HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-17 Arborist Advisory Committee Minutes
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.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1.Signage for the Mango groves:
Chair Bisel submitted an electronic copy of the sign to Ben Ishii about a week
ago.
2.Draft letter to Haili Church regarding the False Kamani Tree:
J. Anderson is working with Chair Bisel and M. Kraus to complete the letter. She
has asked for clarification from Corporation Counsel Noda regarding an owners
incumbency to comply with a recommendation made by the Committee. She
noted that we may need to augment the Planning Department and/or the
Committees enforcement procedure to deal with noncompliance. Corporation
Counsel Nodas response will beforwarded to all members.
3.Logo Contest:
A winner (Rose Foggia) was selected by judges David Tamura, Vicki Vierra and
Eric Jeschke. Although it was not camera ready, the judges were willing to have
her finalize it. The judges also selected two entries that they considered to be
honorable mention ones.
Corporation Counsel Noda will coordinate with the County Council to have Puna
District Councilmember Gary Safarik present the award (Certificate of Merit) to
Ms. Foggia at their December 21, 2005 Council meeting in Hilo.
4.Hawaii County Planting Plan:
Chair Bisel reported that Hawaii Community College instructor David Benitez
was willing to take on the GPS survey of the mango groves as a project for his
class. However, although it was too late for this semester, they will work on
sections of the grove during subsequent semesters. Chair Bisel was asked to
provide information such as the exact number of trees, aerial photographs, if any,
and documentation regarding the groves.
NEWBUSINESS
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.E. Imamura distributed two communications which were received by the Planning
Department. One was a nomination from Shaun McElhannon for a Banyan Tree
at Hawi. M. Kraus volunteered to examine the tree.
2.Also distributed was a copy of an October 21, 2005 memorandum to Chairperson
Stacy Higa and the County Council from Parks and Recreation Director
Engelhard regarding the Ordinance to remove the Quinine Tree at Kalakaua Park
from the List of Exceptional Trees. Chair Bisel reported that the letter was
drafted and submitted within a couple of days of our last meeting. Therefore, he
was not able to get in touch with Director Engelhard to include language that the
Committee had expressed prior concerns that if the tree had been properly
maintained and some of the warnings of problems were heeded ahead of time, that
the demise of the tree could have been avoided. However, our minutes will still
contain this sentiment.
3.The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2006 in the Planning
Department Conference Room at 10:00 am.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Approved: February 16, 2006