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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-28 Minutes Environmental Management CommissionENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION November 28, 2012 Puna Conference Room, County Bldg., Room 1501, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Sherm Warner Anne Lee Stan Boren Bruce Lim Trina Nahm -Mijo Steven Okoji Thomas Randle EXCUSED: ALSO PRESENT: Paul Buklarewicz Mary Brewer Patrick Conant Nancy Cook -Lauer Elizabeth Fein Liam Fein Paul Freeman Sher Glass Pat Halpern Jeffrey Mermel Sharon Moraes STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel Greg Goodale, S WD Chief Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator I. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Sherm Warner called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m. He indicated this was his last meeting as Chair and Vice Chair Anne Lee would be chairing the commission for 2013. He informed the commissioners that he had communicated with the Mayor's Office and Corporation Counsel concerning the 4 vacancies that the commission will have in January, 2013 with the resignation of Russell Ruderman (District 5) and vacancies in Districts 1, 7 and 8. Commissioners Stan Boren (District 7) and Steven Okoji (District 8) have agreed to continue to serve on the commission for 90 days or until their replacements are found. With the possibility of a non - quorum in January, and with the consensus of the commission members, the Vice Chair selection will be deferred until new commissioners are selected. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 24 2412 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Boren moved to approve the October 24, 2412 minutes as written. Commissioner Okoji 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: Chair Warner clarified to those present that the department was not responsible for county coqui frog management and could not assist with the request for water and storage at the transfer station for the Volcano Coquistadores coqui frog working group. Mary Brewer, Vice President of the Volcano Community Association (VCA), spoke in support of upgrades being made to the Volcano Transfer Station. She pointed out that it is inconvenient and dangerous, noting that the cost of an injury claim could outweigh the repair /upgrade cost. She thanked the Solid Waste Division (SWD) for working with VCA toward potential solutions. Sher Glass, President of the VCA, spoke in support of upgrading the VTS and her wish that it was open daily or on weekends. Pat Conant supports the TVS upgrade and requested more chutes, covered recycling area and making the repairs in phases. Jeffrey Mermel, a 36 -year resident of Volcano and past President of the VCA, gave the history timeline of Volcano recycling and use of the transfer station from 1990 to 2012. He asked that two numbers be remembered: - "Five" for 5 years ago. In 2007, the VCA received a letter from the SWD indicating that the VTS was in the top priority group of transfer stations for repair /enhancements when budget was available. - "50" for the miles having to be traveled by Volcano residents to the nearest recycling facility. He spoke of a petition that is being circulated to show support and asked that the county keep their promise to make the needed repairs. 5. CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report (attached to original minutes): Wastewater Division 1. Compliance: A. Treatment and Disposal - There is no operational impact while awaiting the NPDES permit for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). There is ongoing communication between the department and Department of Health (DOH) and DOH has provided administrative approval to continue operations through the permitting process. 3. Administration: - Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) interim loan papers are being finalized for the Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal project in the amount of $12M. Replacing the existing blowers with centrifugal blowers is anticipated to produce an electrical savings of approximately $265,000 /year. Construction is to begin next year. 4. Wastewater Capital Improvements: - DOH has committed to a CWSRF loan for approximately $16M to upgrade the Kealakehe WWTP to provide approximately 500,000 gallons per day of R -1 reuse water and to install a transmission and a distribution reuse system to the Old Kailua Airport to be used for irrigation of the park. Once approved, construction could take an estimated one to three year to complete. Solid Waste Division 1. Compliance: - The draft operating permit application for the West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) green waste processing site is expected to be approved before the end of November. 2. Administration: - Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator, was nominated as the department's employee of the year. The commissioners congratulated Linda on her nomination. - DEM and the SWD will be initiating plans for an RFP for an Organics Diversion and Composting Program. 3. Solid Waste Capital Improvements- - The Hilo Baseyard Facility has been completed and a blessing ceremony was held on November 1, 2012. 5. Recycling Section 1. Organics Diversion: - West Hawai'i Green Waste Diversion Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) was distributed and is attached to the original minutes. - The current contract with Big Island EKO will expire December 31, 2012. - The new vendor, Menehune Green dba Hawaiian Earth Products, will begin operations on January 1, 2013. The new contract will relocate West Hawaii green waste processing to the new West Hawaii Organics Facility (WHOF) located at the WHSL. A new green waste "chute" is being constructed by the trash chutes at Kealakehe for residents and small commercial customers. Other recycling improvements are also being made at the same time. - Small commercial customers are commercial loads of cubic yards (cy) or Iess. - Loads larger than 6 cy must be taken to the WHOF or East Hawai' i Organics Facility (EHOF) for disposal. - Other green waste disposal sites are at Pahoa, Ke`ei and Kea`au Transfer Stations. Per Hawai' i County Code, Chapter 20, Article 4, Section 20 -49 Fee Schedule, beginning April 1, 2013, a commercial tipping fee will be charged as follows: $21.25 /ton at the WHOF and EHOF $33.15 /load for loads up to 3 cy $62.40 /load for loads of 3 to 6 cy There will continue to be no charge for residents to dispose of green waste. Beginning January 1, 2013, commercial haulers will be required to have a permit to dispose of green waste at a county solid waste facility. Other recycling activities: - Plastic Bag Reduction Administrative Rules Public Hearings: • December 6a`, West Hawaii Civic Center • December 120', Hilo Aupuni Center Conference Room - Household Hazardous Waste Events: • December I", Hilo TS • December 8`h, Kealakehe TS • June, 2013 - Holiday Tree - Cycling • December 26, 2012 through January 15, 2013 at 8 designated Recycling and TS's. - Recycling in Schools • The County Recycling Team has been working closely with local school to educate and assist with recycling efforts. Recycling at schools depends on a level of support from the Department of Education (DOE) by including recycling in their trash disposal contracts. Currently the DOE contracts do not require recycling. The Kealakehe High School Environmental Leadership Club students have taken the initiative to prepare a petition to request DOE to provide recycling services to all schools. • The recycling staff recommended the DOE, State Legislature and the Board of Education as the agencies to contact regarding the inclusion of recycling in school trash disposal contracts. - DOH will not be providing grant funds for the County's HI -5 program effective July 1, 2013 and will take over administering the program throughout the state. • DEM feels that the county should be involved in the HI -5 program and how it is being administered in the counties. • The current average funding of $765,000 has funded 2 full -time recycling positions and 10 HI -5 redemption centers in the county. In preparation for the un- funding of this program, the recycling section is scaling back the recycling budget in an attempt to include the HI -5 positions in next fiscal year's budget as recycling specialist positions. DEM, along with the other counties, are requesting that the program funding continue and have requested a meeting with DOH to continue the communication. Sort Station Diversion Update - Out of the 8,832 tons of material brought to the Sort Station between May and November 15, 2012, 614.32 tons of the material was recycled. Commissioner Randle requested that the pages of the Director's Report be numbered in the future. 7. NEW BUSINESS taken out of order Volcano Community Association presentation of their concerns about the inefficiencies and safety issues at the Volcano Transfer Station - A video (script and handout attached to original minutes) was presented by members of the VCA. - The video, shot over a two -day period, focused on areas needing repair /replacement and deficiencies. It concluded by requesting the following changes be made to the transfer station: 1. Addition of a HI -5 redemption area 2. Addition of a green waste area 3. Safer and cleaner access 4. Water spigot for washing hands and hosing down spills 5. Clear signage 6. A looped one -way road 7. Open daily 8. Pleasant Iandscape 9. Coqui fence to block invasive frogs. - The commissioners expressed their thanks to the cast and crew, and commended Liam Fien on a "job well done." - Communications from Volcano residents to the department, in support of upgrading the transfer station were made available to attendees (attached to original minutes). - The administration has been made aware of the condition of the transfer station. - The first priority, or Phase I, will be to address public health and safety issues by repair /replacement of the retaining wall. - ADA requirements are for buildings but the department takes these into consideration when providing access at transfer stations. - When prioritizing repairs /enhancements, the first considerations are health and safety, and ease of disposal. - The VTS retaining wall repair is included in this year's budget. The SWD goal is to have a request for proposal bid out by the end of this fiscal year. Construction should start shortly after the bid is awarded. - The next phase will be to reconfigure the site for easier access. A conceptual plan will be provided to the VCA when it is finalized. - It was noticed in the video that residents were walking around the locked gate to dispose of their trash on days when the TS was closed. Commissioner Okoji shared his concern regarding county liability and also possible violation of the DOH permit when this happens. Staggering operating hours was also suggested to possibly assist the residents. The original order of the agenda was resumed. • Commission Member District Update Reports — includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting. District 2 — Commissioner Randle asked for clarification regarding redistricting and said he preferred to represent