REP HSSPSC 001 02/15/2011 2010-2012

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY DATE: February 15, 2011 Re: Comm. No. 925.2 Bill 291 Draft 2 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 11:30 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services, Social Services and Public Safety, to which was referred Bill 291, Draft 2, reports as follows: Bill 291 transmitted by Councilmember Peter Hoffman, via Communication No. 925, dated August 25, 2010, amends Chapter 25 (Zoning), Article 4, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by adding a new division relating to tsunami sirens. The bill ensures that any coastal development meeting the parameters of this ordinance that has not received plan approval prior to the enactment of this ordinance will include a tsunami siren in its design: and construction. This measure was first heard by your Committee on September 8, 2010. At that time, Mr. Hoffman discussed the value of tsunami sirens and expressed surprise to discover during the February 2010 tsunami warning that there are very few located in the resort areas along the west side. He stressed public safety as the need to pass this bill. Even though there are other means to notify the public, sirens should be mandated to provide a uniform method: Discussion among the members of the Committee, Planning Director, and the Civil Defense Administrator included comments both in support and against. Mr. Hoffman transmitted proposed amendment to Bill 291, via Comm. 921.1, dated September 8, 2010, that were crafted with the assistance of Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento and addressed the issue requiring additional sirens to be compatible and in compliance with the State Civil Defense. The motion to amend to Draft 2 was unanimously carried. Mr. Hoffman concluded by requesting members of the Committee to carefully study the bill and provide him with additional suggestions or concerns regarding policy issues before being forward to the Planning Department. He added that he will invite State Civil Defense to the next meeting for further discussion. A motion to postpone the bill to September 20, 2010 was-unanimously carried. During the meeting of On September 20, 2010, Mr. Hoffman explained that Bill 291, Draft, 2, addresses only one aspect of the siren warning system, and that is to make certain that the County has a specific mandate or guideline for the of tsunami sirens. However, after focusing specifically on tsunami areas;. he discovered that the State mandate covers all developments, even those 40 miles away.. Discussion ensued with State Civil. Defense Telecommunications Branch Chief George Burnett, Civil HSSPSC Report No. 1