(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PARK TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names, and all areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.
STREET TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues, or ways within the city.
TOPPING. The severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the trees crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
(B) Street trees species to be planted. No species other than those listed may be planted as street trees without written permission of the Public Works/Utilities Superintendent. Each year the list shall be subject to review from past experience and information from local nurseries or the University of Minnesota.
Street/Park Trees
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Street/Park Trees
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Small |
Canadian Red Cherry |
Prairiefire |
Amur Maple Tree Form |
Camelot |
Ember Maple |
Red Splendor |
Crabapple |
Red Japanese Tree Lilac |
Spring Snow |
Ivory Silk |
Thunderchild |
Flowering Crab |
Medium |
Small Leaf Linden |
Red Maple |
Green Ash Seedless Only |
Honey Locust |
Skyline Locust |
Newport Ash |
Sunburst Honey Locust |
Summit Ash |
Hackberry |
Mountain Ash |
Redmond Linden |
White Ash |
Norway Maple |
Autumn Blaze |
Autumn Purple |
Bergerson |
Marshall Seedless |
Patmore |
Fall Gold Ash |
Prairie Spire |
Thornless Honeylocust |
Imperial |
Northern Acclaim |
Iron Wood |
American Linden |
Pyramidal American |
European/Little Leaf Linden |
Greenspire |
Harvest Gold |
Hybrid Elm |
Discovery Elm |
Cathedral Elm |
Hybrid Maple |
Oak |
Pin Oak |
Red Oak |
Swamp White Oak |
Burr Oak |
Colummar |
Crimson King |
Crimson Sentry |
Deborah |
Emeral Lustre |
Emerald Queen |
Royal Red |
Schwedler |
Superform |
Varigated |
Princeton Gold Maple |
Autumn Spire |
Northfire |
Northwood |
Red Sunset |
Ruby Frost |
Burgundy Belle |
Sugar Maple Hard |
Green Nountain |
Legacy |
Majesty |
Fall Festival |
Large |
Silver Maple |
Emerald Lustre Maple |
Sugar Maple |
(C) Height. No tree planted shall be less than six feet in height
(D) Spacing. No trees shall be planted closer together than the following: small trees, 30 feet; medium trees, 40 feet; and large trees, 50 feet; except in special planting design or approved by the Public Works/Utilities Superintendent in consultation with a local nursery.
(E) Distance curb and sidewalk. No tree shall be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, 2 feet; medium trees, 3 feet; and large trees, 4 feet.
(F) Distance from street corners and fire hydrants. No street trees shall be planted closer than 35 feet or any street corner measured from the point of the nearest interscecting curbs or curblines. No street trees shall be planted closer than 10 feet of any fire hydrant.
(G) Utilities. No other trees other than those listed as small trees may be planted under overhead utility wires, or over or within 3 lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line, or other utility.
(H) Public tree care. The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants, and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, easements, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to enhance the symmetry and beauty of the public grounds. The city may remove or cause or order to be removed, any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is unjurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, storm sewers, other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect, or other pest or disease. This does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of the trees is in accordance with this section.
(I) Tree topping. It shall be unlawful for any person to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property without authorization from the City Manager or Public Works/Utilities Superintendent. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this section at the determination of the Public Works/Utilities Superintendent or City Manager.
(J) Pruning; corner clearance. Every owner of any tree over-hanging any street or right-of-way within the city shall prune the branches so that they will not obstruct the view of any street interesection of eight feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. The owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menance to public safety. The city shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light or impairs the visibility of any traffic light or sign.
(K) Duty or property owners. It shall be the duty of every property owner whose property abuts on a public street to notify the Public Works/Utilities Superintendent when any tree has branches less than eight feet above the surface of any sidewalk or street.
(L) Penalty. Any person found in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.