Ordinance 1826 - Establishes Street Tree CommissionORDINANCE NO. 1826
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1086 AND ORDINANCE NO. 1690
REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KALISPELL STREET TREE
COMMISSION, PREVIOUSLY UNCODIFIED, DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CODIFY THE SAME.
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City and its residents and visitors that its ordinances
which regulate the management of the City urban forest be reassessed and updated
from time to time to ensure that the purposes of the regulation and the interests of the
public are being properly served; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 1986 the Kalispell City Council passed Ordinance No. 1086
establishing the City of Kalispell Street Tree Commission as well as the rules and
regulations of management for the City's urban forest; and
WHEREAS, on January 18, 2011 the Kalispell City Council passed Ordinance No. 1690 that
augmented Ordinance No. 1086 by specifically regulating certain landscaping
measures in the City boulevard areas; and
WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council finds that the proposed updated ordinance language set forth
in Exhibit "A", best meets the purposes of good regulation for the management of the
City urban forest and is appropriate to replace the existing Ordinance No. 1826.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Kalispell Municipal Code is hereby amended as set forth
in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated fully herein by this
reference. Ordinance No. 1690, codified at KMC Chapter 24 Streets
and Boulevards, shall remain in effect to the extent it does not conflict
with this Ordinance No. 1826.
SECTION 2. The City Attorney is hereby authorized and directed to codify this
Ordinance.
SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its final passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF KALISPELL THIS 3RD DAY OF JUNE, 2019.
ATTEST:
Aimed Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
SEAL
1892
Mark Johnson
Mayor
EXHIBIT "A"
CHAPTER I - Title & Purpose
§ 1.01. SHORT TITLE.
The Ordinance, adopted pursuant hereto shall be known as, and be cited and referred to as
the "City of Kalispell Tree Ordinance."
§ 1.02. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide for the planting, protection, maintenance and
removal of public trees within the City of Kalispell, to rename the Shade Tree Commission as the
Urban Forestry Committee, and delegate to the Director of Parks & Recreation the duty of assuring
orderly development of public trees.
CHAPTER II — Definitions
§2.01. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Ordinance the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations
shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the content, words used in the
present tense include future, words in plural include the singular and words in the singular include
plural. The word shall is mandatory and not merely directory.
1. CITY - The City of Kalispell, Flathead County, State of Montana.
2. DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION - hereinafter referred to as "Director"- The
designated official for the City of Kalispell assigned to carry out the enforcement of
this ordinance.
3. HAZARD TREE - "Hazard Tree" means any tree or shrub or part thereof upon private
or public property which:
a) By reason of location or condition constitutes a present danger to the health,
safety or welfare of the general public or which obstructs the free safe passage
of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or obstructs a streetlight or sight triangle; or
b) Is harboring insects or diseases, which reasonably may be expected to injure or
harm other trees or shrubs.
4. PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT - The designated Department for the City
of Kalispell under whose jurisdiction public trees fall.
5. PERSON - Shall include any legal entity created by law as well as a natural person.
6. PROPERTY LINE - The outer edge of a street or highway right-of-way.
7. PROPERTY OWNER - The person owning such property as recorded at the Clerk and
Recorder's Office of Flathead County, State of Montana.
8. PUBLIC PLACES - This shall include all real property owned by the City of Kalispell.
9. PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY - The linear public way established or dedicated for public
purposes by a recorded plat, deed or easement intended to be occupied by a street, curb
and gutter, landscaped boulevard and pedestrian ways (sidewalk or bike/ped path). In
addition, the right of way may contain sub -surface utilities such as sewer, water or
storm sewer lines; electrical cable and gas lines or similar utilities.
10. PUBLIC TREES - All deciduous and coniferous trees growing on any public right of
ways or any public places.
11. STREET - Any public streets, roads, highways, avenues, and lanes within the City,
which includes the entire width of every public way or right-of-way for purposes of
vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
12. INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE - hereinafter referred to as
"ISA".
CHAPTER III — Renaming the Street Tree Committee to the
Urban Forestry Committee; Appointments and Duties
§3.01. Urban Forestry Committee.
The committee previously named the "Street Tree Committee" shall hereafter be named
the "Urban Forestry Committee" (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee"). It shall be composed
of six (6) persons residing within the City of Kalispell Growth Policy Area as defined in the
Kalispell Municipal Code. The Mayor, with approval of the Council, shall appoint the members to
the Committee. The Director shall serve as an ex officio non -voting member of the Committee.
