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Editor’s Note: In June 2012, Civil Beat sent 10 questions to each of the candidates registered to run for Honolulu City Council District 5. Both responded, including geologist/environmental planner Jim Hayes. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full, and will serve as a resource both to voters deciding whom to vote for at the Aug. 11 primary but also to constituents so they can hold Hayes to his words should he be elected. To see how Hayes’ responses compare to those from his competitor, click here. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Hayes’ response.

• Rail
• Landfill
• Homelessness
• Property Taxes
• Relationship With Mayor
• Plastic Bag Ban
• Community Planning
• Biggest Challenge
• Council Legacy
• Bad Decision

Preferred Candidate Name: Jim Hayes

Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY): 5/24/1967

Place of Birth/Hometown: Place of birth is Palo Alto, CA; hometown is Honolulu, HI

Current Profession/Employer: Geologist/environmental planner; Parsons Brinckerhoff

Education/Alma Mater(s): B.S., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
B.A., International Development, Washington University in St. Louis

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1. Do you believe that Honolulu should proceed with the 20-mile elevated rail project from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Shopping Center? Why or why not?

Yes, the big decision was made by the voters in 2008; it is time to speed up, not slow down or second guess. The City Council should be diligent in monitoring HART’s progress, but rather than erecting obstacles that only serve to delay and increase costs, the Council should be enabling progress while seeking to reduce costs and involving communities to help shape “their” project. You can find more information regarding this issue and others at my website .

We will have sufficient funds from the 0.5 percent GET tax on Oahu and a Federal grant to build the project. All of the Federal money and an unknown amount of the GET money would be lost if the rail project does not move forward. Elected representatives cannot walk away from that amount of money and call themselves fiscally prudent. Continued grandstanding by politicians does not benefit the residents of Honolulu, it only serves to erode the Federal government’s confidence in Honolulu’s resolve.

This project will not only provide a needed transportation alternative, but also spur smart growth development in the communities it serves. It is a watershed project that we cannot let slip though our fingers. ↩ back to top

2. Should the city continue to send municipal solid waste to Waimanalo Gulch Landfill until it reaches capacity, should it site a new landfill elsewhere as soon as possible, or should it pursue a different path? Why?

We need to continue to step up our recycling efforts, utilize H-Power to the maximum extent, and continue to search for other methods to divert waste from the landfill. I believe Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill should be expanded and utilized as long as possible. It has at least 15 years of life remaining and is superior to other sites being considered in almost all categories. Money and time spent selecting a new landfill can be better spent on other priorities. ↩ back to top

3. Has the sidewalk ban on stored property, in effect for six months, been a success? What should the city be doing to help Honolulu’s homeless population?

The presence of homeless people on beaches, in parks, and along streets is a serious problem. These places need to be kept safe, clean, and uncongested to promote maximum use by the public. The sidewalk ban on stored property was an attempt by the City Council to address how the homeless degrade the public’s use of these facilities. Members of the council said the bill was not about homeless people; it clearly was and the fact that they refused to admit it was offensive. In my opinion the bill should have been stronger and clearer and enforcement should be swift and constant. The current bill makes enforcement too laborious, and therefore its effect is muted.

Practices that encourage homeless people to take over public spaces are counterproductive. The following are some practices that may be more productive:

• Items left in public places should be disposed of immediately, not after being tagged and then held for 30 days.
• Feeding homeless people in public places should be discouraged. If a group wants to feed homeless people, do it where related services are provided.
• Overnight sleeping/camping where not permitted in public places should not be tolerated.

In short, currently being homeless in Honolulu is too easy a life. We need to do all we can to make transitioning to renting, or home ownership, easier and more attractive. ↩ back to top

4. Should the city consider eliminating property tax exemptions for homeowners, nonprofits and other special interest groups if it means lowering rates? What other steps should the council take to improve Honolulu Hale’s financial picture?

