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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0645.000 2014-2016 William P. Kenoi ooN.Y ... . Deanna S. Sako Mayor °� �: ��;� ` Director ' `• Lisa K. Miura Deputy Director ;pc:Mi MOI i•\\ ' ,tE OF. •NF''� County of Hawaii Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 —) (808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569 CD(') _ (-) January 14, 2016 Dru Kanuha, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai`i County Council c» Hawai`i County Council -- - 25 Aupuni Street t'' Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Re: Agreement with the University of Hawaii, Water Resources Research Center The certification of wastewater treatment operators is essential to ensure the competence of those employees to operate wastewater treatment plants within the County. The State of Hawai`i Department of Health is authorized to issue certificates entitling qualified individuals to operate wastewater treatment plants. The success of the Hawai`i law for mandatory certification of operating personnel in wastewater treatment plants depends heavily on the Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center(SWOTC). Enclosed is a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the University of Hawai`i, Water Resources Research Center to provide training via the Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center to County wastewater treatment operators. The Department of Environmental Management is requesting that this resolution be waived from the Finance Committee, and be placed on the February 3, 2016 Council Agenda due to timeframe of the training to be provided. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dora Beck of the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8513. Deanna S. Sako Director of Finance Enc. cc: Environmental Management Comm No. K/ c ` ,l{S . ttoRef. To: CIM. Lwl Fc) Ref. hate JAN 1 5 2016 Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider Form #: B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Dept of Environmental Management DATE: 1/4/2016 STAFF CONTACT: Dora Beck PHONE: 961-8513 A. REQUEST: Pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statute Section 46-7, a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Hawai'i, Water Resources Research Center (UH-WRRC) to provide training via the Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center (SWOTC) to Wastewater Treatment Works Operators within the County of Hawai'i, Wastewater Division. The SWOTC is to provide twelve (12) wastewater training courses per year (July through June) for five (5) years (2015 to 2020) at a total cost of$77,015 ($15,403/year). B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): Certification of wastewater treatment works operators assures employment of personnel competent to provide proper operation and maintenance, and therefore efficient management of wastewater treatment works. The importance and need for competent wastewater treatment plant operators is essential in order to realize public health and water quality objectives as well as to maximize the benefits of the investment of public funds. Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes, section 340B-3, upon Board of Certification (BOC) approval, the State of Hawai'i, Department of Health (DOH) is authorized to issue certificates entitling qualified individuals to operate wastewater treatment plants. The success of the Hawaii Law for Mandatory Certification of Operating Personnel in wastewater treatment plants depends heavily on the implementation of a Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center ("SWOTC"). The SWOTC has been in operation since 1987 providing wastewater training classes. Upon completion of such classes, operating personnel are awarded Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the BOC qualifying operators to sit for exams for obtaining and/or renewing an operator certification. The DOH has sponsored and administered the functions of the SWOTC to serve the four (4) counties of the State of Hawaii (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai) since 1988 and provided 40% of the funding for the SWOTC with the other 60% being funded by the counties. The County of Hawai'i had been paying the DOH a flat fee of$11,550 for twelve (12) wastewater training classes per year on Hawaii Island. The DOH has discontinued it's involvement in the SWOTC. Beginning June 30, 2015, sponsorship and administrative functions were transferred entirely to the UH-WRRC. The UH-WRRC anticipates obtaining an annual funding of$15,403 for the 5-year service period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020 to continue administering the SWOTC and providing wastewater operator training courses. We respectfully request that this bill be waived from Committee and placed on the next Council agenda in order to expedite the implementaton of the course schedule for FY16. SIGNED: c` DATE: (1. Department Head KAREN EOFFo+1V°i" AARON S.Y. CHUNG Chairperson • ��%� MAILE"MEDEIROS"DAVID : .; �',•:, /%;.; GREGGOR ILAGAN VALERIE T. POINDEXTER ". - DRU MAMO KANUHA Vice Chair +f :` ��'��`.= DENNIS"FRESH"ONISHI ori � DANNY PALEKA MARGARET WILLE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 January 14, 2016 Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Hawai`i County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 RE: Resolution No. 380-1.6 : RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH CENTER,PURSUANT TO HRS SECTION 46-7, TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS OPERATORS. Pursuant to Section 2(g) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of Hawai`i, this written request is submitted with my approval that the above-referenced matter be waived from the Committee on Finance to the full Council for immediate action. In reviewing this matter, timely approval is crucial. It is therefore advantageous that approval is granted and the matter be placed onto the next Council agenda for review. However, in the event this request is denied, for whatever reason, I understand the matter shall be referred to the Committee on Finance for placement on its future agenda. Sincerely, ..UKJ cd. k.4tAar tf-'Karen Eoff, Chairperson Committee on Finance pprove• Date/Waive to Council: Disapproved/Date/Refer to FC: 7) $4044,17c� Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Hawaii County Council Hawai`i County Council KE/wb Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer