QUESTION: Can our good mayor send out brochures on how our city bulky-items system works, or spend some of our tax dollars to put it on TV on prime time? In Aina Haina, and I presume other areas, bulky items appear a week or sooner after a scheduled pickup has been made. So they sit on the curb for three weeks.

ANSWER: For many people, it apparently doesn't matter how many times the word goes out about the schedules for bulky-item pickups.

But the city is looking to crack down on people who don't follow the guidelines.

Currently, “;enforcement is tough,”; said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services.

The only way a person can be cited and fined is if a police officer catches the violator “;on the spot”; dumping the items too early or if a private citizen witnesses it and is willing to identify the person to police, he said.

City officials “;are working to beef up the ordinance to give it more teeth for enforcement power,”; Owens said.

We were told it's premature to say what changes will be proposed but that they are expected to be presented to the City Council this fall.

Owens pointed out that Mayor Mufi Hannemann has expanded bulky-item pickup services to once a month in rural areas. Additionally, a second, unscheduled pickup is being made in high-density areas.

Since then, “;We have noticed a drop in illegal dumping,”; Owens said.

For an explanation of the rules and the schedules, go to www.opala.org/solid_waste/bulky_item_pickup.html.

If you have any questions about bulky-item, refuse or green waste pickup, call: Honolulu (Foster Village to Hawaii Kai), 832-7840; Kapaa (Kailua, Temple Valley, Kaneohe, Waimanalo), 262-7298; Koolauloa (Kahuku to Kahaluu), 293-5657; Pearl City (Pearl City, Waipahu, Waipio Gentry, Royal Kunia, Halawa to Makakilo, Kapolei), 455-9644; Wahiawa (Wahiawa, Kunia Camp, Mililani, Waipio Acres), 621-5241; Waialua (Waialua, Haleiwa, Sunset), 637-4795; Waianae (Makaha to Honokai Hale), 697-1178.

AUWE

The city installed parking meters at Honolulu Zoo and the Kapiolani Park Bandstand. They should install meters at Liliuokalani Botanical Garden on Kuakini Street. Ninety-nine percent of the vehicles parked there are NOT visitors to the garden, but those going to Kuakini Hospital or the Rehab Center. The city is always looking for ways to generate income, so here is a way to do so. The cost of installing the meters will pay for itself in the long run.—No Name