[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
The Department of Public Works, Forestry Division, shall write
and implement an annual community forestry work plan. This plan shall
be in accordance with this Article and shall be part of a five-year
tree care program.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
Street trees shall not be planted more closely than the minimum
spacing specified in this Section, based on the classification of
the tree being planted as small, medium or large: small trees, thirty
(30) feet; medium trees and large trees, forty (40) feet; except in
special plantings designed or approved by the Forestry Division.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and
sidewalks shall in no case be closer than two (2) feet. Typically,
trees shall be planted in the middle of the tree lawn area. In the
case of tree lawns less than four (4) feet in width, no street trees
shall be planted, except in designs approved by the Forestry Division.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
No street tree shall be planted within thirty-five (35) feet
of any street corner, measured from the point of the nearest intersecting
curbs or curb lines. No street tree shall be planted within ten (10)
feet of any fireplug.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
A.
No street trees or trees on City-owned property other than small
trees may be planted under or within ten (10) lateral feet of any
overhead utility wire or over or within five (5) lateral feet of any
underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.
B.
Utility planting guidelines adopted under this Article will be coordinated
with best management practices prepared and updated by public utility
companies and approved by the International Society of Arboriculture
(ISA) and/or the Missouri Department of Conservation.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
A.
The City shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove
trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys,
avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds as may be necessary to
insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty
of such public grounds.
B.
The Public Works Department may remove or cause or order to be removed
any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which,
by reason of its nature, is injurious to sewers, electric power lines,
gas lines, water lines or other public improvements, or is affected
with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This Section does
not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners,
providing that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance
with this Article; however, any street tree or other vegetation planted
by private parties shall be property of the City and be subject to
pruning, trimming and removal by the City in the sole discretion of
the Mayor without any compensation to the party planting and/or the
adjoining property owner.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
It shall be unlawful as a 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 (3) 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 Article at the determination of the Department of Public Works.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way
within the City shall prune the branches so that such branches shall
not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of
any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of
eight (8) feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owners
shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous, broken or decayed limbs
which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The City shall
have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when
it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from
a street light or interferes with visibility of any traffic control
device or sign.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
The City shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead
or diseased trees on private property within the City when such trees
constitute a hazard to life and property or harbor insects or disease
which constitutes a potential threat to other trees within the City.
The Public Works Department will notify in writing the owners of such
trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within
sixty (60) days after the date of service of notice. In the event
of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the City shall
have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal
to the property owner.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
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.
[Ord. No. 2014-011, 10-9-2014]
It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy, remove, injure,
burn or cut down any tree, shrub, vine or flower planted or standing
in any public street, public park, alley, parkway, tree lawn or public
place in the City, or to pick any flowers or branches therefrom, or
to place about any such tree or other plant any stone, cement or substance
which might impede the free entrance of water and air to the roots
thereof without leaving an open space about the trunk of not less
than four (4) square feet. It shall be unlawful to attach in any manner
any telephone, telegraph, electric or other wire to any such tree
or to string any wires so that they come in contact with any branch
or part thereof.
