Plan shifts sewer work to water board

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

The City Council is considering a plan to transfer the city's wastewater workers into the semi-autonomous Board of Water Supply.

Councilman Gary Okino proposed the move as a way he sees to save money on operating expenses and shifting the functions away from direct control by the city administration. Okino has been critical of Mayor Jeremy Harris' tapping $60 million from the city's sewer fund to balance the city's $1.1 billion operating budget for the coming fiscal year.

Okino said the move would "protect the funds, the fees that were put into the funds to do a specific purpose, fix our sewer system."

Yesterday, Council policy chairman John Henry Felix recommended that the committee approve the proposal and send it out for public hearing. The plan would have to win the approval of the full council, then be approved by city voters in a charter amendment this fall.

Okino and Council budget chairwoman Ann Kobayashi have continued to predict that city sewer fees will need to be increased within the year. Transferring the sewer functions to the Board of Water Supply would also shift responsibility for any sewage fee increases away from City Hall.

Okino said believes the city could save as much as 30 percent in operating expenses by combining the water and wastewater operations. The heads of those departments said the idea has possibilities but also raises some concerns.

Water Supply chief Clifford Jamile said "in concept we like this proposal."

But he said he would want to make sure that the city transferred related support services that include environmental quality and engineering issues.

Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger said "we believe there is merit to a merger" but the issue needs more study.

Wai'anae Neighborhood Board chairwoman Cynthia Rezentes urged the council to use caution on the issue. She said the transfer could be a way of "cost avoidance" by shifting responsibility away from the City Council.

Councilman Steve Holmes opposed the move now. "I think this is premature," he said. "We would be irresponsible if we didn't take a cautious approach."