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Home My WebLink About2015-08-26 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES August 26, 2015 Aupuni Center Conf Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Thom Randle, Chair PRESENT:, Nancy Cook-Lauer Jeffry Fear Christine Dochin James Fritz Councilmember Margaret Wille Trina Nahm-Mijo Jon Wong Luana Neff Susan Osborne STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Renee Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sharron Henry, Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Thom Randle called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 22,2015 MEETING: Commissioner Jeffry Fear moved to approve the July 22,2015 minutes as written. Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Fritz,Nahm-Mijo,Neff, Osborne and Randle voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Christine Dochin spoke in opposition of Bill 33 (testimony attached to original minutes) and offered the following suggestions/recommendations: - Bills be submitted separately so that people will be able to concentrate on one thing at a time. - Councilmembers converse with director on future plans that are already in the works. This would help either find out that legislation is not necessary or tailor the language to any future needs. - Offered the following bills to be considered: o Section 20-49 Price Increase o Section 20-52 Authority Exemptions 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): WASTEWATER DIVISION - August 4, 2015: Hilo WWTP Force main sewer spill of 5,000 gallons on the ground due to Air Relief Valve failure. Did not go into the ocean. - August 23, 2015: Kula`imano WWTP bypass of 70,000 gallons partially treated secondary effluent to the outfall. - The East Hawai`i Superintendent and Project Manager positions have been filled and the new employees have started. - The Kealakehe WWTP Upgrade and Sludge Removal project is a priority for the division at the cost of$104M; $54M for Phase 1 and$50M for Phase 2. - WWD continues to look for treatment plant sites in Pahala and Na`alehu. - An amended DOA Nationwide Permit has been submitted to the USACE for the Hilo Outfall repair project. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - Funding earmarked for the Hilo Reuse Center was redirected to the transfer of mulch from Hilo to Kona to remain in compliance with the DOH permit relating to quantity limitations. The Director indicated the hope that the reuse center can be opened by the end of the year. - Green waste disposal is planned for Waimea Transfer Station once the DOH permit is approved and received. Bins have been ordered and a site identified. - The following concerns were noted regarding curbside rubbish pick-up: o Union issues relating to work done by county employees vs.private companies; o Putting private haulers out of business;politically there is a reluctance to compete with the private sector; o Large increase in budget: • Hiring of additional staff • Purchasing additional equipment o It is not easy to implement fees to cover all residents and businesses. • 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 met with Councilmember Poindexter on the the subject of used motor oil disposal. 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). - Chair Randle provided a draft response to begin discussion(attached to original minutes). - Director indicated the department's issues with the Bill and will be providing her comments directly to the council. - Director Leithead Todd will prepare and distribute a questionnaire along with Bill 33,to all commercial haulers to obtain their input. Both the Director comments to council and the questionnaire and hauler responses will be provided to the Commission. - Following additional discussion, Commissioner Osborne made a motion that the commission submit a response of support for the intent of the bill but recommend bifurcation of the bill to address each item separately and further evaluation of the financial impact to the Department of Environmental Management and Commercial Haulers. Commissioner Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion and motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear, Fritz,Nahm-Mijo,Neff,Osborne and Randle voting yes. 7. NEW BUSINESS Update and Discussion on Organics Diversion RFP - DEM issued RFP 3298 that provides for additional services to treat invasive species before mulch is distributed and includes acceptance of other organic materials, food,paper and compostable plastics. - It requires in-vessel composting, creating a more valuable resource. - Acceptance of the other organic materials will increase the landfill diversion/recycling. - The department hopes to begin mulching in July and composting by 2017. - Bidders are welcome to submit alternative methods/sites. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - Commissioner Osborne reminded the commission that she requested an educational component to be included in all RFPs at the last meeting. The department will look at preparing an addendum to this RFP to include this component. Update on Joint Sewer Billing with Department of Water Supply - The Director clarified that this update is not about joint sewer billing; DWS and DEM will continue to bill separately. This is regarding water shut off for delinquent sewer customers. - The Department of Water Supply(DWS)has drafted a proposed amendment to their rules that would allow, at the DEM Director's request, shut off of water when sewer payments are significantly overdue. - This proposal was on the Water Board agenda for August 25,2015. No information has been provided to DEM following this meeting. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Site visit to Kiyosaki Quarry - Used Tire Program- October - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo,Papa`ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS NOTE: SEPTEMBER 23''d MEETING IS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM AVAILABLE TO ATTEND. October 28 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf. Room, Hilo November 25 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale, Kona December No meeting The meeting was recessed at 10:35 a.m. for travel to the East Hawai`i Organics Facility(EHOF) The meeting reconvened at 11:33 a.m. 10. TOUR OF THE EAST HAWATI ORGANICS (EHOF) FACILITY SITE - Linda Peters, County Recycling Coordinator,hosted the commissioners on this site visit. - Hawai`i Earth Products(HEP) is the current contractor. - HEP staff member Dave Hare discussed the green waste to mulch process and then accompanied the group to observe the operations. 11. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nahm-Mijo made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Fear and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Fritz,Osborne, Randle,Nahm-Mijo and Neff voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.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.