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REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE <br />ON PUBLIC WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT <br />DATE: November 19, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 604Bill No. 107 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:30 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit, to which was referred Bill No. 107, <br />reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 107, transmitted by Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Royd Henderson, via Communication <br />No. 604, dated October 29, 2025, amends Chapter 17 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 <br />Edition, as amended) relating to the Fire Code. <br />Bill 107 adopts the State Fire Code as the County Fire Code; and adds administrative procedures <br />relating to fire code enforcement, including permits, reviews, and inspections. <br />Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Royd Henderson was present and provided background information <br />on the amendment to the Fire Code. <br />Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi raised a concern about water flow standards. <br />Mr. Henderson replied that the water flow standard is set by Department of Water Supply <br />through other sections of the Zoning Code. Bill 107 simplifies the Fire Code to lessen confusion <br />during project development with safety in mind. The Fire Department has multiple ways to <br />address community needs, including movable tanker trucks. <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba gave his appreciation for the Fire Code amendment. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball expressed her appreciation for its simplicity, especially for <br />the design and engineering community. Ms. Kimball also suggested an amendment to the bill that <br />would ensure any previously adopted County -level amendments to the Fire Code remains in effect <br />when the State Fire Code is updated, unless the County -level amendments are prohibited <br />by the updated State Fire Code. <br />PCPWMT Report No. 8 <br />