Council amends Bill 22 to preserve mayoral emergency access to funds; FD1 adopted

The Honolulu City Council amended Bill 22 (CD2) to adopt an FD1 that incorporates language preserving emergency access to funds for the mayor in the event of disaster, and the council approved the amended bill on third reading.

Budget chair and other members agreed to add language from a prior floor draft dealing with emergency powers after noting that a related bill (Bill 36) had failed earlier. Council member Cardenio moved to further amend the FD1 to include that proviso; the motion was seconded and carried on roll call.

Chair Waters framed the decision in a broader context about timing and leadership: "I've decided to withdraw my floor draft and instead trust our budget chair, go forward with the CD 2 as amended by what was just stated today." Waters also explained the public‑safety rationale behind retaining the mayoral access language: "...in the event there was a hurricane or earthquake, we want to give the mayor the ability to access these emergency funds without having to come to us. If there's a hurricane or earthquake, that's the language that's always been in there."

Council member Cardenio moved the verbal amendment on the floor: "So moved. Would like to amend, further amend the proposed FD 1, by council member dos Santos Tam, to include the proviso stated that was just stated." The clerk later confirmed the OCS reference as OCS2025-0462 for the item on the calendar.

The council asked whether there were objections or reservations before waiving the 48‑hour notice; Council member Cordero recorded "Reservations" on the floor. After the clerk called the roll, the clerk reported "there are 9 ayes," and the adoption was recorded as CR184: "CR184 has been adopted in bill 22. CD 2 FD 1 has passed third reading."

The action preserves language granting the mayor access to emergency funds in a declared disaster and advances Bill 22 on third reading. Council discussion noted the procedural choice to revert to the budget chair's amended draft and that members had debated further amendments earlier in the meeting; Cordero's recorded reservation was entered without changing the outcome.