Sec. 14-57. - Protection of trees on public property.

(a)

During development, redevelopment, razing or renovating, no trees shall be cut, damaged, destroyed or removed except by specified permit. All trees removed, destroyed, or severely damaged shall be replaced at the expense of the permittee. The total caliper of all trees planted in the course of restoration shall in no event be less than the total caliper of all trees removed. Replacement shall be made with 2½-inch to six-inch caliper trees and/or as directed by the city forester. If sufficient tree planting locations are unavailable within the contract area, the replacement trees shall be planted within one-quarter mile of the contract area as determined by the city forester except by special permit of the city forester.

(b)

All trees within 30 feet (9.1 meters) of any excavation or construction of any building, structure, or street work shall be guarded through the length of the project with a good substantial fence, frame, or box not less than four feet (1.2 meters) high and eight feet (2.4 meters) square, or equivalent. All equipment, building materials, chemicals, dirt, or other debris shall be kept outside the barrier at all times.

(c)

No person shall intentionally damage, cut, carve or transplant any tree; attach any rope, wire nails, advertising posters, or other contrivance to any tree; allow any gaseous, liquid, chemical, or solid substance that is harmful to such trees to come in contact with them; or set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or the heat thereof will injure any portion of any tree without first obtaining a written permit from the city forester.

(d)

No person shall deposit, place, store, or maintain any stone, brick, sand, fill dirt, concrete, or other materials that may impede the free passage of water, air, and fertilizer to the roots of any tree growing therein, except by written permit of the city forester.

(e)

No person shall preclude the percolation of water or nutrients and gaseous exchange vital to a tree's survival by placing any impervious materials (asphalt, macadam concrete) within the confines of the tree well opening.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-59)