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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0709.000 2002-2004 ~?Mii or Y• l~ .4 Harry Kim •t• Dixie Kaetsu Mayor Managing Director Peter L. Hendricks Deputy Managing Director ~ountp of ~amai`i 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-82I 1 Fax (808) 961-6553 ~7 L KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 ~ cr- _ ~ (808)329-5226 Fax (808)326-5663 _ N N July 21, 2004 The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman w and Members of the Hawaii County Council ~ ~ 25 Aupuni Street c~ Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council: Attached is a resolution and bill to transfer $363,221 from the Council's contingency account to the Solid Waste Fund for necessary operations. This amount represents part of the Sort Station funding that was removed from the proposed budget. As directed by the Council, we are not proceeding with the Sort Station at this time. However, there are other very urgent solid waste needs that must be addressed, and we request that these funds be made available to help us comply with our Consent Agreement with the State Department of Health and to help us implement measures to increase diversion from both the Hilo and Pu`uanahulu landfills. Background The original budget request presented to the administration by the Solid Waste Division reflected the costs necessary to comply with and make progress on the goals and objectives set forth in the updated Tntegrated Solid Waste Management Plan. This total request was more than the County could afford, so the Solid Waste Division was required to make some serious cuts. Because the Sort Station was seen as such a crucial element of the County's plan, three months funding of its operations was left in the budget while other badly-needed items were eliminated. Now that there will be no Sort Station operational expenses this fiscal year, we request that some of the funds transferred to the contingency account be released to cover costs that were cut in three areas. Regulatory Compliance /Landfill Operational Efficiency Based on industry standards, currently both the Hilo and Pu`uanahulu landfills are operated with minimal staff. This has led to violations in the past, and resulted in a Consent Agreement with the State Department of Health (March 5, 2003) based on violations that were cited in April 2001. The Hilo landfill has no maintenance staff, and lacks adequate personnel to comply with State Department of Health and federal regulations. Pu`uanahulu also lacks adequate personnel to effectively handle its waste stream while complying with applicable landfill regulations. This inadequate staffing level represents a fiscal and environmental Res..~i S- o~ 7~ /j; 30`~ Comm. No. Ref. To: L Ref. Date Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. July 21, 2004 The Honorable James Y. Arakaki and Members of the Hawaii County Council Page 2 liability for the County, and reduces the County's ability to efficiently operate and extend the life of its two landfills. We are requesting $125,721 to restore four positions that were cut in the preparation of our proposed budget. The original request was for two equipment operators, one in Hilo and one at Pu`uanahulu; and two landfill spotters, one in Hilo and one at Pu`uanahulu. An 18% increase in the refuse entering Pu`uanahulu since last year made it necessary for us to recently transfer one equipment operator and one spotter from Hilo to Pu`uanahulu, leaving serious Consent Agreement issues in Hilo, and putting the commitments we made to the State in our Corrective Action Plan (November 4, 2003) in jeopardy. Therefore, instead of the two positions for Hilo and two for Pu`uanahulu that were originally requested, we are now requesting four positions (two equipment operators and two landfill spotters) for Hilo, since two Hilo positions were already transferred to Pu`uanahulu. The cost breakdown for these positions is shown on the attached worksheet. Greenwaste Since the original budget request was submitted in October, 2003, the amount of refuse tonnage islandwide has increased about 14%, from 600 to 700 tons per day. We must increase recycling/diversion efforts to minimize the eventual hauling of waste to the Pu `uanahulu landfill. One important way to do this is to increase the diversion of greenwaste from the landfills. The Solid Waste Division estimates that it is currently capturing approximately two-thirds of the greenwaste entering the waste stream, and is mulching nearly 20,000 tons per year. We propose to increase this diversion rate by providing greenwaste collection centers at eight North and East Hawaii transfer stations at an estimated cost of $112,500. This program will allow us to divert another 2,500 tons, or 25% of the amount still going into the landfills. The cost for this program will be $40 to $50 per ton, which is about half the current cost to landfill this greenwaste. Pu`uanahulu Material Recovery Area As mentioned above, the amount of waste entering Pu`uanahulu has increased by 18% since last year. Part of the original plan for the Pu`uanahulu landfill was the development of a Material Recovery Area, and 32 acres for this purpose are provided under the landfill operating permit. This Material Recovery Area will be a major component of efforts to extend the life span of the last remaining permitted landfill in the County. This can provide a central location for resource recovery by private vendors. With the requested $125,000, (1) the site will be grubbed and graded; (2) plans and site layout design will be prepared for recovery efforts such as organics diversion, biodiesel production, and scrap metal processing; and (3) utilities to the site provided for private vendors. July 21, 2004 The Honorable James Y. Arakaki and Members of the Hawaii County Council Page 3 Summary As shown on the attachment, the total requested for these three items is $363,221. We will be happy to provide you with any additional information you need about this proposal. Please feel free to contact Barbara Bell or Lono Tyson if you have any questions. Alo , c~ l~~ l Harry KimCJ ~ MAYOR Attachments: Worksheet Resolution Bill Solid Waste Operations Budget FY 2004-OS Landfill Operations Staff Position Title Quantit Equip. Operator III--Hilo 2 51,606 Landfill Spotter--Hilo 2 41,490 Fringes/Benefits for LF Positions 1 32,625 Sub-Total 125,721 Green Waste Collection Centers Satellite collections Cost/ton I/2 of 25%uncaptured green waste North Hawaii area (Waimea, Honokaa, 1250 tons 40 50,000 Puako, Hawi) collected at Transfer Stations East Hawaii area (Papaikou, Pahoa, 1/2 of 25%uncaptured green waste Glenwood, Waiohinu), collected at Transfer 1250 tons 50 62,500 Stations Sub-Total 112,500 Material Recovery Area at Pu'uanahulu 32 acres set aside under landfill operating Grubbing/Grading 60,000 permit for material recovery. Plan and site layout design for material recovery efforts such as organics diversion, biodiesel production, and scrap metal Planning/Design 25,000 rocessin . Utilities stub-out 40,000 Provide utilities to site for private vendors. Sub-Total 125,000 TOTAL REQUEST $ 363,221 Form B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Environmental Management DATE: 7/21!04 STAFF CONTACT: Barbara Bell PHONE: 961-8083 A. REQUEST: To amend the FY 04-05 Operating Budget, Ordinance No. 04-74, to increase the Solid Waste Fund as follows: Revenues: $363,221 085.3609.11 General Fund Subsidy Expenses: $ 93,096 085.601.5604.01.011 Landfills Salaries & Wages $112,500 085.601.5604.21.115 Recycling Program -Misc. Contract Services $125,000 085.601.5604.52.115 Miscellaneous Contract Services $ 12,103 085.801.5802.81.341 Pension Accumulation $ 7,122 085.801.5802.84.341 FICA Employer Share - LF $ 13,400 085.801.5802.88.341 Employee Health Plans - LF $363,221 TOTAL B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED)• We are requesting that funds from the Council's contingency fund be re-directed to the Solid Waste Fund. In order to improve landfill operational efficiency and regulatory compliance, we request that two Equipment Operator III positions and two Landfill Spotters (Transfer Station Attendants) be added to the FY04-05 Operating Budget. Funding is also requested to provide additional greenwaste collection sites at certain transfer stations and to begin development of a Material Recovery Area at the Pu'uanahulu Landfill which will help to increase diversion from both landfills. SIGNED: DATE: 7/21/04 Department Head