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Home My WebLink About2010-11-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes (2) ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION November 24, 2010 nd Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo COMMISSIONERSSteve Pavao ALSO Christine Dochin PRESENT : Stan Boren PRESENT: Michelle Zalenski Scott Enright JOINED AT SITE VISIT: Suzanne Mayhew Robin Bauman Steve Okoji Kara Nitta Paulette Pavao William Palmer Sherm Warner EXCUSED:STAFF:Frank DeMarco, Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Terin Gloor, SWD Chief TA Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator Molly Lugo, Corporation Counsel ABSENT: CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Commission Chair Steve Pavao called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 MEETING MINUTES 2. : Commissioner Scott Enright moved to approve the September 22, 2010 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 CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: 5. Abandoned Vehicle (AV) Program Report (attached to original minutes) There are no current plans to increase the vehicle registration fee to make up for the $1M decrease in the Vehicle Disposal Fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The 18% of vehicles noted as not found in the “% Vehicles not Found” column of the Report FY 09-10 is a result of owners or others removing the vehicles from the location indicated in the police report. Solid Waste Division Report (attached to original minutes) Utilizing the old Waimea landfill is not an option for a green waste area at the Waimea Transfer Station as it continues to be monitored for fire and gas emissions as part of the closure plan filed with the State Department of Health. The division is currently preparing a new green waste Request for Proposal that could possibly include a roving grinder to, or collection bins at, all transfer stations that have the capacity to accept green waste. The HI5 structure will be replaced at the Kealakehe Transfer Station.The division is awaiting appropriation of funds for a reuse center at this location. The department is awaiting receipt of $250,000 fair share funds to upgrade recycling activities at the transfer stations. E-waste disposal options were discussed: (1) locally, Kona CompuCycle and Bay Side Computers are accepting e-waste from residents at no charge; (2) the State’sMail-Back System Program for participating electronics manufacturers begins January 1, 2011. More information on the State Program can be found on our HawaiiZeroWaste.org website. Uses for the Sort Station are now being discussed and decided upon. Equipment has already been purchased and staff will be shuffled to accommodate the operations. Utilizing the Sort Station has potential to increase diversion rates significantly. Director DeMarco encouraged the commission members to talk with their council members regarding the department operating and CIP budgets. Wastewater Division Report (attached to original minutes) The Division is monitoring and reviewing the laboratory contractor’s performance and procedures in Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WETT) for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Director will obtain answers from the division to the following questions posed by commissioners: (1) Are conducting the WETT tests in house being considered? (2) Is the division submitting Asset Management Program reports to the department? Can commissioners also receive the reports? (3) What is the outcome of the Sewer Rate Study? Will it result in a request for sewer fee rate increases? Director’s Report (attached to original minutes) “UNDER-ONE-ROOF” is moving forward. The county is in negotiations with the management of Puainako Town Center to remodel the office to accommodate the current staff, and all department staff located at 108 Railroad. The division believes the temporary HOVE transfer station can be operated and maintained for $2,000 per day as estimated. The timeline for the Legislative Audit of the department is unknown at this time. RW Beck has been selected to prepare a feasibility study for expansion of the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill. An estimated life of 3 to 5 years remains on the landfill. Commission Member District Update Reports DISTRICT 1: Commissioner Enright met with Councilmember Yagong and discussed department rates and fees. He asked the department staff what he should address in his meetings with Yagong. DISTRICT 9: Commissioner Warner met with Councilmember Hoffmann and reported that the Councilman wants to again introduce a plastic bag ban ordinance. He is also working on an impact fees bill. Sub-Committee Reports - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. - None NEW BUSINESS 7. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF 2011 VICE CHAIR Commissioner Mayhew made a motion to nominate Sherm Warner as the 2011 Vice Chair. Paulette Pavao seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ON DEVELOPING PUBLIC OUTREACH RELATING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSED IN RESOLUTION 826-08 RELATING TO PROHITIBING FOOD, APPER AND COMPOTABLE ORGANICS FROM LANDFILLS BY 2012 (attached to original minutes). -The possible county sites for compostable disposal are quarry near the Hilo Sort Station, the West Hawai‘iCompost facility at Pu`uanahulu. The Kealakehe green waste area will still be available for residents’ disposal. -The director requested the commission members to educate their community and their council member on bans, fees and fines. These three items were discussed and clarified further. - The following suggestions were made by the commission members: Public Service Announcements Signage at the transfer stations More incentives by the County for residents to recycle compostable organics Ban on commercial disposal of organics at the landfills. The use of Farmers Markets as centers for diversion education (Berkeley Farmers’ Markets signage photo attached to original minutes.) Commission members requested a complete cost benefit analysis be prepared. Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator, will provide the secretary with a copy of the - Kauai legislation to be distributed to the commission members. DISCUSSION ON DEVELOPING PUBLIC OUTREAH RELATING TO HCC CH 20, SEC.20-49 REGARDING GREEN WASTE TIPPING FEES (attached to original minutes) -The commission members were requested to educate their community and council members regarding the possible need to increase green waste tipping fees from the current rate of 25% of the landfill disposal fee (Sec.20-49 (a)(2). - Commission members discussed participating in public meetings set up throughout the Facilitator suggestions and contact information should be island by the department. forwarded to the department secretary. 2011 COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE Tentative 2011 Meeting Schedule contingent on the 2011 County Council Meeting Schedule January 26, 2011, Waimea, W.M. Keck Observatory 65- Kamuela, HI March 23, 2011, Kona, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, 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- Kamuela, HI September 28, 2011, Kona, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI nd November 23, 2011, Hilo, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI Commissioner Warner moved to approve the tentative schedule.Commissioner Enright seconded and the motion passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ON FINDING REPLACEMENT COMMISSION MEMBERS (List of Commissioners and terms attached to original minutes.) -Michelle Zalenski was introduced as the Mayor’s nominee for District 5. Today will be Suzanne Mayhew’s last meeting. -No replacement has been nominated for District 2 so Steve Pavao has agreed to stay on until a replacement is found. - Current open commission seats as of 12/31/10 are: District 2 Term Expiration: 12/31/15 District 4 Bruce Lim has been nominated by the Mayor. Term Expiration: 12/31/14 District 5 Michelle Zalenski has been nominated by the Mayor. Term Expiration: 12/31/14 District 6 Term Expiration: 12/31/14 - The commissioner from District 3 has moved out of the district so a replacement is being sought for this seat. Term Expiration: 12/31/11 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. E-waste Program Community Outreach Organics Program Prioritize agenda items Sort Station site visit – May 25, 2011 MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. January 26, 2011, Waimea, W.M. Keck Observatory 65- Kamuela, HI March 23, 2011, Kona, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, 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- Kamuela, HI September 28, 2011, Kona, Kona Council Office Conf. Room, 75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109, Kailua-Kona, HI nd November 23, 2011, Hilo, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2 Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI TOUR OF THE HILO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 10. The meeting was recessed by the Chair at 11:20 a.m. to travel to the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Chair reconvened the meeting at 12:01 p.m. and the group toured the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (informational handouts attached to the original minutes). ADJOURNMENT 11. Commissioner Suzanne Mayhew moved to adjourn. Commissioner Steve Okoji seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:00 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).