A. City landowners with private trees on their land are responsible for doing the following to help ensure the health of public and private trees and to protect the public safety. Suggestions for how to do this work will be available from the city administrator or the administrator's designee or the community forestry commission if requested.
1. Maintain private trees so they will not endanger the public or become hazardous to public rights of way, public utilities, or other public property.
2. Control injurious pests or diseases that may reasonably be expected to harm other trees or shrubs by removing debris or trees harboring injurious pests or diseases from their private property or by using other legally approved methods to eradicate injurious pests or diseases. Such methods shall not cause undue harm to the environment.
B. The city administrator or the administrator's designee is authorized to take such steps as he or she may deem necessary, including the initiation of civil legal action, to protect the community forest from actions or inaction regarding private trees.
C. Retention or neglect of a private tree which harbors injurious pests or diseases which could reasonably be expected to endanger the health or vitality of the Hayden community forest shall be deemed a violation of this chapter which shall be subject to the remedies and penalties otherwise set forth herein. (Ord. 332, 12-16-2002)