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PWMTC-20 Page 2 December 17,2019 <br /> I <br /> Chair Lee Loy began the discussion by acknowledging that although Bill No. 126 is comprehensive <br /> and technical, it is important to provide housing and housing opportunities for Hawaii County. She <br /> provided an overview of the updated checklist in Communication No. 646.2, as well as outreach efforts <br /> to Corporation Counsel and the State Energy Office to test the allowable scope of the amendments. <br /> Chair Lee Loy also recalled the September 3, 2019, discussion on Communication No. 429 where <br /> residents and Council Members spoke of the need for affordable housing options. <br /> Chair Lee Loy recognized the following people instrumental in developing this bill: Leslie Chow of <br /> the Legislative Research Branch, Office of the County Clerk; and Robyn Matsumoto,Neal Tanaka, <br /> Neil Erickson, Kelly Wilson, and Denise Laitinen of the Department of Public Works. <br /> Without Bill 126, Hawaii County will retain the most restrictive energy conservation codes in the <br /> State, she said. The bill combs out the amendments made by Maui County and Kauai County, and 3 <br /> addresses the unique needs of Hawaii County, including the elevation limit for the Tropical Zone. <br /> i <br /> Ms. Matsumoto, Acting Building Chief, noted that the bill does include an affordable housing <br /> exception for houses 1,100 square feet or smaller. There is also an exception for off-grid photovoltaic <br /> systems with battery electric storage, a tropical zone option for commercial buildings of 2,500 square <br /> feet or less with four tons of cooling or less, and more. <br /> Mr. Tanaka, Acting Deputy Building Chief, clarified that the State Building Code Council had required <br /> adoption of the most stringent version of the energy code among all the counties. We are enforcing a 3 <br /> code most stringent of all the counties. Due to the community's input, we took in as much as we could <br /> to move in, while remaining in compliance with the energy conservation goals of the State. While <br /> keeping the intent of the code, our department felt our proposals for amendment were suitable for <br /> County, he said. <br /> Chair Lee Loy thanked Ms. Matsumoto and Mr. Tanaka, and said that Bill No. 126 widens the pathway <br /> to compliance. These amendments create more options to comply with the IECC and holds the line at <br /> providing options for housing and housing opportunities. <br /> Council Member Maile David began with thanking Ms. Matsumoto and Mr. Tanaka for their efforts to <br /> reach out to us. Having listened to public testimony and comments from professionals on the bill, 3 <br /> Ms. David acknowledged the Building Division listened to the community's concerns and asked a <br /> clarifying question about the tropical zone requirements. <br /> Council Member Karen Eoff thanked the Building Division for walking the Council through the <br /> amendments, and for the collaborative approach. After attending one of the workshops, she found the <br /> interaction and dialogue productive. She asked clarifying questions about the affordable housing <br /> I <br /> exception for construction of habitable space under 1,100 square feet, and also about the off-grid <br /> exception. The questions having been answered, Ms. Eoff said she supported both the methodology and <br /> the product. <br /> Council Member Tim Richards also thanked the Building Division officials and said he appreciated the <br /> model of going through trying to help people become compliant, instead of punishing people for being <br /> 3 <br /> noncompliant. He asked them to quantify the savings of a household in full compliance. <br /> PWMTC Report No.:2_0 <br />