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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-07-05 (draft) Arborist Advisory Committee minutes ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DRAFT) JULY 5, 2019 MEETING MINUTES HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM – HILO 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1501, HILO, HAWAI‘I ATTENDANCE Committee Members Present: Leonard Bisel, Chairperson Jonathan Sudler, Vice-Chairperson Bobby Camara Carol Wyban Absent: James Boyd Friday Roy Takemoto ___ also present: Dennis Kauka, Jr., Office of the Mayor Ronald Kim, Deputy Corporation Counsel Barett Otani, Executive Assistant to the Mayor CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Executive Assistant to the Mayor Barett Otani advised the Committee that the State has issued a Special Management Area (SMA) permit to the County for planned improvements to the Kūhiō Kalaniana’ole Park. Mr. Otani presented information on the County’s current plans, which include the possible removal of banyan trees. Committee members discussed, shared concerns, provided comments and posed questions to Mr. Otani:  Shade at the beach can be a nice thing. If trees are pruned by an arborist, “picnic-able” trees would be an asset rather than seen as a problem.  Beautification of existing landscape should be considered instead of removing natural characteristics such as trees.  How close are the trees to the park or shore?  If the SMA permit was submitted through the appropriate channels, there would have been a comment period.  Is there a landscaping and maintenance plan?  People have tended to gather at the park and sometimes there has been drinking. Certain landscaping techniques could dissuade that kind of activity. Arborist Advisory Committee July 5, 2019 meeting minutes  Milo trees may be an option to incorporate into the park. It’s more “tree- like” and normally does not entangle.  Planting and landscaping go hand-in-hand.  The Committee may want to compile any concerns and submit. What is the anticipated timeline for the work at the Park and who would comments be sent to? Mr. Otani will update the Committee with answers to their questions and on progress to the park improvements. APPROVAL OF APRIL 5, 2019 MINUTES A clarification was made to paragraph 2 on page 2 under “Discussion On Signage/Plaques for Designated Trees”: “Mr. Bisel said the Committee could look into creating a design competition” was changed to “Mr. Bisel said, in the past, the Committee conducted a sign competition and the selection was adopted by the County Council. The Committee voted 4-0 to approve the minutes as amended. INVENTORY FOR EXISTING EXCEPTIONAL TREES The exceptional trees are scattered all over the island. The Committee will work to form a subcommittee(s) composed of between 2 and 4 members to go on site, investigate the trees and report back. Next steps will be to obtain maps with the tree locations. Chairperson Bisel will speak with Gilbert Bailado of the Planning Department for the maps. There is a goal of completing inventory by October. PROCESS OF FUTURE NOMINATIONS There is a standard form, available online or from the Office of the Mayor, that must be completed by anyone interested in submitting a tree for exceptional tree status consideration. While some property owners may have reservations on submitting a tree for exceptional status because it may attract visitors, there is no mechanism for avoiding public record. The County nomination process includes passage through the County Council so it is public. The Committee does not have a certified arborist. An Arborist could join a subcommittee. A motion was made by Committee Member Camara for Chairperson Bisel to speak with Mike Kraus to see if he is interested and available to assist the Committee as an Arborist. Vice Chairperson Sudler seconded the motion. The Committee voted 4-0 to approve the motion. OUTSTANDING EXCEPTIONAL TREE NOMINATIONS The only outstanding submission that the Committee currently has a record of is from John Carse nominating milo trees in Kaimū. The tree(s) is (are) on state conservation 2 Arborist Advisory Committee July 5, 2019 meeting minutes property. A possible motivation is that the owner of the adjacent vacation rental has apparently cut down a few trees in order to maintain the view line. It is an issue when someone nominates a tree on someone else’s property. The Committee will need to help the requestor go through the process. Committee members expressed that it is advisable not to be involved in personal agendas when considering nominations. Chairperson Bisel will draft a response letter to Mr. Carse. SIGN MOUNTING PROTOTYPE Chairperson Bisel displayed the mounting prototype for displaying a sign at designated exceptional tree sites. The mounting is aluminum, but it is uncertain if the stand is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Comments:  On O’ahu, a lot of the makers look like headstones. It doesn’t take away from the tree overall but has a visible sign in a way that becomes an attractor rather than detractor  Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden has little signs.  There may be other options to consider. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chairperson Sudler advised the Committee that the Outdoor Circle is working on a project to fund from the State level all arborist advisory boards on all Counties. One goal is to have more authority and more funding for Committee purposes. The Outdoor Circle also received a large grant, which came to fruition through FedEx and matching funds arrangement with the Arbor Day Foundation, to host an Arbor Day at Ho’olulu Park. The effort educates the community on the importance of planting. At no cost, organizers give out trees, included assorted fruit trees. Focus will be on indigenous and native species. Parks and Recreation is assisting. The trees included documentation on how to take care of plants and organizers worked with area nurseries. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:47 a.m. 3