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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-22 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Thursday, October 22, 2009 Kona Council Office, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 COMMISSIONERSALSO Suzanne Mayhew Paul Buklarewicz PRESENT :PRESENT: Steve Pavao Councilmember Kelly Greenwell Scott Enright Jojo Tanimoto Steve Okoji Sherm Warner EXCUSEDSTAFF: :Stan Boren Lono Tyson, Director Diana Miller Molly Lugo, Corporation Counsel Paulette Pavao Sharron Henry, Secretary Mike Dworsky, SWD Chief ABSENT: Richard Ha CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1.Commission Chair Mayhew called the meeting to order at 9:17 a.m. and welcomed new commission member Scott Enright. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 29, 2009 MEETING MINUTES 2.: Commissioner Steve Pavao moved to approve the July 29, 2009 minutes as written. Commissioner Sherm Warner seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: 3.None STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: 4. Paul Buklarewicz, Executive Director of Recycle Hawaii, spoke on the recent E-waste recycling issues relating to State Legislative changes. January 1, 2010, all originating manufacturers must pay a registration fee of $5,000 to the State if they are going to distribute their electronics products in Hawai`i. The registration fee will go directly into the State General Fund. Manufacturers will be obligated to pay for e-waste recycling for products coming into the State after January 1st. There are many questions regarding how this will affect the counties and recycling organizations. Due to budget restraints, the County will no longer subsidize E-waste disposal for residents after January 2010. Residents will be charged $.65/lb. after that time to dispose of their electronics at Recycle Hawaii E-waste disposal sites. Jojo Tanimoto offered the following questions: 1. How do we measure disposables? 2. Is the population growth factored in? 3. Where do the recyclables go after they are disposed of at the County recycling areas? 4. And asked for a explanation regarding the $2 bag proposal. Because these were specific Solid Waste/Recycling questions, Mike Dworsky gave Ms. Tanimoto his contact information and requested she contact him and he will fully discuss her questions with her. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) There were no additional questions or updates on the report. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) INTEGRATED RESOURCES AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE (requested by the Commission Chair) - The update is currently in the 60-day public review stage, which is running concurrently with the 90-day Department of Health review period. Both review periods end on November 1, 2009. - Public meetings have been held to obtain input from the residents. - Dworsky discussed certain items that are included in the updated plan. The complete draft of the update can be viewed on the County and division websites. - The next Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2009. - Some of the options discussed to raise funds to implement the plan are: Requiring residents to purchase bags that will be used to dispose of trash at County transfer stations. Adding a solid waste management fee as a line-item to the property tax. - The plan may be amended to add other funding options or other programs to increase recycling rates. TRANSFER STATIONS: - A letter to the County Council discussing proposed changes in transfer station hours of operation was distributed (attached to original minutes). - Residents are being given opportunities to provide their input regarding the proposed transfer station operating schedule changes as follows: On-line survey found on the County website; Email addressed to the department; Letters mailed to the department; and Phone calls to the department. - Traffic counts are currently underway at select transfer stations to assist in decision- making regarding days and hours transfer stations will be open. GREEN WASTE: - The department is looking at various models to accommodate green waste disposal: Status quo, where management of the green waste collection and recycling remaining a department function, or The department enforcing a green waste disposal ban to encourage operation of privately owned/operated sites. - There is an ordinance that allows the County to collect a $25/ton green waste tipping fee that is intended to be utilized island-wide when the Kealakehe green waste operation is moved to Pu`uanahulu site. - The Council has also approved an ordinance that bans all organics from County landfills by 2012. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) PERSONNEL: The Civil Engineer V and Project Manager positions have been filled LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECTS: - The Honoka‘a and Queen Lili‘uokalani Village Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement projects are out to bid. - Department is breaking ground on the Komohana Heights Large Capacity Cesspool Project. Cesspools should be closed by the end of the year. - All projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds are on schedule. