2017-09-27 Environmental Management Commission Minutes

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4. OLD BUSINESS: a. Discuss how to resolve the extent of unsewered dwellings in the Ali‘i Drive area mauka and makai, and to the south of Queen Kalama o Commissioner Olson commented this has been a lingering issue because it comes down to money. o Commissioner Bennett commented that he and Director Kucharski visited Heeia Wastewater Treatment Plant and discovered they have significant capacity, but they don’t have connections. Commissioner Bennett asked if we know who is connected. Director Kucharski responded that we know who is connected to the County sewer, but don’t know who is connected to all the private sewage treatment facilities. Will check to see if can get this information from the State. o Director Kucharski stated “the County Code says that if a property is adjacent to a sewer then they must connect.” Will need to check to see if that applies to private sewers as well. Will have an answer at the next meeting. o Director Kucharski commented this is not a simple issue, but is very important. There are no answers at the moment, just a lot of questions. But the department is working towards finding the answers. o Commission Chair Fritz stated “it seems to me that it’s as simple as digging a trench down the middle of the road and putting a sewer line in it…and everything else necessary.” Director Kucharski stated “that is the physical answer, that is gonna be done. The question is, is it done by a developer or is it done by the County.” If the developer does it, the cost of homes will go up and you’ll never get affordable housing in that area. A public-private connection is something we can look at. o Commissioner Bennett moved to have this Commission recommend to the County of Hawai‘i that they commission a feasibility study on the issue of providing sanitary human waste management in the near coastal zone to include a thorough examination of traditional and alternative technologies, and that the report be funded by the County and not come out of the department budget. Commissioner Olson seconded. o Commissioner Osborne commented it’s a good motion but might be a good idea to include parameters. She asked Commissioner Bennett if he could draft something and bring it to the next meeting. Commissioner Bennett agreed and invited all Commissioners to think of things they would like addressed. o Commissioner Bennett amended his motion to include writing a letter to the Director, and copying the County Council and the Mayor. Commissioner Fear seconded, and it carried unanimously. 5. NEW BUSINESS: a. Review letter to the Environmental Management Committee requesting County Council increase the sewer fees o Commissioner Chair Fritz informed the Commission he did not write the letter as discussed at last month’s meeting because he wanted to have further discussion and input from others. o Commissioner Bennett asked Director Kucharski, “the current fee structure, is it simply a matter of connection or is the current fee structure scaled to have some notion of volume?” Director Kucharski answered “the fee is a flat fee, and the code requires connection to the sewer if available. However there are instances where people have sewer connectivity but have not connected. They are still charged a sewer connection fee.” Connecting to the sewer can range from $8,000.00 to $10,000.00 depending on where the sewer lines are. Director Kucharski added “we have industrial fees as well but we do not charge on volume.” The flat fee is currently $27.00/month. The Department is currently working with the Department of Water Supply to shut off water to customers who don’t pay their 2