A. The public interest and welfare require that the city establish, adopt and maintain a comprehensive program for installing, maintaining and preserving trees within the city.

B. This chapter establishes policies, regulations and specifications necessary to govern installation, maintenance, removal and preservation of trees to beautify the city, to purify the air, to provide shade and wind protection, add environmental and economic value and to preserve trees with historic or unusual value.

C. It is the policy of the city to line its streets with trees and to conduct a consistent and effective program for maintaining and preserving these trees. This policy provides for planting trees in all areas of the city and for selecting appropriate species to achieve the city’s goals. It is also the policy of the city to protect and preserve all desirable trees, wherever they are located. It shall be the duty of the director to enforce, implement and carry out this policy and the provisions of this chapter.

D. It is the policy of the city to encourage new tree planting on public and private property and to cultivate a flourishing urban forest with an emphasis on native and drought tolerant species.

E. Trees are essential to the community’s well-being and the care and planting of all trees will be done in a manner consistent with city policies and standards. (Ord. 1544 § 1 (part), 2010)