HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 506 Draft 01 2018-2020JNYY'Of
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 506 ZO
A RESOLUTION URGING THE MAYOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE U. S. ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR REVIEW TO MITIGATE SURFACE
WATER IN PUNA.
WHEREAS, Section 5.5.1 of the Hawaii County General Plan (February 2005, as
amended), states that most of the Puna district receives over 100 inches of rainfall per year, and
has a record of severe flooding; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Weather Service, 24-hour precipitation totals for
the areas of Kulani and Glenwood in the Puna District measured 9.71 inches and 7.89 inches,
respectively, beginning January 9, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service also reported that on August 23, 2018,
Hurricane Lane brought up to 35 inches of rain to some areas of the Big Island in 48 hours; and
WHEREAS, the Fourth National Climate Assessment indicates that rising air and water
temperatures and changes in precipitation are intensifying droughts and increasing heavy
downpours across the country; and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of subdivisions in Puna are private subdivisions that
were created before 1966 and those subdivision residents may lack the financial ability to
properly mitigate drainage and flooding in a manner that satisfies the requirements to dedicate
private roads to Hawaii County as noted in Section 23-86, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016
edition, as amended); and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Census data for the District of Puna reported a total of 31,335
residents in 2000 and 45,326 residents in 2010, forecasting a 45 percent increase in population
based on the previous two population counts, which would equate to a current count of
approximately 65,723 residents; and
WHEREAS, as communities grow and homes are built, the increased clearing of land
will lead to less uptake in water into natural ecosystems and create increased flooding and
hazardous conditions; and
WHEREAS, the existing lack of connectivity between subdivisions in Puna reveals large
population bases at risk of being land -locked during floods; and
WHEREAS, educational material for a July 2015 Hawaii County Department of Public
Works Flood Insurance and Mapping Workshop described a draft flood study as a flood study
that is intended for review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but which
hasn't been officially adopted as an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map. The material also noted
that a draft flood study is used by Hawai`i County to regulate development, regardless of
whether it has been adopted by FEMA; and
WHEREAS, a draft Puna Flood Study started in 2006 revealed areas of frequent
flooding, a network of seasonal streams, and highlighted flood-prone areas; and
WHEREAS, in the interest of public safety, it is crucial that a plan for surface water
mitigation in the most populated areas of Puna be developed; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the Mayor and the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan for review to mitigate surface water in upper and
lower Puna.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerkshall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Harry Kim,Mayor; Deanna Sako, Director of Finance; David
Yamamoto, Director of Public Works; and Mike Wyatt, Chief, Civil and Public Works Branch
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 8th day of April , 2020 •
INTRODUCED BY:
Ili
COUNCIL MEo' 1, COUNTY OF HAWAII s,
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
County of Hawai`i on April 8, 2020
KIERKIEWICZ . X
LEE LOY X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X •
•
RICHARDS X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 .0 0
..A. z )////-------,,,„ Reference: C-767/GREDC-3
—"lull.", 506 20
O T # CLERK AIRPERSON&PRESIDING OF, ICER RESOLUTION NO.
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