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Home My WebLink About2003-02-26 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, February 26, 2003, 9:15 a.m. HawaiÒi County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201 Hilo, HawaiÒi 96720 COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Gerald Takase, Corporation Counsel PRESENTPRESENT :Marjorie Erway:Dale Burton David FrankelKevin Dayton Sam KawamuraMichael Kaha Hugh OnoJon Olson Anne PlackJohn Ota Nancy Pisicchio Erika Yamada EXCUSEDSTAFF :Mack Asato:Barbara Bell, Director Carolyn WitcherPeter Boucher, Wastewater Division Chief Bobby Gonsalves, Acting Solid Waste Div.Chief Sharron Henry, Secretary CALL TO ORDER 1. Commission Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 22, 2003 MEETING 2. Sam Kawamura moved to approve the January 22, 2003 minutes.David Frankel seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3.: John Ota spoke of how authorizing water service disconnection for delinquent sewer fees might impact areas with vacant homes and stated he would support and testify in favor of the commission addressing a wider range of environmental issues countywide. Jon Olson spoke in favor of a resolution supporting national recycling efforts; suggested a mass balance survey to accurately measure the total input into t imported products and attaching a disposal fee to item entry fees. Chair Riley Smith announced the resignation of Commissioner Luana Jones, acknowledged her efforts and contributions to the commission. MayorÓs Office will name a replacement. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 4.: None CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION 5. DirectorÓs Report (attached to original minutes) GOOD NEWS: EPA has given verbal commitment to do targeted site assessments at Hilo and Kona baseyards. SORT STATION/WASTE REDUCTION: Working with URS to complete environmental assessments on the existing 35-acre landfill site, full design, permitting, operations plan, contingency plan construction. Project Timeline: Developmental planning phase began February, 2003. Environmental assessments, bid award and permitting should be completed the end of 2003 with construction completion targeted for September, 2004. KEAAU COMMUNITY RECYCLING CENTER: Center will open in March and $225,000 for an additional year is in the Federal budget bill. Bell will provide Frankel with a copy of the HIEDB proposal. GREENWASTE: New mulching contract with HMR states they will go to each side of the island monthly. Possible Kona composting site has been identified adjacent to the Kealakehe wastewater treatment plant. LANDFILL TIPPING FEES INCEASE: Ordinance will possibly be on Council Finance Committee agenda M $10/year/ton increase data concludes that it may be necessary to look at a General Fund subsidy in the future. Will work closely with council to address funding issues. Discussion of accounts receivable options will be on next monthÓs agenda. Smith will discuss contractor lien waivers and other options wit : RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLD CREDIT Department records support setting rates at 1 ton/year. This will encourage haulers to charge customers for picking up more than 2 bags of trash per we PERSONNEL: Accountant III will start April 1, 2003. Recycling Coordinator interviews are scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2003. COUNCIL ACTIONS: Bell provided a list and timeline of ordinances and resolutions that may be proposed in the next year. Ono suggested the commission limit its scope and advice on legislative and administrative issues since they are policy and will be heard by the County Council. STATE LEGISLATURE: Bottle Bill implementation is moving forward in the absence of a repeal. Distributors are paying 1/2¢ per beverage container. Prior to January 2005, when residents will be able to collect deposit fees, rules will need to be adopted to address certain exemptions and to identify distribution centers. County is requesting $6M from the State CIP fund for the Hilo landfill closure. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) HILO LANDFILL: No changes on estimated life span, however operation process has make a difference in the lifespan of the landfill. -2- SOLID WASTE MATERIAL SURVEY INFORMATION: Gonsalves provided information on tonnage taken to the landfills from residential/ commercial as well as from the transfer stations for the year 20 SOLID WASTE DIVISION STAFFING: Interviewed for 3 solid waste transfer station attendants. Identified 3 upcoming vacancies due to long term workers compensation which will be filled with temporary positions. One attendant retired due to illness and there is another possible retirement in March. EQUIPMENT: Continue to review and evaluate equipment fleet. Will work with to expedite repairs. NEW EQUIPMENT: Expected delivery of D-8 Dozer and landfill compactor is June or July. Present automotive administration feels the track loader is worth repairing and will provide revised estimate. GREENWASTE: Mulch is available at Hilo and Kona landfills at this time. TRANSFER STATIONS: Loading chutes and walls will need to be replaced at Waiohinu, Pahala, Volcano, Glenwood, Pahoa and possibly Hilo #2 and #3. Two or three sites have only a 2-3 year life span. Chute and wall replacement costs approximately $500,000/transfer station and the replacement process will take from 7 to 9 years if there is funding to replace one/year. PERSONNEL: Employees are expressing better cooperation and teamwork. Continue to work on attendance. