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Ncv. 6. 2007 3:02FM Kona Kohala Chamoer ct Commerce '0i' (~Q{~~•y~MA~ 75.5737 Kunkfnl Hwy. °uke :'Oft ~H~~~ KaB~a•Kona HI96740 ~~M~~~ Phone: 80 63 2 9-1 7 6 8 Faa: B09-3?d-s!s61 vhhv,kona~kohale.eam komikCC~+'3b; re r•. November 6, 2007 Hawaii County Council Pete Hoffmann, Chair 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Re Bill 151; Proposed Amendment to Chapter 27 of the HCC Via: Email and Fax Dear Chairman Hofmann and Members of the County Council, This testimony is on behalf of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. The kima-?. d;ala Chamber of Commerce (KKCC) represents nearly 750 business and individual members a +i i~ the leading business advocacy organization on the west side of the Hawai i Island. KKCC has testified on Bill 51, which is the precursor to BIII 181 and is still rems,rkc~"ilp similar to it, on five previous occasions and thus our position is well known. Vl'hi]e t nr n,~ : t recent system for changing this Bill has modified the document, the intent has nu' + 1: ~ I and thus our previous testimony remains valid. Todey we wish to make just two points: At the Council heazing in July and subsequently, it was proposed the Coun~i] ec he , to the original Administration Bill drafted and move forwazd with appro~ al so th c County is brought up to date and in compliance with NFIP requirement;. We believe this proposal makes sense and should be enacted as quickly as ao+3sn.d? ')Jc do not accept the counter point to this direction, i.e. that this may allow the irnp au s to improve Flood Control and Flood Plain management to be lost since it is qu_te ar,~a -fait that this Counci] is made up of a group of very concerned citizens who will s~mki o s.+ ; allow this to happen. This Chamber certainly supports their concerns and r iil s~~.:it :.art their future efforts. 2. Our real concern with the excellent efforts made by individuals on the Coux.ril ul :i ei staf, and from the public input seen at the hearings on this Bill, is that the ~ir~g,r_r, s obviously right and has public support but the svstem used to arrive at the pre:::,tt position has not been effective and does not have public support. We go ba::L: c.: -.c previously stated position that such a Bill and change xn legisiation may we! h- nrooosed by the Council but the proposed legislative changes should thf:n hr mad: i ~ qualified people within the Administration, supported by outside professionals ei sa other experienced and qualified resources, (NRCS, professional Hydrolog;si< a:: Engineers as well as Architect's et al) which should then go to the Council for app; a and modification if necessary. This way there will be a reasoned debate rzgerdn+;; changes, as opposed to what has amounted to "ambit k>argaining" Comm. No. rj'98•Zb' Ref. To, ti~w~ Ref. Date NUV 7 ~