As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated:

Damage: Any injury to or destruction of a tree, including but not limited to: uprooting; severance of all or part of the root system or main trunk; storage of material on or compaction of surrounding soil; a substantial change in the natural grade above a root system or around a trunk; surrounding the tree with impervious paving materials; or any trauma caused by accident or collision.

Nuisance: Any tree, or limb thereof, that has an infectious disease or insect; is dead or dying; obstructs the view of traffic signs or the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles; or threatens public health, safety, and welfare.

Parkway: The area along a public street between the curb and the sidewalk; or if there is no curb or sidewalk, the unpaved portion of the area between the street right-of-way line and the paved portion of the street or alley.

Public property: All grounds and rights-of-way (ROWs) owned or maintained by the city.

Public tree: Any tree or woody vegetation on city-owned or city-maintained property or rights-of-way.

Top or Topping: The nonstandard practice of cutting back of limbs to stubs within a tree’s crown to such a degree as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. (Ord. No. 2021-06, § 1, 11-16-21)