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) SEWER CONNECTION EXEMPTIONS: The proposed ordinance has not been agendized by council. NORTH KONA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Proposed ordinance has not been agendized by council. There will be a meeting with legislative auditors on February 28, 2003 to address Councilman TylerÓs concerns. NEW SEWER USER FEES: Bill has been filed even though every effort was made to explain that without the increase, the replacement fund would be depleted. Council has decided to fund administrative costs through the General Fund so a revised budget was submitted for a $1M transfer from the General Fund fo could include an administrative assistant. WETLANDS PROJECT Was not included in Senator InouyeÓs list of projects to be funded for the Big Island. -3- PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSIONS: Council has deferred authorizing sewer extensions to Queen Lili`oukalani and Komohana Heights subdivisions, requesting additional information that is not currently available. Komohana Heights sewer extension will move forward with a $100k Mayor. When the engineering report is completed, it will be submitted to the council. EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROJECTS: The budget is being amended to add the Hilo WTP Biotower Pump Replacement Project ($800k) and the King Kamehameha SPS Modifications Project ($300k). PUA PUMP STATION ODOR CONTROL: Pilot study for chemical addition is to begin within the next month Boucher will include chemical injection schedule and chemicals u SEWER CODE REVISIONS: Boucher proposed a bill be submitted to council that will allow shutting off water and penalty fees for delinquent sewer bills, and changing default responsibility of charges to the property owner. PRE-TREATMENT PROGRAM: The pre-treatment program requirement has been eliminated from our NPDS permit. Because there is value in the program, a bill will be proposed to delete Chapter 21 in itÓs entirety and replace it with the EPA model ordinance that is better organized and is edited to include our specific needs. KALANIANA`OLE INTERCEPTOR SEWER REHAB: The pipe is deteriorated and needs rehabilitation. Chances of collapse are small but a contingency plan has been prepared. Emergency procurement for parts and consultant selection for repair design has begun. Preliminary repair estimates are $1.5M - $4.5M. PRESONNEL/OTHER: Recruitment efforts may be helped by the change in the engineeri Boucher feels the number of residents on the makai side of Ali`i Drive south of Lunapule Road that have connected to the new sewer is very good. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. : None DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIONAL RECYCLING EFFORTS: Ono made a motion to discuss resolution and to file. Erway secon passed unanimously. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF REVISED SOLID WASTE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES: Deferred to future meeting. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING WASTWATER DIVISION RULES: Deferred to future meeting. -4- DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING DISCONNECTION OF WATER SERVICE WHEN SEWER FEES ARE DELINQUENT: Ono made a motion to defer this matter directly to the County Council for the specific reason that it is a policy decision. Frankel seconded the motion. Ono amended the motion to defer this to the County Council and have the Department of Environmental Management give the commission status reports and allow the commission to comment on it in that way rather than to act on it. Frankel seconded the amended motion. Motion was NEW BUSINESS 7.: None FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: HIEDB will be requested to provide a written report regarding center operations and grant fund usage for the March meeting and Paula Helfrich will be invited to attend the April meeting for further discussion. Invite Mayor Kim to a future meeting to discuss environmental issues and department support. Implementation of recycling goals addressed in the ISWMP Update after the Keaau project. Mandatory recycling Commission relevance Ono suggested department and division reports be more concise. ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. Wastewater Facilities Tour will begin following adjournment. Tuesday, March 25, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona MayorÓs Of 5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Tuesday, April 29, 2003, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., West Hawaii DHHL District Office, Kuhio Hale, 64- 756 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743 Wednesday, May 28, 2003, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Hawaii County Coun Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 ADJOURNMENT 9. Frankel moved to adjourn. Ono seconded and motion was carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -5-