Arborist Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 3-25-26

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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, MARCH 25, 2026, 2:00 PM HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1501, HILO, HAWAI‘I CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Hanano called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. ATTENDANCE Present:George Applegate, Member Jill Kubojiri, Member Joel Rathje, Member (Planning Director’s Designee) (Via Zoom) Jill M. Wagner, Chair (Via Zoom) Michelle “Michi” Hanano, Vice Chair (Via Zoom) Not Present: Ty Medeiros, Member Also present: Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 1) Cynthia Reynolds testified via Zoom in support of her exceptional tree application, agenda item 4a, 5. 2) Myles Ritchie testified via Zoom in support of agenda item 4b. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the meeting minutes of February 25, 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 Joel Rathje to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 25, 2026, which was seconded by Vice Chair Michi Hanano. 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 Ranch. Site visit conducted; tree was found to be healthy and mature, with no neighbor objections. Committee to transmit recommendations to the County Council for final approval. Notification to the applicant will follow. Action: Chair Wagner called for a motion to approve. A motion was made by Member George Applegate to recommend approval of the exceptional tree