(a) It shall be the duty of the Municipality to prune public trees in such manner that they will not obstruct or shade street lights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct the vision of traffic signs or obstruct the view of any street intersection. The Municipality shall remove all public trees which are dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. Minimum clearances shall be maintained, as set forth in the Avon Lake Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice, of any overhanging portion over sidewalks, streets and truck thoroughfares.
(b) It shall be the duty of the property owner to prune trees on private property in such manner that they will not obstruct or shade the street lights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct the vision of traffic signs or obstruct the view of any street intersection.
(c) Pruning of public trees by persons other than the Municipality, persons contracted for by the Municipality, or persons approved by the Municipal Arborist, requires a permit which identifies each tree being pruned and the type of pruning.
(d) As a normal practice, no person, firm or City department shall top any public tree. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Public 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 Municipal Arborist.
(Ord. 199-94. Passed 10-24-94.)