HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.145 2006-2008 Page 1 of 2
Murashige, Laura
From: GeoMike5@att.net ~ ~ i
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 5:38 AM ^n `z,'` 1,~
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To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Ford, Brenda; Naeole, Emily; Pilago, K. Angel; Hoffmann, Pete; Hjge, Stacy; Yagong, Dominic;
Ikeda, Donald; jyashimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; Jacobson, Bob '
Subject: Bill 51 Flood Control
Aloha, County Council Members:
I am providing testimony on Bi1151 and its drafts and amendments on Flood Control.
I urge the Council to pass this legislation without delay.
You have heard the testimony with the preponderance of evidence showing how Bi1151 will protect the
residents of the Island and how it will meet the requirements of FEMA and flood insurance issues.
You have been given examples of violations of both FEMA and EPA requirements of certain developers
and numerous broken promises on providing engineering reports and maps after they have been given
approval by various Commissions and even the Council to proceed. You have seen examples where
developers proceed without proper permitting.
No district of the Island is free from flooding dangers. Development in or rerouting flood plains
requires special engineering attention to prevent worsening flood potential. It is not unreasonable for
those issues to be addressed. The developers and their support groups all complain that it will cost them
more money to develop properties if Bi1151 passes. Realistically, the cost will be in the engineering
design and application to meet the requirements established in Bi1151. Simply put, it will require some
land to be set aside for flood control measures. That may result in a fewer but a small number of homes
or apartments being built on a particulaz property b ut there is no doubt that it will protect citizens from
flood problems and, in the long run, will not only lower flooding risk but be fiscally prudent.
The Council already has made numerous compromises in favor of the developers and now it is time for
the Council to protect the citizens of this Island from the blatant disregard for law and regulation, and
the property, safety and well being of the citizens.
If the Council does not pass for Bi1151 and its amendments, then it is doing the Island Community a
great disservice and out hope after the last election has gone the way of the Hawaiian Akialoa* -
extinct! We the people will have been undercut in favor to the special interests by the same
representatives we elected and depend upon to protect us.
Pass Bi1151.
Sincerely,
Michael Reimer
Kailua-Kona
GeoMikeS t{,att.net Comm: ~ ?lp , j~
Ref. To: " >ro ed ttY1Ct)
Ref. Date~2007
7/23/2007
Page 2 of 2
July 22, 2007
*The Hawaiian Akialoa was an avian species of honeycreeper endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It was a
small bird with olive green feathers, and a large curved bill. It was last seen on Hawaii in the early
1900s and Kauai in 1967. Habitat encroachment is thought to have played a role in its extinction.
7/23/2007