13.12.130 Pruning for or by utility.
A. Upon obtaining a written permit from the City Public Works Department, a City franchised utility maintaining its utility system in the street may prune or cause to be pruned, in accordance with this chapter and using proper arboricultural practices in accordance with the permit, any tree located in or overhanging the street which interferes with any light, pole, wire, cable, appliance or apparatus used in connection with or as part of a utility system.
1. The Public Works Department may issue a City-wide permit valid for one year if the utility adequately demonstrates the ability to meet the performance requirements of this chapter and to consistently apply proper arboricultural practices to the pruning of trees.
B. The utility shall give no less than two weeks prior written notice to the abutting owner of the utility’s plan to prune a tree. The notice must be given to the owner or occupant of the premises. The notice shall provide the owner or occupant two weeks to have said trees pruned by a qualified line clearance contractor, in accordance with utility company or applicable industry requirements, at the owner’s or occupant’s expense and in accordance with the terms of this chapter. If the owner or occupant fails, neglects or refuses to have the tree pruned as required by the notice, the utility may prune or cause to be pruned, the tree at its expense in accordance with the conditions of the permit and this chapter.
C. The utility shall provide the Public Works Department written notice of any pruning work at least three (3) working days prior to the start of the work.
D. In those cases where a tree cannot be pruned in such a manner as to preserve the physical or aesthetic integrity of the tree, the tree may be removed and replaced by the utility at its own expense and in compliance with the replacement provisions of this chapter.