HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0606.006 2016-2018 ,x y% ` Kucharski
Harry Kim °.:,{�_��;,;//,;. William A.Kuc s
Mayor Director
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Wilfred M.Okabe Diane A.Noda
Managing Director Deputy Director
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
345 Kekuanao`a Street,Suite 41-Hilo,Hawai`i 96720
(808)961-8083 Fax(808)961-8086
cohdem@co.hawaii.hi.us
http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/environmental-management/
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December 29, 2017 c c
Honorable Valerie Poindexter, Chair ,
and Members of the Hawai`i County Council ,.,
Hawai`i County Council
25 Aupuni Street , --
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Re: Bill 82 (Draft 2) Relating to Solid Waste Fees
Second Council Reading: January 4, 2018
Dear Chair Poindexter and Members of the County Council:
During the Finance Committee meeting on December 4, 2017, discussion was held on Bill 82, as
amended, and reference was made to the letter from the Environmental Management
Commission in support of the bill. During the testimony, it was requested that the minutes of the
EMC meeting containing the discussion and vote for the letter in support of Bill 82 be provided.
The relevant portion of the draft minutes are attached. They are still in draft form because the
EMC's next meeting is not until January 10, 2018, after the scheduled second reading of Bill 82
by the County Council.
The EMC unanimously endorsed the fee increases proposed in Bill 82 (Draft 1); and while a
letter in support of Bill 82 (Draft 2) cannot be sent until after the scheduled Council vote, there is
no indication that such a vote would be anything but positive.
Thank you for the support and quick action on this bill.
Sincerely,
el•11 •
• . Kucharski
Director
WAK:mefGOG, 6
Comm. No.
Enclosure Ref. To:
Ref. pate 0 201
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Excerpt of draft minutes
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday,November 28, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
West Hawai`i Civic Center
Council Building A—Conference Room
75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Commissioners present: Staff present:
Richard Bennett,Vice Chair William Kucharski, Director
Jon Olson Diane Noda, Deputy Director
Susan Osborne Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Jeffry Fear Mary Fujio, Secretary
Rick Vidgen
5. NEW BUSINESS
d. Proposed bill to amend Hawaii County Code Chapter 20,relating to fee
schedule.
Director Kucharski said there is a proposed bill to increase solid waste tipping fees that
will come before the Council's Finance Committee on December 4, 2017. The fees were last
increased in 2007. He looked at a 2% CPI from 2007 to 2018, and that gave him a number of
about$115-117 per ton. They are currently charging $85 per ton. He proposed to the Mayor
that starting July 1, 2018,they charge $101 per ton and then increase it by$3 per ton over the
next several years,bringing the charge to $115 per ton in 2022. This would bring in
approximately $1.8 million to the Solid Waste Division. He put it before the Council now so
that it will be known whether it passes or not, before their budgets for next year are fmalized. He
said he has already spoken with most of the Councilmembers to explain the bill.
He pointed out that the County of Hawai`i is the most generous government entity he has
ever seen as far as dealing with solid waste. There are numerous transfer stations, and
approximately 42% of all the waste deposited in the landfill is subsidized 100%by the County.
58%comes from the commercial haulers. Adding to the costs is the mixed waste management.
It costs the County $170 per ton to manage recycled material. All of this comes from their Solid
Waste budget. They are as generous and as far-reaching as they can possibly be in this County
in taking care of this issue,though they are always being accused of not doing enough. If they
get this money,they will try to do more. The Mayor has said that none of the money needs to go
back to the General Fund the department can keep it.
H •
Excerpt of draft minutes
With the money from the increase,they are looking at three major items: The first is
upgrading and standardizing all of the transfer stations. They also want to do more greenwaste
collecting, such as in Hawi, and have chippers to do more. The second thing is that starting in
January 2018,the polystyrene plan will be implemented, and they will need someone to manage
that. They will also be bringing before the Council a full anti-litter campaign, and they will be
asking for the same person to manage both the polystyrene plan and anti-litter campaign. The
third thing is they are looking for another project manager to oversee the contract with Waste
Management,which will be up for re-negotiation in April.
Director Kucharski explained that the bill before them will come before the Council on
December 4, 2017. If it passes, it will modify Chapter 20 of the Code. He needs the EMC to
review the bill prior to the Council meeting, as there is a requirement for them to provide a
recommendation to the Council on whether or not they are in support of it. The December 4
meeting is before the Finance Committee, not the Environmental Management Committee, as the
bill deals with fees. If the Council were to review the bill before the EMC did, it would refer the
bill to the EMC for a recommendation as to its approval or non-approval, and there would be
only 45 days from the Council meeting to submit the EMC's input. He did not want to miss that
deadline.
Vice Chair Bennett asked whether the bill would impact only the commercial haulers,
and Director Kucharski said yes.
Vice Chair Bennett wondered whether the bill, ifp assed,would have the unintended
consequence or more trash thrown along the road. Director Kucharski said he expects the
increase to be passed through from the haulers to the customers. However, it has to be done.
They are continually asked to do more with less. Waste Management has increased its tipping
fees to the County,there are salaries that are increased every year, and there is the CPI increase
on the composting.
Motion and vote: Vice Chair Bennett said he would entertain a motion in support of the
bill. Commissioner Olson so moved, Commissioner Vidgen seconded the motion, and all
commissioners present voted aye.
Director Kucharski asked the commissioners to send a letter to the Council, showing their
support of the bill. Vice Chair Bennett said he would work with the EMC's secretary on getting
the letter out.
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