2018-02-28 Letter to Julia Contreras re Helicopter Noise 001

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Harry Kim Mayor County of H awai ` i Office of the Mayor Wil Okabe Managing Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokfilole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 February 28, 2018 Ms. Julia Leihulu Contreras, M.A. c/o regenerationhealing@gmail.com Dear Ms. Contreras, RE: Follow-up to Helicopter Noise Thank you for contacting my office with your concerns related to helicopter tour flight paths and routes. I appreciate your desire for immediate action. As a long time public servant and lifelong Hawaii Island resident, I have dealt with countless contentious issues, emergencies, and all manner of challenges that span jurisdictional responsibilities. As your Mayor, I use that experience to guide my decisions and choice of actions. Please understand that Federal Aviation Administration regulations are beyond my control. No amount of letter writing from my office will change FAA regulations. I was in Civil Defense when we worked with Congresswoman Mink decades ago on a similar path and did not prevail. As your Mayor, I choose to use County resources toward projects and solutions that I have the authority to influence. This does not mean that I am dismissing your concerns. 1 am committed to public safety and work hard to consider all the needs of residents on this beautiful island, including peace and quiet. I too, cherish natures calm. In my experience, the most equitable results come from people working together to work out solutions together. When I called the local helicopter tour companies to my office, I asked that they provide solutions to the noise problem. After that meeting the industry invested in a noise complaint system that is intended to track and mitigate problematic flights. This web -based and telephone reporting system is still new, and 1 am not naively under the impression that 1 have closed the book on this issue. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.