Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-26 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Hilo Liquor Control Conference Room, Second Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI 96720 COMMISSIONERSALSO Suzanne Mayhew Jon Olson PRESENT :PRESENT: Stan Boren Kelly Greenwell Diana Miller Steve Okoji Paulette Pavao Steve Pavao Bill Sanborn Sam Sumner EXCUSEDSTAFF: : Arnold Okamura Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Nelson Ho, Deputy Director Dora Beck, WWD Chief Michael Dworsky, SWD Chief James Isa, Kona AV Coordinator CALL TO ORDER: 1.Commission Vice Chair Mayhew called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. Kelly Greenwell, Councilmember Elect, was introduced. Mr. Greenwell will be the Chair of the Environmental Management Committee of the new Council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 MEETING: 2. Commissioner Paulette Pavao moved to approve the September 25, 2008 minutes as written. Commissioner Stan Boren 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. Jon Olson spoke on how the current economic downturn will affect recycling commodity pricing and the possible need to store commodities. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) James Isa reviewed the second quarter vehicle report. Program worked with Kalapana Seaview Estates to identify and remove AV’s from the subdivision. West Hawai`i AV Coordinator Harris resigned as of Friday, November 28, 2008. In-house recruitment has started to fill the position. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) LANDFILLS: Feasibility study for vertical and horizontal expansion of the Hilo Landfill will be completed next month. WEST HAWAI`I LANDFILL: RFP for the West Hawai`i Compost and Biodiesel facility is currently open. GREEN WASTE: There have been some concerns from residents regarding fire ants and th coqui frogs in the green waste/mulch. Since the grinder fire in Kona on October 8, a grinder is now being shared between Hilo and Kona sites. TRANSFER STATIONS: Permit modification for transfer station permits are being submitted to change “convenience center” designation to “transfer station”. This change will allow commercial customers to use the recycling facilities. Commercial rubbish will still be required to go to the landfill. Commissioner Boren shared his concerns about the recycling ramps and containers at Keauhou Transfer Station. ZERO WASTE STUDY will be presented to the Council in January and the study will be incorporated into the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) update. ISWMP: December meeting topic will be residuals and the discussion will continue in The March. The consultants will identify waste reduction technologies for the plan update. Director will provide a draft of the plan to the commission at the next meeting. SCRAP METAL: Due to the economic downturn, metal prices have decreased and at some point, the County may need to increase vendor payments. Technical Services Section Report (attached to original minutes) WASTEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Chief Beck reviewed each of the County’s Large Capacity Cesspool and Facility Upgrade projects. PERSONNEL: Interviews were held and a new Civil Engineer should be coming on board in a few weeks. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) COMPLIANCE: There were no compliance issues this period. PUA PUMP STATION PROJECT is going out to bid. Project list is being reviewed and prioritized for funding availability. PAPAIKOU SLUDGE DEWATERING RFP was revised to address redundancy as required. EMERGENCY PARTS/EQUIPMENT is being identified to implement a plan for a force main break emergency. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEWER SERVICE COMPANIES (NASSCO) protocol and procedures are being implemented in the division and training will begin in the next few months. ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, designed to track and inventory equipment and existing sewer infrastructure, is being set up and implemented. The goal is to help with policy and financial management decisions in the division. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) TRANSITION REPORT: Reviewed the Transition Report prepared for the new Mayor. MAJOR PENDING ISSUES were discussed. ORGANICS BAN ORDINANCE: Council passed a resolution directing the department to make a plan to ban organics from the landfill by 2012. Concerns are in identifying a collection mechanism and where to dispose of the items once banned from the landfill. Sanborn thanked the Director for her participation in the Department and the commission. Mr. Greenwell requested to speak to the Commission and the Chair approved his request at this time. He explained how the County could obtain Federal Farm Bill funding by presenting creative and innovative concepts and ideas in solving County issues. Shared his ideas of how solid waste could be handled so that leachate does not enter the ocean. He will be promoting receiving trash from all islands for disposal at Pu`uanahulu and processing it into good quality mulch. He requested the commission’s assistance in supporting his concepts to the Council. Non-Point Source Pollution was discussed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. PREPARATION OF A RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION ON SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES/METHODS Sanborn made a motion to table this item. Paulette Pavao seconded and the motion passed unanimously. After discussion, it was determined that the motion should be to file, not table, the item since Sanborn made a motion to amend the it would not be taken up again by the commission. motion to file the item instead of table the item. The motion was seconded by Paulette Pavao and passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE EFFORTS TO EXPAND SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AUTHORITY BEYOND ADVISORY MATTERS: Mayhew distributed a “working paper” for discussion (attached to original minutes). Sanborn made a motion that the director prepare, sign and submit a letter to the Council requesting that any resolutions or ordinances relating to the department be sent to the department and through the commission and Mayor’s Office for approval before agendizing the item at a council meeting. Steve Pavao seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Discussion will continue at next meeting. SELECTION: NEW OFFICER NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Sanborn made a motion to accept the committee’s recommendation of Suzanne Mayhew for 2009 Chair and Steve Pavao for Vice-Chair.Paulette Pavao seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 7. DISCUSSION AND DECISION MAKING: RESOLUTION TO INCREASE SEWER RATES: Deferred. Awaiting consultant’s report before resolution can be properly prepared. 2009 TENTATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE (attached to original minutes). March meeting date will be changed to the same date as the Kona Council meeting to hear the ISWMP update presentation. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: ISWMP update draft MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. Sanborn will be resigning from the commission but has agreed to stay until his replacement is found. Sumner and Okamura, whose terms expire December, 2008, will be asked to extend their terms for 90 days or until new district representation is found. COMMISSION MEETINGS January 28, 2009, Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743 March, TBA May 27, 2009: Liquor Control Conference Room, Second Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI 96720 July 29, 2009, Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743 September 23, 2009: Kona Council Office, March, 25, 2009: Kona Council Office, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 November 25, 2009, Liquor Control Conference Room, Second Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI 96720 ADJOURNMENT 10. Sanborn moved to adjourn. Paulette Pavao seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.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).