(A) City action. The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain, and remove trees within all street rights-of-way, alleys, squares, and other public grounds, as may be necessary for the following purposes:
(1) To increase visibility of any traffic control device or sign.
(2) To preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.
(3) To ensure street lighting properly spreads along the street.
(B) Standards. All tree planting, maintenance and removal on public grounds shall follow the standards, specifications and guidelines provided by the Planning Commission.
(1) It shall be a violation of this chapter to damage, destroy or mutilate any tree in a public right-of-way or on other public grounds, or attach or place any rope or wire (other than one to support a young or broken tree), sign, poster, handbill or any other thing to any such tree.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to top or cut back to stubs the crown of any tree in street rights-of-way or on other public grounds.
(3) Trees shall not be planted to conceal a fire hydrant from the street or impede the line of sight on any street.
(4) Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes where required pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this subchapter.
(C) Notification. Trees may not be planted in or removed from street rights-of-way or on other public grounds without notification to the Building Official; and, providing the selection and location of the trees are in accordance with the guidelines of this chapter.
(D) Training. City employees performing tree work on public grounds shall attend an educational workshop on basic tree science and the proper techniques of tree pruning. A certificate will be issued when an individual has successfully completed the workshop.
(Ord. 2013-04-417, passed 4-2-13; Am. Ord. 2013-09-440, § 152.1200.04, passed 9-3-13; Am. Ord. 2014-12-488, passed 12-2-14; Am. Ord. 2017-05-636, passed 5-2-17)