For purposes of enforcing this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them below:
City Tree Manual: A document reviewed and approve by resolution of City Council, having detailed instructions, rules and regulations for preparing and evaluating tree preservation plans and for tree planting, pruning, trimming, topping, maintenance and protection.
Critical root zone: The underground area that contains the most important types and amounts of a tree’s roots. It is the area that requires protection if a tree is to survive and remain structurally stable.
Danger, Dangerous: Imminent peril to life, health or property.
Drip line: The circle that could be drawn on the soil around a tree directly under the tips of its outermost branches. Rain water tends to drip from the tree at this point.
Imminent Danger: Impending risk of death, injury, or destruction of property due to a tree in a hazardous condition, as determined by the Director of Public Service or the Chairperson of the Shade Tree Commission.
Prune, Pruning: The cutting back or removal of tree branches with a diameter in excess of one (1) inch and/or higher than eight (8) feet above ground level except for trees adjacent to a State Route where it shall mean higher than thirteen (13) feet above ground level.
Public Rights of Way: A strip of land used for passage of motor vehicles, railroads or pedestrians or for the location of utility or communication lines which has been dedicated to or is owned by a public body and available for use by the general public, including, but not limited to streets, alleys, roads, boulevards, drives, parkways, sidewalks, curbs, and lawn strips located between any two of the foregoing.
Shrubs and Bushes: A several-stemmed, densely branched, woody plant.
Structural Soil: Artificially engineered medium that meets or exceeds road bearing load requirements for structurally sound pavement design and installation while supporting tree growth, remaining root penetrable, and encouraging deep root growth away from the pavement surface.
Topping: The cutting back of terminal buds, stems, and limbs to stubs larger than one-half (½) inch in diameter within the tree’s crown to such a degree as to remove the normal canopy of the tree.
Tree: A woody plant with one main stem at least twelve feet tall at maturity, and having a distinct head or crown in most cases.
Tree Preservation Plan: A site plan that delineates tree save areas and details measures to be taken to ensure protection and survivability of trees to be saved, prior to and during construction, and also complies with guidelines which are listed in the City Tree Manual.
Trim, Trimming: The cutting back or removal of tree branches with a diameter of less than one inch, and/or lower than eight (8) feet above ground level except for trees adjacent to a State Route where it shall mean lower than thirteen (13) feet above ground level.
(Ord. 06-37A. Passed 5-9-06.)