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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-21 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, August 21, 2002, 9:14 a.m. HawaiÒi County Council Room 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HawaiÒi 96720 COMMISSIONERS Riley Smith ALSO Jason Armstrong (HawaiÒi Tribune Herald) PRESENTPRESENT :David Frankel:Ann Plack Mack AsatoSteve Cassulo Luana JonesTiffany Edwards (West HawaiÒi Today) Carolyn WitcherEd Johnston Donald Leopoldino Margaret Pahio Steve Powell Christine Ross John Ross Roy Skogstrom Councilmember Curtis Tyler EXCUSEDSTAFF :Sam Kawamura:Barbara Bell Peter MartinSharron Henry Hugh OnoLarry Capellas Peter Boucher CALL TO ORDER 1. Commission Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 9:14 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 26, 2002 MEETING 2. David Frankel moved to approve the minutes as amended at the July 24, 2002 meeting. Carolyn Witcher seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 24, 2002 MEETING Frankel moved to approve the minutes. Luana Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3. Roy Skogstrom, Pepeekeo resident and member of Citizens Against Hamakua, read a petition being circulated opposing the Brewer Environmental Industries project for a waste-to-energy plant at the HCPC site for the following reasons: (1) trucking trash to a remote location, (2) pollutants, (3) hazardous waste (copy attached to original minutes). Steve Powell of Real Earth Enterprises requested aerobic composting be considered as an alternative in the ISWMP Addenum and was advised to submit a written critique to the consultants and the Director of the Department of Environmental Management for review. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA 4. A letter from Hugh Ono was acknowledged and will be addressed under Section 6, Item 2 on the agenda. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION 5. DirectorÓs Report Barbara Bell submitted a written report to the Commissioners (attached to original minutes.) ADDENDUM TO ISWMP: Three public hearings and two pre-meetings were held in Kailua-Kona, th th Hilo and Waimea on August 19and 20 to present plan and obtain community input. Councilman Yagong has requested that possible vendors be invited to speak to Council and this commission. The commission will decide if HardingÓs presence is needed at future commission meetings after the final document is reviewed. There were no objections to renaming the Regional Transfer Station the Sort Station. PROJECTS: Paper recycling at the County Buildings will begin this week. Notification and instructions will be distributed to all departments. Deadline for the recently released Greenwaste th RFP is August 28. A County of HawaiÒi representative will attend the Beverage Container rd Deposit Law Rules Committee meeting on September 3. LEGISLATION: Councilman Yagong suggests that Jimmy Arakaki be asked to introduce the sewer hook-up exemption elimination bill and that the section relating to exemptions granted by the Director be eliminated because there is no process in place. Bell will meet with the Mayor and Managing Director next week to discuss a Tipping Fee ordinance. This item will be put on the September agenda for discussion/approval. Haulers that were consulted regarding the $5.00/year tipping fee increase stated it was reasonable as long as they werenÓt subsidizing transfer stations and residential customers. A Current Tipping Fee Analysis draft was distributed for review (attached to the original minutes). PERSONNEL: Personnel Management Specialist II interviews will be completed this week with the intent to hire by mid October. Awaiting the approved list for the Recycling Coordinator position. Solid Waste Division ChiefÓs Report Larry Capellas provided a written report to the Commissioners (attached to original minutes). HONOKAA TRANSFER STATION: Gate has been installed at Honokaa and public notified of the th hours that will begin August 30 at Honokaa. Waimea hours are back to 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. KEAAU TRANSFER STATION: Gate Installation bids are due on August 26, 2002. Construction should be completed and advance notification of gate closure given sometime in mid-September. