HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 049 07/18/2006 2004-2006 W
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE: July 18, 2006 RE: Comm. No. 977Bi11 No. 313
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred
Bill No. 313, reports as follows:
Bill No. 313, transmitted by Hawaii County Council Vice Chair Virginia Isbell, via
Communication No. 977, dated July 3, 2006, creates amnesty permits to the Electrical Code..
The purpose of this bill is to amend Chapter 9, Article 5, Division 2, Hawaii County Code 1983,
(2005 Edition, as amended), by adding a new section 9.41.1. The County Council finds that
residents with unpermitted construction work within the County of Hawaii may want to legalize
their buildings. Consequently, this bill would create an amnesty period beginning October 1, 2006
through September 30, 2007, during which time, owners of unpermitted buildings may bring their
structures into compliance with the County Electrical Code without penalty. During this amnesty
period, owners of unpermitted buildings completed prior to January 1, 2006 may apply for a permit
to bring their buildings in compliance with Chapter 9, the County Electrical Code. Owners who
secure a permit, pursuant to this amnesty program, who otherwise comply with all provisions of
the County Electrical Code, will be exempt from all civil and criminal penalties pursuant to
Sections 9-6 and 9-41 that might otherwise be imposed for constructing a structure without a
electrical permit. All amnesty permits must satisfy the requirements of the Plumbing Code,
including permit fees.
Your Committee heard testimony from one member of the public regarding the proposed bill. This
member of the public spoke in blanket opposition to Bills 311, 312, and 313, stating that violators
should not be given a break. This member of the public also urged your Committee members to
include a deadline for completion of permitted projects, rather that anopen-ended completion date.
This member of the public also suggested forming a citizen committee to oversee the amnesty
program.
Comments, suggestion sand discussion from your Committee members, Bruce McClure, Director
of the Department of Public Works and by Brian Kajiwaka from the Department of Public
Works -Buildings Division were made during the discussion phase for Bi11311, and were meant
to blanket Bills 311, 312, and 313.
PWIRC Committee Report
July 18, 2006
Page 2
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose
and intent of Bill No. 313 and recommends it pass first reading.
awm
AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted,
ARAKAKI x
RIGA x COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HOFFMANN x INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
HOLSCHUH x
[KEDA x
ISBELL x DONALD IKEDA, CHAIR
JACOBSON X PWIRC REPORT NO. 49
PILAGO X
SAFARIK X ADOPTED: AUG O ~ 2006