North Shore NewsWe are well into the budget season, which started at the beginning of March when Mayor Blangiardi submitted his proposed operating and capital budgets to the Council. The Council will continue to review and deliberate on the City’s budget package until June. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office if you have suggestions or proposals to incorporate into our City budget. The Administration’s March 11 – 14 budget briefings, where each Department provides an overview of its proposed budget to the Council, can be viewed online: https://www.honolulucitycouncil. org/meetings.
In addition to the City’s budget processes, we also have some legislative updates to provide. The Council recently passed two proposed amendments to our City Charter that may be on the upcoming ballot in November if the Mayor opts to allow them. Resolution 23-162 would amend the City Charter to establish a Climate Resiliency Fund. This proposed amendment passed out of Council in January and would provide the City with additional flexibility to proactively address the foreseeable impacts of climate change. This fund would draw from existing property tax revenues, and will not require a concurrent increase in property tax rates. Resolution 23-239, which was co-introduced by Chair Waters and myself, passed out of Council in February and would establish minimum qualifications for the Director of Emergency Management in the City Charter. These proposed charter amendments will help to ensure that our City is prepared for the increasing challenges we will face with larger weather events and other natural disasters.
On February 29, we participated in a meeting with the O’ahu Invasive Species Committee, Maui Invasive Species Committee, and multiple City Departments and Offices. The meeting was follow up to Resolution 23-308, co-introduced by Vice Chair Kia‘āina and myself and passed in January, to request an invasive species response plan from the Administration. Such a plan is important in light of the many city assets affected by invasive species and the need for a crossjurisdictional approach and collaboration between all levels of government.
I also want to say mahalo to the Petersons’ Upland Farm. On Wednesday, February 29, 2024, at the full meeting of the Honolulu City Council, I had the privilege of presenting an Honorary Certificate to Petersons’ Upland Farm to recognize and thank them and their employees for their decades of service to our community. While they will no longer be providing eggs for the community, folks can still visit them for fertilizer, vegetables, and farm memorabilia.
As always, I hope that this update finds all of you well and feel free to reach out to me at (808)768-5002 or at mweyer@honolulu.gov.