A. Tree Topping: It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person to top any street tree or park tree. "Topping" is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches (3") in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. The urban forester may approve topping in specific instances where a tree poses an immediate danger to persons or property, or where other pruning practices are impractical due to the tree's proximity to utility wires or other obstructions, or where a tree has been otherwise severely damaged. Unauthorized topping of street trees or park trees, by any person, shall be a violation of this chapter.
B. Removing, Defacing Or Injuring Trees: It is unlawful for any person to wilfully cut, injure, disfigure, deface or destroy any street tree or park tree or to cause a street tree or park tree to be cut, injured, disfigured, defaced or destroyed except as provided in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to hitch or fasten any animal to any street tree or park tree, to allow any animal under the person's control to bite or chew said trees, to cut, break or girdle said trees or to destroy any grate, box or case around said trees.
C. Interference With Urban Forester: It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder, prevent, delay or interfere with the urban forester or any personnel under the urban forester's direction while engaged in carrying out the execution, or enforcement of this chapter; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as an attempt to prohibit the pursuit of any remedy, legal or equitable, for protection of property rights by the owner of any property within the city.
(Ord. 2016-13, 3-1-2016)