fees for campsites. Parks officials said the fees would likely raise about $350,000 annually, and the money would offset the cost of maintaining campsites, issuing permits and training staffers on a new online permitting system.

People would be required to pay at least $37.50 to use Honolulu campsites. That’s for the minimum three-day permit for up to 10 people, but fees for camping at larger sites would surpass $300 per day.

“The majority of people request permits for three days, so that’s where the three days come from,” said Richard Haru, deputy director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “It made sense based on past practices by campers.”

Haru said campers could leave sites early, and would not be held liable for any damages to the site that might take place after their departure but within the timeframe of their allotted stay. He said the city will not issue permits to other parties, even if a site is vacant due to an early departure.

City Council member Ikaika Anderson said the three-day minimum is unfair to constituents who might prefer one- or two-day permits. Anderson also raised questions about the money generated from the fees being diverted into the general fund, rather than being used for campsites.

“If the goal is to move toward a pay-for-the-services-you-use basis, there should be an assurance that those monies are used for that particular program,” Anderson said. “If they go into the general fund, there’s no guarantee.”

City Council member Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo said she worries about how fees would affect people who regularly use campgrounds, including members of the homeless population who live on them.

“With no fees currently, there are people who use campsites continuously,” Gabbard Tamayo said. “By implementing a fee structure, even if it is nominal, there are many people who won’t be able to afford it.”

She said she wants to be sure people who live at campsites have adequate social services to find other housing arrangements if the bill passes. Budget Chairman Ernie Martin echoed Gabbard Tamayo’s concerns, but said it’s also important to maintain campsite access for all Hawaii residents.

“We have to be sympathetic, while at the same point we have to be cognizant that there are your members of the general public, who do pay taxes, who also should have an opportunity to camp,” Martin said. “We need to balance those two forces.”

Rain Keeps Haraguchi Supporters Away, Golf Courses Closed

11:35 a.m.
The mayor’s pick for director of Customer Services, Gail Haraguchi, breezed through the Budget Committee’s discussion of her appointment. It’s now up to the full council to approve her appointment.

Haraguchi began working for the City and County of Honolulu as deputy director of the Department of Enterprise Services under former Mayor Mufi Hannemann in 2005, and later worked as deputy director of Parks and Recreation. She became the Customer Services Department’s director in July 2009, and current Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle nominated her to stay in that role. Haraguchi also has a decade of experience in corporate development. ( to review her résumé.)

City Council members in the Budget Committee meeting spoke highly of Haraguchi, and congratulated her. Budget Chairman Ernie Martin lightly teased the nominee about the near-empty committee room behind her.

“Gail, you don’t have any friends?” Martin asked with a smile.

“It’s raining,” Haraguchi mock-protested.

This morning’s heavy rains are affecting some city services. All city golf courses — Ala Wai, Pali, Ted Makalena, Kahuku, West Loch and Ewa Villages — will remain closed until conditions allow.

In Economic Recovery, Airplanes and Football Games Matter

9:45 a.m.
Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann appeared before the City Council in his new capacity, as president of the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association. Hannemann spoke optimistically about the state’s tourism picture, describing the past few months as indication of “some light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I kind of call it a cautious recovery, if you will,” Hannemann said. “We are still seeing increasing competition from our competitors around the world. Whether it’s Mexico, Tahiti, Florida or the Caribbean, they’re out there promoting their sea and surf. They’re out there promoting their own aloha spirit. We also are seeing a very different type of traveler now. They’re tech-savvy. They’re using their smart phones. They’re searching for the best deals.”

Hannemann said the bottom line is making sure that visitors have plenty of opportunities to fly to Hawaii.

“You can do all the marketing in the world to bring people here, but if you don’t have the airline lift to bring people here, you suffer as a result,” Hannemann said. “The good news is this: As of April 2011, we expect to be within 92 percent of April 2008 levels. Of the 19 routes that were impacted by suspension of Aloha Air, only five routes are expected to be unserved as of April 2011.”

Hannemann mentioned the television show Hawaii Five-0, the first family’s annual visit and the return of the as factors that contribute to the strength of the local economy.

Budget Committee Chairman Ernie Martin asked that Hannemann continue to work with the NFL commissioner, with whom Martin said Hannemann is a “personal friend,” to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Hannemann said he would, and that there may be discussion of bringing a preseason NFL game to Hawaii as well.

Hannemann Sits in on Budget Briefing

9:23 a.m.
Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann joined the City Council’s first Budget Committee meeting of the year. Committee members are getting briefed on the financial picture of the city. Testifying before the Committee, University of Hawaii Professor described what he calls a “two-speed recovery” for the economy, and pointed to a strong spike in tourism and related spending last month.

Real estate agent Carl Worthy told the Committee the region is also moving into a “pretty brisk market” for home sales, after positive numbers in December. He said the “market velocity” — how quickly properties are sold after being put on the market — was also at its best since 2005 last month.

“Mainland markets would die to have these kind of numbers,” Worthy said. “When agents come here and see them, they lose their minds.”

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

Jan. 11, 2011: First Zoning Committee of the new year gets updates on pending amendments to Honolulu’s Land Use Ordinance.

Jan. 10, 2011: Mayor Carlisle gives kudos to Kauai; Committees move forward with two director nominations; Statewide fireworks ban unlikely; City officials worry about fireworks hoarders.

Jan. 7, 2011: City transportation director preps to take up IMG report in Transportation Committee meeting next week; Mayor Peter Carlisle stays quiet on illegal rental to Obama; Carlisle plans business trip to Hollywood, jokes about wanting a cameo in Hawaii 5-0.

Jan. 6, 2011: Emergency official cites threat of “huge mudslide” in Kaneohe highway closure; City eyes user fees, but in what form? Mayor tells Pacific Club crowd about inevitable cuts during “financial crisis,” calls city challenges “exciting.”

Jan. 5, 2011: Council vice chair to host hearing on IMG report; Rail division moves down permitting check list; A new year means a new website for Honolulu.

Jan. 4, 2011: Carlisle’s drinking buddies may be lonely this month; Honolulu’s first mayor inaugurated 102 years ago today; Tom Berg isn’t happy with his Council committee assignments.

Jan. 3, 2011: City Council to explore user fees as revenue generator; Nestor Garcia talks rail, APEC, city values in celebratory inaugural address.