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Home My WebLink About2002-10-23 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, October 23, 2002, 9:14 a.m. North HawaiÒi Community Hospital, Lucy Henriques Conference Room 67-1125 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HawaiÒi 96743 COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Dudley Akama, Corporation Counsel PRESENTPRESENT :David Frankel:Cynthia Bryan Mack AsatoSteve Cassulo Luana JonesMarjorie Erway Sam KawamuraMike Kaha Anne PlackJohn Ray Carolyn WitcherChristine Ross Tiffany Edward, West HawaiÒi Today EXCUSEDSTAFF :Hugh Ono:Barbara Bell Peter Boucher Larry Capellas Sharron Henry CALL TO ORDER 1. Commission Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 9:14 a.m. He introduced Anne Plack, the new commissioner representing District 4, and Marjorie Erway, a commission nominee replacing Peter Martin in District 7. ErwayÓs nomination was approved at committee and is awaiting council confirmation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 MEETING 2. Sam Kawamura moved to approve the September 24, 2002 minutes.Mack Asato seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3. John Ray expressed his concerns regarding the commissionÓs role in the solid waste RFP process being invalidated by the council. Frankel requested RayÓs support with Council regarding the request for increasing sewer and landfill tipping fees. Ray agreed. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 4.: None CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION 5. DirectorÓs Report (attached to original minutes) ADDENDUM TO ISWMP: Parks and Environmental Management Committee (PEMC) voted on 3 a ISWMP Addendum resolution 238-02 (attached to original minutes): #5 Î that vendors fund construction of the SORT station as well as the technology (APPROVED) #6 - RFP Evaluation Committee include PEMC chair (or designee), Directors of DEM, Planning, Public Works, Finance and Parks & Recreation Departments (APPROVED) #7 Î Council members be final decision makers on vendor selection. Further action was deferred until the next meeting, awaiting a formal Opinion Letter from Corporation Counsel as to whether this amendment is in compliance with State Procur Corporation Counsel was requested to comment on this matter at the next commission meeting. thth The October 15 and 16 informational vendor presentations to the Parks and Environmental Management Committee (PEMC) were recorded. Tapes will be available in the DEM office for checkout. Public Access Channel Cable broadcast schedule will be emailed when received. Until the RFP has been prepared, the requirements have not been stated, a technology hasnÓt been chosen and no decisions have been made on the financing. The final draft Addendum should be available at the end of the month. Last weekÓs media stories are helping people understand the solid waste situation. A time will be scheduled with the Kona Executive Association to address their members. Bell will follow up with the consultants and Corporation Counsel to determine if an environmental assessment is needed before or after releasing the RFP. Determination will be included in this report at the next meeting. LEGISLATION: Sewer exemptions will be addressed in Wastewater Division ChiefÓ The next public haulers meetings will be November 14 in Kona and will focus on diversion. : PERSONNEL Margaret Almada, Personnel Management Specialist II, is now on b Recycling Coordinator recruitment will be put out again. Only on recruitment met the qualifications. Margaret will monitor the p Safety Officer and HIOSH issues. A consultant will be hired to study the Solid Waste Division sites. The Safety Officer position will be submitted in the DEM 2003-2004 budget. An in- house Safety Officer is needed because of the ongoing follow-up inspections, i.e. monthly, quarterly, progress meetings; program and policy reviews; training and all compliance issues. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) ESTIMATED LIFE OF HILO LANDFILL: Capellas estimates 20 to 22 months and strongly urged an approach to the Department of Health to request a vertical expansion on the landfill, which would possibly add an additional year to 1-1/4 years to the life of the landfill. The landfill should remain open after the Regional Transfer Station (SORT Station) is operational for two reasons: (1) the need for a depository for refuse rejected from the Transfer Station until the special waste handling issues can be addressed, and (2) the longer the landfill receives refuse, the longer the deadline for final closure can be pushed back. The cost of the Regional Transfer Station could be $6-$7 million. In addition, the final closure cost may be $12-14 million. LANDFILL TIPPING FEE DATA: Increasing the tipping fee $5 per year for the next five years Frankel made a motion that will provide a possible total revenue increase of $8.8 million. this Commission recommend that a bill go before the County Council in December, or as -2- soon thereafter as possible, that would increase the landfill tipping fee, as proposed by the Environmental Management Department Director, by $5 a ton per year for 5 years. Witcher seconded the motion. Witcher made a motion After additional fee data was reviewed (attached to original minutes), to amend the motion as follows: That this Commission recommend that a bill go before the County Council in December, or as soon thereafter as possible, that would increase the landfill tipping fee, as proposed by the Environmental Management Department Director, by $5 a ton per year, or higher, for 5 years.Frankel seconded the amendment motion. Motion to amend carried unanimously. Commissioners voted on motion as amended. Motion was passed una RETIREMENT: Capellas will retire December 30, 2002 and has offered his services on a part time contractual basis to coordinate development of the SORT station and landfill closure. Waimea Supervisor I will also retire December 2002 and the island-wide Operations Superintendent will retire in February 2003. Capellas recommended that supervisory positions be ÐOpenÑ recruitment. Smith thanked Capellas for his years of service. Aggressive recruitment has already begun for his replacement. A member of the commission will be included in the selection committee. ANTICIPATED BUDGET 2003-2004: SWD is proposing a heavy increase of approximately $1 million in the operating budget for next fiscal year which includes replacement equipment as well as long haul equipment. WEST HAWAIÒI LANDFILL: Capellas recommended the commission support the Director in an effort to turn the West HawaiÒi Landfill operation back to Waste Management Inc. The four county employees can be transferred to Waimea and Kona, closer to their homes. Money will be saved in fuel and equipment costs. Smith requested Capellas to consult with the unions and to report to the commission the additional costs or savings to the county as a result of this turn- back. Commissioner Jones questioned why not build a new landfill in Hilo. Bell will provide analysis on a landfill vs. SORT station at the next meeting. