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Ncv. 6. 2007 3:02FM Kona Kohala Chamoer ct Commerce '0i'
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November 6, 2007
Hawaii County Council
Pete Hoffmann, Chair
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Re Bill 151; Proposed Amendment to Chapter 27 of the HCC
Via: Email and Fax
Dear Chairman Hofmann and Members of the County Council,
This testimony is on behalf of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. The kima-?. d;ala
Chamber of Commerce (KKCC) represents nearly 750 business and individual members a +i i~
the leading business advocacy organization on the west side of the Hawai i Island.
KKCC has testified on Bill 51, which is the precursor to BIII 181 and is still rems,rkc~"ilp
similar to it, on five previous occasions and thus our position is well known. Vl'hi]e t nr n,~ : t
recent system for changing this Bill has modified the document, the intent has nu' + 1: ~ I
and thus our previous testimony remains valid.
Todey we wish to make just two points:
At the Council heazing in July and subsequently, it was proposed the Coun~i] ec he ,
to the original Administration Bill drafted and move forwazd with appro~ al so th c
County is brought up to date and in compliance with NFIP requirement;.
We believe this proposal makes sense and should be enacted as quickly as ao+3sn.d? ')Jc
do not accept the counter point to this direction, i.e. that this may allow the irnp au s to
improve Flood Control and Flood Plain management to be lost since it is qu_te ar,~a -fait
that this Counci] is made up of a group of very concerned citizens who will s~mki o s.+ ;
allow this to happen. This Chamber certainly supports their concerns and r iil s~~.:it :.art
their future efforts.
2. Our real concern with the excellent efforts made by individuals on the Coux.ril ul :i ei
staf, and from the public input seen at the hearings on this Bill, is that the ~ir~g,r_r, s
obviously right and has public support but the svstem used to arrive at the pre:::,tt
position has not been effective and does not have public support. We go ba::L: c.: -.c
previously stated position that such a Bill and change xn legisiation may we! h-
nrooosed by the Council but the proposed legislative changes should thf:n hr mad: i ~
qualified people within the Administration, supported by outside professionals ei sa
other experienced and qualified resources, (NRCS, professional Hydrolog;si< a::
Engineers as well as Architect's et al) which should then go to the Council for app; a
and modification if necessary. This way there will be a reasoned debate rzgerdn+;;
changes, as opposed to what has amounted to "ambit k>argaining"
Comm. No. rj'98•Zb'
Ref. To, ti~w~
Ref. Date NUV 7 ~
Nov. 6. 201 3:02PM Kona Koha~a Chamoar of Corrme~ce ^•t. ~
F..awali County Council
1\ ovember 6, 2007
Page Two
which has taken place and which ie a moat ineffective and time consuming quay of -~-rig i r;
at a result that is quite unlikely to solve the problems effectively or to be best ;~,t :u
community. We are quite aware that the technology exists to effectively perform clie
necessary first step of comprehensive mapping and we strongly support this dixrctioa t t e
completed before any other changes are made.
Thus we would propose that the original administration BiYI be passed and that the i i ~i.
direct (and manage io the extent needed) the administration to complete a r~;vievr arri
n;draft of the Flood Control Management Legislation within. a defined timefrimr a::.l
ealistiag the help of the NRC9, Hydrologists Qad Engineers, Architects ate.
Sincerely,
-c.L....-~-a.,.~ ~ a... d(.tr-~m~
Vivian Landrum
Executive Director