(a) Violation, penalty. Any person who cuts, damages, moves, or removes any oak tree within the City or encroaches into the drip line of an oak tree in violation of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, may be punished as set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.
(b) Stop work notice. Whenever any construction or work is being performed contrary to the provisions of this chapter, oak tree preservation guidelines, oak tree permit, or conditions of any applicable underlying development permit, the Community Development Director may issue a written notice to the responsible party to stop work on the project on which the violation has occurred or upon which the danger exists. The notice shall state the nature of the violation or danger and no work shall be allowed until the violation has been rectified and approved by the Community Development Department.
(c) Violation, restitution. It has been determined that the oak trees within the City are valuable assets to the citizens of this community and to the citizens of the Conejo Valley, and as a result of the loss or damage to any of these trees, the public should be recompensed. In addition to any penalties provided by subsection (a) above, any person who cuts, damages or removes any tree in violation of the terms of this chapter is responsible for proper restitution and may be required to replace the oak tree(s) so removed or damaged, by the donation of or by replanting two (2) or more oak trees of reasonable equivalent size and value to the tree damaged or removed. The number, size and location of said equivalent replacement oak tree shall be determined by the Community Development Director.
(§ 1, Ord. 937-NS, eff. November 14, 1986, as amended by § 3, Ord. 1534-NS, eff. April 9, 2010, and Part 3, Ord. 1610-NS, eff. January 15, 2016)