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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-26 Minutes Environmental Management Commission ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION September 26, 2012 Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, West Hawaii Civic Center, Bldg. B, 2I'd Floor, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Sherm Warner PRESENT: Christine Dochin Anne Lee Dave Hirt ' Stan Boren Bruce Lim STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Steven Okoji Sharron Henry, Secretary'' Thomas Randle Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel Russell Ruderman Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator Chris Thayer, Recycling Specialist EXCUSED: Trina Nahm-Mijo Susan Cox, Recycling Specialist 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Sherm Warner called the meeting to order at 9:13 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 25, 2012 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Anne Lee moved to approve the July 25, 2012 minutes as written. Commissioner Boren seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 1 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: None 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes)— Additional discussion: WASTEWATER(WWD) COMPLIANCE: Treatment and Disposal - The County is requesting a waiver from the State Department of Health (DOH) from the applicable permitted discharge limitation incoming at Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The wastewater strength has increased due to additional septage loads. Waimea WWTP is no longer taking septage loads so they are being taken to Kealakehe WWTP for acceptance. - The Director confirmed that the Waimea WWTP is privately owned by Parker Ranch. - Chair Warner will contact Parker Ranch and Commissioner Okoji will contact the State Department of Health Wastewater Branch to request representatives' attendance at the October commission meeting to provide information on the long term plans for the Waimea WWTP. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: KALANIANA`OLE AVENUE SEWER REHABILITATION: - The interior of the pipe is currently being cleaned to prepare the pipe for the slip lining process. HONOKA'A LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: - Phase 2 of this project is now complete. - Connection notices were issued with an effective date of August 1, 2012. Properties have 180 calendar days to connect to the county sewer. NA'ALEHU LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: - Final selection of the alternate site is dependent on final approval from the State Historical Preservation District in regards to any archaeological sites, and the result of the geotectinical investigation. - Commissioner Randle requested that the Director share the historical/archaeological site reports with the commission when received. - Bid for a collection system should go out in early 2013. NORTH KONA SEWER & EFFLUENT REUSE UPGRADE: - This project has been delayed because of reported archaeological sites within the project area. - It is now scheduled to begin in January, 2013. LONO KONA SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: - All paperwork has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to secure a USDA grant. - The Feasibility Study has yet to be completed. Meetings with stakeholders have been held. When completed, it will be submitted to County Council. KEALAKEHE AERATION UPGRADE AND SLUDGE REMOVAL: - Once removed from the lagoons and dried, the sludge is taken to the landfill for disposal. - When the upgrade is completed, the commissioners have requested information on the cost of the electrical power consumption as it is expected to be significantly less with the new centrifugal blowers. KEALAKEHE WWTP EFFLUENT R-1 UPGRADE: - Queen Lili`uokalani Trust is interested in using the RI water for irrigation in their upcoming development. - WWD has submitted an application for Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) which are US EPA funds administered by the State Department of Health Clean Water Branch. - A feasibility study has been started on the use of a photovoltaic system. SOLID WASTE (SWD) ADMINISTRATION: - Business Services Section has issued approximately 69 landfill access denials to past due accounts. - The following bills have been referred to the Director and Commission for review and I recommendation to the County Council. o Bill 286, Draft 2, relating to the scope and duties of the Environmental Management Commission; o Bill 306, relating to the establishment of a "Pay as You Throw" Program at all county landfills and solid waste transfer stations. o Responses are due 45 days from receipt of request which was September 21, 2012. o These items will be agendized for the October meeting. SOLID WASTE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: - The improvements at the Kealakehe Recycling area will be completed in February 2013; RECYCLING SECTION i ORGANICS DIVERSION AND COMPOSTING RFP 2832: - Will replace the current mulching contract effective January 1, 2013. - Under the new contract, residents and businesses with small loads will still be able to use the Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station for disposal of green waste. FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING UPDATE ON DEPARTMENT'S MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY (DWS)TO FURTHER DISCUSS JOINT BILLING EFFORTS: • The latest meeting with DWS staff was Tuesday, September 25`h. The previous meeting was on August 9, 2012 which touched on the workflow process for water shut-off and receipt of status of relevant water account information so that anticipated water shut-off accounts can be prioritized. • DWS is reviewing logistical issues and more discussion will be needed to move forward. • Commissioner Randle wants to attend the next DEM/DWS meeting and also requested that the DWS Manager be invited to a future commission meeting. • A sewer rate increase is contingent upon having a solid plan in place with DWS for joint billing and sewer shut-off due to nonpayment of sewer accounts. UPDATE ON STATUS OF DELINQUENCIES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE EFFORTS: • Wastewater accounts receivable balance: $1,657,245 of which 61% is over 90 days • Solid Waste accounts receivable balance: $2,415,824 of which 64% is over 90 days • Out of the 33 lawsuits filed, 11 judgments have been received. Out of the 11 judgments; 4 payment programs have been set up and regular payments are being received. • Commissioner Randle requested statistics on the Sort Station in the next report. Commissioner District Update Reports: - DISTRICT 2: Councilmember Ikeda is supportive of monthly commission meetings, allowing the commission to be more proactive and provide input to the council. - DISTRICT 4: Councilmember Onishi supports a waste-to-energy facility. - DISTRICT 5: Commissioner Ruderman attended an Awards Ceremony at the new Pahoia Transfer Station. - DISTRICT 6: Some Na'Alehu residents have shared concerns about the new WWTP and farmers in the area are discussing ways to possibly reuse the wastewater for agriculture purposes. - DISTRICT 9: The reopening of the Waimea reuse facility was welcomed by the residents. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Commissioner Anne Lee's Report on Available Grants for the Department and changeiof research scope to include other funding sources • Lee is researching available WWTP federal grants and how to proceed in applying for federal money. • Lee will discuss further details with the Director and bring a report back to the commission. Sub-committee report on Meeting Schedule and procedures for changing the Commission Rules to accommodate monthly meetings, to include the requirements of Bill 236 which amends Hawai'i County Code Ch. 2, Art. 40, Section 2-207 to specify that the commission forward comments/recommendations on solid waste and wastewater matters to the council, and submit comments and recommendations on all legislation relating to the Department of Environmental Management. - Chair Warner distributed a draft revision of the Commission Rules and Regulations for discussion as follows: (attached to original minutes) 1-5 Meetings (a) Regular Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held on a monthly basis on the fourth Wednesday and shall alternate between Hilo and Kona ( , • • • • ' , • • •, ' , - • • • • • , . • 1, unless otherwise specified by the Commission. - Randle made a motion to approve the 1.5 meetings language as modified. Lee seconded the motion. - Waimea was removed from the meeting locations because of the availability of the West Hawaii Civic Center. - The motion was tabled after there was a consensus of the commissioners to support the proposed language change but action must be taken at a later meeting under the sunshine law, andito set a date for a rule change public hearing which is required by State law. - The Rules Change public hearing will precede the November 28th commission meeting in Hilo. I 7. NEW BUSINESS Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance No .12-1 (Bill No. 17, Draft 2)—implementation and proposed draft administrative rules (attached to original minutes) - Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator, introduced the West Hawai'i Recycling staff: Chris Thayer and Susan Cox. - The following information was provided via a power point presentation: o History and Purpose of Legislation o Legal Mandates and Legislative Overview o Review of Draft Administrative Rules (Includes suggestions from Working Group) o Public Education & Outreach Plan o Next Steps � • Modify and finalize rules • Public hearing for adoption of rules by the department • Law goes into effect January 17, 2013. - Enforcement and inspections will be the responsibility of the Recycling Section. - Commissioner Ruderman made a motion to express support of the proposed rules. Commissioners Randle seconded it and it passed unanimously. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Volcano Transfer Station Presentation by Volcano Community Association (November meeting) • Sewer Connection Waiver/Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implementation. 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • October 24, 2012, Mayor's Lanai, County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI • November 28, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room — County Bldg. (Room 1501), Hilo, HI The meeting was recessed at 11:30 a.m. to proceed to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. 10. Site Visit to Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant The meeting resumed at 11:52 at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. • Wastewater staff provided a tour of the facility. 11. ADJOURNMENT • Commissioner Lim made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Okoji and the meeting adjourned at 12:48 p.m. 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).