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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-23 Minutes Environmental Management CommissionENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION May 23, 2012 Hawaii County Bldg., Puna Conference Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Sherm Warner Anne Lee Bruce Lim Trina Nahm -Mijo Steven Okoji Thomas Randle Russell Ruderman EXCUSED: Stan Boren ALSO PRESENT: Christine Dochin Nancy Cook -Lauer STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel Sharron Henry, Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Sherm Warmer called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. He announced that the Wailoa Wastewater Pump Station site visit scheduled for today's meeting will be rescheduled to a later meeting. He announced that, with the concurrence of the commissioners, scheduling a special meeting in June would be discussed later in the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 28.2012 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Thom Randle moved to approve the March 28, 2012 minutes as written. Commissioner Bruce Lim 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: None 5. CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Re ort (attached to original minutes) — Additional discussion: - UPDATE: Joint Billing Efforts with Department of Water Supply (DWS): The Department plans to meet with the DWS in early /mid June to continue discussions relating to joint billing efforts. Commissioner Randle said he contacted a member of the Water Board and was told they were still considering the department's request. - UPDATE: Budget Status: Second reading of the Budget at Council will be May 315`. Council member Smart introduced an amendment to the budget at the last council meeting that added funds to the Department's budget to enable the Commission to meet on a monthly basis. The budget passed first reading which included this amendment. - Information on Administrative Rule: Fat, Oil and grease discharge and prohibition into the public sewer (HCC 21 -7(c) and (d), and HCC 21 -9 (2) will remain on the agenda for discussion at next meeting. - The Director will provide an update on the Status of Delinquencies and Accounts Receivable Efforts in her next Report. DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL - The interviews for SWD Civil Engineer III were held on May Ip`n WASTEWATER (WWM - KALANIANA`OLE AVE. SEWER REHABILITATION PROJECT: Contract was signed today. The project could begin in August or September, and is expected to take approximately 7 to 9 months. RECYCLING - ORGANICS DIVERSION RFP; The department is reviewing overall countywide recycling options and long range plans for organics before requesting proposals again. The recycling plan will be consistent with the latest update of the Integrated Resource Solid Waste Management Plan. - LANDFILL DIVERSION RFP 2298: Vendors of this RFP can apply for Diversion Grants made available by the County. Commissioner District Update Reports: - DISTRICT 4: Commissioner Lim reported that Council member Onishi was in favor of a redemption program for all recyclables. - DISTRICT 5: Commissioner Ruderman said that Council member BIas inquired about having transfer station signage on laws requiring vehicles hauling trash on the roadways to be covered. He also indicated that there would be a VOG Task Force meeting at the Pahoa Community Center on June 12'h from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. DISTRICT 6: Commissioners Lee and Warner individually met with Council member Smart regarding the department budget amendment that would allow more frequent commission meetings. Commissioner Lee stated that she was receiving calls on Monday morning following the newspaper articles regarding the hauling pilot project. - DISTRICT 8: Commissioner Okoji reported he had received questions from the constituents in his district regarding the hauling pilot project and was displeased that the commission was not made aware of the project before it started. - DISTRICT 9: Commissioner Warner met with Council member Hoffmann who indicated: (1) he was in favor of the commission meeting on a monthly basis; (2) because of the lack of attendance by residents in his district, he suggested moving the Waimea meetings to the West Hawai'i Civic Center; (3) he had concerns regarding trucking trash to the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) and the impact it would have on the community. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Commission Role and Strategic Plan discussion to include Sub - Committee Report on revision of Commission Goals — for Discussion and Action: - The Sub - committee was unable to meet prior to today's meeting. This item will be placed on the next meeting agenda and a draft of the commission's Strategic Plan goals will be provided at that time. Department response to the Hilo Landfill Feasibility Study if available. - The response has not been finalized. This item will be placed on the next meeting agenda. 7. NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Anne Lee's Report on Available Grants for the Department. - Commissioner Lee met with Recycling Coordinator Linda Peters and would like to extend the scope of her research to include other funding sources. She will continue to gather information and requested this item remain on the agenda for further discussion. Department Report on the results of the pilot study (hauling solid waste to West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill) if available. - The report will be finalized in mid -late June. The data is currently being entered into report form. • The Director stated that this was an operations project to gather information and stated that in the future, the department would be more cautious about informing the public when an upcoming project might impact their community. • Goals of the project were: (1) Verifying assumptions made in the RW Beck Feasibility Study and (2) testing the concept of long hauling by collecting data over a short period of time. • The pilot project was not a spring board to permanent hauling of all county trash to the WHSL. • When asked why the Hamakua route was used when Saddle Road construction will soon be completed, the Director indicated that the only way to verify the RW Beck study was to mirror the assumptions in the report which were made using the Hamakua route. • The Director said that in the future, the commissioners would be informed when there was going to be issues /changes in their communities that might be of concern to the residents. Formation of a Subcommittee pursuant to HRS § 92- 2.5(6) to report on the pilot project — Hauling of solid waste to West Hawaii - With the concurrence of the commissioners, the chair tabled this item. Discussion of the need for commissioners to be aware of any change in department activities in their districts or changes involving issues of special concern - Commissioner Ruderman made a motion to urge the department to inform both the commission and the public of any changes in department procedures that impact the residents. Commissioner Randle seconded the motion. Commissioner Nahm -Mijo made a motion to amend by adding "and programs" following "procedures ". Commissioner Randle seconded the motion. After further discussion and with consensus of the commissioners, the motion to amend was withdrawn. Commissioner Okoji made a motion to amend the original motion to change "procedures" to "department actions ". Ruderman seconded the motion. The motion, as amended, to urge the department to inform both the commission and the public of any changes in department actions that impact the residents, was passed unanimously. Training — Sunshine Law, presented by Corporation Counsel Ivan Torigoe - The Office of Information Practices State of Hawai' i OPEN MEETINGS a guide to "The Sunshine Law" was distributed (attached to original minutes); - Deputy Corporation Counsel Torigoe highlighted sections of the booklet that specifically dealt directly with the commission. - He noted that S.B. 2737 (attached to original minutes) had passed the State Legislature and, if signed by the Governor, would change TELEPHONIC AND VIDEOCONFERENCE MEETINGS, Page 7, allowing board members to participate in meetings by phone. - He also noted that if the Governor signs S.B. 2859 (attached to original minutes), it would allow receipt of testimony and presentations at a meeting that was being cancelled for lack of quorum with provisions. AIso a sub - quorum number of members could attend and participate in other community meetings, seminars, etc. Department response to Resolution 232 -12 (Fully Funded Diversion Grants Pilot Program) (attached to original minutes). The Resolution urged the Mayor to develop and implement a three -year pilot diversion grant program for recyclable materials by July 1, 2012. The Mayor has not relayed any instructions to the department to proceed. Challenges for the department would be: • Funding source is needed for the payment to vendors for collection, hauling and disposal of the recyclables and payment to the public. • Administrative support for the program — grant monitoring, clerical and accounting support. • The department currently has diversion grants available. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Sewer Rate Study presentation relating to the findings. • Sewer Connection Waiver /Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implement. • Change of Scope of Commissioner Lee's research on available grants to include other funding sources • July Meeting: Presentation by Pacific Biodiesel • July Meeting: Presentation by Recycle Hawaii regarding how the $100,000 Department of Health a -waste funding can be spent effectively to address a -waste recycling. • September Meeting: Site visit to KeaIakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant 9, MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • It was a consensus of the Commission that a Special Meeting in June was not necessary. • July 25, 2012, Waimea Community Center (Park), Kamuela, HI • September 26, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2 "d Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI • November 28, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room — County Bldg. (Room 1501), Hilo, HI 10. WAILOA WASTEWATER PUMP STATION SITE VISIT This site visit will be rescheduled to a later meeting. 11. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Lee moved to adjourn, Commissioner Okoji seconded and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at I1:25 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitt d 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).