������Ƶ

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.

Armina Ching Sworn in as Deputy Prosecutor

2:29 p.m.
Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro released a statement today, announcing Armina Ching was today sworn in as his deputy. Ching had been in the role on a temporary basis since October.

“She has met my every expectation of a strong First Deputy,” Kaneshiro wrote in the statement. “It’s time we made that status permanent and I am very pleased that she agrees with me.”

Ching has worked for the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office for nearly three decades. She grew up in Honolulu, attended college in California, and earned her law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington in 1984.

More Trash Woes on Oahu as Medical Waste Washes Ashore

12:47 p.m.
There’s no question the city officials who handle rubbish have their work cut out for them. Last year, a federal court blocked the city’s attempt to ship trash off-island. Last week, a two-alarm fire burned down a West Oahu warehouse filled with trash. Now, the State Department of Health is warning the public to avoid waters near Electric Beach due to contaminated waters from Waimanalo Gulch. The advisory comes on the heels of heavy rains that flooded the landfill.

With more rain in the forecast, officials warn the health hazards associated with contaminated water continues.

“The water ponding near the top of the landfill must be removed,” Gary Gill, deputy director for environmental health, wrote in a statement. “It is a very challenging situation, and we are working to minimize and monitor the impact to ocean waters and nearby beaches.”

Health officials report there is evidence of garbage — including medical waste — washing ashore at the Ko Olina Lagoons. City officials are conducting water quality tests.

Group Says City’s Policy on Trash Pick-Up at Churches is “Rotten”

11:01 a.m.
A group advocating for separation of church and state is raising concerns about the city’s trash collection services to churches, which don’t pay refuse collection fees. The Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church issued a statement in which its president, Mitch Kahle, called the city’s “a rotten policy.”

The mayor’s press secretary, Louise Kim McCoy, issued a statement in response about how churches fall into the city’s “nonprofit category” with respect to garbage pick-up.

“Nonprofit organizations that do not conduct commercial activity for gain or profit do not fall within the definition of businesses and are therefore not subject to refuse collection charges,” McCoy wrote.  “Some examples of organizations that the City has determined that do not to fall within the definition of ‘business’ and are not subject to refuse service charges include: schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations, as well as churches.”

City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia told Civil Beat he’s aware of the HCSSC’s concern, and is impressed by Kahle’s research. Garcia said it’s a good idea for the city to look into whether churches ought to be charged more for opala collection.

City Council member Ikaika Anderson told Civil Beat it’s among the topics a real property tax task force he’s assembling will examine.

Mayor Heads to Hollywood, Hollywood Heads to Honolulu Hale

10:30 a.m.
Mayor Peter Carlisle is in Los Angeles for tonight’s , where he plans to schmooze film and TV producers who might consider filming in Honolulu.

Meantime, Hawaii Five-0 is attracting attention across the street from the mayor’s office. The hit TV show is filming near the grounds of Aliiolani Hale and plenty of people waiting for the bus at King and Punchbowl are looking on.

When Carlisle is finished in L.A., he’ll head to Washington D.C. for the . There are 227 mayors from 44 states and Puerto Rico registered to attend. Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho will also attend.

Anderson to Lead Possible Overhaul of Honolulu Property Taxes

10:10 a.m.
After making and unmaking changes to the city’s property tax structure in the last year, the City Council is now focusing on whether sweeping changes are necessary.

City Council member Ikaika Anderson told Civil Beat he is working on creating a task force to assess real property tax structure.

“We’re going to have them examine the real property tax structure of the City and County of Honolulu,” Anderson said. “We want to be able to determine whether or not the current fair-market-value-based system is the best way to base our real property taxes. Should we possibly look at actual use? Or is there some other mechanism?”

He said he’s in the “very preliminary” stages of finding the right people to make up the task force.

“These will be community and business people with various areas of expertise,” Anderson said. “We’ll have people from financial institutions, people from business institutions. We’re looking to have folks from the nonprofit sector, maybe economists, a land-use attorney, and we’re even looking for someone with an extensive background in taxes and finances.”

Anderson said he’s creating the task force at the request of City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia, and hopes to have the group in place by February.

The creation of a task force also comes on the heels of persistent Honolulu Star-Advertiser coverage of significant tax break for historic properties and for a .

Halfway Point: 12 City Furlough Days Down, 12 to Go

Last furlough day, Civil Beat was asked to leave City Hall. We’ll return this Furlough Friday, with permission from the mayor’s office. Mayor Carlisle is out of town, as is City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia. But even on a slow day at Honolulu Hale, there’s always something going on. Keep up with Inside Honolulu for the latest.

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

Jan. 13, 2011: City opens emergency shelter on Leeward Coast; Heavy rains continue to hamper city business; City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia is in Washington, D.C., to discuss APEC.

Jan. 12, 2011: City Transportation hearing a one-sided affair; Council members concerned about camping fees; Customer Services director nominee Gail Haraguchi breezes through committee; Hawaii could get a preseason NFL game; Former Mayor Mufi Hannemann says air travel is key for economic recovery.

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 Peter 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 President Barack 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.