The provisions of this chapter are enacted pursuant to RCW 35.21.310 and other applicable state law. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that the condition and location of trees, shrubs and other vegetation or debris do not obstruct or impair the use of public streets or sidewalks by members of the public, or otherwise pose a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare. It is the further purpose and intent of this chapter that landowners should bear the primary responsibility for and cost of maintaining their own property, including without limitation all trees and vegetation growing thereupon, in a properly confined, compliant and nonhazardous manner. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed in furtherance of said purposes and in accordance with RCW 35.21.310.
(Ord. 16-466 § 1 (Exh. A))
A. 
All landowners within the city shall maintain their property in a manner that does not pose a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare. Without prejudice to the foregoing, landowners shall be responsible for the following:
1. 
Removing or destroying all trees, plants, shrubs or vegetation, or parts thereof, located upon their property which overhang any public sidewalk or street or which are growing thereon in such manner as to obstruct or impair the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public.
2. 
Removing or destroying all dead grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees or vegetation located upon their property which constitutes a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety or welfare.
3. 
Removing or destroying all debris located upon their property which constitutes a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety or welfare.
B. 
With regard to the conditions listed under subsection (A) of this section, the fire code official shall be responsible for determining whether or not a fire hazard exists, and the public works director shall be responsible for determining whether or not there is a menace to public's health, safety or welfare.
C. 
Trees that are dead, dying and/or diseased may qualify as a fire hazard and/or menace to public health, safety or welfare, to be determined based on photographic evidence demonstrating at least one of the following applies:
1. 
Dead Trees. The tree is dead or has been damaged beyond repair or where not enough live tissue, green leaves, limbs, roots or branches exist to sustain life; and/or
2. 
Dying Trees. The tree is in an advanced stage of decline due to disease, insect infestation, or rotting and cannot be saved by reasonable treatment or pruning, or must be removed to prevent the spread of a disease/pest that would cause catastrophic decline in tree health and failure.
(Ord. 25-679 § 1 (Exh. A))
Whenever a condition violating EMC § 8.15.020 exists upon property located within the city, the city council may initiate proceedings against the landowner by resolution, passage of which shall not occur until at least five days' written notice has been provided to the landowner. The resolution shall describe the subject property and the hazardous condition(s), and shall require the landowner to remove or destroy the same by the deadline established therein, which shall be no less than 10 days from the date of passage of the resolution. A copy of the resolution shall be provided to the landowner following passage.
(Ord. 16-466 § 1 (Exh. A))
If the landowner fails to remove or destroy the dangerous condition(s) identified in the city council resolution by the deadline established thereby, the city may cause the removal or destruction of such condition(s).
(Ord. 16-466 § 1 (Exh. A))
The costs incurred by the city under this chapter shall become a charge to the landowner and a lien against the subject property. Notice of such lien shall be in substantially the same form, filed with the same officer, and within the same time and manner, and enforced and foreclosed as provided by law for liens for labor and materials.
(Ord. 16-466 § 1 (Exh. A))
The provisions of this chapter are nonexclusive, cumulative, and without prejudice to any other remedy, penalty, and/or procedure available to the city with respect to the subject matter hereof. Violations of this chapter are also subject to enforcement and penalties as set forth in EMC Title 7, Code Enforcement.
(Ord. 16-466 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 20-572 § 3 (Exh. C))