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) LEGISLATION: - Bill to reduce the use of plastic bags: Stakeholder meeting was held in Hilo last week and will be held in Kona on Monday, th October 26. The department is working with Council member Hoffmann in preparing this bill. PROJECTS: - Ocean View Transfer Station: A summary judgment was granted in favor of the County relating to the lawsuit filed by a group that resides in the community. The County has begun the process of securing the property. NEW BUSINESS 7. (Taken out of order per consensus of the commission members.) D8 LANDFILL BULLDOZER INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING - The Director performed a department investigation following newspaper articles and questions from council members regarding the rental of the D8 bulldozer. - The investigation found that the initial information suggesting inappropriate management of County resources was inaccurate and found no wrongdoing within the County or the department. (See Summary and Justification Memo attached to original minutes.) - As indicated in the memo, while spending $500,000 during a three (3) year period for rental of the dozer, its use contributed towards keeping the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill open, resulting in an annual savings to the County of $7,100,000. DISTRIBUTION OF COMMISSION MATERIALS VIA EMAIL VERSUS POSTAL MAIL, TO INCLUDE AGENDA, MINUTES, DEPARTMENT RPEORTS AND INFORMATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS. Commission member Enright made a motion that from this date forward, all - commission materials will be distributed electronically prior to the commission meetings. Commission member Okoji seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. - A projector, screen and laptop will be available at all further meetings so materials can be viewed during the meetings. - Hard copies of all communications/documents will be available at the commission meetings. ROLE OF THE COMMISSION AS IT RELATES TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW IT CAN BEST SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT’S FUNCTIONS, PROGRAMS AND FUNDING NEEDS. - The Director offered the following suggestions: Commission members are encouraged to provide input from their respective districts to the department. . This input can be gained by attending local community and association meetings. When practical, the department should bring proposed legislation to the commission for discussion and support before submitting to Council. Commission members could assist in drafting needed legislation. Commission members should have direct access to their council members and discuss department needs and provide other department information as needed. Commission members can provide district “wish lists” to the department for items needed in their community. Assist department and Mayor’s Office in filling vacant commission seats. Secretary will provide business card templates to all commission members - . Commission members who want business cards should provide contact information to the Secretary for ordering. - Sunshine law was discussed with Corporation Counsel Lugo. No more than 2 members can talk privately regarding commission business. Information/materials-sharing can be distributed to commission members through the department secretary. Sub-committees of less-than-quorum participation can be identified for specific issues and findings then reported back to the commission. HOW THE DEPARTMENT CAN ACHIEVE FINANCIAL AUTONOMY AS IT RELATES TO ASSESSING AND COLLECTING FEES, AND ENSURING THAT FEE INCOME IS RESERVED FOR DEPARTMENT NEEDS. DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW USER FEES, COLLECTION METHODS AND PROCEDURES, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FUNDING SOURCES AND DEDICATED FUNDS RESERVED FOR DEPARTMENT USE. - Landfill tipping fee provides one-third of the funding for the Solid Waste Division. The remaining two-thirds are provided by County General Fund. Denying access to use of the landfill by delinquent accounts is at the discretion of the director and follows this procedure: * Director investigates the reason for the account not being current; * Director makes the determination to deny access; * Notice is provided to the delinquent account; * Delinquent Account holder may appeal Director’s decision to this commission; * If appeal is denied, the Director can restrict access for ALL past due accounts; Although the department has previously restricted landfill access to specific haulers, the department is currently considering an across the board restriction that applies to all account past 90 days due. Priot to implementing this plan, the department intends on issuing a media release followed by informational meetings in Kona and Hilo to provide education regarding the landfill access restriction process. - Abandoned Vehicle Program is fully funded by the Vehicle Disposal Fund. The department is looking at increasing the amount currently collected for this purpose. - Wastewater Division is fully funded by sewer user fees. * A sewer rate study is currently underway. * The department intends on pursuing an increase in sewer fees prior to FY2010-2011. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. (Taken out of order). ORDINANCE TO EXPAND SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AUTHORITY BEYOND ADVISORY MATTERS TO INCLUDE POWER TO SET SEWER AND SOLID WASTE FEES: - The director indicated there were no competency issues relating to commission members setting department fees. - Commission member Warner said he had discussed this with his council member who was in favor of giving this responsibility to the commission. - The director requested that all commission members discuss setting fees with their council members. - The director suggested that the approval of the Update to the Integrated Resource Solid Waste Management Plan and the department reaching financial autonomy should preclude this action. Okoji moved that the commission take no further action on the Ordinance to - Expand Scope of Environmental Management Commission Authority Beyond Advisory Matters to include power to set sewer and solid waste fees. Enright seconded and the motion passed unanimously. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: Election of Officers – November meeting Status report on the Update to the Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan Individual commissioner reports on district projects and goals Sub-committee formations Application of Solid Waste user fees MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. November 25, 2009, Liquor Control Conference Room, Second Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI 96720 ADJOURNMENT 10. Pavao moved to adjourn. Warner seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:30 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).