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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-21 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 1 of 5 Return to: Home Page | Table of Contents | Commission Page ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Thursday, June 21, 2001 9:05 a.m. Water Supply Baseyard Conference Room 889 Leilani Street, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 MINUTES PRESENT:Barbara BellABSENT:Mack Asato Riley SmithPeter Martin Sam KawamuraCarolyn Witcher Lou Ann Luana Jones David Kimo Frankel Hugh Ono ALSO PRESENT:Peter Boucher, Wastewater DivisionSTAFF:Valerie Tanimoto Larry Capellas, Solid Waste Division Lester Ishado, Corporation Counsel Jon Olson Curtis Tyler, Councilmember & Citizen Al Konishi, County Clerk CALL TO ORDER Barbara called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Barbara mentioned that Mack Asato will not attend today’s meeting and that Peter Martin will not be attending any meetings this summer. He’ll be back sometime in September. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 7, 2001 Solid Waste Division, Wastewater Division, Corporation Counsel, County Council should be given copies of the agenda and minutes. Barbara indicated that on page 5, under the section entitled Discussion of Final Environmental Management Commission’s Rules, the first item, suggested that we spend 15 to 20 minutes on each item on the agenda, should be corrected to read, that we would spend 15 to 20 minutes on the rules at each meeting and not each item of the agenda, just so that we could keep the rules moving forward. On the first page of the Minutes, present was David Peter Frankel, should be corrected to read David Kimo Frankel. On the last item of the June 7, 2001 Minutes, under the section entitled Report from Wastewater Division, "Discussion about TSA and Lanihau Partners that they are presently before the Land Use Commission for reclassification of their property. Don’t see why we should subsidize TSA and Lanihau Partners." Peter said that this is not his position at all. His position is neutral. This was a comment that Kimo made. Kimo motioned to approve the Minutes of the June 7, 2001 meeting with the noted changes mentioned above, seconded by Hugh and carried unanimously by all members. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA Jon Olson, Concerned Citizen: Commented on John Ray’s suggestion that he made at the June 7, 2001 meeting that this commission may not be the appropriate place or may not have the resources to deal with the wastewater issues. Mr. Olson thinks this body is more than capable of doing that. Regarding the Council Bill Nos. 57 & 58. Concerned that this process leads to a format that allows for equal treatment for all areas and all residents. Also, if at all possible, some type of prioritization mechanism for the expenditures of monies should be implemented. Kapoho, Vacationland, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, and eventually Ainaloa and Nanawale Estates will need wastewater file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 2 of 5 hookup. If you need a wastewater system in Nanawale, it shouldn’t be any different than if you need a wastewater system in Hilo. And if County funds are going to be expended for it, equitability is what I want to see happen. Commented regarding drafting of rules. Take testimony on the issues as they come up. It allows for a little more give and take.  Curtis Tyler, Council Member & Concerned Citizen: Not authorized by the Hawai`i County Council to make a report at the meeting. Participated as a Councilmember as well as a concerned citizen. The notice in the paper may meet the Sunshine Law but it was quite short. Think that people may have a difficult time making plans to attend meeting. The agenda was very clear and suggested if we know these in advance, it would be helpful to publish them earlier. Commented on the proposed rules. Would strongly urge to put the notice, agenda and minutes on the County Website. The Hawai`i County Charter is the foundational document that gives you authority. Gave the commission members encouragement. Hook-up exemptions. We are asking people way up in the hills to hook-up because they’re near the system, but the people makai of Highway 19 don’t have to hook-up because they’re below grade. As new commission members you should be apprised of what’s been going on. Wastewater system is not self-supporting. The council and administration have actually withdrawn general funds, almost $700,000.00 in 1998, and what the Council has done is essentially said, we’re not going to approve rates that are really high. The Council seems to be willing to subsidize this through the General Fund and that is a violation of the State Revolving Loan terms. Receiving transmittals from the Director of the Department of Public Works. He has nothing to do with the Environmental Department. Got nothing against Mr. Lee. He has no authority that I’m aware of. Our concern is that there is no director for this extremely important department. General Plan process. Would urge you to please individually, and if you feel so collectively, to weigh in on this General Plan. The General Plan sets the course for at least the next 10 years. I think that the current General Plan, which was written 30 years ago, is inadequate. Solid Waste Advisory Committee. I would be glad to serve. Would be more than happy to be involved or send a designee to attend the meetings. Wanted to report that the green waste at the Old Kailua Landfill has been spilling over into private property owned by the Liliuokalani Trust. Spoke to the contractor but it has only gotten worst. Managing Trustee Frank Jarling has also spoken to Mr. Ross. One of my constituents wrote and said that he went out to dump some pallets and he paid the fee but then he was told that he had to have a permit to use the landfill. Mr. Capellas has corresponded with him. He said that he has been there only once in six years and why would he have to have a permit to go to the landfill. I don’t know all the issues here but this is something that maybe from a policy prospective, you may want to work with the division chief. Mission Statement. Pay very close attention to that section of the Hawai`i State Constitution relating to the protection and conservation of all natural resources, and a lot of what comes into the waste stream is very natural resource. Pay attention to what is in the Charter because that’s the foundation. Riley explained to Mr. Tyler why the notice was posted just in time. We have set meetings for every two weeks and staff had a difficult time getting the agenda out earlier. Riley mentioned that the commission wanted Council to have an opportunity to brief us rather than them sending papers to us. Our intent was to have "Reports from Council" included on every agenda, should something be of importance that needed immediate action. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA Nothing was added to the agenda. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCIL Al Konishi, Hawai`i County Clerk: file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 3 of 5 The basic item would be memo dated May 22, 2001 to Environmental Management Commission from Aaron Chung and he asked for your input with regards to various items. The Council has referred the action of these items and have the commission give him some input. No timeline being set. This is the process. A department would suggest a piece of legislation to the Council, then it is sent via a communication to the chairman, in this case it would be James Arakaki and then they would send the item to the particular council committee and that chairman would then introduce the bill on behalf of the department and then the committee has a go at it. They have a public meeting and they send a recommendation along with the bill up to the full Council. Al will talk to Arlene so that the Environmental Management Commission meetings are put on the Council calendar. REPORT FROM HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RE: GRANT LOAN PROGRAM Riley suggested we defer and ask that somebody from Housing come to our next meeting. Main issue is how much is a grant and how much is going to be a loan. Barbara asked Valerie to give Housing a copy of the e-mail between Curtis Tyler and Keola Childs and any information that they may not have because we got it from Council. Also, Peter interested to get copy of the e-mail. Hugh motioned to defer above item to future meeting, seconded by Luana and carried unanimously. REPORT FROM WASTEWATER DIVISION Peter Boucher, Wastewater Division Chief, reported on the following: Apologized for not bringing the detailed maps as previously requested. Wastewater in the process of identifying areas that are currently sewered, areas that are scheduled to be sewered within the next two years (on the CIP list), and areas that are planned to be sewered within the next 10 years because of subdivision codes. We’re still working on them. Need to go to Council for a new rate increase. Riley suggested to Peter that he should send a written request with the recommendations with all the facts and figures and why he feels a certain way. We can then ask Peter questions on that and hopefully concur before Peter goes to Council. Riley also asked if Peter could provide us with comparable market data as to what other private systems on this island charge. For instance, Keauhou, Mauna Lani, Waikoloa and Waimea have private wastewater systems, so that information would be good for us to justify. When Peter does the comparison of the other rates that the other private utility charges, then we will see how many does it per flat rate, per house versus user fees. Riley thinks the private company for the Waikoloa area does it based on water consumption, everybody else is flat rate for single family and multi-family. The State Revolving Fund Program is different from the EPA Grant Program. The Grant Program includes conditions for Operation and Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R) to be funded by the sewer users. The State Revolving Fund, SRF, that is administered by the State, puts conditions on various loans with different wastewater projects. One of those conditions is adoption of impact fees. The capacity assessment bill currently being considered by Council would address this requirement. The State has threatened to cut off future SRF loans unless the impact fee issue is addressed. The pre-1989 exemption, properties that were in existence before ’89, they are not required to connect, subject to certain exceptions. Second is the gravity exemption, third and worst is private extensions. Properties along the alignment of an extension paid for by a private developer will not be required to connect. Peter is planning on totally revising the sewer code with a consultant contract. Delete the sewer code in its entirety and replace with new wording based on pre-treatment regulations. We are delinquent on implementing these pre-treatment regulations. These connection exemptions are not planned to be in the new code. Resolution No. 70-01. It would be nice to have some kind of document on hand to present to the Land Use Commission when they next meet to discuss the issue of the TSA Boundary amendment. Would like to see a recommendation to Council as soon as possible. REPORT FROM SOLID WASTE DIVISION Larry Capellas, Solid Waste Division Chief, reported on the following: file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 4 of 5 Read a list of the members for the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. SWAC meeting set for Tuesday, July 3, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. at Hale Halawai. Commission members are welcome to attend the SWAC meeting. Will provide more information of how we are going to try to amend the contract to expand the services. DISCUSSION AND DECISION MAKING ON HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 70-01 AND HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL BILL NOS. 57 AND 58 Kimo made a motion that we to support Resolution 70-01 with the exception that Attachment "A" be amended to reflect that the County of Hawaii will not be subsidizing the cost of these projects, and equitable cost allocations based on usage shall be determined for the remaining users. Riley seconded. Motion unanimously approved. The group agreed, because of time constraints, that the Hawai`i County Council Bill Nos. 57 and 58 will be discussed in the future. DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION’S RULES AND REGULATIONS Lester Ishado of the Office of the Corporation Council has given the commission samples of the Planning Commission Rules and Regulations. Copies will be made and distributed to the members for review. Lester suggested that we have a primary meeting place set in our rules. DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION OF A MISSION STATEMENT Barbara will review the Hawai`i Constitution and County Charter, do a little more research and bring it back to the group. FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS General Plan; Wastewater Rate Increase; Grant Loan Program from Office of Housing and Community Development ACTION ITEMS Hawai`i County Council Bill Nos. 57 and 58 - July 19, 2001 meeting Publish the agenda and minutes on the County Website Letter to Council regarding approval and recommendation on Resolution No. 70-01 Kimo to work with Corporation Counsel on draft of Rules and Regulations Barbara to work on draft Mission Statement SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS July 3, 2001, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m, at Pu’uanahulu Landfill tour. Meeting to be held at Hale Halawai at 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Larry to check on the availability of the facility. Val will bring in lunches for the commission members. July 19, 2001, meeting in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i, with a tour of the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. Val will find a room for the meeting. ADJOURNMENT Kimo motioned to adjourn the Environmental Management Commission meeting, seconded by Sam and carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: ____________________________________________ VALERIE M. H. TANIMOTO Interim Environmental Management Secretary Return to: Home Page | Table of Contents | Commission Page file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Thursday, June 21, 2001Page 5 of 5 ©Copyright 2001 County of Hawaii, Hawaii file://C:\Test1\minutes062101.htm6/22/2011