(a) Obstruction - Trees Pruned. It shall be the duty of any person or persons owning or occupying real estate bordering on any street upon which property there may be trees, to prune such trees in such a manner that they will not obstruct or shade the street lights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic signs, or obstruct the view of any street or marginal access street intersection.
(1) Notice to prune. Should any person or persons owning real estate bordering on any street fail to prune trees as provided herein, the Public Works Department shall order such person or persons, within a specified number of days after receipt of written notice, to so prune trees.
(2) Order required. The order required herein shall be served by mailing a copy of the order to the last known address of the property owner, by certified mail.
(b) Abuse or Mutilation of Shade Trees. Unless specifically authorized by the Shade Tree Commission, no person shall intentionally damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove any tree; climb with spurs; attach rope, wire, nails, advertising posters, or other contrivance to any tree; store construction or other materials and equipment which may be hazardous; allow any gaseous, liquid, or solid substance, which is harmful to the continued vitality of trees, come in contact with them; or set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or the heat therefrom will injure any portion of any tree.
(c) No person shall, without first obtaining a permit therefor, place any stone, cement or other substance which impedes the passage of water and air to the roots of any shade tree, unless such person has an open space of ground surrounding the trunk of such tree.
(d) No person shall pour salt water, oil or any other material at any place in such a manner that injury might result to any shade tree.
(e) Tree topping. It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person or firm to top any shade tree. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
(Ord. 4234. Passed 4-8-81; Ord. 4820. Passed 2-28-01.)