LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Council Chairman Kaipo Asing promised good planning and Mayor Bryan Baptiste promised a nuts-and-bolts approach to county operations yesterday at Kaua'i County inauguration ceremonies.

On a Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall stage ablaze in tropical foliage, Baptiste sat alongside seven incoming Council members for the ceremonies. Asing was elected chairman and Mel Rapozo vice chairman in a council meeting before the program. Other members of the new Council are Tim Bynum, Jay Furfaro, Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, Ron Kouchi and JoAnn Yukimura.

Asing proposed a moratorium on any new resort zoning islandwide during the coming term, and promised a focus on updating the county zoning ordinance, updating shoreline setback regulations, updating the county solid-waste plan, reviewing the county housing policy and looking at the impact of super-large stores on local businesses.

Baptiste, who enters his final four-year term, promised not to duck issues.

"We will take everything head-on," he said.

He said his focus has been on low-profile but critical county functions like paving roads, repairing buildings, replacing equipment and getting low-cost rental and owned housing projects under way. For the future, he said he wants to expand both the number of police beats on Kaua'i and the number of officers in the police department. He also pledged to continue active conversations with the community about community needs through his Ka Leo O Kaua'i program.

"Service is our only business," the mayor said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.