HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.054 2006-2008
Honorable Brenda Ford, Chairperson May 15, 2007
Hawaii County Council Public Works Committee
25 Waupun St.
Hilo, Hawaii'i 96720
Testimonv on Bill 51 Proposed Amendment to DRAFT 2; Pronosed Amendment to
Chapter 27 of the HCC
Dear Chairperson Ford and Members of the Hawaii County Council Public Works and
Intergovermental Relations Committee:
I want to make it very cleaz that I am not being compensated for my testimony. I am
extremely interested in Bill 51 as it is a code I will need to abide by in my daily work. I
need to have a clear understanding of all laws regarding drainage and flood control in
order to properly conduct my business.
I have spent many hours prepazing testimony based on my years of experience as a
hydrologist and civil engineer. I have consulted with other professional engineers in the
preparation of my testimony and have asked that my fellow engineers also provide input.
For those of you who do not know me I am a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering
Honor Society, the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, and a committee
member of the National Council of F.,xaminers for Engineering and Surveying. I have
served as Vice President and President of the Kona Kohala Chapter of the Hawaii Society
of Professional Engineers and have served as State Treasurer for the Hawaii Chapter of
the National Society of Professional Engineers. l am a member of both the American
Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. My
testimony is guided by the code of ethics of the National Society of Professional
Engineers which states:
Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
a. Engineers shalt be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or
testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such
reports, statements, or testimony, which should bear the date indicating when it
was current.
b. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon
knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter.
c. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on technical
matters that are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they have
prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on whose
behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any interest the
engineers may have in the matters.
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N1r. Peter Hoffman
Page 2
Bill 51 includes building standards above those required to meet Ml~'1' regulations such
as constructing homes aatd other buildings one foot above base ,flood elevations. We feel
that the NIhP regulations have been generated based on significant research effort and
vetted with considerable resources when compared to the effort and resources available to
the our County. t:hanging or upgrading the Nlf'P regulations, wtless warranted by a local
condition as certified by an engineer, will ittcrease costs to hwneowners and businesses
with no apparent reduction in flood insurance or other bencefit.
We encourage the County Council to expedite changes to Chapter 27 needed to comply
with NIFP regulations. Other changes should be atrePully considered with the proper
time and resources, to vet all petKinent issues affected by the proposed changes.
We respectfully submit our thoughts and concerns to the Hawaii County Council for
consideration when enacting legislation regarding the health and safety of the residents
and businesses of the Coutrty of llawaii- ~
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Please feel tree to contact meat (808) 676-3300 or Mc Frederic Berg at (808) 284-4221 ~
if you would like to discuss our thoughts and concerns further.
Aloha.
Jeffrey J. stor
President
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