(a) There
is hereby created a board to be known as the Forestry Board. The Board
shall be composed of seven members who shall be appointed by the City
Council. The Board shall include five persons selected from the following
categories: professional arborist, nursery professional, landscape
designer, pesticide applicator, otherwise trained or certified in
a plant health industry and include a representative of the State
Forest Service if possible. The other two members of the Board may
be lay persons. A chairperson and a vice-chairperson shall be elected
each year and vacancies owing to death or resignation shall be filled
by appointment for the unexpired term.
(b) The
City Manager or his designated representative shall be the Secretary
of the Forestry Board.
(Ord. 5077, 6-15-22; Ord. 4694, 4-20-16; Ord. 4164, 1-16-08. Code 1994 § 40-26; Code 1965 § 20-68)
The members of the Forestry Board shall meet as required, the
time and place thereof to be determined by such Board. Minutes shall
be maintained of all meetings, and the Board shall adopt rules for
its own organization and procedures.
(Code 1994 § 40-27; Code 1965 § 20-69)
The Forestry Board shall act as a reviewing body for the purpose
of determining professional qualifications and competence to engage
in the business of cutting, trimming, pruning, spraying or removing
trees by giving written, oral and practical license examinations.
The Board shall recommend to the City Council adoption of rules and
regulations pertaining to the tree service business in the City, and
it may hear complaints from any citizen of the City, including any
of its own members, relating to a tree service business. Upon receipt
of a complaint and after informing the licensee of the complaint and
giving the licensee a chance to be heard, the Board may suspend a
tree service license for up to 60 days or may revoke such license.
(Code 1994 § 40-28; Code 1965 § 20-70)
(a) Any
person aggrieved by any decision or order of the City Manager may
appeal such decision or order to the Forestry Board. Such appeal must
be perfected within 10 days from the date of the order. It shall be
lodged in writing with the secretary of such Board, and shall state
the grounds for the appeal. Such appeal shall operate as a stay of
the order unless the City Manager certifies that a stay would cause
imminent hazard to trees and/or other landscape plantings within the
City.
(b) Any
person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Forestry Board may
appeal such decision or order to the City Council. Such appeal shall
be lodged with the City Clerk within 10 days from the date of the
order or decision and shall be in writing stating grounds of appeal.
The City Council shall hear such appeal at any subsequent meeting
and may modify, reverse or affirm such decision or order of the Forestry
Board.
(Amended during 2009 recodification; Code 1994 § 40-29; Code 1965 § 20-71)