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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-032 YMC Addition Chapter 8.77 Public Tree Ordinance in Title 8 Streets and SidewalksORDINANCE NO. 2016-032 AN ORDINANCE adopting Chapter 8.77 Public Tree Ordinance in Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks of the City of Yakima Municipal Code to adopt public tree care standards, tree board, and become a "Tree City USA" designated city. WHEREAS, the "Tree City USA" designation is a national program that began in 1976 and is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Associate of State Foresters; and WHEREAS, the "Tree City USA" designation is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees; and WHEREAS, at its September 6, 2016, meeting, the City Council found and determined that the identified designation is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Yakima, and will promote proper care and establishment of additional trees throughout the city, and that staff should be authorized to move forward to obtain the "Tree City USA" designation; and WHEREAS, at the same September 6, 2016, meeting the Yakima City Council authorized city staff to prepare and submit a "Tree City USA" application to the Arbor Day Foundation, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban & Community Forestry, and USDA Forest Service, develop a tree care ordinance for council review and approval, and establish a tree board for the City of Yakima; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on December 6, 2016, after providing legal notice, and considered the addition to the Yakima Municipal Code as recommended by the City of Yakima Public Works, and Community Development departments, and the Yakima Arboretum; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima, having considered the record herein and the recommendation from city staff and the Yakima Arboretum, hereby finds and determines that adopting Chapter 8.77 regarding regulation and care of public trees is in the best interests of residents of the City of Yakima and will promote the general health, safety and welfare; therefore BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. City of Yakima Chapter 8.77 Public Tree Ordinance is hereby added to the Yakima Municipal Code and adopted as follows: Chapter 8.77 PUBLIC TREE ORDINANCE Sections: 8.77.010 Purpose. 8.77.020 Definitions. 8.77.030 Creation and Establishment of a City Tree Board 8.77.040 Term of Office 8.77.050 Compensation 8.77.060 Duties and Responsibilities 8.77.070 Operation 8.77.080 Street Tree Species to be Planted 8.77.090 Spacing 8.77.100 Distance from Curb and Sidewalk 8.77.110 Distance from Street Corners and Fire Hydrants 8.77.120 Utilities 8.77.130 Public Tree Care 8.77.140 Tree Topping 8.77.150 Pruning, Corner Clearance 8.77.160 Dead or Diseased Tree Removal on Private Property 8.77.170 Review by City Council 8.77.180 Removal of Stumps 8.77.190 Interference with City Tree Board 8.77.200 Arborists License and Bond 8.77.210 Penalty 8.77.010 Purpose 1. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage responsible management of trees within city parks, rights-of-way, facilities and open spaces. Proper planting, pruning, and maintenance are required to promote the community's tree resource and the benefits it provides. 2. The city council, city departments, and tree board recognize the need to establish a public tree management program as part of the urban forestry program. The focus of the urban forestry program will be balancing the needs of the community and the urban forest. 8.77.020 Definitions The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context: "Associated vegetation" shall mean native or nonnative trees, shrubs and ground covers within city parks, rights-of-way, facilities and open spaces. "City" shall mean the City of Yakima. "City arborist" shall mean the contracted or city employee who is a current a certified arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture and works under the direction of the Parks and Recreation manager. "Director" shall mean the Public Works director, or his or her designee. "Hazard tree" or "hazardous tree" shall mean any tree subject to this chapter rated as such by the city according to the tree hazard evaluation standards established by the International Society of Arboriculture. "Maintain" or "maintenance" shall mean the entire care of trees within city parks, rights-of-way, and open spaces, as well as the preparation of ground, fertilizing, mulching, planting, disease and insect control, trimming, pruning, staking, root control, watering, leaf litter, weed removal, and removal of dead and dying trees, unless specifically so stated. "Park trees" are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names, and all open space areas owned by the City. "Planting" shall mean to install public trees permanently in the ground. "Planting strip" shall mean the area available for planting including tree pits between the street curb, the edge of the traveled portion of roadway and the property line. "Property owner" shall mean the person owning such property as shown by the records of the assessor's office of Yakima County, Washington. "Pruning" shall mean cutting or removing any part of the branching structure of a plant in the crown, trunk, and/or root areas as per the best management practices from the American National Standard for Tree Care pruning standards for tree care operators. "Public trees" shall mean all trees within city parks, rights-of-way, and open spaces. "Removal" shall mean removal of a tree within city parks, rights-of-way, and open spaces. "Responsible official" means that the Public Works director will perform as the "responsible official" in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation manager. The Public Works director shall have the final authority on interpretation and enforcement of this chapter. The city arborist is designated as the person who advises the Parks and Recreation manager, and Director on public tree related issues. "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. 