§ 127-23. Tree trimming.

A. 

Annual certificate of registration. No person or company shall engage in the business of cutting down, trimming, or removing trees or parts of trees in the City until such person or company has been issued a certificate of registration by the City Clerk. Such certificate shall not be issued until such person or company complies with the following provisions:

(1) 

Fee. Such person or company shall pay an annual registration fee as set by the Common Council by resolution, which registration shall expire on December 31 of each year. Fees to be paid for the first time, and at times other than December 31, shall be prorated over the balance of the registration period.

(2) 

Bond. Such person or company has executed a surety bond in the sum of $1,000 to the City and conditioned that such person or company shall comply with the ordinances and laws relating to his or its work and that he or it shall pay all damages to public property and costs that may be caused by his or its negligence. Such bond will be executed for a period of one year.

(3) 

Responsibility for others. The person or company executing such bond may engage or take under his or its supervision the assistance and help necessary to execute any job, but he or it shall take full responsibility for the tree work that such help and assistance performs.

(4) 

Insurance. The person or company executing such bond must also furnish satisfactory written evidence that he or it has in force and will maintain during the life of the certificate public liability insurance of not less than $100,000 for one person and $300,000 for one accident and property damage insurance of not less than $50,000.

B. 

Private tree trimming not covered. The annual registration requirement does not apply to persons cutting or trimming trees on their own property, but such persons will have to obtain a permit as required in the following subsection if the trees being cut or trimmed are in or adjacent to a street or utility line.

C. 

Permit for tree trimming jobs on or adjacent to public property. No person or company shall without permit remove or trim any trees standing in or adjacent to any highway or street or public utility in or where the tree or parts thereof will fall on any highway or street without first obtaining a permit from the City Clerk. Before such permit is granted, the Director of Public Works shall examine and report to the Clerk on the application, and the permit will be granted only if it appears that proper precautionary measures will be taken to protect the public and public property from injury or damage. There will be no charge for these permits, and the permit may include as many trees as are included in the particular job being done.