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A busy week of City Council committee meetings means city lawmakers will likely advance a slew of measures to next month’s full council meeting.

Members of the public are ratcheting up opposition to some of them, like parking fees at city parks, while the council and Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration continue to fight about oversight of the new rail agency.

Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

911 Operator Calls Man ‘F——g Idiot’

9:04 a.m.
Did you catch the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s transcript of an emergency call to the police following the Waikele fireworks explosion that killed five people last month?

The shows a frustrated dispatcher responding to increasingly desperate cries for help from a man who survived the explosion.

It ends with the caller hanging up and 911 operator calling the man a “f——g idiot.”

Honolulu Emergency Services Director James Ireland says the call was handled by a fire dispatcher, and not someone under his purview, but Ireland was able to weigh in on how “quality improvement” is a constant concern for dispatchers.

“What I can say is that dispatching, whether it be police fire or ambulance is very, very stressful,” Ireland told Civil Beat. “It’s not easy, and I know all the dispatchers do the best they can. When they fall short, then we use those types of examples to teach everyone else how to do it better the next time. Unfortunately, the more serious the type of call, the more stressful it is for the person. And sometimes it’s very stressful for the dispatcher.”

Fire spokesman Terry Seelig has not yet returned Civil Beat’s request for comment.

Controversial Laie Development Gets Hearing

7:22 a.m.
Development group Envision Laie is that the City Council Zoning Committee will host a hearing in Kahuku on June 1 to discuss a Laie Hotel redevelopment project.

Revamping the hotel is one facet of a larger development plan that has residents divided. Supporters of the plan say it will provide necessary affordable housing, and spur economic growth. Opponents argue it will compromise the rural character of the town.

Developers need the go-ahead from City Council members for a special permit connected to the hotel project.

Read more about what’s happening in Laie.

City Calls for 50,000 Lei

Honolulu officials are making their annual plea for lei to remember veterans. Officials say they need about 50,000 lei to place on the graves at Punchbowl National Cemetery. Officials ask that all lei be fresh flower or ti leaves.

There are drop off containers at Punchbowl. Later in the week, city fire stations and some parks will also accept lei donations.

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

May 23, 2011: City Council advances fireworks bill; Kirk Caldwell organizes corn chowder party via Twitter; PVT landfill to turn trash into energy.

May 19, 2011: Sen. Daniel Akaka reiterates feds’ support for rail; Council member Tulsi Gabbard wants to send a message to President Barack Obama.

May 18, 2011: Still no report from City Council’s rail fact-finding trip; Doug Chin points to charter question to explain administration’s HART position.

May 17, 2011: City Council reinstates roads funds; Union talks “ongoing;” Council advances property-tax hike.

May 16, 2011: Did police chief’s son get preferential treatment? Honolulu Zoo rhino dies; Police officers to walk for slain colleagues.

May 13, 2011: California judge assigned to rail case; City winds down busy week on furlough day.

May 12, 2011: City Council member Romy Cachola learns new slang; Brookings Institute lauds Honolulu mass transit; Long-awaited rail lawsuit filed in federal court; City Council members vet new rail financial plan.

May 11, 2011: Council advances rail bond bill; City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia waiting for word on ethics investigation; Council advances fireworks storage bill; Council scraps scrap-yard subsidy, kind of; Rail lawsuit to be filed soon.

May 10, 2011 Council member Tom Berg wants to move Honolulu Zoo into Diamond Head crater; Council to consider banning some cell phone use for pedestrians.

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 sirens; 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.