As used in this chapter the following words and terms shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth:
“Development project” shall be as defined at Government Code Section 65928.
“Director of public works” means the director of public works or designated representative.
“Drip line area” means the area measured from the trunk of the tree outward to a point at the perimeter of the outermost branch structure of the tree.
“Fronting property” means real property parallel to a public street or sidewalk and adjacent thereto.
“Heritage tree” means any valley oak tree with a trunk diameter of thirty-three inches or more at breast height (fifty-four inches) which is of good quality in term of health, vigor, growth and conformity to generally accepted horticultural standards of shape for its species.
“Landmark tree” means a tree or stand of trees which is of historical or public significance as designated by the city council upon the recommendation of both the tree commission and the historical preservation commission.
“Major maintenance” means and includes major trimming or pruning or cabling, and any other similar act which promotes the life, growth, health or beauty of trees, excepting watering and minor pruning. Major trimming and pruning shall mean the removal of branches of three inches in diameter or greater.
“Owner” means the legal owner of real property fronting upon any street as shown on the last equalized assessment roll.
“Public nuisance” means:
1. Any dead or dying tree, whether located on city-owned property or on private property;
2. Any otherwise healthy tree, whether located on city-owned property or on private property which harbors insects or diseases which reasonably may be expected to injure or harm any tree, shrub or other plant;
3. Any tree, or portion thereof whether location on city-owned property or on private property which by reason of location or condition constitutes an imminent danger to the health, safety or welfare of the general public;
4. Any tree, or portion thereof whether location on city-owned property or on private property which obstructs the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic or which obstructs a street light;
5. Any tree, or portion thereof whether location on city-owned property or on private property which dangerously obstructs the view in the visibility triangle” as such may be determined by the director of public works pursuant to ordinance.
“Public street” means any improved street, road or avenue located within the city and dedicated to the public, but excepting alleys adjacent to residential back yards.
“Specimen tree” means any tree of interest because of size or unusual species, other than a heritage tree, which is of good quality in terms of health, vigor or growth and conformity to generally accepted horticultural standards of shape for its species, as designated by the city council upon the recommendation of the tree commission.
“Street tree” means any tree growing within the tree maintenance strip, whether or not planted by the city.
“Top” means the severe cutting back of tree 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.
“Tree” means any live woody plant having one or more well-defined perennial stems with a diameter at maturity of six inches or more measured at fifty-four inches above ground level (breast height).
“Tree maintenance strip” means a strip of land parallel to a public street and adjacent thereto, extending from the back of the curb of the street, or the edge of the paved portion of the street if the street does not have a curb at that location, to the edge of the sidewalk furthest from the street.
“Tree permit” means written authorization by the director of public works to perform an activity which requires a permit under this chapter. (Ord. No. 1230, § 4 (part); Ord. No. 1300 § 4 (part).)