A. Serve As Arborist: The chair of the appearance review committee is hereby designated and established as the arborist hereunder.
B. Duties: The chair shall perform the following duties:
1. The chair, with the assistance of the appearance review committee, shall develop, and each subsequent year update, the urban forestry plan. The plan shall outline urban forestry program activities for a minimum of the next five (5) years. This plan shall describe the urban forestry activities to be undertaken by the city, the reasons for those activities, the possible funding source(s), the means of accomplishing the activities, the alternatives available to the city to fund or accomplish the activity, the projected date of completion, and the consequences if the activity is not completed. Activities may include, but are not limited to, street tree inventory, tree planting, tree removal, beautification projects, and educational projects.
2. The chair, with the assistance of the appearance review committee, shall develop and periodically review and revise, as necessary, the arboricultural specifications manual. This manual shall contain regulations and standards for the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees, shrubs and other plants upon the city owned property.
3. Upon application to and approval by the city council, the chair and/or appearance review committee may engage the services of an arborist, land planner, ecological engineer, or such consultant as may be required to aid and consult the chair and/or the appearance review committee in technical matters.
4. The chair shall cause the urban forestry plan and the arboricultural specifications manual, and all revisions and amendments thereto, to be published and promulgated and shall cause three (3) copies of the manual, and all revisions and amendments thereto, to be available for public inspection at the office of the city clerk. Notice that such information is available for public inspection shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation with the county at least one weekday of each of four (4) consecutive weeks immediately following the initial availability of the arboricultural specifications manual, or revisions or amendments thereto. The arboricultural specifications manual, and any revisions and additions thereto, shall become effective on the tenth day following the final publication in a newspaper of general circulation required under this subsection B4.
5. The chair shall make available to any interested person copies of this chapter, information about the activities of the appearance review committee, copies of the arboricultural specifications manual and copies of the urban forestry plan.
6. The chair shall administer the urban forestry plan, this chapter and the provisions of the arboricultural specifications manual.
7. The chair shall perform whatever acts are necessary, including the planting and maintenance of trees and the removal of undesirable trees, shrubs, and other plants located on city owned property, to ensure that all trees, shrubs, and other plants located on city owned property conform with the urban forestry plan, the arboricultural specifications manual, and this chapter. (Ord. 93-O-24, 8-3-1993)
8. The chair shall issue such permits as are required by this chapter and shall obtain, as a condition precedent to the issuance of such permits, the written agreement of each person who applies for such permits that he or she will comply with the requirements of this chapter, the urban forestry plan, and with the regulations and standards of the arboricultural specifications manual. The chair shall have the right to inspect all work performed pursuant to such permits. If the chair finds that the work performed is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the urban forestry plan, or with the regulations or standards of the arboricultural specifications manual, the chair shall provide written notice of his/her findings to the permit applicant. The notice shall contain a copy of such findings; and: (Ord. 93-O-24, 8-3-1993; amd. 2009 Code)
a. The permit shall be nullified and shall be void; and
b. The chair may issue a written order that the permit applicant cease and desist all work for which the permit was required; and
c. The permit applicant shall be subject to penalty under the terms of this chapter; and
d. The chair may take steps to correct the results of the noncomplying work, and the reasonable costs of such steps shall be charged to the permit applicant; and
9. The chair shall establish a program of public information and education that will encourage the planting, maintenance, or removal of trees, shrubs, and other plants on private property in furtherance of the goals of the urban forestry plan. (Ord. 93-O-24, 8-3-1993)