A. Spraying Trees: Spraying of trees in parkways for the prevention and elimination of disease and insect infestation shall be performed to meet the specific requirements of the species of tree ad the particular disease or insect infestation which exists or threatens. It shall be the responsibility of the Director of Public Works or his authorized representative to determine the need and extent of spraying requirements and make recommendations to the Mayor.
B. Trimming or Removing Trees:
1. Permission to Prune or Trim: No person shall, without a written permission from the City, remove, destroy, break, cut, deface, trim, injure or interfere with any tree, shrub or woody plant growing in any right of way, parkway or public place within the City.
2. Purpose of Trimming and Pruning: Systemic trimming and pruning shall be carried out to accomplish the following:
a. Removal of dead branches, seriously damaged branches and unbalanced branches and limbs.
b. Gradual removal of lower branches to provide a minimum overhead clearance of eighteen feet (18') over sidewalks and twenty five feet (25') over streets.
c. Removal of one leader or branch when forking of the main trunk occurs at a height greater than fifteen feet (15') if the structural strength or typically normal habit and beauty of the tree will be impaired by such forking.
d. Lessen the height and width (drop crotching) of certain trees to safeguard life and property and the tree from structural damage. This is due to the tree's development and/or species where visual evidence has shown it to be highly susceptible to damage from high winds and ice storms.
e. Shaping of young trees so that they will develop a single tall straight trunk, a strong central framework or branch structure and a symmetrical balanced crown.
f. Restore physiological balance between the root system and leaf surface area at the time of planting.
g. Reasonable removal of limbs that seriously interfere with or hinder proper development of adjacent parkway and/or private trees.
3. Pruning Tools:
a. All contractors, utilities or contractors employed by utilities shall sterilize all pruning tools used on and between all trees on the City parkways, rights of way and public places within the City to minimize the spread of debilitating, deforming and fatal diseases on same.
b. All contractors, utilities or contractors working for utilities shall not use climbing irons in trees on the City parkway or right of way for any purpose other than removal of that tree or in an emergency.
c. All contractors, utilities or contractors working for utilities shall not use climbing irons on any private property tree for any purpose other than removal or for an emergency, due to the spread of disease that may occur from this practice, not to mention the wounding of the bark on the tree.
4. Removal of Dangerous, Undesirable Trees and Limbs: Any tree or limb of a tree which has become dead or decaying or broken and/or likely to fall on or across any public way, on adjoining property or has been discarded as an undesirable or deformed tree as applicable through subsection 7-3-4C of this Chapter shall be removed by the owner of the property on which such tree stands or grows. Where the owner of the property has been properly notified of such hazard or undesirable or deformed tree and fails to remove same within thirty (30) days of such notification, the Director of Public Works or authorized representative shall cause said tree or limb to be removed, and the owner of the property shall be billed the City's cost for removing such hazard or undesirable or deformed tree. (Ord. 0-28-90, 6-4-90; 1992 Code)