(a) "Street trees" are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues or ways within the city.
(b) "Park trees" are herein defined as trees, shrubs, and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names, and all areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
There is created and established a city tree board for the city which shall consist of five members, citizens and residents of this city, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The term of the five persons to be appointed by the mayor shall be three years except that the term of two members appointed to the first board shall expire in April, 1993 and the term of two members of the first board shall expire in April, 1994 and the term of one member of the first board shall expire in April, 1995. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his successor shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
Members of the city tree board shall serve without compensation.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
It shall be the responsibility of the board to study, investigate, council, and develop and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas. Such plan will be presented annually to the city council and upon their acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive city tree plan for the city. The board, when requested by the city council, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter or question corning within the scope of its work.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep minutes of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
From time to time the city tree board will designate an official street tree species list for the city. Species shall be divided into small trees, medium trees and large trees. No species other than those included in the list may be planted as street trees without the written permission of the city tree board.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the three species size classes listed in Section 12-407, and no trees may be planted closer together than the following: small trees, thirty feet; medium trees, forty feet; and large trees, fifty feet; except in special plantings designated or approved by a landscape architect.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curblines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three species size classes listed in Section 12-407, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, two feet; medium trees, three feet; and large trees, four feet.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
No street tree shall be planted closer than thirty-five feet of any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines. No street tree shall be planted closer than ten feet of any fireplug
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
No street trees other than those species listed as small trees in Section 12-407 may be planted under or within ten lateral feet of any overhead utility wire, or over or within five lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds. The city tree board may remove or cause or order to be removed, any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect, or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance with Sections 12-407:410.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
It is unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this section at the determination of the city tree board.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of way within the city shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of twelve (12) feet above the surface of the street or alley and eight (8) feet above a sidewalk. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The City shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a streetlight, or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Ord. 1103; Code 2014)
The city shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the city, when such trees constitute a hazard to life and property', or harbor insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the city. The city tree board will notify in writing the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within sixty days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the city shall have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal on the owner's property tax notice.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
It is unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with the city tree board, or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying or removing any of street trees, park trees or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this chapter.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
It is unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing street trees or park trees within the city without first applying for and procuring a license. The license fee shall be twenty-five dollars annually in advance; provided, however, that no license shall be required of any public service company or city employee doing such work in the pursuit of their public service endeavors. Before any license shall be issued, each applicant shall first file evidence of possession of liability insurance in the minimum amounts of twenty-five thousand dollars for bodily injury and ten thousand dollars property damage indemnifying the city for any person injured or damage resulting from the pursuit of such endeavors as herein described.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
The city council shall have the right to review the conduct, acts and decisions of the city tree board. Any person may appeal from any ruling or order of the city tree board to the city council who may hear the matter and make final decisions.
(Ord. 866; Code 1974, Chapter 12.28; Code 2014)
No person shall willfully break, cut, take away, destroy, injure, mutilate, or attempt to willfully break, cut, take away, destroy, injure or mutilate any tree, shrub, vine, flower or landscaping standing, growing, or being upon the premises in the possession of another, or growing on any public ground, street, sidewalk, promenade or park in the city.
(Code 2014)
No person shall plant or cause to be planted nor allow to grow upon property owned by him or her any shrubs, trees, or planting of any kind within 10 feet of any fire hydrant in the city, in order that every fire hydrant shall be in full view day or night, to fire apparatus approaching from any direction.
(Code 2014)