City Tree Board
Commonly referred to as the "forestry board," the City Tree Board (referred to herein as the "Board) consists of two council members and the City Forester. The Board, when requested by the City Forester, may consider, investigate, make findings, issue reports, and recommend to the city council any special matter coming within the scope of its work.
Why The Board Was Established
The Board was established by the city council to provide advice and direction regarding the planting, transplanting, removal, maintenance and protection of public trees and shrubs. Any order or ruling of the Board regarding such matters is reviewable by the council and any person affected by said orders and rulings may appeal same to the city council which will make the final decision regarding said matters.
Public Trees And Shrubs
Public trees and shrubs adorn public ways within the corporate limits of the City of Galva and consist of the following broad categories:
Park Trees
Park Trees are trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names and all other areas owned by the City or to which the public has fee access as a park.
Public Trees and Shrubs
All trees or shrubs planted or to be planted on any park, playground or other property owned or controlled by the City or on any public street, alley, sidewalk or highway within the public right of way, but shall not include school sites.
Street Trees
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues or ways within the City.
Public Care Of Trees And Shrubs
The City has the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of public grounds, and on private property under certain circumstances:
- Removal from public ways- 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 sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. Public utilities, their electric power and telephone forestry crews, have the right to maintain the clearance of their lines.
- Removal from private property - the City has the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the City, when such trees constitute a hazard to life and property or harbor insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the City. The Board will notify in writing the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within sixty (60) days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the City shall have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal to the owners.
Private Care Of Trees And Shrubs
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right of way within the City shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet (8') above the surface of the street or sidewalk.
Said owner shall remove all dead, deceased or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs, which constitute a menace to the safety of the public.
The City has the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light or interferes with visibility of any traffic-control device or sign or interferes or impedes pedestrian traffic.
