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Home My WebLink About2008-07-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Thursday, July 24, 2008, 9:10 a.m. Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743 COMMISSIONERSALSO Arnold Okamura Dan Pitzler, CH2MHill PRESENTPRESENT: : Suzanne Mayhew Steve Okoji Paulette Pavao Steve Pavao Sam Sumner EXCUSEDSTAFF: : Stan Boren Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Director Diana Miller Sharron Henry, Secretary Bill Sanborn Michael Dworsky, SWD Chief Keith Harris, Kona AV Coordinator CALL TO ORDER: 1.Commission Chair Okamura called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. and reminded the commission members of the Waimea Transfer Station site visit following the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 28, 2008 MEETING: 2. Commissioner Mayhew moved to approve the May 28, 2008 minutes as written. Commissioner Sumner 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 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. Some companies are paying for the vehicles -the population increase -police are understaffed and other cases take priority over abandoned vehicles. Commissioner Sumner is again doing his Hamakua Coast clean-up and presented photos and locations of abandoned vehicles to Harris. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) SORT STATION completion date has been pushed back from the first of the year, 2009, to enable the staff building to be added back in the construction. KEALAKEHE CLOSED LANDFILL: The Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) agreed upon by EPA and Waste Management will cover monitoring of air quality before and after a demonstration project attempt to reduce one of the underground fires utilizing foam. Technical Services Section Report/Wastewater Division Reports (Attached to original minutes) HONOKAA LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL (LCC) REPLACEMENT: - Lava tube is not a problem as was originally believed and the project is moving ahead. - The community has been advised to request State funds to expand the replacement area. QUEEN LILIUOKALANI VILAGE LCC REPLACMENT: This project is being coordinated with the Public Works road work. - KEALAKEHE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE: The upgrade of the aeration system is a priority project. - KAPOHO WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY: - Since much of the area is under water at high tide, it appears that the end result of the study may be that building this facility would be cost prohibitive and not feasible to put sewers on land that is subsiding into the ocean. SEWER RATE INCREASE: - Proposal to enable increased energy cost on to the users. - WWD capital improvement projects are funded by the General Fund while Maintenance and repairs are funded by the sewer fund. Director Todd will prepare a draft resolution for a discussion on a sewer rate - increaseproposal for the next commission meeting. KEALEKEHE WWTP: - Considering installing photovoltaic system. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) BOND FLOAT PROJECTS: - Discussed the list of department projects included in Bill 285. OCEAN VIEW TRANSFER STATION: - In litigation. Corporation Counsel is preparing a summary judgment for dismissal and will file the County’s Answer next week. WASTE TO ENERGY PROPOSAL: - The RFP has not officially been cancelled. - Wheelabrator may come back with new cost figures. Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance - Director has and will continue to share her concerns over the proposed legislation. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. DISCUSSION: UPDATE TO THE INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN (ISWMP): Pitzler, of CH2MHill, the consultant working with the County in preparing the Update, did presented an overview of the first two draft chapters (attached to original minutes). There will be no constraint to using the 2002 plan. Plan depends on finances and must be financially feasible. A cost statement will be included in each chapter. DISCUSSION: DELINQUENT SOLID WASTE AND SEWER ACCOUNTS: Corporation Counsel has instructed that the County cannot sue for non-payment of sewer bills if the resident is not connected to the sewer. The definition of “fee” is for “services rendered”. A way to assist in collection of sewer accounts is to cite residents for not connecting when required to do so by the County Code. Keaukaha sewer exemptions were discussed. Robin Bauman, Department Business Manager, will provide delinquent account reports at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS 7. PREPARATION OF A RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION ON SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES/METHODS: The Commission Chair appointed a sub-committee of Steve Pavao, Sam Sumner and Suzanne Mayhew to draft a statement to bring to next meeting for further discussion. Pavao will chair this sub-committee. DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE EFFORTS TO EXPAND SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMMISSION AUTHORITY BEYOND ADVISORY MATTERS: Henry will provide Mayhew copies of rules/regulations and scopes of authority for Police, Fire Planning and Water Commissions. Mayhew will draft Scope Expansion document for discussion at next meeting. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Sewer rate increase resolution. New Officers nomination committee selection Director will include updates in next meeting report on: - Ocean View litigation - Plastic Bag Ban FUTURE COMMISSION MEETINGS 9. September 25, 2008, Kona Council Office, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, site visit following meeting: Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant; old Kona Landfill and Kealakehe Transfer Station, recycling areas November 26, 2008, Hilo, place TBA, site visit following meeting: Sort Station, Landfill sliver fill operation ADJOURNMENT 10. Sumner moved to adjourn. Steven Pavao seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:00 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).