HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 014 05/31/2005 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE
('OMMITTF,E ON PUBLIC' WORKS AND
INTF.RGOVERNMF.NTAL RELATIONS
DA~II(: Mav 31.2005 RF.: Comm. No. 187.1/ Bill No. 71. Drall 3
PI.ACIf: Councilroom
IIMI~:: 9:05 a.m.
Chair and Members
I luwai'i Counts Council
Milo. I law,ii'i 9(~72(I
Your ('onunillec on Public Works and Intergovcrnmcntal Relations, to which was referred Bill 71.
Draft rcpot1s as follows:
Bill 71. dated Mtu~di ? 1, 2005, transmitted via Communication 187, was postponed twice: April S,
2005 aad Nla~ 3, 2005. At the Committee meeting on May 3, 2005, Dr. Julian Yates, Specialist Ibr
the Plant and I{nvironmental Protection Sciences al the University of I lawai'i at Manoa. gave a
3U-minute PowcrPoint prc.ecntation to address questions and concerns raised by some residents about
termites. Rill 71 Buis Then amended to Draft 2 and postponed.
Rill 71. Dral~l Uansmilted ~ is Communication 187.1, dated April 1. 2005, from Bruce Mc('lure.
Director of I'uhlic Works, is a bill I~~r an ordinance to repeal Chapter 5 (Building Code). Article 1. in
its cntirch. Draft 2 includes figures and maps to Amendment 5-1.0.126 that were missing from
Draft I .and edits subscripts and equations in Amendment 5-L0.127 for improved Iegibility.
~'e arc currently using the 1991 I~:dition of the Unitbrm Building Code CUR('), which was adopted
on Nocemher R, 1993. While the UB(' is an excellent code of minimum standards. it fails in certain
sections ~u apple to local eonsu~uction conditions and situation,. Poe this reason. the County has
adopted amendments to the f iR(' to address local conditions and situations.
Signilicant changes arc as follows:
(11 Building pcrmil fees have been reduced for buildings under L400 square Icet, while for
buildings larger than 1.400 square feet, the fees remain the same.
A building pcrmil will not be required lia' one detached singlo-story non-residential use type
building pa~ propcil}. The building cannot exceed 120 square feet of floor area and must have a
height. ~~hcn measured li~om the ground. of 12'-0" or less.
(31 Package model homes may be pre-approved by the Department of Public Works. Building
Division.
f4) Increase the valuation of work Il~om $1.000 to $4.000 that would require a building pcrmil.
I S) Reduce the retaining wall height from 6~-0" to 4'-0" that would require a building pcrmil and an
cngincrr~s stamp.
At the Committee meeting of May 31.2005_ two oral testimonies were received. Mr. ~fen~y ('isai of
the Ama~ican Institute of Architects spoke of three concerns: 1) plan review waiver proposal to
expedite building pcrmil applications; 2) amendment to delete the Simplified Seismic Design
prop isions from the 1997 l IR(': and 3) package home permitting.
PWIR(' RI~;POR~1~ NO. Id
I~hc second speaker was Ms. Susan O'Neill. who asked the Council to be careful in their
deliberations on termite requirements in this bill, and to consider the healU~ of all living things.
There were lice wriucn tcstinxmies. 'fhcircomments were focused mostly on the use ofchemical
trcalnunls liir termites. ~1'he testimony by Dr. ,leff %impfer, University of I lawai'i Manoa Sea Grant
Program. gave very informative background information on cypermcthrin, a chemical used on the
Rig Island fir prebuilding termite control.
Council Mcmhcr Dr. frcd Flolschuh commended Dr. 7impfer's scientific report. 'fhc notion that
there is a li~c-year warranty limit on chemical treatments, which are very toxic to honey heel and
fish. raises the question of the value of chemical treatments_ especially when there arc alternative
methods such as basaltic termite barrier and stainless steel mesh, which last forever.
Bruce McClmr. Director of Public Works, noted that termite U'eatment for house sites need not be
chemical based. 'There arc h~o other methods. albeit more costly, which can be used to meet the
rode requirements: 1) basaltic termite ban~icr, which is composed of specially crushed rocks that
interlock and prc~ent termite penetration; and 2) stainless steel mesh, which is another method of
prcccnting ternitc penetration. l~he choice is left up to the person building the house on how they
want to protect their investment. While chemmical treatments are outside the scope of expertise ol~
their Department, the use ofchemical treatments for termites is governed by ??PA standards.
Council Mcmhcr .lames nrakaki spoke in support of the package home amendments. I loweaer. he
had a question ahout architects or structural engineers who stamp building plans. Ifthe Countc can
rcl} on ~hcir professional slumps, iv there still a need ibr County inspectors to check the work:' '1'hc
architect or engineer can inspect the work themseh•es and pass the cost on to the homebuilder.
Mr. ~1cClurc answered That while the County relics on the professional stamp, they still double
check the plans. but the inspections in these cases are nominal. I Ic also emphasized that plans
should hacc architect or designer stamps.
Council Mcmhcr Gary Sat~irik asked for dariticalion on the rationale for charging smaller ices for
plans Icss than Ld00 square feet and larger fees for plans greater than 1,400 square icct, given Ural
the rcciew process is the same. Mr. McClure responded that the rationale was part of an efiixt to
support al fordahlc housing. Mr. Sa~arik noted that alli~rdahle housing is a top priority and asked if
amthing more could be done to address this problem. I le also asked how the process could be
streamlined or simplilied it pre-approved plans were used. Finally, he commented that there is a
need for a cooperative to make homes safe and affordable.
iAcaxding to Council Vice Chair Virginia Isbell, there appears to he a dangerous situation in Kona
located below Lowe's, where the rock wall is built sh~aight up. Mr. McClure responded U~at phis
type of wall requires a permit stamped by an engineer. Ms. Isbell supported reducing the height
rcyuircmcnts for wall permits from 6 feet to ti~ur acct.
Council Mcmhcr Roh .lacohson wanted to know if there was any intent to limit package home
manufadurcrs to Ihosc doing business within the State. Ile also questioned if accepting out-of=state
or international stamps would be a prohicm. Mr. McClure and Mr. Cisco slated that professionals
authorii~cd to stamp plans have to he licensed in the State of Iiawai'i. as required by Stale Law.
PWIRC REPORT NO. 14
I,ikc Mr. tialarik, Council Member Pcte IIoH~mann raised the issue ofaffordablc housing. I Ie stated
that thcrr is a great need for people, including Council Members, architects, engineers, developers
and the public, to come together to identify and address die issue of affordable housing.
Council Member k. nngel Pilago expressed support for the bill and commended the cooperation of
the go~crnment-private relationship. He further stated that it was important to continue providing,
monitoring and o~ersceing the safety of our residents, especially our working-class population who
arc struggling to sure ivc and for those who have the least voice in government.
lour Connniuee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the intent and
purpose of hilt 71. Draft 2 and recommends it pass first reading.
AYI(ti NUNS A & I~: 1~:X
nRnKnKI X COMMff~"fG[? ON Pl If3LIC WORKS nND
I II(4~ X IN'TGRGOVI?RNMENTAI. RI?l.A~fIONS
IIOII~MANN ti
IIOLS('llllll
ItiRI[I.I X Donald Ikeda. Chair
1,1c'OI3Sl)N \ PWIRC RI?POR'l~ NO. 14
PII i1<i(>-~~ \
SAPnKII~ X ADOP'11;D: