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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-23 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION November 23, 2011 Liquor Control Conf. Room, 2nd Floor, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, Hawaii COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Scott Enright PRESENT: Larry Capellas Anne Lee Christine Dochin Bruce Lim Guy Kaniho Steven Okoji Thomas Randle STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel EXCUSED: Stan Boren Sharron Henry, Secretary Sherm Warner 1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Scott Enright called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. • Commissioner Michelle Zalenski has resigned from the Commission. • Districts 3 and 5 are now vacant and we are looking for interested applicants. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 28,2011 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Anne Lee moved to approve the September 28, 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, on behalf of her employer, Pacific Waste, offered the following comments on items discussed at the last commission meeting: • The Integrated Resource and Solid Waste Management Plan (IRSWMP) Update supports Zero Waste but she pointed out that it recommends developing a conversion technology facility also. • Pacific Waste has proposed a Public/Private Partnership to the County for utilization of the Sort Station as a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). • She reiterated suggestions made at the previous commission meeting regarding the department collection efforts on delinquent solid waste accounts: Implement "Good Standing"requirements; tighten collection efforts; do not allow delinquent haulers to continue using the landfill until their accounts are current. Pacific Waste is contemplating litigious remediation against the County if this continues. (Testimony is attached to original minutes.) • Testifying personally, she indicated that the biggest past due account was not on the list. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes) —Additional discussion: WASTEWATER - COMPLIANCE EVALUATION INSPECTION OF THE HILO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT (HWWTP): • Testing is being performed every 2 weeks to remedy the threshold exceedance. • There is no evidence of toxicity at the plant which might indicate that the Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WETT) is too stringent. • The WWD is working with the Department of Health (DOH) to remedy the exceedance. • Commissioner Randle requested a copy of the evaluation inspection report when it is received by the department. - KALANIANA`OLE AVENUE SEWER REHABILATION: • The project goes out to bid in early January 2012 and bids should be received in March 2012. • 4,500 lineal feet of pipe will be replaced. • The County has received $8M in State Revolving Funds (SRF) for this project. • High resin plastic pipe will be used as it is not prone to corrosion compared to concrete. - HONOKA`A LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: • Phase II: Ongoing and the remaining agencies not connected to the sewer will receive notification to connect in February 2012. • Phase I of this replacement project, along with the Queen Lili`uokalani Village project, was completed on time. - NA'ALEHU/PAHALA LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECTS: • Currently evaluating suitability of land for the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). • The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), at their November meeting, supported the use of State Land located in the area. • Identification of land in Pahala will follow the Na'alehu project so the replacement project can begin there. • John Cross of Olson Trust was suggested as a contact for possible available land for the Pahala WWTP. • Randle requested the draft design plans for Na'alehu be provided to the commissioners. - Commissioner Steve Okoji asked if solar power was being considered in design plans. The Director responded that they were being considered on the West side and stated she would follow up with the Department of Water Supply regarding their use of solar energy in their projects for the East side. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - KEA'AU TRANSFER STATION SITE IMPROVEMENTS are almost completed. - THE COUNTY'S MONTHLY FREE RESIDENTIAL E-WASTE COLLECTION service is a big step forward for the department. • The department is working on an IFB for removal and processing of the e-waste ' collected. • The department will follow up on information provided by Commissioner Randle regarding Councilmember Ikeda's statement said that Habitat for Humanity would take the County's e-waste at no charge. - RECYCLING CONTRACTS: - The Department is submitting a revised resolution to council for approval of a multi-year contract for 2-bin recyclables hauling from the transfer stations. - The Director was asked about providing 2-bin recycling at all transfer stations. It was indicated that transfer station land size could be a factor in the inability to accommodate the necessary recycling collection equipment. QUESTIONS FROM, AND INFORMATION TO, COMMISSIONERS - The Acting Director indicated her appointment by the Mayor is for an extended period of time. - Implementation of an Asset Management System has been discussed with the Solid Waste Division Chief. The secretary will provide the Asset Management System presentation given to the commission in January 2010 to Commissioner Randle as requested. - The Commissioners requested that the Acting Director provide her vision and where she wants to take the department, and where she sees the Solid Waste Division going. - Hearing Dochin's testimony, Commissioners asked why the most egregious customers are not being sued for payment of their delinquent accounts. The director indicated that the department is developing a plan and policy to address collections. The chair called a recess at 10:16 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:25 a.m. Commissioner District Update Reports: - DISTRICT 6: Commissioner Lee indicated that her district residents were interested and concerned about wastewater and solid waste issues in their area. - DISTRICT 1: Enright and incoming Commission Chair Sherm Warner have met twice regarding transition and change of chairs. He also met with Councilmember Smart and will have an additional meeting this month to discuss interfacing with the commission on a regular basis. - DISTRICT 2: Commissioner Randle met with Ikeda and said he had not new issues. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Sub-Committee Report on Commission Role and Strategic Plan Committee member Okoji indicated that Enright was providing the report. Enright distributed a draft proposal (attached to original minutes) that he originally provided in January, 2010 for an Environmental Management Commission to form an Education and Outreach Committee. He indicated that the proposal was accepted by the commission and this is a standing committee. There was consensus among the sub-committee members present, Steve Okoji, Anne Lee and Thom Randle, to ratify and adopt Mr. Enright's presentation as the current report of the sub- committee to date. The proposal, along with the commission's Mission Statement and Goals, will be agendized for the January 2012 meeting to allow discussion and decision making, if deemed necessary, on these items. Election of 2012 Vice Chair The nominating committee recommended the selection of Anne Lee as 2012 Vice Chair. Commissioner Bruce Lim moved to elect Anne Lee as 2012 Vice Chair. Commissioner Okoji seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Deputy Corporation Counsel Ivan Torigoe stated that by previous vote of the commission, the current Vice-Chair automatically assumes the Chair position the following year. He also indicated that this practice could be changed at the will of the commission 7. NEW BUSINESS - None 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Strategic Plan • Redistricting Effect on the Commission • Administrative Rule: Fat, oil and grease discharge and prohibition into the public sewer (HCC 21-7(c) and (d), and HCC 21-9 (2) • Final Sewer Rate Study presentation by Director and/or Consultant 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS A revised Tentative 2012 Meeting Schedule was distributed (attached to original minutes). Tentative 2012 Meeting Schedule: January 25, 2012, Waimea, Keck Observatory March 28, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2"d Floor - CONFIRMED May 23, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room—County Bldg. (Rm 1501) - CONFIRMED July 25, 2012, Waimea, Keck Observatory September 26, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2nd Floor- CONFIRMED November 28, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room— County Bldg. (Rm 1501) - CONFIRMED NOTE: Dates are selected per the Commission Rules. Locations are tentative until confirmed. The secretary is awaiting a response from the sponsor at Keck Observatory to confirm the Waimea reservations. 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Randle moved to adjourn. Commissioner Lee seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:57 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submi ed 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).