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) SEWER CONNECTION EXEMPTIONS: (1) DOH will take no action to enforce Chapter 62, HawaiÒi Administrative Rules on the county. It is the individual homeowners who are in violation. (2) Some EPA grant conditions and State Revolving Fund loan agreement terms are being violated, which could technically require a portion, or all of the funds, be returned. (3) Because of the right-of-entry previously given through Keaukaha Hawaiian Homes to build the treatment plant, virtually all Hawaiian Homes along the sewer line are indefinitely exempt from connection. There are approximately 100 exemptions island-wide. (4) Corporation Counsel was requested to offer comments clarifying the potential implication at the next meeting, to assist in moving this ordinance forward to Council. -3- NORTH KONA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Proposed ordinance has not been agendized at council. NEW SEWER USER FEES: Denial of previous rate increase requests over the past 5 years, project postponements due to staffing, and equipment replacement projects totaling approximately $10 million over the next 5 years will require significant sewer ratBoucher will present budget at next meeting for commission concurrence. PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSIONS: Both Komohana Heights and Queen Lili`uokalani Subdivision extensions have been approved by the Mayor and forwarded to Council for consideration. Design monies will be requested from the Mayor. KEALAKEHE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT O&M INSPECTION: The unacceptable rating given by the Department of Health at their July 10, 2002 inspection was due to delays in constructing effluent reuse projects. Some options to remedy this rating would be development of a golf course, wetlands project, more users, or upgrading to the R-1 level. The next step in developing the wetlands project is finding money to construct a pilot scale facility. An environmental assessment will also be needed. While there has been a hold on in proceeding with the wetlands project is insufficient staffingand having to prioritize projects due to staff availability. Boucher and Bell will work to resolve the staffing issue. Bell suggested that the Frankel made a motion commission could furnish a letter of support for resolving staffing issues. to authorize the Chair to work with the Director to draft a letter to the MayorÓs Office, stressing the importance of resolving the position vacancies, and to address the incomplete effluent reuse issues from the Kealakehe Treatment Plant that have resulted in an unacceptable rating from the Department of Health. Asato seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. Action concerning Addendum to the ISWMP : Discussed in Item #5, DirectorÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Increase in Tipping Fees : Discussed in Item #5, Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Increase in Sewer User Fees : Discussed in Item #5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of Sewer Connection Exemptions : Discussed in Item # 5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. NEW BUSINESS 7. Corporation Counsel Opinion on sewer connection exemptions : Deferred to next meeting. . Discussion and Approval of Resolution authorizing Kalanianaole Phase II Collector Sewer DHHL is awarding 11 lots on Nene Street in Keaukaha. DHHL completed an environmental assessment and DOH approved individual wastewater systems. It is a critical area served by the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant and septic use will negatively affect coastal water quality. The Director and Wastewater Division Chief concurred and strongly recommended, by letter to the -4- Mayor, that Phase II sewering go forward. The design is nearly completed and can be finished in-house. State funding is available and dialogue has started with DHHL regarding cost-sharing. A site plan map of this area will be included in next monthÓs Wastewater Division ChiefÓs report and this item will be discussed further at that time. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: Bell will invite Ted Matsuo, USDA, Rural Utilities Services and Steve McPeek, HawaiÒi County Resource Center Director, to a future meeting to discuss funding opportunities for communities via loans or grants for wastewater and solid waste services island-wide. ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. October 30, 2002, Statewide Coastal Zone Management Advisory Committee Quarterly Mtg. 9:30 Î 11:00 a.m. - Kaloko-Honokohau National Park field trip; 11:45 a.m. - Meeting, King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel November 4, 2002, TSA Rezoning Forum sponsored by HawaiÒi County and Land Use Commission to deal with Kaloko-Honokohau infrastructure issues. Wednesday, November 27, 2002, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., HawaiÒi Count Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 Wednesday, December 18, 2002, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona MayorÓs 5706 Kuakini Highway, Room 103, Kailua-Kona, HawaiÒi 96740 Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Waimea Community Center (Park) Building, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HawaiÒi 96743 ADJOURNMENT 9. Frankel moved to adjourn. Witcher seconded and motion was carried unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 11:38 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -5-