REP PWIRC 021 05/15/2007 2006-2008

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PWIRC Rept. No. 21 May 15, 2007 Page 8 Mr. Yagong said that there was $500,000 in the budget for FIRM mapping and commented that he hoped the Council would increase that figure to $1 million. David Edgar, who is a coffee farmer in the Wai`aha azea of Kona, was flooded. His coffee tree roots aze exposed and he is losing topsoil. The County engineers have tried to fix the problem but they have not. Andy Anderson said he is in favor of the Council implementing the 100-yeaz flood standazd. The 10-year standard is not sufficient. He said that allowing people to operate under low standards puts people and property at risk. He said that special management areas are needed; projects continue in floodplains and natural waterways are being disturbed. William Paris said that because of the lava flows trying to control those lands with slopes over 10 percent is crazy. He has been a member of the Soil and Water Conservation District and is responsible for the Kainaliu drainage, and for the drainage that gets water off of the Wai`aha area and drains near Hale Halawai. He said that it's time that the County addresses these problems, but we should confine ourselves to the areas that have problems. Mr. Jacobson moved to amend Bi1151, to Draft 3, incorporating Ms. Ford's amendments proposed at the meeting in Comm. 176.35; Mr. Pilago seconded the motion. Chair Ford explained that Bill 51, Draft 3 had changes that were from the Hawaii County General Plan on Flooding. The County is not in compliance and Chapter 27 does not incorporate the General Plan. She asked that the Committee consider postponement so that she could look at the General Plan. She then made a motion to strike "non-elevation," which is part of the lowest floor, on page 10; this motion carried unanimously. She cited the Flood Hazard Analysis from July 1977 from the Soil and Water Conservation District which stated that any attempt to confine water will result in increased velocity. The report recommends that the 100-year flood event should be the basis for a flooding ordinance. Thirty years later this is still not the standard. Buildings should be 1-foot above the 100-year base flood water level to keep water off of floor joists and so that debris being carried by water would clear out. She recommended that building should be restricted in floodplains; that people downhill should be protected and that watercourses should develop naturally and not be channelized, which increases the velocity of runoff. Director McClure stated that all of the FIRM maps on 100-year storm events are 22 yeazs old. He suggested that we implement the minimum requirements to comply with the FEMA requirements and then incorporate these new amendments into the Code. Planning Director Yuen asked if this ordinance was to affect people in their yards. If it is for houses only, or what would be affected. Mr. Hoffmann said he challenged the basic assumption that every single acre and every single lot should be developed. We build and develop in watersheds and floodplains, things flow from mauka to makai, and that we need to be serious about protecting our people and resources. He said that he believes that people deserve a safe island and we should deal with the issue now and he would be willing to compromise on the 10 percent grade in his amendment.