2018-01-18 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Chair Bennett asked if the commissioners were okay with emailing him the items they want to get on the agenda under their commissioners’ reports. Commissioner Fear asked whether it was necessary for him to do so if he just wanted to talk about various things in his community. Chair Bennett said yes and added that though it would be a little more work, it would make them stop and think about the issues they want to discuss. Commissioner Fear asked if he would be allowed to talk at the end of the today’s meeting about issues in his district, and Ms. Wong said she would advise against it, since it is not on the agenda. Chair Bennett said if people see an item that concerns them on the agenda, they may be more inclined to come and speak on it. If it is not listed, there is no opportunity. It is a little more work, but in the interest of public service it is worth it. Ms. Wong suggested they have a vote to adopt the policy, and Chair Bennett said they could pass a resolution establishing the process. Motion and vote: Ms. Wong said the motion would be to recommend that prior to all future meetings, commissioners are to contact the chair to request specific items be placed on the agenda for the focus of discussion in the commissioners’ district reports. Vice Chair Olson so moved, Commissioner Fritz seconded the motion, and they, Chair Bennett, and Commissioner Neff voted aye. Commissioner Fear said he can’t say anything and does not know why he is there. 6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE a. Director’s Informational Report. Ms. Noda explained that Director Kucharski was asked last week to attend an informational meeting at the State Legislature before the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee regarding the Department of Health’s requirement that all cesspools be closed by 2050. The DOH’s report to the Legislature was actually item 6.a.(1) on the agenda. Briefly, Act 125, which was passed in the last legislative session, requires that all cesspools be closed by 2050. Our island has 49,300 cesspools, which is about half in the state. The DOH had to submit a report to the state legislature last month. It is available and can be distributed before next month’s meeting. The closure costs are approximately $20,000 per unit, which comes to about $1 billion total. The prioritized areas are upcountry Maui and Kahaluʽu on Oʽahu as priority level 1. For Hawaiʻi County, Keaʻau is priority level 2 with 9,300 cesspools; and priority level 3 includes Hilo Bay with 8,700 cesspools, coastal Kailua/Kona with 6,500 cesspools, Puakō with 150, and Kapoho with 220. Chair Bennett said he had spoken with Director Kucharski about the legislature meeting, and major concerns are enforcement and how to pay for everything. Director Kucharski believes the County cannot afford it, so it is unknown how the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to achieve these cesspool conversions will be found.