Ordinance 2006-1484 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Topping - a maintenance practice used to control the size of trees; involves the indiscriminate cutting of branches and stems at right angles leaving long stubs. This practice invariably results in the development of epicormic sprouts, or in the death of the cut branch back to the next lateral branch below. These epicormic sprouts are weakly attached to the stem and eventually will be supported by a decaying branch. Sec. 8.12.030. Powers and duties of city forester. The city forester shall be responsible to the director of land management in carrying out the forester's duties. The city forester shall have jurisdiction and supervision over all street trees and park trees and other woody plants on public property within the city; and over all trees and other woody plants located on private property that constitute a safety hazard to persons or property, a health hazard to other trees and plants, or that prevent the safe use of any public property or place. The city forester shall have the power to promulgate standards and specifications of arboricultural practices affecting the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees and woody vegetation in the City of Louisville. Sec. 8.12.040. City forester. The director of land management shall appoint a city forester, whose powers and duties are specified in sections 8.12.030 through 8.12.220. Sec. 8.12.050. Maintenance of trees on public right-of-way. The city forester shall have the power to prune, spray, remove, plant, and protect all trees, and other woody plants upon the public right-of-way of any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public property or place. Sec. 8.12.060. Maintenance required adjacent to city property. The city forester may require the owner of the property abutting the public right- of-way or other public place to prune, spray, remove and protect all trees, and other woody plants which may project beyond the property line of such owner onto or over public property at the expense of such owner. If a property owner refuses or neglects to prune, spray, remove, or protect any tree or other woody plants upon receipt of a written notice from the city forester to do so, and within such reasonable time as specified in the notice; the city forester may do or cause to be done the necessary work incident thereto, and the expenses of such necessary work shall be collected from the property owner pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Sec. 8.12.070. Treatment of hazardous trees. 3