[CC 1985 § 27-42; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
The board will establish and maintain
an accurate inventory of trees that are located on City property and
easements. This will include a street overlay with the placement,
species, and relative condition of each tree located on City property.
[CC 1985 § 27-43; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
Utilizing the Tree Inventory, the
board will develop a Tree Replacement Schedule that determines the
best solution for systematic renewal of City-owned trees. Mandatory
input from foresters, Conservation Department, and other such expertise,
will guide the board in preparing the Tree Replacement Schedule.
[CC 1985 § 27-44; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
The board shall research and provide
recommendation to the City Council as to tree species that meet the
criteria for successful planting and survival in the mid-Missouri
temperature zone.
[CC 1985 § 27-45; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
Techniques for tree removal shall
be investigated with specific attention to cost and efficiency. Best
approach recommendations will detail the entire removal process. The
recovery of tree resources, transporting of non-resources, and dispersion
or disposal of same, will be clearly defined. Post-removal cleanup
responsibilities will be defined.
[CC 1985 § 27-46; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
Procedures for tree planting will
be developed after a comprehensive evaluation of available information
to ensure a successful survival rate.
[CC 1985 § 27-47; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
A. A plan detailing the maintenance and watering
of each newly planted tree will be established. Information in this
plan will include:
1.
Assignment of responsibility.
2.
Best time of day to water, quantity
of water used per tree.
[CC 1985 § 27-48; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
The board will produce a nursery
proposal outlining a City-owned, low-cost solution to provide suitable
tree replacements at the appropriate time and in sufficient quantity.
The proposal will serve as a reference in determining whether to grow
or purchase replacement trees.
[CC 1985 § 27-49; Ord. No. 876, 6-5-2006]
The board will continually investigate
methods to recover value in harvested trees. This includes the sale
of any and all portions of trees that have been removed.
[CC 1985 § 27-50; Ord. No. 925, 9-2-2008]
It shall not be normal practice for
any person, firm or City Department to top any tree in the public
community forest. "Topping, rounding off or pollarding" is defined
as the systematic cutting back of limbs widening the tree's crown
to such a degree as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the
tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes where other
pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this Section
by determination of the Community Forest Manager or Tree Board.
[CC 1985 § 27-51; Ord. No. 925, 9-2-2008]
Street trees may be planted in the
tree lawn where there is no less than six (6) feet between the edge
of the sidewalk and the curb of the street. Any tree, street or privately
owned, shall be planted no closer than eight (8) feet from a sidewalk
driveway, or street. No tree shall be planted closer than ten (10)
feet from any fireplug. Special permission must be obtained from the
Forestry Board when planting street trees within ten (10) feet of
any point on a line on the ground immediately below any overhead utility
wire.
[CC 1985 § 27-52; Ord. No. 925, 9-2-2008]
For reasons of public safety, a minimum
clearance of eight (8) feet must be maintained over walkways and a
minimum distance of ten (10) feet over streets and alleys. Also for
reasons of public safety, overhanging hazardous or dead limbs need
to be removed from living trees. After written or verbal notice to
the abutting property owner, the City does have the right to prune
any and all overhanging hazardous or dead limbs. The City of St. James
will be responsible for the cost of this thinning since this is a
public safety issue.
[CC 1985 § 27-53; Ord. No. 925, 9-2-2008]
The City shall have the right to
plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within
the rights-of-way or bounds for any streets, alleys, lanes, squares
and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety. All
tree pruning and removal will be done in accordance with the most
current American National Standards Institute, ANSI A300, Tree, Shrub
and Other Woody Plant Maintenance — Standard Practices.