Membership:
All members of the Committee shall serve without compensation. The Mayor may
remove any member of the committee for cause, subject to the approval of the City
Council.
2. Term:
Following the passage of this Ordinance, three members of the Committee shall be
appointed for one year and three members shall be appointed for two years.
Thereafter, all appointments shall be for two years. In the event a vacancy occurs
during the term of an appointment, a new appointment shall be made to fill the vacancy
only to the end of the original term at which time a new two year appointment will be
made.
3. A Chairperson shall be elected from within the committee for the appointment of two
years. Event chairs will be appointed by the Chairperson as needed.
4. The Committee shall be subject to the same rules and procedures of conducting
meetings and such other business of the Committee as apply to the City Council.
0.02. Duties of the Committee.
To advise and make recommendations to the City Council in the task of maintaining a
sustainable urban forest.
2. Under the guidance of the Director, to engage the public in the stewardship of the urban
forest.
3. Study and promote the best management practices related to Kalispell's urban forest
management.
CHAPTER IV - Species, Cultivars, or Varieties
0.01. SPECIES, CULTIVAR, VARIETIES PERMITTED.
1. The Director shall prepare a list of trees acceptable for planting in the public places and
public right-of-ways of the City.
2. The Director shall maintain the list at the Parks and Recreation Office of the acceptable
species, cultivars and varieties based on site conditions. The Committee, in conjunction
with the Director, shall review the species, cultivars, and varieties included on the
approved list at least once every two (2) years to determine if any should be removed
for any reason or if certain new species, cultivars, or varieties of proven dependability
and value should be added.
0.02. Planting
1. SIZE
Unless otherwise specified by the Director, all small, medium and large deciduous and
conifers tree species and their cultivars and varieties shall conform to American Standard
for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) with deciduous trees being at least 1. 5" inches in diameter
six (6) inches above ground level and coniferous being six (6) feet tall. The crown shall be
in good balance with the trunk.
2. GRADE — QUALITY OF TREE
Unless otherwise specified by the Director, all plantings shall meet or exceed American
Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1)
3. LOCATION AND SPACING
a. Width of planting area shall determine appropriate tree size based on tree size at
full maturity. Planting widths between 4 - 5 feet shall constitute planting of a small
tree, a planting area between 5 — 7 feet, a medium tree, and larger than 7 feet
planting area, a large tree. In right-of-ways where overhead lines or building
setback presents a special problem, the Director shall determine the selection of the
site and species to be planted.
b. Trees shall not be planted in the Clear Vision Triangle as defined by Kalispell
Municipal Code or as otherwise determined through a site specific engineering
analysis approved by the City Engineer.
c. Tree plantings near utilities must meet ANSI A300 Standards.
d. The Director shall determine the spacing of trees according to local conditions, the
species, cultivars, or varieties used, their mature height, spread, and form.
Generally, all large trees should be planted forty (40) feet on center; all medium-
sized trees should be planted thirty-five (35) feet on center; and all small trees
should be planted twenty-five (25) feet on center.
e. All planting on streets without curbs, and/or sidewalks must have a permit from the
Director who shall determine the tree's location so it will not be injured or destroyed
when the street is curbed and/or sidewalks installed.
f. If an owner of a parcel adjoining the public right-of-way requests that a public tree
be planted within that portion of right-of-way, and if the City has allocated funding
for that purpose, the City may share the costs of .such tree with the requesting
landowner based on current city policies.
g. All new commercial and residential subdivision development of property required
to provide landscaping of the public right of way pursuant to the Kalispell Zoning
Regulations and Kalispell Design and Construction Standards shall plant such trees
as determined by the Director.
CHAPTER V - Authority of the Director and Appeal to the City Manager
§5.01. WORK ON PUBLIC TREES.
All planting, protection, maintenance and removal work on public trees shall comply with
this Ordinance.
02. AUTHORITY.
1. Administration. The Director shall have the authority to administer the terms of this
ordinance regarding the planting, protection, maintenance and removal of public trees on
streets and other publicly owned property to ensure the public safety and preserve the
aesthetics of such public sites.
2. Sppervision and Inspection. The Director shall further have the authority to supervise and
inspect all work on public trees performed under the terms of this Ordinance.
3. Permits. The Director shall have the authority to affix reasonable conditions to the granting
of a permit in accordance with the terms of this Ordinance.
&5.03. PERMIT REQUIRED FOR WORK ON PUBLIC TREES.
