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Home My WebLink AboutREP PWIRC 006 04/19/2005 2004-2006 RF,PORT OF THF. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INTF,RGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS UA'1'I?: April 19, 211115 RF.: Comm. No. 186/ 13111 No. 711 PLACE: Councilrnam 1'IMF,: 12:1111 p.m. Chair and ~1cmhcrs I lawai'i County Council I lilo. Ilcn~ni'i 967'_0 Your Connniucc on Puhlic Works and Inlcrgovcrnmental Relations, to which was referred Rill 70. reports as lolloi~s: Rill 70_ u~ansm'itted via Communication No. 186, dated March 21.2005, from Rrucc McClure. Director of Puhlic Works. amends Chapter 17 (Plumbing Code) of the f lawai'i County Code. I~he purpose of Rill 7U is to repeal ('hapler 17, Plumbing Code. in its entirety. 'fhc Plumhing Code has been in placr since May 2' 1947. During the past 58 years, the County- has adopted various editions of the l!PC (l ~nilinm Plumhing Code). ~fhc last edition adopted was the 1991 1?dition that was adopted on No~cmhcr 8. 192. While the l iPC is an excellent code of minimum standards, certain sections do not apply to local construction conditions or situations. l~hc intent of this bill is to adopt amendments to adch~css local conditions ur situations. Notcworlh~ items arc a s Ibllows: No increase in plumbing permit fees: • Prrmils ~ti ill not be required Ibr the replacement or repair of garbage disposals. fwcets and iixwres. including sinks. water closets. and healers fir non-conunercial occupancies only; however, the work nuivl still he prrlbrnud by a licensed plumber pursuant to I IRS, Chapter 4481?. • I'crmits ~~ill be rcyuircd when such repairs involve or require Use replacement or rearrangement of ~ ah~cs or piers. and any rcyuircd permit must still be applied f~>r by a licensed plumber pursuant to I IRS. Chapter-1~181~:. ~hherc were Rio community meetings held by Use Department of Puhlic Works to discuss this hill, onr in 1 lilo and one in kona. I hr majority ofthe participants were prolessionals, architects and engineers. AI thr April 5.2005 Public Works and Inlerguvrrnmartal Relations Committee meeting. Choir Donald Ikeda recommended that consideration ofthis bill be postponed until today~s meeting. ~fhis would ,~i~r inlcrestrd people more time to review the bill Councilmember Virginia Isbell made a motion to postpone the consideration of Rill 70 until April 19. 2005, "this motion was doh- seconded ?nd approved. During Puhlic Irstinumy. Jon Olson expressed concern that many installations still require a licensed tradesman. stating that today many people arc able to do their own installations. Mr. Olson luriher amlrndrd that the code is written in such a way that it benefits special interest groups. such a~~ arrhilecls, ~~hich is e~ ident he the pattern of campaign spending law violations. PWIRC RI~:POR~h NO. 6 I~homas I;ookman stated that he was an architect with 30 years of experience. Now is the time, he claims. for the County to raise building permit and other related fees. This added revenue could be used ~o hire more inspectors. l lc also suggested that homeowners could do their own work, and the County inspectors could then check on whether or not the work is acceptable. Councilmanber Rob .Iacohson said that people should be allowed to do their own work, and that Uiere arc mmp~ instances when there arc no licensed tradesmen available, thereby forcing people to do the work thcroschrs. Councilmcmbcr Virginia Isbell pointed out that the underlying problem is with the State law, and That the firs) step would he to get ~hc State to loosen their laws. Councilmcmbu~ Gard Sal~rik asked if there was a way to ensure salety. Brian Kajikawa, Building I)i~ ision Chicl~, ans~ticrai that it was difficult to ensure salety. 'there arc instances when homeowners do shoddy work, and Ihcn sell the house a few years later. "There is a liability that goes with the sale of the house and part of that liability belongs to the County. Mr. Kajikawa also stated that the Stale law L'~~~1'1"n ti. I~herc ~~as a yucstion about the Ice schedule. Chair Ikeda noted that even if the fee schedule remains the sonic, because the hill repeals Chapter 17 in its entirety, the fee schedule should be included in the hill. ~~hich it is. It was also pointed out that there arc some minor technical errors in the bill which will he anrcctcd in a Ilihnr amendment. Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the intent and purpove of Rill 70 and recsnnmends it pass lust reading. ~a i AYI[S NOES A & C~; EX nRnKnhl X COMMI I"TBL ON PUBLIC WORKS ANU IBGn X INCERGOVERNML:NTAI. REI.A'1'IONS IiOII~MANN X IIOISCIIIiII X IKI~:I)A X _ ~~c~ ISRI~.1.1. X f)~nald Ikeda, Chair InCOBSON X PWIRC Rf[POR'1~N0. 6 PII.nGU X SnIARIR X nD01'I~I[I):