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Home My WebLink About2002-09-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, September 24, 2002, 9:15 a.m. Kona MayorÓs Office Conference Room 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona, HawaiÒi 96740 COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Dudley Akama, Corporation Counsel PRESENTPRESENT :David Frankel:Donna Alms Mack AsatoCynthia Bryan Luana JonesChristine Ross Sam Kawamura Hugh Ono EXCUSEDSTAFF :Carolyn Witcher:Barbara Bell Peter Boucher Larry Capellas Sharron Henry CALL TO ORDER 1. Commission Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 21, 2002 MEETING 2. David Frankel moved to approve the minutes with the following clarification: Frankel abstained from the incineration motion in deference to the absence of Hugh Ono who took the Sam Kawamura seconded the motion. Motion to accept minutes opposite position on the issue. as amended carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3.: None APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 4.: None CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION 5. DirectorÓs Report (attached to original minutes) ADDENDUM TO ISWMP: Vendor presentations to the Parks and Environmental Management Committee (PEMC) will be October 15 and October 16, 2002. Waste Management and Pacific Waste will be invited to attend. th Addendum Resolution could possibly pass out of committee November 7th or 19. Harding is estimating a final draft plan by end of October. LEGISLATION: Sewer exemptions: Awaiting Corporation CounselÓs assessment of implications of leaving the exemptions as they now exist. Council actions: Elements of the ISWMP plan that require Council approval will be incorporated into Chapter 20, Solid Waste, in the HawaiÒi County Code. The tip fee and residential credit will be part of that process. Proposed 5-year tip fee increase impact study attached to original minutes. Aggressive recycling and diversion are not quantified in study. Actual waste breakdown between commercial and residential will be reported in Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report next meeting. HaulerÓs meetings will be October 2 in Hilo and October 8 in Kona. Announcement will be sent to news media. : PERSONNEL st Personnel Management Specialist II, Margaret Almada will start O. Recycling Coordinator approved list is due in mid-October. Interviews will begin shortly after. Safety Officer and HIOSH issues. Wastewater completed their island-wide study. The same consultant will be hired to study the Solid Waste Division sites. A Safety Officer position w be included in next yearÓs budget. HIOSH found only two deficiencies in the latest compliance inspection of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant which resulted Consultation branch inspects sites, identifies regulation deficiencies with no fines involved. HIOSH Compliance branch inspects sites, enforces regulations and levies fines per deficiencies identified. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TIPPING FEES: A request was made to Department of Public Works, Building Division, to include Solid Waste Division on the routing of approval ÐchecklistsÑ prior to issuing Certificate of Occupancy for building projects. Wastewater also wants to be included in the permit monitoring process. WAIKOLOA TRANSFER STATION: There are no documents that bind the Waikoloa Land Company to develop a transfer station in the area and turn it over to the county for operation. LONG HAUL CONTAINERS: Present 40-foot trailers have no turning difficulty on any route between Hilo and West HawaiÒi landfills. TRANSFER STATION TRAILERS: An additional 11 replacement trailers may need to be ordered next year and entire fleet needs to be upgraded. If not replaced in appropriate time, some transfer stations may need to be on compressed scheduling. Roll-offs are a possible option on an emergency basis. OCEANVIEW TRANSFER STATION: DEM has requested Site Set Aside from DLNR for site requested by the Oceanview residents. Site is not suitable according to Capellas and he is reviewing other more appropriate sites. Also awaiting alternate site recommendation from Oceanview community resident. ESTIMATED LIFE OF HILO LANDFILL: Capellas estimates 24-25 months from today. Smith requested a monthly update. Hilo landfill should remain open as long as possible to divert from SORT station and delay closure expenditure. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report (attached to original minutes) SEWER CONNECTION EXEMPTIONS: Mayor has approved the revised draft ordinance but there is no interest from Chair and Committee Chair to agendize. Recommendation: Wait until council reorganizes and present to new Committee Chair. Frankel requested Corporation Counsel to submit a grant compliance opinion letter to accompany the ordinance. NORTH KONA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Bill has not come before council. Boucher and Bell will follow up with new council. -2- NEW SEWER USER FEES: Established rates are within projected range. No increase in hauler rates. Working toward making user fees an owner responsibility by including as a line item on the real property tax bill. Recycled water rates will move forward even if new sewer fees are deferred until next year. PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSIONS: Draft resolutions to connect Komohana Heights and Queen Liliuokalani Subdivision to the Hilo and Kealakehe treatment plants respectively are attached to original minutes. Because of the requirement that gang cesspools be replaced by April 5, 2005, it is Frankel made a motion that the commission approve the important to move quickly. Komohana Heights and Queen Liliuokalani Subdivision sewer extension resolutions and provide a letter in support to accompany the resolutions. Asato seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. EMC Voting Clarification As stated in the EMC Rules and Regulations, a quorum of five is needed to take action at any meeting and is in concurrence with state law which would supercede only if the rules were silent regarding quorum. Smith requested Corporation Counsel submit a letter of clarification to the EMC, along with a cc to Councilman Tyler, at the next commission meeting to become part of the minutes. Anne PlackÓs confirmation is in process to replace Bell. Bell will follow up on Martin replacement. Jones offered her intention to resign but will stay until replacement members are confirmed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. Action concerning Addendum to the ISWMP Written comments can be accommodated until the middle of October Sludge is not fully addressed in the plan. Bell will request that the consultants address the issue and ensure compliance with DOH regulations. RFP evaluation and decision will be made by the Department of Environmental Management Director and the Mayor, with input from a committee which will i commission, and with the concurrence of the County Council. Accepting different technologies and solutions will allow for a better choice of proposals. Frankel is not satisfied with HardingÓs response to his questions and feels the plan is deficient. Bell will reiterate her request that Harding address action and who is responsible for action. She will also request that C&D waste be more specifically detailed and a green waste recommendation be offered. This communication will be copied to all commissioners. NEW BUSINESS 7. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Increase in Tipping Fees Deferred. . Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Increase in Sewer User Fees -3- Boucher will update and provide a recommendation at next meeting Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Sewer Extensions Approved in discussion of Agenda Item #5, Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report. Discussion and Approval of Action on Ordinance relating to Sewer Connection Exemptions Pending. Discussed in Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report, Agenda Item #5. Discussion on Format of Possible Solid Waste Vendor Meeting Vendor Meetings have been scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2002. Bell will request the vendors specifically highlight their technologyÓs strong points and itÓs solutions in comparison to other technologies. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. th Frankel requested the December 18 meeting be held in Hilo rather than Kona unless a replacement for Martin has been confirmed by the council and the Kona commission member will be in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. Wednesday, October 23, 2002, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., North Community Hospital, Lucy Henriques Conference Room, 67-1125 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HawaiÒi 96 November 27, 2002, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., HawaiÒi County Council R 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 ADJOURNMENT 9. Ono moved to adjourn. Frankel seconded and motion was carried unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -4-