Council votes to block Thomas Square transfer

A plan aimed at blocking Mayor Kirk Caldwell from transferring oversight of Thomas Square to the Department of Enterprise Serv-ices was approved 9-0 by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday.

The transfer is part of the Caldwell administration’s plan to overhaul Thomas Square, a place of significance in Hawaiian history that also is considered Honolulu’s first public park. City officials say the transfer would let the park benefit from Enterprise Services’ maintenance staff and financial resources working out of Neal S. Blaisdell Center across the street.

But area Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, who authored Bill 23, said she and her constituents in the lower Makiki-Kakaako area are suspicious that the transfer could lead to over-commercialization of the 6.5-acre park.

Bill 23 would prohibit Enterprise Services from jurisdiction over any city parks and recreational facilities — except for Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Shell and municipal golf courses, which it already oversees.

Administration officials did not testify on the bill Wednesday. They have previously said the upgrades at Thomas Square include a 468-square-foot concession space but that they do not envision major changes. They also pointed out that Parks and Recreation allows commercial activities at city parks and that Enterprise Services would add similar activities at Thomas Square. Events would be free to the public, but vendors would pay a “nominal” fee.

City officials previously also questioned whether the bill violated the separation of powers between the administrative and legislative branches.

The first phase of Thomas Square renovations started in late December and is expected to run through midsummer. The plan calls for Enterprise Services to take over when it reopens.

Several people testified Wednesday in favor of the bill.

H. Doug Matsuoka said he’s dubious about what will happen if Enterprise Services takes over. The department does not appear to have administrative rules but seems to come up with restrictions arbitrarily such as where photography and food are allowed, Matsuoka said.

The Rev. Jim Danner, who lives nearby, said the park does not need an overhaul. “The only changes we need to make to Thomas Square are the new landscaping that they’re presently doing, a play equipment area for children, and an upgrade of the (existing) fountain to a flat surface with holes, a water feature for children to play in.”

Also Wednesday, the Council voted 7-2 to give final approval to Bill 20, expanding the city’s sit-lie prohibition to include additional areas of the Ala Moana- Sheridan Street and McCully- Moiliili neighborhoods.

Members Brandon Elefante and Kymberly Pine voted against the bill, as they have with all sit-lie measures, arguing that they are unfair to the homeless and are ineffective, simply shifting people around.

It’s unclear whether the mayor will sign the bill. City attorneys have argued that sit-lie prohibitions are better able to withstand constitutional challenges if it can be asserted that people lying and sitting on sidewalks are directly detrimental to businesses.