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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-25 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Thursday, September 25, 2008, 9:06 a.m. Kona Council Office, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 COMMISSIONERSALSO Arnold Okamura Clay Adams PRESENTPRESENT: : Suzanne Mayhew Jes Foster Stan Boren Steve Okoji Paulette Pavao Steve Pavao Bill Sanborn Sam Sumner EXCUSEDSTAFF: : Diana Miller Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Robin Bauman, Business Manager Michael Dworsky, SWD Chief Keith Harris, Kona AV Coordinator CALL TO ORDER: 1.Commission Chair Okamura called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 24, 2008 MEETING: 2. Commissioner Mayhew moved to approve the May 28, 2008 minutes as written. Commissioner Paulette Pavao 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.None NEW BUSINESS 7. PRESENTATION: CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM (Taken out of order) (attached to the original minutes): Messrs. Jes Foster and Clay Adams did a presentation on a curbside trash and recycling program fashioned after the LeMay recycling company’s program in Washington State. Pay to Throw at the transfer stations was discussed. Commission member Boren suggested food waste be composted or recycled in green waste bin. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) Reasons for the decline in vehicle reports may be due to the increase in the scrap metal market price, leading private companies to offer free vehicle removal to residents. Commissioner Sumner thanked Harris for the quick removal of the abandoned vehicles on the Hamakua Coast. Commissioner Sanborn suggested that the names used to identify the programs (“amnesty” and “derelict”) be changed and will bring some suggested names to the next meeting. If abandoned vehicles are not being removed within a week after they are tagged, contact the Abandoned Vehicle office and they will follow up with Police in obtaining a police report. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) TIRES COLLECTED IN PRIVATE SUBDIVISIONS: Dworsky suggested that they be stockpiled and then the subdivisions apply to the Matson Community Support Program for funds and containers to remove them. HILO LANDFILL CLOSURE: Estimated closure date is now 2012. E-WASTE: Dworsky indicated he was not aware that e-waste had to clean in order for the company to take it. SCRAP METAL: Metal prices are fluctuating. HI5:County of Hawai`i’s 90% redemption is the highest in the State. TRANSFER STATIONS: Will continue to be upgraded in order to accept additional disposal items. HIEDB ZERO WASTE CONFERENCE: Report will be forthcoming from the conference and the public meetings that were held. Videos of the conference will also be available. It was suggested that private haulers be strongly urged to include recycling in their pickups. Technical Services Section Report/Wastewater Division Reports (attached to original minutes) PERSONNEL: CEIII and EEIV positions have been reallocated and the department is desperately trying to fill these positions. Relocation funding can now be offered to engineering applicants. LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL (LCC) PROJECTS: are ongoing and will cost over $50M in the next 4-5 years. NA’ALEHU/PAHALA LCC: - Appraisal has been completed on a 2-acre parcel in Na`alehu. - 5-acre site is being reviewed for the Pahala treatment and disposal system in lieu of septic tanks and for future capacity. HONOKAA LCC: - Lava tube is not a problem as was originally believed and the project is moving ahead. - County is negotiating with the hospital some sort of payment/reimbursement agreement for the pipes already purchased by the hospital and the easement. QUEEN LILIUOKALANI VILLAGE LCC REPLACMENT: - This project is being coordinated with the Public Works road work. WASTEWATER DIVISION REPORT: There were no questions or discussion. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) UPDATE TO THE INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN: - Regular monthly reports are being presented to the County Council. - Consultants estimate green waste and recycling pickup costs would be $50- $60/resident/month. This includes processing and operations. - Consultants will be doing a presentation to the Commission at a future meeting. CHANGES TO THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE FOR DEM: - Director has reiterated to the County Council that all changes to Solid Waste and Wastewater articles of the Code come through the Commission, Department and Administration for review/input/approval before being introduced at Council. PLASTIC BAG BAN ORDINANCE: - Director drafted a new ordinance and submitted to the Council, taking into consideration the concerns of the Mayor’s Office related to the recently vetoed ordinance. - Director would prefer a “charge for bags” bill rather than a “ban on plastic bags”. - Commission member Okoji suggested adding clothing stores to the newly drafted ordinance. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. DISCUSSION: UPDATE TO THE INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN (ISWMP): Another chapter was reviewed at the meeting this past week. All ISWMP/SWAC documents can be accessed on the County website at http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/env_mng/iswmp.htm. DISCUSSION: DELINQUENT SOLID WASTE AND SEWER ACCOUNTS: Both Solid Waste and Sewer Account delinquencies were discussed. Account documents were distributed (attached to original minutes.) Some sewer connection exemptions are being granted by the Director on an individual request/review basis. Corporation Counsel and collection agency are doing a good job in collecting moneys on delinquent accounts referred to them for collection. Filling the new Credit/Collection Clerk position should improve collections. It was suggested that delinquent sewer fees be added to the property tax so that non-payment of property tax could mean County takes possession of the property. Wastewater Division is doing an update to determine who is connected and who isn’t. It was suggested that commercial haulers using the landfill provide a performance bond or some form of payment guarantee. PREPARATION OF A RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION ON SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES/METHODS: Deferred DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE EFFORTS TO EXPAND SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AUITHOLRITY BEYOJD ADVISORY MATTERS: Deferred NEW BUSINESS 7. SELECTION: NEW OFFICER NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Chair appointed Commissioners Sanborn and Pavao to bring recommendation for new Vice Chair to next meeting. DISCUSSION AND DECISION MAKING: RESOLUTION TO INCREASE SEWER RATES: Deferred. Awaiting consultant’s report before resolution can be properly prepared. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: None FUTURE COMMISSION MEETINGS 9. November 26, 2008, Hilo, place TBA, site visit following meeting: Sort Station, Landfill sliver fill operation ADJOURNMENT 10. Boren moved to adjourn. Mayhew seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:59 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).