HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.165 2006-2008 s ~ ~ a..,.
LAND USE RESEARCH
FOUNDATION OF HAWAII
70o Bishop Street, Ste. ig28
Honolulu, Hawaii g68t3
Phone Szr-47t7
Fax 536-or32
September 9, 2007
The Honorable Pete Hoffman
Council Chair & Presiding Officer
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
333 Kilauea Avenue, 2nd Floor Council Room
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 councittestimonyCa~co.hawaii.hi.us
RE: Bill 51, Draft 5, Amendment to Chapter 27, Flood Control, Hawaii County
Code 1983 (2005 Edkion), as Amended, Relating to Stormwater Management.
{Updates Chapter 27 to conform to Federal Flood Insurance Program standards.}
Dear Chair Hoffman and Council Members,
My name is David Arakawa, Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation of
Hawaii ("LURE', a private, non-profd research and trade association whose members
include major Hawaii landowners, devebpers and a utility company. One of LURF's
missions is to advocate for reasonable and rational land use planning, legislation and
regulation affecting common problems in Hawaii, such as housing, development, and
transportation.
LURE supports stonnwater management legislation which is based on federal and state
requirements, and would also support additional requiremerrts which are based on
scientific or engineering principles, practices and considerations.
BACKGROUND
Council revisions to Bill 51. We understand that Councilman Stacy Higa
amended Bill 51 to its original intent. Bill 51 was originally intended by the Hawaii
County Department of Public Works Department (`DPW to be a `housekeeping°
measure. The proposed revisions to the Hawaii County Code woukt ensure compliance
with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), thus guaranteeing access to Federal
disaster assistance and low-interest bans from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). The original version of Bill 51, drafted by DPW, satisfied the federal
and state requirements.
Hawaii County has been put on notice that its rules and regulations must comply with
requirements of the NFIP. According to the review of government and private experts,
Bill 51, Draft 5, complies with NFIP and FEMA requirements.
Comm, No. /7(0• ~/v5
Ref. To: h..s
Ref. Dote
RECOMMENDATION
LURF supports Bill 51, Draft 5, to ensure compliance with various federal and
state regulations, and respectfully recommends that the Council pass an orcfinance that
exclusively addresses the requirements necessary for compliance with the NFIP and
FEMA.
Thank you for the opportunity to express our views on this matter.
Cc: Corporation Counsel, County of Hawaii
J:\Counties\CouMy of HawaiilBill 51\070906 Bill 51 Draft 5 Stonnwater Mgmt.doc
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