HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 023 09/07/2005 2004-2006 RF:POET OF"1'HF:
('OMMITTF;E. ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVF,RNMF:NTAL RELATIONS
DAl If: Scptcnilicr 7.2005 R1f: Comm. No. 407/ Resolution No. 156-05
PLA('I~:: C'auncilroom
I'1~11i: 1 1 :l K a.m.
('hair ?nd Mcnilxrs
I luw.~i'i Counh~ Council
I Iilo, I lawai'i 96720
four Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was relerred
Resolution 156-05. reports as billows:
Resolution 156-05. tranamiltcd via ('omnumication 407, dated August 17.2005. from
Bruce NlcClurc, Director of Public Works authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement tin
sen ices with the I Inited States Deparunent of Agricuhure, Natural Resources Conservation Service
W KCS), for I~edcral Binding ibr the planning and design of the Kaumana Drive Flood Protection
Phase of the Wailuku-Alcnaio Walershai project.
Wrslc~ l ?kai, a resident of the alto wfio has sult~ered large Floods al least three or four times over
27 ~rar~_ tcstilial that the project is greatly needed. Mr. "1'akai's property is at the lower end ofthc
pro~cct and that whrncver it rains heavily. portions of his property is lost to erosion. Ile also pointed
uul That he recalls this project being discussed about 25 nears ago.
Council ~iemhcr (~arv Safarik also recalled discussions of a Wailuku-Alcnaio hood control project in
199-4. 19 r. Safarik asked Dudley Bubo. NR('S Planning Engineer, if the proposed project was
connected to thr prior 1991 project: and if so. that since planning had been done in 1994, is there still
need liu more planning. Mr. Kuho replied that this project is not related to the I lilo 13ayi~ont
culcerl extension project, which was an :army Corp of I~:ngineers project that invoked the area blow
honmhana Street This proposed projccl onlc protects homes along a portion of Kaumana Drive.
from just above Chong Surd Bridge to Wilder Road. The NR('S has had project authorih~ for this
area since about 1976 as part of the Wailul:u-Alcnaio Watershed project During this time, most of
the area was still planted in sugarcane. Mr. Safarik also questioned the shill in planning fimclions
From thr I~cdcral Goy crnmcnt to the County. Mr. Kubo responded that NR('S has experienced
stal'Bng ahortages and that congressional political consideration has to be factored into the landing
process. In light of the flooding problems, Mr. Safarik also raised the issue of whether laun~e
deg clopment should be allowed in the area.
In '_0110. the Counlc had asked liar a reevaluation. 'hhe NRCS responded with a detailed study and
analysis that was completed in 20(12. 'fhe study indicated that the best option might be to do the
hood ronlrol work on a piecemeal basis. f lowever, after 2(102, the NRCS staff was unable to pick up
U~c work and had decided to move awa} from in-house planning to outsourcing the planning on flood
P~~olccis. I he NR('S fcds that the County is better positioned to plan and design a Flood control
projccl lilt the Kaumana area.
PWIRC RI?POR~I NO. 23
Council h1cmbcr Virginia Isbell asked who was responsible lix hood zone maps. Galen Kuba.
Counlc I?nginccr, replied that generally, it would be the Federal Iimergcncy Management
iAdminis0~ation (LIsM~1l. Ms. Isbell expressed concern lha~ the Planning Department was using Mood
zone maps from I <176, and that these maps have never been updated to address changing hood issues
island-w idc.
Council ~1emher Dr. Fred I lolschuh asked Mr. Kubo ifthe $200.000 covered only planning.
Mr. hobo answered that the $200,000 will only cover the planning, which includes environmental
assessments and conununi~} ouU'each. "I~hc design and construction would come later and would
rryuirc additional funding. Mr. Kubo did slate that there was congressional interest in the
Wailuku-.~Icnaio Watershed projed, and that the 2005 NKCS budget identiiics Wailuku-~1lauiio as
unc of lixa priority projects in I Iawai'i.
Council ~1cmher Pctc I lul linann asked why there was no mention of a timd~rame on the work to be
completed. I Ic also mentioned that a timeframe could be included in the schedule of work.
IV1r. Kuho ackno~tilcdgcd the lack of a time dement and estimated that the work should he completed
~ci~hin a ~ car orone-and-a-hall years, depending on the requirements of environmental documents.
Council ~lembcr k. nngcl Pilago asked about the environmental studies related to the earlier pltrn.
Mr. Kuho rrplicd That. generally. un cnvironmcntal assessment. as compared to an environmental
impact suitcnunl. is a (asta~ way to lake cure of Um cnvironmcntal requirement I Iowcver. in the
carlia~ plan. the pmposcd project urea was not indudcd. Mr. Kubo noted that there is landing in the
2006 NRCS budget liu design and construction. but support From the community and the I lawai'i
Congressional ddegalion will he important to bring the project to fruition.
four Committee on Puhlic Works and Intergovernmental Kclations is in accord with the indent and
purpose of Rcsolulion 156-U5 and rcconu»ends its adoption.
wi
nYI~.S NOI!S ~ & f: I?X
nKnK~VU X COMMI"I°Il?UON PUBLIC WORKS ANU
I IIG~~ X _ INTI?KGOVIiRNMI?N'I'AI, Rh:I.n~fIONS
I1O1~1'MnNN X
IIOI SCIIIiII h
IS131~:1.1. ~ Donald lkcda. Chair
1,1t'ORtiON k PWIRC RIiPOR'f NO. 23
PII nG(1 ~ _ -
snrnai~~ x nDOP~n.1_ SEP 21 2005