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Home My WebLink About2003-08-27 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Wednesday, August 27, 2003, 9:12 a.m. HawaiÒi County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Dora Beck, Wastewater Division PRESENTPRESENT :: David FrankelSandy Bonk Marjorie ErwayPaul J. Buklarewicz, Recycle HawaiÒi Sam KawamuraNelson Ho, Recycle HawaiÒi Anne PlackDixie Kaetsu, Managing Director Lorraine StahrMike Kaha, Waste Management, Inc. Harry Kim, Mayor Bill Meyer Eileen O`Hora-Weir, Recycling Coordinator Margaret Pahio John Ray, HawaiÒi Leeward Planning Conf. Sharon Sakai, Kohala Coast Resort Assn. Gerald Takase, Corporation Counsel Ron Terry Erika Yamamoto, Legislative Assistant to Councilman Safarik EXCUSED Mack Asato STAFF Barbara Bell, Director :: Hugh OnoPeter Boucher, Wastewater Division Chief Carolyn WitcherBobby Gonsalves, Acting Solid Waste Div.Chief Sharron Henry, Secretary CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m. 1. and welcomed Commissioner Kawamura back after his absence due to illness. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 30, 2003 MEETING: 2. Lorraine Stahr made a motion to approve the July 30, 2003 minuteMarjorie Erway seconded the motion. Vice Chair Frankel asked for, and received, clarification that Council Motion member SafarikÓs statement under ÐMESSAGE:Ñ was an accurate stat carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 3.: None STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 4.: John Ray provided an update on a recent HawaiÒi Leeward Planning Conference (HLPC) meeting held at the West HawaiÒi landfill where Waste Management presented information His advice, to make sure this technology is adequately on bio-reactor landfills. addressed in the Sort Station EIS as an option, will be passed on to the consultants. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. DirectorÓs Report (attached to original minutes) KEAAU RECYCLE AND REUSE CENTER (Report attached to original minutes): The long term goal is to reduce labor requirements and keep as many functions as financially possible after the grant funding is depleted. OTHER: The final proposal to EPA for second year funding is due mid or late September. The project will be based in West HawaiÒi. Bell is seeking input from resort and community people. The City of Redding is giving the county a plastics slicer/washer to be used in conjunction with this project. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY (EIS) FOR SORT STATION: Updated timelines are attached to original minutes. rdth Publish date is September 23; 45-day comment period is September to November 7. Process: (1) Identify a proposed action (2) analyze most logical alternatives to that action; (3) invite public comments to make informed decision. Bell is attending many organization/community meetings to promote input/discussion. Let Bell know if there are other groups to address. OCEANVIEW TRANSFER STATION: EIS consultant contract is being finalized. Multiple sites will be evaluated. $300,000 of the original $1M budget, is set aside. PERSONNEL: Lono Tyson has been hired as Solid Waste Division Chief. TRASH TOUR (Itinerary/information sheet attached to original min th Scheduled for October 9. There are extra seats available on the bus. If anyone would like to join the group, let Sharron know. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) COMPOSTING BID: Bids are being evaluated. SCRAP METAL PROGRAM: Baler was in Hilo for a couple of weeks. Bales were washed to el USDA requirements and are now being shipped to the mainland. It is now in Kona. Meeting has been scheduled with contractor to address areas for improvement. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) KALANIANA`OLE INTERCEPTOR SEWER REHAB: This project is the divisionÓs top priority. Expecting to advertise for bids soon. Will be coordinated with the Sandwich Isle Fiber Optic Network p Additional Wastewater Discussion: KEALAKEHE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: Boucher clarified that the operation of this plant is in compliance with DOH regulations. -2- Commissioner Frankel clarified that the plant has continued to receive an ÐUnacceptableÑ rating from DOH, since the plant effluent is not being sent to the Kealakehe Golf Course (that has not been constructed), as originally planned. County is moving forward with plans for the semi-municipal golf course. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 6.None NEW BUSINESS 7.: MAYOR HARRY KIM PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION: The Mayor: -Reiterated that the department was one of his highest priorities, if not the highest, in regards to the importance of what the county does in the long term. -Requested that the commission and the department identify staffing and project needs and ask for those in the budgetary process, regardless of the availability of funds. -Depends on the commission for guidance and assistance in planning where the community wants the county to go in the future. -Appreciates the wisdom of the public to focus on solid waste and wastewater, but acknowledged that no funds accompanied the creation of the new d -Does not want solid waste to become a political issue because it is an issue for the whole minimize island. The goal is to what goes into the landfill and to establish a solid diversion goal to work toward. -Pledged the highest priority in providing the resources to reach the goals. -Stated that because of the landfill closure, the first SORT station will be in Hilo. The next one in Kona. -Asked the commission to identify specific infrastructure and staffing needs, and ordinances that they wish the Administration to pursue. -Promised no politics in decision making and promised the highes staffing and project needs. Frankel noted three fundamental areas that have specific staffing needs: (1) support in Wastewater Division to do proactive planning, permitting; (2) ad diversion areas at all transfer stations and; (3) enforcement/compliance staff. The Mayor stated that efforts have and are being made to carry out the department priorities. $1M was released from State funds last year for this purpose. The council granted $4M out of County bonds for the SORT Station. The Wastewater wetlands project is a high priority and the Administration is actively pursuing use of wastewater for the municipal golf course. The Mayor is working with Civil Service to develop a selective group of highly skilled volunteers to assist on projects. Erway requested the MayorÓs assurance that the County will commit to recycling efforts in the County Offices. The Mayor will work with Bell to have the County lead the way and set a good example. Chair Smith shared the commissionÓs frustration of having the responsibility but not the authority to getting department needs addressed and funded by council. The commission and administration have similar goals and objectives for the people of the county. The commission will continue to work in the best interest of the county and appreciates the MayorÓs support and assistance in all of their efforts. The Mayor confirmed that the administration will work with the commission in any way they can. -3- FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: Discussion and approval of an Ordinance to eliminate Council approval for private sewer extension and adding a requirement for written notification by applicant as condition of Will be re-agendized when draft ordinance is ready for discussion. approval: Discussion and approval of a Resolution to establish Improvement District for Kilohana Will be re-agendized Subdivision, Kona, to eliminate gang cesspools in their subdivision: when draft resolution is ready for discussion. Responding to Commissioner StahrÓs question as to where we are in the process of solving solid waste issues, Bell stated the department is in the process of getting a survey of the landfill, noted we are playing catch-up and asked John Ray for his comments. Th -A lot of discussion has been political rather than being based on informed decisions regarding future options and what makes sense for the County. -The island can only support a single landfill site. -There are valid concerns about dumping but people can be educated regarding waste diversion and will respond positively. HLPC is a strong advocate for increased tipping fees and increased waste diversion. Put more of the burden on the public. -Waste diversion should be equally focused around the island and have everybody be part of the solutions. Bell responded that all requests for proposals and bid invitations for diversion are island-wide. -If you count the number of trucks traveling through Waimea on a daily basis, solid waste truck traffic wonÓt even be noticeable. Annual evaluation/election of the commission chair and vice chair. ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. Wednesday, September 24, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona Police Department Conference Room, 74-5221 Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HawaiÒi 96743 thrd Frankel made a motion to change the November 26 meeting to November 25. Erway seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Tuesday, November 25, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., HawaiÒi Coun Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 ADJOURNMENT 10. Frankel moved to adjourn. Erway seconded and motion was carried Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -4-