(A) Care of street trees. The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, lanes, squares and public grounds as may be necessary to ensure the public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of the public grounds. No other planting may be done without consent of the City Forester or Engineer.
(B) Removal of trees endangering utilities or other public improvements. The city’s Tree Board may remove or cause or order to be removed any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which, by reason of its nature, is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvement, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. Every tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the city shall be pruned so that the branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection, and so that there shall be a clear space of at least eight feet above the street or sidewalk. Dead, diseased or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs or trees which endanger the safety of the public shall be removed.
(C) Trees on private property.
(1) The City Tree Board shall have the authority to order the trimming, treatment and removal of trees, shrubs or plants upon private property when the action is necessary to public safety or to prevent the spread of disease or insects to trees, shrubs or plants located on public property. Any tree or shrub situated upon private property, but so situated as to extend its branches over the improved portion of a public street or easement, shall be so trimmed by the owner of the real property upon which the same is located, so that there is a clear height of at least eight feet over that portion of the easement used for pedestrian travel; and the persons shall remove the dead or diseased branches or stubs of trees which are or may become hazardous to the public use of the easement. Any trees obstructing traffic- control signs or devices from the view of the pedestrian or motorist shall be pruned at a height established by the city’s Tree Board to ensure proper safety for motorists or pedestrians.
(2) All orders to trim, remove or treat trees, shrubs or plants given pursuant to this section, shall be in writing and shall be served in person or by first class mail upon the owner of the property where the trees, shrubs or plants are located. The orders shall afford the owner of the property not less than ten days from the date of the mailing of the notice to comply with the order. It shall be unlawful for any owner of property receiving such an order to fail to comply with the order in the time specified.
(3) If the required action is not taken by the property owner within the specified time, the city’s Tree Board may cause the trees, shrubs or plants concerned to be trimmed, removed or treated, with the costs being borne by the property owner. If not voluntarily paid to the city by the owner, the costs of the trimming, removal or treatment may be recovered by the city by special assessment upon the property owner.