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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0334.002 2016-2018 --''''. .._,)„,,,9_,.„,,;,... -...,..„,.„. ,„, %. HarryKim , ,„16,"•-..,•!!..„,\�'I: Frank J.De Marco,P.E. ' � �.ni 1 ..�. Mayor .-- -"x'r•_ : Director Wil Okabe • rE WAN'-•M.• --- Allan G.Simeon,P.E. Managing Director Deputy Director Guilt ofRami t c DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS � 2 Aupuni Center ...<-4 1 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 7•Hilo,Hawai`i 96720-4224 C _< (808)961-8321 •Fax(808)961-8630 ' ,, public_works@hawaiicounty.gov 2 =1--- )>m MEMORANDUM 3=-:4 Date: July 17, 2017 To: Valerie Poindexter, Chair And Members of the Hawaii County Council From: Frank J. DeMarco, P.E. Directorr-n Subject: Issues Raised Concerning Proposed NFIP Bill 50 Hello Chairperson Poindexter and all members of the Hawai'i County Council. I am submitting this memorandum to hopefully help clarify some of the issues that I understand were raised at the committee hearing on this proposed Bill. Issues: 1) Is this Bill related to the revised FEMA maps that are being publicly discussed? 2) Will this Bill increase the amount of exceptions to the Building Code? Responses: 1) This Bill is part of the process that the County needs to go through for its island- wide revision to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (commonly referred to as "DFIRM" or"digital flood insurance rate maps" because it is the first time the maps have been digitized). These DFIRM maps were already vetted through a public comment process which concluded on May 9,2016. At the Public Works Parks & Recreation Committee (PWPRC)Meeting on July 6, 2017,various Council Members had questions or comments regarding a new and separate set of updated floodplain maps that are presently going through a public comment procedure and commonly referred to as "draft" flood studies. The draft flood studies are not related to the DFIRM maps presently being discussed. The Puna Flood Study(encompassing a large area in Puna) and Keopu-Hienaloli Flood Study (encompassing the Keopu and Hienaloli streams in Kailua-Kona) are two examples of"draft" flood studies. 3-94.';- Can No. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. To: 71 cam' /7'; Tofe JUI 11..2019 I wanted to clarify in writing that the DFIRM maps have already been preliminarily accepted by FEMA; that the public comments for the DFIRM maps were closed in 2016; and that the Department of Public Works (DPW) is already regulating floodplains based on these DFIRM maps. The DFIRMs do include several physical map revisions as part of FEMA's mandatory process to redo an entire FIRM panel based on large flood studies that have gone through public notice and both FEMA and the County's review. Some examples of large flood studies included on the Preliminary DFIRMs are: • North Kona Flood District Flood Hazard Study • South Kona Phase 1 and 2 Flood Studies • Pu'ukapu Flood Study • Waiakea and Palai Stream Flood Study • Coastal mapping initiated by the County and completed by FEMA's consultant 2. The Bill does not increase the amount of available exceptions to the Building Code (HCC Chapter 5). At the PWPRC meeting on July 6,2017, concerns were expressed about potentially increasing exceptions to the Building Code. Please understand that the Bill does not increase the exceptions to the Building Code but reorganizes existing exceptions to the Building Code for ease of reference. The present version of HCC §5-19 does not separate, by section or subsection,the exceptions to the Building Code from the requirements for permits, so it may be confusing and/or difficult to cite those exceptions. For example,there are presently two different subsections that could be referred to as "HCC §5-19(b)(2)"—a provision requiring permits for solar water heating systems and a different provision allowing for an exception to the permit requirement for certain temporary structures. Accordingly,to clarify these citations and make the permit requirements and exceptions easier to cite and follow,we are proposing the building permit exceptions be moved to a separate code section. The existing section does not require the applicants or builders to confirm with DPW that a structure is not going to be placed in a high-risk flood zone. This requirement has been included in the proposed bill. If such an otherwise-exempt structure is going to be placed in a high-risk flood zone,the builder or applicant will then need to work with the DPW to conform to the existing requirements of HCC Chapter 27. There was also a discussion about an entity (Big Island Dairy) which did not need a grading permit from the Department of Public Works (issued under HCC Chapter 10) because that entity's operations are in a Soil and Water Conservation District and the entity had a plan approved by the District. That matter also raised concerns within the DPW but that matter is unrelated to the present Bill amending Chapters 5 and 27. County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. I hope this clarification is helpful to you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need additional information. cc: Harry Kim, Mayor Wil Okabe, Managing Director Allan Simeon,Deputy Director Ben Ishii, Engineering Division Chief Bryce Harada,Floodplain Manager County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.