Inside Honolulu: July 1
There’s always something interesting going on at Honolulu Hale.
Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.
City Parade to Cost $20K
5:46 p.m.
Last item before we head home for the long holiday weekend: That big new city parade to celebrate July 4th is going to cost about $20,000.
That’s according to city spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy, who responded to questions from Inside Honolulu about the price after the inaugural celebration parade landed on Mayor Peter Carlisle‘s public schedule.
Carlisle’s marching in the parade at 6 p.m. on Sunday (July 3). He’ll head down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki and then attend a “special Sunset on the Beach celebration” at Queen’s Surf Beach, according to his schedule. The event is sponsored by visitor industry groups and the city government, per ; it’s not clear how much of the tab will be picked up by taxpayers.
The next day, which is a national holiday that will shutter city government buildings, Carlisle will participate in the 65th Annual Independence Day Parade in Kailua at 10 a.m. and deliver remarks at the 4th Annual Maili Beach Park 4th of July Celebration at 6 p.m.
Furloughs Are Over, Pay Is Up
3:19 p.m.
Despite some confusion today, furloughs are not being implemented by the city in absence of a contract with public employee unions.
Read the full story just published by Nanea Kalani.
No Laie Decision At Next Council Meeting
2:38 p.m.
The full council will meet next week Wednesday, and has been posted.
The meeting was to potentially include discussion of a controversial new hotel in Laie, but the only mention of that project comes under the heading “For Extension Of Time Only.” The firm handling the application, Group 70 will ask for 90 days .
The Mormon Church’s development wing is seeking a Special Management Area Use Permit to replace the small Laie country Inn torn down last year with a 220-room Marriott.
Housing Office Open For Business
2:22 p.m.
July 1 is also the first day in the existence of the city’s Office of Housing, which was approved by voters via a charter amendment in the 2010 election.
Mayor Peter Carlisle this morning, along with the appointments of Executive Director Keith Ishida and County Housing Coordinator Trish Morikawa.
Read our previos coverage of the housing office here.
HART Kicks Off New Era for Honolulu Rail
11:18 a.m.
Another reason why today is special: The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officially exists and is already hard at work.
The HART board convened early this morning and quickly adopted rules, regulations and a budget for the coming fiscal year. Former Corporation Counsel Carrie Okinaga was elected chair, and Rapid Transit Division Chief Toru Hamayasu was named interim executive director while the board searches for a permanent leader.
Check back soon for a full report.
Happy New Year!
11:03 a.m.
It’s only July so you won’t be hearing Auld Lang Syne on the radio, but today marks the start of a new fiscal year for the City and County of Honolulu.
In addition to the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 operating budget that starts today, a number of union contracts have expired. Civil Beat is working to find out the ramifications of that on government operations.
On Wednesday, the day before the end of the last fiscal year, city spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy sent the following statement to Inside Honolulu in response to questions:
Furloughs for HGEA employees will end on June 30, 2011, because there is a new collective bargaining agreement with HGEA, which provides for a 5 percent wage cut for all HGEA employees.
However, negotiations continue with UPW, SHOPO and HFFA so the City cannot comment as those details must remain confidential.
Martin Tabs Kobayashi as Budget Chair
10:45 a.m.
A few days after formally taking control of the Honolulu City Council as chair, Ernie Martin shifted some committee leadership positions around.
Martin filled his former seat as chair of the powerful Budget Committee with Ann Kobayashi, whose Planning Committee was combined with the Zoning Committee under Council Vice Chair Ikaika Anderson.
Former Council Chair Nestor Garcia will not chair any committees; in his announcing the changes, Martin said that was Garcia’s call.
Kobayashi said this morning that she’ll take a close look at all of the city’s expenditures.
“This is a very difficult time for all of our residents, so we should do all we can so that we don’t have to increase fees and taxes,” she told Inside Honolulu. “We have to trim government.”
