(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(1) SHADE TREE. A woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes.
(2) SHADE TREE PEST. Any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, plant pathogen, or plant that is determined by the Commissioner to be harmful, injurious, or destructive to shade trees or community forests.
(B) Declaration of policy. The health of the trees in the city is threatened by shade tree pests, and the loss or ill health of trees growing upon public and private property substantially depreciates the value of property within the city and impairs the safety, good order, general welfare and convenience of the public. In addition to and in accordance with M.S. §§ 89.001, 89.01 and 89.51 through 89.64, as those sections may be amended from time to time, the provisions of this section are adopted to attempt to control and prevent the spread of these shade tree pests.
(C) Jurisdiction. The city shall have control of all street trees, shrubs, and other plantings now or hereafter in any street, park, public right-of-way or easement, or other public place within the city limits, and shall have the power to plant, care for, maintain, remove, and replace such trees, shrubs and other plantings.
(D) Declaration of a shade tree pest. The Council may declare any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, plant pathogen, or plant threatening to cause significant damage to a shade tree or community forest as defined by M.S. § 89.001, to be a shade tree pest and prescribe control measures to effectively eradicate, control or manage the shade tree pest including necessary timelines for action.
(E) Public nuisances declared. A shade tree pest declared by Council occurring within a declared control zone is a public nuisance.
(F) Shade tree pest nuisances are unlawful. Shade tree pest nuisances are unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to permit any public nuisance as defined in this section to remain on any premises the person owns or controls within the city. The nuisance may be abated as provided in this section.
(G) Definition of control areas. Upon declaring a shade tree pest, the Council may define one or more locations within the geographic boundaries of the city to be within a shade tree pest control area provided such locations are characterized by biologic, composition, environmental and size factors favorable to successful application of the control measures prescribed by Council.
(H) Tree Inspector. The Council may appoint a Tree Inspector to coordinate the activities of the city relating to the control and prevention of damage by shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector will recommend to the Council the details of any program for the declaration, control and prevention of shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector is authorized to enforce or cause to be enforced the tasks incident to such a program adopted by the Council. The term TREE INSPECTOR includes any person designated by Council or the Tree Inspector to carry out activities authorized in this section.
(I) Abatement of shade tree pest nuisances.
(1) In abating a nuisance declared by ordinance under divisions (C) and (D), the organism, condition or plant and any tree, wood or material identified as injurious to the health of shade trees shall be removed or effectively treated so as to destroy and prevent as fully as possible the spread of the shade tree pest. Such abatement procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the control measures and areas prescribed by ordinance according to divisions (D) and (L) and (P).
(2) In addition, should the appropriate abatement procedure be removal and the tree(s) and/or hedge(s) be within the limits of a highway in a rural area within the city's jurisdiction, M.S. § 160.22, as it may be amended from time to time, shall be complied with as necessary.
(J) Reporting discovery of shade tree pest. Any owner or occupier of land or any person engaged in tree trimming or removal who becomes aware of the existence of public nuisance caused by a shade tree pest as defined under division (D) shall report the same to the city.
(K) Registration of tree care firms. Any person, firm or corporation that provides tree care, tree trimming or removal of trees, limbs, branches, brush, or shrubs for hire must be registered with the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture under M.S. § 18G.07, as it may be amended from time to time.
(L) Inspection and application of control measures.
(1) The Tree Inspector is authorized to inspect premises and places within the city to determine whether shade tree pests exist thereon and to investigate all reported incidents of shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector is authorized to take all reasonable measures to prevent the maintenance of public nuisances and may enforce the provisions relating to abatement in this section. Diagnosis of shade tree pests may be by the presence of commonly recognized symptoms or by tests as may be recommended by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or other reliable means.
(2) Except in situations of imminent danger to human life and safety, the Tree Inspector shall not enter private property for the purpose of inspecting or preventing maintenance of public nuisances without the permission of the owner, resident or other person in control of the property, unless the Tree Inspector has obtained a warrant or order from a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the entry.
(3) No person, firm, or corporation shall interfere with the Tree Inspector acting under his or her authority while engaged in activities authorized by this section.
(M) Standard abatement procedure. Except as provided in divisions (N) and (P), whenever a Tree Inspector determines with reasonable certainty that a public nuisance as described by this section is being maintained or exists on premises in the city, the Tree Inspector is authorized to abate a public nuisance according to the following procedure.
