[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6633320,"mediaKeyId","2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57","parentId",2665802,"title","Committee backs ordinance to adopt flood-prone areas not on FEMA maps","audioSeconds",3438,"startMs",647000,"endMs",4085000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57&start=647&end=4085","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57/thumbnail_647000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633320/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-backs-ordinance-to-adopt-flood-prone-areas-not-on-FEMA-maps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633320-9a35bfb7977b8f0f50e825136638d859/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198796&Signature=gjS8RN9qpcryR6v874nuJFYfvD6zmuC~-neS4oZ7Si7cAB1PhdbrH5Ftg28SUrKhaSOaxqXwD-MuFSAIASVpP28Jc-sCfy9jJBbqtnLw~iE8rXEWWVd2Cjy-Y5~FJUySOwoTj6OnYTSYTHA9oa7Md02rWlRaulnkOe~seTRn4EgMClx8EKOq0mVmxRRM~Q4Jh~tHmBzrqUZhfIN3e~XdOqIW0zy0PilBALoOCizt~4UZCHp25MF9dYDp-PEQFOasGr5C1egKjmH7Ar8BgUfbZ9zf-t3DmvYfC9NDP6mh1Dr4u6uoxu3Bqh25MGrr-5pdx3MjItPtrnA0cncUurTYSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Maui County Water and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to recommend first reading of Bill 28 (2025), an ordinance change that would create a process to add flood-prone areas that are not currently delineated on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to the county's regulated special flood hazard areas.

The ordinance, as described by Jordan Molina, director of the Department of Public Works, would require Public Works to present new engineered flood mappings (for example, FEMA or state-produced studies) to the council for action and to establish a local procedure for adopting those mapped areas into the county code.

Why it matters: The item was prompted by post-wildfire flood-mapping work in the Lahaina burn zone. Director Jordan Molina told the committee that FEMA provided technical support to model post-fire sediment and runoff risks in the Lahaina area and that the draft maps are expected to be ready for public comment in May. The ordinance does not itself adopt any new maps; it establishes the procedural framework so the county can take up mapped additions when the technical products are available.

Director Jordan Molina said, \"we're here today with the proposed ordinance to amend, our flood program, code to establish a process to look at adopting flood prone areas, as the chair mentioned, outside the existing FIRM maps.\" Molina described two parts of the proposal: a requirement that the director bring new mapping to council and the council's subsequent decision whether to adopt those areas into county regulation.

Committee members asked how inclusion in the county's flood program would affect property owners. Council Member Johnson asked, \"Does it lower their flood insurance? Is it increases? Is it harder to get?\" Molina replied that being part of the flood program typically \"ensures access to flood insurance\" but acknowledged it can add cost and regulatory requirements to some properties. He emphasized that the current vote was to adopt the process, not to adopt a map, saying, \"We're not adopting the map today, so nobody's gonna be in a new flood zone after today. We're just creating that process.\"

Members pressed for public outreach and notification. Molina said staff will conduct public outreach once maps are finalized and will work on individual notifications to property owners. Several members asked whether the mapping effort would be countywide; Molina said the Lahaina work came through FEMA after the fires while the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is modeling stream areas countywide. He also estimated that the FEMA modeling and mapping can cost from several hundred thousand dollars to more than a million dollars per study.

The committee substituted the draft with a proposed CD1 (technical/clarifying edits) and approved two technical, friendly amendments requested during discussion: one to reference the County code's definitions section and a clarification to the FIRM definition language. The substitute motion and the final recommendation for first reading passed by recorded voice votes (9-0 at committee).

Implementation details and limits: Molina said the ordinance is intended to implement the county's National Flood Insurance Program obligations and is not automatically triggering buyouts or county construction projects. He noted hazard-mitigation funding pathways exist for repetitive-loss properties (buyouts), but the ordinance itself governs how new development and substantial repairs in mapped areas will be permitted. Staff estimated the draft Lahaina mapping could subject roughly 1,000 parcels to flood-permit requirements, but that number would be refined before any map adoption. Flood-permit application fees are in the county schedule and were cited as $440 in the current rates and fees; design and construction costs (engineers, surveys, elevation or pile foundations) can be substantially higher.