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (FY 01-02 Accounts Receivable Schedule attached to original minutes). Landfill tipping fee accounts over 90 days delinquent are forwarded to Corporation Counsel for action. If still unpaid, they are turned over to a collection agency. Gerald Takase will discuss contractor collection options with the Building Department. Billing/collections options will be discussed further at next meeting. This may include requiring clearance on payment of tipping fees, prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy. -2- KAILUA LANDFILL: Walker Consultants Ltd. August reports are available for review in the DEM office, Solid Waste Division office and Kailua Solid Waste Baseyard. Because of the past success of this contract, the division is requesting a continuation or renewal as a sole source. OCEANVIEW TRANSFER STATION: Site chosen by the community association is isolated. Development sites located near Ranchos or Oceanview Estates might be more appropriate. Due to manpower availability, costs may be substantial. Project is on hold. Capellas will clarify priority with Department Director. VOLCANO TRANSFER STATION: Area has been cleared for the community to contract with a vendor for recyclables collection equipment placement. ABANDONED VEHICLE CONTRACT: Contract will go out for re-bid. New contract will be in place by mid-October. HILO LANDFILL CLOSURE: Capellas will advise the commission of the remaining life of the landfill after the October survey. WAIKOLOA TRANSFER STATION UPDATE: Capellas will follow up with the Planning Department and Land Use Commission to clarify if the building of the transfer station was a condition imposed on the developer. LONG HAUL CONTAINER SIZE: Smith requested the container size be appropriate to properly maneuver the entire route from the Sort station to the Puuanahulu Landfill. HILO LANDFILL FIRE: Fire was discovered by Highway Divisions night maintenance workers. Fire Department responded, along with Capellas and Superintendent Mattos. The fire was under control at approximately 12:30 p.m. Additional preventative action procedures have been put in place. Wastewater Division ChiefÓs Report Peter Boucher provided a written report to the Commissioners (attached to original minutes). SEWER CONNECTION EXEMPTIONS: Commission representatives will be asked to attend a meeting with Chairman Arakaki to attempt to get the bill introduced. NORTH KONA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Corporation Counsel has formally addressed Councilman TylerÓs concerns regarding the resolution that enables the process to go forward. Tyler noted that Council rewrote the Improvement District Ordinance and the bid process is going forward. NEW SEWER USER FEES: A draft ordinance will be prepared for the next meeting that will include a single unit residential rate increase, recycled water charges and industrial discharge rates. PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSIONS: A draft ordinance will be prepared for the next meeting to connect Komohana Heights and Queen Liliuokalani Subdivision to the Hilo and Kealakehe treatment plants respectively. PERSONNEL: DIRECT RESPONSIBLE CHARGE (DRC): Process has begun to recruit a SWT supervisor with DRC licensure to replace current supervisor who has resigned. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. Discussion and Approval of Addendum to the ISWMP Written comments for inclusion in the Addendum to go to council th 31, 2002. Timeline for Addendum finalization was discussed as follows: September 10 Î to th Department of Environmental Management and Parks Committee; if d Î back to committee; after committee passes, Harding ESE would prepare final draft for presentation -3- to full council; upon council approval, it is returned to SWAC for approval. Frankel requested discussion of incineration before action is taken. Councilman Tyler requested the commission advise the council and Administration on the ISWMP Addendum. Discussion and Approval of Deleting Incineration as an Option Frankel made a motion that the (Letter from Commissioner Ono attached to original minutes.) Environmental Management Commission recommend the deletion of incineration as an option in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Witcher seconded. Chairman Smith agreed with Ono that alternatives should not be discarded prior to the selection process on the condition that they meet all federal, state and county regulations. Frankel reminded the commission that state law mandates that incineration be the last of the preferred alternatives and the County should be consistent with the law. Jones recommended aerobic composting be considered. Tyler clarified that incineration is not the only waste-to-energy process and encouraged the commission to Vote was taken and the motion did obtain information and to request presentations on the options. not pass with Jones and Witcher voting for, Asato and Smith voting against, and Frankel abstaining. Bell requested a motion regarding inclusion/exclusion of aerobic digestion and also a recommendation on the entire document. Smith and Frankel agreed that vendors submitting proposals for the three options that meet all requirements and financial feasibility, should be give consideration consistent with the plan. When Councilman Tyler suggested the commission rank the options in order of preference, Chairman Smith stated it was premature to rank until the commission had a specific proposal but called for a motion to formally accept the plan. Bell has requested