A. Notification Of Proposed Work: No person may perform any of the following acts without first notifying the Lava Hot Springs public works department and shall contact the Lava Hot Springs public works department via mail, phone, fax, or e-mail at a minimum of two (2) business days prior to commencement of the proposed work. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any person from the requirements of obtaining any additional permits as required by law:
1. Prune, cut, remove or otherwise disturb any public tree. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit owners of property adjacent to public rights of way from watering or fertilizing such trees;
2. Attach any object to public tree(s);
3. Dig, trench, excavate or pile soil or any other materials within the critical root zone of any public tree(s).
B. Permit Application Procedures And Requirements For Public Tree(s) Removal:
1. This is in no way intended to interfere with the immediate removal of a tree that presents a hazardous or emergency situation;
2. Upon inspection, the Lava Hot Springs tree committee may issue a permit through the Lava Hot Springs City Hall. Permits are available at the Lava Hot Springs City Hall between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. through two o'clock (2:00) P.M., Monday through Friday;
3. The Lava Hot Springs City Hall may condition the approval of any permit;
4. Prior to the removal of any public, street, or alley tree, the property owner or private tree service company intending to perform the work, which is currently licensed by the city of Lava Hot Springs, must make a request for permit. All work must be completed within thirty (30) days of issuance of said permit;
5. Whenever a public or street tree that is being maintained by the city is removed, the stump of said tree shall also be removed. The city shall then replace the removed tree. If the tree had to be removed because of damage caused by an adjacent property owner or another individual, the cost of removal and replanting will be assessed to the adjacent property owner or the individual who damaged the tree. Tree replacement shall be a condition of issuance of a permit for removal, unless the Lava Hot Springs tree committee for good cause shown waives such requirement. Tree replacement is the responsibility of the permit holder. (Ord. 2015-10, 12-10-2015)