As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning
hereinafter ascribed to them respectively:
DEPARTMENT
Includes the Department of Parks and Public Property of the city,
the Director of such Department and any person who the Director shall assign
or appoint to perform any act under the provisions of this chapter.
PARK
Includes a city park, city parkway or city park strip in the city.
STREET
Includes road, roadway, highway, public alley and public place in
the city.
TREE
Includes shade tree, ornamental tree and shrubbery presently planted
or which shall hereafter be planted in any street or park in the city.
No person owning, using or having control of or in charge of any gas
or other substance harmful to tree life shall cause, suffer or permit such
gas or other substance to come in contact with any tree or with the soil surrounding
the roots of any tree in any street or park in such manner as to cause injury
to or destruction of any tree. No person shall cause, suffer or permit any
brine, water, oil, liquid dye or substance harmful to tree life to lie, leak,
pour, flow or drip on or into the soil about the base of any tree in any street
or park or on a sidewalk, road or pavement in such manner as to cause injury
to or destruction of any tree.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage, misuse or remove any
device or guard provided for the protection of any tree in any street or park.
No person shall cause, suffer or permit a wire or conductor charged
with electricity to come into contact with any tree in a street or park in
such manner as to cause injury to or destruction of such tree.
No person shall attach to any tree in any street or park or to a guard
or device intended for the protection of any tree any rope, wire or sign or
other thing whatsoever.
No person shall tie any horse or other animal to any tree in any such
manner as to injure or destroy such tree.
No person shall construct, repair, alter or remove any building or other
structure in the city in the vicinity of any tree without providing sufficient
and proper safeguards and protection for such tree to prevent injury or destruction
thereof. The person in charge of such construction, repair, alteration or
removal shall be responsible for the payment of any damage caused by injury
to or destruction of any tree because of the violation of the provisions herein.
The amount of any damage shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners and,
as so approved, shall be certified by the Department to the Tax Collector,
whereupon the sum so certified shall be collected as other taxes of real property
are collected.
The Department is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to make
such rules and regulations and to establish such reasonable conditions and
standards as may be necessary and requisite for the administration and enforcement
of this chapter.
No person shall interfere with authorized city employees while they
are engaged in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying
or removing of any tree and while performing any of their duties in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter.