HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.142 2018-2020 B
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Testimony of
Pacific Resource Partnership
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAIII County of Hawaii
Ao RECEIVED County Council
Time IkVmn — By et� Hawaii County Building
Date AUG 0 4 2020 Councilmember Aaron S.Y. Chung, Chair
Councilmember Karen Eoff, Vice Chair
Bill 179—Establishing a County Construction Code Relating to Building Construction and Related Systems
Within a Building Under Construction by Amending the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as
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Amended)
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Aloha Chair Chung,Vice Chair Eoff and Members of the Council:
Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) is a non-profit market recovery trust fund which represents if
approximately 7,000 men and women union carpenters and 240 large and small contractors. With our
expertise in research, compliance, marketing, and project advocacy, we are committed to building a
stronger, more sustainable Hawaii in a way that promotes a vibrant economy, creates jobs, and enhances
the quality of life for all residents of Hawaii.
PRP writes in strong support of Councilmember Poindexter's Proposed Amendments to sections 5-3-2
through 5-3-5 and 5A-3-22 (Appendix L; Factory-built Housing (FBH)), of Bill 179 (Comm. No. 989.33). As
written, "Appendix L" allows the FBH homebuilder to bypass standard permitting and inspection
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requirements during the manufacturing process that must be complied with for any other building or
structure. Councilmember Poindexter's proposed amendments will ensure that the permitting and
inspection requirements for FBH parallel the requirements that traditional homebuilders must follow.
This will both protect the health and safety of the consumer and create fair and equal opportunities for all
homebuilders.
Some are saying that special policies found in "Appendix L" are needed to build more affordable housing
quickly. We support the construction of more affordable housing and believe that government can make
it more feasible for the traditional homebuilder to accomplish this with the proper county incentives.
However, we should not support policies that enable FBH to take advantage of existing loopholes in the
building code to gain a competitive advantage over traditional homebuilders, especially at the expense of
the life and safety of the public who will reside in these homes.As written, "Appendix L" opens the door
for substandard FBH to be manufactured locally and abroad, and this should not be considered an
acceptable affordable housing option for our residents.
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Additionally, PRP notes that the inclusion of special policies for FBH within Bill 179 will not just have a
negative impact on the construction industry, but the island's economy as we face a major economic
downturn and unemployment at record highs.The automated process of FBH will take away jobs from
traditional homebuilders; good-paying jobs that are keeping local carpenters, plumbers and electricians
employed.
The Big Island is already at risk of losing an estimated 200 jobs due to the elimination of the Hu Honua
project; Hawaiian Airlines announced an estimated 2,000 layoffs statewide; and businesses are closing
left and right when unemployment is at a record high.There is also still tremendous uncertainty when
-tourism will be able to fully employ its workforce on the island.This is not the time to be eliminating jobs.
Our construction industry has been fortunate to continue working during the pandemic, but we will not
be immune to the impacts from the faltering economy. Virtually every industry, every person has been or
will be impacted by the long-term economic effects of the pandemic. We shouldn't be working to
eliminate good-paying middle-class jobs when so many in our community are out-of-work. Let's work
'towards stimulating our economy through good paying middle-class jobs, affordable housing done right,
and programs and policies that enhance the quality of life for our residents.
As such, PRP respectfully requests that this Council adopt Councilmember Poindexter's proposed
amendments.Thank you for this opportunity to submit written testimony.
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