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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 25, 2026 Arborist Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 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, FEBRUARY 25, 2026, 2:00PM HAWAI‘I COUNTY BUILDING, PUEO CONFERENCE ROOM 25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 2601, HILO, HAWAI‘I CALL TO ORDER Chair Jill Wagner called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. ATTENDANCE Present:George Applegate, Member Joel Rathje, Member (Planning Director’s Designee) (Via Zoom) Jill M. Wagner, Chair (Via Zoom) Michelle “Mitchie” Hanano, Vice Chair (Via Zoom) Ty Medeiros, Member Also present: Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel Testifier, Robert Talbert (Via Zoom) STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 1) Robert Talbert provided testimony via Zoom in support of nominating the Tahina spectabilis palm at Botanical Garden as an exceptional tree. He highlighted its rarity, size, and critically endangered status. The committee thanked him and noted follow-up questions would be addressed during the relevant agenda item. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the meeting minutes of January 15, 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 Ty Medeiros to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 15, 2026, which was seconded by Member George Applegate. 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): The committee decided a site visit was warranted; Chair Jill Wagner and Vice Chair Michelle Hanano volunteered to attend. Staff will schedule. This item is carried over from the previous meeting. 2) TMK 2-4-001:167 - University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Tahina Spectabilis Palm: Robert Talbert’s nomination was discussed. The committee confirmed the Arborist Advisory CommitteeMeeting Minutes February 25, 2026 Page 2 of 2 species is not invasive in Hawaii. The committee decided a site visit was warranted; Member Ty Medeiros will lead this. Staff will schedule. This item is carried over from the previous meeting. 3) TMK 5-2-009:053 – Mango Tree, on Keokea Park RoadThe application lacked sufficient information. The committee will request additional documentation from Applicant Susan Naomi Cox and schedule a site visit. This item is carried over from the previous meeting. 4) TMK 3-7-4-008-057-0000 - The application was resubmitted as a grove (four trees). Committee members expressed interest in a site visit, and Chair Jill Wagner offered to provide measurements and information about the trees and site. This item is carried over from the previous meeting. b. Review Tree Maintenance Request by the Department of Parks and Recreation at . 1) The Department of Parks and Recreation requested the committee determine tree maintenance and removals are planned. General concerns were raised by the public about the removal of Cuban mahogany trees, but after reviewing the County’s exceptional tree list, the committee confirmed no exceptional trees would be affected. The committee agreed to report this finding to the Department of Parks and Recreation. c. Review Designated Exceptional Tree List in Article 10, Section 14- County Code. 1) The committee discussed how to systematically review and update the existing exceptional tree list. They agreed to begin by contacting property owners (government or private) to obtain tree status, request updated photos, and conduct site visits as needed. The process for handling trees that no longer meet criteria, such as those now considered invasive, was discussed, with the option to recommend removals from the list to the County Council. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1)The next meeting will take place on March 25, 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 ICT participation via Zoom Webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616186264 ADJOURNMENT a. Adjournment 1) Action: Chair Wagner called for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Member George Applegate to adjourn the February 25 meeting, which was seconded by Member Ty Medeiros. The motion was carried by a vote of 5:0. The meeting was adjourned at 2:48 p.m. 2