[R.O. 2008 §85.010; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
Except where otherwise indicated, the terms, "street tree", "tree" or "plants" shall be construed as a tree or a plant in or upon a public place.
[R.O. 2008 §85.020; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
There is hereby established within the Department of Public Services the office of City Forester. The City Forester shall have exclusive jurisdiction and supervision over all trees, other plants and grassy areas planted or growing in public places. He/she shall have the authority and it shall be his/her duty to supervise all work done pursuant to the terms of this Chapter. In the performance of his/her duties hereunder, he/she shall be authorized to enter in and upon private premises. In addition, the City Forester shall have the authority and it shall be his/her duty to plant, trim, spray, preserve and remove trees, other plants and grassy areas in public places in order to insure safety and preserve the symmetry and beauty of such public places and to order the trimming, preservation or removal of trees or plants upon private property when such action is necessary in the preservation of the public safety or the prevention of the spread of disease or insects to public trees and places.
[R.O. 2008 §85.030; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
A. 
No person shall either trim, spray, preserve or remove trees, other plants and grassy areas in public places or plant or set out any tree or plant in a public place without obtaining a permit from the City Forester.
1. 
Preservation and removal. The application for a permit for the trimming, spraying, preservation or removal of trees, plants and grassy areas shall state the number and kind of trees to be trimmed, sprayed, preserved or removed; the kind of treatment to be administered; the kind and condition of the nearest trees upon adjoining property and such other information as shall be reasonably necessary to the determination of the application request.
2. 
Planting. The application for a permit to plant any tree or plant in a public place shall state the number of trees or plants to be planted; the location, grade and variety of each tree or plant; the method of planting, including the supplying of suitable soil and such other information as shall be reasonably necessary to a determination of the application request.
3. 
Large scale planting. Any person desiring to plant or set out large numbers of trees or plants shall file duplicate copies of a planting plan or a written statement containing the following information:
a. 
The street upon which the planting is to be done, together with the designation of pavement, curb, gutter, parking strip and sidewalk areas shown to an accurate scale.
b. 
The variety of each and every tree proposed to be planted and of those already existing within the street lines, either indicated on the plan or referenced to a key list.
c. 
The proposed location of each and every proposed tree, together with the location of each existing tree within the street lines, drawn in scale with the other features of the plan.
d. 
The nature of the soil in the planting space to a depth of three (3) feet and all existing and proposed surface drainage or subsoil drainage system.
[R.O. 2008 §85.040; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
A. 
A permit for the trimming, spraying, preservation, removal or planting of trees or plants in public places shall be issued and shall remain in force only upon compliance with the following requirements:
1. 
Trees shall not be less than one (1) inch in diameter of trunk one (1) foot above the ground.
2. 
All trees from one (1) to three (3) inches in diameter of trunk one (1) foot above the ground shall be protected and supported by tree guards, until the City Forester shall find it thoroughly rooted.
3. 
No trees shall be placed so as to cause a traffic hazard.
4. 
In felling trees, the same shall be removed with the root stump grubbed out as required by the City Forester.
5. 
All cuts above one (1) inch in diameter must be waterproofed.
6. 
Trees shall be planted at least thirty (30) feet apart, except where special permission is obtained from the City Forester.
7. 
No trees shall be planted where the clear space between the curb and the sidewalk is less than three (3) feet.
8. 
No tree shall be planted where the soil is too poor to insure growth of such tree, unless the planter excavates a suitable hole of not less than thirty-six (36) cubic feet and replaces the material removed with suitable loam or soil stripped from pasture land.
9. 
No tree shall be planted nearer than one (1) foot from the curb line or outer line of sidewalk, unless a special permit is granted by the City Forester.
10. 
No tree shall be planted on any street except of the variety approved by the City Forester.
[R.O. 2008 §85.050; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961; Ord. No. 1849, 3-14-1995]
A. 
It shall be the duty of any person having responsibility for trees, hedges, shrubs, plants or other vegetation located within a public or private street right-of-way or within fifteen (15) feet of a public or private street right-of-way:
1. 
To maintain trees, hedges, shrubs, plants or other vegetation so that no hedge, shrub, plant or other such vegetation shall cause a safety hazard, as determined by the Chief of Police, on public or private streets or to interfere with the proper lighting of public streets. In determining whether the location or maintenance of trees or vegetation causes a safety hazard, the Chief of Police shall consider one (1) or more of the following factors:
a. 
The rate of speed attained by vehicles using the street;
b. 
Restricted sight distances and other obstructions to the view of the motoring public at or near the location; and
c. 
The record of serious accidents along the street.
2. 
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.
[R.O. 2008 §85.060; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
When the City Forester shall find it necessary to order the trimming, preservation or removal of trees or plants on private property as hereinabove provided, he/she shall serve a written order to correct such conditions upon the owner, operator, occupant or other person responsible by serving a copy of the order on such person or by mailing a copy of the order to the last known address of such person by registered mail. The order shall set forth a time period for compliance; provided however, that in cases of extreme danger to persons or public property, the City Forester shall have the authority to require compliance immediately upon service of the order. Any person to whom an order is directed hereunder may, within forty-eight (48) hours of its service, file a written appeal with the City Manager. Within five (5) days of receipt of such written appeal, the City Manager shall review the order and file his/her decision. A copy of the decision of the City Manager shall be served on the person filing the appeal. No person to whom an order is directed shall fail to comply with such order within five (5) days after an appeal shall have been determined. When a person to whom an order is directed shall fail to comply with said order within the specified time period, the City Forester shall correct or cause to be corrected the conditions involved and charge the cost thereof to the responsible person. In order to perform such obligations, the City Forester and his/her duly authorized agents shall be granted access to any premises. If the cost of correction is not paid within thirty (30) days after receipt of a statement therefor from the City Forester, such cost shall be levied against the property upon which the condition existed, as a special assessment. Such special assessment shall be certified by the City Forester to the City Clerk and shall thereupon become and be a lien upon the property involved and shall be collected in the same manner and as is provided for other taxes against such property. The levying of such special assessment shall not affect the liability of the person to whom the order is directed to a fine as hereinafter provided.
[R.O. 2008 §85.070; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
No person shall damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark, pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant, attach any rope, wire or other contrivance such as a sign to any tree or plant, dig in or otherwise disturb grassy areas or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of such areas, cause or permit any wire charged with electricity to come in contact with any tree or plant or allow any gaseous, liquid or solid substance which is harmful to such trees or plants.
[R.O. 2008 §85.080; Ord. No. 559, 6-27-1961]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one dollar ($1.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).