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Council Committee Advances Measure to Separate Ocean Safety Division

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A proposal asking the mayor to establish a new Honolulu Department of Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services personnel, separate from other emergency services, passed out of committee on Tuesday.

Ocean Safety along with the Emergency Medical Services Division are currently two divisions of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

Resolution 21-122 wants to create two separate departments. The proposal says it would improve administrative efficiency, effectiveness and economy.

The resolution received 198 testimonies in total -- all in support.

But Mayor Rick Blangiardi opposes the measure, he said at the Public Safety Committee meeting.

"I’m not opposed to saying at some point in the future this is worth a discussion. But under the circumstances right now, I just feel like we’ve had no time to plan something like this," he said. "Because there’s a lot more at stake here if we’re going to break away Ocean Safety, given the significance of it."

"It has to do with their facilities, their resources, et cetera. There are different things like that in total," he added.

The measure will now move to a hearing before the full council.

It was introduced by Councilmember Heidi Tsuneyoshi. Councilmembers Augie Tulba and Carol Fukunaga voted yes while Councilmember Calvin Say voted no.

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