HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0246.003 2012-2014 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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.Is ISLAND RIVAS/VS SPECIES COMMIT=
23 E. Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720®Phone: (808)933-3340
Supporting Bill 64:AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20,ARTICLE 2, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE
1983 ( 2005 EDITION,AS AMENDED), RELATING TO CLEARINGOCCUPIED AND UNOCCUPIED LOTS.
July 9,2013
Thank you for convening this hearing and considering the importance of ensuring that
the County of Hawaii has the authority to remove hazard trees and other costly public health
and safety hazards from private property.
The Big Island Invasive Species Committee strongly supports this effort. Hundreds of
miles of public road frontage are currently impacted by vegetation that threatens public safety
via falling trees and branches. Many East Hawaii subdivisions are at risk of being completely cut
off from transportation corridors in the event of a hurricane. When vegetation along road
frontage is properly maintained the costs and environmental impacts are far less than when it is
allowed to grow unchecked. For example, a single albizia tree can cost the county $2,000-
$10,000 to remove from a roadside. The County of Hawaii cannot absorb the total cost of all
future hazard tree removal on public roads, estimated on Kauai at $1,000,000 per mile. The
most cost effective and responsible way to limit future maintenance costs is to ensure that
hazard trees and are not allowed to establish in new areas.
One of the key elements of this bill is the authorization for the County to access and
remove the unsafe vegetation if the notified land owner has not done so in a specific time
frame. This specification is critical to the success of the bill, as it establishes both a procedure
and a time limit for action by the landowner.
BIISC further urges the county to immediately establish a fund to initiate assessment
and removal of unsafe flora, as there will be considerable up-front costs associated with this
reimbursement-based effort. Considerations must be made in the implementation of this rule
for residents who will not be able to afford the removal of hazardous vegetation, either
because of the size of the frontage, or the expense of removing very large hazard trees. The
State Civil Defense has had a similar authority to remove hazard trees and bill for their effort,
however, without initial funding,this program has made little headway.
Mahalo for your support of this important measure.
With Aloha,
Spri r Kaye,
Manager, Big Island Invasive Species Committee
Comm. No, °?410• 3
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