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After a marathon budget hearing last week, City Council members have a bit of a breather before the next round of committee meetings next week. Meanwhile, the Carlisle administration is busy transitioning its rapid transit division into a new semi-autonomous agency. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

State Lawmakers Urge Benefits for Landfill Communities

11:24 a.m.
State lawmakers are recommending adoption of a resolution that might help people living near landfills. would urge the Department of Health to form a task force to explore potential community benefits packages for the neighborhoods and community health centers located closest to landfills.

Honolulu officials would be asked to report back to the state Legislature on potential benefits before the 2012 session, with the other counties following suit by 2015. The city is actively working to keep Waimanalo Gulch open, while also searching for new landfill sites for when the gulch reaches capacity.

The next meeting of the mayor’s advisory committee on landfill site-selection is set for May 12 at Honolulu Hale.

Utility Relocation for Rail Under Way

10:02 a.m.
City officials issued a statement warning motorists about lane closures related to rail construction today. Workers are relocating utility lines along Farrington Highway. As a result, officials say they will close one lane of traffic in either direction — from Waipahu Depot Road to the Kamehameha Highway Interchange — every day except Sunday for the next seven weeks. The lanes will reopen during rush hour, from 6 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., and from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Planned work includes the relocation of gas, sewer, phone and electrical lines, as well as the relocation of trees and storm drains. Check out the rail project website, or call the city’s information hotline at 566-2299 for updates.

How Many People Have City Email Addresses?

If your email address ends with “honolulu.gov,” you’re one of about 8,000 people with city email accounts. That’s according to Information Technology Director Godron Bruce, who says you don’t have to be a full-time city worker to be eligible for the accounts.

“Employees including full time, part time, temporary or contract hires can get a Honolulu.gov email address,” Bruce wrote in an email to Civil Beat. “It is up to the department to advise DIT.”

But once you leave the city, Bruce says your email address is usually deactivated right away.

“There may be an occasion when they may be left open a little longer,” Bruce wrote. “That is at the discretion of the Department Director. Accounts are not left open very often. Hannemann email account was closed when he ceased being the Mayor.”

Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

April 21, 2011: City Transportation Chairman Breene Harimoto heads to Copenhagen; Some overlap between HART, corporation counsel for Carrie Okinaga; City’s new top lawyer to be Bob Godbey; Council member Tom Berg‘s chief of staff slams ethics director, Civil Beat over inquiry about Berg’s use of City Council letterhead.

April 20, 2011: City Council member Nestor Garcia discloses his part-time job again and again (and again); City Council advances fuel tax hike; Fireworks legislation back before council; Rail officials submit new financial plan; Kirk Caldwell mulls running for Honolulu mayor, U.S. House.

April 19, 2011: Honolulu to be nation’s first city to comply with federal-standard ID cards; Oahu hotels to get electric-car chargers; Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle launches re-election campaign.

April 18, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle taps Don Horner, Buzzy Hong and Carrie Okinaga to new transit agency; City Council Transportation Chairman Breene Harimoto picks Ivan Lui-Kwan, Damien Kim and Keslie Hui for HART.

April 15, 2011: City Council member Tom Berg to kick off Tea Party rally; City plans to spend $248 million to acquire property for rail; Shootout in East Oahu ends in suspect death, traffic gridlock.

April 14, 2011: City Council member Stanley Chang turns to Charles Djou on “unfinished business;” City says Waimanalo Gulch back to “normal;” City Council member Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo defends possible cuts to the arts.

April 13, 2011: City Council Budget Chairman Ernie Martin calls mayor’s take on fuel tax “inaccurate;” Zoo considers sending rhino to hospice; Free parking for some city workers could end; City Council rejects move to reclaim some rail money.

April 12, 2011: City Council member Stanley Chang passionate about funds for roads; Council advances real property tax measure; Council on a roll with disclosures.

April 11, 2011: Two rail protests filed against city; Tom Berg speaks out against state money grab; U.S. Senate race could have ripple effect on City Hall.

April 8, 2011: City Council member Ernie Martin taps IBEW business manager for HART; Peter Carlisle distant from Big Island, Kauai mayors; Government leaders attend prayer breakfast.

April 7, 2011: Hawaii mayors issue joint response on tentative HGEA deal; Was Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle cut out of labor bargaining? U.S. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood chats about Honolulu’s “light rail.”

April 6, 2011: City, state and other Hawaii counties agree to deal with HGEA; Council grows capital spending; City Council member asks for legal fees to fight administration.

April 5, 2011: Council member Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo says her deployment to Afghanistan is unlikely; HART nominees still not official; City cites $1.4 billion for Ansaldo contract.

April 4, 2011: Todd Apo and Don Horner surface as mayor’s possible picks for transit authority; Tom Berg nominates Panos Prevedouros for transit authority; State awaits results on more dengue cases; Losing rail bidders set for debriefs.

April 1, 2011: Gov. Neil Abercrombie taps former City Council candidate; GOP wants Nestor Garcia ethics investigation; Budget Chairman Ernie Martin schedules two special budget meetings.