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There’s always something interesting going on at Honolulu Hale.

Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

Sumitomo Speaks

4:31 p.m.
Would-be rail contractor Sumitomo put it out this statement just moments ago in reaction to today’s appeal hearing:

This is only day one of a very complex process. We are however confident that once the Hearing Officer hears the ENTIRE case it will become clear how Ansaldo’s many deficiencies, such as pricing, and a multiple array of technical non compliance, all interrelate. As we have stated in the past, we are DETERMINED TO PRESENT OUR CASE, AND will respect the DCCA process.

LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

Water Rates Going Up, Up, Up

4:18 p.m.
The Board of Water Supply announced today that it’s proposing to hike water rates.

Under the average family will pay an extra $7 each month starting in January, and that’s just the beginning.

The rates could go up about 10 percent each year for five years. The semi-autonomous board said the money is needed “to fund the operation, maintenance, and replacement of Oahu’s aging water infrastructure.”

Read the full .

Sumitomo Rail Protest Still Alive

3:02 p.m.
Today’s hearing on Sumitomo‘s appeal is pau, and one thing is clear: This one’s not going to be so quick.

A day after a parallel appeal brought by Bombardier was tossed by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs before lunchtime, Sumitomo survived its first appearance.

Hearings officer David Karlen did reject two of Sumitomo’s accusations — that winning bidder Ansaldo had made its offer before obtaining necessary licenses and that its executive summary illegally included an alternate proposal. But Karlen is going to continue to mull over Sumitomo’s gripe about the Costing-based Price Analysis, as well as some motions from Ansaldo.

The evidentiary portion of the hearing is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Tuesday, and could take a few days.

The Release

2:48 p.m.
is the official statement put out by the city following the mayor’s press conference today.

Carlisle: Sludge To Honouliuli

10:46 a.m.
Mayor Peter Carlisle said the city will begin trucking sewage sludge from Sand Island to Honouliuli next month — no more than once per day and for no longer than 30 days, as a test.

Carlisle made the announcement at a press conference this morning, standing next to Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger. Carlisle also said the city will conduct an environmental assessment to see if it’s viable to continue the hauling approach in the semi-long-term.

Full story coming soon.

Martin: I Could Be Mayor

10:33 a.m.
Ernie Martin has only been on the Honolulu City Council for seven months, and he’s only been chair for a few weeks, but he believes he’s got a higher office in his future.

Buried in an interview with Midweek that’s online this morning, Martin tells Dan Boylan, “I always thought, even when (Frank) Fasi was mayor, that one day I could sit in that seat. If I felt I could be effective, I could do it.”

Asked if he’ll run for mayor in the next few years, Martin said: “Never say never.”

Read the full interview .

Sewage Sludge Presser at 10

7:53 a.m.
With the Honolulu City Council beating its chest about sewage sludge and planning to hold a hearing next month, Mayor Peter Carlisle is taking action today.

Carlisle and Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger are set to hold a press conference this morning at 10 a.m. in the mayor’s conference room. The advisory that went out late Tuesday said only that the subject would be an “Update on Sand Island sewage sludge issues.”

Read our previous coverage of the issue here.

Police Commission, Behind Closed Doors

The Honolulu Police Commission is set to meet today at 2 p.m., and even if a concerned citizen showed up, most of the interesting stuff will happen out of public view.

The open portion of includes a report from Chief Louis Kealoha and little else. In executive session, Kealoha can share his thoughts on “sensitive matters relating to public safety or security.” The commission will also review nine citizen complaints against officers.

Secrecy is nothing new to the Honolulu Police Department. It’s now reviewing whether it needs to comply with the law and share the salaries of its employees, per a months-old Civil Beat request. This week, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser filed a the 911 tapes from the deadly shooting spree in early June.

Sumitomo’s Turn

Yesterday, a rail protest brought by Bombardier was tossed out by the state hearings officer. Today starting at 9 a.m., Sumitomo tries its luck.

Sumitomo’s appeal will focus on the relative value of its proposal versus the one put forward by winning bidder Ansaldo. Sumitomo has talked about its superior experience and its ability complete projects on time and on budget.

It could get nasty, and Inside Honolulu will be there.

Where’s Carlisle?

At 11:30 a.m. today, mayor Peter Carlisle is scheduled to be a guest speaker at the Kailua Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting at the Mid Pacific Country Club.

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

July 19: Koa Ridge Hits a Roadblock; City Pleased With DCCA Decision; Landfill Site Search Expands; Fact-Finding Rail Trips Cost $11,000; State Denies Bombardier Appeal; Open That Kimono; Rail a Rare Open Appeal Hearing; Where’s Carlisle?

July 18: City Files Rail Lawsuit Response; UPDATE: Tom Berg, Also a Crook; Martin’s Campaign Treasurer a Convicted Coke Dealer; City Wants More Time at Landfill; Then There Were Two; Eric Ryan: Tom Berg Is A Crook?; Berg “Pissed” but Ryan “In Play”; Food for Conflict Thoughts; HART Ready to Buy Parcels; Bike Battle Still Brewing; City Response to Rail Lawsuit Due Today; Weekend Shakeup at the Hale; Where’s Carlisle?

July 15: HART Board to Meet Next Week; ORI Plan Due Today; Kym Pine Website Launch Delayed By “Major” News; Mayor’s Public Sked; Tulsi Pulls In $20K; Where’s Carlisle?

July 14: Zoning Board Appointees On Track; Neighborhood Board Battle Brewing; HPD Not Alone in Lack of Self-Tracking; Where’s Carlisle?

July 13: City’s Staggered Terms Stay Staggered; Pow-Wow Just An Update; Does Military Count: City Edition; Rail Pow-Wow at the Hale; They’re Talking About Us In Dallas; Berg Stands By His Man; Laie Developer Resigns at Gov’s Request; About Those HART Offices…; Rail Opponents Pay for Ink; Where’s Carlisle?; On Tap for Today.

July 12: (Unnamed) City Official Violated Ethics Code; Ethics Questions Up From Last Year; Prosecutor Kaneshiro Target of Ethics Complaint; Elsewhere on Civil Beat; Carlisle Quiet Today.

July 11: Transparency Site Getting Stale; Hoopili Hearing Set for September; Fire Commission Meeting Today; Carlisle’s Early Start.

July 8: Rail Appeals Opened to Public; Carlisle’s Public Sked; Ethics Panel To Decide on Violations Tuesday; Smoke on the (Waste) Water; Three Oahu Projects in Environmental Notice; County Governments Gather in Honolulu; General Plan Process Under Way.

July 7: T-Minus One Hour to General Plan Meeting; Rail Contractor Protest Closed To Public; What to Read This Morning.

July 6: Oh Godbey, New City Lawyer in the House; Derailed: Tom Berg Q&A; Steinberger Slams ‘Anti-Synagro’ Resolution; Ag Land Property Tax Bill Heads Back to Committee; New Chair, New Seats; Council Gathers Early to Fete Honorees; Martin, Anderson Ink Op-Ed.

July 5: New State Law Protects County Firefighters, Lifeguards; Federal Highways Rep: City and State Need to Play Nice; Leeward Politicians Push for Bikeway; State Officials in the Hale for Transportation; Ernie Martin’s First Agenda as Chair; No Crime Stats for HPD.

July 1: City Parade to Cost $20K; Furloughs Are Over, Pay Is Up; No Laie Decision At Next Council Meeting; Housing Office Open For Business; HART Kicks Off New Era for Honolulu Rail; Happy New Year!; Martin Tabs Kobayashi as Budget Chair.