February 25, 2026 Arborist Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

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ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026, 2:00PM HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUEO CONFERENCE ROOM 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 2601, HILO, HAWAI‘I CALL TO ORDER Chair Jill Wagner called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. ATTENDANCE Present:George Applegate, Member Joel Rathje, Member (Planning Director’s Designee) (Via Zoom) Jill M. Wagner, Chair (Via Zoom) Michelle “Mitchie” Hanano, Vice Chair (Via Zoom) Ty Medeiros, Member Also present: Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel Testifier, Robert Talbert (Via Zoom) STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 1) Robert Talbert provided testimony via Zoom in support of nominating the Tahina spectabilis palm at Botanical Garden as an exceptional tree. He highlighted its rarity, size, and critically endangered status. The committee thanked him and noted follow-up questions would be addressed during the relevant agenda item. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the meeting minutes of January 15, 2026. 1) Chair Wagner called for public testimony. There being no public testimony, the meeting continued as follows. Action: Chair Wagner called for a motion to approve. A motion was made by Member Ty Medeiros to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 15, 2026, which was seconded by Member George Applegate. The motion was carried by a vote of 5:0. BUSINESS a. Review exceptional tree applications. 1) TMK 5-9-11:34 - Bernard and Valerie Sadoulet’s Common Kiawe tree (Kohala): The committee decided a site visit was warranted; Chair Jill Wagner and Vice Chair Michelle Hanano volunteered to attend. Staff will schedule. This item is carried over from the previous meeting. 2) TMK 2-4-001:167 - University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Tahina Spectabilis Palm: Robert Talbert’s nomination was discussed. The committee confirmed the