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Home My WebLink About2012-01-25 Minutes Environmental Management CommissionENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION January 25, 2012 W. M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Sherm Warner PRESENT: Margaret Pahio Stan Boren Anne Lee STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Bruce Lim Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel Steven Okoji Sharron Henry, Secretary Thomas Randle Russell Ruderman EXCUSED: Scott Enright 1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Sherm Warmer called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m. and introduced Russell Ruderman, new commission member from District 5, I 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 23 2011 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Bruce Lim moved to approve the November 23, 2011 minutes as written. Commissioner Thom Randle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND /OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: hlone 5. CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes) — Additional discussion: Acting Director Beck presented her vision for the Department, the Solid Waste and Divisions (attached to original minutes). WASTEWATER DIVISION - COMPLIANCE: • Evaluation Inspection of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant ( HWWTP): The WWD is sti6awaiting the evaluation inspection report from the Department of Health (DOH). • NPDES permits are renewed every 5 years. TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL: County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) is the owner of, and is responsible for, the Kaloko WWTP. - SAFETY PRACTICES /TRAINING: The Safety Committee report of the safety inspection at the HWWTP on 11/18/11 is still pending. The Acting Director will check with the Division on the status of this report. - WASTEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: The Kalaniana`ole Avenue Sewer Rehab project bid request was delayed due to a redesign. Commissioner Steve Okoji asked if solar power was being considered in design plans. The Acting 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. -1 The Acting Director provided definitions of R1, R2 and R3 re -use water. SEWER RATE STUDY: The Sewer Rate Study will be submitted to the Mayor and, upon his approval, to the Council possibly by late February. DWS /DEM joint billing was discussed at a recent meeting with DWS and the information is now being reviewed by the Mayor. If DWS begins using the Honolulu software program, DEM may piggyback onto theirs. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - SORT STATION: • Sort Station utilization was discussed and it was estimated that separating and pulling additional recyclable items on the sort floor will increase our diversion goal to 40 %. • The Sort Station is on the East side of the island. Commissioners were questioning if there will be a comparable facility provided for the West side. - RECYCLING CONTRACTS: • The next step in moving forward with an Organics Diversion contract is being discussed with the Mayor. • Resolution 80 -11, 2 -bin Recyclables Hauling IFB request for a multi -year contract, was postponed by Council. The Resolution will be resubmitted with adjustments requested by council members. • The Reuse Center at Transfer Stations, RFP 2766, is in the process of being awarded•and will include 2 new sites. The Acting Director will check with Solid Waste on recycling signage near the bins at transfer stations. The Commission members will also check on signage at their transfer stations and report back. OTHER ISSUES: - The Acting Director will request that the Contracts Clerk provide a status report on department contracts to be included in her Director's Report to the commission. - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COLLECTION EFFORTS UPDATE: • Check verification is being evaluated. • The credit card system is working well. • Commission member Randle requested the department provide a status report of collection efforts; dollars outstanding and dollars collected, at each commission meeting. Commissioner District Update Reports: DISTRICT 2: Commissioner Randle met with Council member Ikeda. Ikeda feels the Integrated Resource and Solid Waste Management Plan (1RSWMP) needs to be updated to include the county investigating emerging waste reduction technologies. DISTRICT 4: Commission member Lim met with Council member Onishi who indicated he is being approached by waste reduction technology companies and believes the county should look at waste reduction technology in terms of cost effectiveness, and look at the direction the county wants to go in solid waste disposal. DISTRICT 5: Ruderman indicated the Pahoa Transfer Station is highly improved but has some traffic flow issues. DISTRICT 6: Commission member Lee said that residents in her district have questions regarding the N5'5lehu/Pahala WWTP as to design, plans, timeframe for completion and infrastructure. The Acting Director confirmed that the infrastructure was lagoons. There will be public meetings before the work starts to answer any questions from the residents and provide additional information. DISTRICT 8: Commissioner Okoji reported that he has been receiving questions regarding the plastic bag reduction resolution. - DISTRICT 9. Commissioner Warner indicated that Council member Hoffmann feels that are green waste issues in his district. Warner requested a permanent green waste bin for Waimea Transfer Station or at least a weekly pick -up. The Acting Director will follow up with Solid Waste Division regarding Waimea green waste. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Commission Role and Strategic Plan discussion to include selection of members for the Education and Outreach Sub - Committee, along with determination of topics to be researched - Members of the Sub - Committee are Okoji, Lee, Enright, Randle and Warner. - The Education and Outreach Sub - Committee will consider ways that education efforts can be effective. - The scope of authority and function of the Commission as stated in Section 6 -10.5. Environmental Management Commission, of the Hawaii County Charter reads: The environmental management commission shall advise the department on waste reduction strategies, recycling, littler control, community involvement, and other issues related to the functions of the department, and shall exercise any other powers related to the functions of the department that may be delegated to it by ordinance. - The sub - committee will meet prior to next meeting to review and revise the Commission Goals and Mission. 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion of how the County Redistricting Commission's Plan will affect the Environmental Management Commission membership. - Commission members reviewed the Redistricting Map and no district changes were noted. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Budget;— March 28, 2012 meeting (to include Business Manager) • Briefing regarding the County Japanese Tsunami Debris plan • Pua Pump Station Tour — May 23, 2012 • Sort Station Tour • 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 March 28, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2" d Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI May 23, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room — County Bldg. (Room 1501), Hilo, HI July 25, 2012, Waimea, Keck Observatory 65 -1120 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI September 26, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2nd Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI November 28, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room — County Bldg. (Room 1501), Hilo, HI 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Boren moved to adjourn. Commissioner Okoji seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11 :25 a.m. _06 Minutes Respectfully Submitted y: - SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT (MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS).