City Council discusses Mayor’s proposal for new Ocean Safety Department

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Honolulu City Council is taking up Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s proposal to create a new Ocean Safety Department. This comes as the City Council has received both strong opposition and support on how the department should be stood up.

The Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Sustainability and Health discussed resolutions to create a new Ocean Safety Department Wednesday. One includes the Mayor’s proposal that would stand up a new department with an appointed director. More than a dozen pieces of testimony were submitted in opposition from lifeguards and community members citing concerns over no commission part of the push.

“I think the commission is the logical way to go and again I think the public would see the same thing and it would provide the most accountability and transparency,” said Aka Tamashiro, who opposed Resolution 103.

However, the City set the record straight on its stance and the process for standing up a new department and a commission.

“It seems like everyone is in alignment for a stand alone department and a commission,” said Michael Formby, Managing Director. “What the Mayor cannot do and what I don’t think everyone in the public understands, he cannot appoint a commission to oversee a department, but the voters can.”

That’s where resolutions to create an Ocean Safety Commission come in. Councilmembers Matt Weyer and Andria Tupola have both introduced separate resolutions to let the voters decide if a commission is needed through charter amendments.

“Putting forward a commission would be a good idea to just provide oversight,” said Matt Weyer, Honolulu City Councilmember.

“Knowing that the administration is serious about creating it, knowing that they’re in favor of the commission, I see that it’ll be favorable for everyone,” said Andria Tupola, Honolulu City Councilmember.

The administration also addressed concerns over a Mayor appointed director and added that all appointees have to be confirmed by the City Council first.

“I heard that because the Mayor and Managing Director had already picked a department head. That is absolutely categorically false. We do not work that way. I’ve never had any discussion with anybody about being a director of a future department,” Formby said.

This comes as Ocean Safety Chief John Titchen was put on administrative leave without pay pending an investigation. Titchen’s attorney, Eric Seitz, said he is still suspended but with pay.

The committee voted to pass the Mayor’s proposal out to the full council.