Committee members asked about staffing capacity; Molina said the flood program team is growing and the department expects to rely on consultant support to handle a larger permitting workload should the mapping be adopted. He said many rebuilds in Lahaina are expected to occur, which is part of the urgency to establish the adoption process.

The committee recorded that the ordinance would not automatically place property owners into new zones on the day it passed; any map adoption would come later, after notice and council action. The item now moves to the full council for consideration.

Sources and attribution: Quotations and attributions come from committee chair Tom Cook and Director Jordan Molina and council members as noted in the meeting transcript of March 17, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Water and Infrastructure Committee (2025-2027) on 2025-03-17 1:30 PM - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Maui County Water and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to recommend first reading of Bill 28 (2025), establishing a process to adopt flood-prone areas outside FEMA maps into county regulation.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633312,"Committee approves settlement IGA with HIOSH for Kihei wastewater facility violations",2914,3286000,6200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57&start=3286&end=6200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57/thumbnail_3286000.jpg","/articles/6633312/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-approves-settlement-IGA-with-HIOSH-for-Kihei-wastewater-facility-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633312-03025496e90544d9c6a106c6dd49be47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198796&Signature=dlcIDaKlzD~S1Xp-UU4bkpKN44AEjTAkWU-f8Lnuk7pw47ILH~nG0IMz0JIsmQD1qpza5bCoGNqKG2pWk6u3yflWW-0iW3jIVLUgF-kTjKZY7wjmyg1Ir2xsVmszDwQ4CHAz3XcyW~OBx5k7VC4565xuOGPLV9pIY-L9XzZ~ZKvrQTIzqjm7VsrDZw2HGLiOIeIc7-lEcBFEf-9~CCA70VcD54mYdviYJjkjSCRe6ET2BPCfG7MA1C8bKh~faNu-QdCWw2y7y62SHY31QlB8FMprQcjFHNfQoOMcSmPuLS6qN~CUd7O4NNDBrESY~WrkHItmXzP1xx1ILlAttXQR4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Water and Infrastructure Committee recommended first reading of Bill 16 (2025), an intergovernmental agreement with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations's Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) to settle alleged violations at the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility for $28,062.30.

Director Shane Agawa (Department of Environmental Management) told the committee that HIOSH inspected the Kihei plant in July 2024 and identified multiple violations. He said department staff treated the findings seriously, and many items were corrected immediately; the department later negotiated a 30% reduction from the original fine amount. Director Agawa said, \"the violation amounts to a little over $28,000 the original violation was more than that, and then Hayash gave us a 30% reduction.\" (Quotation as spoken in committee record.)

The department presented that all cited violations have been addressed and that the requested council authorization is to allow the mayor to execute the intergovernmental settlement agreement and payment. Theo Leon, wastewater operations training officer, confirmed the inspection focused on the Kihei treatment plant's central maintenance area and said the department is applying lessons across other plants.

Committee members emphasized worker safety and asked whether other plants had been proactively reviewed. Leon said the department has undertaken follow-up inspections and training and that the department is seeking to fill supervisory vacancies so safety oversight workload is not disproportionately borne by one staff member. Members praised the department for prompt corrective action and emphasized the importance of staffing and safety retention.

Votes and next steps: The committee recommended the settlement agreement for first reading; the committee recorded a 7-0 vote in favor with two members excused. The item will move to the full council for consideration.

