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Home My WebLink About2015-10-28 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES October 28, 2015 Aupuni Center Conf Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, HI COMMISSIONERS STAFF: BJ Lcithead Todd, Director PRESENT: Thom Randle, Chair Renee Schoen, Corporation Counsel Jeffry Fear Sharron I teary, Secretary James Fritz Trina Nahm-Mijo ALSO I.uana Neff PRESENT: Nancy Cook-Lauer Noah Dodd EXCUSED: Susan Osborne Krista Donaldson Donna Mitts Sam Robinson Councilmember Margaret Wille Jon Wong 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Thom Randle called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 26, 2015 MEETING: Commissioner James Fritz moved to approve the August 26, 2015 minutes as written. Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear, Fritz, Nahm-Mijo, Neff and Randle voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Councilmember Margaret Wille spoke to the commission on Bill 100 (attached to original minutes). She provided a Proposed Amendment document (attached to original minutes) which she has submitted to the Council Chair to be agendized with the original Bill 100 which adds "biodegradable Plastic to the definition of"Compostables". She also provided informational documents on biodegradable plastics—"hioplastics" that the secretary will provide to the commission members (attached to original minutes). Councilmember Wille stated that she will not move forward on some portions of Bill 33 and offered the following suggestions: 1. "Haulers would provide sorting"— maybe this could be revisited in 2018. 2. Encouraged the department to actively look at the Waste Management Hawaii contract in the next negotiation year—2018. 3. Setting aside indefinitely allowing contractors to dispose at transfer stations. The mayor will re- examine and evaluate this proposal at a later date. Director Leithead Todd clarified that trucks would use the Saddle Road route. Allowing select trash to be transferred from Hilo to Kona when necessary and returning green waste to Hilo in those trucks could save the county approximately $55,000.00 per month. County of Halve l is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Donna Mitts, representing the Kohala Center and I lawai'i Island School Garden Network distributed a Summary of School Recycling and Composting Programs in Schools on Hawaii Island October 2015 (attached to original minutes). She offered these recommendations: - County appointed recycling specialist for the school recycling - A partnership between the schools and the county for recycling education - A school recycling working group - School visits Krista Donaldson, a teacher at Innovations Public Charter School, provided letters to the commission written by her 5t° and 6111 grade students (attached to original minutes). She read some of the students' letter regarding why recycling is needed and is important. Ms, Donaldson wants the commission's support in: - The county appointing a recycling resource person for the schools - The county providing recycling bins and signage for the schools - Waste stream audit - Recycling education She supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and curriculum mapping. Noah Dodd, of Hawaii Green Earth, supported recycling in the schools, including a garden/zero waste type program like the one that was set up with 1IPA. He spoke in favor of composting and also recommended: - Recycling education for K-5 and middle schools - Maimed bins at school functions such as the Pumpkin Patch. - Recycling contracts, including the compost contract, should include school education - He prefers his 5-color recycling method taught at IIPA rather than the mainline 3-color method. Samantha Robinson, Hawaii Green Earth, recommended: - Recycling in all schools - School waste audits - More recycling education for all ages - The implementation of statewide recycling standards. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report (attached to original minutes): WASTEWATER DIVISION Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant (KW WTP) A recent news story posted on the Hawaii News Now Facebook page incorrectly identified the accompanying photo as untreated sewage from the KWWTP which, in fact, was a photo of treated water going into the WWTP lagoons. The story was erroneous in all aspects relating to the treatment plant. The KWWTP is 3700 feet away and across the road from the Honokahau I larbor. The county is totally in compliance with all the regulatory permits. - The Kealakehe WWTP Upgrade and Sludge Removal project is a priority for the division and the State has approved SRF funding for this project. Nd'alehu Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement - A total of 13 locations have been evaluated as possible sites for the wastewater treatment plant. - There is some community objection to the current preferred site for the wastewater treatment plant. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunely Provider and Employer - The department will be holding a community meeting to discuss all aspects of the plant, its location and operation. The county would like to include a site visit to the Honoka'a WWTP for a group of residents as it is the same lagoon system that is planned for Na'alehu. Ulu Wini Wastewater Treatment Plant - The plant meets all DOH Standards and the division is working to also meet the more stringent National Park Service (NPS) standards. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - SRF funding is being used for scrap metal remediation at Kealakehe Transfer Station. - RFP 3298 timeline: o Proposal deadline has passed. o The evaluation committee reviews the proposals. o Director then either agrees or disagrees with their decision. o The recommendation is then sent to the Procurement Officer and the Mayor's Office for their review. o An award is made. o A contract is negotiated. An education requirement was included in the RFP. - Recycling in schools is under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education and not a function of the county. + 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 attended the Environmental Management Council Committee meeting on October 20, 2015 and indicated to the committee that he personally supported Bill 100 and felt that the commission would probably support it also. District 8: Commissioner Fear shared his concerns regarding the construction company that is doing the new Queen K Highway construction. He was directed to contact Planning if he feels they are not meeting their planning permit or Department of Public Works if he feels they arc not in compliance with their grubbing and grading permit. District 9:Commissioner Fritz asked if there were any proactive studies regarding transfer station users. The director responded no. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion of Used Tire Disposal with Solid Waste Division — Deferred to November meeting. Chair Randle is requesting that the Solid Waste Division Chief provide the commission with a tire report to include how the department disposes of their tires, the cost to the county and any other pertinent information regarding dealing with tire disposal. 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion and decision making on Bill 100 to allow the Director of Environmental Management to manage the trucking of refuse in a more economical and efficient manner by allowing for the redirecting of transfer station refuse to a non-designated landfill when deemed appropriate per the conditions described in the Bill. - The Director confirmed that if the bills passes council, the savings of$55,000 was per month, nut per year. - Concensus was support for this bill. - Commissioner Nahm-Mijo made a motion to send a letter of support for Bill 100 to the Council. Commissioner Fear seconded the motion and it carried unanimously with members present: Fear, Fritz, Nahm-Mijo, Neff and Randle voting yes. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Site visit to HPA School Recycling Program - Recycling Presentation— January - Budget Recommendations - Site visit to Kiyosaki Quarry - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo, Papa`ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS The commissioners confirmed that they would be available for the November 25"' meeting. November 25 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale, Kona December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nahm-Mijo made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Neff and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear, Frig,Randle, Nabm-Mijo and Neff voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: �7/ . � Y 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 flay/an is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer