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Home My WebLink About06.09.22. COG Commission Minutes. ApprovedV OP •' �„ COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • •,�OFM�'� COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES/ June 9, 2022 INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): ZOOM WITH IN -PERSON LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY PER AGENDA CALL TO ORDER [2:02 pm] Chair Konowicz called the meeting to order with quorum. ATTENDANCE Present: D9 Michael Konowicz, Chair D 1 Neal Herbert, Vice Chair D2 Matthias Kusch D5 Shannon Matson D6 Kenneth Obenski D8 Karie Wakat Excused: D3 Chantee Shiroma Absent: D4 Madie Greene D7 Daniel Malakie III Additional: Robert Command, Deputy Managing Director Kyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel (for a portion of the meeting) Cody Frenz, Deputy Corporation Counsel (for a portion of the meeting) Pomaika`i Bartolome, Executive Assistant, Office of the Mayor Jeannie Miskovich, COG Commission Secretary Office of the Mayor INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Ramzi Mansour, Director, Department of Environmental Management STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None COMMUNICATIONS None [2:05] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 26, 2022, REGULAR MEETING Discussion: None Comm. Obenski Moved to approve the minutes as stated Comm. Wakat Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (6) Unanimous 5/26/2022 Regular Meeting Minutes Approved [2:06] PRESENTATIONS 6(a) Overview and discussion on the Department of Environmental Management, including updates on wastewater, green waste and recycling, trash issues, by Ramzi Mansour, Director, Department of Environmental Management. (Presentation on File) Pahala and Na`alehu Wastewater Treatment Negotiations Comments: EPA negotiations continue regarding federal compliance with "Large Capacity Cesspools" aka "Gang Cesspools"; the County has provided EPA solutions on these two communities inherited from C. Brewer. Federal compliance must be met or hefty fines by the EPA will be assessed. The state compliance standards to be met by 2050. The county will move forward with incentives/ideas to fast -track the conversion. Comm. Kusch Interested in the model of the Kapehu Subdivision wastewater treatment system. The model is a small-scale aerobic system for approximately 30 homes. Cesspool Conversion - Comments ,,, Comm. Obenski - Additional explanation of cesspool conversion systems on properties less than 10,000 square foot and the integration of an added septic tank, using the existing cesspool as a vertical leach field. Homeowners would need state variances - which the state is on board with as there is no other recourse. [2:40] Hilo Wastewater Plant Status Update- The maintenance on the Hilo wastewater plant is moving forward --- with the bid out estimated by March 2023. Delays are from a backlog on materials and the high price of construction. Q/A: Comm. Konowicz --What are the costs to resolve the deferred maintenance? $700 million - $1 billion to get the facility up to date, with additional costs to expand the customer base; an estimated $175 - $200 million for Hilo alone. Expenses are borne by the taxpayers with Department of Environmental Management pursuing Grants (small), funding through the State Revolving Fund (through revolving low interest loans), and Federal funding. Septic Conversion - Q/A: Comm. Konowicz - Where is the material from Yd party septic tank pumping directed? The material is goes into the county wastewater system, a drying process and then buried in the county landfill. [2:41 ] Abandoned Vehicles- Q/A: Comm. Obenski - Is there a system / business model similar to the mainland whereby a company purchases intact vehicles and sells for parts rather than our current island model of abandoning vehicles and dismantled them on side -of -road? No - Big Island Scrap metal just purchased a shredder. Each legislative session, DEM works with the legislature to submit bills addressing various ways to hold owners responsible for the costs of disposal. In keeping with the annual fees residents pays, one idea was to levy a fee on vehicles coming onto the island more than 10 years old - to cover costs of eventual disposal. [2:50] Tire Dumping - Q/A:Comm Kusch - Most items have a point of source cost for eventual disposal fees. The money collected stays with the retailer to dispose or goes to state fund .- the state determines the amount counties receive for the disposal E-Waste (EV Batteries) / Solar Panels- QIA: Chair Konowicz - E-waste of EV batteries and/or solar panels will ramp up as the county moves toward green energy. Is there a disposal plan for this extra e-waste? The county has a contract with a Hazard Waste Collection Company from O'ahu to manage the disposal of hazard waste twice a year, at an annual cost of $50K. Our current contract has ended with state funds limited to $89K. Funding to start again beginning of the fiscal year - July 2022. Recycling -Q/A: Comm Herbert - What is the status of recycling on island since SE Asia is no longer taking the resource? The costs of doing business are up about 30%; recycling contracts everywhere are more expensive. Comm. Obenski - Corrugated cardboard is a resource for mulch. The county has a contract with Business Services Hawaii which recycles and sends to mainland. (2:55] Transfer Stations/Trailers - Five sites are being set up to accommodate trailers with an estimated set-up date of next fiscal year (July 2022). Currently - nonprofits and island beautification projects may communicatc/coordinate directly with DEM in advance, to get permission/waiver and DEM personnel will help unload the trailer at specific sites, pre -arranged sites. Ocean View Transfer Station Design -Discussed in a recent community meeting in Hawaii Ocean View Estates (HOVE). The transfer station design will stay "as - is", with recycling bins added to the current site [3:17] DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND ACTION OF NEXT STEPS IN UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYZING PRIORITY, SECONDARY, AND TERTIARY FOCUS AREAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED BY THIS COMMISSION Discussion: Chair Konowicz solicited ideas on how to move forward. The Commission will revisit the Organization Chart of Proposed Process Timeline for framework. Comm. Herbert will send out the previously drafted sample letter, through the Secretary, to all the Board and Commission Chairs (as identified by Pomai Bartolome in the May 26, 2022, meeting), requesting any cost reduction and/or efficiency suggestions. Comm. Matson previously suggested an anonymous survey of all levels of department employees for cost saving/efficiency suggestions. The Commission opted to meet with the Department heads for an overview. Commissioners agreed to create specific Permitted Interaction Groups (PIGS), with members to report back to the full Commission Keyra Wong -- Reviewed the process of identifying PIG(s) in order to assign, then hear subsequent reports, and how the process is best agenized for success. Comm Konowicz - The commissioners will identify updated areas of focus that they are interested in pursuing by 6/ 16,122, and will be assigned to action groups (PIGs), per Sunshine Law Bobby Command will re -send the Departmental Organizational Chart, with contact emails for Department Directors / Assistant Directors, Comm. Herbert will attend as many of the county Boards and Commission meetings as possible to gain information/incite. [4:041 Bobby Command will contact Hamana Ventura, Property Manager, Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC). [4:04] Comm Herbert made a Motion for Chair Konowicz to develop the June 23, 2022, Meeting Agenda Comm. Matson Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: (6) Ayes -- Unanimous Motion Passes 14:061 ADJOURNMENT Comm. Herbert made a Motion to Adjourn Comm. Kusch Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (6) Unanimous Meeting adjourned at 4:06 p.m.