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Two weeks until the city budget is due, and officials say they still don’t know how much the ongoing cleanup at the Waimanalo Gulch landfill will cost. Rail planners prep for a groundbreaking, and wait for good news on federal funding. Civil Beat is tracking all of it, and reporting from the inside.

Prevedouros in the Hale

2:03 p.m.
Two-time mayoral candidate Panos Prevedouros is at City Hall this afternoon. The University of Hawaii engineering professor is best known for his anti-rail stance. Prevedouros said he’s meeting with City Council member Ernie Martin, at Prevedouros’ request, to discuss the budget.

“Rail is part of it,” Prevedouros told Civil Beat. “Ernie is budget chair and I want to see what he thinks about it.”

City Council Member To Skip Rail Groundbreaking

1:35 p.m.
City Council member Ann Kobayashi, an often vocal critic of the city’s handling of its rail project, told Civil Beat she doesn’t plan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Kapolei next week.

“Not unless I can find out just how much this is going to cost us,” Kobayashi said.

Kobayashi has advanced the project with her votes, but often criticizes the administration for what she says is a lack of transparency about how much the rail line will cost, and how money to advance the project is spent. She said she’s drafting a letter about her frustration.

Mayor Mum on Budget Status

12:48 p.m.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle will unveil his first budget in about a week and a half. It will be a significant moment for the mayor to show whether he can make good on his promises of a “lean, clean and smart” future for the city. Carlisle repeatedly promised during his campaign that he’d get Honolulu’s “financial house in order,” and has vowed to end city furloughs.

Asked today whether the budget was finalized, the mayor revealed nothing.

“No comment on the budget,” he told Civil Beat.

City Fined 14K for Air Violation

11:08 a.m.
The Hawaii Health Department announced Thursday it fined the city $14,000 for a violation at the city’s Sand Island wastewater treatment plant. Health officials said in a statement the plant failed to operate a required waste-gas burner for five days last year. They discovered the violations in an August inspection and subsequent review of records from the plant.

Honolulu Liquor Commission Employee Arrested on Felony Bribery Charges

11:04 a.m.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is reporting a city liquor commission worker was arrested for selling a liquor card, which allows the sale of alcoholic beverages. Read the full story .

Mayor Peter Carlisle* told Civil Beat Thursday morning he hadn’t heard about the charges, and had no comment.

Landfill to Reopen in a “Matter of Weeks,” Operator Hopes

Today marks five weeks since Waimanalo Gulch closed to the public. The landfill’s operator, Waste Management, is still working to comply with a series of deadlines mandated in a federal cleanup order. A spokesman for Waste Management told Civil Beat the landfill operator hopes to begin allowing people back on-site to drop off waste in a “matter of weeks.”

“The full reopening of the landfill is entirely dependant on the ongoing assessments and repairs that remain,” wrote spokesman Keith DeMello in an e-mail. “This is as specific as they can get at this point without prematurely setting expectations.”

City Gets Recognition For Attempts to End “Dropout Crisis”

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle is this morning hosting a press conference to announce the city’s strides in tackling the high school dropout rate. The mayor’s press team says he will announce recognition from the group America’s Promise Alliance, which urban graduation rates.

Catch Up on Inside Honolulu

Feb. 16, 2011: Mayor Peter Carlisle taps three new deputy directors; Florida rejects federal funds for rail.

Feb. 15, 2011: City Council members turn out in force for Haleiwa planning meeting; Landfill hits key federal deadline.

Feb. 14, 2011: Power outage at Honolulu court; Duke Kahanamoku statue to undergo maintenance; Still “no telling” what Congress will do about rail.

Feb. 11, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle sends out invitation to rail groundbreaking.

Feb. 9, 2011: Rail critics turn out for Wayne Yoshioka nomination hearing; Mayor Peter Carlisle pushes back his inaugural ball to April.

Feb. 8, 2011: Council committee moves forward Gary Cabato and Sam Moku nominations; Bill to ban Segways from city parks put on hold; Oahu residents could see water bills spike.

Feb. 7, 2011: Council clashes over response to Rush Limbaugh comment; Bryan Mick withdraws nomination to Neighborhood Commission; Carrie Okinaga says mayor has “phenomenal” pick for city’s next top lawyer.

Feb. 4, 2011: City zoo could get giant bats; State wants city’s rail funds; Homeless assistance programs get a boost from the feds.

Feb. 3, 2011: Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa ratchets up fight against landfill; FTA to announce New Starts funding any day.

Feb. 2, 2011: Landfill hearing gets heated; Tom Berg wants to meet fellow tea partier Michele Bachmann; City Council asks Rush Limbaugh to apologize; Rail lawsuits start trickling in.

Feb. 1, 2011: Bulky item pick-up to start again; Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz introduces bill that would create development exceptions for rail; Tom Berg invites anti-rail groups into his office to discuss next steps in rail opposition.