All work authorized by the Director and conducted by individuals other than city forestry
employees on public trees shall be done under the supervision of a certified arborist and or certified
pesticide applicator. No person shall plant, spray, perform pruning, remove or otherwise disturb
any public tree without a permit issued by the Director. The person receiving the permit shall abide
by ISA Standards or the standards of practice as outlined by this Ordinance, and provide evidence
of public liability insurance in an amount determined to be appropriate by the City.
0.04. REMOVAL OF PUBLIC TREES, REPLACEMENT, AND ALLOCATION OF COSTS.
1. No person shall remove a public tree from the public right-of-way for the purpose of
construction, or for any other reason without first obtaining a permit from the Director.
2. Any person who removes, or causes to be removed, a public tree, with or without a permit
as stated above, shall pay the appraised value of the tree to the City and shall further pay
the cost of tree and stump removal utilizing the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
(CTLA) Trunk Formula Method.
§5.05. APPEAL TO CITY MANAGER.
A person dissatisfied about any determination made by the Director under this ordinance
may make a written appeal to the City Manager who has the authority to make the final
determination.
CHAPTER VI - Protection of Trees
0.01. CARE OF TREES.
The City shall do the work of pruning, spraying, removal and other seasonal maintenance
as needed on all public trees. The property owner is responsible for watering public trees in the
public right of way adjacent to their property.
§6.02. DAMAGE TO PUBLIC TREES PROHIBITED.
Unless specifically permitted by the Director, it is unlawful for any person to:
1. Intentionally damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove any public tree;
2. Attach any rope, wire, nails, or other contrivance to any public tree;
3. Allow any gaseous liquid or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come in
contact with any public tree;
4. Or set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or the heat thereof could injure any
portion of any public tree.
§6.03. PROTECTION OF PUBLIC TREES.
Best management practices shall be utilized by any person responsible for the excavation
or construction near trees in the public right-of-way, which shall include a tree protection plan for
the excavation/construction activities at the site. The protection plan will be submitted with a tree
permit for approval. Maintenance or repair work on existing underground utilities shall be allowed
after written notification and a tree permit is obtained. Public Works divisions will electronically
notify the Director of their in-house projects.
CHAPTER VII — Hazard Trees
§7.01 HAZARD TREES.
If any part of any tree growing on private or public premises is determined by the Director
to be unsafe or to otherwise constitute a public hazard, the City shall, pursuant to Kalispell
Municipal Code Chapter 18, declare such tree or portion thereof to be a public hazard and
nuisance, and shall order the owner of the tree to cause such hazard to be abated.
§7.02 ABATEMENT OF HAZARD TREE.
In the event that the public hazard and nuisance is not abated by the date specified in the
notice or as specified by the City, the City is authorized, pursuant to Kalispell Municipal Code
Chapter 18, to abate said nuisance. The reasonable cost of such abatement, if not paid upon
demand, shall be filed as a lien against the property on which the public hazard was located.
CHAPTER VIII - Public Protection
§8.01 PUBLIC PROTECTION.
Suitable street and sidewalk barriers, highway cones, or signs shall be used by any person
pruning, removing or spraying trees to protect the public from danger. All work in the public right
of way shall require a Right of Way Permit from the Department of Public Works. All safety
devices must conform to the Standards as set forth in "The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices" distributed by the Federal Highway Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation.
§8.02 STUMPS.
The stumps of all removed public trees shall be cut to at least three (3) inches below the
ground, and soil shall be replaced and the area leveled. If the area where the tree is removed is to
be paved, the stump shall be removed to meet general construction standards. Stumps shall be
removed within 60 days of the tree removal.
8.03. SPRAYING.
No public trees shall be sprayed without a permit from the Director. All spraying of public
trees shall be performed by a pesticide applicator properly licensed by the State of Montana,
Department of Agriculture and shall conform to federal, state and local regulations.
CHAPTER IX — Unauthorized or Improper Planting of Public Trees
Whenever any tree is planted or set out in violation of the provisions of this section, the
Director may remove or cause removal of the same. The Director shall first notify the adjacent
property owner(s), in writing, of the City's intention to remove the tree and give the property
owner(s) a reasonable period of time (not to exceed 45 days) within which to remove the tree. If
the tree is not removed within the specified time, the Director shall cause the removal of the tree.
CHAPTER X - Civil Penalties
Any person who violates or fails to comply with any provisions of this Ordinance, shall
have committed a municipal infraction and be subject to civil penalties pursuant to Kalispell
Municipal Code Chapter 1, Article 2 and upon a finding of such infraction shall be liable to the
City for the costs of damages to the City as may be proved in court.
CHAPTER Xl
This Ordinance shall be effective thirty days from and after its final passage and approval by the
City Council.