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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-07 Arborist Advisory Minutes Arborist Committee Minutes August 7, 2020 Page 1 of 5 ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUGUST 7, 2020 MEETING MINUTES PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM – COUNTY BUILDING 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1501, HILO, HAWAII ATTENDANCE Committee Members Present: Leonard Bisel, Chairperson James Boyd Friday Jonathan Sudler, Vice-Chairperson Carol Wyban Maurice Messina (Executive Assistant to the Mayor) John Mukai (Corporation Counsel) Committee Members Excused: Bobby Camara GUESTS by video Natasha Soriano (Planning) Melissa May (SSFM) Joel Kurokawa (Ki Concepts) Zach Mermel (Ki Concepts) CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Bisel at 10:05 a.m. STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC None APPROVAL OF JULY 2, 2020 COMMITTEE MINUTES Under the Status of Committee Member Exceptional Tree Nominations, Chair Bisel wanted to add in after Sudlers comment about whether this would make it an exceptional tree  “The exceptional tree status follows the tree and not the history.” nd Motion was moved by JB and seconded by Sudler to accept the amended July 2 minutes. The Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes. NEW BUSINESS Chair Bisel skipped agenda item 4a and moved on to 4b first Arborist Committee Minutes August 7, 2020 Page 2 of 5 REPORT FROM NATASHA SORIANO RE: PROPOSED IN-PROGRESS PLANT LIST COMPONENT FOR THE COUNTY COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM Natasha Soriano, Melissa May, Joel Kurokawa, and Zach Mermel all joined the Arborist Advisory Committee by video conferencing. Natasha has been working on a Complete Street Program and provided a draft list of plants as handouts to the members. Natasha informed the Committee that this was a list of native species along with plants that would do well in the environment. Melissa May explained that Complete Streets is a toolbox for Public Works and private developers to design streets, travel ways and paths in a manner consistent with complete streets principles. Their focus is to encourage walkability, livable communities, and comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists. Melissa also mentioned that there is a streetscapes part of the manual about planting street trees and infrastructure and that the plant list will be included in the appendix. Their goal is to create a welcoming environment as well as a easily maintainable environment for DPW. Joel Kurokawa explained that Ki Concepts operates from various remote locations. He explained that they look at the Dept of Transportation ecozones and native plant lists along State Highways. To develop the plant list, they looked at non-native and non-invasive plants species that are appropriate to the various ecozones for the County roadway systems. The Committee had some input:  Bisel checked the list for any invasive and did notice a few plants on the list that has a record for high risk by the Pacific Weed Risk Assessment. Bisel also recognized a few species of bamboo that are highly invasive and suggested that they not put anything on the list that will be problematic.  Bisel added that it would be good to say that some of the plants on the list has been vetted as far as invasiveness.  JB suggested that they create a column for the Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment Risk. He also explained that the reason for developing the HPWRA was for plant imports. Zach Mermel who helped produce the list, explained to the Committee that they took a combination of readily available plants and filtered it through the HPWRA, however some of them may have been missed and will be looked at again. Other considerations were plants that were easily propagatable and those that were resilient to long term water immersion. Arborist Committee Minutes August 7, 2020 Page 3 of 5 Mermel also mentioned about coastal zoning elevation and looking at having the right plant in the right place. He also wanted to look at how certain plants fit into planning for succession instead of a one-time installation of a plant. JB had some suggestions:  A column for endemic indigenous for non-native.  Looking at landscaping native plants  Native Forest Dedication- Expanding the property tax dedication to people doing reforestation. JB will send a list of comments to Zach. JB also mentioned that plantpono.org will show weed risk assessments that were done. You can also download spreadsheets showing why a plant is invasive or not. Carol expressed some concerns:  Bringing in plants from other places versus species we already have here.  The plant list should have a column on maintenance since some plants require a lot of maintenance and some do not. The Committee agreed suggestions or notes would be sent to Kalen and then complied as an official correspondence from the Arborist Committee. HILO INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL – FICUS MICROCARPA INQUIRY Chair Bisel informed the Committee that he spoke with the State Arborist, Angela Loo. She wanted to check if the trees in the front of the Hilo Intermediate School were exceptional. Bisel checked into that and informed Angela that those trees were not of exceptional status. 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. He volunteered to follow up on this until it is resolved. Arborist Committee Minutes August 7, 2020 Page 4 of 5 STATUS ON COMMITTEE MEMBER EXCEPTIONAL TREE NOMINATIONS JB said that he would like to check w/ the Principle of Hilo Intermediate School on having the Ficus Microcarpa as an exceptional tree. STATUS OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ASSESSMENTS OF EXISTING EXCEPTIONAL TREES JB talked about the handwritten map of Kalopa in the archives. He mentioned that he was working off the of database that has GPS points. He confirmed that the list of exceptional trees was there but off by a 1/4 mile. Bisel suggested looking at a map with GPS points and look at proximity based on ones further east or further west. JB took points of the living trees that are there. Bisel suggested to mark the living trees with new signs, and then decide as to which one would be on the list. The Committee reassessed the exceptional tree list. Carol suggested to put signage up to help the public identify if the trees are confirmed living. STATUS OF NEW COUNTY ARBORIST POSITION Bisel followed up with Maurice Messina regarding this Arborist position. Messina said he will be working with Bill Brilhante on that. He mentioned that both Parks and Recreation and Public Works thinks it is a great idea. The next step is to reallocate the position so that it works for the County. He added that funding for the position is the biggest issue since the County is on a complete hiring freeze. STATUS OF BANYAN TREES ALONG BANYAN DRIVE Sudler mentioned that he spoke to Maurice about this. Maurice informed Sudler that the person in charge of the Planning department records was not able to find any records on these trees. Maurice is waiting for someone from Council to be able to go through the Council records to find that. Sudler added that he will follow up with Outdoor Circle. Bisel added there must be County records because the County Council needs to accept it. Arborist Committee Minutes August 7, 2020 Page 5 of 5 Bisel wanted to elaborate about the correction to the previous August 7th minutes. He discussed about Outdoor Circles efforts to clarify the importance of the historical aspect of nominations Sudler mentioned that the first line item on the legislation states that its historical commemorative value, then height, age, and uniqueness is what defines an exceptional tree. ANNOUNCEMENTS Sudler shared he came across a 2004 news article that stated the County would replant trees near the water where eucalyptus trees were. Nothing has been planted in its place. Bisel did recall 4-5 foot trees being planted in its place, but believes it may not have survived due to the lack of maintenance. Bisel informed the Committee that Bobby Camara will be resigning from the Committee. He suggested that the Committee should look for someone to fill his position. Bisel mentioned that it was discussed previously looking for someone from the west side of the Island. Kalen explained the Boards and Commission application process. Bisel shared that if anyone comes to mind, point them to the boards and commission online application. He asked Kalen to check with Rose Bautista if there is an existing list. He added that it would be great to have an Arborist. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by Chair Bisel at 11:18 a.m.