25 proposals to be studied
Public comments are sought on the City Charter amendments
The 2005-06 Honolulu City Charter Commission will consider 25 proposed charter amendments at a public meeting next week.
Donn Takaki, commission chairman, said the public is encouraged to "let us know their thoughts on whether the proposed amendments ... make sense and make Honolulu a better county for all of us."
The proposals relate to ethics, budget and taxes, and new agencies and programs. The commission will hear testimony, discuss and vote on the proposed amendments.
The public is invited to attend the 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the City Council Chambers. It is the second of a series of four meetings being held to consider a total of 99 proposals.
Anyone interested in reviewing the proposals may go to the commission office at 711 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1485, or the Municipal Library at 558 S. King St. PDF files are also available on the Commission Web site at www.honolulu.gov/chc.
On Dec. 13 the commission voted to pass 16 proposals regarding city department descriptions and the planning and zoning process. Results are available on the Web site.
The public will have an opportunity to vote on the final proposed charter amendments placed on the 2006 General Election ballot.
For more information, visit the commission Web site, call 592-8622 or e-mail charter@honolulu.gov.
Proposed charter amendments
Relating to Ethics
» Proposal 3: Allow the Ethics Commission to fine violators of the ethics code.
» Proposal 18: Give the commission enforcement powers for fines or other punishments.
» Proposal 28: Allow the commission to impose civil fines.
» Proposal 29: Clarify the independence of the commission.
» Proposal 30: Include the members of the Charter and Reapportionment commissions as city officers for purposes of the ethics laws.
» Proposal 31: Consider options to correct the charter regarding impeachment of elected officials.
» Proposals 41 and 44: Codify within the charter existing state law and provide uniform standards of conduct within all city entities.
» Proposal 68: Revise provisions regarding conflict of interest for members of boards and commissions.
» Proposal 88: Change Ethics Commission member selection process and allow commission to set executive director salary.
Relating to budget and taxes
» Proposal 2: Assessed property values to be capped.
» Proposal 23: Revise section regarding "Preparation and Submission of the Program and Annual Budget for Executive Branch" to ensure adequate resources for CIP budget.
» Proposal 34: Administration and enforcement of the executive capital budget ordinance -- lapse in 12 months rather than six.
» Proposal 52: Require that the mayor sign a budget bill before exercising line-item veto authority.
» Proposal 73: Require the director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services to prepare an annual report of long-term obligations of the city.
» Proposal 82: Change the fiscal year of the city to Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, from July 1 to June 30.
Relating to new agencies and programs
» Proposal 4: Establish an Advisory Commission on Community Services and Housing.
» Proposal 46: Protect the county's agriculture, environment, economy and private property from genetically modified organisms.
» Proposal 57: Establish a temporary agency to develop the new public transportation system to be funded by the tax surcharge.
» Proposal 66: Create a transit authority or board to build a rail system.
» Proposal 91: Set aside one-half percent of real property tax revenues for land and natural resources protection and one-half percent of real property tax revenues for affordable housing.
» Proposal 92: Establish a Department of Strategic Initiatives.
» Proposal 93: Establish a Youth Commission.
» Proposal 96: Add a new article with an "environmental bill of rights" for residents.
» Proposal 97: Establish a Commission on the Environment.
Source: City Charter Commission