Committee on Government Efficiency and Customer Services Meeting - October 17, 2025
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Committee on Government Efficiency and Customer Services Meeting - October 17, 2025
The committee met on October 17, 2025 (note: transcript indicates the meeting convened on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 2:32 p.m., but the official recorded date is October 17). The meeting addressed two agenda items: Bill 5 (2025) CD1 relating to animal recovery, and an informational briefing on the Hawaiian Humane Society's FY2025 annual report. The committee amended Bill 5 to CD2 and reported it out for third reading. The briefing included a presentation from the Hawaiian Humane Society on its services and financials, followed by discussion on spay/neuter programs, funding, and policy challenges.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Angela Melody Young, testifying on behalf of WAR, Rescue of Animal Rights, expressed support for the Humane Society's work and highlighted the need for increased funding for trap-neuter-return programs and veterinary care. She noted that Hawaii is not a no-euthanasia state and urged stronger pressure on animal abusers. She also commended the Humane Society's presence at Children and Youth Day.
Discussion Items
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Bill 5 (2025) CD1 – Relating to Animal Recovery: The committee considered a departmental communication from the Department of Customer Services (CSD) with recommendations. A hand-carried proposed CD2 (OCS 2025-087/10/13/2025) was distributed, which clarifies a reference to the farm animal control contractor and makes technical amendments. Director Kim Hashiro of CSD commented on streamlining the process by removing notification posting and annual report requirements. No questions or objections were raised. The chair moved to amend the bill to CD2, and then to report it out for third reading. Both motions passed without objection.
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Informational Briefing – Hawaiian Humane Society FY2025 Annual Report: Melissa Pavlisek, board member, introduced the presentation. Anna Newbauer, President and CEO, presented the report. Key points:
- The Humane Society has been in operation since 1883, administers the city's animal services contract including field services, sheltering, veterinary care, and spay/neuter programs.
- In FY2025, field services handled over 3,300 cases, issued 47 citations, and traveled over 100,000 miles.
- Nearly 13,000 animals were admitted; over 64,000 health exams, 24,000 vaccinations, and 12,000 spay/neuter surgeries performed.
- The spay/neuter programs (Neuter Now and Feline Fix) saw a 48% decrease in pet spay/neuter and a 17% decrease in cat spay/neuter due to funding cuts, but donor funding helped continue services. FY2026 funding restored to FY2024 levels.
- The Humane Society runs a deficit against contract funding due to rising costs; donor funds cover additional services like education, outreach, foster, and adoptions.
- Councilmember Cordero asked about emergency veterinary care grants (funded by anonymous donor), wellness clinics, staffing challenges (especially veterinarians), and policy barriers. Newbauer noted a need for stronger prosecution of animal cruelty and a planned animal laws conference in January 2026.
- Chair asked about spay/neuter reimbursement levels set in ordinance and administrative rule changes. Director Hashiro stated that drafts have been submitted to the Corporation Counsel and a public hearing is hoped for by the end of 2025. Increasing reimbursement rates would require increased overall funding to maintain the number of animals served.
Key Outcomes
- Bill 5 (2025) CD1 was amended to CD2 (unanimous) and reported out for third reading (unanimous).
- The informational briefing was received; no further action taken.
- The committee noted the need to update spay/neuter reimbursement rates and administrative rules, with a target of completing the process by the end of 2025 for the next budget cycle.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good afternoon, everyone. It is Thursday, October 16th. It's 2 32 p.m. and I call the Committee on Government Efficiency and Customer Services to order. We have with us here in the chamber. Um committee members Cordero and Nishimoto. Our Vice Chair, Councilmember Wire is excused. Um pursuant to Hawaii revised statute, section 92 3.7. This meeting will be conducted as a remote meeting by interactive conference technology with the following procedures in effect for the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items in the agenda in two ways in person in the council chamber and remotely. Remote and in-person oral testimony will be allowed when each agenda item is taken up and is limited to a one-minute presentation on each item. As both English and Hawaiian are the official languages of the state of Hawaii. Pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section 1 13 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, members of the public may testify in either language. For oral testimonies offered in Olelo Hawai'i, additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. All persons who have registered to testify in person will be called upon first. When your name is called, please come up to the testifier podium and state your name for the record. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to testify following the registered testifiers. After in-person testimony is concluded, I'll proceed to remote testimony via video conference or phone. When I call your name or the last three digits of your phone number, please unmute your audio and press star six when prompted. HRS section 92 3.7 requires that all votes at remote meetings be conducted by roll call unless unanimous. Therefore, I'll first call for objections. And if there are any, I'll call for a roll call vote. Written testimonies, including the testifier's address, email address, and phone number will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off or silence all cell phones for the duration of this meeting. Thank you very much. We'll dive into agenda item number one, which is Bill 5 2025 CD1 relating to animal recovery. This bill would amend Chapter 12 of the revised ordinances of Honolulu 2021 to address the duties and functions of a farm animal control contractor. Um members, we do have uh we do have a departmental communication that's number 770 from the Department of Customer Services, offering comments and recommendations on the bill. We also distributed a hand carried proposed CD2 identified as OCS 2025-087 slash 10 slash 13 slash 2025 at 935 a.m. Which makes the following amendments. First, it amends the second sentence and proposed ROH 12-blank point two A to clarify that the reference to animal control contractor is the farm animal control contractor. It also makes miscellaneous technical and non-substantive amendments. Um before I call up the director of the Department of Customer Services, I'm gonna call for testimony. Um is there anyone here in the chamber either registered or remote, uh registered or standing by, or anyone remotely registered or standing by to testify? Chair, there are none. Okay, there being none. We'll bring up the director of the Department of Customer Services for any comments uh from the administration. Hi, good afternoon, Chair Dasantus Tamman members. Kim Hashiro, director for the Department of Customer Services. Um, as relayed in our testimony, our comments and recommendations include trying to streamline the process by um removing the requirement um for the notification posting and also the annual report. Um but other than that, we are open for any questions. Okay, members, any questions for the Department of Customer Services. Okay. There being none. Um members, we are in discussion. Any discussion on this item. Okay, there being none. The chair recommends the Bill 5, 2025 CD1 be amended to the hand carried proposed CD2 identified as OCS 2025-0827, 1013, 2025. Any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the bill is amended to a CD2.
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