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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-23 Environmental Management Commission Minutes NVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION April 23, 2014 Aupuni Center Conf Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Anne Lee PRESENT: Nancy Cook-Lauer John II ill Christine Dochin Jeffry Fear Bruce Lim STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd,Director Trina I ahm-Mijo Robin Bauman,Business Manager Susan Osborne Sharron Henry, Secretary She Warner Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel 1. CALL TO ORDE' & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Anne Lee called the meeting to order at 9:05 a. . and welcomed new commissioners Jeffry Fear and Susan Osborne. 2. APPROVAL OF INUTES OF FEBRUARY 26,2014 MEETING: Commissioner Sh rm Warner moved to approve the February 26,2014 minutes as written. Commissioner Join Dill seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Lee,Dill,Fear,Lim,Osborne and Warner voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF • 1 DENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS F'OM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: None 5. CORRESPONDE 1 CE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(.ttached to original minutes): Wastewater Divisi i n 1. ADMINISTRA ION - Superintende t qualification list has been received and interviews are being scheduled. 2. WASTEWAI'E' CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS A. Na`alehu Lane Capacity Cesspool Replacement - The Dire+tor confirmed that the county will hold an informational meeting for the communi . B. Pahala Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement - Prelimin.1 investigations of land for the siting of the new wastewater treatment plant are ongoing. E. Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal Upon co i pletion of this project,the sludge will be routinely removed every 5-7 years. F. Kealakehe W TP Effluent R-1 Upgrade - This proj:ct will begin upon the completion of the Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal project. H. Sewer Rate S udy Update - The cost of the study is approximately$60,000 - $80,000. - The study should be finalized by December and then will be sent to the commission for review. - A request is anticipated to be sent to the council the beginning of 2015 to increase sewer rates effe I tive July 2015. The Na`alehu and P.; ala WWTPs will use the same lagoon/ponds systems currently used at the County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Kealakehe and Ho loka`a WWTPs. Since a number of ommissioners have not visited the WWTPs, site visits will be set up in the future following commis ion meetings. Solid Waste Divis on I. VOLCANO/GL NWOOD TRANSFER STATIONS REPAIRS - Notice to Proceed was issued and construction is expected to begin in May for Volcano. - Renovation •chedule is(1)Volcano (2) Glenwood, (3) Wai`ohinu. - Residents 11 be able to utilize the transfer stations during the renovation. - Renovation eludes replacing the older transfer stations with concrete and better reinforceme ts. 2. LEGISLATION - HB 2509, c ently in the State Legislature,would provide additional funding for abandoned tire disposal. 3. HR ISSUES: - Deputy SW I Chief recruitment has closed and the applications are being reviewed by the Department o f Human Resources (DHR). - The Assistan HR Tech position has been filled. - WWD Acco ntant I transferred to another county department so recruitment has started to fill this vacant position. 4. Waste Reductio Technology RFP - 8 submittals ere received for Stage 1 of the RFP. Purchasing agent will open the submittals and forward ahem to the Evaluation Committee for review and recommendation to the Director. - The Evaluation Committee was chosen by the Director and committee members cannot be identified unti the completion of the RFP process. - Stage 1 requ. es vendors to provide their qualifications, expertise, technology,track record and financial ability. - The State la requires that only 3 proposals can be shortlisted to receive Stage 2 of an RFP. - The short list will be identified in June and these vendors will receive Stage 2 of the RFP. - Once the State 2 RFP proposals are evaluated by the Director,they will go to the Administration for review. - Once a vendor is selected,the Council will be asked to approve a multi-year contract. - Commission:r Dill requested that the Director keep the commission updated on the process. The Director .tated that the commission can be briefed in Executive Session because state procurement aw disallows public discussion during the procurement process. - HDR, an Eng veering Consulting firm, is assisting the county with the RFP and has sub- contracted to awkins Delafield, a legal and finance consulting firm. 5. RECYCLING SE I TION: • The DEM and e SWD continue to work on the following list of contracts and/or procurements: 1. HI-5 Certi iced Redemption Centers(CRCs)—The Recycling Section awarded the ten(10)HI-5 CRCs loca ed at Transfer Stations and a potential one at Volcano TS. We're awaiting the contract fo services to begin July 1,2014. Application for DOH grant funding of personnel and CRC s-rvice has been approved by DOH. • Other Recycl' g Section Activities: County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 1. Household Hazardous Waste(HHW)—The next HHW collection events are tentatively scheduled for June 7,2014 in Hilo and June 14,2014 in Kealakehe.These are twice-a-year events at these locations. 