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Civil Beat is launching a new series of interviews with newsmakers, and we’ll start this week with Honolulu Managing Director Doug Chin. Send us your questions for Chin before noon today.

City Council members will make decisions on a number of items this week. They have a full council meeting on Wednesday. With state business wrapped up, political trackers look to the city to see how the budget debate will play out.

Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

Don Horner in the Hale

4:40 p.m.
One of the mayor’s picks for Honolulu’s new rail agency is at Honolulu Hale this afternoon.

Inside Honolulu gave Don Horner directions to the City Council’s second-floor office. Does that mean it’s his first time meeting with a council member since he was appointed? We didn’t ask. But we did ask who he’s here to see.

Horner told us he has a meeting with City Council member Stanley Chang.

Council Member Wants Zoo in Diamond Head Crater

1:32 p.m.
Here’s a budget amendment that caught our attention: City Council member Tom Berg wants the Honolulu Zoo to be relocated into Diamond Head crater. While that may solve the longstanding curiosity we’ve had about what would happen to animals in the event of a tsunami, it raises a whole host of other questions.

Berg says the city ought to get out of the zoo business, which isn’t a core city service.

“The City’s Zoo functions can best be performed by outsourcing it to zoo professionals,” Berg wrote in his . “The City should turn over the function to a private sector company or non profit for its operations and management. Then use the land for other revenue generating activities.”

We’re not sure what Berg has in mind, but he recently pitched the idea of a horse racetrack in Kapiolani Park.

Council to Consider Bill Banning Texting While Crossing Street

12:55 p.m.
Perhaps you’ve heard the expression about walking and chewing gum at the same time. City Council members are considering a measure that would ban crossing the street while using a mobile phone.

would make it illegal for anyone to cross a street or highway while “holding a mobile electronic device.”

We can’t help but wonder what that would mean for joggers who listen to music on their mobile phones while they run.

City Could Get New Vehicle to Fix Potholes

10:44 a.m.
Gripes about Honolulu roads — and the many potholes drivers encounter — are all too familiar. It’s part of why city officials are considering getting a new vehicle that would more quickly and efficiently patch up potholes.

Read the about possible changes to the so-called “pothole patrol” from Hawaii News Now.

Participate in Our First Interview in the Newsmaker Series

There are just a few hours left to submit questions for the city’s managing director. At noon, we’ll be live-streaming an interview with Doug Chin, the guy who runs Honolulu Hale on a day-to-day basis.

This marks the first interview in our new Newsmaker Series, and it promises to be a good one.

Have something you want to ask Chin? Click here and scroll down to submit a question. We’ll also take some questions via and during the interview.

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

May 9, 2011: After heavy rains, Waimanalo Gulch gets extension; What happens in Copenhagen, stays in Copenhagen?; Feds monitoring city’s use of housing money.

May 6, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle says Koolau Loa plan keeps “country country,” too; City Council’s Tulsi Gabbard gets promoted.

May 5, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle heads to sunny East Lansing, Mich.; Emergency Management Deputy Peter Hirai clears up rumor about Waikiki sires; Double the turnout so far in Neighborhood Board elections.

May 4, 2011: City Council advances HART budgets, measure to float rail bonds; Romy Cachola irked that no Filipinos appointed to HART; Mayor would likely support end to recycling subsidy.

May 3, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle signed into law new North Shore plan; City Planning and Permitting Director David Tanoue questions move to turn shipping containers into homes; Environmental group raises concerns about trees along rail route.

May 2, 2011: City Council member Stanley Chang takes on managing director; Ann Kobayashi defends yelling at testifier; Romy Cachola calls testifier “stupid;” Tom Berg proposes horse racetrack for Kapiolani Park; Bill to eliminate scrap yard subsidy advances; Council member miffed that rail leaders skipped special council meeting.