Councilman wants to delay landfill vote
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Saying more time is needed to gather information, a key city councilman is hoping for a six-month delay in the politically volatile decision of where O'ahu's next major dump site should be.
The state Land Use Commission agreed last year to allow the city's Waimanalo Gulch landfill to remain open to mid-2008, but directed the City Council to pick a new site by June 1.
Rod Tam, who heads the City Council's Public Works and Economic Development Committee, wants the deadline pushed to December and will hold public briefings on the selection process this month in Kapolei and Kailua.
The time extension would delay the decision until after the fall elections in which five council members must run to keep their seats. Tam, who is not among them, said: "The decision must be made based on facts, and as much as possible without politics."
Land Use Commission executive officer Anthony Ching said a time extension would be subject to the commission's approval if formally requested by the city. But Mayor Jeremy Harris sees no need for a delay and says the council must take responsibility for the issue.
"If they're not willing to make the decision, then empower me to make the decision," Harris said. "It's like the old adage: Lead, follow or get out of the way."
The question of where the landfill should go has long been contentious, with much debate over whether any further expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch site should be allowed. The 64.5-acre dumpsite near Kahe Point in Leeward O'ahu opened in 1989 and was filled to capacity last year. The dump was then expanded by 21 acres after city officials said it would close in 2008.
The city could still try to expand the site further, Ching said, but there are no guarantees that permission would be granted.
Leeward residents and landowners, fed up with the dump's foul smell and negative effect on property values, have lobbied hard to close Waimanalo Gulch. But expanding it could be far cheaper than starting a new dump elsewhere; few residents or elected officials want one in their back yard.
Tam said the selection process must be opened up because the mayor's landfill advisory committee violated the state's open-meetings law last year when it eliminated Waimanalo Gulch from a list of sites evaluated.
The council is not required to choose from the list, which includes one Windward and three Leeward sites.
Harris said expanding Waimanalo Gulch would be the most logical choice if allowed by the state commission, but he noted that it's important to reduce trash through recycling and other methods.
Tam said he wants to gather more information about the cost and economic effects of potential landfills while ensuring that the public will have its say.
Others say they welcome more opportunities for public input but aren't convinced that more time is required.
"It's a tough decision, but we should make it by June 1," Councilman Charles Djou said. "We shouldn't just punt until after the election."
Tam is sponsoring community briefings scheduled for March 29, from 7 to 9 a.m., at Kapolei Hale, and March 30, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Kailua District Park multi-purpose room.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
