(a) Street trees are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation on land lying 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. 161; Code 2018)
There is hereby created and established a city tree board for the city of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, which shall consist of five members, citizens and residents of this city, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The term of the five persons to be appointed by the mayor shall be three years except that 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 successor shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
It shall be the responsibilities of the board to study, investigate, council, and care in the preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in the parks, along streets and in other public areas. Such plans will be presented annually to the city council and upon their acceptance and approval constitute the official comprehensive city tree plan for the City of Pretty Prairie, Kansas. The board, when requested by the city council, shall consider, investigate, make finding, report and recommend upon any special matter of question coming within the scope of its work.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The following list constitutes the official Street Tree species recommended for Pretty Prairie Kansas:
(a) Small trees: Apricot, Flowering Crabapple, Goldenraintree, Hawthorn, Bradford Pear, Redbud, Russion Olive, Soapberry, Lilac, Japanese Tree, Plum, Purpleleaf, Serviceberry, Amur Maple.
(b) Medium trees: Green Ash, Bald Cypress, Hackberry, Honeylocust (thornless), Linden or Basswood, Lacebark Elm, Red Mulberry (fruitless, male), Japanese Pagodatree, English Oak, Red Oak, Osageorange (male, thornless), Persimmon, Chinese Pistacheo.
(c) Large trees: Kentucky Coffee tree, Silver Maple, Bur Oak, London Sycamore (plaintree) Sugar Maple.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
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 the City Tree Board.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curblines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three species classes listed in section 13-307, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, 2 feet, medium trees 3 feet, and large trees 4 feet.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
No street tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet of any street corner, and measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines. No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet of any fireplug.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
No street tree other than those species listed as small trees in section 13-307 may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The city shall have the right to 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 at adjacent property owners expense, to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds at city expense. The city tree board may remove or cause to be removed at adjacent property owner’s expense 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. The City may plant trees within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues and lanes provided there is no objection from adjacent property owners. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the section and location of said trees is in accordance with section 13-307 through 13-311.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
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. 161; Code 2018)
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right of-way within the City shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be clear space of twelve (12) feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owner shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed 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 streetlight, or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign.
(Ord. 161; Ord. 169; Code 2018)
The City shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees or stumps on private property within the city, when such trees or stumps constitute a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the city. The city tree board will notify in writing the owners of such trees or stumps. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within sixty days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the City shall have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal to the owners.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing street or park trees within the City without first applying for and procuring a license. The license fee shall be $5.00 annually in advance; provided, however, that no license shall be required of any public service company or city employee doing such work in the pursuit of their public service endeavors. Before any license shall be issued, each applicant shall file evidence that they have read and will abide by the City tree ordinance of Pretty Prairie, Kansas. In the event of proof of passing an Arborist Training Workshop the $5.00 license fee shall be waived.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
The City Council shall have the right to review the decisions of the city tree board. Any person may appeal any ruling or order of the city tree board to the city council who may hear the matter and make final decision.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be upon conviction or plea of guilty subject to a fine not to exceed $25.00.
(Ord. 161; Code 2018)