All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface
of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface
of the ground.
It shall be unlawful as normal practice for any person, firm or City
department to top any street tree, park tree or other tree on public property.
"Topping" is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than
three 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 certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions
where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this section
at the determination of the City Shade Tree Commission.
Any person willfully damaging any tree, bush, shrub or other planting
in any public street, public park or any property in the care, custody and
control of the City shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to exceed
$5,000.