REP HSSPSC 001 02/15/2011 2010-2012

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HSSPSC -1 Page 2 Comm. 925.2/ Bill 291, Draft 2 . Defense Administrator Quince Mento, Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd and members of the Committee. Mr. Hoffman expressed hope that any amendments, recommendations, or concerns would have come forward at this meeting. However, he added that today's presentation by the State opened up issues and concerns that were not considered previously and suggested postponing this bill to allow time for further consideration. Mr. Ikeda voiced his objection to the postponement and suggested forwarding it to the Planning Commissions and Department to see what is uncovered during their research, and allow them to make recommendations; the motion to refer was carried unanimously. After review by the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions and Planning Department the bill appeared before your Committee on February 1, 2011. Communication 60, from Mayor William P. Kenoi, dated January 3, 2011, also came forward which included the Planning Director's background and recommendation report and the Planning Commission's negative recommendation. Mr. Hoffmann expressed his disappointment that no solutions or alternatives were provided in either report. Ms. Smart expressed concern that the siren.costs may be born entirely by a single new development, e.g. a new restaurant, instead of being shared by an entire existing development. Mr. Hoffman replied that impact fees may be used in multiple ways but tsunami sirens are not currently, defined in the process. He also added that this is about establishing the requirement that a tsunami siren be installed and not about who will pay for it. Mr. Mento related that the State Civil Defense has plans to provide more sirens but he did not know if . the plans had been funded. He added that the plans look great but there is no legislation statewide that. requires installment of sirens. Mr. Ikeda shares Mr. Hoffmann's concerns but questioned if adding it to development costs is the correct place. Ms. Ford also expressed distress to learn that private resorts are not required to allow the installation of sirens, stating that something needs to be established to make it a requirement in areas with a large populace. She suggested the establishment of impact fees that help fund installation of sirens beyond what the State may provide. Mr. Onishi inquired if Civil Defense had other means to notify people at the resorts, and Mr. Mento replied that many people are notified by text messages to their cell phone, radio /TV broadcast, and the security departments at the resorts,have their own radio transmitters. This item was postponed to February, 15, 2011, to allow the Planning Department time to provide suggestions for establishing a requirement for installing sirens. At the February, 15, meeting Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento and Planning Department Program Manager Daryn Arai were present. Mr. Hoffman recapped previous meetings and postponements to seek amendments or comments from colleagues and the Planning Department. He reminded the committee of the recent earthquake in Chile as .a note of the continual threat and the gaps in our warning system, particularly in West Hawaii. He stressed the need to take action because there currently is no requirement to establish a uniform warning'system in populated areas. He added that the bill simply establishes a requirement, it does not address who is going to pay for it.