Subd. 1. City to Control Tree Planting (Standards). The city shall have control and supervision of planting shrubs and trees upon, or overhanging, all the streets or other public property. The city may establish and enforce uniform standards relating to the kinds and types of trees to be planted and the placement thereof. Such standards shall be kept on file in the office of the City Administrator and may be revised from time to time by action of the Council upon the recommendation of the City Administrator.
Subd. 2. Permit Required. It is unlawful for any person to plant, spray, trim or remove trees or other plants which are upon city property, including rights-of-way, without first procuring from the city a permit in writing to do so.
Subd. 3. Duty of Property Owners to Cut Grass and Weeds and Maintain Trees and Shrubs. Every owner of property abutting on any street shall cause the grass and weeds to be cut from the line of the property nearest to the street to the center of the street. If the grass or weeds in such a place attain a height in excess of six inches it shall be prima facie evidence of a failure to comply with this subdivision. Every owner of property abutting on any street shall, subject to the provision herein requiring a permit therefor, trim, cut and otherwise maintain all trees and shrubs from the line of the property nearest to the street to the center of the street.
Subd. 4. City May Order Work Done. The city may, in cases of failure to comply with this section, after giving notice as provided for in § 10.62, Subd. 2., perform the work with employees of the city, keeping an accurate account of the cost thereof for each lot, piece or parcel of land abutting upon the street.
Subd. 5. Assessment. If such maintenance work is performed by the city as set forth in Subd. 4. above, the City Administrator shall forthwith upon completion thereof ascertain the cost attributable to each lot, piece or parcel of abutting land. The City Administrator shall, at the next regular meeting thereof, present the certificate to the Council and obtain its approval thereof. When the certificate has been approved, it shall be extended as to the cost therein stated as a special assessment against the abutting land and the special assessment shall, at the time of certifying taxes to the County Auditor, be certified for collection as other special assessments are certified and collected.
(Ord. 87, Third Series, passed 5-5-2003)