§ 95-4. Abuse or mutilation of public trees.

Unless specifically authorized by the city horticulturist, no person shall intentionally damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any public tree; nor attach any rope, wire, nails, staples, advertising posters, or other contrivance to any public tree; nor allow any gas, liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come in contact with them; nor set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or the heat thereof will injure any portion of any public tree. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor and, in addition thereto, shall be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement of any public tree so damaged.

It shall be unlawful as a normal practice to top any public tree. 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 wire or other obstruction where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this ordinance at the determination of the city horticulturist.

(Ord. of 1-10-00)

(Ord. of 1-10-00)