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Mav•22. 2007 1 53PM KONA KOHALA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE No.1335 P• 2
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KOMA-KOIIAL~, • ~ ?'75-5737 KUakiniHwy.,Suite208
CH/A~MBER ,^;rui (~l;:i t~~'I q Kailua-Kana,Ni9674o
CiF CVMMERCE ~ Phone:808-329-1758 fax:808.329-8564
vaww,ko~a-kohala.com info@kona-kohala.com
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May 15, 2007 _ ~ -
Hawaii County Couna7 i
Public Works Ps Intergovernmental Relations Commitice , ~
$renda Ford, Chair
25 Aupuxii Street
Hflo, HI 96720 w
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Re Bill 51 Draft 2; Proposed Amendment 1p Chapter 27 of the HCC N
Dear Chairperson Ford and Members of the Public Works Committee,
'Chia teatimo~ is on behalf of the Koss-Kohala Chamber of Commexce. The Kona-Kohala
chamber of commerce (I~CCj represents nearly 750 business and individual members and is
the leading businces advocacy organization on the west side of the Hawaii Is]and. The KKCC
alas actively works to enhance the environment, unique lifestyle and quality of life in West
Hawaii through sound growth politics and propez' P~g-
The Chamber aerngnizes the rialrs and issues concerned with flooding an the Big Island and tar
West Hawaii given the topography and the posabflity of heavy rainfall, albeit a relatively rare
occurrence.
We fully support the effor4s of the Public Works Department, and all branches of County
adm3nisixation and the Coung7, in acekipg appropriate salieguarda, both adtministrative sad
Prachcat, in reducing the potential for damage W property and m]mY to PcePti in the event of
severe raztrfali. However, we also recognize the lark of effective flood cone mapging and
inadequate igfarmatioa on which to base good Policy acrd Plamutrog in this area
We uuden>6and the original intent of Siil 51 was mainly administrative is order ip firlflIl the
req~riremeats of the National Flood Insurance Program and we strongly support this intention
as a matter of urgerrey- Thus we support the passage of this revised (oxiglaal) admivistra*.eon
draft immediately.
Tire issue of flood control policy and regulation does need to be addressed seriously and in
depth. We believe tlris requires much better information (mapping, etca and critical ingot front
proiesbional engineers and flood control experts. Without this fmrudstion for review, any
pr+aposed chaos may either present the potential for inadequacy or prove so onerous that
they become unreasonable. Either scensu'io could poet major unintended consequences for the
area
We have been advised that engineers will confirm the level of parrd volume required to contra
the water from a 100 year/24 hour flood becomes very large (2200 sq ft and 5 feet deep on a 1
acre lotj said since the watershed area is above almost all development, the grogerty and the
properties below it wr71 still be subject m water flow. Du the Hilo side the pond area required
wa71 be around 3 times as large, but in a severe storm the water will st~Tl flaw.
Tire Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce believes answers to this must Mrr7te from engineer's
and experts rather than well intentioned laymen. ~ ~ 6.38.
Prbesfs-_7_ ~ vu!1G_
~r j
Red. ~61l~~ 1 2007
Mav,22. 2001 1:53PM KONA KOHALA CHAMBER Of COMMERCE No•1336 P. 3
Hawaii County Councal
Pubic Walks & Intergovemmueutal Relations Committee
Page Two
The Chamber will be very willing to support and assist in amY mwe to improve the inadequate
F'EMA maps and all other aspects of the lmowled®e base that will allow tbis issue to be
addressed Sensibly, reasonably, and as a matter of some urgency as the population inevitably
ineaeaves. P1uther the Chamber w~11 hilly support any request for federal assistance and
funding to address the issue as a mailer of urgency.
Thank you for your consideration.
Simoerely,
2.E.cc..~.a~.bS d~,~
Vivian Laodrwot
E7cecutive Director