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Home My WebLink About2002-11-27 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, November 27, 2002, 9:15 a.m. HawaiÒi County Council Room 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Ivan Torigoe, Corporation Counsel PRESENTPRESENT :David Frankel:Tiffany Edward, West HawaiÒi Today Mack AsatoLeningrad Elarionoff, Council member Marjorie ErwayDuane Erway Sam KawamuraMike Kaha Hugh OnoDonald Leopoldino Anne PlackEileen O`Hora-Weir Carolyn WitcherMargaret Pahio Gary Safarik, Council member Ted Matsuo, USDA Lorraine P. Shin, USDA State Director EXCUSEDSTAFF :Luana Jones:Barbara Bell, Director Peter Boucher, Wastewater Division Chief Larry Capellas, Solid Waste Division Chief Sharron Henry, Secretary CALL TO ORDER 1. Commission Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. He welcomed new Commissioners Anne Plack, District 4, and Marjorie Erway, District 7. He introduced Margaret Almada, Department of Environmental Management Personnel Managem APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 23, 2002 MEETING 2. David Frankel moved to approve the October 23, 2002 minutes.Mack Asato seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3. Donald Leopoldino feels the request to increase landfill tipping fees is being hurried to Council for approval. He shared his concerns that only haulers and not residents are required to pay this fee, and questioned if the credit for residential haulers will be increased when the tipping fee is increased. Council member Gary Safarik introduced himself and stated he is looking forward to working closely with the commission if the council approves his nomination as Chair for the Parks and Environmental Management Commission. He will be attending the commission meetings on a regular basis and encouraged commissioners to contact him. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 4.: None CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION 5. DirectorÓs Report (attached to original minutes) 5-year Solid Waste Management Plan outline and Implementation Schedule was distributed. The commission supported inclusion of these documents into the I Executive Summary. ADDENDUM TO ISWMP: Parks and Environmental Management Committee (PEMC) unanimously approved Resolution 238 (attached to original minutes). Harding will be asked to (1) add identifying elements to make up a successful construction/ demolition or greenwaste prog programs that are working on other islands. Additional comments should be submitted to the Director by Decem Title has been changed to ÐUpdate to the Integrated Solid Waste Management PlanÑ to more accurately reflect its usefulness as a stand-alone document. 1994 Plan will be added to the DEM website. After the plan is accepted by this commission, it will be forwarded to DOH and becomes final after DOH approval is received. FUNDING Looking into an EPA grant for BrownfieldÓs assessment and clean-up for the Hilo and Kona Solid Waste baseyards. Assessment will identify toxics if they a LEGISLATION: Komohana Heights and Queen Lili`uokalani Subdivision sewer extension resolutions were deferred by Council. Mayor has requested release of $1M approved by the State Legislature for beginning the Hilo landfill closure. County is requesting $6M from the State Legislature for Hilo Landfill Closure, Phase 1, including C&D, greenwaste and scrap metal diversion. Public meetings were held this month in Hilo and Kona. The Kona group will attend the commission meeting next month and the Hilo group will meet Decem Hilo Council Room. : PERSONNEL Recycling Coordinator and Engineer VI position recruiting has closed. LANDFILL TIP FEES Bell distributed a spreadsheet that provided Projected Revenue at $15/year Tip Fee Increase per Council member SafarikÓs recommendation. The last two rows reflect percentages with and without future CIP estimates. If commissioners have any specific comments regarding the residential haulersÓ credit, please call Bell. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) ESTIMATED LIFE OF HILO LANDFILL: Instrument survey of the Hilo Landfill performed in mid-November identified remaining volume based on the design of the approved closure plan, with a topping out elevation at 195 feet. Revised anticipated closure date is late 2004. The consultantÓs estimate of 26 to 27 months to put the Regional Transfer Station in place is from -2- point of funding to operation. Bell and Capellas will discuss development opportunities on the landfill site after closure with Research and Development, Parks and Recreation, ProsecutorÓs Office and other parties that might be interested. SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (SWANA) TRAINING Î LONG BEACH, CA: Capellas attended training in planning, design and operations of transfer stations such as the one the County will put in place with the closing of the landfill. HILO LANDFILL GAS MONITORING: Oxygen levels were normal and no methane was detected in the air in the October, 2002. KAILUA LANDFILL MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITY REPORTS: In October, 2002, although no smoke was observed, there were some burn marks at some surface cracks, and a new small surface crack was observed. Strong odor was observed at the summit and 8 sinkholes; moderate odor was observed at 3 other sinkholes. Although there is active burning in the unlined landfill and all indications point to continued activity for many years, the trend is getting better and the site is being monitored on a monthly basis. REQUEST TO DOH FOR VERTICAL EXPANSION OF THE HILO LANDFILL: FAA clearance would be required; the closure plan would require revision; and an ISWMP needs to be in place and active. The Regional Transfer Station design and funding should be in place before asking for expansion.The SORT station RFP is in process. Ono and Bell will discuss possibly identifying a consultant from the County Professional Services List to proceed with concept and scope identification. Commissioner Smith requested Capellas provide a transition plan for his successor and thanked him for his support. