(A) It shall be the responsibility of all property owners to prune or cause to be pruned all trees and shrubs, so as not to obstruct or shade the street lights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic signs, obstruct view of any street or alley intersection or generally obstruct vehicular and or pedestrian traffic.
(B) The limbs of any trees along and overhanging any public sidewalk or walkway shall be kept pruned to no closer than seven to 8 feet above sidewalk or walkway. The limbs of any trees or trees along and overhanging any public thoroughfare, alley or way shall be kept pruned to no closer than 15 feet above the surface of the public alley or way.
(C) Should any person or persons owning real estate property bordering on any street fail to prune trees or shrubs as herein provided above, the Safety-Service Director or his designee shall order such person or persons within 15 days after receipt of written notice, to prune such trees or shrubs.
(D) The order required herein shall be served by mailing a copy of the order to the last known address of the property owner, by certified mail, return receipt requested. Should the certified letter be returned un- claimed, the city shall send a letter regular mail to the owner's last known address and the owner shall have 15 days from the date of mailing to comply.
(E) When a person to whom an order is directed fails to comply within the specified time, it shall be lawful for the city, its employees or agents to enter onto the property to prune such trees or shrubs, and to bill the property owner the actual cost of the work, or if necessary to assess the property owner for same as provided by the law in the case of special assessments. Such total costs of the work done shall be certified to the County Auditor to be assessed against the premises upon which the labor was performed and collected as other taxes are collected.
(1981 Code, § 98.21) (Ord. 6755-96, passed 2-10-1997)