For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CERTIFIED ARBORIST. An individual who has either obtained certification as an arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture, or who is a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists.
CITY. The City of Banks.
CITY ARBORIST. A certified individual contracted annually by the City Manager to consult on issues related to the city urban forest, unless a certified arborist is on the city staff.
CITY MANAGER. The City Manager of Banks or his or her designee.
CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY. Land that is not owned by a private individual or company that has been dedicated to the city for a public purpose. As referred to with a road, the area of the road and area adjacent to the road in city ownership.
CUTTING. Falling or removing a tree, or any procedure that has the natural result of causing the death or substantial destruction of a tree. CUTTING does not include normal trimming and pruning.
DEAD TREE. A tree that is dead or has been damaged beyond repair or is in an advanced state of decline (where an insufficient amount of live tissue, or number of green leaves, limbs, or branches, exists to sustain life) and has been determined to be such by an arborist.
ESTABLISHED TREE FREE TO GROW. This is any wood, perennial, deciduous, evergreen, or coniferous, plant that has a main stem or trunk, and does not require supplemental care and watering. Plants that otherwise meet the above description but are typically grown as shrubs are not considered trees. Some typical examples of these are hazelnut, photinia, and laurel. A shrub is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually less than 15 feet tall. A large number of plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience.
GIRDLING. The cutting or removal of the outer bark and conducting tissues of a tree, potentially
causing the death of the tree by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients.
GUILDING. A permaculture is a sustainable land use design; an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that are modeled on the relationships found in natural ecologies. It is a contraction of permanent (sustainable) and agriculture. A permaculture term that means a group of plants, usually with a food-bearing tree in the middle, that support each other, providing for each other’s needs. Typically a GUILD of trees consists of some combination of nitrogen fixers, deep-rooted nutrient accumulators, insect attractors, mulch makers, and ground covers. Typically, some of the plants will be shrubs, perhaps with vines included, and some will be perennials. Annuals are usually avoided in a GUILD, unless they self-sow.
PUBLIC PLACE. Public rights-of-way, streets, lanes, alleys, highways, parks, parkways, parkway strips, playgrounds, and other public grounds.
STREET TREE INVENTORY. The bi-annual evaluation of the city’s public trees and shrubs.
STREET TREES. The trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines, in public places, on either side of all the streets, avenues, or ways within the city. STREET TREES include new plantings that are not authorized by the city.
TOPPING. The severe cutting back of a trees limbs within the tree’s crown so as to remove the natural canopy and disfigure the tree.
TREE CANOPY. For the purposes of determining tree removal, it is the sum total of the branch and leaf structure of a tree including the trunk and/or trunks. When referred to as the CITY TREE CANOPY, it refers to the total ground area that is shielded by tree foliage as would be determined from an aerial view of the city.
TREE INJURY. This is a wound to a tree resulting from any activity, including but not limited to excessive pruning, cutting, trenching, excavating, altering the grade, or paving/compaction within the tree protection zone of a tree. INJURY shall include sunburn, bruising, scarring, tearing or breaking of roots, bark, trunk branches or foliage, herbicide or poisoning, or any other action foreseeable leading to the death or permanent damage to tree health.
TREE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PERMIT FEE. A fee paid for a removal and replacement permit, as established by Council motion.
URBAN FOREST. The areas in and around the city that contain trees and associated plant and animal life. These areas may include single trees, small groups of trees, or trees in large groups that would be identified commonly as a forest or woodland.
(Ord. passed 1-16-1997; Am. Ord. 2011-10-01, passed 10-11-2011; Am. Ord. 2013-09-01, passed 9-10-2013)