HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0281.046 2020-2022 Wound
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From: Shaun Roth
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2021 7:30 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Hawaii County - Bill 44 - 1st Council Reading
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Re: Bill 44 - Hawaii County Building Code
Dear Council Members;
I am writing in favor of Bill 44 and in opposition to the amendments in Communications 281.16 & 281.17
1lawai'i Island has some unique hazards that set us apart from other Counties in our State and from most of the US mainland.
Over half of our island is in seismic design category E,the most severe category in the International Residential Code. This is
the case under our current code and will continue to be true if the 2018 codes are adopted. In many cases a prescriptive
approach to structural design will not work in our County. For the safety of our residents, it is important that a licensed design
professional with proper review and agreement of our County building officials decide which design method will work for a
particular site.
Thankfully Ilawai'i has not been regularly hit by major hurricanes. We are a small target in a large ocean. But this does not
mean that we are not at risk. In fact our risk is higher than the wind criteria in our code would suggest. When a major hurricane
does strike our island there will be no way to evacuate our citizens, we don't have enough public shelters to house everyone and
many of our shelters are very old. Most of the population needs to be able to shelter in place.
As County Council members you have a responsibility to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of our island
residents and visitors.
If this bill does not pass the County Council, then the County will revert to the unamended 2012 codes this November by
default,which is just one year before the 2018 codes become the code by default. With Bill 44 the County can accept
applications using the 2006 codes until November and then make one transition to 2018 codes that have been amended for our
island.
Please do not add amendments in Communications 281.16&281.17
Please pass Bill 44.
Thank you.
Shaun Roth, AIA, Partner
Roth Kimura LLP
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