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Sit-lie bills advance through City Council committee

BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to prohibit sitting or lying on Wai­kiki sidewalks

Separate bills that would ban lying and sitting on public sidewalks in Waikiki and throughout Oahu moved out of the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday.

Also advancing were two separate bills that would make it illegal to urinate or defecate on public sidewalks islandwide.

The following bills were approved:

» Bill 42, prohibiting sitting and lying on sidewalks in the Waikiki Special District. The vote was 3-1, with Councilman Breene Harimoto as the lone "no" vote. Members Ann Kobayashi and Ron Menor voted "yes" with reservations.

» Bill 45, prohibiting sitting and lying on sidewalks throughout Oahu. The vote was 3-1, with Harimoto as the one "no" vote and members Kobayashi and Menor voting "yes" with reservations.

» Bill 43, prohibiting urinating and defecating in public areas in the Waikiki Special District. The vote was 4-0.

» Bill 46, prohibiting urinating and defecating in public areas islandwide. The vote was 4-0, with Harimoto, Kobayashi and Menor all voting "yes" with reservations.

The bills are now expected to be heard by the full Council, for the second of three necessary approvals on July 9 at Windward Community College.

A fifth measure, Bill 44, prohibiting sitting and lying on sidewalks from River Street to Ward Avenue, was deferred.

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