For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined and mean:
STREET TREES. 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.
PARK TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation in public parks and all areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.
PUBLIC TREES. Both park trees and street trees plus all other trees, shrubs, bushes and other woody vegetation on land designated as public.
HISTORICAL TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation that have significant historical value to the city so designated by the city tree board and approved by the city council.
RISK TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation that present varying degrees of danger to persons, life, or property. Risk trees may be low risk, medium risk, and high risk, with high risk trees creating the most danger.
HEALTHY TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation that provide a public benefit to the city and do not cause a public nuisance.
SMALL TREES. Trees up to 30 feet tall, at maturity, as defined by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
MEDIUM TREES. Trees between 30 and 70 feet tall, at maturity, as defined by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
LARGE TREES. Trees over 70 feet tall, at maturity, as defined by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Any tree that poses a threat to safety; an infectious disease or insect problem; dead or dying trees; a tree or limb that obstruct street lights, traffic signs, and the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles.
ANSI STANDARDS. The American National Standard Institute’s standards for proper tree planting and pruning techniques.
ARTERIAL STREETS. Streets that serve as the main thoroughfares in the city and provide access from one end of town to the next.
COLLECTOR STREETS. Streets that funnel into arterial streets from local streets.
DISEASED TREES. A sustained and progressive impairment of the structure or function of any part of a living tree caused by non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) factors or agents.
TREE HAZARDS. All trees that exhibit the following symptoms or appearances:
(1) PESTS. Infestation of bugs causing wood destruction.
(2) DECAY. Visible symptoms that include mushroom-like spores, an expanded base, dead branches, and soft, breakable wood.
(3) WEAK UNIONS OR JOINTS. A tree’s branches that do not appear to be attached to the tree, branches that have grown too close together with bark in between, or branches that could fall at any time.
(4) CANKERS. Areas of dead bark on tree caused by bacteria/fungi that infect a tree through an open wound.
(5) DEADWOOD. Wood that is dead, brittle and easy to break.
(Ord. 4002, § 1, passed 8-18-2020)