Park trees.
Trees, shrubs, and woody plants in public parks having individual names, and all other areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.
Street trees.
Trees, shrubs, and any other woody plant on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues, or ways within the city.
Visibility triangle.
An area located at the intersection of two (2) streets, a street and an access easement of an alley or a driveway, or any combination thereof. The “visibility triangle” shall measure twenty-five feet (25') by twenty-five feet (25') in each direction from the property corner or intersection of the pavement with the property, as appropriate, along the property line.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1303)
The following list constitutes the official street tree species for the city. No species other than these included in this list may be planted as street trees without the written permission of the tree board:
Small Trees
Medium Trees
Large Trees
Redbud
Golden raintree
Chinquapin oak
Hawthorn
Bald cypress
Live oak
Crape myrtle
Sweet gum
Bur oak
Japanese black pine
River birch
Red oak
Arizona cypress
Deodar cedar
Cedar elm
Eastern red cedar
Chinese pistachio
Chinese tallow
Mexican plum
Desert willow
Southern magnolia
Bradford pear
Chinese elm
Pecan
Aristocrat pear
Thornless honey locust
Slash pine
Flowering crabapple
Green ash
Loblolly pine
Drake elm
Arizona ash
Sycamore
Holly
 
 
Waxleaf ligustrum
 
 
Cherry laurel
 
 
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1304)
The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the tree species size classes listed in section 16.06.062 of this division, and no trees may be planted closer together than the following without the approval of the tree board:
(1) 
Small trees: 30 feet;
(2) 
Medium trees: 40 feet; and
(3) 
Large trees: 50 feet.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1305)
The distance that trees may be planted from the curb or curb lane will be in accordance with the tree species size classes listed in section 16.06.062 of this division, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following:
(1) 
Small trees: 2 feet;
(2) 
Medium trees: 3 feet; and
(3) 
Large trees: 4 feet.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1306)
No street tree shall be planted within the “visibility triangle,” as defined in section 16.06.061 of this division. No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to any fireplug.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1307)
No trees may be planted in any utility easement, 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.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1308; Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person or firm 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 are exempt from this code.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1309)
All stumps of street or 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.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1310)
(a) 
The city shall have the right to plant, maintain, and remove trees, shrubs, or any other wood plants within the rights-of-way of all streets, alleys, lanes, and within 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, including such rights and powers as set forth in division 4 of this article.
(b) 
The director of parks and recreation will make recommendations to the tree board on the removal or cause, or order for removal, 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 disease, insect or other pest.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.1311)