Federal bill might save
HFD facility for training
Honolulu Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi said the city may not have to spend millions of dollars to find a new training facility.
Leonardi told City Council members yesterday that U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's staff was working on legislation to allow the city to take over the property where the Thurston Fire Training Center is located near the airport. The city has a 25-year lease of the property from the U.S. Navy that expires July 31.
"It probably would have cost $10 (million) to $12 million if we had to move and build another facility," Leonardi said. "But if we left, then Station 8 (Mokulele Fire Station) goes with us ... so this way we'll still be providing fire protection for Navy and Marine housing nearby.
"This is really a win-win for everybody if the legislation goes through."
According to Inouye's Honolulu staff, his office is working on the legislation that would allow the cost-free transfer and could be introduced this session.
"I think if we all do our jobs, it could happen by the start of the next fiscal year in October," said Jennifer Sabas, Inouye's chief of staff. "The Navy has been very gracious and been willing to engage in discussions about this ... so the task is on us to move this forward."
The Navy's 25-year lease with the city for the Valkenburgh Street property began in 1979 for $1. Federal officials initially agreed to sell the 5-acre site to the city, but those talks ended when Navy officials decided to take over the fire training center for its own federal firefighters after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Back in those days, the Navy was free to enter into these lease agreements for less than fair market value or almost nothing," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, spokesman for Navy Region Hawaii. "Then the law changed in the early '90s, where the government had to lease for fair market value ... so we don't have the authority to lease or convey property at no cost anymore.
"However ... if the land would be conveyed, we would be happy to continue with the lease agreement that we have with the city. They're good neighbors."
Leonardi said even if the legislation passes in the fall, the city must begin to pay a much higher rent for the property to cover the first six months after the old lease expires. Though Leonardi said the rent was initially priced at $800,000 a year, because of the service that HFD provides for the Navy, they were able to get it for $200,000 a year, or $100,000 for six months.
Councilman Gary Okino was cautious when he heard about the unconfirmed deal yesterday. "What happens if it falls through?" he asked Leonardi.
Leonardi answered: "You gotta have faith. I'm going on certain assurances from certain people that this will happen."
Star-Bulletin reporter Crystal Kua contributed to this report.