Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-22 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES July 22, 2015 West Hawai'i Civic Center Community Hale, Kailua-Kona, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Thom Randle, Chair PRESENT: Georjean Adams Jeffry Fear Christine Dochin James Fritz Councilmember Margaret Wille Trina Nahm-Mijo Susan Osborne STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Renee Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel ABSENT: Luana Neff Sharron Henry, Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER&ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Thom Randle called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.Renee Schoen,Deputy Corporation Counsel newly assigned to the department and commission,was introduced and welcomed. Chair Randle reiterated that commission meeting schedules are on all agendas and minutes, as well as the Hawaii County DEM/Commission webpage. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 27,2015 MEETING: Commissioner Susan Osborne moved to approve the May 27,2015 minutes. Commissioner Jeffry Fear seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Fritz, Osborne,Randle and Nahm-Mijo voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA:None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Councilmember Wille provided information from a Public Infrastructure Conference she attended noting that out of the 17 priority projects, 16 were on Oahu and only one on the outer islands. She has also been attending the State Transient Accommodation Tax(TAT)working group meetings and will provide a report to the county of their fmdings and recommendations. Wille is in support of and encourages the county to move forward on a multi-year organics diversion contract allowing for different vendors in different parts of the island. She also informed the commission that the county has received an offer for a composting facility in Waikoloa. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): - Relating to Councilmember Wille's testimony,the Director provided a brief history of the State TAT,also noting that State revenues are not a kuleana of this commission while the Clean Water State Revolving Funds(CWSRF)that provide funding for department wastewater projects would be an item of topic for the commission. Meeting was recessed at 10:20 a.m. for a short break and resumed at 10:25 a.m. WASTEWATER DIVISION - The State DOH has committed CWSRF funding for the entire$54M cost of the Kealakehe WWTP Effluent R-1 Upgrade. - Funding for the Queen K Highway project will be shared between the State and the County(North Kona Sewer&effluent Reuse Upgrade). - An agreement has been reached between the State and the County on the Papa`ikou WWTP contested case. WWD is awaiting the formal written approval from DOH and the State Attorney General. - There is a pending contested case on the Hilo WWTP permit and negotiations continue. At the current County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. time,there is no current technology anywhere in the country that would could be used to achieve the permit requirements. - Funding for two additional department engineers has been approved in the current budget. These positions will be assigned to the county building/planning process and will assist on SWD and WWD projects as needed. - WWD is reviewing the consultant's alternatives and recommendations for the Ulu Wini WWTP modifications which might also include a rebuild of the facility to meet EPA and DOH standards. The intent of the division is to provide R2 water for irrigation purposes. - The WWD has interviewed and extended an offer to an applicant for the Project Manager position. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - The Volcano Transfer Station renovation has been completed. There were a number of thefts that happened when the station was unattended before and/or after work hours. Expanding some services is possible at a later time. - Renovations on the Glenwood Transfer Station are currently taking place. - The next renovation is scheduled for Wai`ohinu and the bid is out for this work. - The green waste tipping fee has been implemented and an assessment will be done 90 days following the implementation. The reduction in commercial green waste disposers has allowed for better traffic flow for residents at the Kealakehe TS. - The department is waiting for the permit renewal approval for green waste disposal at the Waimea TS. - The Organics Diversion RFP has been forwarded to the County Purchasing Agent for review/edit and release. The commissioners requested that the new RFP include a request for treatment of invasive species. The county is requesting an in-vessel operation that will include the intake of food waste and contaminated paper. The facility site will be the Kiyosaki Quarry in Hilo. An Environmental Assessment(EA)has been started and a building permit and DOH permit will be required of the vendor before operations can begin. Commissioner Osborne requested that an education component be included in the department RFP's. • Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting District 8: Commissioner Fear said that the Kealakehe TS closed early during one of his previous trips. District 9: Commissioner Fritz questioned why staff stayed all day on Sunday for green waste disposal at Puako TS instead of dropping off equipment and returning at the end of the day. The Director indicated she would ask the SWD Chief but indicated it was a DOH permit requirement that all TS's are attended during operating hours. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Update and discussion on Bill 33:An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2,Article 40,Section 2-202; Chapter 20,Article 3,Sections 20-31,20-35,and 20-36; and Chapter 20,Article 5,of the Hawaii County Code 1983(2005 edition,as Amended),Relating to Refuse—Councilmember Margaret Wille (attached to original minutes). - Bills 32 and 33 are on the 7/23/15 Environmental Management Council Committee agenda. - Wille plans to withdraw Bill 32 and submit an amendment to Bill 33 (attached to original minutes)to include paying for bags to use for disposal of household trash. - She indicated that the numbers found on page 2, Section 3 are estimates. - The definition of"compostables"was amended. - Section 4 relating to fee amounts is open for discussion. - Sections 5 &6 would allow commercial haulers to use the transfer stations. The Director stated that current permits for transfer stations do not allow commercial disposal. If passed,this bill could not take effect until the county submitted and received a request for permit amendments from the State DOH. - This bill would require full time attendants at all transfer stations and the SWD is not currently staffed to provide that service. Funding would be needed for additional staff and increased security. Budget is a big concern for the department. - Wille also is proposing that the landfill tipping fee be increased to$100/ton. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - Wille suggested that the Director be given flexibility to redirect trucking of trash to different SW facilities as needed. - If it is deemed too high of a cost for the county to accomplish,the county could possibly look at private vs. government operations. - The estimated life of the landfills was provided by Director Leithead Todd as: 8— 10 years for the South Hilo Sanitary landfill 50 years for the West Hawai`i Sanitary landfill. 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion relating to collection and disposal of batteries - Georjean Adams indicated that alkaline batteries may be disposed of in regular trash disposal. Discussion of used oil disposal at County Solid Waste facilities—No discussion. Discussion of used tire disposal—deferred to next meeting. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Update on Bill 194 procedures—August - Site visits to East Hawai`i Organics Facility and Kiyosaki Quarry—August - Joint Sewer Billing—August - Organics Diversion RFP—August - Pay-as-You-Throw Program-August - Wastewater treatment plant site visits:Hilo,Papa`ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS August 26 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf.Room,Hilo September 23 Kona WHCC Comm.Hale,Kona October 28 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf.Room,Hilo November 25 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale,Kona December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Fear made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nahm-Mijo and it passed unanimously with members present:Fear,Fritz,Osborne,Randle,and Nahm-Mijo voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 11:58 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.