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My name is Brian Nishimura and I am a private planning consultant here in Hilo. I am <br /> here to testify on Bill 151 relating to floodways to urge you to move with caution before <br /> implementing changes to the flooding and drainage requirements that will have <br /> significant cost implications with uncertain benefits in terms of flood protection for lives <br /> and property. <br /> The Council is faced with many issues and it is difficult to balance the objectives of <br /> numerous initiatives that come before you on a daily basis. Flood protection and <br /> affordable housing are two prominent issues that have worthy public objectives and there <br /> is little disagreement that we need to address them. In doing so, however, it is important <br /> to keep in mind that the pursuit of improvements in one arena will have negative impacts <br /> on another. <br /> As a consultant that has worked with two housing non-profits for the past fifteen years, I <br /> have participated in the uphill battle to provide affordable housing units for low and <br /> moderate income families. Every affordable housing project has relied on governmental <br /> subsidies and these dollars are scarce re~urces that need to be utilized in the most <br /> efficient maffier possible. It would be a shame to have these scarce resources utilized to <br /> comply with requirements that would have little or no effect on the low and moderate <br /> income families being served. <br /> I am not an engineer and will leave the technical arguments regarding the proposed <br /> <br /> changes for them to make. I do know that the vast majority of projects that have <br /> complied with the current requirements have not encountered flood damage even during <br /> <br /> the most severe stones we have encountered during the past thirty Years. Yes, there are <br /> examples of severe flood damage that has occurnxi but we need to examine the cause of <br /> these problems as they relate to those specific situations. We new to take the time to <br /> address the drainage issues in a way that is sensible and effective for site specific <br /> situations rather than have blanket requirements for all when the cost of those <br /> <br /> requirements will not be reflected in improved protection for all. <br /> <br /> Thank you for this opportunity to provide these commerns. <br /> N°~.a.ne ~ u <br /> }"a <br /> e#' : 22 2007 <br /> Ref. p <br /> °te <br /> <br />