2020-07-02 Arborist Advisory Committee Minutes

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Arborist Committee Minutes July 2, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Human Resources Director, Bill Brilhante presented at the meeting. He explained to the Committee that the Arborist position was funded by the County Council in 2017 and 2018. However, the position was not filled because no allocation packet was submitted by the department head from the previous administration. Brilhante also mentioned that in addition to the allocation packet, a request to fill form would also need to be submitted by the department to the Managing Director. He informed the Committee that the Mayor has the ability to transfer a position from one department to another. Chair Bisel suggested that the Committee should start by talking with the Mayor’s office. EA Messina mentioned that both Parks and Rec and Public Works are open to having the position transferred over. EXCEPTIONAL TREE DISCOVERY Vice Chair Sudler discovered a notice in the newspaper from June 10, 1991 which described an upcoming public hearing to discuss the nomination of the banyan trees on Banyan Drive for Exceptional Tree status. According to Sudler the Outdoor Circle book Majesty, included these banyan trees. Sudler noted that the trees would not have been included in this book if they were not exceptional. He requested to recertify that the grove of banyan trees is exceptional because it would provide benefits for the County, and hotel owners. EA Messina mentioned that since this is a public notice of a public to adopt exceptional trees, and there should be a publication of how this meeting came out. Chair Bisel, noted that this was a public notice to discuss the nomination. The notice does not include the outcome of the meeting. Further, the final step in the nomination process would include consideration of, and adoption by, the County Council. There should be some records from the County Council or the Planning Dept. EA Messina will email the Director of Planning to see what documentation they have from this meeting and what the vote was. UNFINISHED BUSINESS DISCUSSION OF DRAFT COUNTY PLAN OF ACTION TO ADVISE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR’S OFFICE TO PURSUE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO ESTABLISH A TREE MAINTENANCE CREW THROUGH A REORGANIZATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Chair Bisel mentioned that this is something that was brought up by Roy Takemoto and will be kept on the agenda.