HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0281.039 2020-2022 i
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From: Kari Kimura
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Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 11:40 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 44 - Strong Support in Favor of
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July 19, 2021
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Hawaii County Council
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Dear Councilmembers,
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I am writing today to express my strong support for Bill 44.
I am a local architect with my practice in Kona for the last 22 years. I am the architect for the Kepo'okalani
Interpretive Center on Kamakaeha which was built for archaeological mitigation for the Ane Keohokalole Hwy. I
have also worked on numerous commercial and residential projects.
The title Architect has legal meaning. It represents a specific kind of education, legal work experience, passage of the
national architecture registration exam, knowledge of applicable laws, and an oath to protect the health, safety and
welfare of the community. This title gives me professional standing and professional liability. This cannot be said of
those without a license to practice architecture.
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If there are any last-minute amendments being proposed, please ask:
Who is making that request? What are their qualifications?
What is the technical justification for it?
The County Building Division has worked diligently to provide amendments to address local conditions and
practices. The process has been inclusive and open to the public. I am grateful for their efforts.
For example, DPW reached out to community stakeholders March 31, 2021 to review/comment on proposed
amendments to:
Hawaii County proposed amendments to the 2018 International Building Code (with State Amendments) CHAPT 5A- BUILDING
CODE 3/30/21 Draft.
Hawaii County proposed amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code(with State Amendments)CHAPT 5B-
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODE 3/30/21 Draft
Hawaii County proposed amendments to the 2018 International Existing Building Code (with State Amendments) CHAPT 5C-
EXISTING BUILDING CODE 3/30/21 Draft
Hawaii County proposed amendments to the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (with State Amendments) CHAPT
5E- ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE 3/30/21 Draft
This information from March and the follow up revisions in June were forwarded to all AIA(American Institute of Architects)
Hawaii Island Section members for comment. OLA
Comm.No.
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Please understand that this is not a perfect bill. However, if the 2018 codes with the proposed amendments do not
pass through the Council and signed by the Mayor before August 2021,the County will be forced to switch to the
2012 codes with only the state-wide amendments followed by the adoption of the 2018 codes the following year. The
possibility of having to design, conduct plans reviews and inspections, and build to two different codes III a two-year
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time period is not good for anyone: Owner, Builder, Architect, and our Public Works Department.
Please continue to support Bill 44.
Aloha,
Kari Kimura, AIA
Holualoa, HI 96725
kimura@,alum.mit.edu
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From: Kari Kimura
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2021 9:55 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support Bill 44, Oppose Villegas and Kleinfelder proposed amendments
July 20, 2021
Dear County Council Members,
I already submitted an email yesterday in Strong Support of Bill 44.
1 am writing again because of Communication 0281.016, Proposed Amendments by Council Member Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and
Communication 0281.017, Proposed Amendments by Council Member Villegas. Both last minute proposed amendments were made
public yesterday afternoon.
My email to you yesterday morning said this:
If there are any last-minute amendments being proposed, please ask:
Who is making that request? What are their qualifications?
What is the technical justification for it?
Proposed Amendments by Council Member Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder in Communication 0281.016 needs to be rejected in its
entirety. Accepting these proposed amendments will be an act of gross negligence by the County Council. It is gross negligence
because the proposed language takes away an enforcement tool by DPW. There are multiple paths to structural compliance. One is
prescriptive method. The other is by design method. If the path chosen by the architect is by design method,then structural
calculations are a necessary part of the design process. We don't just guess. We rely on calculations to make sure the design meets
or exceeds the design criteria for gravity, seismic,and wind loads. DPW requesting structural calculations is just one of the many
enforcement tools that is necessary to protect the health, safety,and welfare of the citizens. Again, I ask the council: Who is making
that request? What are their qualifications? What is the technical justification for it?
Proposed Amendments by Council Member Villega in Communication 0281.017 needs to be rejected in its entirety.
What does including"under no circumstance may such structure mounted on wheels become permanent in nature"
accomplish? Does it create a loop-hole so that if one mounts wheels on a building, it is not permanent? I'm very suspicious of this
language, and council should be too. Is there something to be gained by someone?Again, I ask the
council: Who is making that request? What are their qualifications?What is the technical justification for it?
This language appears all over 0281.017 as well: "In case of any conflict between this code and administrative rules,this code shall be
considered the controlling regulation. Further, administrative rules may not be used to make any substantive changes to this code or
the processes and procedures detailed in these chapters." Is there a conflict that we should all know about? If so, please share in
public so that this can be discussed in an open and transparent way. Again, I ask the council: Who is making that request? What are
their qualifications? What is the technical justification for it?
In summary, I strongly urge you to reject both proposed amendments.
Aloha,
Kari Kimura,AIA
Architect
Holualoa, HI 96725
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