943.01 Short title.
943.02 Definitions.
943.03 Tree Commission; creation and establishment.
943.04 Director. (Repealed)
943.05 Compensation.
943.06 Operation.
943.07 Duties and responsibilities.
943.08 Master Tree Plan.
943.09 Tree species to be planted.
943.10 Spacing.
943.11 Distance from curb and sidewalk.
943.12 Distance from street corners and fire hydrants.
943.13 Utilities.
943.14 Public tree care.
943.15 Removal, replanting and replacement of public trees.
943.16 Mitigation of forest canopy loss and maintenance of canopy cover/topping of public trees.
943.17 Obstruction; trees pruned. (Repealed)
943.18 Dead or diseased tree removal on private property. (Repealed)
943.19 Abuse and/or mutilation of public trees.
943.20 Placing materials on public property.
943.21 Protection of public trees.
943.22 Public utility companies.
943.23 Emergencies.
943.24 Interference with Tree Commission.
943.25 Registration of tree experts. (Repealed)
943.26 Commission as trustee.
943.27 Establishment of fund.
(Repealed)
943.28 Review by Council.
943.29 Appeal procedure.
943.30 Conflict.
943.99 Penalty.
CROSS REFERENCES
Destruction of trees - see GEN. OFF. 541.06
Trees generally - see S. & P.S. Ch. 907
As used within this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section:
(a) "Tree" means:
(1) Any living woody plant with needles or scale-type leaves that has a well-defined stem or stems with a diameter of at least six inches at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground.
(2) Any living, self-supporting woody broad leaf plant that has a well-defined stem or stems with a diameter of at least two inches at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground.
(3) Any living self-supporting woody plant that has a well-defined stem or stems which has been intentionally cultivated and established.
(b) "Public trees" includes all trees now or hereafter growing on any street, park or any other public site.
(c) "Streets, alleys, highways or ways" means the entire width of every public way or right of way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(d) "Property line" means the legal boundary line between private and City-owned land.
(e) "Tree lawn" means that part of a street not covered by a sidewalk or other paving, lying between the property line and that portion of the street usually used for vehicular traffic.
(f) "Property owner" means the person owning such property as shown by the County Auditor's Plat of Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio.
(g) “Large trees” means those trees expected to attain a height of forty-five feet or more.
(h) “Medium trees” means those trees expected to attain a height of thirty to forty-five feet.
(i) “Small tree” means those trees expected to attain a height under thirty feet.
(j) “Remove” or “removal” means the removal of all above and below ground parts, including the stump and roots.
(k) “Diameter at Breast Height” (D.B.H.) means a tree's diameter in inches measured by a diameter tape at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground. On trees having multiple stems, the largest diameter stem shall be measured.
(l) “Parks” includes any City public spaces designated for recreation and/or conservation.
(m) “Public site” includes any other ground owned by the City.
(n) “Dripline” means the approximately circular vertical extension to the ground of the outermost branches and/or leaves of the tree as an indication of the spread of the root system.
(o) “Critical root zone” is an area equivalent to one foot per inch of diameter at breast height from the tree.
(Ord. 16-92. Passed 7-27-92; Ord. 20-15. Passed 12-28-15.)
There is hereby created and established a Tree Commission for the City, to consist of nine voting members, as follows:
(a) Appointments. Members are to be appointed in the following manner: One voting public member appointed by the Mayor; five voting public members appointed by Council in a manner to be determined by the Tree Commission. One voting seat shall be occupied by preferably the City Arborist or a member of the Service Department serving in that position. One voting seat shall be occupied by a representative of the Building and Housing Department. The remaining voting seat shall be occupied by a member of Council appointed by the President of Council. The Director of Public Service shall occupy a nonvoting seat on the Commission. Up to two additional ex-officio (non-voting) members may be appointed upon agreement between Council and the Mayor so as to insure that expertise in urban forestry is well represented.
(b) Terms. Public members shall serve four-year terms. Terms shall begin on either January 1 or July 1 of the year in which a member is appointed. A vacancy occurring during the term of any member of the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner authorized for an original appointment.
(c) Eligibility. Public members shall be residents of the City of South Euclid. Voting members shall not miss more than two unexcused meetings a year or may risk removal from the Tree Commission.
(d) Qualifications. Public members shall, within three years of their appointment, have completed either Tree Commission Academy presented by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry or receive other training in urban forestry, tree care, and public tree management. Those who do not fulfill this obligation may not be eligible for reappointment to a new term.
(Ord. 16-92. Passed 7-27-92; Ord. 20-15. Passed 12-28-15; Ord. 07-24, passed 2-12-24.)
Members of the Tree Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any and all necessary expenditures in carrying out the duties of such Commission and may retain the services of qualified professionals when necessary to facilitate the function of such Commission.
(Ord. 16-92. Passed 7-27-92; Ord. 20-15. Passed 12-28-15.)
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