(a) An owner or occupant having charge or control of a tree lawn in the City shall maintain the tree lawn as grass/lawn area with the exception of:
(1) Utilities and public improvements to the right-of-way. Public improvements to the right-of-way include trees and shrubs, which shall be exclusively planted and maintained by the City as provided in Chapter 1026.
(2) Improvements which have received a "Consent and Hold Harmless" agreement from City Council.
(3) A permitted "lead walk", installed in accordance with Bexley Standard Construction Drawings.
(4) Areas within a three foot radius of the outer diameter of a City tree or shrub may be improved with wood-based mulch, provided that the mulch is not piled against the tree or shrub trunk, and that the mulch not be installed in such a way as to retain water on or around the tree or shrub trunk.
(5) Areas within a three foot radius of the outer diameter of a City tree or shrub may be improved with plantings (annual or perennial flowers, plants, or ground cover), provided that the plantings are well maintained, free of weeds, do not exceed eighteen inches in height at maturity, are not plants commonly grown for food production, and are not a "noxious species" as defined under 1492.01.
(b) Grass within the tree lawn may not exceed eight inches in height.
(c) Removal of vegetation and/or soil by use of sod cutters or scrapers, or in any manner by which vegetation and/or soil is removed in such a way that the grade of the tree lawn is temporarily or permanently lowered, is prohibited.
(d) Vertical improvements, including stakes, edging, netting, lattice, signs, or any other non-vegetative vertical improvements or fixtures are prohibited.
(Ord. 42-20. Passed 10-27-20.)