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s ~ ~ a..,. <br /> LAND USE RESEARCH <br /> FOUNDATION OF HAWAII <br /> 70o Bishop Street, Ste. ig28 <br /> Honolulu, Hawaii g68t3 <br /> Phone Szr-47t7 <br /> Fax 536-or32 <br /> September 9, 2007 <br /> <br /> The Honorable Pete Hoffman <br /> Council Chair & Presiding Officer <br /> and Members of the Hawaii County Council <br /> 333 Kilauea Avenue, 2nd Floor Council Room <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 councittestimonyCa~co.hawaii.hi.us <br /> RE: Bill 51, Draft 5, Amendment to Chapter 27, Flood Control, Hawaii County <br /> Code 1983 (2005 Edkion), as Amended, Relating to Stormwater Management. <br /> {Updates Chapter 27 to conform to Federal Flood Insurance Program standards.} <br /> Dear Chair Hoffman and Council Members, <br /> My name is David Arakawa, Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation of <br /> Hawaii ("LURE', a private, non-profd research and trade association whose members <br /> include major Hawaii landowners, devebpers and a utility company. One of LURF's <br /> missions is to advocate for reasonable and rational land use planning, legislation and <br /> regulation affecting common problems in Hawaii, such as housing, development, and <br /> transportation. <br /> LURE supports stonnwater management legislation which is based on federal and state <br /> requirements, and would also support additional requiremerrts which are based on <br /> scientific or engineering principles, practices and considerations. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> Council revisions to Bill 51. We understand that Councilman Stacy Higa <br /> amended Bill 51 to its original intent. Bill 51 was originally intended by the Hawaii <br /> County Department of Public Works Department (`DPW to be a `housekeeping° <br /> measure. The proposed revisions to the Hawaii County Code woukt ensure compliance <br /> with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), thus guaranteeing access to Federal <br /> disaster assistance and low-interest bans from the Federal Emergency Management <br /> Agency (FEMA). The original version of Bill 51, drafted by DPW, satisfied the federal <br /> and state requirements. <br /> Hawaii County has been put on notice that its rules and regulations must comply with <br /> requirements of the NFIP. According to the review of government and private experts, <br /> Bill 51, Draft 5, complies with NFIP and FEMA requirements. <br /> Comm, No. /7(0• ~/v5 <br /> Ref. To: h..s <br /> Ref. Dote <br /> <br />