the consultants to include population projection data in the final draft. Jones shared that people mentioned that this plan was not for the whole island but was a bandaid for the Hilo Landfill closure. Chairman Smith confirmed that closure of the Hilo Landfill was the priority. Chairman Smith stated that the commission could accept this plan as submitted and individual commission members could submit detailed written comments to the consultant commission form a policy that other technologies can be included along with the three recommended. Councilman Tyler strongly suggested the commission be more specific in their recommendation of the options. Ed Johnston and Skogstrom asked that the commission recommend that whatever process is chosen be located where the trash is collected and trucking be eliminated. Chairman Smith moved to accept the Addendum to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan for the County of Hawaii as submitted by the consultants and that each commissioner, as commission members, be allowed to submit their detailed comments to the consultants that could be included in the final version that would be submitted to the County Council for their consideration. Asato asked if the individual letters to the consultants could request the inclusion of Commissioner Asato seconded the motion. other technologies. Chairman Smith confirmed and Frankel asked for motion clarification. Chairman Smith said the as reflected in the previous commission discussions and presentations Î accept with comments and conditions but not approve or recommend a specific technology. Frankel feels the plan is deficient in addressing costs, steps needing to be taken and greenwaste analysis. Bell will include a plan schedule including action and timeframe in next monthÓs report. Final plan revisions should include response to questions and comments received in a ramsayered format. The approval of this motion would be to assist the council and would not relieve the consultants of any duties. Councilman T requested review of HRS 342G in regards to the plan being consistent with state law in terms of the Vote was taken and the motion did not pass with Asato and Smith requirements. Frankel, Jones and Witcher voting against. Bell will request Harding to furnish answers to -4- comments/questions received by August 31, 2002, and ensure that the plan is in compliance with Jones made amotion that the commission recommends HRS 352G at the September meeting. that the consultants prioritize the recommendations, come up with a long-term waste management plan for West HawaiÒi, provide more specific data and any other recommendations they feel are appropriate. Motion was not secon The draft addendum th will be referred to Council, hopefully for September 10 Department of Environmental Management and Parks Committee. Further action was deferred. NEW BUSINESS 7. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Tipping Fees Donald Leopoldino, from LeoÓs Rubbish, asked why the tipping fees are being increased and why only for commercial users. Bell explained charges for residents are included in property taxes and the increase would lessen the General Fund subsidy. Will be addr DirectorÓs Report. Bell will meet with commercial haulers to discuss further. . Discussion on David FrankelÓs July 1, 2002 E-mail re ISWMP Discussed earlier under UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Discussion on Safety Programs and HIOSH Discussion on Safety Programs and HIOSH Boucher requested a recommendation to the Mayor to create a departmental Safety Officer position to assist in keeping procedures up-to-date and to periodically inspect county facilities to ensure compliance with HIOSH regulations to ensure a safer workplace. Capellas updated the commission on Solid Waste Division fines. Bell will include recommendation in next monthÓs report. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Discussion and Action concerning the ISWMP Addendum Discussion and Approval of Ordinance relating to Increase in Tipping Fees Discussion on Increase in Sewer User Fees Discussion on Sewer Extensions Discussion on Format of Possible Solid Waste Vendor Meeting Management Plan (Including Possible Council Actions) ANNOUNCEMENTS 9. Tuesday, September 24, 2002, 9:00 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona MayorÓ Room, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Room 103, Kailua-Kona, HawaiÒi 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, H November 27, 2002, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., HawaiÒi County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720 -5- Wednesday, December 18, 2002, 9 a.m. Î 12:00 p.m., Kona MayorÓs Room, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Room 103, Kailua-Kona, HawaiÒi 9 ADJOURNMENT 9. Jones moved to adjourn. Witcher seconded and motion was carried Meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary -6-