Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 21, 2026 Jill Wagner, Chair C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor Michelle, Hanano, Vice Chair Ty Medeiros, Member William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director George Applegate, Member James Boyd Friday, Member Merrick Nishimoto Joel Rathje, Member Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai ʻ i Arborist Advisory Committee c/o 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603, Hilo, HI 96720 Phone: (808) 961-8211 ARBORIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026, 2:00 PM HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 1501, HILO, HAWAI‘I LINK TO MEETING RECORDING: https://www.zoomgov.com/rec/share/A1ffFQYhh5bM45LeNgpF_IqWmx_OpxCvaUX2WjEn uTxEaIgjUPAGzWQn8yP95Am9.dkXzb09dzp99WrO3?startTime=1790036528000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Wagner called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. ATTENDANCE Present: Joel Rathje, Member (Planning Director’s Designee) (Via Zoom) Jill M. Wagner, Chair (Via Zoom) Michelle “Michi” Hanano, Vice Chair (Via Zoom) George Applegate, Member JB Friday Not Present: Jill Kubojiri, Member Ty Medeiros, Member Also present: Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Janice Palma Glennie, Nancy Pisicchio, Charla Thompson, Winston Welch, Joan Gossett, Lea Kaʻahaʻaina, and Bobby Camara provided testimony. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the meeting minutes of September 21, 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 Vice Chair Hanano to approve the regular meeting minutes of September 21, 2026, which was seconded by Member George Applegate. The motion was carried by a vote of 5:0. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 2 BUSINESS a. Review exceptional tree applications. 1) TMK: 4-5-010:088, 4-5-010:090, Alison Higgins & Nicole Garcia (Applicants), Cuban Mahogany Grove, Lehua Street, Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi. The site visit with the Department of Parks and Recreation was postponed due to storm-related priorities. The committee will provide an update at the next meeting. The committee discussed sending a letter to the Mayor’s office in support of designating the grove as exceptional, pending landowner signature. The committee discussed the number of trees involved and changes at the site (including a fallen tree). 2) TMK: 3-7-7-007-048, Sacha Manju (Applicant), Albizia saman or Monkeypod, Alastair Glennie, Janice Palma Glennie (Landowner), Nohelani Street, Kailua- Kona. Jill Wagner volunteered to inspect the tree, inviting committee members to join. Joel Rathje agreed to participate. The tree is on private property and not visible from public spaces. Arrangements will be made with the landowner for a site visit. b. Members of the County of Hawaiʻi Arborist Advisory Committee will discuss possible amendments to recommend amendments to the Hawaiʻi County Code, Chapter 14, Article 10, Sections 14-56 through 14-65. Public testimony received in support of ongoing participation in Tree City USA and expanding the county’s tree ordinance to include community trees. Joan Gossett (East Hawaiʻi Outdoor Circle) and Nancy Pisicchio provided oral and written testimony, urging the committee to recommend amending Hawaii County Code Chapter 14, Article 10, to include community trees. Discussion on the requirements to maintain Tree City USA status (tree board, public tree care ordinance, $2/capita expenditure, Arbor Day proclamation). Charla Thompson, CDP Action Committee, explained the annual Tree City USA application process and standards. The committee discussed the need for a clear definition of "community trees" and the scope of county authority (county parks and roads, not state or federal lands). The committee unanimously adopted a motion to develop a recommendation to County Council to amend the county code for a community tree program, using Maui County’s code as a reference. The committee agreed to review the Maui County code and prepare a draft for further discussion at the next meeting. c. Report on Evaluation of Existing Exceptional Trees Ongoing project to survey and update the status of existing exceptional trees using the county’s GIS/app-based database. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 3 Jill Wagner and Micah will continue site visits and coordinate with Asia Wasser (county data specialist) to ensure records are up to date. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) The next meeting will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., via Interactive Virtual Technology (ICT) and in-person at: 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1501 Puna Conference Room Hilo, HI 96720 ADJOURNMENT a. Adjournment 1) Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.