[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Prescott
as Title 6, Ch. 4, of the former City Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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.
Trees, shrubs, and all other woody vegetation on land lying
between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues, or
ways within the City.
A.
Creation. There is hereby created and established a City Tree Board
for the City of Prescott 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.
B.
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 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, a successor
shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term.
C.
Compensation. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
D.
Duties and responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the
Tree Board to study, investigate and develop and/or update annually
and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning,
planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in
parks, along streets and in other public areas. Such plan will be
presented annually to the Common Council and upon its acceptance and
approval shall constitute the Official Comprehensive City Tree Plan
for the City of Prescott, Wisconsin. The Board, when requested by
the Council, shall consider, investigate, make finding, report and
recommend upon any special matter or question coming within the scope
of its work.[1]
E.
Operation. The Tree Board shall choose its own officers, make its
own rules and regulations, subject to approval of the Common Council,
and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority of members shall
be a quorum for the transaction of business.
No species shall be planted other than those listed in the Prescott
Master Park Plan.
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 a landscape architect.
No trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than
the following: small trees, two feet; medium trees, three feet; and
large trees, four feet.
No street tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet to any street
corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines.
No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to any hydrant.
No trees on public City streets or boulevards, other than those
species referred to as small trees in the Prescott Master Park Plan,
may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet of any overhead utility
wire, or within 10 lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer
line, transmission line or other utility.
A.
The City shall have the right to plant, 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 or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty
of such public grounds.
B.
The City Tree Board may remove or cause or order to be removed 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. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners, providing that the selection and location of said trees are in accordance with §§ 526-3 through 526-7.
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 chapter at the determination of the City Tree Board.
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 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
when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street
from a streetlight or interferes with the visibility of any traffic
control device or sign.
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 City Tree Board will notify, in writing, the owners of such trees.
Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within 60
days after the date of service of notice. In the event owners fail
to comply with such provisions, the City shall have the authority
to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal on the owner's
property tax notice.
All stumps of street 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.
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 as prescribed in the City's fee
schedule;[2] 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 first file evidence of possession
of liability insurance in the minimum amounts of $50,000 for bodily
injury and $100,000 property damage indemnifying the City of any person
injured or damaged resulting from the pursuit of such endeavors as
herein described.
The Common Council shall have the right to review the conduct,
acts and decisions of the City Tree Board. Any person may appeal from
any ruling or order the City Tree Board to Common Council who may
hear the matter and make final decision.
