The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2010-01-27 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Wednesday, January 27, 2010 W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mmalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743 COMMISSIONER Steve Pavao ALSO Mayor Billy Kenoi SPRESENTPRESENT: : Scott Enright Paul Buklarewicz Stan Boren Nancy Cook-Lauer Suzanne Mayhew Kevin Dayton Steve Okoji Christine Dochin Paulette Pavao Kareen Forissier Sherm Warner Shon Pahio Margaret Wille EXCUSEDSTAFF: : Lono Tyson, Director Molly Lugo, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sharron Henry, Secretary Dora Beck, WWD Chief Mike Dworsky, SWD Chief Terin Gloor, SWD Eng. Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist ABSENT: Richard Ha CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1.Commission Chair Steve Pavao called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. and welcomed Mayor Kenoi. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2009 MEETING MINUTES 2. : Commissioner Paulette Pavao moved to approve the November 25, 2009 minutes as written. Commissioner Boren seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: 3. None Questions and Answers Session with Mayor Kenoi regarding environmental 5. management issues – (Summary) Taken out of order. Mayor Kenoi thanked the commission members for the job they do and offered congratulations to the Wastewater Division for making HawaiÒi County the first county in the State to receive ARRA obligated funds of $7.5M for the large capacity cesspool projects. He defined the roll of the commission as: -providing meaningful input to our departmentÓs leadership; -advocating for your neighbors and community; and -supporting the departmentÓs goals and objectives. He is not opposed to semi-autonomy for the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and this commission having more authority but emphasized the need for improved communication between the commission, the department and the Council. He supports a well crafted, fully enforceable plastic bag bill that is comprehensive and addresses all littering. He does not support the bill as it is currently written. He shared his support of the update to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and the vision of a semi-autonomous department. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: 4. Kareen Forissier, Legislative Aide to Councilmember Pete Hoffmann, spoke in favor of the plastic bag reduction bill, Bill 193, and noted the benefits of the ban. She stated it is a step in the right direction and we can start by doing one thing at a time. Forissier will provide the commission with the website address to the Marine Debris Action Plan. She was a participant in the execution of this plan. Margaret Wille spoke in support of Bill 193 and talked of the importance of getting people to think in a different way and making them aware of limitations that can be implemented to reduce waste and litter. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 6. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) The department will request an increase in revenue from council as revenues have dropped $1M this year. The increase will be requested through vehicle registration and new user fees for commercial non-vehicular scrap metal. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) An E-Waste contract is being executed through April, 2010. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) There were no questions and no additional information was requested. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) There were no questions and no additional information was requested. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. STATUS REPORT ON THE UPDATE TO THE INTEGRATED RESOURCES AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRSWMP), TO INCLUDE NEW REVISIONS SINCE LAST MONTHÓS REPORT; INPUT RECEIVED AND ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE NOVEMBER 16, 2009 SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING; TIME TABLE FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COUNTY COUNCIL (Executive Summary was distributed and is attached to original minutes) - The IRSWMP has been submitted to the State Department of Health for review and comment. - The next steps for adoption are submittal to and approval by: (1) the Administration; (2) the County Council and; (3) the State Department of Health. Anticipated County adoption and submittal to the State is April or May, 2010. - Some plan recommendations are: Fees to pay for services o Mandatory bans of select recyclables o Develop economic benefits from recycling o Encourage recycling by charging a fee to dispose of trash (Pay-as-you-throw). As o the Mayor previously indicated, this option will not be implemented soon and is only one of many recommendations included in the IRSWMP, and Establishment of commercial recycling services. o - Expanding the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill is not economically beneficial to the County therefore the IRSWMP proposes that a new Hilo Landfill located in the quarries adjacent to the existing landfill be investigated. - The Director reiterated that this plan does not bind the County to specific actions identified in the plan nor does it exclude other options from being considered or implemented. CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE PROPOS EDUCATION AND LEGISLATION SUB-COMMITTEES, AND POSSIBLE SUB- COMMITTEE FORMATION Mayhew made a motion to create an Education and Outreach Sub-committee made - up of 2 commission members. Boren seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. - Some department issues to be considered are: (1) User fees, both solid waste and wastewater; (2) IRSWMP; (3) Department budget; (4) Plastic bag reduction bill. Mayhew made a motion that the commission chair appoints 2 commission members - on an as-needed rotating basis to the sub-committee. Paulette Pavao seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Chair Pavao appointed Scott Enright and Suzanne Mayhew as sub-committee - members. The members will select the topic to research. NEW BUSINESS 8. ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PRESENTATION BY DORA BECK, WASTEWATER DIVISION (WWD) CHIEF (Handout and power point presentation attached to original minutes) - Beck discussed how WWD can sustain the Big Island wastewater system using the Asset Management System. -The WWD estimates that it will take 5 years to obtain meaningful division to fully implement an Asset Management program. DISCUSSION RELATING TO PROPOSED INCREASES IN CURRENT FEES SUCH A INCREASE IN LANDFILL AND GREEN WASTE TIPPING FEES, INCREASE IN VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES FOR ABANDONED VEHICLE FUND, INCREASE IN SEWER RATE; AND IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL FEES SUCH AS FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL RUBBISH DISPOSAL AT TRANSFER STATIONS AND FOR DISPOSAL OF NON-COMMERCIAL SEWAGE AT WASTEWATER FACILITIES. -The Director stated that the department needs the commission support in passing ordinances for fee requests. -Solid waste fees are identified in the IRSWMP. -Abandoned vehicle fee increases will be forthcoming and are necessary to sustain the current program. -Wastewater fees will be identified and brought to the commission for discussion/support. -The Director is responsible for providing the fee increase/implementation information to this commission before it is submitted to Council. The Director will provide specific department recommendations at the next - commission meeting. Budget -There are no fee increases in the current draft budget proposed for FY 10-11. information will be provided to the commission members before the next meeting. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 9. : FY 10-11 Department Budget MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 10. March 24, 2010, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona May 26, 2010, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2nd Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo July 28, 2010, W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mmalahoa Highway, Kamuela September 22, 2010, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua- Kona nd November 24, 2010, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo ADJOURNMENT 10. Mayhew moved to adjourn. Boren seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary BOLD FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN PRINT (MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS).