The signing of Bill 69 into law has wreaked havoc among community associations, their boards of directors, community residents, and property managers. What was originally intended to mandate the retrofitting of older high rise condos with sprinkler systems, has now been amended to mandate life safety measures and offer incentives like tax credits and fee waivers to the community associations that install fire sprinklers.
It is the life safety measures portion of Bill 69 that are causing widespread confusion and anxiety among community associations and those with interests in them.
Last month, we hosted a public panel discussion that was intended to help clear the air while providing guidance towards completing Bill 69’s requirements. The panel consisted of speakers from both public and private sectors and included Council Member Carol Fukunaga of the Honolulu City Council, Battalion Chief Wayne Masuda of the Honolulu Fire Department, Sharilyn Tanaka of Atlas Insurance, Christian Porter of PMKC LLP, and Dana Bergeman of the Bergeman Group.
The contributions and feedback from those in attendance will be instrumental towards identifying and clearing up points of confusion. The feedback gained by Councilmember Fukunaga will be helpful in drafting future amendments as she looks to provide more clarity to Bill 69.
Please check out the immediate next steps for fulfilling Bill 69 requirements and a handful of resources to point your community association in the right direction.
Next Steps
There were several questions that focused on the next steps and we wanted to provide a simple timeline and action items to help your AOAO’s.
- November 2, 2019 – Letter of Intent to comply is due. Please submit your letter to the following address.To: Honolulu Fire Department
Attn: Fire Chief Manuel P Neves
636 South Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 - AOAO’s who need to obtain a Life Safety Evaluation should seek out Licensed Design Professional. Please feel free to contact Dana Bergeman.Dana Bergeman | Bergeman Group
PRESIDENT & CEO
MOBILE (808) 729-2910
TOLL-FREE (844) 492-BERG (2374)
Resources
- Clarity for Bill 69 by Sharilyn Tanaka
- Revised Unsprinklered Condo Listing
- Ordinance 18-14 (Bill 69)
- Life Safety Checklist
NOTE: The first group of condo properties includes those with interior hallways (sorted from tallest to shortest), and the second group of condo properties includes those whose hallways have been identified as exterior hallways (sorted from tallest to shortest).