Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Honolulu City Council

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Type
  
Unicameral

Seats
  
9

Honolulu City Council

Term limits
  
Two consecutive four-year terms

Council Chair
  
Ernest Y. Martin Since January 3, 2013

Vice-Chair
  
Ikaika Anderson Since January 3, 2013

Floor Leader
  
Ron Menor Since November 12, 2014

The Honolulu City Council is the legislative branch of the City & County of Honolulu and is considered the second most powerful parliamentary body in the State of Hawaiʻi, following the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Charged with writing and passing laws for the island of Oʻahu, the Honolulu City Council meets in chambers at Honolulu Hale year-round.

Contents

The Honolulu City Council is composed of nine members from nine administrative districts. Each member is elected to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Elections are nonpartisan in nature and held concurrently with Hawaii state elections with the primary election occurring in August and the general election (if necessary) occurring in November of even number years.

Offices

The Honolulu City Council conducts official business from Honolulu Hale, the City and County and mayoral seat. Honolulu Hale was built in 1928, and was designed with classical Spanish villa style architecture. Other offices associated with the Honolulu City Council are also located in other municipal buildings nearby Honolulu Hale, within the Hawaii Capital District, of which Honolulu Hale is part.

Command structure

In the line of command for the City & County of Honolulu, the Honolulu City Council balances the power of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu. The Honolulu City Council is responsible for the confirmation of the heads of the various departments under the mayor's office. Within the sphere of control of the Honolulu City Council are three bodies: Office of the City Clerk, Office of Council Services and the semi-autonomous Office of the City Auditor.

Within the Honolulu City Council, there are three main leadership positions. The officers of the Honolulu City Council are the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the Floor Leader. In the early 2000s, leadership was highly volatile and often controversially stripped, shuffled and changed.

Functions and duties

The Honolulu City Council has identified eleven major functions and duties that are of utmost priority while in session. They are:

  • To set city-wide policies by enacting ordinances and adopting resolutions relating to municipal government programs and services such as police and fire protection, parks and recreation, affordable and special needs housing, sanitation and waste disposal, public transportation and other city government operations.
  • To initiate new municipal programs which the City may pursue or improve, update and refine existing programs and services.
  • To adopt an annual operating and capital programs budget to fund the operations and delivery of city services.
  • To adopt measures that will yield sufficient money to balance the budget including the setting of the annual real property tax rate.
  • To adopt a general plan and create land use laws establishing and amending the city's development plans and zoning regulations and processes.
  • To determine the necessity of taking property for public purposes and authorize condemnation proceedings.
  • To confirm city department heads, board and commission members nominated and appointed by the Mayor of Honolulu.
  • To fix fees and charges for all city services and the use of city property.
  • To authorize settlement of claims filed against the city and against its officers and employees acting within the course of their duties.
  • To establish fines and penalties for violations of city ordinances and laws.
  • To accept gifts and donations to and on behalf of the city of money, securities or other personal property, or real estate or interests in real estate.

    • Administrative Districts

    For administrative purposes of the Honolulu City Council, the island of Oʻahu is divided into nine districts each represented at Honolulu Hale by a popularly elected member. Each district is composed of unincorporated subdivisions unofficially called towns and cities.

  • DISTRICT 1: Waianae, Nanakuli, Honokai Hale, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, and portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach.
  • DISTRICT 2: Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole,and Kahaluu.
  • DISTRICT 3: Ahuimanu, Heeia, Haiku, Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, and Waimanalo.
  • DISTRICT 4: Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhemina Rise, Kaimuki, portions of Kapahulu, Diamond Head, Black Point, Waikiki, and Ala Moana Beach Park.
  • DISTRICT 5: Kaimuki, Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, and portions of Ala Moana, Kakaako, and Makiki.
  • DISTRICT 6: Portions of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Halawa, Aiea, Kalihi Valley, and portions of Liliha and Kalihi.
  • DISTRICT 7: Kalihi, lwilei, Sand Island, Kalihi Kai, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Hickam, Foster Village, Ford Island, and Sand Island.
  • DISTRICT 8: Pearl City, Pearl Peninsula, Waimalu, Crestview, Waipio Gentry, portions of Waipahu.
  • DISTRICT 9: Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Mililani Town, West Loch, Iroquois Point, and portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach.

    • Current members

    The following is a list of the members of the Honolulu City Council as of March 19, 2015:

  • District 1 — Kymberly Pine
  • District 2 — Ernest Y. Martin (Chair & Presiding Officer)
  • District 3 — Ikaika Anderson
  • District 4 — Trevor Ozawa
  • District 5 — Ann Kobayashi
  • District 6 — Carol Fukunaga
  • District 7 — Joey Manahan
  • District 8 — Brandon Elefante
  • District 9 — Ron Menor

    • Committees

    The following is a list of the Honolulu City Council committees as of June 2, 2014:

  • Budget
  • Executive Matters and Legal Affairs
  • Intergovernmental Affairs and Human Services
  • Parks and Customer Services
  • Public Safety and Economic Development
  • Public Works and Sustainability
  • Transportation
  • Zoning and Planning

    • References

    Honolulu City Council Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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