Remarks by Tommy Waters
189 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 7 of 8
“Thank you. Members, we're in discussion. Seeing none, any objections or reservations to the motion to amend? Noting no objections or reservations, Resolution 26-201, CD1 has been amended to the posted FD. Any further discussion, members? Okay, roll call, Mr. Clerk.”
“Thank you. CR 278-2026 and Resolution 26-201, CD 1, FD 1 has been adopted. Moving to page 21, Vice Chair Topola.”
“It's been moved and seconded. Vice Chair Topola for the explanation.”
“Thank you. Mr. Clerk, do we have any testifiers?”
“Please proceed. Oh, you said none? Sorry, Mr. Chair, we have none. None, okay. Members, we're in discussion. Seeing none, any objections or reservations? Noting no objections or reservations, the balance of committee reports has been adopted. Turning to new business, bottom of page 21, Council Member Cordero.”
“It's been moved and seconded. Thank you for the explanation. Mr. Clerk, do we have any testifiers?”
“Thank you. Is Michael Wang here? I have two registered testifiers, Jacob Wynick and Michael Wang.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Okay, thank you. Members, we're in discussion. Council Member Weyer?”
“Thank you. Any further discussion? Council Member Topolo.”
“Thank you. Thank you. Any further discussion?”
“Yeah, no, understand, well said, thank you. Okay, members, any objections or reservations? No, there are no objections or reservations. Resolution 26-216 has been adopted. Turning to the top of page 22, there are no items for the committee on the whole. Are there any announcements? Council Member Toba.”
“Appreciate that. Thank you. Oh, thank you guys. Vice Chair Topolo for the motion to adjourn.”
“It's been moved and seconded. Any objections? Seeing none, the council stands adjourned until Thursday, November 5th, 2026 at 10 a.m. Thank you, members.”
“Thank you. I think you might have answered my first question. What is a quick build safety demonstration improvement? So you're saying signing, striping, speed humps, bumps, that type of thing?”
“Well, thank you. Your department is probably one of the best in the city for applying for and receiving federal funds, so good job. You said that it's for 50 uncontrolled crosswalk and signalized intersections. So if you have a specific number, do you have specific projects that you can share with us?”
“Yeah, that'd be great because we go to neighborhood boards every month, as does the administration, and people ask us all the time about safety improvements, and it'd be nice to be able to share that with them and let them know that we are actually getting things done. So if you can share that with each of the members, that'd be really helpful. Just a shout out on the corner of Kīlauea and I think 22nd Avenue is a really, really dangerous crosswalk. It's a four lane road. And I know during complete streets, you're talking about reducing it down to two lanes, but it really is dangerous. And I…”
“Yeah, great. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.”
“Thank you so much. My understanding is that the fund is going to be made from camping permits. Is there anything else that's going to be contributing to the fund besides camping permits?”
“Thank you so much. I'm happy to support. But one last question. So for years we've been talking about charging non-residents parking fees at traditionally hot spots that are popular amongst tourists. Does this bill authorize that?”
“Right. You may have been the director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that implemented paid parking at various sites like Topali Lookout, where you have this machine and people just go and pay on the machine. I think the state generates about $16 million a year on these parking machines. So if you could do the same here, like maybe even like at the blowhole, tourists are gonna pay it, you know. But anyway, yeah, that'd be great, thank you.”
“Thank you so much. This prospect sounds really exciting. It definitely is a benefit to the developer as well as to the public, but I really had some nuts and bolts questions. Just following up, with what Council Member Tupola asked about pending rules. Are you testified that pending rules are currently being drafted? Is that correct?”
“Fantastic, because oftentimes roles take years. So if we're in final draft, that's really good news. And then how long do these CFDs last? Is it the same amount of years as the mortgage, like 30 years or 15 years, or is it a shorter period of time?”
“I see. And in the RISE example that you gave, The property tax revenue is frozen. That's right. Would that be same with the CFD process?”
“Okay. So the city can still generate revenue based on the increase in property values?”