HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.028 2006-2008
Testimony on Bill 51 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Nancy E. Burns [nebpellc@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 5:56 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us; Hoffmann, Pete; Pilago, K. Angel; Ford, Brenda; Ikeda,
Donald; Naeole, Emily; Yoshimoto, J; Higa, Stacy; Yagong, Dominic; Jacobson, Bob
Cc: McClure, Bruce; Galen Kuba
Subject: Testimony on Bill 51
Attachments: April 3 Bill 51 Testimony.pdf
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Please call me at 325-3182 if you have any questions regarding the attached testimony on Bill 51.
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Honorable Brenda Ford, Chairperson
IIawai'i County Council Public Works Committee
25 Waupun St.
Hilo, Hawaii'i 96720
Testimony on Bill 51 DRAFT 2; Proposed Amendment to Chapter 27 of the HCC
Deaz Chairperson Ford and Members of the Hawaii County Council Public Works Committee:
I previously submitted testimony regazding Bill 51 Draft 2 via email after attending the Public
Works Committee meetings on February 21. I attended the March 20, 2007 and provided both
written and oral testimony at that meeting. Hydrology and hydraulics can be very complex and
there seems to be some confusion regazding existing drainage regulations and how to improve
the County codes to provide additional protection from potential flood damage.
1 am a civil engineer and have 22 years of experience with drainage and hydrology. I was quite
concerned with some of the statements made by council members at the last Public Works
Committee meeting on March 20, 2007. It seemed that council members were promising to
enact legislation to protect all residents from flooding. I listened to much testimony from the
public in which folks blamed their upstream neighbors for causing flooding and council
members assured the public that they could prevent further flooding problems by enacting
legislation. I believe that the council is providing the citizens with a false sense of security when
making such statements.
The truth is that even if there is no upstream development most properties are still in inherent
danger of experiencing flood damage from a major storm if the properties are not designed to
route flood waters safely away from structures. The public should be made awaze that although
developers are required to mitigate increases in runoff, runoff from upstream properties will still
affect their properties. Homeowners and business owners need to be aware of potential runoff
and design accordingly. The question is not if a storm will cause excessive runoffto cross
properties but when. T believe the best way to protect the public is to provide education
regarding storm water design so that they don't create a problem for themselves or their
neighbors.
Increases in runoff caused by development should be mitigated. We aze extremely fortunate on
the Big Island that the subsurface geology for the most part has very good infiltration
characteristics and we are able mitigate increases in runoff through the use of drywells.
However, residents of the island need to be aware that we live on a mountain with steep
watersheds which can and do produce significant amounts of runoff from high intensity tropical
storms. `Chore is no possible way to infiltrate ail runoff from all storms. The quantity of runoff
water is just too lazge.
Property owners need to be aware of upstream and downstream. conditions and do all that is
possible to prevent runoff from upstream properties (whether developed or not) from damaging
their homes and businesses. Homeowners, farm owners, and developers also need to provide
mitigation such as drywells, infiltration basins and trenches and other measures to minimize
impacts to downstream properties.
Whatever comes of the proposed amendments, I hope that the Council makes it very clear to the
public that there is never a guarantee that property will be absolutely safe from all possible flood
damage from all possible storms. Perhaps along with the proposed legislation, the Council can
sponsor an education program so that when people construct their homes and businesses they are
made aware of potential flooding issues and can learn how to prevent damage to their properties.
Architects and builders should also be educated so that they design and construct properties to
drain away from structures and elevate finish floors of buildings sufficiently so that storm water
will not enter buildings.
1 urge the County Council to consider this matter carefully and consult with the professional
engineers in the Department of Public Works and the private sector before finalizing the
amendments to Bill 51.
Sincerely,
Nancy E. Burns, P.E.
cc Bruce McClure, Director, Department of Public Works
Galen Kuba, Division Head, Departrnent of Public Works, Engineering Division
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