A. Tree Pruning Program: The Board of Trustees hereby creates and sets up an annual tree pruning program for the maintenance and care of all public trees. The Village has been divided into six (6) pruning zones; each zone shall be trimmed once every four (4) years. (See Pruning Zones Map in section 8-10-12 of this chapter.)
B. Standards: All Village-owned trees shall be pruned in accordance with the most current edition of the "American National Standard for Tree Care Operations" ANSI A300 Pruning (part 1). This work will be accomplished within the following specifications:
1. Crown cleaning and thinning.
2. Removing under branches to permit clearance of approximately fifteen feet (15') where practical to allow motor vehicles to pass and approximately eight feet (8') on the sidewalk side for pedestrian use. Lowest branches shall not start lower than six feet (6') above ground when practical.
3. Remove trunk suckers and water sprouts, especially where they are present at the base of the trunk.
4. Limbs shall be removed which overhang houses with the objective to raise the trees aesthetically to maintain clearance. Exceptions to this requirement may be made when the removal of a sound limb will greatly detract from the overall appearance of the tree. In those cases where determinations cannot be easily made, the Director of Public Works or their designee (Village forester, horticulturalist, etc.) shall be consulted.
5. Smaller limbs shall be removed within three feet (3') of overhead utility services from the house to the public utility pole or line or as necessary for proper clearance.
6. Remove all dead, dying, diseased, interfering, objectionable and weak branches and stubs greater than two inches (2") in diameter from all trees.
7. Remove one of two (2) or more crossed and/or rubbing branches from the trees where practical.
8. All cuts to be made sufficiently close to parent limb, without cutting into the branch collar or leaving a protruding stub, so that closure can readily start under normal conditions.
9. Rope down all branches where damage could be incurred by the gouging of a sodded area and/or damage to public walks. Use caution where there is the possibility of damaging adjacent privately owned shrubs, trees, or flowers.
10. Precut all limbs being removed whenever there is a possibility of stripping the bark.
C. Footwear: No person (whether Village employee or contractor) working in trees shall use shoes with spikes or any other footwear, which will, in the Village's opinion, injure the trees while work is being performed. At no time shall any person working in trees for pruning purposes wear spurs or climbing irons.
D. Streetlights And Traffic Control Devices: Clear all streetlight and traffic control devices including non-illuminated signage to allow adequate lighting and sign visibility for the length of the trim cycle.
E. Safety: The Village requires the use of all safety devices and procedures which will conform to the most current editions of American National Standards Institute, ANSI standard Z133.1 (for pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing trees and cutting brush and for arboricultural operations - safety requirements).
F. Pruning, Right-Of-Way Clearance Of Private Trees: Every owner of any privately owned tree overhanging any street or right-of- way within the Village shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet (8') above the surface of the sidewalk and fifteen feet (15') above the street. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous privately owned trees or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The Village, in accordance with the law, 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 or sign.
G. Interference: It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with the Village or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removing of any street trees, park trees, or dead, nuisance, or diseased trees on private grounds.
H. Pruning, Village Owned Trees: No homeowner, contractor or anyone else besides Village employees or Village contractors shall prune any Village owned tree, shrub, perennial, etc., without approval from the Director of Public Works or their designee (Village forester, horticulturalist, etc.).
I. Violations Of Pruning Regulations: Whoever violates this section, in addition to any other fines, or fees, shall be subject to the following provisions:
1. Fines: First offense, five hundred dollars ($500.00); second offense, one thousand dollars ($1,000.00); third and subsequent offense, two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00).
2. Appraised Value: If catastrophic injury is incurred or the aesthetics of the tree are deemed poor from improper pruning, then the appraised value fine will be put into effect.
3. Lien: If the entity or person cannot pay the fines and fees, a lien shall be placed against their property. (Ord. 32-2019, 5-28-2019)