Honolulu Budget Committee Informational Briefing - March 10, 2026
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Honolulu Budget Committee Informational Briefing - March 10, 2026
The Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget, chaired by Councilmember Okimoto, held an informational briefing on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, starting at 9:05 AM. The committee reviewed the executive capital and operating budget proposals for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (EMS), the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), and the Department of Ocean Safety (OSD). The meeting included presentations from department heads, followed by questions from council members. No votes were taken; the briefing was for information and discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Raquel Achu Wailoamoku (testifying as an individual, but a sitting commissioner on the Ocean Safety Commission) expressed strong support for the Ocean Safety budget submitted by Chief Kurt Lager, stating confidence in the department's direction and the challenges faced as a newly implemented department.
Emergency Services Department (EMS)
- Presentation: Director Jim Ireland presented the EMS budget, noting a total increase of $4.8 million. Administrative costs rose 53%, EMS rose 0.6%, and the Health Services Branch rose 35%. Key drivers: $3.4 million to partially fund a medical respite facility (for homeless too sick for shelters but not ill enough for hospitals), and $1.67 million for an EMS differential (pay increase for paramedics, EMTs, and dispatchers without step increases). 34 vacant positions were reported, with plans to fill them via two academies in 2026.
- Equipment: Equipment budget decreased $1.7 million (45%), attributed to aggressive ambulance purchases in prior years. Only 7 remounts are requested; no new ambulances.
- CIP: $6.6 million for a new EMS headquarters at the Kalihi blood bank property (to replace the airport lease ending this year). Also $150,000 for 24/7 security at that property, and contingencies for Kahuku and Waipahu ambulance facilities.
- Overtime: Total overtime budget $6.3 million (admin $160k, EMS $6.2M, health services $23k).
- Revenue: $3.5 million from state vehicle registration fee; estimated $44 million in billing revenue (actual FY26 closer to $50M). Discussed potential treat-no-transport billing and raising transport rates.
- CORE Program: Focused on homeless and mentally ill. 32 staff (35 total, contract). MH3 involuntary holds (30 performed) have been successful, but more mental health bed space is needed. Plans to convert CORE positions to civil service.
- Council Questions: Concerns about the Kalihi property's easement (Skyline rail) but confirmed no impact. Discussions on medical respite funding, coordination with DCS, and the need for a second HONU facility in Waipahu. Councilmember Tupola inquired about EMS becoming its own department with a commission; administration has no position yet. Councilmember Floor Leader Kia Aina asked about the Maunawili substation funds (over $700,000) and creative solutions for ambulance placement (e.g., using golf course pro shop). Councilmember Wire highlighted the need for geographically dispersed mental health facilities. Councilmember Cordero questioned about equipment lifecycle and the budget for the new Health Services rental space (Lailua Medical Building).
Honolulu Police Department (HPD)
- Presentation: Acting Chief Rady Vanick presented a $396 million total request (5.48% increase, $20.5M). Salaries: $326M (+6.34%); Current expenses: $63M (+11.88%); Equipment: $7M (decrease). No new positions requested.
- Significant items: $7M for police cars (60+ vehicles); $1M for online firearm application system; $6.5M for P25 radio upgrade (half of radios); $1.7M for retention pay for communications division (dispatchers).
- Vacancies: 448 sworn vacancies as of Feb 2, 2026, but with 152 recruits in training and 17 police service officers (cadets), net uniform vacancies are 279. 177 civilian vacancies; plan to fill 70 in FY27. Overtime budget: ~$33M non-holiday, ~$11.3M holiday (total ~$44M). Overtime policy: minimum 70% staffing threshold for patrol.
- CIP Projects: $750,000 for design of new Pearl City police station (total estimated ~$40M over 6 years); new police evidence warehouse (construction ~$8M, currently leasing two warehouses at $2.5M/year); Kaneohe station fuel tank improvement ($1.3M); Kalihi station ventilation improvements.
- Revenue: $8.5M in licenses/permits, charges for services, fines, parking, etc. Federal funds for crime lab positions and various grants.
- Council Questions: Councilmember Cordero asked about narcotics vice enforcement (34 illegal game rooms raided, $260k cash seized, 41 arrests). Councilmember Tupola inquired about the online firearm application (1 of 1 uniform officer doing CCWs), the 1.7M dispatcher retention, and the feasibility of filling 70 civilian positions. She noted planned amendments for referral/retention bonuses, anniversary bonuses, and civilian parking. Councilmember Kia Aina commended the reduced lapsed funds and asked about housing for officers. Councilmember DeSantis Tam questioned vehicle replacement (a 2016 Ford Taurus with only 1,162 miles) and costs for specialized vehicles (e.g., a passenger minivan at $85,000). He also noted the $3M drop in miscellaneous revenue (FY25 actual $3.45M vs FY27 estimate $557k) and compared the $1M online firearm system to other city licensing systems (e.g., liquor commission at $185k/year). Councilmember Waters asked about vacancy savings (used for overtime, contracts, vacation payouts) and overtime policy. Councilmember Okimoto clarified the 6-year projection for Pearl City station differs from the CIP book; the presentation numbers are more current.
