12.24.150 Protection of trees.
A. No person shall:
1. Trim, prune or cut any tree unless such work conforms to this chapter and is performed in accordance with all International Society of Arboriculture standards. In no case shall more than one-third of the tree canopy be removed.
2. Interfere, or cause any other person to interfere, with employees of the city who are engaged in planting, maintaining, treating or removing any tree or removing any material detrimental to the tree.
3. Willfully injure, disfigure or intentionally destroy by any means any tree, except with permits described elsewhere in this chapter.
4. Construct concrete, asphalt, brick or gravel sidewalk, or otherwise fill up the ground area near any tree, to shut off air, light or water from the roots, except under written authority from the public works department.
5. Place building material, equipment or other harmful substance near any tree, which might cause injury to the tree.
6. Post any sign on any tree, tree-stake or guard, or fasten any guy wire, cable or rope to any tree, tree-stake or guard, except when said activity relates to slack lining (the act of balancing and tight rope style walking on a suspended line) and is conducted in an area designated by city council resolution for slack lining.
7. Plant any street tree except according to policies, regulations and specifications established pursuant to this chapter or any currently applicable ordinances or code sections.
B. Tree-stakes or guards may be placed around street trees by property owners for the purpose of protecting or training the trees, with approval of the director.
C. It shall be unlawful for a property owner to maintain a tree or shrubbery hazard as described in Section 12.24.100 and identified by city inspection.
D. Any tree required to be planted must be maintained in good health or replaced by the property owner.
E. Any person or contractor deemed responsible for damaging any tree in violation of this chapter shall be liable for penalties to the city according to Section 12.24.170, Enforcement.
F. Slacklining shall be allowed in city parks, but not in city open space areas, as follows:
1. For the purposes of this section the following are not considered city parks and slacklining is therefore prohibited in them:
a. Community gardens;
b. Damon-Garcia Sports Fields;
c. Historic Jack House and Gardens;
d. Laguna Lake Golf Course;
e. Mission Plaza;
f. All open space areas;
g. All mini parks.
2. At all times slacklining shall require the following tree protections:
a. Protection shall be placed between slackline and tree of sufficient thickness to protect the tree from wear damage (e.g., carpet, cardboard, towels, felt padding, etc.).
b. Protection shall be at least ten inches wide so the entire anchor (minimum one inch of material) is prevented from contacting the tree.
c. Protection shall wrap all the way around the tree.
d. Protection shall not be attached to the “anchor” (i.e., knotted portion), so if the anchor were to move, the bark would not be affected.
e. All anchors shall be attached in a manner so that the slackline is no more than four feet above the ground when in use.
3. Slacklines shall not:
a. Be attached to trees less than twelve inches in diameter at attach point.
b. Cross walkways, sidewalks, bike paths, streams, or drainage areas.
c. Interfere or displace any existing activities planned for or occurring in parks.
d. Be left unattended or remain affixed to any tree overnight.
e. Be attached to trees adjacent to group activity areas, picnic areas, and or play equipment.
f. Be attached between anything other than trees.
4. Slacklining shall be allowed only during daylight hours and lines shall at all times when affixed to any city tree be designated with ribbons or streamers attached thereto for visibility. (Ord. 1596 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1544 § 1 (part), 2010)