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Harry Kim i• Bruce C. McClure
Mayor Director
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORK5
Aupuni Center
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4224 r,,
(808) 961-8321 ~ Fax (808) 96t-8630
www.co.hawaii.hi.us
March 19, 2007 ~
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HONORABLE BRENDA FORD CHAIR w
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS:;
AND MEMBERS OF THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL _ ~
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
333 KILAUEA AVENUE
BEN FRANKLIN BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR
HILO, HAWAII 96720
SUBJECT: BILL 51, DRAFT 2 -DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS COUNCIL
ORIENTATION ON FLOODPLAIN
Attached is a handout that provides the five reasons we submitted Bill 51 and provides
answers to questions previously posed by the legislative staff.
BRUCE C. McCLURE, P. E.
Director
Attachment
Comm. No._,
Ref. To: Pfesrs (,q~
Ref. Uate, MARiO 201 -
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Works and
Intergovernmental Relations-Bill 51 Draft 2
Dept. of Public Works Council Orientation on Floodplain
The purpose of proposed changes to Chapter 27 is to:
• Comply with the current National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
• Establish drainage improvement standards to control storm water quality
and runoff
• Establish requirements for structures that suffer repetitive losses due to
flooding
• Clarify and restrict substantial improvements.
• Correct inconsistencies found in this chapter.
Our presence before the Public Works and Intergovernmental Committee is to
answer questions and present our comments on Bill 51 Draft 2. Last month we
requested that Bill 51 revert back to Committee for further discussion.
We will answer questions presented to us from Brenda Ford's office:
• What defines a Flood?
FEMA defines a flood as any land area susceptible to being inundated
by water from any source.
• Who defines a Flood?
Answer: FEMA defines special Flood Hazard areas
• FEMA creates the maps the County of Hawaii uses to regulate
construction in special flood hazard areas.
FEMA determines the flood zones and defines each. Their calculations
are based on a "one percent (1 annual chance of a 100-year flood
occurring." From an insurance standpoint "the 100-year flood has a 25%
(or 1 in 4) chance of occurring over the life of a 30-year mortgage." Their
findings appear on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The results are
the basis for establishing flood insurance rates by insurance companies.
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Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Works and
Intergovernmental Relations-Bill 51 Draft 2
' Dept. of Public Works Council Orientation on Floodplain
Why conform to the current National Flood Insurance Program
regulations?
This is a Federal and State requirement. This is why we get presidential
disaster declarations as we did in the recent earthquake.
Establish drainage improvement standards to control storm water quality
and runoff.
Improvements to water quality is required by Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization
Amendments of 1990 (CZARA) Section 6217. The Planning Department and
Public Works have approval from the EPA to use drywells and a 10-year design
storm to meet the CZARA requirement. This requirement would be applicable to
only those Subdivisions and developments permitted by the Planning
Department.
Establish requirements for structures that suffer repetitive losses due to
flooding.
The revisions to Chapter 27 address this matter under Repetitive Loss
Structures. Repetitive loss structures will be required to provide flood proofing
measures. If the structure had been insured by FEMA, the claimant may receive
an additional $30,000 to cover the cost of providing these measures.
Additional Answers to Questions received from the community:
There was $1,000,000 set aside in last fiscal year's budget for updating
FEMA mapping. Was this spent? How? What money is in the current
Public Works budget for FY07-O8?
Encumbrances:
$339,100 -Puna Flood Study (Note: Total Cost of Study $589,100)
+ 22.764 - Puukapu Flood Study (for Waimeal
$361,864 -Total Encumbrances
Unencumbered Balance:
$638,136 - S. Kona Flood Study
We will request $500,000 for FY 07-08.
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Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Works and
Intergovernmental Relations-Bill 51 Draft 2
' Dept. of Public Works Council Orientation on Floodplain
The flooding now in South Kona
Deve{opments prior to the 1980's had no standard for drainage improvement:
99 % of all complaints filed, are from areas or subdivisions that pre-date this
requirement. We have no apparent problems with those subdivisions and
developments that have implemented this standard.
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