Council OKs
measure to track
mayor’s travels

Also passed is a bill to delay
committee appointments

With just weeks left in his term, Mayor Jeremy Harris had a tough day before the City Council yesterday -- and he wasn't even there. That's part of the reason the Council was hard on him.

The Council voted 8-1 to approve a bill that requires the mayor to tell the Council when he goes out of town. As the Council voted on the measure, Harris was at Kansas State University delivering a speech.

But the Council also sent another message to the mayor, voting to delay confirming nominees to two commissions at least until Dec. 1 so Mayor-elect Mufi Hannemann can review the nominations. Dozens of other nominees to boards and commissions are also on hold.

Asked if the Council was picking on Harris because he's about to leave office, city Managing Director Ben Lee said, "They've been picking on our administration for the last six months or longer."

Councilman Charles Djou, who introduced the bill mandating the mayor report his off-island whereabouts to the Council, had a different take.

"It's his own actions. It's his own personal actions. If anybody's doing it, it's Jeremy Harris doing it to himself," Djou said.

Harris was the inspiration for the legislation, but Djou said it will primarily affect the new mayor, who takes office Jan. 2.

Djou stressed his point by saying Harris had been out of town when the bill first came up for approval.

"Who is paying for these trips?" asked Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.

Harris was at Kansas State giving a speech on "Building Sustainable Cities," a talk sponsored by the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. He returns to Honolulu tomorrow.

Diane Potts, assistant to the college's dean, said several departments and groups within the university are paying for part of Harris' air fare, lodging and meals. The groups are paying for only part of the air fare because the university is one of several stops Harris is making, said Potts, who did not have a final tally of expenses.

Lee said the mayor is on the road promoting the city and the awards it has received as a model sustainable city.

"I think they're just envious that we've accomplished so much over the past 10 years," he said.

Lee also defended the mayor's ability to make appointments to boards and commission until his term ends Jan. 2. "Somebody should tell Charles Djou that the election is over."

COUNCIL HEARS
LEASEHOLD BILL TESTIMONY

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Concerned lessees turned out at Honolulu Hale yesterday to hear and give testimony before the City Council regarding Bill 04-53, which would repeal the mandatory condominium lease-to-fee conversion. Lessee Helen Marston, a resident at the Kalia, was among those who made their feelings known. The city's ordinance, known as Chapter 38, passed in 1991 to help leasehold owner-occupants gain title to the land under their units. Final Council approval of the repeal could come as soon as Dec. 1.

Council kills veto
of parking rate rollback

The City Council voted 8-1 yesterday to override Mayor Jeremy Harris' veto of a bill that would roll back monthly parking charges at downtown municipal garages.

In June the Council approved a 50 percent hike in parking rates, which is expected to bring in $2.3 million more in revenue this fiscal year. But last month, they approved a bill to roll back some of that increase.

Harris vetoed the latest bill because it would lead to $630,000 less in revenue. He said the measure is illegal because the reduced revenues would make the city's $1.22 billion operating budget unbalanced.

Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi disagreed, saying she is confident the city will still be able to bring in the necessary revenue. "There should not be a shortfall," she said.