In order to reduce stormwater runoff, stabilize soil, enhance the ecological environment, improve property values, and enhance the general aesthetics and welfare of the community, the preservation, protection, and planting of trees is deemed to be a desirable goal of the community.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
A. 
"Abutting property"
means real property having lines in common with adjacent property or separated only by a public right-of-way.
B. 
"Administrator"
means the director of public works or authorized representative.
C. 
"Caliper"
means the diameter of a tree as measured six inches above ground level.
D. 
"City"
means the city of Raymond, Washington.
E. 
"City council"
means the city council of the city of Raymond, Washington.
F. 
"Emergency"
means damage to utility lines, or to public or private property, due to storm or other acts of God or other accidents which require immediate attention to alleviate the condition or commence and complete repairs.
G. 
"Hazard"
means the effect of unpredictable and unanalyzable forces in determining an event, or the degree of danger or risk.
H. 
"Nuisance"
means a person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.
I. 
"Owner"
means any person, firm, association, syndicate, copartnership, or corporation having proprietary interest, dominion, or title to the real property.
J. 
"Person"
means any individual, partnership, joint venture, society, association, club, trustee, company, firm or corporation; or any officers, agents, employees, or any personal representatives of any thereof, in any capacity, acting either for himself, or any other person, under either personal appointment or pursuant to law.
K. 
"Public right-of-way"
means property owned or controlled through dedication, easement, or other legal instrument that is available to the public for ingress and egress, and commonly used for the placement of utilities.
L. 
"Removal"
means the act of cutting down or removing any tree or shrub from the public right-of-way.
M. 
"Street tree"
means any tree planted or growing within a public sidewalk.
N. 
"Topping"
means the severe cutting back of limbs leaving stubs beyond the branch collar within the tree's crown or to such a degree as to remove a substantial portion of the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
A. 
All ornamental, shade, or other trees and shrubs which have been planted and are now situated in the sidewalks within the general commercial (GC) and retail core (RC) zoning districts are declared to be public property and subject to the control of the city.
B. 
No person shall plant, remove, or otherwise disturb any tree or shrub located within the sidewalk of any public right-of-way within the GC or RC zoning districts without prior approval from the city.
C. 
The city shall authorize or perform the removal and replanting of trees or shrubs deemed to be dead, diseased, or hazardous; or missing due to any other circumstance.
D. 
No street trees located within the sidewalk of any public right-of-way within the GC or RC zoning districts shall be trimmed or pruned except in a symmetrical and even manner according to the accepted forms of practice for the trimming and pruning of such trees. Such trimming and pruning or cutting thereof shall only be done under permission of the city.
E. 
It is unlawful for any person or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property. 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 chapter at the determination of the city. Tree topping is not a preferable means of maintenance.
F. 
When any tree or shrub is removed from the public right-of-way the stump shall be completely removed. The administrator may authorize the grinding of the stump to a depth of one foot below the surrounding average finished grade. When the city decrees that a tree or shrub is not required to be replaced the sidewalk cutout will be filled with a thin layer of asphalt, concrete, bricks, or other material approved by the administrator.
G. 
If a sidewalk sustains damage as a result of a street tree the city will be responsible for repair costs.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
A. 
The city may remove or trim a tree or shrub described as a hazard or nuisance in this section, or may require the property owner to remove or trim any such tree on private property, including any tree or shrub that interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light, or interferes with the visibility of any traffic control device or sign. Failure of the property owner to remove or trim the tree within 30 days after receiving written notice from the city is a violation of this chapter, and the city may then remove or trim the tree and assess the costs as a lien against the property as per RCW 35.21.310.
B. 
The city may cause the removal of all or part of any dead, dangerous, or diseased tree when the tree constitutes a hazard to life, property, or harbors insects or disease which constitutes a potential threat to other trees.
C. 
The city may approve the removal of trees on public rights-of-way for work conducted by or on behalf of a federal, state, county, municipal, or other governmental agency in pursuance of its lawful activities or functions in the construction, improvement, or maintenance of public rights-of-way.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
A. 
General Provisions. The selection of street trees will be in accordance with the "City of Raymond Street Tree Plan," attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter as Exhibit A. Street tree plantings shall consider the location of existing utilities, lighting, driveways, business entrances, and signs.
B. 
Planting Season. The time of year a tree is planted can greatly affect the tree's establishment because newly planted trees require water to survive and grow. Planting during the wet, cool months will help ensure tree establishment and survival. Therefore, the planting season in the city is designated as October 1st through April 30th.
C. 
Tree Spacing. Trees should be planted a minimum distance of 25 feet apart, except in special plantings approved by the city.
D. 
Tree Vaults. Tree vault sizes shall be a minimum of four feet wide by four feet long.
E. 
Distance from Curb and Sidewalk. The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and sidewalks will be determined by the city on a street-by-street basis; every effort will be made to promote continuity and uniformity per each street but not necessarily city wide. On streets that do not have curbs and/or sidewalks, or planters designed for public tree placement, the city shall approve the location of new trees consistent with street and sidewalk construction standards.
