Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sponsorships Bill 4 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council advances sponsorships bill after Outdoor Circle urges guardrails on signage and naming rights
Summary
The Budget Committee amended and reported Bill 4 (CD1) to reestablish a sponsorship program for city facilities and properties; The Outdoor Circle warned the committee to limit signage and naming rights to avoid commercialization of public spaces.
The Budget Committee amended Bill 4 of 2025 (CD1) to reestablish a sponsorship process for city facilities, parks, programs and tangible property and reported the measure out for second reading and a public hearing.
Deputy Managing Director Krishnan Jairam and Director designate Andrew T. Kawano said the administration supports creating rules to enable sponsorships as an alternative revenue source and is working with departments to identify why a prior program was underused.
Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, testified in opposition to the current draft’s language on signage and recognition and urged the council to codify stronger guardrails to avoid commercial advertising in public places. Welch reminded the committee that The Outdoor Circle helped pass Honolulu’s long‑standing sign law and cautioned that visible corporate branding on parks, bus stops or bandstands could be perceived as off‑site advertising that undermines the city’s visual environment.
Council members said the bill already carries checks: sponsorship agreements with financial contributions of $50,000 or more must be approved by council resolution and the draft references existing sign‑law requirements. Members asked The Outdoor Circle to work with staff to provide specific amendment language. The committee adopted the CD1 amendments and set the bill for second reading and public hearing.
