There is hereby created and established a tree care program to provide full power and authority over the care of all trees, plants and shrubs located within public rights-of-way, parks and public places and aid in the proper growth of a landscape program to enhance the beauty of the city.
(2006 Code, sec. 50-9; Ordinance 11-03-876, sec. 1, adopted 3/1/11)
(a) 
The city manager and/or his designee shall have the responsibility to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the public right-of-way of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares, parks, and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds. This shall include the removal of trees that may threaten electrical, telephone, gas, or any municipal water or sewer line, or any tree that is affected by fungus, insect, or other pest disease.
(b) 
Every owner of any tree or shrub overhanging any street or right-of-way, in accordance to the city pruning guidelines, shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not (severely) obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection, will not obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, will not obstruct vision of traffic signs, and will not obstruct the view of any street or alley intersection. If the property owner fails to do so, the city manager and/or his designee shall have the right to remove or prune any tree or shrub on private property which threatens the safety of those who may use a city street or city park. A fee shall be assessed for this service on an hourly basis. Fees will be based on the current hourly wages of city maintenance workers.
(c) 
No person shall remove, destroy, or cause the removal or destruction of a tree on city property or in any city park without first having obtained written permission for such removal or destruction from the city manager.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to attach any cable, wire, rope, sign or any object to any city tree, plant or shrub without written permission from the city manager and/or his designee.
(2006 Code, sec. 50-9(a); Ordinance 11-03-876, sec. 1, adopted 3/1/11; Ordinance adopting 2015 Code)
(a) 
Membership.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall serve as the tree preservation board.
(b) 
Election of Officers.
The board officers shall be the same as the Planning and Zoning Commission, and each officer shall serve for a term consistent with the Planning and Zoning Commission members.
(c) 
Meetings.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall meet in its capacity as the Tree Preservation Board a minimum of two times each year. All meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with the law. The board chairman may schedule additional meetings as needed.
(d) 
Duties.
The duties of the Tree Preservation Board shall include:
(1) 
To review the tree management plan, tree preservation and mitigation guidelines, and the tree care program as may be necessary;
(2) 
To promote the protection of healthy trees and provide guidelines for the replacement and/or replanting of trees necessarily removed during construction, development, and redevelopment;
(3) 
To uphold rules and regulation governing the protection and preservation of native or established trees with the city, which provide for purification of air and water, provide shade, windbreaks and the cooling of air, and provide for open space and more efficient drainage of land, thus reducing the effects on soil erosion;
(4) 
To study, investigate, counsel and develop and/or update periodically a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposal of public trees and shrubs on city property;
(5) 
To review and recommend specific beautification projects and public awareness programs to the city manager, and/or City Council as may be appropriate; and
(6) 
Other duties that may be assigned by the City Council.
(2006 Code, sec. 50-9(b); Ordinance 11-03-876, sec. 1, adopted 3/1/11; Ordinance adopting 2015 Code; Ordinance 18-10-1106 adopted 10/16/18; Ordinance 26-04-1410 adopted 4/7/2026)