Making taxes flatter always sounds good at first. However, after consideration it is usually found that the tax structure is warranted and beneficial to the community – it protects vulnerable segments of society and encourages beneficial behavior. Periodically each exemption needs to be assessed to see if it is achieving its intended purpose. The Council should consider more of the recommendations in the Real Property Tax Advisory Commission report rather than focusing on just one minor exemption that happened to make headlines (historic homes). But the wholesale elimination of exemptions is not the way to go.

Given that the budget has been tight the last few years and programs have been cut and reduced over that time, there are few remaining programs that are ripe for reduction or elimination. I believe the “white bin” program is one that should be cut. I would work with the mayor and others to identify similar programs that have outlived their initial purpose or could be more efficiently performed by others.

The City’s bond rating must be maintained at an AA rating, or better. The “bending the debt curve” initiative and other financial management tools should be used to keep the City’s finances strong. ↩ back to top

5. Relations between the mayor and the City Council have been at times contentious. How would you work to improve those relations?

I am not running for office to pick fights with the mayor or other council members. My goal is not to create controversy or to advance my name only to improve my re-election chances. I am willing and able to work with the mayor, other council members, and the community at large collaboratively, to advance policies and laws that move Honolulu forward. ↩ back to top

6. Should the city wait until July 2015 for the recently approved plastic checkout bag ban to take effect, implement something sooner or go a different route? Why?

It would be nice to advance the date, but the decision was made with much input and I would not attempt to modify it at this time. ↩ back to top

7. Do the Oahu General Plan and regional planning documents as currently written need to be overhauled to protect agricultural resources and manage growth or are they sufficient as is? What other steps should the city take to control or promote development?

Development should be focused in the Primary Urban Center (Pearl City to Kahala) and the Ewa/Kapolei area. This is consistent with the current general plan and development plans. Focus development along the rail alignment to utilize the major public transportation investment we are making. Keep the country country. Instead of significant revisions to the general and area plans, revisions to the land use ordinance may more effectively encourage affordable and sustainable development. ↩ back to top

8. What do you see as the largest long-term challenge facing the city — sewers, water, roads, traffic or something else? What immediate steps will you take to put Honolulu in a stronger position to deal with its largest long-term challenge?

Managing infrastructure, such as sewers and roads, will always be a challenge, but it is not our greatest and will continue to be met. I believe the greatest challenge facing the City is managing growth while maintaining the Honolulu’s specialness. We need to get the most out of our limited land while retaining Honolulu’s character.

Proceeding with the rail transit project will put Honolulu in a stronger position to address these challenges long-term. We cannot afford continued second city sprawl and we should be encouraging first city improvements. We need to adapt smart growth principles and transit oriented development (TOD) to Honolulu’s way of life. The TOD visions need to be advanced rather than being forgotten on the shelf only to have developers come in with cookie-cutter plans from the mainland. The City needs to take steps that ensure we get the most out of our investments and that the next generation feels Honolulu’s specialness. ↩ back to top

9. What would you want to be remembered for as a member of the City Council?

Being an independent member who listened to the people of the district, recognized the problems facing our City, and encouraged everyone to participate in finding solutions to those problems. ↩ back to top

10. If you could change one city decision of the last two years, what would it be and why?

For two years the City Council has removed or placed a proviso on the funding for the construction of a second digester at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. This has occurred with the knowledge that Honolulu is under a consent decree that requires wastewater systems be improved. The Council also understands that more capacity at the Sand Island plant is needed in order to avoid future development moratoriums similar to those now in place from Halawa to Pearl City. Still certain council members have required that additional consideration be given to one specific alternative before construction can proceed.

City council members do not become experts in wastewater treatment just because they visit a few treatment plants on the mainland. The experts, professionals within the City’s Department of Environmental Services and their consultants, have considered the alternatives and continue to recommend the original course of action. This has been documented sufficiently. Further study only serves to waste time and money. The budget for this needed sewer improvement should have been made available. ↩ back to top