Mold, roof leaks and even dust mites and disabled-access issues at the historic Honolulu Hale building are among the pricey problems that city officials have targeted with $14 million in fixes, but City Council members got a warning yesterday that the cost is rising.

City Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz pressed officials from the Hannemann administration about what they are doing to fix the leaky roof, get rid of mold and mites and make the offices more accessible as required by law.

Dela Cruz quizzed Eugene Lee, director of Department of Design and Construction, about why the repairs are being done "with Band-Aid after Band-Aid after Band-Aid" instead of as part of a comprehensive plan.

"How much would it cost to do it right the first time?" Dela Cruz asked.

Lee answered that costs could rise to $40 million to $50 million to get it all done. Lee said the staff is trying to address each problem based on the budget available and focusing on health and safety issues as a top priority.

Lee said city crews are trying to repair all the leaks, replace draperies, remove carpets and move staff to make other fixes, but he thinks they are making progress with the money available.

"It's an old building; it's a grand old building," he said.

But city Managing Director Wayne Hashiro said he worries that costs in this construction economy could rise from $40 million to as much as $70 million.

"We would not do this in one swoop," he said. "We can't do it all at once, because we're doing it with what we have in the budget."

After seeing the problems of working in a leaky office, Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi suggested that her staff members get out of one City Hall office, and Lee said they were moved to a nearby building.

"They were sitting in mold and asbestos, so I made them move out," Kobayashi said. She said it was difficult for them to work "with trash bags and tarp all over your desk."

Laverne Higa, director of the Department of Facility Maintenance, said crews are cleaning more often, vacuuming and dusting to help improve conditions.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.