(A) Establishment. There is hereby created and established a City Tree Board, which shall be composed of seven members, citizens and residents of this city, who shall be appointed by the Mayor. The Board shall function with the approval and guidance of the Mayor and the Common Council. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
(B) Term of office.
(1) Each appointment to the Tree Board shall be made for a three-year term. Appointees may serve 2 three-year terms of office on the Board. If a vacancy occurs during the term of any appointee, his or her successor shall be appointed for the unexpired term. The appointee would thereafter be eligible for 2 three-year terms on the Board after serving the unexpired portion of the term caused by the vacancy.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, upon the initial establishment of the Tree Board, the appointees shall initially be appointed for the following terms.
(a) One appointee for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1994.
(b) Two appointees for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1995.
(c) Two appointees for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1996.
(d) Two appointees for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1997.
(C) Organization. At its first regular meeting of each year, the Board shall select a President and Vice-President. The Vice-President shall have authority to act as the President of the Board during the absence or disability of the President. The Board may select a Secretary either from within or without its own membership.
(D) Meetings. All meetings of the Board shall be public meetings. The Board shall fix the time and place of its meetings, the meetings being held at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the President of the Board or by three members.
(E) Quorum. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum. Action of the Tree Board is not official unless it is authorized at a regular or special meeting by a majority of the entire membership of the Board.
(F) Powers and duties of the Board. The Tree Board is granted the following powers and duties by the Common Council as follows.
(1) Tree inventory. To establish and maintain a tree inventory for all trees on street rights-of-way, public parks and other public places.
(2) Planting of trees. To exercise general supervision over the planting of all trees located within street rights-of-way, public parks and other public places of the city. In exercising this supervision, the Board shall make certain that newly planted trees are watered, staked and mulched for at least three years. The Tree Board shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Common Council concerning any tree plantings and obtain approvals for plantings as the Council may require. In its supervision over the planting of trees, the Board shall be bound by the following specifications and requirements.
(a) Tree species. The Board shall develop and maintain a list of desirable trees for planting along streets in three size classes: small, medium and large. A list of trees not suitable for planting will also be created and enforced by the Board.
(b) Spacing. The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the three species size classes listed above, and no trees will be planted closer together than the following: small trees, 30 feet; medium trees, 35 feet; and large trees, 45 feet; except in special plantings designed by a landscape architect.
(c) Utilities. No street trees may be planted within ten feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line, fire hydrant, or other utility.
(d) Distance from curb and sidewalk. No trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, 1½ feet; medium trees, 2½ feet; and large trees, 3 feet.
(e) Site selection. Trees shall not be planted within 30 feet of an intersection or alley, or within 25 feet of a driveway, however, small trees may not be planted within 60 feet of an intersection or alley, or within 45 feet of a driveway. All trees within 30 feet of an intersection, alley or driveway shall be limbed up from at least 6 feet to 7 feet above the ground.
(f) Lehman Park. All new plantings of trees in Lehman Park shall be in coordination with the Park Board.
(g) Other new plantings. All new plantings of trees along street rights-of-way in cooperation with adjacent private property owners’ suggestions and desires.
(3) Inspection of trees and written recommendations. To inspect all trees on street rights-of-way, public parks and other public places as often as necessary, to determine if they are subject to any infectious disease or insect problem, are dead or dying, obstruct street lights or street signs, interfere with the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, or pose a threat to safety. To make recommendations at least annually to the Common Council and Street Department concerning trees on street rights-of-way, public parks and other public places which should be cut, trimmed, removed, sprayed, topped or otherwise treated.
(4) Advisory body to private developers on voluntary basis. To work with private developers in existing or new subdivisions and other property owners upon request of those individuals to review landscaping plans and to encourage and promote the planting of trees on public rights-of-way in the developments and subdivisions in accordance with the specifications and requirements set out in this section.
(5) Other duties and powers. To exercise other duties and powers as authorized or directed by the Common Council.
(Ord. 413, passed 8-16-93; Am. Ord. 741, passed 6-28-21)