The city strives to maintain city street trees in a healthy and nonhazardous condition through good arboricultural standards and practices. This Section defines both city responsibilities and property owner/resident responsibilities for the maintenance and overall health of the community's street tree inventory.
A. City Responsibilities. City responsibilities include performing periodic trimming work for all the street trees. The street tree trimming schedule is divided up into four maintenance areas as defined in the city's Street Tree Master Plan. Street trees located in each of these maintenance areas are generally trimmed on a two-year cycle as the city budget allows. Specific individual street trees may be trimmed on a more regular basis to ensure sidewalks and streets are clear of any safety hazards or as otherwise required.
B. Property Owner/Resident Responsibilities. Property owner and resident responsibilities include ensuring street trees located adjacent to the property receive the proper amount of water to ensure the health of the tree. Responsibilities also include reporting any damaged or suspected diseased street trees to the Public Works Department. Under no circumstances shall a property owner/resident be permitted to trim or remove a street tree.
C. Unscheduled Street Tree Trimming - Owner Requests. A property owner may request that street trees adjacent to their property be trimmed more frequently than the City's trimming schedule would provide.
1. The cost to perform this additional trimming work, if ultimately approved, would be that of the property owner. The property owner shall complete a street tree request application justifying the need for expedited street tree trimming.
2. The Public Works Department staff will assess the overall condition of the existing street tree, the extent of trimming needs, and estimating the cost of such additional tree trimming. The property owner's approval of the cost shall be obtained before the Director of Public Works' determination is made. 3. If approved, the assessment shall include a written recommendation on the extent of trimming that may be performed along with a written estimated cost for the trimming work.
4. Assessments will be completed on a first-come, first-served basis and, depending on resources, within 30 days.
5. The Director of Public Works shall make the final determination on the unscheduled street tree trimming.
6. If mutually agreed to by the applicant and Public Works Director, the street tree trimming shall be performed within 30 days.
7. Prior to the commencement of the work, the applicant must deposit funds with the city to cover the cost of the street tree trimming work, including all incidental costs in compliance with Section 12.05.060 of this chapter. (Ord. 2011-11-1441 § 1(part), 2011)