Aloha Friends and Neighbors,

In March, the Honolulu City Council began deliberating on the City’s budget for the upcoming 2024 – 2025 fiscal year. The Council’s role in this process is to help ensure that City resources and monies are being allocated in line with community needs. I’m pleased to announce that on April 1st, the Budget Committee voted to accept two projects that I added to the budget that directly implicate the North Shore – updating the North Shore Regional Wastewater Alternatives Plan and planning and designing for an Ocean Safety First Responder Center for the North Shore Ocean Safety district. Additionally, we were also able to put money into the budget to create and fund a position to help the City address its responsibilities regarding watershed management, including stream maintenance and multi-jurisdictional coordination and outreach.

The budget amendments will be up for second reading before the Full Council on April 17, and the Committee will engage in further deliberations on the budget in a special meeting on May 13.

Also in March, one of the topics of discussion that arose at Council centered on the proposed landfill siting at Waipiʻo Peninsula. To address community concerns, I scheduled a public informational briefing in the Committee on Housing, Sustainability, and Health (HSH) on April 3, 2024. The briefing aimed to provide transparency and insight into the proposed landfill project, and to provide updates on ongoing discussions with the State Land Use Commission regarding the landfill relocation from its present site at Waimanalo Gulch.

For those who missed the HSH informational brief- ing or wish to revisit the discussions, the meeting is available to view on YouTube at https://www.youtube. com/@HonoluluCityCouncil. It is crucial for residents to stay informed and engaged in matters that directly impact our environment and communities. Your input and feedback play a vital role in shaping the decisions that will affect our city’s future sustainability.

In addition to the ongoing budget hearings and landfill discussions, I would also like to notify the community about Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s upcoming Town Hall meetings. These meetings present a unique opportunity for residents to engage directly with the Mayor and to share their concerns, suggestions, and questions.

The North Shore (Waialua, Haleʻiwa, Pūpūkea) Town Hall meeting will take place at Waialua Elemen- tary School on May 16, 2024, at 7pm. The Koʻolauloa (Hauʻula, Kahuku, Lāʻie) Town Hall meeting will take place at Hauʻula Elementary School on May 30, 2024, at 7:00pm. I encourage all residents to mark their calendars and make time to attend at least one of these important gatherings.

Civic engagement and community involvement are crucial to the decision-making processes of our city. Your participation is not just welcomed, it is essential in helping to shape the policies and projects that will define our island’s future.

As always, please feel free to contact my office at (808)768-5002 or e-mail me at mweyer@honolulu. gov with any questions or concerns you may have.

Mahalo for the opportunity to connect!