REP PWIRC 021 05/15/2007 2006-2008

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PWIRC Rept. No. 21 May 15, 2007 Page 11 proposed Draft 3 has over 30 items that were not in Draft 2. Six of these items have major policy issues. Mr. Yoshimoto asked for clarification and asked when it would be appropriate to make a motion to postpone Bi1151. He then proceeded to make the motion to postpone the measure for 90 days. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ikeda. He explained that he thought the Committee was the place to hash out differences, and then, after most of the issues were aired, the bill would move to the council agenda. He supports Public Works Director Bruce McClure's request. Mr. Jacobson was against postponing, he stated that Director McClure was here before and asked for more time. The Council needs to approve this. The engineering staff can look at this and the Council needs to move forward. Director McClure said that they had only had three days to look at this. Mr. Hoffmann said we have to approve of Draft 2 and then can move on to Draft 3. This Administration has had six and a half yeazs to get on with this issue. In April the Council was asked to bifurcate this issue so we could first address the NFIP issue and then consider the other issues, and now the department is asking fora 90-day postponement. He said the issue has been under consideration for three months. He then asked where the engineering community has been. Mr. Higa reiterated that the bill was originally brought forward to come into compliance with the NFIP issues and inquired if there was a deadline to be in compliance. Director McClure stated the deadline is in September, but didn't know what the exact date was. Mr. Pilago also stated the he was against postponement. That the Council has delayed too long on this issue, and that as difficult as Communication 176.35 is, the Council should still set a standazd, because the Wai`aha families aze suffering. Mr. Yagong stated that these people have come consistently to testify but the council still has not addressed their flooding problem. He said what the Council should vote for is a funding mechanism to address the flooding issue. This bill is good for future development, but will not solve the Wai`aha problem. If the committee moves this up, it will put the engineering community and the Public Works Department in Kona on notice to get to Council the information that they need. He said he will not vote for the postponement and he will not commit to voting in favor of this bill until he gets information about what's wrong with the bill specifically, line by line and section by section. Ms. Ford said that there were 18 communications in favor of the bill and nine in opposition. She said that Wai`aha was not the only area that was affected, but the whole island. She stated that what was originally prepared by Director McClure was amended by Mr. Hoffmann and herself. She said that the County is not in compliance. Most of the 30 amendments came from the County General Plan, Flooding and Other Natural Hazards. Chapter 27 is meant to promote the public health, safety, and welfare and this bill is about floodplain management. The engineers were given every opportunity to respond.