HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.186 2006-2008 RnS4 FN~INF,FR1i~IC;, TNC_
November 2Q, 2007
Honorable Pcic Holl'utumt, Chairperson
Hawai i County Council
333 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, Hasi~ai'i 9(,720
Subject: Bill 51 Flood Management
SECOND READING -SUPPORT PASSAGE NOW
Aloha Chairruau Hulliuw+,
t want to thank the Mayor Kim and his administration for [heir efforts to work with the Council towazds a
balanced flood management rrdi^.a^.^e In p~rti^n!ar, a~ M±h Ri!! 51 Ril! 151 hive Tra;reseed, it has
required a double effort by the Engineering I}ivision to discuss, prepare, and revise documents. In particular, I
commend to you the work of Galen Kuba. who has assisted two council members offering different versions of
the bill, while simultaneously incorporating the input and re~cornmerxlations of the professional design
camntunily. 11 would tx: an wrdcrsWtcr+u;nl lo'kay, this has I;ruvcn te> lw an cxtmmcly ddi'icuti task.
I have written to Mayor Kim on several occasions in the last few months as work on the flood management
ordinance has prnLresaed RerPnr!y,• T r..~e:v..a a !error dpred ~i..ve.,,Mr 9's from Mpy^* Kim, sv~hexe he
responded to me with the following important statemem:
stated to McClure thm we must ensure we rb curt impose renneeessrrry cos? to home builders in
areas that are not suseepiibte &r t&e type 9f1~n8 tle~ flee praJwsed xreasives were trying to
address (emphasis ae!<td<t). t3eur ix mi;«t that !(refocus oJ'ihrs was to xat u<kt uxxeeecsury cvst to
home huilders."
It takes a significant effort to incorporate competing interests in a balanced way that really serves the highest
common ga;vl r>f ctur commnnifiy'. The handi~anr~d C^mmt•^.Ph; ttiflr. s~ri~,ee!•~, ;oncerned i*,dth see a~jzPcts of
the proposals put forward, until Mr. Kuba helped find a win/win solution with }anguage that required buffer
zones along drainage ways.
11+crt ubvk>ualy ie more wo+k lu du uu a wbclu rouge of lUprca. 1'o arc, must i{nlxximd is a sututd pnx;cas L'ur
moving forward. I wilt continue to urge the Council to take a professanal approach in developing legislation,
attempt to evaluate the unintended consequences before Ming, assess the cost/benefit aspects, and then let it
all simmer for a whi!a 1+=fo*e cn•,,.inp to z t•~rtt,eio~,
We train our children not to make major decisions at the ~ minute or in a rushed way. We should apply tbe
same principle nt County goverrm+enL An older friend ctE'neirre once said Eo utie, °Why is iE we never have time
lu do it r+glel, lsut always have liu+c lu du it twice!" l lcuvo yex+ w+i!t flea{ us lixxl lix dtcxtg}+l, uud ihaztk you for
your patience with us fran lire professional design community.
Aloha,
Comm. No. ~ 7 G G
David M. Ross Jr.
Civil f;ngi+tccr Ref. To: hta~M~
Ref. Date
zor n:a nnxsi oMn Tr_sTruoav:~ao.
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