The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2010-03-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 24, 2010 Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 COMMISSIONER Steve Pavao ALSO Christine Dochin SPRESENTPRESENT: : Scott Enright Councilmember Kelly Greenwell Stan Boren Bill Horgan Suzanne Mayhew Linda Horgan Steve Okoji Cheryl King Paulette Pavao Sherm Warner EXCUSED : STAFF:Lono Tyson, Director Molly Lugo, Deputy Corporation Counsel Robin Bauman, Business Manager Sharron Henry, Secretary Angela Kang, West HI Recycling Specialist ABSENT: Richard Ha CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Commission Chair Steve Pavao called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 27, 2010 MEETING MINUTES 2. : Commissioner Suzanne Mayhew moved to approve the January 27, 2010 minutes as written. Commissioner 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. Linda Horgan spoke in support of continuing the green waste drop off and pick up at Kealakehe Transfer Station when the West HawaiÒi Composting Facility opens. Cheryl King noted the following concerns: Moving the green waste site to Pu`uanahulu, thereby reducing hours and services at the Kealakehe green waste site o increasing gas costs and highway traffic o increased illegal dumping of green waste o storage of green waste at residences for extended periods of time. o Ms. King requested the following: the RFP to include specific plan for hours and days of operation and Kealakehe site and services information official resident survey to be taken. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) There was no additional discussion on this report. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) The green waste RFP is for operations of the sites at Hilo and t HawaiÒi Composting facility at Pu`uanahulu and is in response to Council Resolution 826-08 directing the Department of Environmental Management to prohibit all organics from all County landfills by 2012. The RFP is intended to be effective July 1, 2010 and is i on January, 2011 pending approval and receipt of all regulatory permits. A Department of Health permit extension is being prepared to maintain operations of the Kealakehe green waste site until 2011. The future operation of County green waste sites, along with all County services, is dependent upon available funds in FY 2010-2011. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) QUEEN LILI`UOKALANI VILLAGE LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT is underway. Project is receiving Federal stimulus funds and Clean Water State Revolving Fund monies. HONOKA`A LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT is in process and is currently approximately 4 weeks ahead of schedule. KEALAKEHE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT. Federal funding has been requested through Senator InouyeÓs office. Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) OCEAN VIEW TRANSFER STATION: The County has met with property owners of the proposed site, and upon agreement and final review of associated provide recommendations to the MayorÓs Office regarding funds necessary to develop the proposed site.. HILO LANDFILL FEASIBILITY STUDY: In addition to consideration of the items in this report, the study will also address construction and demolition facility, composting facility and other diversion components. PERSONNEL: Department is currently recruiting for W est Hawai`i Solid Waste Superintendent; 3 Accountant I positions; Wastewater Civil Engineer III; Lead Transfer Station Attendant; and Solid Waste Supervisor. Interviews were held for the Credit and Collection Clerk position this week. TSUNAMI EVENT: The Director was very impressed and proud of the Public service provided by County, State, Federal and private utility company employees mobilized for the th February 27 tsunami. Commission Member District Update Reports DISTRICT 1: Commissioner Enright met with Councilmember Yagong and discussed the HonokaÒa Large Capacity Cesspool Project and Yagong shared his concerns relating to possible fee increases. Enright also did a presentation to the North Hilo Community Association on the change in transfer station hours and days. DISTRICT 3: Commissioner Paulette Pavao met with Councilmember Yoshimoto and discussed the plastic bag ban proposal and other solid waste issues. Sub-Committee Reports Commissioner Enright met with Solid Waste staff and reported that the Solid Waste fee schedule will be provided when available. He reiterated, from earlier discussion, that the Wastewater Division fee schedule will not be available until the Sewer Fee Study is completed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. DISCUSSION RELATING TO PROPOSED INCREASES IN CURRENT FEES SUCH A INCREASE IN LANDFILL AND GREEN WASTE TIPPING FEES, INCREASE IN VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES FOR ABANDONED VEHICLE FUND, INCREASE IN SEWER RATE; AND IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL FEES SUCH AS FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL RUBBISH DISPOSAL AT TRANSFER STATIONS AND FOR DISPOSAL OF NON-COMMERCIAL SEWAGE AT WASEWATER FACILITIES The department: - is not anticipating raising landfill tipping fees at this time. -is considering a request to increase in the Vehicle Disposal Fund portion of the Motor Vehicle Registration fee. Currently the Fund receives $12 per ve -may request an increase in the commercial green waste tipping fee from the current amount of $21.25/ton. - is reviewing the decrease and ultimate elimination of the residential haulers credit. NEW BUSINESS 7. DISCUSSION RELATING TO FY 10-11 DEPARTMENT BUDGET -Director Tyson introduced Robin Bauman, Department Business Manager, who was available to respond to any budget questions from the commissioners. -The proposed budget includes the HGEA furlough agreement but not the UPW agreement, as it was not finalized when the budget was submitted -If the State Tourism Authority Tax (TAT) is not provided to the Counties in FY 10-11, an additional $18M will be lost in the proposed County budget and property taxes may be increased to cover this loss. -Administrative budget includes furloughs. -WWD will need additional funds so the department will be looking at increasing the sewer fees. Both replacement and new projects were included in the Sewer Fee Study. -Director shared concerns regarding the furloughs and the department reliance on the General Fund instead of having sustainable funding sources. -Councilman Greenwell stated that the County should continue to make funding requests to the Federal Government. He indicated that the TAT could not be taken away or the counties would collapse. ¤ STATUS OF BILL 193 RELATING TO PASTIC BAG REDUCTON FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND VOTE AT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS. -Bill 193 was not passed by the County Council. -There is a bill currently going through State Legislative hearings that is more stringent than Bill 193. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. : Green waste program Status update on the Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan County Recycling Programs presentation by Linda Peters, County R MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. May 26, 2010, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2nd Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo July 28, 2010, W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mmalahoa Highway, Kamuela September 22, 2010, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua- Kona nd November 24, 2010, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo ADJOURNMENT 10. Boren moved to adjourn. Mayhew seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:40 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).