Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Committee on Public Safety and Economy met on October 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in a remote meeting format. The committee considered four agenda items: Bill 53 (2026) regulating shopping carts, two resolutions for appointments and gift acceptance, and an informational briefing on the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) reorganization. The meeting included public testimony, deliberation, and roll call votes.
Proposal: The bill requires retailers to clearly mark shopping carts and prohibits moving them off the premises. Two proposed CD1 amendments were considered: one from Council Chair Waters making it a petty misdemeanor with an affirmative defense, and one from the Committee Chair reducing the fine to $1,000.
Discussion and Testimony:
Key Outcome: Motion to report Bill 53 (CD1) for second reading passed on a roll call vote of 3-1 (Councilmembers Okimoto, Nishimoto, and Chair voting aye; Vice Chair Kia Aina voting nay).
Proposal: Confirms the reappointment of Dr. Richard Kibo to the Ocean Safety Commission for a term ending June 30, 2031.
Discussion and Testimony: Dr. Kibo expressed interest in continuing. One public testifier, Tim Gary, supported the reappointment citing progress. No opposition.
Key Outcome: The resolution was reported out for adoption without objection.
Proposal: Accepts a $3,141.82 gift from Sandra M. Moribe (successor trustee) to the Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Service Division K9 Unit.
Discussion and Testimony: HPD Major Hunter Alu expressed appreciation and requested approval. No public testimony.
Key Outcome: The resolution was reported out for adoption without objection.
Presentation: DEM Director Randall Collins described the reorganization plan to fill 13 new positions (budgeted for FY27) across six sections: plans and operations, logistics, community partnerships, training/exercise, risk mitigation, and public information. He outlined the hiring process timeline and noted the department previously had only 15 staff, limiting EOC activation to 12 hours.
Discussion: Councilmember Kia Aina criticized the presentation as lacking passion and vision, and stressed the importance of pre-disaster planning and community ties. She referenced concerns from a recent NACo event about the EOC. Councilmember Okimoto questioned the necessity of some positions and asked for clearer justification and community engagement. Councilmember Nishimoto asked about three reallocated positions and how the new staff would overcome implementation delays from FEMA and grant cycles.
Key Outcome: No action taken; the briefing was for informational purposes only. Director Collins agreed to provide future updates with more strategic context.
Hello and good afternoon, everybody. It's 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd, 2026. I called a committee on public safety and economy to order. I'd like to welcome committee vice chair Kia Aina, Council members uh Okomoto, Councilmember Nishimoto, and Chair Waters. Councilmember Tupola is excused from today's meeting. Pursuant to Section 92-3.7 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 oral 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 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 all testimonies offered in Olela Hawaii. Additional time as uh time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of all their testimony. 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. All persons who have registered to testify in person will be called upon first. When the timer goes off, please conclude your remarks promptly. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to testify following the registered testifiers. Once in-person testimony is concluded, I will proceed to remote testimony. All persons who have registered to testify remotely by video conference or telephone will 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 your number is called, please listen to the prompt to unmute and press star six. When I call for anyone else standing by remotely, please utilize the zoom raise hand button to indicate your desire to speak. For those joining us by telephone only, please press star nine, indicate your desire to speak. So friendly reminders of tips, video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you're also watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television when you're called to testify. When the timer on the screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. HR section 92-3.7 requires all votes at remote meetings be conducted by roll call on less unanimous. Therefore, our first call for objections. If there are any, I will call a roll call vote. Written testimonies include the testifiers address, email address, phone number, will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off all cell phones due to duration of this meeting. All right. Moving on to agenda item number one for action, Bill 53 2026. This bill relates to shopping carts. Members, I have a poll a proposed posted CD1 submitted by Council Chair Waters identified as OCS 2026-0612. For your information, amendments are listed on the agenda. Members, we have a uh we have distributed two proposed handwritten cd1s. One submitted by Council Chair Waters identified as OCS 2026-0660, and the other one submitted by myself, identified as OCS 2026 0654. At this time, I will be rejoining my proposal hand carry CD1 for consideration. I will now defer it to Council Chair Waters for further explanation on the amendments. Um, but just to be clear, this bill addresses stolen and abandoned shopping carts that are often left in public spaces, obstructing sidewalks, clogging streams, and creating safety hazards. It requires the owner to clearly mark their carts and prohibit prohibits moving carts from the owner's premises. It does not target kupuna who use personal shopping carts and is not intended to criminalize houseless people. Abandoned shopping carts cost retailers between 200 and 800 each to replace. And oftentimes the cost passed on to residents through higher grocery prices. And this came from the prosecutor's office, which I thought was a good idea, but making an affirmative defense that the possessor of the shopping cart would have to affirmatively prove that they did not have permission to have the shopping cart outside of the commercial premises. Yes. So to proposed um CD1 submitted by Council Chair Waters makes the following amendments.