Department of Ocean Safety (OSD)
- Presentation: Chief Kurt Lager presented a total increase of $157,000 (0.5%). Salaries up $600k (2.62%); current expenses up $786k (36%) due to new technology and messaging; equipment down $1.2M (no lifeguard towers purchased this year).\nPriorities: Watchtower digital log system (tablets at $567 each, $37/month data fee, $80k/year platform) rolled out at Hanauma Bay and mobile responders, island-wide soon. Public messaging (safety and education) funded in base budget this year (previously council add). Portable radio replacements.\nVacancies: 29 vacancies as of Feb 1, 16 are water safety officers (lifeguards). Plan to fill majority by end of fiscal year.\nOvertime: Non-holiday $800k, holiday $750k (general fund). Hanauma Bay lifeguards in separate fund.\nCIP: $62,000 for various station improvements; $1.25M for a new Wai'anae substation.
- Council Questions: Councilmember Tupola thanked the department and discussed junior lifeguard classes at White Plains (Joint Base willing). Councilmember Kia Aina noted positive neighborhood board reactions and asked for update on the Kailua (Windward) operations hub; completion expected early September 2026, occupancy sooner. Councilmember Wire asked about tower rollout: new tower at Sharks Cove on March 27, 2026. Councilmember Nishimoto questioned a discrepancy in salary adds ($870k cited in highlights vs $634k in tables); chief will follow up by email.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes or decisions were taken; the meeting was informational.\n- Councilmembers indicated potential amendments to the HPD budget (retention bonuses, referral bonuses, civilian parking) during the full council budget process.\n- The committee will continue its budget review; lunch break was taken after Ocean Safety, resuming at 12:45 PM with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good morning, everyone. It is Tuesday, March 10th, twenty twenty-six, and the time is nine oh five AM. Will the committee on budget please come to order? Committee vice chair Nishimoto, Council members Cordero, Kia Aina, and Talba also joining us today. We'd like to welcome council members Los Antos Tam and Tupola. Although remote oral testimony is being permitted, this is a regular in-person meeting and not a remote meeting by interactive conference technology under HRS Section 92-3.7. Therefore, this meeting will continue notwithstanding loss of audio visual communication with remote testifiers or loss of the public broadcast of this meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items on the agenda in two ways in person in the council chamber and remotely via video conference or phone. Remote and in-person oral testimony will be allowed when each agenda item is taken up. Before testifying, each person shall state their name. Each speaker may not have anyone else read their statement and is limited to a one-minute presentation on each item. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the Hawai'i State Constitution and Section 1-13 of the Hawai'i revised statutes. Members of the public may testify in either language. For oral testimonies offered in Olelo Hawaii, 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. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to testify following the registered testifiers. After in-person testimony has concluded, I will proceed to remote testimony via video conference or phone. When I call your name, please monitor your screen and follow the prompt to unmute. For those who are joining us by telephone only, please press star nine if you wish to testify, and I will identify you by the last three digits of your phone number. When your number is called, please listen for the prompt to unmute and press star six. Some friendly reminders and tips. Video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you're also watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television at the time you are called to testify. When the timer on screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. Written testimonies, including the testifiers' 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. Members, as a reminder, if you have any supplementary questions for the departments that may come up during or after the meeting, please provide them to my office so we may compile them for the department or managing director's office to respond. We look forward to all of your questions. Members, I plan to take a break for lunch again today. The start time and duration will be dependent on the flow of the meeting. Agenda item number one, informational briefing, executive capital and operating budget review. We'll proceed first with testimony. Clerks, do we have any testifiers for this item? Yes, Chair, we have one standing by online. Okay, we'd like to welcome online Angela Young. Testifier is not logged on, Chair. Okay, like to welcome online Rush Raquel Achu. I think I saw her in here. Oh, she's there. Okay. Good morning, Raquel. Aloha, good morning. Um, apologize, I meant to be there early this morning, but storm prepping, so I appreciate the consideration. Um, and just wanting to provide um support for our budget submitted for ocean safety. Um sorry, I didn't identify Raquel Achu Wailoamoku. I am a sitting commissioner on Ocean Safety Commission, but I'm testifying as an individual. Um, I'm very confident in what Ocean Safety Chief Lager has provided and his team. Um, I believe as a newly implemented department, um, we do have some challenges ahead just based on being able to grow and set everything in place. I take great comfort and uh confidence in what they've provided and support their measures in every angle.
openpublica.com