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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-24 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES February 24, 2016 Hawai'i County Building,Puna Conference Room. 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1501 Hilo, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Thom Randle, Chair PRESENT: Nancy Cook-Lauer Richard Bennett Councilmember Margaret Wille Jeffry Fear,Vice Chair James Fritz STAFF: John Medeiros, Deputy Director Trina Nahm-Mijo Belinda Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Greg Goodale, SWD Chief ABSENT: Luana Neff Sharron Henry, Secretary Susan Osborne 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Thom Randle called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Deputy Director John Medeiros introduced himself and noted that Director BJ Leithead Todd was out of the office. Richard Bennett,the new District 6 commissioner, was introduced and welcomed. It was noted that the March meeting would be Chair Randle's last meeting as his 90-day holdover period lapses following that meeting. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25,2015 MEETING: Commissioner James Fritz moved to approve the November 25,2015 minutes as written. Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Bennett,Fear, Fritz,Nahm-Mijo and Randle voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Councilmember Wille shared her and her constituents' concerns regarding: (1) The closure of the Hawi Reuse Center. She shared a communication from Paul Buklarewicz, Executive Director of Recycle Hawaii, stating their reasons for closure (attached to original minutes). (2) The delay of opening the Hilo Reuse site; and (3) The Hawi Transfer Station green waste bins always being too full, noting it was only available for green waste disposal on Sundays. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: ■ Director's Report(attached to original minutes): BILL 140 The chair urged the commission to read, research and be prepared to discuss Bill 140 at the March 23, 2016 commission meeting. Commissioner Bennett thanked Councilmember Wille for her work relating to sustainability. WASTEWATER DIVISION - Hilo Outfall Repair o A 2nd contract for pipe joint leak assessment and method of repair determination is being prepared. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. o If the Notice to Proceed is transmitted to the contractor by the end of March, the work will proceed as scheduled. - Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal—Additional funds have been requested for liner replacement. Water Shut-Off: This item will be agendized for the March meeting for further discussion with the Department Business Manager. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - Tires: A Professional Services Contract is being finalized for tire education. o Once the contract is finalized,the contractor will communicate to the retailers the appropriate disposal of tires per State Law. o SWD will provide an update and status of the tire education program to the commission. o The tire disposal fund is administered by the State. The counties request funding from the State. Currently there is a bill before the State Legislature to discontinue the tire fund. The Secretary will provide a copy of HB2661 to the commissioners and councilmember Wille. - SWD Landfill Permits: The required notarization of the signature of the person applying for the permit is done to identify who is responsible for payment of the landfill charges and is the guarantor of funds. - E-waste collection is no longer being funded by the State. The E-waste collection service has now been budgeted in the SWD budget so services can be continued to the county residents. There may be an advantage for the commission to provide communication to DOH supporting the continuation of State funding. - There have been 2 successful abandoned vehicle auctions to aid in reducing the number of vehicles being stored by the county. The department will continue the auctions on a six-month basis. ■ Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting District 3: Commissioner Nahm-Mijo asked why the Sort Station diversion tonnages have decreased. SWD Chief Goodale explained that during the Dengue Fever outbreak,the Sort Station is being used as a staging facility for tires and white goods that are being disposed of at the transfer stations so sorting is being done less frequently. District 6: Commissioner Bennett provided the commissioners with information relating to his background, education, and interests. He stated that water reclamation is his main interest. He indicated it would be useful to let the residents know that the county is putting in water reclamation at Kealekehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. He stated that reclaiming wastewater is a win/win. District 8: Commissioner Fear distributed flyers of the Big Island Community Beach Clean-up, scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2016, along with a decomposition info sheet(attached to original minutes). The major sponsors of these clean-up events are Big Island Wave Riders Against Drugs, Betty Kanuha Foundation and the County of Hawai'i. He also spoke of the homeless situation at the Old Kona Airport. District 9:Commissioner