[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6224566,"mediaKeyId","3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00","parentId",3550047,"title","Council committee advances multi‑year sewer rate plan after lengthy debate over consent decree, rebates and bond financing","audioSeconds",6994,"startMs",664000,"endMs",7658000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00&start=664&end=7658","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00/thumbnail_664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224566/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-committee-advances-multiyear-sewer-rate-plan-after-lengthy-debate-over-consent-decree-rebates-and-bond-financing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224566-8023fe89ec63cb54f39eb59eba30cf86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160016&Signature=FhGcaeHZmCD6Z28QrdMsqBPfgdmfCSG2eXIlcig5HmWE1i~sA8pmI-gudZRHWBBuFXwijjEzKPWB6G~ZUxN6Tl0imAWEVUUvqfjc3K5ZM-xbo2zB9YXDRzjKSl6s~uJpWt8NRrFfXG-~Iuo1sb513En19s4m8h2Gm~qSaEnSf7fC-Mze8MoGOIYJa6-0TbAd6B1HPsQ~afM173ciJWCYcxpC5LgLBzyObTRqk30q95f0ZdTM3XcUNxlfgH37CRe3FH0zSZbgbeReJtT-g4yCOj56sLnhtp5o5XTE4WxZ8MHelEl1ybCLnwS-ktWaThyW1yi5jZGN5s9WP9wVHJ8W9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Honolulu, HI","date","2025-05-28T16:22:02.17Z","article","The Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget on Wednesday reported out an amended version of Bill 60 (CD2), a multi‑year package of sewer fee changes the administration says are needed to fund operation, maintenance and a $6.5 billion capital improvement program for wastewater infrastructure.

The committee advanced an amended draft of the bill after hearing a multi‑hour presentation from Department of Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock and extensive questioning from council members and public testifiers. The committee debated how quickly to phase in increases, how to allocate revenue between a fixed base charge and a volumetric charge, the size and targeting of a proposed customer rebate, and whether integrated planning could reduce the overall capital need.

Why it matters: The sewer fund must be self‑sustaining, department staff told the committee; bond covenants evaluated by rating agencies require predictable revenue to support debt service. The bill would shift the single‑family allocation of charges from approximately a 70/30 split (base/volumetric) to roughly a 40/60 split over the plan period and would raise revenue through annual percentage increases the administration modeled over a 10‑year period. Council members sought shorter periods (five to seven years) and a larger role for targeted rebates and resilience funding to limit impacts on low‑volume or low‑income households.

Key details from the presentation and discussion

- Structure: Director Babcock described the department’s package as a 10‑year proposal meant to cover operation and maintenance, existing and new debt service tied to a $6.5 billion capital program, and the rate covenant required by bond documents.

- Billing mechanics: The department said the base charge is currently about $77.55 and the volumetric charge is $4.63 per 1,000 gallons; a median single‑family household that uses 6,000 gallons per month is billed for 80% of that (4,800 gallons) and currently pays $99.77 per month under the existing structure presented at the hearing.

- Rate shift and examples: The CD2 presented by the administration phases the bill from a roughly 70/30 base/volumetric ratio to roughly 40/60 so that customers can reduce bills by lowering water use. Babcock’s slides set out example annual dollar impacts for four usage profiles (2,000; 4,000; 6,000; 15,000 gallons per month), showing that low‑use households could see modest short‑term declines under the proposed shift while very large users would see larger increases as the volumetric component rises.

- Proposed schedule: The administration’s modeling included a multi‑year schedule with increases in early years (for example, Babcock described year‑one increases around 6%, year‑two around 7.5% and subsequent annual steps through a 10‑year envelope in the presentation). Chair Waters and Budget Chair Dos Santos Tam offered alternative schedules: Chair Waters proposed a five‑year, 6.75%‑per‑year path; Dos Santos Tam presented a multi‑year CD2 that the administration said would meet bond covenants but noted council members could shorten the term to five to seven years.

- Customer assistance and rebates: Committee members discussed a proposed $20–$25 rebate for eligible low‑income customers. Department staff said one contractor‑administered program could reach roughly 40,000 households, and that the City would need rulemaking authority to implement credits and customer assistance programs.

- Integrated planning and EPA discussions: Several council members and public speakers urged the administration to fast‑track an integrated planning study and to pursue negotiations with EPA on consent‑decree requirements. Testifier Frank Doyle argued the city should press EPA about secondary treatment at Sand Island, and Councilmember Tupelo urged detailed, project‑level CIP lists to evaluate pay‑go vs. bond financing. Director Babcock said integrated planning work was funded in FY 2026 and that a full integrated plan would take time to complete and require coordination with stormwater programs and regulators.

