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Honolulu City Charter AmendmentsThe City Charter is Honolulu's "constitution," serving as the governing document that establishes the principles by which our City government operates. The Charter requires that the Mayor and City Council appoint a Commission every ten years to review the Charter and submit changes to the voters. The 2005-2006 Charter Commission held 35 public meetings and received extensive testimony on changes to the Charter. After studying many proposals, twelve charter questions were selected to present to the voters at the General Election. The proposed charter amendments will be voted on at the General Election on November 7, 2006. All members are invited to attend a meeting at the League Office at 11 AM on September 25 to discuss the proposed amendments and to recommend a position on each to the League Board - - support, oppose, or remain neutral. Note that the League has already testified in support of proposed amendments 3 and 5. The following descriptions and digests of the charter amendments are taken from the Commissions website: http://www.honolulu.gov/chc/. Charter Question 1:Should City Council term limits be replaced by Alternative A or B below; and, separately, to address concerns relating to election of City Council members caused by reapportionment every ten years, should staggered terms be replaced by Alternative A or B below? Digest of the amendment: Present: The City Council consists of nine members who are elected to four-year terms. Councilmembers and the Mayor are currently limited to two consecutive four-year terms. Councilmembers' terms are also staggered, so that five of the seats are elected in one election, and the other four seats are elected in the next election two years later. If proposal passes: a) The current system of term limits and staggered terms for the Council would be changed.
If Charter Question 1 passes, then the amendment to the Charter depends on the result of the vote on Charter Question 2. Charter Question 2:If Charter Question 1 is approved, which proposal relating to Councilmember terms should be adopted? ALTERNATIVE A. Term limits for Councilmembers and the staggering of Councilmembers' terms shall be eliminated. ALTERNATIVE B. Councilmembers shall be limited to serving a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms, and the staggering of Councilmember terms shall be eliminated. Digest of the proposed amendment: Note: Whether you voted "yes" or "no" on the previous question, you may still cast a vote on this question. If the previous question passes, then the new system will be determined by the result of the vote on this question. If the previous question does NOT pass, then the result of the vote on this question will not take effect. Present: City Council members and the Mayor are currently limited to two consecutive four-year terms. Councilmembers' terms are staggered, so that five of the seats are elected in one election, and the other four seats are elected in the next election two years later. If ALTERNATIVE A is selected:
If ALTERNATIVE B is selected:
Charter Question 3:Should one percent of annual property tax revenues be appropriated to funds for land conservation and affordable housing? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: There are no specially dedicated funds for acquisition of public lands for land conservation or for providing and maintaining affordable housing. If proposal passes: 1) A minimum of one percent of real property tax revenues would be placed in two special funds; one fund would be known as the "Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund" and the other would be known as the "Affordable Housing Fund." 2) Moneys in the "Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund" would be used to purchase or acquire real estate for land conservation. 3) Moneys in the "Affordable Housing Fund" would be used to provide and maintain affordable housing for persons earning less than fifty percent of the median household income in the city. Moneys in the funds would not lapse, but shall remain in the funds, accumulating from year to year. Charter Question 4:Should the powers, duties, and functions of the Director of Environmental Services include comprehensive curbside recycling? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The powers, duties, and functions of the Director of Environmental Services include the development and administration of solid waste collection, processing, and disposal systems, but do not specifically include curbside recycling. If proposal passes:
Charter Question 5:Should the Ethics Commission have the authority to impose civil fines on elected officers for ethics violations? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The Ethics Commission can make recommendations for disciplinary action against elected officers, but cannot impose fines or other discipline. If proposal passes:
Charter Question 6:Should races with only two candidates be held in the General Election instead of the Primary Election? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: All City elections, even those involving two candidates only, are held during the first special election (on Primary Election day). If proposal passes:
Charter Question 7:Should the City Council's power to reject Salary Commission recommendationsbe eliminated? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The City Council has the power to reject the Salary Commission's recommendations as to the salaries of elected officials and certain high-ranking City employees. If proposal passes:
Charter Question 8:Should one of the priorities of the Department of Transportation Services be to make Honolulu a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city, and should the powers, duties, and functions of the Director of Transportation Services include bikeway systems? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The Director of Transportation Services is responsible for transportation systems, public transit, traffic control facilities and devices, traffic safety programs, and other duties. If proposal passes:
The Charter would state that it shall be one of the priorities of the Department of Transportation Services to make Honolulu a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city. Charter Question 9:Should the Liquor Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and secretary be exempt from civil service provisions? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The positions of Liquor Administrator and Deputy Liquor Administrator are civil service positions. If proposal passes:
The Liquor Administrator would have the power to appoint and remove the Deputy Liquor Administrator and a secretary in a new exempt position. Charter Question 10:Should the Charter be amended to state the additional services currently being provided by the Director of Emergency Services and by the Fire Chief? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The powers, duties, and functions of the Director of Emergency Services and the Fire Chief are set forth in the Charter, but do not specify certain powers, duties, and functions relating to emergency medical services, ocean safety, hazardous materials, and injury prevention that are already being performed by the departments. If proposal passes: 1) The powers, duties, and functions of the Director of Emergency Services would specify that the Director shall be the primary provider of emergency medical care, and that the Director would develop programs related to injury prevention, provide for ocean safety programs, and be the primary responder to emergencies arising on the beach and near shore waters. 2) The powers, duties, and functions of the Fire Chief would specify that the Fire Chief shall also provide emergency medical care and specify that the Fire Chief shall respond to hazardous material incidents. Charter Question 11:Should capital budget appropriations lapse 12 months after the fiscal year, instead of the current 6 months? Digest of the proposed amendment: Present: The capital budget includes appropriations for constructing public improvements, acquiring land, and carrying out planning and engineering studies. Appropriations authorized in the capital budget may be spent during that fiscal year and for 6 months thereafter. If proposal passes:
Charter Question 12:Should the Charter be amended to also provide public notice by electronic medium and for housekeeping amendments
These amendments:
Digest of the proposed amendment: This ballot question combines seven items. One item is to also provide public notice by electronic medium and the remaining items are housekeeping amendments to conform to current functions and operations, to conform to legal requirements, to correct an inadvertent omission and for clarity. If the proposal passes:
For more information contact the Charter Commission at 592-8622 or charter@Honolulu.gov. Jackie Parnell
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