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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-26 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION January 26, 2011 W. M. Keck Observatory, 65- COMMISSIONERSALSO PRESENTPRESENT: :Scott Enright Jessiah Beem Sherm Warner Lord’s Beem Stan Boren Joan Castberg Bruce Lim Rick Castberg Paulette Pavao Andrew Cox Steve Pavao Christine Dochin Michelle Zalenski Devon Erhardt Virginia Fonseca EXCUSED: Steve Okoji Councilmember Brenda Ford John Frost STAFF: Frank DeMarco, Director Jason Lister Sharron Henry, Secretary Amy Lux Molly Lugo, Corporation Counsel Joshua McCullough Linda Peter, Recycling Coordinator Margaret Pahio Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Shon Pahio Specialist III Nicolas Reed Tracy Santana CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Commission Chair Scott Enright called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. New commission members Bruce Lim and Michelle Zalenski were introduced and welcomed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 24, 2010 MEETING MINUTES 2. : Commissioner Paulette Pavao moved to approve the November 24, 2010 minutes as written. Commissioner Stan Boren seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: 3. Chair Enright received the concurrence of the commission members to take the first three NEW BUSINESS items out of order to be heard following Item 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: 4. Christine Dochin spoke on behalf of Pacific Waste requesting the commission to look into unfair . ( pricing competition which they feel is created by the Solid Waste DivisionComplete testimony and handout is attached to original minutes.) NEW BUSINESS 7. (Taken out of order) Presentation by Council member Brenda Ford relating to Federal Loan and Grant Assistance for Department Projects (handout attached to original minutes) - Council member Ford provided the 3 levels to identify when listing project priorities: (1) Federal Mandate; (2) Imminent Collapse and (3) Critical Areas. -With the financial constraints facing the County, she suggested that appropriate fees and rates should be charged for services rendered and there should be solid waste and wastewater division impact fees. -If the department brings a request to the Council to raise fees/rates, the Council will expect the department to address issues such as collection of past due accounts and enforcement for people to hook up to the county sewers that are not currently hooked up but should be. - She asked the department to consider: Raising fees incrementally over a 5-year period; Taking more drastic action to collect past due accounts; Putting solid waste project priority lists in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and wastewater project priority lists in wastewater plans; Seeking grants where available to pay for department projects. Lobbying the Mayor for dollars needed to complete the priority projects. Presentation by Solid Waste Division staff followed by discussion Electronic Waste (E- waste) disposal (presentation attached to original minutes) -Chris Chin-Chance presented information on the role of the State and Counties in the State Electronic Waste Recycling Program; - Challenges of working with the new State law and its shortcomings as it relates to islands other than Oahu; - Although it is not illegal to dispose of certain electronics in the landfill, the department strongly discourages residents from doing so. -The current Big Island e-waste disposal company is temporarily closed until the items already taken in can be shipped to the e-waste recycling company on the mainland. - Andrew Cox spoke of the reutilization of e-waste locally and indicated he would present a proposal to the Solid Waste Division. - The following suggestions for handling e-waste disposal were presented: Use funds available to assist private sector recycling companies; Have consumers pay a recycling fee when the electronics are purchased; Encourage the State to change the current law to make it more responsive to residents living on islands other than Oahu. Discussion on Organics Diversion Program (handouts attached to original minutes) - The resolution authorizing the payment of funds of a later year and of a multi-fiscal year contract for organic waste diversion and compost operations in West and East Hawai’i has been submitted to the Council. - The department should be prepared to answer the following concerns and questions by Council members, possibly in the form of a Question and Answer document: No more free mulch to residents. Green waste will be composted and will be owned by the vendor who will be able to sell the improved product. Small commercial companies will be required to take their green waste to the new operating locations and will be charged a tipping fee. Commission members wondered if small businesses could continue to dispose of green waste at the current green waste areas of the transfer stations and be charged a flat rate rather than having to take their small loads to the green waste scales at Pu`uanahulu. Commission members encouraged the department to continue educating the school children regarding recycling. The department requested the commission’s support of the program to the Council. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) – There were no additional questions. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) The division will be purchasing a new D8 dozer. Solutions to better maintain the equipment: Have a department maintenance facility separate from the County Automotive Division facility that has responsibility to maintain all county vehicles; or Contracted maintenance agreements; or Find a way to expedite the purchasing process. Negotiations are ongoing with owners to purchase a property for a new Ocean View Transfer and Recycling Station. In the meantime, temporary Saturday collections continue. With decreases in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, transfer station hours may need to be decreased. The department has the appropriation and funds to build the Hilo base yard facility. There will be a pilot program beginning in April to utilize the Sort Station to divert recyclables. A feasibility study is being prepared relating to expansion of the South Hilo Landfill. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) The Division Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) –There were no additional questions. Commission Member District Update Reports DISTRICT 1: Commissioner Enright met with Councilmember Yagong and updated him on the construction costs of the wastewater project in the district. DISTRICT 9: Commissioner Warner spoke with Councilmember Hoffmann and reported that the plastic bag reduction ordinance will be on a February Council agenda. He is also working on an impact fees bill. Sub-Committee Reports - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.- None NEW BUSINESS 7. (continued) Discussion on Public Outreach relating to implementation of the green waste tipping fee (HCC 20-49(a)(2) and banning of green waste (Resolution 826-08) from the county solid waste facilities (Resolutions attached to original minutes.) The Director asked the commission members to engage and educate their communities on the green waste tipping fee and ban. He asked that they provide input to the department from these engagements. Discussion on reformatting Commission Meeting Agenda It was the consensus of the members to: -Reduce the reports being submitted to the Commission to the Director’s Report only which would include legislation and a summary of the divisions’ activities; -Invite Council members to do presentations to the commission relating to council items that impact the department; -Invite department staff to do presentations at the meetings relating to agenda items; and -Continue to include site visits. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Budget – March 23, 2011 Presentation by Councilmember Hoffmann on the Plastic Bag Reduction Bill Site visit – Old Kona Landfill – March 23, 2011 Sort Station site visit – May 25, 2011 MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. nd March 23, 2011, March 23, 2011, Kona, Kona Liquor Control Conf. Room, Bldg. B, 2 Floor, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI May 25, 2011, Hilo, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2nd Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI July 27, 2011, Waimea, W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-112 Kamuela, HI nd September 28, 2011, March 23, 2011, Kona, Kona Liquor Control Conf. Room, Bldg. B, 2 Floor, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI nd November 23, 2011, Hilo, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI ADJOURNMENT 10. Commissioner Stan Boren moved to adjourn. Commissioner Paulette Pavao seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 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).