(a) The Safety Service Director, through the City Urban Forester, shall have the responsibility of implementing the tree ordinances, any Comprehensive Tree Plan and related policies.
(b) Any owner or occupant, having the charge or management of any lot or parcel of real property situated within the City, whether said real property is improved, unimproved, vacant or occupied, upon which a tree, plant or shrub stands, or on the contiguous tree lawn, with any part thereof upon or overhanging a public street or sidewalk shall conform to the regulations herein provided; otherwise, the Municipality shall cause such to be trimmed or removed in accordance with such regulations and assess the costs, as set forth below, against the owner of such lot or parcel of land.
(1) Any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the City shall be pruned so that its branches do not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of twelve feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk.
(2) Every dead, decayed or broken tree, plant or shrub, or part thereof, shall be trimmed or removed, as the case may require, so that the same shall not fall to the street or sidewalk.
(3) Removal and/or trimming as required in division (a) or (b) of this section shall be done at the expense of said parcel owner and within 30 days after the City Urban Forester serves notice requirement of same, by regular U.S. mail to the last known tax mailing address of the parcel owner. If said owner fails to comply with such provisions, the City shall have the authority to have the necessary work completed and to charge the cost of such work to the property owner.
(4) The City shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead, diseased or insect-infested tree or tree limbs which constitute a hazard to life or property. The City shall have the right to prune any tree, plant or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light or interferes with the visibility of any traffic control device or sign or otherwise impedes the safe flow of traffic.
(Ord. 2016-117. Passed 9-19-16.)