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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.

Another Delay on State TAT Decision

3:20 p.m.
How’s this for déjà vu: State lawmakers have delayed decision-making on Senate . The latest delay comes after the bill was postponed yesterday, and Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said in a conference committee this afternoon that “very minor” details are still being resolved.

“We’ve very close,” Kim said. “We have two very minor items to be worked out. We’re hopeful we can do this by tomorrow.”

The bill would cap counties’ share of revenue from the Transient Accommodations Tax, or TAT, at about $102 million through June 2015. Honolulu officials including City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle have said such a cap would make it difficult for the city to keep its budget balanced.

The conference committee is set to reconvene tomorrow at 3:15 p.m.

Nanea Kalani contributed to this item.

Mayor Wants Ironworkers’ O’Donnell on Liquor Commission

2:12 p.m.
Remember when City Council member Ikaika Anderson said the Ironworkers Union’s Joe O’Donnell to the new city transit agency due to other obligations?

Now we know a bit more: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle to serve on Liquor Commission. A spokesman for the mayor has turned down Civil Beat’s request to speak with another newly appointed liquor commissioner, Wesley Fong, until O’Donnell is in place.

The City Council advanced his nomination last week, but he still has to appear before a City Council committee before returning before the council for final approval.

Transparency Portal Gets One New Doc

10:01 a.m.
Naturally, we at Inside Honolulu love the idea of the , a new city website Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle launched in March.

But we also know — all too well — that there’s a big difference between talking about transparency and actually taking steps to make government more open.

The first new document in three weeks has been posted: The city’s .

If you missed Civil Beat’s coverage of the new plan, which was released one week ago, catch up with some of these stories:

• New Plan: Rail Operating Costs Down, Honolulu Transportation Costs Up

• Honolulu Lowers Projected Rail Cost To $5.3 Billion

• Honolulu’s Billion Dollar Door-to-Door Service

• ‘Speechless’ Over Rail Chief’s Attitude Toward Long-Term Operating Costs

Honolulu Residents Eligible for Tsunami Relief

8:09 a.m.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s office announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request for Honolulu residents to access disaster loans.

The approval means qualified homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits on Oahu to receive low-interest loans to make repairs to materials damaged in the March 11 tsunami.

“It’s been over a month since the tsunami struck, but residents and businesses are still recovering from it,” Gov. Abercrombie said in a statement issued to reporters.

The deadline to apply for assistance is May 31. Visit the SBA website for more information.

Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

April 26, 2011: Other unions “very unlikely” to beat HGEA deal, Sumner LaCroix says; Third time’s a charm for Panos Prevedouros?; City and County of Honolulu joins Facebook.

April 25, 2011: State lawmakers urge benefits for residents near landfills; Utility relocation for rail under way; Who gets a “honolulu.gov” email address?

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.