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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: March 15, 2011 Re: Comm. No. 124/Bill 32 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> West Hawai`i Civic Center <br /> TIME: 2:05 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill 32, reports as follows: <br /> Bill 32, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford via Communication 124 dated <br /> March 2, 2011 amends Chapter 7 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), <br /> relating to Civil Defense, Disaster Control. <br /> This bill would add a new section to Chapter 7, Article 2, to prohibit unauthorized parking <br /> during a disaster. Unfortunately, disaster scenes are attractive to individuals who willfully <br /> disregard the risks posed in order to experience the event close at hand. The presence of parked <br /> vehicles during a disaster impedes the ability of emergency personnel to perform their functions. <br /> Currently, the County Code only prohibits loitering in a disaster area, in Section 7 -10. This bill <br /> would provide the ability for the Hawai`i County Police Department to ticket and/or tow away <br /> unauthorized vehicles from an evacuation or disaster area, even if the owner is not present. <br /> Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento appeared before Your Committee. He explained that <br /> an impeding or potential disaster is identified after the Mayor signs an emergency proclamation <br /> and the area is defined on a map. Furthermore, it is suggested that the penalty is $35.00 per <br /> violation, which is currently the same penalty issued for a "no parking" citation. This bill has <br /> been reviewed by both Corporation Counsel and Police Chief Harry Kubojiri prior to referral to <br /> Finance Committee. <br /> Some members of Your Committee feel that the penalty should be much higher than the <br /> proposed $35 fine. <br /> Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill 32, and recommends <br /> it pass first reading. <br /> dkr <br /> AYES NOES A &E EX Respectfully submitted, <br /> BLAS X <br /> FORD x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> HOFFMANN X <br /> IKEDA X I ,/ <br /> ONISHI X <br /> PILAGO X <br /> SMART x BRENDA FORD, CHAIR <br /> YAGONG X FC REPORT NO. 36 <br /> YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED: SAY 1 ( 2011 <br />