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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-28 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION September 28, 2011 West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale. Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Sherm Warner PRESENT: Christine Dochin Paulette Holley Steve Lopez Anne Lee Margaret Pahio Bruce Lim Daryl Picadura Steven Okoji Karl Rad Thomas Randle Lane Shibata Al Wosnitzer STAFF: Hunter Bishop, Deputy Director Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel EXCUSED: Stan Boren Sharron Henry, Secretary Scott Enright Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator Michelle Zalenski Angela Kang, Recycling Specialist II I. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Vice Chair Sherm Warmer called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. in the absence of Chair Scott Enright. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 27, 2011 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Bruce Lim moved to approve the July 27, 2011 minutes as written. Commissioner Thom Randle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Christine Dochin spoke to the commission on behalf of her employer, Pacific Waste. She offered the following suggestions regarding the department collection efforts on delinquent solid waste accounts: Implement "Good Standing" requirements; tighten collection efforts; collect past due accounts including finance charges; do not allow delinquent haulers to continue using the landfill until their accounts are current. (Testimony is attached to original minutes.) Steve Lopez supports e-waste collection by the county and told the commission members that the county is not doing enough in making e-waste collection available to the residents. He also questioned whether schools will be charged a tipping fee for c-waste disposal. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes) — Additional discussion: - DELINQUENT RUBBISH HAULER COLLECTION: • The County has filed 33 lawsuits against delinquent haulers totaling $1.1 SM. • The department is establishing a check verification program at the landfills. • An automated payment program is being established for haulers. • Delinquent haulers will be barred from using the landfill until their accounts are brought current. • The department will continue to pursue collection of delinquent accounts. - F-WASTE STATUS: • On October 11, the department will begin ongoing monthly e-waste collections at the following transfer stations: o I" Saturday: Wai'ohinu o 2" Saturday: Waimea o 3rd Saturday: Kealakehe o 4th Saturday: Hilo o Last Friday of the month, commercial and government agency e-waste will be taken at Hilo by appointment only. Appointments may be set up by calling 96(- 8270. Commercial users will be charged an $85/ton tipping fee. • The department is pursuing a State grant for e-waste disposal. - SEWER RATE STUDY: Nothing new to report. - PERSONNEL: • Five new Solid Waste Facility Attendant (SWFA) positions will be hired by mid- October for Hilo. • Two new SWFA positions are being hired for Kona. • One new SWFA position is being filled for Pu'uanahulu. • Commission Member District Update Reports: - DISTRICT 2: Commissioner Randle met with Ikeda. Ikeda shared the following: • His interest in a recent proposal made to Council by Waste Refinement, LLC. • There is a local company that will pay for abandoned vehicles for the metal they can recycle. • There is a company that will take e-waste at no cost. Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator, clarified that this is Habitat for Humanity who has a recycling grant and an agreement with Maui County. They have been contacted regarding our Big Island e- waste collections. - DISTRICT 4: Lim met with Onishi who indicated he supports waste-to-energy. Deputy Director Bishop shared that the county is taking a different path of zero waste as indicated in the 2009 Update to the Integrated Resource and Solid Waste Management Plan that was approved by the Administration, Council and State Department of Health. He indicated there is not enough rubbish in the county to feed a waste-to-energy facility. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion on a Strategic Plan and Role of the Commission Vice Chair Warner distributed the Commission Mission Statement and Goals (attached to original). - Commission member Okoji made a motion to form a sub-committee to collect and organize commission input for strategic planning to be discussed at future commission meetings. Randle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. - Commissioners Okoji, Warner, Randle and Lee volunteered to be on the sub-committee. Commission member Holley moved to accept the 4 volunteers as the sub-committee members. Lim seconded and the motion passed unanimously. - Each commission member was asked to identify their focus and priorities of the commission and submit the input to the sub-committee. The sub-committee will draft a strategic plan from input provided by the commission members. - Upon completion of the draft plan, the item will be agendized and the sub-committee will present their findings to the commission. It will again be agendized at the following meeting for decision-making. Selection of Nominating Committee for next year's Vice Chair - Deputy Corporation Counsel explained the selection process. - Lim moved that the Nominating Committee be comprised of Commission members Warner and Scott Enright. Okoji seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. - The Nominating Committee will bring their recommendation for next year's Vice-Chair to the next commission meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor at that time. Organic diversion RFP; organics prohibition; 25% green waste tipping fee - The department is currently in the procurement process for the RFP. - The RFP included recycling of green waste, food, pallets, biosolids and FOGS. - Commercial users will be charged a green waste tipping fee of 25% of the landfill tipping fee which is $21.25 per ton. - Details regarding enforcement are currently being worked out and will be forthcoming as the department continues putting the plan in place. Education will be an important part of this process. - Peters, Recycling Coordinator, estimated that the vendor selection would be within 30 days. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • November: Election of 2012 Vice Chair • Administrative Rule: Fat, oil and grease discharge and prohibition into the public sewer (HCC 21-7(c) and (d), and HCC 21-9 (2) 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS November 23, 2011, Hilo, Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2"d Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Holley moved to adjourn. Commissioner Okoji seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:19 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Su milted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT (MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS).