(a)   Street trees are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues, or ways within the city.

(b)   Park trees are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names, and all areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 1)

There is hereby created and established a city tree board for the city which shall consist of six members, citizens and residents of this city, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 2; Code 2013)

The term of the five persons to be appointed by the mayor shall be three years except that the term of two of the members appointed to the first board shall be for only one year and the term of two members of the first board shall be for two years. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his or her successor shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 3; Code 2013)

Members of the board shall serve without compensation.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 4; Code 2013)

It shall be the responsibility of the board to study, investigate, council and develop and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas. The plans will be presented annually to the city council and upon their acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive city tree plan for the city. The board, when requested by the city council, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter or question coming within the scope of its work.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 5; Code 2013)

The board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep minutes of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 6; Code 2013)

The following list constitutes the official street tree species for the city. No species other than those included in this list may be planted as street trees without written permission of the city tree board.

Small Trees: Apricot, Crabapple (flowering), Goldenraintree, Hawthorn, (sp), Pear, Bradford, Redbud, Soapberry, Ash, Mountain, Lilac, Japanese tree, Peach, flowering, Plum, Purpleleaf, Serviceberry.

Medium Trees: Ash, green, Hackberry, thornless, Honeylocust, Linden or Basswood (sp), Mulfruitless, male, red, Oak, English, Oak, red, Pagodatree, Japanese, Osageorange, male, thornless, Pecan, Popular, White.

Large Trees: Coffeetree, Kentucky, Maple, Silver, Oak, Bur, Sycamore, London Planetree, Cottonwood, cottonless, male, Maple, Sugar.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 7; Code 2013)

The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the three species size classes listed in section 13-307 of this article and no trees may be planted closer together than the following: small trees - 30 feet; medium trees - 40 feet; and large trees - 50 feet; except in special plantings designed or approved by a landscape architect.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 8; Code 2013)

The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curblines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three species size classes listed in section 13-307 of this article, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees - two feet; medium trees - three feet; and large trees - four feet.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 9; Code 2013)

No street tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet from any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines. No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet from any fireplug.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 10; Code 2013)

No street trees other than those species listed as small trees in section 13-307 of this article 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, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 11; Code 2013)

The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of the public grounds. The city tree board may remove or cause or order to be removed, any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect, or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of the trees, is in accordance with sections 13-307 through 13-311 of this article.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 12; Code 2013)

It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree’s crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. 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 article at the determination of the city tree board.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 13; Code 2013)

Every owner of any tree overhanging a street or right-of-way within the city shall prune the branches so that the branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. The owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decaying limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The city shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light, or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 14; Code 2013)

The city shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the city, when the trees constitute a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease which constitutes potential threat to other trees within the city. The city tree board will notify in writing the owners of the trees. Removal shall be done by the owners at their own expense within 60 days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with the provisions, the city shall have the authority to remove the trees and charge the cost of removal on the owners property tax notice.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 15; Code 2013)

All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 16; Code 2013)

It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with the city tree board, or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removing of any street trees, park trees, or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this article.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 17; Code 2013)

The city council shall have the right to review the conduct, acts, and decisions of the city tree board. Any person may appeal from any ruling or order of the city tree board to the city council who may hear the matter and make final decision.

(Ord. 1579, Sec. 18; Code 2013)