Message from Todd
Aloha! Honolulu Hale has been very busy this past April with a number
of high profile issues coming before City Council.
Hale Wai Vista
Many of you have been closely following the progress of the afford-
able housing project, Hale Wai Vista, in Waianae. Unfortunately,
despite my objection, including a lengthy questioning of the Depart-
ment of Planning and Permitting on their recommendation for approval,
Resolution 08-70 CD1 passed with a 7-1 vote.
While the height variance remains a significant concern, the fact that
the department apparently did not investigate alternatives such as
use of the adjacent city-owned parcel for the project, nor consider
the project's economic and business development impacts raised
additional issues.
The next step is for us to ensure that the developer is aware of the
community's concerns, objections and desires for the project. I will
be working with community stakeholders and state representatives
to talk with the developer to find solutions to the issues as the project
moves forward. I remain hopeful that compromises can be reached
to alleviate some of the unacceptable impacts of the project.
Waiamanalo Gulch Landfill
To briefly update you on the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, the
city was granted an 18-month permit extension by State Land Use
Commission, with a mandatory update reporting requirement every six
months. In anticipation of the permit expiration, the Council allocated
another $5 million to ship waste in the upcoming fiscal year. The Mayor
has committed the city to exporting waste, expanding its curbside
recycling program and installing an additional boiler to increase
H-Power capacity.
Transit Technology
Lastly, I want to address the topic that's been getting a great deal of
media attention: the city's selection of the mass transit technology.
Last year, the Council voted 6-3 to establish the expert panel to select
the technology for the mass transit system. With this method, the panel's
selection was subject to the Council's ability to "trump" their selection
if there was a majority of the Council that felt a different technology was
a better choice.
As you have read about in the papers, Bill 80, which was the vehicle
for the Council selection, failed to pass. The 4-4 vote meant that
there is not a majority of the Council that believes there is a better
technology than the system recommended by the panel. From the
hearing, it was clear that a majority of the Council supports the mass
transit system as a needed transportation solution for our island.
After years of research and investigation, hours of testimony and
comment, and hundreds, if not thousands, of emails and letters, I believe
that steel technology is the best for the system we need for Honolulu.
Rubber tire systems cannot provide the capacities we need to solve our
long-term problems and the same cost magnitudes as steel. MagLev
technology, while intriguing, remains too uncertain for our project.
We are using a lot of taxpayers' dollars to bring about a needed, long-
term transportation solution.
City Budget
May is the third month of the City Council's intensive Budget Review
Cycle. Currently the Council is review amendments proposed by the
members. Hearings are expected to continue throughout May. For a
full list of budget projects with district impact, please visit:
http://www.honolulu.gov/council/d1/district+activity.htm
I encourage you to get involved and let all councilmembers know
what projects and city services are important to you. Here is
a list of upcoming meetings at Honolulu Hale:
May 7 - Full Council
May 13-15 - Committee Week
May 20 -Special Budget Committee
As always, you can email me at tapo@honolulu.gov. I regularly
send out electronic newsletter updates, so please visit the District
1 website at www.toddapo.org and join our mailing list. If you have
any other questions, please call me at 547-7001.
Mahalo!
Todd K. Apo
Councilmember, District I
City Council Vice-Chair