Sources and attribution: Quotations and attributions are taken from the March 17, 2025 committee transcript, including Director Shane Agawa and Theo Leon (wastewater operations training officer).","The committee approved an intergovernmental agreement to settle alleged HIOSH violations at the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility for $28,062.30 after staff reported that identified violations were addressed; members said corrections were made promptly and the department will continue safety work across plants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633317,"Committee approves joint funding and IGA for USGS West Maui groundwater study",687,2529000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57&start=2529&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665802-f4a9b2e9cfb0030096f576413bec0b57/thumbnail_2529000.jpg","/articles/6633317/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-approves-joint-funding-and-IGA-for-USGS-West-Maui-groundwater-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633317-ae271f3cb54ccd434487b5a29d2aa73f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198796&Signature=oiGVj5LqdDQHASEe1qX9FgWeRwmMFctvYF8OzmGiaj5Pwtyk9BBqaPz9yOc0R~~VN6aqbNEUXoRHm4lONaP1ITtlKyq~ldVaqSQf1jBUkQorjBef3x21WJpWIv69qGpBdtu7Oh3esnNaqNf1dOOzPV9nosOIhbG7RZcO71yIo7bngnqjiYQ-P1Ku0u2SktGCA2VA4q3aX7CwCs6CXS0V1f8WUvr-8k7c54lmUkPQHmjf37dkt7BDQDa7N7wRbvEkQ7ZPawZH3L6cXUFNU1JdIVg3hwe3LrrL~oedzkfP6wlwBgFIB-8iRMvq69FlrNnIXmC6JkvzJnc7S-qCVsxHkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Water and Infrastructure Committee voted to recommend first reading of Bill 19 (2025), authorizing the mayor to enter into a joint intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for Phase 1 of a groundwater availability study and reconnaissance to support development of a deep monitoring well in West Maui.

Why it matters: The Department of Water Supply said the work will refine understanding of West Maui groundwater conditions, improve the county's groundwater model, and provide the data needed to evaluate aquifer health, chloride (salinity) levels, recharge and potential impacts to streamflow. The study is reconnaissance, permitting, and monitoring-well design rather than a production-well project.

Eva Blumenstein, Planning Program Administrator with the Department of Water Supply, explained the funding split: the Phase 1 scope totals about $180,000; the county and the Maui Water Commission each plan to contribute approximately $75,000 and USGS would contribute $30,000. Blumenstein said, \"we are contracting USGS, to do the reconnaissance permitting, the monitoring well design.\" She added there has been outreach to other potential contributors and that the Water Commission agreed to split costs with the county.

Committee members asked whether USGS's federal contribution is firm, why the department contracts USGS rather than performing the monitoring in-house, and whether the monitoring well could be used for production. Blumenstein said the county does not have hydrologists on staff and routinely contracts USGS for technical monitoring and data management. She said the monitoring well is intended for data and monitoring only and is not a production well.

Timing and ownership: Phase 1 (site reconnaissance and selection) will identify the best location(s) for monitoring. The department indicated USGS's contribution covers a portion of Phase 1; the drilling and development portion of a deep monitoring well would likely require larger federal grants (potentially millions) if pursued. Ownership of a drilled monitoring well would depend on funding and agreements; Blumenstein said the Water Commission currently owns the existing deep monitoring well in the Honokowai aquifer, and ownership of any new well would be determined as funding and partnerships are finalized.

The committee substituted the bill with a CD1 (technical edits) and recommended first reading; the committee recorded an 8-0 vote in favor (with the chair noted as excused for the recorded count). The department noted Phase 1 deliverables may extend beyond the agreement's fiscal-year performance period and that staff would return to council for any no-cost time extension if necessary.

The committee's action advances the intergovernmental agreement to the full council for consideration.

Sources and attribution: Quotations and attributions are from the March 17, 2025 committee meeting transcript, including Eva Blumenstein (Department of Water Supply) and council members on the Water & Infrastructure Committee.","The committee recommended first reading of an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey to fund reconnaissance and design work for a deep monitoring well in West Maui; the Department of Water Supply and the Water Commission will split most of the Phase 1 cost while USGS contributes a smaller federal share.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs ordinance to adopt flood-prone areas not on FEMA maps

Committee approves settlement IGA with HIOSH for Kihei wastewater facility violations

Committee approves joint funding and IGA for USGS West Maui groundwater study