2018-09-26 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

Home

Commissioner Neff said they weren’t able to really fully talk about it because the deadline is today. Chair Bennett said he needs to communicate to the Charter Commission chair today that the EMC is prepared to provide their recommendations, and he believes the motion would give them that authority. Commissioner Neff said she would support that. Ms. Mellon-Lacey asked if the whole commission was required to vote on what the subcommittee recommends. She apologized that she is new to this. Chair Bennett said he does not know if the rules address this. Basically, the EMC would be authorizing the subcommittee to complete the process. Commissioner Pequeño clarified that the Charter Commission’s request was two- part. The first part is how the Charter affects the role of the EMC and its operations, and the second part would be any proposals to amend the Charter. Under the first part, the EMC’s role would no longer look at the Wastewater Division. Chair Bennett said they did not have time to split this hair. Commissioner Fritz suggested the Chair ask for a delay, and Chair Bennett explained there would not be time because Election Day is November 6. Realistically, the proposals are kind of radical, and he suspects the Charter Commission will just vote no. However, at least the conversation would be started. Commissioners Neff and Pequeño agreed they wanted the conversation started. Vote: All commissioners voted aye. Chair Bennett said he appreciates their support very much. b. Discussion on the recent brown water advisory in Hilo (issued September 4, 2018) due to the heavy rain and storm runoff. Commissioner Pequeño said he requested this agenda item because the advisories seem to happen quite often, and he is curious about whether it has been happening more frequently as the years go by and what has been done to improve the situation, such as signage. Chair Bennett said that when it rains hard in Hilo, the sewers will take in about 30% to 50% more water, which causes them to overflow. The Department of Health is supposed to go out and take samples to check bacteria levels. However, since storm water is always dirty, when overflows occur the DOH just declares a brown water advisory and tells people to stay out of the water. It is valid. Commissioner Pequeño wondered whether efforts had been made to mitigate the amount of overflow during storms, and Chair Bennett said the question might be what the County has done to isolate its wastewater facilities from storm water. Director Kucharski said the County does not have combined sewers and storm water. Only one location, in Pāpaʽikou, has a connection of wastewater and storm water,