Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-2024AAC Minutes 3/27/2024 Place Pueo Conference room and via zoom 25 aupuni stre Ste 2601 Hilo HI 96720 Call to Order at 11:13 AM Mark Odell Leonard Bisel Jill Wagner via zoom Bobby Command Jean Campbell Alexey Katko (County Staff) Gordon Heit (DLNR) Public Testimony: None Gordon Heit: requesting that banyan trees/grove along banyan drive to hold off on the nomination for a more research to be done. Precise location and whos juristdiction they fall under. MO: what does banyan drive development do? BC: authority to make planning decisions reguarding redevelopment of the drive, float bonds. JC: they have very bro GH: there is new management at the Nanilooa so we need to talk to them BC: one idea is to build a convention center. Asked GH about a breifing about the leases on banyan drive. GH: Naniloha & Hilo Hawaiian are there for 40+ years. Apartment building ther another 12 years on leasse. One hotel being demolished with no future plans. Old country clu hotel a new lease being worked out. Old restaurant is private property. Eveyrhthing is on hold until development guys work out things with Public Works. LB: yeah its importaint to recognize its both the trunk as well as the cannopy that is being managed. So when pruning you must understand all te parrties that are involved when taking care of it. GH: Yeah, so exeptionalizing 49 trees would make a lot of challenges, so we should first clarify everything before doing that. BC: In best case senario you will be dealing with multiple groups of people at a time per tree. LB: banyond drive redevelopment agency reiterated this will be a challenge. BC: What is the next best step? JC: we will have to wait until they schedule the next meeting which they are waiting for this legislatin period to first end as they are awaiting a few new laws potentialy. LB: I think they just want to be part of the discussion on what we decide to do next. BC: who is our contact? JC: McCully or myself. Approval of the minutes LB: Correction to say I never heard of them being formaly on the list. Unless the Outdoor Scircle can prove with paperword, the banyon drive trees will have to be re- exceptionalized. Motioned to approve minutes, Mark seconds the motion, all approved Old Business MO: HI County arborist position. LB: Spoke with a coluge , she’s head of dept of forestry on Oahu. Shes willing to help write up job description for arborist as they have over 20. She asked if we know our tree inventory. (Audio became inaudible for a portion of the video) - LB: Arborist Position: to move forward is it neccessary for the job description to be finalized, or can the county look at funding already? - BC: the mayor would like to be able to understand what this person would be responsible for before signing off on anything. - MO: should we take a look at what the other two counties are doing? The arborist will be sent to the consulting academy and you get a certification. - LB: we have to make sure the county arborsit has this certification. - BC: Is there an ideal job description from the other counties? - MO: this will be more like a growing position where things will be added on. BC: do we have any medians on this island? LB: only one I’m aware of in Hilo is down on Kapiolani St. We generaly do not hasve them in the median. MO: Any announcements? LB: Dept. Of Urban forestry has 50-60+ arborists on staff. And it was formed finally three years ago. JC: list of exceptional trees is in your handout. Last time something was added was in 2007 BC: lets talk about what we went out to look at, add it ot our next agenda. To see whats there and what is not there. LB: One time this committee was charged to make signs, we held a design competition with Keiki, a design was selected and presented to County Council, it was adopted, and we hae that graphic. AK: no annhouncements, can we set a date for next meeeting. Our next meeting will be: Mar 24 11am -1pm for next meeting Mark Odell: lets make a motion to adjourn. Leonard motioned and Bobby seconded. Meeting adjourned.