(1) The Tree Inspector will notify in writing the owner of record or occupant of the premises of such fact and order that the nuisance be terminated or abated. The notice may be given in person or by mail. Failure of any party to receive the mail does not invalidate the service of the notice. A copy of the notice shall be filed with the City Clerk/Treasurer.
(2) The notice of abatement shall state that unless the public nuisance is abated by the owner or occupant, it will be abated by the city at the expense of the owner or occupant. The notice shall specify the control measures to be taken to abate the nuisance, and provide a reasonable amount of time to abate the nuisance. The notice will also state that the owner or occupant has the right to appeal the determination that a public nuisance exists by submitting a request in writing to the City Clerk/Treasurer within seven days after service of the notice, or before the date by which abatement must be completed, whichever comes first.
(3) If no timely appeal is submitted, and the notice of abatement and its prescribed control measures are not complied with within the time provided by the notice or any additional time granted, the Tree Inspector or designated person shall have the authority to obtain permission or an administrative search warrant, enter the property and carry out abatement in accordance with the notice of abatement.
(N) High cost abatement. If the Tree Inspector determines that the cost of abating a nuisance will exceed $5,000 based on a reasonable, good faith estimate, the written notice referred to in division (M) must provide that if the nuisance is not abated within the reasonable amount of time provided, the matter will be referred to the City Council for a hearing. The date, time, and location of the hearing must be provided in the notice.
(O) Appeal procedure. If the City Clerk/Treasurer receives a written request for a hearing on the question of whether a public nuisance in fact exists, the City Council shall hold a hearing within seven calendar days following receipt by the Clerk/Treasurer of the written request. At least three-days’ notice shall be given to the individual who made the written request for the hearing. The Council may modify the abatement notice or extend the time by which abatement must be completed. Each owner, agent of the owner, occupant and lienholder of the subject property or properties in attendance, if any, shall be given the opportunity to present evidence at the hearing. After holding the hearing, the City Council may issue an order requiring abatement of the nuisance.
(P) Abatement procedure in event of imminent danger.
(1) Determination. If the Tree Inspector determines that the danger of infestation to other shade trees is imminent and delay in control measures may put public health, safety or welfare in immediate danger, the Tree Inspector may provide for abatement without following (M) or (N). The Tree Inspector must reasonably attempt to notify the owner or occupant of the affected property of the intended action and the right to appeal the abatement and any cost recovery at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
(2) Immediate abatement. Nothing in this section shall prevent the city, without notice or other process, from immediately abating any condition which poses an imminent and serious hazard to human life or safety.
(Q) Recovery of cost of abatement; liability and assessment.
(1) The owner of premises on which a nuisance has been abated by the city shall be personally liable for the cost to the city of the abatement, including administrative costs. As soon as the work has been completed and the cost determined, the City Clerk/Treasurer or other official shall prepare a bill for the cost and mail it to the owner. Thereupon the amount shall be immediately due and payable at the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer.
(2) After notice and hearing as provided in M.S. § 429.061, as it may be amended from time to time, the City Clerk/Treasurer may list the total unpaid charges along with all other charges as well as other charges for current services to be assessed under M.S. § 429.101, as it may be amended from time to time, against each separate lot or parcel to which the charges are attributable. The City Council may then certify the charges against the property under that statute and other pertinent statutes to the County Auditor for collection along with current taxes the following year or in annual installments as the City Council may determine in each case.
(R) Penalty.
(1) Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty which may be imposed for any crime which is a misdemeanor under this section, including Minnesota Statutes specifically adopted by reference, shall be a sentence of not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
(2) Upon conviction of a misdemeanor, the costs of prosecution may be added, A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during which a violation occurs or continues.
(3) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this section shall not subject the officer or employee to the penalty imposed tor a violation.
(4) In addition to any penalties provided for in this section, if any person, firm or corporation fails to comply with any provision of this section, the City Council or any official designated by it, may institute appropriate proceedings at law or at equity to restrain, correct or abate the violation.
(S) Declared shade tree pests, control measures and control areas. Declared tree pests/diseases will include those on the updated state/county lists as well as any approved by the Council as recommended by the Tree Inspector.