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) SEWER CONNECTION EXEMPTIONS: The Corporation Counsel Opinion letter is a confidential matter that will be discussed in Executive Session. NORTH KONA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Proposed ordinance has still received no action from council. Peter and Barbara will meet with Connie Kiriu, Legislative Auditor, regarding completing a short version of the ordinance to bring to council. NEW SEWER USER FEES: Boucher requested commission support for rate increases. A draft letter to the council proposes single family residence rates be immediately increased $9/unit/month and increase an additional $2/unit/month in two year increments until 2007-2008. At that time, the ratio between multi-unit residential and singl compare favorably to what the design standards for expected unit water flow would be. A non residential base rate adjustment to $27/unit/month or $28/unit/month was proposed, along with eliminating the exemption for the first 8000 gallons of water used. The intention is to move toward a system where the property owners are billed for the base fee for residential and non- residential. The business using the water would then be charged the consumption fee. Discharge fee for private haulers would be increased to $40 per 500 gallons. Boucher will present the final letter and ordinance at the next meeting. -3- PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSIONS: Both Komohana Heights and Queen Lili`uokalani Subdivision extensions have been deferred at council pending further information. An allotment request will be made to the Mayor to obtain a preliminary engineering report which will address the information requested by council. KALANIANAOLE SEWER: Boucher furnished a map showing general location of proposed Anne Plack made a motion that the commission chair sewer and identifying the DHHL lots. work with Bell and Boucher to effectuate a letter to the State D copying DHHL, urging them to take steps to minimize the impacts from these facilities on the near-shore waters. Marjorie Erway seconded the motion. After further discussion regarding the CountyÓs responsibility in sewering this area and the effectiveness of additional support letters where there is ongoing communication between the Department of Health, Plack withdrew her motion and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the County, Erway withdrew the second. There were no objections and no actio UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. Discussion and Approval of Sewer Connection Exemptions : Addressed in Item # 5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of Resolution authorizing Kalanianole Phase II Collector Sewer : Addressed in Item # 5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of proposed ordinance related to sewer user fees : Addressed in Item # 5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. NEW BUSINESS 7. Funding opportunities : Bell introduced Ted Matsuo, Program Director for USDA Rural Utilities Service and Lorraine Shin, USDA State Director. USDA Rural Utilities offers grants up to 75%, in conjunction with a loan, for water systems, wastewater systems and solid waste systems based on income and community population of less than 10,000. Funds are available. Grants and loans are allocated annually. A Regional SORT station located in a community of less than 10,000 would be eligible. Portions of a Regional SORT station located in Hilo could be financed because some of the communities served have a population of less than 10,000. Program information was distributed and is attached to the original minutes. Bell will follow up on possible funding eligibility. Corporation Counsel comments on Executive Session: Torigoe explained the reason for going into Executive Session is that legal opinions may involve potential legal liabilities of the County. The discussion and memorandum will be kept confidential until a determination is Frankel made a motion to go into made that it is appropriate to present to the public. Executive Session to seek legal advice from counsel regarding some potential County liabilities on the sewer exemption issue. Asato seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Meeting was recessed at 11:50 a.m. to go into Executive Session. Meeting was reconvened at 12:05 p.m. -4- Frankel made a motion to make the Corporation Counsel Opinion Letter available to all members of the Council and strongly urge their action. Witcher seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8.: National Solid Waste Philosophy Relationship between County Council, Administration and Commission ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. The December 18, 2002 meeting in Kona will begin at 10 a.m. to accommodate some of the Commission membersÓ attendance at the County Council meeting which will be in Kona. Wednesday, December 18, 2002, 10 a.m. Î 1:00 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 Wednesday, February 26, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., HawaiÒi County Council Room ,25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 Wednesday, March 19, 2003, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona MayorÓs 5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 ADJOURNMENT 9. Frankel moved to adjourn. Asato seconded and motion was carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -5-