Council OKs added pay
for lawyer in Felix dispute

He will make the city's case
against a wedding business

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Star-Bulletin staff

The Honolulu City Council has approved paying a private attorney up to $50,000 more to defend the city's land use policies against one of its own.

The city Zoning Board of Appeals in October denied Councilman John Henry Felix's request to reconsider the Department of Planning & Permitting's determination that he is operating an illegal wedding business out of his Aina Haina home.

The board's decision is now being appealed to the Hawaii Circuit Court.

The Council's vote yesterday allows civil attorney Benjamin Matsubara to be paid as much as $50,000 more to be special counsel since city attorneys have declared a conflict.

The Council previously granted $20,000 in payments to Matsubara.

Felix contends that his business is a legal home occupation because employees live on the property.

He is being fined $100 a day as the weddings continue.

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City & County of Honolulu