F. 
Distance from Street Corners, Business Entrances, Traffic Signs, and Fire Hydrants. No street tree shall be planted closer than 20 feet from any street corner, measured from the nearest intersection curb or curb line point. Trees should not be planted in building entrances, within 20 feet from the front of stop signs or other directional and safety signs such as yield, pedestrian crossing, school, speed limit, etc., or within 10 feet from a fire hydrant.
G. 
Utilities. No street tree, other than small trees, may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet of any overhead utility wire, or over or within five lateral feet of any underground water line, transmission line, or other utility.
H. 
Requirements for New Street Trees. Trees shall be grown and harvested in accordance with the standards in the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1-2014 or most current edition). Trees acquired for planting in the city right-of-way shall be nursery-grown in a USDA hardiness zone suitable for the region and shall exhibit the following characteristics:
1. 
Healthy and vigorous, with trunk and limbs free from insects, disease, defects, injuries, and decay;
2. 
Single trunk that is straight, with a well-developed leader and good trunk taper (one-and-one-half-inch to two-inch caliper);
3. 
Well-distributed branches that are considerably smaller in diameter than the trunk, with wide-angled branch attachments or branch attachments that are appropriate for the tree form; and
4. 
A fibrous root system.
I. 
Root Barriers. It is ideal to plant the right tree in the right place to reduce tree conflicts, but the right-of-way is not often an ideal place for a tree to grow due to narrow space, compacted soil, and hard surfaces such as sidewalks. Tree roots can grow underneath sidewalks and lift or crack the sidewalk. Damaged sidewalks create safety concerns and are expensive to replace, and trees that cause infrastructure damage can become less desirable to retain through the end of their natural lifespan. This means planting small trees in small spaces and big trees in big spaces. However, extra protection can be taken by installing root barriers at the time of planting. A root barrier is a device installed in the ground, between a tree and the sidewalk, intended to guide roots down and away from the sidewalk to prevent sidewalk lifting from tree roots. Root barriers are required to be installed in conjunction with street tree plantings, unless specifically exempted by the city.
1. 
Root barriers shall be commercially produced for deflecting tree roots downward. Root barriers shall be installed as per the manufacturer's instructions. Root guide ridges shall face towards the tree, with the back flush against the sidewalk. The top of the root barrier shall be one-half to one inch above the finished soil grade or level with the sidewalk, whichever is lower, when installation is complete;
2. 
Root barriers should generally be made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or polystyrene, at least 12 inches deep, with vertical root guides every six inches. Root barrier products should specify use as a tree root barrier; and
3. 
Alternative root barrier materials may be used when approved by the city.
J. 
Tree Grates. Tree grates shall be used to reduce trip hazards and assist in keeping sidewalks neat and clean. Grates will be placed so they are even with the walking surface of the sidewalk. When an individual planting area is not symmetrical, the longer dimension shall run along the curb. When there is on-street parking, a tree grate or a paved walk 18 inches wide behind the curb are encouraged to help avoid conflicts with car doors and foot traffic. A minimum clear pedestrian walking path of four feet, as required by the RMC, shall be maintained. Where tree grates are used, they shall be ADA accessible and have a similar size and material as tree grates found in adjacent streets. Grates can be:
1. 
Poured and framed during sidewalk construction for insertion of a metal grate;
2. 
Hand placed pavers or similar material; or
3. 
Of other similar material as approved by the city.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
No person shall abuse, destroy, or mutilate any street tree, or attach or place any rope or wire (other than one used to support the tree itself), sign, poster, handbill, or other thing to, or on any tree growing in a public place, or cause or permit any wire charged with electricity with the exception of decorative lights for a period not exceeding 45 days per year, to come into contact with any such tree, or to allow any gaseous, liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to such trees, to come into contact with their roots or leaves.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
No person shall prevent, delay, or interfere with the city or any of its agents, while engaging in the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removal of any street trees.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
Emergency tree maintenance procedures are authorized to be performed by utility companies, contractors, abutting property owners, and the city, when necessary, due to unforeseen circumstances or conditions that impose an immediate threat to utility systems, public or private property, or the welfare of persons residing or traveling near the tree in question. Only the work required to remove the immediate threat shall be performed.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
Anyone with an ownership interest in land may request an exception from the provisions of this chapter based on special circumstances pertaining to that land or the trees on it. Such requests shall be addressed in writing or in person, with full documentation and justification, to the city council.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
Appeals, to a decision of the administrator made under this chapter, will be filed within 15 days of the final decision, to the city council.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)
Any person, firm, or corporation responsible for removing a street tree or park tree without the approval of the city, or under an exemption hereunder, shall pay the full value times two, as determined by the city, of the tree that was removed, to the city to be dedicated to the maintenance and replacement of street trees. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction or a plea of guilty, be subject to a fine of not more than $500.00. All fines collected shall be set aside for the planting, maintenance, and enhancement of street and park trees. The foregoing penalty provisions hereof shall be in addition to any remedies provided by laws of the state.
(Ord. 1871 § 1, 2018)