2005-11-17 Arborist Advisory Committee Minutes

Home

ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes Meeting on November 17, 2005 Department of Public Works Conference Room #703 Aupuni Center Hilo, Hawaii Present: AAC members: Chairperson Leonard Bisel, Michael Kraus, Jan Anderson, & Esther Imamura (Planning staff) State Agency Representative: Gordon Heit, DLNR Public: Francis Benevides, Sr. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. by L. Bisel, Chairperson. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Acceptance of minutes from the September 22 and October 20, 2005 meetings was deferred. Changeinagendaordertoaccommodatethepublic: ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. Francis Benevides, Sr. stated his concerns about the darkness and poor visibility under the canopy of the Banyan Tree at the former Green Onion Restaurant site. He suggested that the tree be trimmed in three or four places to allow sunlight to come through. He also mentioned a similar problem with the trees along Banyan Drive. Chair Bisel noted that only this Banyan tree is on the Exceptional Tree list so its something that the Committee will consider. We have no control over the Banyan Drive trees. M. Kraus commented that the tree cant be pruned to get light in underneath it without damaging it irreparably. Also, the openings wouldnt last more than a couple of months. Possible suggestions to improve safety under the dense canopy included painting of the line more often than normal, strengthening the center line median make it a bright color and also marking the curb to identify them, adding some more reflective aspect to the paint, or installing rumble strips. Chair Bisel will check with the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division to see if any of these suggestions could be implemented to improve traffic safety under this tree. HawaiiCountyisanequalopportunityproviderandemployer.