8.77.030 Creation and Establishment of a City Tree Board There is hereby created and established a Tree Board for the City of Yakima, Washington, which shall consist of five members, all residents of the city with the exception of the member recommended by the Yakima Arboretum, and city Arborist, who shall be appointed by the Yakima City Council. The seats of the board shall consist of at least two tree care specialists, with at least one seat filled through recommendation by the Yakima Arboretum. 8.77.040 Term of Office 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. 8.77.050 Compensation Members of the board shall serve without compensation. 8.77.060 Duties and Responsibilities It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to study, investigate, develop, update, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or dis- position of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other City -owned public areas. Such plan will be presented annually to the City Council, and upon City Council's acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive city tree plan for the City of Yakima Washington. The Tree Board, when requested by the City Council, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and make recommendations regarding any special matter or question coming within the scope of its work. 8.77.070 Operation The Tree Board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep minutes of its proceedings. Minutes of its proceedings shall be forwarded to the Yakima City Clerk. All meetings shall be held at Yakima City Hall after appropriate notice is provided to the public of the meeting time and date. All meetings shall be open to the public and comply with the Open Public Meetings Act. The Tree Board shall be subject to the Public Records Act. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. 8.77.080 Street Tree Species to be Planted The City of Yakima Public Works department shall maintain a list of approved street trees species for the City. Upon establishment of the Tree Board, the Tree Board shall review the list of currently approved trees, and provide the City arborist and Director with a report of recommendations for additional trees to be added and/or removed from the list of approved trees. No species other than those included in this list may be planted as Street Trees without written permission of the Tree Board. 8.77.090 Spacing The spacing of Street Trees will be in accordance with the species size classes (small, medium, and large) as identified by the list of approved Street Trees on file with the City Public Works office, 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 ap- proved by a landscape architect. 8.77.100 Distance from Curb and Sidewalk The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three species size classes identified by the list of approved Street Trees: small, medium, and large, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, 2 feet; medium trees, 3 feet; and Targe trees, 4 feet. 8.77.110 Distance from Street Corners and Fire Hydrants No Street Tree shall be planted closer than thirty-five (35) feet from any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines. No Street Tree shall be planted closer than ten (10) feet from any fire hydrant. 8.77.120 Utilities No Street Trees other than those species listed as small trees on the City's list of approved Street Trees may be planted under or within ten (10) lateral feet of any overhead utility wire, or over or within five (5) lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility. 8.77.130 Public Tree Care 1. The City shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all City 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 such public grounds. 2. The Tree Board may provide a written recommendation to the City arborist for the removal of 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. Upon receiving the Tree Board's recommendation, the City arborist shall forward the board's recommendation to the Director who shall make the final decision to remove the tree, and the method for removal. In the event that the Hazard Tree is a Street Tree, the tree shall be removed in accordance with YMC § 8.80.080 and 8.80.200. This Section does not prohibit the planting of Street Trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance with Section 8.77.080 through 8.77.120 of this ordinance. 8.77.140 Tree Topping 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 ordinance by the recommendation of the Tree Board, and approved by the Director. 8.77.150 Pruning Over Streets and Rights -of -Way 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 a clear space of eight feet (8') above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owners 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 which overhangs public right-of-way or interferes with the public health and/or safety of the public in accordance with YMC § 8.80.080. 