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PWIRC Rept. No. 21 May 15, 2007 <br /> Page 4 <br /> Roz Peterson, also from the Wai`aha azea, testified that during the last seven months with the <br /> <br /> problems from Arianna Farms, she has been watching the culture being destroyed in Kona. She <br /> said that the watershed needs to be preserved as part of the valuable resources that are all <br /> interconnected. She lives at 1,500 feet on property that is adjacent to Arianna Farms. They have <br /> cleared up to 2,000 feet in altitude. The houses are being undermined with water. She said that <br /> we need stricter laws and better enforcement. <br /> After public testimony, the Council was introduced to experts, including Cazol Tyau-Beam, the <br /> State Coordinator for the NFIP; Stephen McPeek and Andrew Stout from the Natural Resource <br /> and Conservation Service (MRCS); and Eric Lee, Hydraulic Engineer from the Army Corps of <br /> Engineers. There were also several field representatives from the NRCS from around the island. <br /> Ms. Tyau-Beam stated that Bi1151 was an effort to bring the County into compliance with <br /> national standards so that the County could continue to receive disaster relief from FEMA for <br /> earthquake, floods, and hurricanes. Mr. McPeek said that Hawaii Island needs to develop a <br /> unique approach to floodplain management because it is geologically the youngest community in <br /> Hawaii. Ordinances from the mainland will not work here. He said we need to review our <br /> mapping and floodplain boundaries, that the County needs to provide for developments mauka <br /> that affect our watersheds, and that concise mapping is needed. He hopes that the Council will <br /> show leadership in regard to floodplain management and that the ahapua`a system effectively <br /> planned for water control. The County Council watched a DVD developed by NRCS entitled <br /> Kona Floodways (Comm. 176.27). This DVD dramatically depicts Kona's past floods and what <br /> caused them. <br /> Ms. Tyau-Beam stated she works with Public Works Engineers, Kelly Gomes and Kai Emmler. <br /> She started a PowerPoint presentation (Comm. 176.16). After the presentation, Ms. Tyau-Beam <br /> said that she had reviewed the County's proposed floodplain ordinance and had given extensive <br /> comments and recommendations to bring the Code up to compliance with FEMA standazds. She <br /> stated that the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) maps were out of date and were expected to <br /> be updated by 2009. She cautioned that there needs to be a provision in the new ordinance to <br /> incorporate new maps as they aze completed. She informed the Council about how the map <br /> change process occurs and that the Community Rating System (CRS) provided a way for the <br /> County to reduce premiums for flood insurance. As of January 25, 2007, there are 4,025 <br /> residences in Hawaii County that aze covered by Flood Insurance. Maui County has <br /> successfully reduced flood insurance by 10 percent because of their participation in the CRS. <br /> Director McClure stated that the County Administration does want to participate in the program <br /> and is trying to hire a floodplain administrator to accomplish this. <br /> Mr. Hoffmann asked what more can be done to achieve this goal. Ms. Tyau-Beam stated that <br /> Hawaii County needs to be compliant with the basic rules and needs the resources to administer <br /> <br /> the program. Mr. Jacobson said he is concerned that 13,000 acres of forest mauka of Hilo will <br /> be cut down, which will increase flooding and increase the need for flood insurance. Mr. Higa <br /> was concerned about Four Mile Stream mauka of Palai Bridge and what the channelization does <br /> <br />