Anaheim Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Street Trees

Sections:

* Prior ordinance history: Ords. 166, 985 and 1251.

The Community Services Department under the direction of its Director shall have exclusive authority to inspect, maintain, plant, remove, prune, root prune or otherwise alter street trees. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 1; December 12, 2000.)

The Director of the Community Services Department or his or her designee shall cause surveys to be made from time to time, to determine which trees are to be retained or removed in order to conform to the tree planning and maintenance program. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 2; December 12, 2000.)

The City Council shall, by resolution, adopt an Official Tree Specie List designating the specific species of trees which may be planted on any street. The Community Services Department shall periodically review this list and recommend changes thereon as may be necessary. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 3; December 12, 2000.)

The street tree planting and removal should be based on a master plan for the city's urban forest. The City Council may, by resolution, adopt a master plan of trees for all streets within the city based on a study of local conditions and designed to fit the special street and tree factors involved. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990.)

The property owner shall not permit any vine growth on a street tree. The Department will perform all other maintenance of street trees deemed necessary by the Director of Community Services or his or her designee.

The Department shall water and maintain all street trees located in tree wells located in the City's rights-of-way. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990; Ord. 5744 § 4; December 12, 2000.)

Any street tree removed shall be replaced if a replacement is deemed possible. The replacement specie shall be selected in accordance with the Official Tree Specie List and Tree Master Plan.

In addition to replacing all removed street trees whenever possible, it is the responsibility of the Director of Community Services to insure all vacant street tree locations are planted within the City of Anaheim. These vacancies are to be planted in accordance with the Official Tree Specie List and Tree Master Plan. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 5; December 12, 2000.)

In any new private development where there is a parkway between the sidewalk and curb, the developer shall plant street trees as stated in subsection 18.40.060.030 of the Anaheim Municipal Code. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990; Ord. 5477 5744 § 6; December 12, 2000.)

.010 No person shall top or in any other manner injure or damage any street tree. For purposes of this section, the term "top" shall mean to damage a tree by the practice of severely cutting back large diameter branches and/or the trunk of a tree which results in substantially reducing the overall size of the tree and/or destroying the symmetrical appearance or structural shape of the tree.

.020 No person shall cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, spray, or in any other manner interfere with any street tree within the City of Anaheim without first having secured written permission from the Director of Community Services or his or her designee.

.030 Any person obtaining written permission to cut, trim or prune a street tree shall do so in accordance with the standards adopted by the International Society of Arboriculture. Any private business performing cutting, trimming or pruning operations on street trees shall employ an ISA certified arborist on staff and shall perform all work on street trees in accordance with the standards adopted by the International Society of Arboriculture.

.040 Any person violating the provisions of this Section which violation results in the need to remove and replace a street tree, shall be required to remove, including the rootball, and replace such tree in accordance with the City of Anaheim Planting Specifications. Such removal and replacement shall be completed within thirty (30) days from the date of written notice detailing the required action is given to such person by the Director of Community Services or his or her designee. The size and species of the replacement tree shall be determined by the Director of Community Services or his or her designee. If any person fails to remove and replace a street tree as provided in this Section, the City shall remove and replace such tree, and the actual cost to the City to remove and replace such tree shall constitute a debt owed by such person to the City, and such person shall be liable to the City in an action brought by the City for the recovery of such amounts. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 7; December 12, 2000.)

Any person, firm or corporation requesting the Department of Community Services to cut, trim, prune, remove, replace, spray or otherwise change or alter the position, shape or location of any street tree for the convenience of said person shall bear the total cost thereof. (Ord. 5171 § 1 (part); September 18, 1990: Ord. 5744 § 8; December 12, 2000.)