8.77.160 Dead or Diseased Tree Removal on Private Property The City shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the City when such trees constitute a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease, which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the City. The Tree Board will notify in writing the City arborist of the location of the tree, which needs removal. The City arborist will then conduct an assessment of the tree, and provide the Director a written report and recommendation as to the disposition of the tree. In the event that the Director decides that the tree should be removed, the owners of such tree shall be notified in writing by hand delivery, or by regular and certified mail. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within sixty (60) 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. If the cost of removal is not paid within thirty (30) days of invoice, the costs of removal shall constitute a lien on the owners' property. 8.77.165 Appeal of Dead or Diseased Tree Removal on Private Property In the event that the property owner does not agree with the recommendation of the city arborist and decision of the Director, the property owner may submit a letter of appeal to the Director within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of the notice of removal. The letter shall outline why the property owner does not agree with the recommendation, and include as an attachment, any report of any expert retained by the property owner. Upon receipt of the letter of appeal, the Director, or his or her designee, shall schedule an open record public hearing before the Tree Board at its next available meeting. Notice of the public hearing shall be provided to the appellant no later than 10 business days prior to the public hearing. The appellant and their tree care representative and/or expert shall appear before the Tree Board and present evidence outlining why the identified tree does not qualify for removal under YMC 8.77.160. The Tree Board shall have ten (10) business days to provide the property owner with the Tree Board's determination. Upon receipt of the Tree Board's determination, the Director shall modify his or her decision, if necessary, based on the Tree Board's determination. 8.77.170 Review by City Council A decision to remove a dead or diseased tree made by the Tree Board after appeal pursuant to Section 8.77.160 may be appealed by filing a notice of appeal with the City Clerk within twenty (20) days of the date of the decision. Any appeals of the Tree Board's decisions shall be made in a closed record public hearing heard by the Yakima City Council. 8.77.180 Removal of Stumps All stumps of Street Trees 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. 8.77.190 Interference with Tree Board It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with a City employee, Tree Board member, or any of its agents or contractors, while engaging in the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removing of any Street Trees, Park Trees, or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this ordinance. 8.77.200 Arborists License and Bond It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing Street Trees or Park Trees within the City without first obtaining all necessary Washington State licenses and a City of Yakima Business License in accordance with YMC Title § 5.52; however, no license shall be required of any public service company or City employee doing such work in the pursuit of their public service endeavors. 8.77.210 Penalty A violation of this ordinance shall be a civil infraction subject to a maximum penalty of two hundred fifty dollars per violation. Each day in which any violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense. Section 2. Severabilitv. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL signed and approved this 6th day of December 2016. ATTEST: aVgIC Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk • Publication Date: December 9, 2016t \ /tiGTON Effective Date: January 8, 2017 K thy Co ayor BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDASTATEMENT Item No. 12. For Meeting of: December 6, 2016 ITEM TITLE: Ordinance adopting Chapter 8.77 Public Tree Ordinance in Title 8 Streets and Sidewalks of the City of Yakima Municipal Code to adopt public tree care standards, tree board, and become a "Tree City USA" designated city SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Jeff Peter, Supervising Planner SUMMARY EXPLANATION: At its September 6, 2016 meeting, the Yakima City Council authorized city staff to prepare and submit a "Tree City USA" application to the Arbor Day Foundation, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban & Community Forestry program, and USDA Forest Service in order to develop a tree care ordinance for Council consideration and establish a tree board for the City of Yakima. The City of Yakima Planning and Parks and Recreation Divisions, in consultation with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban & Community Forestry program, Yakima Arboretum, and City of Yakima Public Works Department, has prepared the required tree care ordinance, and has submitted the "Tree City USA" application to the Arbor Day Foundation. Therefore, at this time, city staff is requesting Council consideration of the draft tree care ordinance which is the last requirement of the "Tree City USA" application process. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Pass ordinance. BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Council Neighborhood and Community Building Committee reviewed the concept of a Yakima Tree City program and recommends the City Council consider the ordinance. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date 0 Public Tree Ordinance 11117;2016 Type Ordinance