Public Safety and Economy Committee Meeting: November 20, 2025 – Resolutions, Bill 46, and Federal Funding Briefing
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Public Safety and Economy Committee Meeting: November 20, 2025 – Resolutions, Bill 46, and Federal Funding Briefing
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 1:05 PM, the Public Safety and Economy Committee of the Honolulu City Council met remotely and in person to consider several agenda items, including appointments to commissions, a resolution affirming constitutional rights, gifts to the Honolulu Zoo, a bill on police information release, and an informational briefing on federal funding coordination. The meeting lasted approximately two hours and included testimony from numerous community members, students, and organizational representatives.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar was used; all items were taken up individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Resolution 25-301 (affirming constitutional rights): 22 in-person and remote testifiers spoke in strong support, including representatives from the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii Workers Center, UH Manoa students, and community members. They emphasized the importance of protecting constitutional rights for all residents, the fear caused by ICE activities, and the need to maintain trust between police and immigrant communities. One oral testifier, Tim Gary, raised questions about the number of undocumented immigrants and the resolution's potential sanctuary city implications. No testifiers opposed.
- Bill 46 (HPD information release): One in-person testifier, John Dutzman, supported the bill but opposed the definition of “qualified media organization,” arguing it excludes online platforms. Another testifier, Jason Hug (KITV/KIQ), asked the committee to pass the bill. One remote testifier, Matthew, opposed the bill, calling it an “unholy alliance” between media and police. Tim Gary also commented.
- Zoo gift resolutions (Items 4-7): Two remote testifiers, Angela Young and Tim Gary, spoke in favor of the gifts, praising the zoo’s improvements.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 25-292 – Appointment of Anna Nubauer to the Citizens Advisory Commission on Emergency Management: Unanimously approved. No testimony or objections.
- Resolution 25-290 – Appointment of Blakely Parsons to the Police Commission: Unanimously approved. Councilmember Kiaaina expressed support and urged more local law enforcement nominees. Chair Waters questioned Parsons about his experience, challenges facing the commission, and the police chief hiring process.
- Resolution 25-301 – Affirming constitutional rights: Introduced by Councilmember Waters and Councilmember Wire. The administration (Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jar) and HPD Chief Vanick expressed support but requested removal of two “be it resolved” clauses that requested the mayor review agreements and HPD confine its actions. Councilmember Kiaaina moved to strike those clauses, citing redundancy. Councilmember Wire expressed concern about the message to marginalized communities. After debate, the committee amended the resolution to a CD1 deleting the two clauses, and reported it out for adoption.
- Items 4-7 (Zoo gift resolutions): Director of Enterprise Services Dita Holyfield presented the gifts, totaling over $60,000, for training, animal care, and infrastructure. She also updated on the zoo’s accreditation progress and upcoming Christmas train. Councilmember Kiaaina asked about the zoo train and Christmas plans. All four resolutions were approved unanimously.
- Bill 46 – Requiring HPD to release public information: Interim Chief Vanick reported that HPD has already launched a beta alert system with 16 media partners. He requested changing the annual “report” requirement to an “update.” The committee agreed and amended the bill to CD1 with that change. Reported out for third reading.
- Informational briefing on federal funding coordination: Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jar and Office of Economic Revitalization Director Amy Asselbey presented on efforts to centralize federal grants. New federal funding coordinator Erica Moritsugu introduced herself. The presentation highlighted past challenges (procurement, staffing) and recommendations for training, templates, and interagency collaboration. Councilmember Kiaaina emphasized measurable outcomes and use of all available funds.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 25-292 (Anna Nubauer) – Approved as amended (CD1) and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-290 (Blakely Parsons) – Approved as amended (CD1) and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-301 (Affirming constitutional rights) – Amended to CD1 (deleting two clauses requesting mayor review and HPD confinement) and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-312 (Zoo gift for mammal keeper training) – Approved and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-311 (Zoo gift for elephant foot care consulting) – Approved and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-310 (Zoo gifts for enrichment, playground, and hay chopper) – Approved and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Resolution 25-307 (Zoo gift for concrete coating at Ziba Braun Barn) – Approved and reported out for adoption. No objections.
- Bill 46 (HPD public information release) – Amended to CD1 (changing “report” to “update”) and reported out for passage on third reading. No objections.
- The informational briefing on federal funding was received; no formal action taken.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, good afternoon. Sorry, everyone. It's one oh five PM on a Thursday, November twentieth, twenty twenty-five. I caught a meeting on public safety and economy meeting to order. Pursuant to section ninety-two dash three point seven, Hawaii revised statutes. 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 our testimony on all items on the agenda in person in the council chamber and remotely when each agenda item is taken up. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15 section four of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section One Thirteen of the Hawaii Revice Statutes, members of the public may testify in either language or testimonies offered in Olela Hawaii. Additional time may be necessary, will be allowed for the testify to provide an English translation of their testimony. Before testifying, each person shall state their name. Once in-person testimony has concluded, I will proceed to remote testimony. All persons who have registered to testify remotely by video conference or telephone will then be called upon. When your name is called, please monitor your screen and activate your audio feed when prompt. For persons who are testifying by telephone only, I will identify you by the last three digits of your phone number. When the number is called, please listen for the prompt to unmute and press star six. When I call for anyone else standing by remotely, please utilize the zone raised hand uh button to indicate your desire to speak. For these joining us by telephone only, please press star nine to indicate your desire to speak. So friendly reminders and tips, video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you are watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television when you call to testify. When the timer on the screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. HR section 92-3.7 requires that all votes at remote meetings be conducted by roll con as unanimous. Therefore, I will first call for objections. And if there are any, I will call for a roll-call vote. Written testimonies include testifier's email address, the phone number, and will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off all cell phones for the duration of the meeting. Want to welcome council member uh Santo Stam as well, Councilmember Wire. Item number one resolution 25-292 confirming the appointment of Anna Nubauer to serve on the Citizens Advisory Commission on Emergency Management, the City and County of Honolulu for a term to expire on March 31st, 2030. Members, we have a proposed CD one submitted by myself for your information. The amendments are listed on the agenda. And um I think Anna is here. Is Anna here? Okay. Anna. Yeah. Thank you. Aloha, thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be here and appreciate the opportunity to be considered for this commission appointment. Um we're excited to be able to continue to support the disaster response efforts in Oahu for both animals and people. And I think this would be a great furtherance of the collaboration that we do with the city and county already to have um our representation on on this commission. Members, any questions for the testifier? Okay. Um we'll proceed with in-person testimony in the council chamber. Is there anyone that wants to testify? Chair, there are none. Okay. Uh remote. Chair, there are none. Okay, members. Uh, we are in discussion. All right.
openpublica.com