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It’s only a three-day week for many city workers, but it’s also an action-packed three days. Tuesday was the city’s rail ground breaking, Wednesday was a long and heated City Council meeting and today, Mayor Peter Carlisle presented his first State of the City address. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

City Government’s Climbing Debt

4:34 p.m.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle warned of a “staggering” increase in the city’s debt during his State of the City address today. He said it has jumped 74 percent in the past seven years, from $193 million to $335 million. He projects it will continue to climb, up to $383 million, in the coming fiscal year. The mayor — who said the city rail project wasn’t a factor in the rising debt — also presented this striking graphic on a huge screen:

Image courtesy of the City and County of Honolulu.

“The Magic ‘T’-Word”

2:12 p.m.
Now that Honolulu City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia has heard Mayor Peter Carlisle‘s State of the City address, Garcia is waiting for the mayor’s budget presentation next week.

“He didn’t stay the magic word,” Garcia told Civil Beat. “It starts with a ‘T.’ Taxes. My guess is he isn’t going to raise taxes but we’ll see if he thinks it’s necessary to do so to balance his first budget.”

Overheard in the Hale

1:59 p.m.
Mayor Peter Carlisle received many congratulations for his first State of the City address, including acknowledgement from Sen. Dan Inouye, who listened from the front row of the audience. At least one city lawmaker had nice things to say, too. Veteran City Council member Ann Kobayashi chatted with with Corporation Counsel Carrie Okinaga about the speech in the hallway of Honolulu Hale.

“I had my doubts about the mayor,” Kobayashi said. “After today’s speech, he regained my trust. He’s a good person.”

Kobayashi also shared her thoughts with Civil Beat.

“I thought his speech was very good,” she said. “At least he’s going to be looking at cutting rather than just increasing fees and taxes.”

Carlisle Emphasizes “Shared Sacrifice” in First State of the City Address

11:59 a.m.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle emphasized professionalism, transparency and cooperation as his priorities in his first State of the City address on Thursday. He also described a series of challenges the city faces, and said it would take sacrifice from everyone to address them.

“If we are asking you to help shoulder the recovery of city government,” Carlisle said. “Then you should understand and appreciate what the city is facing, why it is in the shape it is in, and how we intend to fix it.”

Carlisle said the city is borrowing too much money, and said he supports City Council resolutions to introduce fees for city services. He said the city, which he described as bad at being a “landlord,” is looking to sell a “significant number of remnant parcels and other non-productive pieces of real estate.”

The mayor told reporters in a news conference after the speech that he still plans to end furloughs for city workers, and said layoffs are possible.

It wasn’t all bad news: Carlisle celebrated the film industry’s robust presence in Hawaii, the recent rail groundbreaking.

The mayor defended his decision to retain most of former Mayor Mufi Hannemann‘s cabinet, and spoke highly of city leaders. He thanked people for their prayers for him

He said he will include $2.5 million in his budget to partner with the state to address affordable housing, and credited Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his leadership in that area.

Carlisle also talked about introducing a family justice center for domestic violence victims, and said his administration would advocate for the creation of veterans courts.

“It sounds interesting,” City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia told Civil Beat after the speech. “How he plans to add services at a time like this, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Carlisle to Give His First State of the City Address

8:18 a.m.
“I hear there’s a state of the something address with some boring speaker,” Carlisle joked to Civil Beat when asked about his plans for the week.

This morning, the mayor will give his first such address at . Expect to hear the mayor talk about what rail will do for jobs, and maybe some hints about what his budget — due next week — could look like.

City Council Might Ask for State to Require Incineration of Medical Waste

Honolulu City Council members are considering a resolution that would ask the State Department of Health to require that all medical waste be incinerated. also urges the department to make “regular inspections of operating landfills to ensure that proper procedures and processes are being followed.”

City Council members Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo and Tom Berg introduced the measure, which is on the agenda for the Safety, Economic Development and Government Affairs Committee’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 28.

“It’s just a matter of safety,” Gabbard Tamayo said. “We’re trying to work with the folks across the street to make sure they are aware that there are some gaping holes.”

Catch Up on Inside Honolulu

Feb. 23, 2011: Republicans cuts scare City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia; Fighting words from Romy Cachola on Wayne Yoshioka nomination; Tom Berg condemns Saturday Night Live.

Feb. 22, 2011: Hawaii’s political stars came out for a Kapolei groundbreaking, including Sen. Dan Inouye, Sen. Dan Akaka, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and a slew of city and state leaders.

Feb. 21, 2011: Transportation consultant warns clients about dwindling federal funds; Rush of candidates in Neighborhood Board elections; State bill to raid city rail funds still alive; Short but busy week for City and County; Mayor’s trip to the gulch.

Feb. 18, 2011: Rail critics plan to picket groundbreaking; Big Island County Council advances plastic bag ban; Oahu Neighborhood Board elections survive in “surprise” turn.

Feb. 17, 2011: Two-time mayoral candidate Panos Prevedouros at City Hall; Ann Kobayashi to skip rail groundbreaking; Mayor mum on budget; State fines city for air violation.

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.