his old district. District 3 — Commissioner Nahm -Mijo stated the same request. Corporation Counsel Torigoe read the Hawaii County Charter, Section 13 -4. Boards and Commissions (m) which states "The redrawing of council district boundaries during a commission member's term shall not affect a member's eligibility to represent the district to which the member was appointed." He said he would look into it further and get back to the commission at a later meeting. District 6 — Commissioner Anne Lee said that the Pahala community was looking for a wastewater treatment plant site and asked about restrictions. Acting Director Beck indicated the site would have to be 1000 feet from any drinking water well but there were no restrictions on the nearness to a residential area. District 7 — Commissioner Boren provided Councilmember -elect Dru Kanuha with 2 suggestions for his replacement on the commission. District 9 — Waimea residents are still requesting a green waste recycling container. Commissioner Warner also indicated that a commercial hauler was disposing of green waste at the Waimea Transfer Station and provided a photo of the vehicle. SWD staff reported that when the green waste processing is relocated to WHOF, a green waste chute will be opened at Waimea. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Parker Ranch Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cessation of Acceptance of Hauled Septage and Effects on County Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Commissioner Warner reported that Parker Ranch is doing a study to decide whether to take outside septage loads. Commissioner Warner will report back to the commission of the decision at the January meeting. - Acting Director Beck noted that the plant upset at Kealakehe WWTP, due to the additional septage loads being received, has stabilized and the facility is operating well within effluent parameters due to the use of the additional blower. Commissioner Okoji reported that the DOH Wastewater engineer said their permit does not require them to accept outside septage loads. Because it is an unmanned station, no one is there to monitor what is being dumped. 7. NEW BUSINESS Department Plans for Joint Sewer User Charge Billing with Department of Water Supply (DWS) - The mayor has taken over negotiations and has scheduled a meeting with DEM, DWS and members of the his Executive staff next week to resume discussions. When the time is appropriate, and if needed, the commissioners will be asked for their assistance. Scheduling of 2013 Meetings: Dates and Locations - There was unanimous consensus of commissioners to accept the following 2013 meeting schedule: • January 30 WHCC Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2" , Floor, Kailua -Kona HI • February 27 Puna Conference Room, County Bldg., Room 1501, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hi • March 20 WHCC Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2nd Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI • April 24 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • May 29 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • June 26 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • July 31 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • August 28 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • September 25 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • October 30 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • November 27 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • December No meeting Presentation by the Solid Waste Division Recycling Section and discussion relating to changes in the Green Waste Operations Procedures effective 11112013. - See this discussion in the Director's Report/Solid Waste Division/5.Rec, cling Section 1. Organics Diversion. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Used Tire Disposal • School Recycling and invitation to Kealakehe students to report on their petition efforts • Invitation to Zendo Kern, new County Council Chair of the Environmental Management Committee • Executive Session on Commission's Scope of Authority provided by Deputy Corporation Counsel Torigoe (January) • Allowing Small Businesses use of the Transfer Stations • Sewer Connection Waiver/Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implementation. 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • January 30 WHCC Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2 "d, Floor, Kailua -Kona HI • February 27 Puna Conference Room, County Bldg., Room 1501, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI • March 20 WHCC Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2 "d Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI • April 24 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • May 29 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • June 26 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • July 31 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • August 28 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • September 25 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • October 30 Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI • November 27 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg, G, Kailua -Kona, HI • December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT 0 Commissioner Boren made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lee and the meeting adjourned at 11:11 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: f ARRON HENRY nvironmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT (MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS).