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Council to
pore over extra
improvement budget

More projects could be
added to the 16 on the list;
Councilman Bainum urges
'fiscal restraint'

Dogs, limos reined in

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang

Star-Bulletin

Honolulu City Council members say they will carefully scrutinize each of the 16 projects proposed in Mayor Jeremy Harris' $75 million supplemental capital improvement budget.

The additional funding, expected to be financed through general obligation and sewer revenue bonds, would pay for a variety of projects, from road resurfacing to the purchase of Waimea Valley.

The Council voted yesterday to give first-reading approval to the supplemental budget request, which now will be heard by the Budget Committee on Jan. 10.

According to the city charter, amendments to either the operating or capital budgets can be done only "to meet contingencies which could not be anticipated when the budget ordinances were passed," or for expenses tied to a special election.

Usually, Councilman Duke Bainum said, supplemental capital budget requests are "for emergency and unanticipated items."

Bainum said one of his concerns is that Council members might want to seize the opportunity to place more projects in the bill.

"There's a tendency for Council members to pile on," he said. "I think we all have to show fiscal restraint."

But Budget Chairwoman Rene Mansho, who echoed Yoshimura's comments about careful scrutiny, said it is too early in the process to rule out adding projects to the bill.

Mansho said discussion should center on "can we afford it, and how will it affect our bond rating?"

Among this year's items are:

$10.7 million for resurfacing and reconstruction of city streets. The administration received flak for falling behind on resurfacing.

$8.2 million for the second phase of the Central Oahu Regional Park in Waiola. The first phase opens early next year.

$8 million for construction of a park and underground parking at the so-called Smith-Beretania site in Chinatown.

$7.2 million for purchase of furniture and equipment.

$5.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively, for federally mandated waste-water projects in Kalihi and Wahiawa.

$5.2 million for purchase of Waimea Park, which has received wide support from the public and Council members.

$3.5 million for the second phase of the Waipio Soccer Complex, which already has experienced 50 percent in overruns from its original $11 million first phase.

$3 million for purchase of Paradise Park, which yesterday received support from the Council, but with reservations.

$1.7 million for interior improvements at the Kapolei Civic Center, which has already had its opening delayed.

$1.4 million for long-promised improvements to the Asian Tropical Forest Elephant Facility at the Honolulu Zoo.

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City & County of Honolulu