Okino heads The new Honolulu City Council will begin its term as a united nine-member team, with Gary Okino as the chairman and everyone having a leadership role.
united City Council
Everyone will have leadership
roles; even the 6 new members
will head committeesBy Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.comAnn Kobayashi will remain as budget committee chairwoman and also become vice chairwoman of the council. Romy Cachola will be floor leader and chairman of the executive matters committee, which, among other duties, oversees executive appointments and legal matters that appear before the Council.
"No one's left out; everybody has a committee and we're all going to work together and move forward," Kobayashi said.
The council members held a news conference this morning to announce the new appointments. The six new council members each will lead a committee.
Charles Djou will head zoning and will be in charge of hearings on development issues that require zoning changes.
The planning committee, which covers a variety of issues, including development matters, will be led by Barbara Marshall.
Donovan DelaCruz will be in charge of public safety and intergovernmental affairs, which among other things oversees the police and fire departments.
Nestor Garcia will be chairman of the transportation committee and may take the lead on the controversial bus rapid transit project.
Mike Gabbard will oversee public works matters, which include city infrastructure such as the water and sewer systems.
Rod Tam will be chairman of a hybrid economic development/parks and recreation committee.
Aside from the bus rapid transit project, other issues facing the new council include development issues in Central and West Oahu and balancing the city budget, which has become increasingly difficult and contentious in recent years.
City & County of Honolulu
