[Ord. No. 511-C §1, 10-15-2001]
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these prescribed meanings:
COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGER
The official (public employee) representative of the Tree Board and as such is responsible for administration of the community forestry program.
PARK TREES
Trees, shrubs, bushes, and all other woody vegetation in public parks.
PRIVATE COMMUNITY FOREST
All trees within municipal boundaries, but not owned by the City.
PUBLIC COMMUNITY FOREST
All street and park trees, and other trees owned by the City as a total resource.
STREET TREES
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying between the property lines of either side of all streets and avenues within the City.
TREE LAWN
That area between the right-of-way of any highway, street or road and the edge of any sidewalk closest to the highway, street or road if there is a sidewalk in place.
[Ord. No. 511-C §2, 10-15-2001; Ord. No. 773-C §1, 5-16-2016]
There is hereby created and established a City Tree Board for the City of Canton, Missouri, which shall consist of five (5) persons who are interested in the care, replacement, maintenance, and removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets, and in other public areas in the City of Canton, Missouri, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen. The Community Forest Manager shall be an ex officio member of the City Tree Board.
[Ord. No. 511-C §3, 10-15-2001]
The term of the five (5) persons to be appointed by the Mayor shall be three (3) years except that the term of two (2) of the members appointed to the first (1st) Board shall be for only one (1) year and the term of two (2) members of the first (1st) Board shall be for two (2) 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 of the member leaving the Tree Board.
[Ord. No. 511-C §4, 10-15-2001]
Members of the Tree Board shall serve without compensation.
[Ord. No. 511-C §5, 10-15-2001]
A. 
It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to study, investigate, counsel and develop and/or update annually, and administer written plans (annual and long range) for the care, replacement, maintenance, and removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas. Such plan will be presented annually to the Board of Aldermen and upon their acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive City Tree Plan for the City of Canton, Missouri.
B. 
The Tree Board, when requested by the Board of Aldermen, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter or question relating to trees.
[Ord. No. 511-C §6, 10-15-2001]
The Tree 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. No. 511-C §7, 10-15-2001]
The City of Canton, Missouri, shall maintain an extensive list of recommended trees for planting in public areas. The purpose of this listing will be to maintain diversity in the total tree population. This list shall be available to residents of the City upon request to aid in the selection of trees for private and public properties. The list of recommended trees shall be updated periodically to reflect new developments or species that will affect the population of the community forest.
[Ord. No. 511-C §8, 10-15-2001]
A. 
Street trees may be planted in the tree lawn area in accordance with the tree species size classes listed in Exhibit A of this Chapter. No trees, as listed in Exhibit A to this Chapter, may be planted closer together than the following: small trees, fifteen (15) feet; medium trees, twenty (20) feet; and large trees, thirty (30) feet; except in special planting as designated and approved by a licensed landscaping architect, a forester or the City Tree Board.
B. 
Small and medium sized trees planted in the tree lawn area shall be planted not less than three (3) feet from the nearest edge of a sidewalk, driveway or street, and large sized trees planted in the tree lawn area shall be planted not less than four (4) feet from the nearest edge of a sidewalk, driveway or street.
C. 
No street tree shall be planted closer than thirty-five (35) feet from any street corner, measured from the point of the nearest intersection of curbs or curblines.
D. 
No street tree shall be planted closer than ten (10) feet from any fireplug.
E. 
Special permission must be obtained from the Community Forest Manager when planting street trees within ten (10) feet of any point on a line on the ground immediately below any over head utility wire.
[Ord. No. 511-C §9, 10-15-2001]
A. 
The City shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain, and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the right-of-way or bounds of all streets, alleys, lanes, squares, and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure the public safety.
B. 
The City 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 electric power lines or other public improvements, or is seriously affected with any fatal disease.
C. 
The abutting property owners shall have the right to perform normal tree care on all street trees. 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 (3) 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 prohibition at the determination of the City Tree Board.
[Ord. No. 511-C §10, 10-15-2001]
No person shall plant a street tree without first obtaining a permit from the Community Forest Manager. There will be no fee for such permit.
[Ord. No. 511-C §11, 10-15-2001]
No person shall remove any healthy "street tree" or healthy tree located in the "tree lawn" as those terms are defined in this Chapter, without replacing such tree with an approved tree or trees as listed in Exhibit A of this Chapter. The type of tree replacement shall be made in consultation with the Community Forest Manager considering the species, location, size and condition of the tree or trees removed. The determination of whether or not a tree is "healthy" shall be made by the Community Forest Manager after consultation with the person seeking the removal of the tree. The decision of the Community Forest Manager shall be final.
[Ord. No. 511-C §12, 10-15-2001]
Clearance over streets and walkways shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owner. A clearance of eight (8) feet must be maintained over walkways and a clearance of twelve (12) feet must be maintained over streets and alleys. Property owners are responsible for trees on their own property, as well as trees on the public right-of-way that abuts their property.
[Ord. No. 511-C §13, 10-15-2001]
The City shall have the right to cause to be removed any tree within the city that is dead or has been declared a hazard. Hazard trees are defined as trees with severe structural defects or splits. The City will notify in writing the owners of such trees. Removal is the responsibility of the owners of such trees and shall be accomplished within the time limits set by the Community Forest Manager.
[Ord. No. 511-C §14, 10-15-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay, or interfere with the Tree Board or any of its representatives or agents, while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removing of any trees within the public community forest.
[Ord. No. 511-C §15, 10-15-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with access to private property by the City or its representative in the legal performance of any Section of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 511-C §16, 10-15-2001]
A. 
Persons or firms engaged in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing any street tree, park tree or other privately owned tree shall be approved by the Community Forest Manager prior to the commencement of any such work.
B. 
The Community Forest Manager shall be satisfied that the person or firm seeking to do such tree work shall demonstrate to the Community Forest Manager either that they are a certified arborist, certified tree technician, or have sufficient experience and skill to perform such tree work in a manner that will not be hazardous to persons or property or to any tree that is to be retained.
C. 
Any person or firm engaged in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing any street tree, park tree or other privately owned tree shall provide proof of the following insurance coverages prior to commencement of any such tree work in the City of Canton, Missouri:
1. 
Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) for bodily injury or death.
2. 
One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) property damage, indemnifying the City of Canton, Missouri, or any person injured or damage resulting from any tree work done in the City of Canton, Missouri.
3. 
When required by Missouri Law, Worker's Compensation Insurance.