Committee on Housing, Homelessness, and Parks Meeting – October 21, 2026

The Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness, and Parks met remotely on October 21, 2026, at 2:32 PM. The meeting began with approval of three donation resolutions for park benches and tennis nets, followed by discussion on Bill 57 (outdoor play court information), Bill 11 (affordable housing incentive reporting), and Bill 18 (amendments to affordable housing provisions). Votes on the first three items passed unanimously. Bill 57 and Bill 11 were amended and advanced, while action on Bill 18 was postponed due to insufficient committee members present for a vote.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 26‑219 – Accepted a gift of two high‑back traditional benches, preparations of the grounds, and two bronze plaques valued at $5,607, donated by the Ohana of Lily Kwan and the Ohana of Claraquan. Passed without objection.
• Resolution 26‑223 – Accepted a gift of one high‑back traditional bench, preparations of the grounds, and one bronze plaque valued at $2,718.74, donated by the family of Serm Chong Chua for placement at Sandy Beach Park. Passed without objection.
• Resolution 26‑224 – Accepted a gift to furnish and install twelve tennis nets valued at $3,769.63, donated by USTA Hawaii Pacific Inc. for Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. Passed without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bill 57 (Outdoor Play Courts): Dylan Armstrong, in his individual capacity, urged collaboration with the implementing agency and expressed hope for an amenable final draft.
• Bill 11 (Affordable Housing Incentives Reporting): Dylan Armstrong questioned the cost of implementation and asked whether the department had a rough estimate of staff hours or software expenses. He also inquired about using existing datasets such as a free HOLIS GIS layer. Melody Young, speaking neither in support nor opposition, suggested simplifying the process by having developers provide data they already prepare, and that coordination with the Department of Information Technology and other agencies could create an integrated system.
• Bill 18 (Amendments to Affordable Housing Provisions): Gina Thielen (individual capacity) voiced unequivocal support, calling the bill a true compromise. Martin Wynn (principal of Center Urban Real Estate) supported the bill but recommended removing any “lesser of” language that would impose additional caps on special district heights. Dylan Armstrong (individual capacity) praised the chair’s efforts, supported increasing the floor‑area ratio from 4 to 5, and opposed off‑street parking requirements for affordable housing. Ave Kwak (Wu Fat and Monica Marketplace Affordable Rental) expressed strong support for CD2, citing the three key provisions of 75‑foot height, FAR 5.0, and increased densities, and noted that more than 50 % of Oahu renters are rent‑burdened per the 2026 Housing Phase Fed Books report.

Discussion Items

• Bill 57 – Outdoor Play Courts (Agenda Item 6): Director Laura Thielen of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) stated that the department still objected to the bill but acknowledged the amendments in the posted CD1. She explained that a ten‑year outdoor court contract had been misinterpreted, halting reconstruction for three years. DPR has since restructured, creating a Maintenance Support Services division that now handles construction‑type contracts. She offered to work with the committee on a compromise, possibly amending the ordinance to define a cycle of minor capital improvements for all recreational amenities without singling out courts. The chair noted the improvements already seen and agreed to work together before second reading. The bill was amended to CD1 and passed for second reading.
• Bill 11 – Affordable Housing Incentives Reporting (Agenda Item 4): Director Kevin Ager of the Department of Housing and Land Management (DHLM) strongly opposed the bill, arguing that its broad definition of “affordable housing” (up to 140 % AMI, covering nearly three‑quarters of Oahu’s population) and “incentive” (including variances for lot shape) would require prohibitively expensive retroactive valuations. He contended that the bill would not answer whether incentives change outcomes, and pointed to an existing prototype financial model developed with YEHERO that tests feasibility with and without incentives. He asked the committee not to advance Bill 11 and instead continue developing those tools. The chair responded that she had sent the bill to the University of Hawaii for input on their interactive map, and noted that the department had not offered amendments in its earlier letters. The chair recommended amending Bill 11 to the posted CD1, which was adopted without objection, and then reporting it out for passage on third reading, also without objection.
• Bill 18 – Amendments to Affordable Housing Provisions (Agenda Item 5): Director (Donna Puna) of the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) acknowledged the chair’s efforts but raised three concerns: (1) the exception for Punchbowl special district height protections, recommending retention of underlying 60‑foot limits; (2) transitional height setbacks, recommending they begin at 60 feet rather than 75 feet; and (3) building construction and life‑safety standards, recommending retaining a 60‑foot limit for alternative fire‑resistance standards unless a technical analysis supports 75 feet. The chair presented a slide deck outlining the CD2 changes, including increased floor‑area ratio to 5, unit‑count formulas based on proximity to bus stops, and removal of certain fire exemptions. After testimony, the chair attempted to amend Bill 18 to the hand‑carried CD2. Councilmember Nishimoto voted no, and Councilmember Tolba expressed reservations. The chair then noted that the committee did not have enough members present to take a vote and postponed action on the bill. No final decision was reached; action was postponed.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions 26‑219, 26‑223, and 26‑224 – All three resolutions were reported out for adoption without objection. (Consent calendar)
• Bill 57 (2026) – Outdoor Play Courts – Amended to CD1 and reported out for passage on second reading with a public hearing to be scheduled. The chair committed to working with DPR on further refinements before the next reading.
• Bill 11 (2026) – Affordable Housing Incentives Reporting – Amended to CD1 and reported out for passage on third reading without objection, despite the administration’s strong opposition.
• Bill 18 (2026) – Amendments to Affordable Housing Provisions – The proposed hand‑carried CD2 was introduced; a motion to amend the bill to CD2 failed to secure enough votes. Due to the absence of sufficient committee members, the committee was unable to take a vote on the motion to report it out. Action on Bill 18 was postponed.