- Financing trade‑offs: Council members highlighted the costs of borrowing. Chair Waters emphasized that long‑term bonding increases total program cost via interest and said using cash where possible lowers interest expense but also reduces liquidity for operations; department staff described a mix of cash and debt financing in the modeled CIP and warned that excessive reliance on general‑fund transfers or one‑time sources would not be counted by bond analysts.

Committee action and next steps

After extended discussion and amendments, the committee accepted a version of the council‑sponsored CD2 with two principal changes: (1) explicit rulemaking authority for the Department of Environmental Services to implement a customer assistance program, and (2) trimming the out‑year tables in the bill so the explicit rate tables stop earlier (a change the committee described as effectively shortening the commitment horizon to align better with the City’s 6‑year CIP cycle). The committee then voted to report Bill 60 (as amended) out for third reading.

Formal record: During the roll call for reporting out the bill for third reading the committee noted an objection and recorded votes as: Councilmember Cordero — no; Councilmember Kiana — yes; Councilmember Weier — yes; Committee Vice Chair Nishimoto — reservations noted; Chair Dos Santos Tam — yes. Reservations from two members were recorded in the committee report.

What the committee did not adopt: The committee did not adopt any final rule language for the rebate program on the floor; it also did not change any bond authorizations or CIP project prioritizations at the hearing. The administration will continue to refine revenue estimates and present final ordinance language to the full council.

Looking ahead: The bill was reported out for third reading and will go to full council. Committee members and public testifiers urged the administration to accelerate an integrated planning process and pursue grants and low‑interest loans where feasible to reduce the rate burden on residents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-05-27 Budget","oneSentenceSummary","The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday reported out an amended version of Bill 60, a multi‑year sewer rate package the administration says is required to support operation, debt service and a $6.5 billion wastewater capital program.","taxTitle","Honolulu City, Honolulu County, Hawaii","taxId",61746,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224561,"Council advances tighter rules for electronic amusement devices and boosts tools to address illegal game rooms",450,8559000,9009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00&start=8559&end=9009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00/thumbnail_8559000.jpg","/articles/6224561/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-advances-tighter-rules-for-electronic-amusement-devices-and-boosts-tools-to-address-illegal-game-rooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224561-9ae0a64b88c1f983fbb164c5b80d55b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160016&Signature=aON8wFILPhOXldFwg~BW0OicrjFm-XJTn5bhvswU0~fPmzKnN~Fb1W3AKoDiJrIPrIuHjS6ciaWoprqgG6EXeaaK4wzCjTmqoFT7qKJByy2JkWgYfJYac-TcDaKIyuVw1eipRJ6~iDgVqnX9gowEaxEDxuivjk3EyCUfrRwCwZS9K3Q9LFuZAwJ6K2bg25GBPm-HD6CoSUq50vmy1Ju5a8ZjwhYoIOBShd~kfpzGGGWOfv~ESzyD3I4AumtBfSPZrn93pyjP1s0aFx8zHDl9lea4JaXm1X~IN5l3J1DQFJr1jZCCa2ZZpf~ENvPyr81R9rbJvvjj22ECJAIaR5ZZaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget Committee advanced local proposals this week aimed at tightening regulation of electronic amusement devices and giving police and prosecutors additional tools to address illegal game rooms.

Councilmember Tupolo presented amendments to Bill 11 to clarify the definition of devices “available to the public,” to add the term “police chief” as an alternate title where the ordinance uses “chief of police,” to remove a redundant defined term and to make technical edits. Sergeant Leland Kurishi of the Honolulu Police Department told the committee HPD supports the measure and is willing to enforce the ordinance provisions.

Why it matters: Council members and public speakers said illegal gaming operations have created neighborhood public‑safety problems and that clarifying device definitions and enforcement authority will help the city address activity that brings crime and other disorder into residential areas.

Key points of the committee discussion

- Definitions and technology: Public testimony flagged the pace of change in technology — ‘‘tap to play,’’ QR‑code interactions and promotions — and urged the council to ensure the statutory language covers newer business models. Testifier Natalie Iwasa asked the committee to review the definition closely so it does not create unintended exemptions for emerging device types.

- Enforcement and remedies: HPD’s gambling enforcement sergeant said the department will enforce the law as drafted and welcomed clearer definitions. Councilmembers said the bills are intended to give police and prosecutors more options to treat persistent illegal gaming operations as public nuisances.

