(A) General provisions.
(1) No street trees shall be planted unless and until the Public Works Director shall have first approved the kind, size, variety, and location thereof and granted a permit therefor. The permit shall be issued without charge.
(2) A street tree list for the city shall be developed by the Public Works Director and approved by the Parks Department.
(3) Maintenance of street trees shall be the responsibility of the owner of the abutting property.
(4) It is unlawful for any person to top any street tree or other tree on public property. TOPPING is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than six inches in diameter within the tree’s crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes or obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be topped only with the approval of the Parks Department.
(5) All stumps of street and park trees shall be cut below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground.
(Prior Code, § 12.20.010)
(B) Duties of private owner. It shall be the duty of any person growing or maintaining or planting a tree within the parking strip or other public place or responsible for trees growing on property abutting on public places as follows:
(1) Trimming. To keep all trees standing upon private property or upon the parking strip or boulevard adjoining such property so trimmed that no bough or branch thereof shall be lower than approximately 14 feet above the surface of the street, road, alley, or any sidewalk thereon and shall keep all such trees so trimmed that no trunk, limb, or branch thereof shall in any way or at any time come in contact with any street lighting;
(2) Treatment or removal. To treat or remove any tree or plant so diseased or insect ridden as to constitute a hazard to trees or plants in public places;
(3) Time for compliance. A verbal reminder will be made, and if work is not completed within 30 days, a reminder notice shall be sent. If the tree trimming has not begun within an additional 30 days, an employee from the city shall trim the trees for a fee; and
(4) Work by the city. Whenever any property owner, tenant, or person in possession of any parcel of real estate shall fail or neglect to trim trees to the appropriate height, as provided in this section, the city will, without notice, have the trees trimmed. A bill for the expense incurred thereby shall be presented to the owner, tenant, or person in possession of such parcel of real estate or by placing a lien upon the real estate. There shall be a $50 service fee plus $20 per hour for equipment and manpower.
(Prior Code, § 12.20.020)
(Ord. 93-2, passed - -; Ord. 05-13, passed - -)