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<br /> PWIRC Rept. No. 21 May 15, 2007 <br /> <br /> Page 9 <br /> <br /> At the request of Chair Ford, the bill along with the motion to amend to Draft 3 was postponed to <br /> May 15, 2007. <br /> <br /> Among the members of the public who registered to present oral testimony on the bill on <br /> May 15th, was Roger Harris; however, he was not present at the time his nazne was called; on the <br /> registration form, Mr. Harris stated he opposed the bill in its present form. <br /> Ken Melrose of Kealakekua, is a project manager and does not believe that all land is subject to <br /> Flood Hazards. He said that this is a technical issue and advised that the engineers should have <br /> input, and that drainage and erosion control issues should be in Chapter 10, Erosion and <br /> Sedimentation Control. There should be a thorough assessment of the cost analysis on grading <br /> on 10 percent or greater slopes. He said that 75 percent of Hawaii Preparatory Academy's <br /> property has a 10 percent slope or greater. The slope of the County's parcel in Waikoloa and the <br /> site of the West Hawaii Civic Center exceeds 10 percent. Most of the coffee farms and <br /> Important Ag Lands exceed 10 percent, which would keep fanners from expanding their <br /> businesses. He proposed that the Committee pass the bill to satisfy the FEMA standard and then <br /> work with engineers to establish greater standards. <br /> Rick Vidgin, representing the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and their 750 members, <br /> stated that the Chamber supports the Council's efforts to seek safeguazds; there should be good <br /> mapping, and Bi1151 needs to be passed to fulfill FEMA's requirements. The Chamber <br /> recommends that the Council pass the Administration's bill and then take the lead from the <br /> engineers. Enforcement is needed but they do not support the amendments. <br /> Mazcel Loren of Waimea, is President of Island Mortgage Company. She said that Bill 51 will <br /> render the whole island a floodplain and would require that many homeowners purchase <br /> floodplain insurance, which would cause chaos in the mortgage community. <br /> Hugh Ono, a registered professional engineer, past Director of the Hawaii County Department <br /> of Public Works and past State Highway Administrator, said that he thinks this is an engineering <br /> matter and should be addressed project by project. He thinks the ad hoc committee proposed by <br /> Director McClure is a good idea. <br /> Mr. Jacobson said that making this an engineering matter ignores that people are being flooded. <br /> He is glad the Council is taking responsibility to update this ordinance. He cautioned people to <br /> remember that people in Kona are being flooded and the engineers haven't taken care of it. <br /> Chuck Flaherty supports Bill 51 with amendments as stated in Comm. No. 176.35 and believes <br /> this will satisfy the terms of the Hokulia agreement. He does not support Comm. No. 176.40 <br /> from Public Works Director Bruce McClure, and said that the County has had enough time to <br /> study this; they can study it after this ordinance passes, and that engineers have created the <br /> current mess. He said that an ad hoc committee might be a good thing to bring about a <br /> floodplain management program and incorporate the General Plan requirements. <br /> <br />