- Federal context and remedies: A public speaker recommended the council consider federal guidance — the federal Gambling Devices Act and related statutes — for definitions and forfeiture standards, and suggested cross‑referencing state criminal forfeiture provisions where appropriate.

Committee action and next steps

- Bill 11: The committee amended Bill 11 to the posted CD2 (technical changes to definitions and terms) and reported the measure out for third reading.

- Bill 12: The public‑nuisance bill addressing gambling activities was reported out for third reading; committee members said they expect the measure to complement Bill 11.

What was not decided: The committee did not adopt additional cross‑references to federal statutes at the hearing and asked staff to continue working with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and HPD to ensure the definitions are enforceable and technology‑proof.

The measures advance to full council for further readings. Police and community advocates told the committee they view the proposals as practical steps to reduce neighborhood harms from illegal gaming venues.","The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee on Wednesday amended and reported out a pair of measures aimed at tightening regulation of electronic amusement devices and strengthening tools to address illegal game rooms.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224571,"Committee advances appointment of Robert Condiff to Honolulu Liquor Commission",431,228000,659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00&start=228&end=659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550047-fc666e02109c46d1dfe139793dd48d00/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6224571/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Committee-advances-appointment-of-Robert-Condiff-to-Honolulu-Liquor-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224571-7e0788de1d61b2459f45be50f289352d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160016&Signature=W0WaXyPpwq-GpKzZ4FcFtKR4OLogYtw48Zv25B2Nb7o9T4IHmWA8WG~4z9-178jn3poqeHPqCuvUadrQEhY1U6-Gw22BnYvmOitawG6atr8fBedwqPuBCWnAh~OlmX6mqUM9vcS~YLzq1tLipB4Vb3gfUtggxF5Jri3rujJuoEZaKSu-LcKn2UN5gFNwJlu2AvpA1i70ggWq3uXrPM7h~AVZNv0Jw-pPUHVMxiVi~AM3hESUHcB-HKVnjWnqutYc3Gl5pGF7XoMsBIThMAhws33vz74Q4NAJHLRhhzk7cBzG3K8MZAMoYh4XyE1KLtHp-boVmTlOaR3ZWsxnd1ExKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget on Wednesday voted to report out Resolution 25-100 recommending the appointment of Robert Condiff to the Liquor Commission.

The committee advanced the appointment after a brief public Q&A in which members pressed Condiff on whether he is familiar with recent efforts to restore public trust in the commission and how he would work with the commission and new administration staff to implement recommended reforms.

Condiff told the committee he is “familiar with what has happened over the last 4 years” and said his professional career has been in Hawaii. He said he serves on the State’s Small Business Regulatory Review Board and has reviewed liquor commission rules there. “My approach to this is to ensure that obviously we uphold the laws and the regulations … but how do we engage with the business community and small business to ensure that we are allowing them to run their operations and be successful in doing so, and still comply with our regulations,” he said.

Why it matters: Council members framed the appointment as part of a broader effort to restore the Liquor Commission’s reputation after multi-year concerns and an administration review. At least one long‑tenured deputy administrator was reported retiring, which council members said raises the risk of losing institutional knowledge.

Members pressed Condiff on staff morale and investigator pay. Councilmember Kea Aina noted that the commission has an independent budget and suggested the commission has discretion to review pay scales for investigators and other staff to improve recruitment and retention. Condiff acknowledged the staffing shortfall and said he would review competitiveness “to maintain a staff so that we can continue to operate as efficiently as possible.”

Formal action: Committee Chair Dos Santos Tam moved that the resolution be reported out for adoption; there were no objections recorded during the committee discussion and the item was advanced to the full council for adoption.

What was not decided: The committee did not adopt any new pay changes, staffing assignments, or implementation steps at the meeting. Condiff said he would meet with the administrator and other commissioners after his appointment to develop concrete plans; no formal direction or deadline for that follow-up was recorded.

Looking ahead: The appointment now moves to full council for consideration. Condiff said he is “looking forward to being on board” and that he values council members’ input as the commission implements recommendations to restore public trust.","The Council Committee on Budget reported out a resolution to appoint Robert Condiff to the Liquor Commission after questions about restoring public trust, staff morale and pay scales. Committee members raised concerns about preserving institutional knowledge ahead of an administrator retirement and flagged investigator pay as a retention issue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee advances multi‑year sewer rate plan after lengthy debate over consent decree, rebates and bond financing

Council advances tighter rules for electronic amusement devices and boosts tools to address illegal game rooms

Committee advances appointment of Robert Condiff to Honolulu Liquor Commission