§ 8-3 — Definitions

Sec. 8-3. - Definitions.

As used in this article, the terms herein shall be defined as follows: American National Standards Institute (ANSI): A private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards by accredited representatives of government agencies, industry, and other stakeholders. ANSI A300: The industry-developed, national consensus standards of practice for tree care in the United States. Arborist: A person trained in the proper care and maintenance of trees who has passed an independent exam administered by the International Society of Arboriculture, and maintains the credentials through continuing education. Caliper: The diameter at breast height (DBH) of any tree trunk forty-eight (48) inches above ground level. Commercial nursery or tree farm: A licensed plant or tree nursery or farm in relation to those trees planted and growing on the premises of the licensee, which are planted and growing for sale or intended sale to the general public in the ordinary course of said licensee's business. Critical root zone (CRZ): The area of soil around a tree where the minimum amount of roots considered critical to the structural stability or health of the tree are located. Per ANSI A300 (Part 5), these roots are located within six (6) to eighteen (18) times the trunk diameter (DBH) depending on species tolerance to root loss, tree age and health. Destroy: Any intentional or negligent act which causes or leads to the probability of a tree to decline and die, including, but not limited to, such damage inflicted upon the root system of a tree by the application of toxic substances, the operation of heavy machinery, the change of natural grade by excavation or elevation of the area over the root system of a tree, trenching, excessive compaction of soil under the tree canopy, paving with concrete, asphalt or other impervious materials and damages inflicted on trees from injury or fire which result in or permit pest infestation. Cutting, grilling, injecting, bulldozing and excessive pruning or trimming that result in the death or decay of a tree are also considered destruction. Diameter at breast height (DBH): The measurement of the width of the trunk of the tree at four and one-half (4½) feet above the existing grade. For multi-trunk trees the DBH shall be the sum of the diameter of the trunks. Drip line: The circumference of the tree's natural, unaltered canopy extended vertically to the ground. Flush cutting: The removal of limbs by cutting immediately adjacent to the trunk, destroying the protective branch collar and exposing the trunk to decay organisms. Protective barrier: A physical structure limiting access to the crown, trunk and/or root system of a protected tree, composed of wood, plastic safety fence, or other suitable materials, which assures compliance with the intent of this article. Pruning or prune: This means that definition of the term as set forth in both the most recent International Society of Arboricultural pruning standards and guidelines and American National Safety Institute A300 (Part 1) (ANSI A300 (Part 1)), both of which shall be followed for pruning. At no time shall trimming, topping, tipping or flush cutting of trees be deemed a form of "pruning." Residual density: The number of natural trees growing on an existing lot or site that is expressed as the actual number of trees per square foot of area. Selective root pruning: A process consisting of soil excavation using supersonic air tools, pressurized water, or hand tools, followed by cutting individual roots conducted under the supervision of an ISA certified arborist as set forth in ANSI A300 (Part 8) Best Management Practices. Tipping: The cutting of a lateral limb in such manner as to leave a prominent stub extending beyond a branch node or the trunk. Topping: The cutting of a leader trunk in such manner as to leave a prominent stub extending beyond the node (crotch) of another leader trunk or major branch that may become a leader trunk. Tree, protected: Any woody, perennial, hardwood plant that is either a live oak (quercus virginiana), southern magnolia (magnolia grandiflora), American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), swamp chestnut oak (quercus michauxii), overcup oak (quercus lyrata), shumard oak (quercus shumardii), nuttall oak (quercus texana), American holly (Ilex opaca), bald cypress (taxodium distichum), red maple (acer rubrum), willow oak (quercus phellos) that has a single or multiple trunk with a total caliper trunk of eight (8) inches or a circumference of twenty-five (25) inches or more. Tree, replacement: A tree of the same species as that of the protected tree having a minimum two (2) inch caliper nursery stock with a minimum height of ten (10) feet and a minimum canopy of six (6) feet after planting. Tree removal: The displacement, removal, relocation, alteration or effective removal as a result of damaging or destroying any protected tree or to reduce residual density. Trimming or trim: Cutting a stem to an indiscriminate length, as determined by the city tree protector advisor. While trimming is unacceptable, pruning, the act of cutting stems at nodes, is permissible.

(Ord. No. 2687, § 1(Exh. A), 7-20-10; Ord. No. 3481, § 2, 2-18-25)