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Home My WebLink About2016-05-25 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES May 25, 2016 West Hawaii Civic Center Community Hale, Kailua-Kona, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: James Fritz, Chair PRESENT: Sue Aronson Richard Bennett, Vice Chr Wendy Baez, Council Services Jeffry Fear Davelyn Barido, Council Services Trina Nahm-Mijo Councilmember Karen Eoff Luana Neff Craig Lekven, Brown & Caldwell Susan Osborne Peter Ono, Brown & Caldwell Michelle Sorenson, Brown& Caldwell Jerome Warren STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Ron Kim, Deputy Corporation Counsel Dora Beck, WWD Chief Lyle Hirota, WWD Deputy Chief Sharron Henry, Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair James Fritz called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. The Chair introduced Deputy Corporation Counsel Ron Kim who is attending today's meeting for Deputy Corporation Counsel Belinda Hall who was unavailable. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 27, 2016 MEETING: Commissioner Susan Osborne moved to approve the April 27, 2016 minutes as written. Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Nahm-Mijo, Neff and Osborne voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Jerome Warren shared his thoughts regarding Bill 140, water shut off, NA'alehu large capacity cesspool (LCC) conversion. - He shared questions he had on the Overdue Bills print out that he was furnished relating to the identification of past due accounts. - He indicated that he received a contract from Mayor Kim informing the homeowners that they would not receive sewer bills until after the sewer project was completed. Director BJ Leithead Todd noted that according to Hawaii County Code (Section 21-36.1- Wastewater service charge rates, E. Gang Cesspools),a$15.00 monthly charge per unit is assessed to the residents on gang cesspools. She also informed to Mr. Warren that if he felt he had a claim against the county, Corporation Counsel would be the appmpriate contact as this commission is advisory only and does not have the authority to make decisions for the department. - He provided the secretary copies of documents he wanted distributed to the commission regarding the Na`alehu large capacity cesspool conversion. The secretary will distribute these documents to the commissioners upon return to the office. Count,ofllawar'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Sue Aronson shared information on the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP). - She was a member of a task force in years past that urged the county to put in an R-1 treatment system. She feels that the R-1 upgrade is urgent and questioned why it has not been considered a priority and is just now being accomplished. - Commissioner Bennett noted that he has worked with Ms. Aronson on a focus group that was organized to deal with county wastewater issues and shared his support and appreciation for Ms. Aronson. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: ■ Director's Report (attached to original minutes): WASTEWATER DIVISION - Kealakehe WWTP: o The inclusion of mauka storage tanks will require additional pump stations. o Commissioner Bennett suggested the county use a conservative approach like California and not charge for the R-1 water usage. o The director indicated a fee schedule will be discussed when the R-1 is ready to go. o Anticipated R-1 users are County P&R, Honokohau Harbor, Regional Park and Queen Lili'uokalani Trust. o It is conceivable but not probable that the WWTP site could be expanded. The State DLNR and DHHL own the land beyond the buffer which includes the burial site of King Kamehameha I and there are Hawaiian archeology sites in the area. SOLID WASTE DIVISION - No additional updates ■ Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting District 1: Commissioner Neff requested a site visit to the Papaikou Transfer Station. The Director indicated the department would furnish a site map of the transfer station to the commissioners for further discussion. District 6: Commissioner Bennett indicated he planned to attend the community meeting on the Na`alehu WWTP. District 8: Commissioner Fear shared his support for Bill 140 and noted that KWWTP project needs to be completed so the department can move forward on other projects. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion and Recommendation of Bill 204 Relating to Public Education for reduction of polystyrene foam disposable food service containers The director indicated she did not support Bill 204 as it was not an added tool for Bill 140 but rather proposed education instead of reduction of polystyrene food service containers. Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo made a motion to provide a recommendation of No Support to the council. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear,Nahm-Mijo,Neff and Osborne voting yes. Discussion and Recommendation of Bill 140 Draft 2 which amends Chapter 20 of the HCC by adding a new article relating to reduction of polystyrene foam "Styrofoam" food containers and service ware The Director informed the commission that Councilmember Wille was preparing a Draft 3 of this bill. She also indicated that research has shown that the increased cost of using"Styrofoam"food containers is minimal. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Commissioner Fear made a motion to support Bill 140 Draft 2 relating to the reduction of Styrofoam. Commissioner Nahm-Mijo seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with members present: Fritz,Bennett, Fear,Nahm-Mijo, Neff and Osborne voting yes. Discussion of Water Shut-off for Nonpayment of Sewer Bills - DEM and the Department of Water Supply are both currently working on revisions of the departments' rules to include water shut-off for nonpayment of sewer bills. The draft DEM rules will be provided to the commission for review prior to finalization. - Once implemented, DEM Credit and Collections will identify delinquent accounts and provide recommendations to the Director for water shut-off. - Written notice will be given to customers prior to water shut-off to enable them to bring their accounts current. - The past due accounts owing the most amounts will be the first considered for water shut-off. Discussion of content of Commission letter to the State Department of Health supporting continued State funding of the E-waste program to the counties - Chair Fritz will contact the past Chair,Thom Randle, regarding providing a draft for the commissioners' review and approval. Update relating to NA'alehu Wastewater Treatment Plant - The intent of the project is to convert gang cesspools to an acceptable wastewater system for the residents of Na`alehu. - Once a final site has been selected, a Draft Environmental Assessment(DEA) will be prepared and presented to the community for review and comment. - A preferred 6-acre site owned by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has been identified. - The Wastewater Division Chief invited Dr. Bennett to join her,the Director and Councilmember Matte David on a site visit of the proposed site and a tour of the Honoka`a WWTP which is the model that will be used in designing the Na alehu plant. This visit is scheduled for the latter part of June. 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion Relating to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent R-1 Upgrade - Craig Lekven of the consulting firm of Brown and Caldwell provided an overview of the Effluent R-1 Upgrade project (see attached) and responded to questions from the commission. FIGURE 1 presented the Future Facility Concept(describing the flow of the WWTP) FIGURE 2 presented the R-1 Use Concept (detailing the re-use plan) FIGURE 3 presented the Future Facility Schematic (identifying the proposed EPA recognized land treatment and soil aquifer treatment system). - The next step is community outreach. The county and consultants will present the proposed project at community meetings. They will take community input and if necessary, redesign or make changes to the current plan. - Commissioner Bennett distributed a paper entitled"Estimation of Reclaimed Water Reuse: Kailua Kona Landscaping (see attached). 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - A discussion of policy options to improve the integration of fresh water use and reclaimed water reuse - both residential and wastewater from treatment plants County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer - Presentation by Commissioner Richard Bennett on the basics of wastewater irrigation and its application to Hawaii - Long Range Plans for the County Transfer Stations - Recycling Presentation—January, 2017 - Discussion on how the Commission can assist the Hawai`i County schools relating to recycling and trash disposal - Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan—Discussion on placement of transfer stations 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 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 Neff made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Osborne and it passed unanimously with members present: Fritz,Bennett, Fear, Nahm-Mijo, Neff and Osborne voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted .y: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Sec 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