HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 005 04/19/2005 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE:
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTF,RGOVERNMF.NTAL RF.LA'flO~NS
DATE: April 19, 21111$ RF.: Comm. No. 185/ Bill No. 69
PLACP;: Councih•oom
TIME: 12;1111 p.m.
('hair and Mcmhcrs
I I,ntiai'i Counh Council
I Iilo. I lawai'i 967?U
four Conunittcc on Public works and IntergovertvncnWl Relations, to which was referred Bill 69.
rrporis as li~llows:
kill 69. transmitted ~ is Conu~nmication No. 1 R5, dated March ZI, 2005, from Bruce McClure.
Dirrclor nl Puhlic Works. amends Chapter 9 (f?Iectrical Code) of the ?Iawai'i County Code.
I~or the past SK gars, the County has adopted various editions of the National I?Iectrical ('ode. l~hc
last edition adopted was the 1993 I?dition, which was adopted on June 17. 1994. l~he National
I Iecu ird Codr is an excellent code of minimum standards. I lowever, certain sections of the code
do not apply to local consu~uctiun conditions or situations. The intent ofthis bill is to adopt
amendments to address local conditions or situations.
Noteworthy items arc as ~i~~llows:
• No increase in clecU'ical permit lees.
• Permits not nzyuirrd Ibr the replacement of receptacles, switches and light fixtures
lights. ceiling fans. etc. I lowever. work still must be done by licensed electrician as
rrquircd h~ I IRS. ('haptcr ad81L/
• Drawing showing circuiting, light lixtures and switches for asingle-family dwelling will
not he required. I lowever, required permits nnist still be applied for by a licensed
electrician pursuant to I IRS. Chapter d48E.
I hrrc were two community meetings held by the Department of Public Works to discuss the bill.
one in I lilo and one in Kona. the majority of the participants were professionals. architects and
cnginrcrs.
~~t the iApril 5. ?U05 Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting.
Chair Duuald lkcda recommended that consideration of this bill be postponed until toduy~s meeting.
Phis would give interested people more time to review the bill Councilmcmber Virginia Ishcll
made a motion to postpone the consideration of Bill G9 until April 19, ?005. "This mrnion was duly
seconded and upproccd.
During Puhlic [estinum~_ Jon OIcon expressed concern that many installations still require a licensed
tradesm~m. stating that today mum people arc able to do their own installations. Mr. OIcon liirthcr
contended that the code is written in such a vaay that it benclits special interest groups. such as
architects_ which is r~ ida~t by the pattern ul campaign spending law violations.
PWIKC RI?POR'I~ NO. 5
I~hunuis Bookman stated Ihal he was an architect with 30 years of experience. Now is the time, he
claims. fbr thr County to raise building permit and other related Pees. 'I'bis added revenue could be
used to hire more inspectors. He also suggested that homeowners could do their own work, and the
('Duna inspectors could then check on whether or not the work is acceptable.
Councilmember Bob Jacobson said that people should be allowed to do their own work, and that
there arc num. instances when there arc no licensed tradesmen available. thereby forcing people to
do ~hc work themselves.
('ouncilmcmhcr Virginia Isbell pointed out that the underlying problem is with the State law, and
that the first step would he to get the State to loosen their laws.
Cuuncilmembcr (iar~ Salarik asked it there was a way to ensure solely. Brian Kajikawa, Building
Division Chicl: answered that it was difficult to ensure safety. 'there are instances when
homeowners do shoddy work, and then sell the house a few years later. 'there is a liability that goys
with the sale of the house and part of that liability belongs to the County. Mr. Kajikawa also stated
chat the Slate law governs.
Chair Ikeda poimai out that there ore some minor technical errors in the bill which would be
corrected in a future amendment. nlso, since the bill does not repeal Chapter 9 in its entirct}~, and
since the ices remain the same, a ice schedule is not required to be included in this bill.
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the intent and
purpose of Bill 69 and recommends it pass lirst reading.
i
AYIiS NOL~a A ~ I~. LX
~~IZAKAKI X COMMI~f hL:F;ON PUI3I.IC WORKS nND
IIIGA X INTGRGOVh:RNMBN"1'AI,Rfl.nllONS
IIOII~MnNN k
IIOISCIIIIII X _ ~
IKLD~1 X - yr
ISBI:IJ X Donald Ikeda, Chair
JAC(1BS(>N X PWIRCRFiPORI~NO. ~ _ _
PII.nGO ~
SAI~nRIk X ADOP'I'IiU: _ _ _ _