Question: Could you tell me why the parking lot adjacent to the downtown post office at 335 Merchant St. has a 24-hour/30-minute parking policy, since the post office is ostensibly closed at night and on the weekends?
Answer: The lot in question is owned and operated by the city, but is meant to service the post office and its customers.
Under Section 23.1 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu covering "Metered Parking Facilities," the lot is listed as "Palace Square."
It is limited to half-hour parking at 75 cents per half hour and is meant for use by postal customers, many of whom access their post office boxes after hours, including weekends, said Michael Formby, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.
"If it appears that the number of spaces are excessive and/or the meter time limits too short during after hours and on weekends, we can make an assessment and take steps to change the ordinance, allowing us to align the use of the spaces with community needs," he said.
It may be that only a portion of the spaces need to be reserved for half-hour limits after hours and on weekends, he said.
"We will assess and take appropriate steps," he said, although how long that process will take is not certain.
Formby pointed out that Section 15-23.2D of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu provides that the DTS director review the rates and parking policy at all municipal off-street parking facilities "as to their consistency with city transportation policies, appropriateness with respect to adjacent land uses, and comparability with private parking rates."
Recommended changes have to be submitted to the City Council for approval.
DTS has been looking at off-street rates relative to potential "revenue enhancement options," Formby said.
"However, we decided to focus first on our overall parking policies, including on-street rates, as there needs to be a reasoned nexus between on-street premium parking spaces, off-street lots and market-priced private lots," he said.
Formby said his department also is working with the Department of Facility Maintenance to consolidate more off-street lots under DTS for operational and policy purposes.
Question: We have out-of-state neighbors who rent their condo as a vacation rental, but then brag about getting the in-state tax rate. Who can look into this? I’m sick of out-of-state or even out-of-country homeowners taking advantage of our homeowners’ exemptions.
Answer: On Oahu, contact the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services’ Real Property Assessment Division.
Its compliance officers will investigate complaints from the public about taxpayers claiming tax exemption they are not entitled to, said Gary Kurokawa, deputy director of Budget and Fiscal Services.
Under Section 8-10.1(d) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, an owner is required to report within 30 days when the owner or property ceases to qualify for an exemption.
The assessor can remove the exemption for up to five years and reassess the property, plus add a $300-per-year nonreporting penalty, Kurokawa said.
You are advised to provide the TMK(tax map key) or address and name of the owner.
He asked that you check the Real Property Division’s websites — honolulupropertytax.com/Main/Home.aspx and realpropertyhonolulu.com — to verify the property in question.
"The public website provides taxpayers exemption and dedication information on all taxable parcels and provides a level of public monitoring to ensure that each taxpayer pays their fair share of real property taxes," Kurokawa said.
He said to email bfsrpmailbox@honolulu.gov to report any suspected violations.
Mahalo
To the person who turned in my hearing aids at the Iwilei Costco. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Aloha. — Fred Hilliard
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