Fritz questioned when the green waste disposal area would be open at the Waimea Transfer Station. SWD Chief Goodale reported that both Waimea and Volcano would have green waste disposal beginning during the month of March. He reported that the glass bins are quite often full at the Puako Transfer Station. The commission inquired about installing satellite cameras at the transfer stations. Deputy Director Medeiros and Goodale responded that cameras had been installed at some transfer County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. stations and were stolen the night following their installation. Goodale informed the commissioners that the contract for recycling is being rewritten to include monitoring bins by County staff. The contractor will be responsible for recycling pick-up and bin change-out at the sites. Increased recycling capacity is needed and will be included in the new contracts. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None 7. NEW BUSINESS Election of Chair and Vice Chair - Deputy Corporation Counsel Belinda Hall informed the commission that Hawai'i County Code, Section 13-4(h), states that"A chairperson shall be elected from its membership annually" (County Charter—County of Hawai'i (2014)Relevant Provisions for the Environmental Management Commission attached to original minutes) and suggested that the commission follow the Charter and elect the chair on an annual basis. - Commissioner Fear nominated Commissioner Fritz as 2016 Chair and Commissioner Bennett as 2016 Vice Chair. Nahm-Mijo seconded the nomination. Both agreed to accept the nominations and the commission voted unanimously to approve with members present: Bennett,Fear,Fritz,Nahm-Mijo and Randle voting yes. Belinda Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel, presentation on commission rules of practice and responsibilities - The following documents were distributed(attached to original minutes) for the commissioners to review: o Open Meetings—Guide to"The Sunshine Law: for Neighborhood Boards, Office of Information Practices, State of Hawai'i, June 2015 o Quick Review: Sunshine Law Meeting Notice Requirements (May 2015) o Quick Review: Who Board Members Can Talk To and When(Part 1) (July 23, 2013) o Quick Review: Who Board Members Can Talk To and When (Part 2) (Revised May 8, 2014) o Quick Review: Who Board Members Can Talk To and When (Part 3) (August 8, 2013) - Deputy Corporation Counsel Hall offered to do a Sunshine Law training for the commissioners. It was noted that there are upcoming Corporation Counsel Sunshine Law trainings scheduled. Secretary will re-send the information to commissioners. Greg Goodale, Presentation and discussion of the closure of the Hawi Reuse Center - Recycle Hawaii is the contractor for the reuse centers at Keauhou, Kealakehe, Waimea, Keaau and Pahoa Transfer Stations. The contract includes a one-year option with multiple extensions. - Recycle Hawaii chose not to extend the operation of the Hawi Reuse Center. - The space at the transfer station for the reuse center is limited and is operated on alternate days with the HI5 redemption center. - Another issue is that the building being used was erected by a volunteer group years ago and was not a permitted structure and required removal because of lack of permits. - There is a private organization that is collecting reusable items nearby in Hawi Town that can be utilized by the residents. - The landowner of the property adjacent to the transfer station has indicated a willingness to sell the land and the county will be evaluating the following: o Adequate space o Usable space o Purchase price County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - The goal of the department is to have potential alternatives: o Drop off site (contract is up for renewal next year) o Ways to divert rccyclables o Make it easy for residents- a"one-stop shop"where all items can be disposed of at one location. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - FY 2016-17 Proposed Budget Review—March - Water Shut-off for nonpayment of sewer bill—March - Status of credit and collections for both SWD and WWD—March - Site visit to HPA School Recycling Program—January, 2017 - Recycling Presentation—January, 2017 - Wastewater treatment plant site visit- Papaikou - Discussion on how the Commission can assist the Hawaii County schools relating to recycling and trash disposal - Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan—Discussion on placement of transfer stations - Kealakehe WWTP Effluent Rl Upgrade Presentation - May 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS March 23 Kona Comm. Hale April 27 Hilo Puna Conf Room May 25 Kona Comm. Hale June 22 Hilo Puna Conf Room July 27 Kona Comm. Hale August 24 Hilo Puna Conf Room September 28 Kona Comm. Hale October 26 Hilo Puna Conf Room November 23 Kona Comm. Hale December No meeting NOTE: Dates are selected per the Commission Rules. 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Bennett made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nahm-Mijo and it passed unanimously with members present: Bennett,Fear, Fritz, Nahm- Mijo and Randle voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: C/(74,------- 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 I-lawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.