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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-23 Environmental Management Commission MinutesENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES November 23, 2016 West Hawai'i Civic Center Community Hale, Kailua-Kona, HI COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: James Fritz, Chair Richard Bennett, Vice Chair Jeffry Fear Luana Neff Rick Vidgen EXCUSED: Trina Nahm-Mijo Susan Osborne ALSO PRESENT: STAFF: Georjean Adams Sue Aronson Christine Dochin Susan Kim Jerome Warren BJ Leithead Todd, Director Belinda Hall, Corp Counsel Sharron Henry, Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair James Fritz thanked the public for attending and noted that this is the last meeting for Director Leithead Todd and Secretary Sharron Henry. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 26, 2016 MEETING: Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the October 26, 2016 minutes as written. Commissioner Rick Vidgen seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Neff and Vidgen voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: - Jerome Warren clarified that his testimony as noted in the 10-26-16 minutes regarding reclaimed water was "vegetation and short rooted, small topped trees are NOT the best filters. He stated the interchangeable use of "cesspool" and "cesspit" is confusing to the general public and said if the county owns the system, it should be a cesspool, not a hole in the ground, i.e. cesspit. He noted that the big picture should be determined environmentally, not academically. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None 6. NEW BUSINESS Election of 2017 Commission Chair and Vice Chair o Commissioner Bennett nominated James Fritz for 2017 Chair and himself for 2017 Vice Chair. Commissioner Jeffry Fear made a motion to accept Commissioner Bennett's nominations. Commissioner Vidgen seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Neff and Vidgen voting yes. Tentative 2017 Meeting Schedule (attached to original minutes) o The tentative schedule was reviewed and accepted as the schedule for the 2017 commission meetings. o Discussion and Review of Draft Letter to Council (attached to original minutes) recommending o the current $12 portion of the vehicle registration fee that goes to the Vehicle Disposal fund be increased; County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. o providing options for holding the registered owner of the abandoned vehicle responsible for the costs associated with removal of the vehicle and recommending to the State Legislature that the pick-up period for abandoned vehicles be shortened o Following discussion, the last paragraph of the letter was amended to read "Lastly, we request the Council recommend to the State Legislature to reduce the abandoned vehicle waiting period from 5 days to 3 days while still providing for sufficient legal notice to the registered owner". o Commissioner Vidgen made a motion to approve the letter as amended. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Neff and Vidgen voting yes. o Discussion and Review of Draft Letter to incoming Mayor urging reinstatement/increase of the education funds that were removed from the Solid Waste budget o The commissioners requested that the letter be amended to identify specific funds in the amount of "$200,000" instead of "additional money" as stated in the draft. o Commissioner Vidgen made a motion to approve the letter as amended. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Neff and Vidgen voting yes. o Comparison and contrasting of cesspits vs. septic systems in Hawaii - Presentation by Commissioner Bennett (attached to original minutes) o Dr. Bennett has worked in the human/animal waste field for 30 years. o Septic systems provide little benefit over cesspools. o The reason for cesspool failure is that people don't pump them out and maintain them. o We shouldn't worry as much as we do about bacteria. o Community Scale Waste Treatment is the future for West Hawai`i. o Green lands are better for Hawai`i than green oceans. o Dr. Bennett's presentation can be seen on Na Leo TV. 7. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes): o Wastewater - Contract is out for the R1 Upgrade at KWWTP. - The Contract includes SAT, constructed wetlands and irrigation at KWWTP. - The contractor will be testing media for Phosphates and Nitrogen. The commissioners requested that the report and testing be shared with the commission. Currently working on the design which will include transporting Rl water to Kohanaiki and if State Historic Association approves, will produce R2 water. Constructed wetlands were discussed. EISPN is in process for the KKWTP Upgrade. The department will do outreach in January. Connecting to county sewer can cost from $10,000 to $30,000. The commissioners discussed the need for financial incentives. o Administration - Department is in transition. - As of today, no Director, Deputy Director or Private Secretary has been appointed. Commission Member District Update Reports: District 1: Commissioner Neff again requested site visits to the Papa`ikou facilities. District 8: Commissioner Fear stated that water samples need to be taken at Kohanaiki. District 6: Commissioner Bennett informed the commission that the Ke`ei Transfer Station now accepts scrap metal. District 9: Chair Fritz requested that the department increase the green waste funding for Puako Transfer Station. The Director said that future plans may include closing Puako and Waikoloa County of Hawai `i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. and establishing a full-service transfer and recycling station at the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill (WHSL). District 7: Commissioner Vidgen stated he is looking at different ways to communicate with constituents in his district. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Invitation to Mayor Kim to attend January meeting and meet commissioners Discussion of a Wetlands System vs. a Mechanical Wastewater treatment facility Recycling Presentation — January, 2017 Outer Island Trash Tour Cost of using potable water on WHSL landfill 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS December No meeting 2017* January 25 Kona February 22 Hilo March 22 Kona April 26 Hilo May 24 Kona June 28 Hilo July 26 Kona August 23 Hilo September 27 Kona October 25 Hilo November 22 Kona December 27 No meeting *NOTE: Meeting locations to be determined Dates are selected per the Commission Rules. Commissioners acknowledged and shared their appreciation to Director Leithead Todd for her contribution to the department. 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Fear made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bennett and it passed unanimously with members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Neff and Vidgen voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 11:07 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.