2001-06-21 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes

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Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 2 of 5 hookup. If you need a wastewater system in Nanawale, it shouldn’t be any different than if you need a wastewater system in Hilo. And if County funds are going to be expended for it, equitability is what I want to see happen. Commented regarding drafting of rules. Take testimony on the issues as they come up. It allows for a little more give and take. Curtis Tyler, Council Member & Concerned Citizen: Not authorized by the Hawai`i County Council to make a report at the meeting. Participated as a Councilmember as well as a concerned citizen. The notice in the paper may meet the Sunshine Law but it was quite short. Think that people may have a difficult time making plans to attend meeting. The agenda was very clear and suggested if we know these in advance, it would be helpful to publish them earlier. Commented on the proposed rules. Would strongly urge to put the notice, agenda and minutes on the County Website. The Hawai`i County Charter is the foundational document that gives you authority. Gave the commission members encouragement. Hook-up exemptions. We are asking people way up in the hills to hook-up because they’re near the system, but the people makai of Highway 19 don’t have to hook-up because they’re below grade. As new commission members you should be apprised of what’s been going on. Wastewater system is not self-supporting. The council and administration have actually withdrawn general funds, almost $700,000.00 in 1998, and what the Council has done is essentially said, we’re not going to approve rates that are really high. The Council seems to be willing to subsidize this through the General Fund and that is a violation of the State Revolving Loan terms. Receiving transmittals from the Director of the Department of Public Works. He has nothing to do with the Environmental Department. Got nothing against Mr. Lee. He has no authority that I’m aware of. Our concern is that there is no director for this extremely important department. General Plan process. Would urge you to please individually, and if you feel so collectively, to weigh in on this General Plan. The General Plan sets the course for at least the next 10 years. I think that the current General Plan, which was written 30 years ago, is inadequate. Solid Waste Advisory Committee. I would be glad to serve. Would be more than happy to be involved or send a designee to attend the meetings. Wanted to report that the green waste at the Old Kailua Landfill has been spilling over into private property owned by the Liliuokalani Trust. Spoke to the contractor but it has only gotten worst. Managing Trustee Frank Jarling has also spoken to Mr. Ross. One of my constituents wrote and said that he went out to dump some pallets and he paid the fee but then he was told that he had to have a permit to use the landfill. Mr. Capellas has corresponded with him. He said that he has been there only once in six years and why would he have to have a permit to go to the landfill. I don’t know all the issues here but this is something that maybe from a policy prospective, you may want to work with the division chief. Mission Statement. Pay very close attention to that section of the Hawai`i State Constitution relating to the protection and conservation of all natural resources, and a lot of what comes into the waste stream is very natural resource. Pay attention to what is in the Charter because that’s the foundation. Riley explained to Mr. Tyler why the notice was posted just in time. We have set meetings for every two weeks and staff had a difficult time getting the agenda out earlier. Riley mentioned that the commission wanted Council to have an opportunity to brief us rather than them sending papers to us. Our intent was to have "Reports from Council" included on every agenda, should something be of importance that needed immediate action. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA Nothing was added to the agenda. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCIL Al Konishi, Hawai`i County Clerk: file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011