Bill on diaper-changing stations approved

Diaper-changing stations would have to be provided for men and women in new or significantly renovated commercial and business spaces under a bill approved unanimously by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday.

Bill 45 was introduced by Councilman Trevor Ozawa, who said he had trouble finding somewhere to change his infant child while at a restaurant in a major shopping center. He told colleagues that the legislation “addresses caregiving parity.”

“Parents, family members, hanai aunties and uncles, they’re all increasingly being asked to provide child care, and it’s important that each caretaker have access to safe and reasonable accommodations,” he said.

The proposal, which would make businesses put up change stations either in both men’s and women’s restrooms, or in family/unisex facilities, won support from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration and the Department of Planning and Permitting.

The measure also got positive feedback from Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, a new mother, who said, “I support giving Councilmember Ozawa the same rights as I do with my baby.”

Lauren Zirbel, executive director of the Hawaii Food Industry Association, raised concerns in written testimony that the proposal would impinge upon the minimum floor space for restrooms required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Zirbel asked that food retail be excluded entirely.

“Bathroom space is already at a premium and bathroom maintenance is a high cost,” she said. Her association’s members also worry that the change stations would be subjected to vandalism, which may create potential hazards.

But Ozawa told colleagues that the bill allows for a hardship exemption if a business entity cannot physically install a change station in a restroom. The bill also states that ADA mobility requirements would trump the change-station requirement, he said. A waiver could also be obtained by a business if the cost of providing the change stations exceeds 10 percent of the cost of overall proposed construction, he said.

The proposal has been nicknamed “the London Bill” in honor of Ozawa’s daughter, who turns 1 Thursday.

Also on Wednesday, the Council:

» Gave final approval to a $75,000 settlement of a lawsuit in which Justin Kaawa, a private citizen, said that Honolulu police officer Jeffrey Fleigner and another, unidentified officer pepper-sprayed, punched, kicked, choked and beat him when he stopped on the H-1 freeway near Kapolei after being tailgated by the officers on April 12, 2011.

Kaawa said Fleigner had had a prior history of run-ins with him and his family. City attorneys denied nearly all the allegations and said Kaawa was properly stopped and resisted arrest. An HPD spokeswoman said Fleigner, who will enter his ninth year as an officer next month, continues to be an officer and is based in the Kapolei patrol district.

» Gave final approval to Bill 24, establishing a car-sharing program that would feature up to 50 reserved, off-street car-sharing parking stalls and a maximum of 175 car-sharing meter parking decals for companies that operate the new service. The program is endorsed by the Department of Transportation Services, which sees car-sharing as one way of getting more vehicles off the road.

» Gave final approval to Bill 30, which raises the cap on property taxes paid for credit unions to $1,000, an increase from the $300 minimum tax they have been paying.