2. Reuse Centers—Six(6)staffed Reuse Centers continue in operation at various recycling& transfer stations. A new reuse center is planned for Hilo dependent on necessary site improvements. A new newspaper reuse bin has been deployed at the Pahoa Reuse Center, newspaper donations will be used for agricultural packing material. 3. Electronics Recycling-The County will continue its current monthly electronics recycling at four(4)recycling and transfer stations and the DOH has provided grant funds up to$100K for FY 2014. County plans procurement of electronics recycling per Mayor's directive with option for operating private-site collections/recycling. 4. Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance Education&Outreach—The department has been educating the public and businesses about the second phase of the ordinance effective 1/17/2014. This included a now-concluded series of radio and newspaper ads,direct outreach and updating posters provided to retailers and businesses. Retail/supermarket surveys continue to show public adapting to law and using reusable shopping bags. 5. Backyard Composting Workshops: As part of recycling education and to increase organics landfill diversion, County-sponsored workshops are provided by Recycle Hawaii island wide. Check our website for upcoming workshops at Participants will learn about backyard composting,vermicomposting and includes a composting bin for those who attend the complete session. Professional Services procurement for new Recycling Education contract is underway with option to continue workshops and to distribute Earth Machines. 6. School Recycling Tours: April and May continue to be busy months with many scheduled school to s of recycling facilities before the end of the school year. These tours are helpful in educating the next generation on recycling and sustainability. • HR Issues: The Recycling Specialist II based in West Hawai`i resigned effective 6/28/13 and interviews were held on 10/14/2013.No replacement staff has been hired to date. • Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members . d district residents since the last commission meeting: - Chair Lee explai o ed this item to the new commissioners. - District 6: Chair ee inquired about the Na`alehu community meeting and the Director noted that a date has not be n set at this time. 6. UNFINISHED BU.INESS Update on the State De artment of Education's (DOE) recycling efforts - A trash and recyclin s- contract has been awarded. DOE is awaiting the required reports from the contractor. Discussion of Kealakeh• Wastewater Treatment Plant(KWWTP) effluent and future funds/plans for capital improveme is - There is no impact on the ocean water by discharge of the treated wastewater. - The effluent upgradr will allow R-1 water for possible reuse for the Maka'eo project at the old Kona Airport and the Kea akehe Regional Park. - R-1 water is not being considered for Pahala WWTP at this time. 7. NEW BUSINESS County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Review and Discussion of Cost of Government Commission's request for feedback(attached to original minutes) - Some SWD contracts have been rebid to reduce expenditures. - The department is looking at revenue enhancement such as sewer rate increases and continued collection of past due accounts to reduce budget needs. - This discussion will be continued at the May 28th meeting. Review and discussion of FY 2014-2015 Budget(attached to original minutes) - In order to provide additional time for the commissioners to review the budget, this item will be deferred until the May 28th meeting. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Sewer Connection Waiver/Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implementation - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo, Kealakehe, Kula`imano, Papaikou - Solid Waste site visits: South Hilo Sanitary Landfill, West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill,transfer stations 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS May 28 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI June 25 Aupuni Center Conf Room, Hilo, HI July 23 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI August 27 Aupuni Center Conf Room, Hilo, HI September 24 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI October 22 Aupuni Center Conf Room,Hilo, HI November 26 WHCC Community Meeting Hale(Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Osborne made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lim and it passed unanimously with members present: Lee,Dill,Fear,Lim,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne and Warner voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 10:37 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). County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.