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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-30 Minutes Environmental Management CommissionENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION January 30, 2013 WHCC Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2nd, Floor, Kailua -Kona HI COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Anne Lee Stan Boren Bruce Lim Trina Nahm -Mijo Steven Okoj i Thomas Randle Sherm Warner EXCUSED: ALSO PRESENT: Larry Capellas Christine Dochin STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel 1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Anne Lee called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28 2012 MEETING: Commissioner Stan Boren moved to approve the November 28, 2012 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: None 5. CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Y Director's Report (attached to original minutes): Wastewater Div_ ision (W W D) 2. Operations A. Treatment and Disposal: The WWD will be assuming operations and maintenance from the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) of their Kaloko WWTP within the next 12 months. Operations funds will be provided by Section 8 Housing Federal Funds. The Administration will provide funding from other sources if necessary. 3. Administration: - DEM is in the process of obtaining a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) interim loan for the Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal project in the amount of $12M. A positive recommendation to accept the monies was sent to the full council by the Finance Committee on January 8, 2013. 4. Wastewater Capital Improvements: A. Kalaniana`ole Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation: The second phase of the project is progressing satisfactorily and the end date of the project is estimated to be April 2013. B. Honoka`a Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement: The 180 day deadline to connect to the sewer was January 28, 2013. Some time extensions have been requested. D. North Kona Sewer & Effluent Reuse Upgrade: This project has been delayed due to archaeological issues. The department has notified the State Department of Transportation (DOT) that the project will be redesigned from Kealakehe Parkway to Hulikoa Drive due to these issues. $1 M additional SRF funds will be requested for the redesign. H. Wastewater Equipment Replacement Projects: - Hilo Outfall: Commissioner Randle requested a map of this area. Solid Waste Division 2. Administration: - On January 8, 2013, the Finance Committee approved a resolution authorizing a multi -year contract for an Organics Diversion and Composting Program. At the January 23, 2013 council meeting, it was postponed to give the department time to provide additional information and education on the program. The department will request approval from the Mayor to ask for a postponement until early March to prepare the information appropriately. If the postponement is granted by the council, the presentation will be given to the Commission at the February meeting. - The director clarified that the use of crumb rubber for road work would be a Department of Public Works (DPW) decision and not DEM's. _Recycling Section I. Organics Diversion: - The mulching program for West Hawai' i was moved to the new West Hawai' i Organics Facility (WHOF) located at the WHSL. The mulching program for East Hawai'i is located at the East Hawaii Organics Facility (EHOF). - Questions/concerns received from the public include: "Wanting assisted loading at the Kealakehe pick -up area." The department will determine the availability of staff and equipment to allow for assisted loading. "The drive to drop off green waste at the WHOF is too long." The green waste area at Kealakehe was too small and it was not easy to maneuver and operate equipment within the area. There were environmental hazards that included fires that were a possible danger to the surrounding neighbors, i.e. Police Department and Humane Society. Once the green waste is mulched at WHOF, it will be delivered to Kealakehe for residential pick -up. Compost will not be produced until the organics diversion RFP is released and contract awarded. At that time, the new contractor will provide both mulching and composting services. The current mulching contract is for 1 year with option years if necessary. If the resolution for a multi -year contract is approved by the council, the possible start date for composting is January 2014. 5. HI -5 Certified Redemption Centers: - The State will no longer provide funds to the counties for the HI -5 program in FY 13 -14, intending to run the program from the State level. The county is prepared to address funding for the program and staff in the FY 13 -14 budget. Glass Recycling: Glass collected in the 2 -bin recycling is taken by an on -island vendor and used on the island. Commissioner Lim provided the name of the Hilo Department of Education (DOE) coordinator and suggested that the department contact her, Cheryl Sumida, regarding adding recycling to the school trash disposal contracts. He also spoke with Board of Education member Brian DeLima and State Representative Richard Onishi. Both were supportive of this effort. 5. Sort Station Update: - 5.6% of the total tons of trash taken to the Sort Station were diverted from the landfills. - The director indicated that the monthly averages would fluctuate depending on residents' recycling habits. - The 5.6% diversion is consistent with the department's expectations. - The more residents recycle, the lower the diversion rate will be at the Sort Station. - The commissioners asked if a cost - benefit analysis had been done and could more separation be accomplished if the county invested in additional sorting equipment. Commissioner Randle requested an update on the department's efforts to combine sewer billing with the Department of Water Supply (DWS) water billings at the next meeting. It will be included in the next Director's Report. Sewer payment delinquencies need to be addressed before going to council for a sewer rate increase. O Commission Member District Reports — includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting. District 7 — Boren stated that the two people that were interested in becoming commissioners for this district were no longer available. District 3 — Lim met with Councilmember Onishi and discussed Maui's Waste -to- Energy RFP. It was noted that this RFP was open to any kind of technology and 150 responses were received. It can be viewed on the State Procurement Office (SPO) website. District 2 — Randle reported that Council Chair Yoshimoto encouraged input and dialogue from the commission to the council. He also met with Zendo Kern, chair of the Council Environmental Management Committee. 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 received the following message from Brandi Beaudet of Parker Ranch regarding the status of their decision making process with regard to accepting septage loads in the future: "We just received an assessment of options from our consultants that we're reviewing right now. Next step is to develop business models around options and other factors before we decide on "go", "no -go" action. 7. NEW BUSINESS - None 8. REFERRALS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION Consultation with the Commission's Attorney on the Commission's Scope of Legal Authority, pertaining to the Commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities (A 213 vote of members present, and a majority of all members to which the Commission is entitled, pursuant to HRS Section 92 -4 and Rule 1 -5(e) of the Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, is necessary to hold an executive meeting) Commissioner Warner made a motion to go into Executive Session to consult with the commission's attorney on the commission's scope of legal authority, pertaining to the Commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities. Commissioner Trina Nahm- Mijo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous with the following commissioners voting "yes": Lee, Boren, Lim, Nahm -Mijo, Okoji, Randle, Warner. At 10:25 a.m., Commissioner Lim made a motion to adjourn Executive Session and return to the regular agenda. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with the following members voting "yes": Lee, Boren, Lim, Nahm -Mijo, Okoji, Randle and Warner. Upon completion of the Executive Session, the agenda was resumed. 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Sewer Connection Waiver/Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implementation - Organics Diversion Project Presentation - FY 13 -14 Budget (March) MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • February 27 Puna Conference Room, County Bldg., Room 1501, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hl • 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, Hl • 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, H1 • 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, Hl • November 27 WHCC Community Meeting Hale, Bldg. G, Kailua -Kona, HI • December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT • Commissioner Boren made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Warner and the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted 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).