(A) The city will designate resources for the planting and care of public trees and other vegetation. This includes assigning and managing city staff to complete necessary tasks. If needed, the city shall appoint or contract with a licensed tree trimmer to perform the duties imposed by this subchapter. The tree trimmer will provide proof of liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.
(B) Any owner of private property abutting a boulevard shall have the following responsibilities for public trees located in the boulevard adjacent to the owner’s property:
(1) Periodic watering of trees, located in the boulevard, when necessary to maintain good health and vigor;
(2) Protection of trees against damage caused by lawn mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, and similar equipment;
(3) The city may maintain boulevard trees, but residents are encouraged to care for trees in the boulevard adjoining their property according to these specifications; that branches are no closer than eight feet above sidewalks or level of turf and a minimum of 12 feet above the street; and
(4) It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to accomplish the trimming and/or removal of private trees, with due consideration for public safety concerns, such as, a duty to adequately block off any affected street, sidewalk, and/or yard area to make certain there are no pedestrians under a proposed fall line of the trees or branches to be trimmed and that adequate consideration for protection of neighboring property is also provided. Third parties are required to provide proof of liability insurance.
(C) Every owner of property abutting on any public street or alley shall cut the grass and weeds from the edge of his or her property line to the edge of the street or alley, or, for unimproved streets and alleys, to the center of the roadway.
(D) If the grass or weeds in such place are ten inches or more in height, it shall be sufficient evidence of a violation of this section. All property owners in the city are responsible for controlling the growth and spread of weeds, whether on public or private property.
(Ord. 98, passed 9-14-2021; Ord. passed 11-14-2023) Penalty, see § 92.99