(a) Violation of any provision of this chapter is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in this code. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense and may be separately punished.
(b) Persons employed in the following designated employee positions are authorized to exercise the authority provided in California Penal Code Section 836.5 and are authorized to issue citations for violations of this chapter, including but not limited to leveling fines under the city's administrative penalty authority: assistant director of public works public services division, urban forester, project manager in the urban forestry section, landscape architect, and code enforcement officer.
(c) Any person who damages a public tree, through any act or omission, whenever such act or omission is prohibited by or not authorized pursuant to this chapter, may be liable civilly in a sum not to exceed ten thousand dollars per tree, or the reproduction cost of each such tree, whichever amount is higher.
(d) Injunctive relief. A civil action may be commenced to abate, enjoin, or otherwise compel the cessation of such violation.
(e) Costs. In any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter in which the city prevails, the court shall award to the city all costs of investigation and preparation for trial, the costs of trial, reasonable expenses including overhead and administrative costs incurred in prosecuting the action, and reasonable attorney fees.
(f) The remedies and penalties provided in this section are cumulative and not exclusive.
(Ord. 5557 § 2 (part), 2022: Ord. 1353 (part), 1951: prior code § 32.15)