2001-10-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes

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Minutes for Wednesday, October 24, 2001Page 3 of 4 the County’s response. Peter Boucher stated that they just repaired a number of leaks. The total flow is down 20%. LETTER FROM JERRY ROTHSTEIN RE: KEAHOLE POWER PLANT  Barbara Bell received a letter from Jerry Rothstein regarding the Keahole Power Plant Improvement Project and was asked to put this on the agenda. Gerald Takase stated that he is asking that the Commission take a position on the Keahole Power Plant because it involves the environment. The Commission’s role is to advise the Department. The Commission does not have an overall global environmental concern. Recommended that it is beyond the scope of the Commission’s authority to lend their support to this issue. Will be put on the next agenda. 7.OLD BUSINESS Creation of SWAC Subcommittee  Must send all information to SWAC members and Commissioners until they are formally excused. 8.NEW BUSINESS Establish Sewer User Fees by the Environmental Management Commission  Peter Boucher followed up on suggestion by Councilman Yagong that perhaps the user fees be established by the Environmental Management Commission rather than through Council. Requesting that the legislative auditor to draft a bill that would formally transfer that authority and then run it through the administration. Gerald Takase stated that in Section 2130 of the Code grants the ability to the Department Head to establish a flat rate for sewer services. Having that in the Code is helpful to the Commission because it does potentially give the Commission the right to do it. Right now the Council has assumed that duty. It will be a couple step process. Council needs to repeal their schedules that they have and make a clearer delegation of this authority to this Commission. Right now under the Charter and the Rules for the Department of Environmental Management, there is no clear mandate to the Commission. The Commission is really to advise the Department. The Commission doesn’t have any rate setting powers, but that can be delegated to this Commission by the Council if they so choose. Luana Jones moved that the Environmental Management Commission initiate the process to accept the responsibility for setting wastewater-related fees. Carolyn Witcher seconded. Motion was unanimously carried. 9.ANNOUNCEMENTS Carolyn Witcher requested a status report on the Pahoehoe Plant for the next meeting. She will email her specific questions to Peter Boucher. Wednesday, November 28, 2001, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65- 1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, Hawai‘i 96743. Wednesday, December 19, 2001, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., State Office Building, Conference Rooms A & B, 75 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720. 10.ADJOURNMENT Carolyn Witcher moved to adjourn the meeting. Hugh Ono seconded. Motion was carried unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: ___________________________________ KRISTEN GRIFFITHS file://C:\Test1\minutes102401.htm6/22/2011