2225_00001ORDINANCE NO.2225
ANORDINANCE AMENDINGCHAPTER 12.24 OF THE MOSES LAKEMUNICIPALCODEENTITLED"TREES AND SHRUBS"
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOSES LAKE,WASHINGTON DOORDAINAS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Chapter 12.24 oftheMoses Lake Municipal Code entitled"Plantlife"is amended as follows:
12.24.010 Title:This chapter shall be referred to and cited as the "Plantlife Ordinance ofthe city."
O 12.24.020 Enforcinq Authority:The Parks and Recreation Director and theMunicipal Sentices Director arecalledtheenforcingauthorityinthischapter,and theyare chargedwith the enforcement of thischapter.
12.24.030 Permission to Plant or Remove Trees:Plantlife shall not be planted in or removed from anymunicipalparkingstriporothermunicipalplaceinthecitywithoutpermissionfromtheenforcingauthority.
12.24.040 Aporoved Plantlife:AIIplantlife within municipal parking strips or other municipalplaces shallconformandtakeintoaccountsuchthingsasoverheadwires,sight obstruction,disturbance tomunicipalimprovements,andthe beautyof the city.AIIplantlife shall be maintained inaccordancewiththischapterandthemaintenanceofplantlifeshallbetheresponsibilityoftheowner.
12.24.050 Public Nuisances Caused by Plantlife:Plantlife that overhangs any municipal improvement orgrowsinsuchamannerastoobstructorimpairthefreeandfulluseofanymunicipalimprovementbythepublicmaybeconsideredapublicnuisance.Allplantlifeshall be trimmedto provide for aminimumofsevenfeet(7')of vertical clearance above allsidewalksor activitytrailsandtwelvefeet(12')ofvertical clearanceaboveallstreets orparking places.The enforcing authority may declareplantlifeapublicnuisanceforreasonsofdiseaseandexoticcharacteristics.Allplantlife thatcausesdestructionofmunicipalimprovementsshallbeconsideredapublicnuisance.The ownershallbeliableforalldamagesthatarecausedbyplantlifetomunicipalimprovements,
12.24.060 Prohibited Trees:Itis unlawful to plant thefollowing trees inany municipal parking strip:poplar,willow,cottonwood,fruit trees (exceptornamental),nut trees,Siberian or Chinese elm,andplantlifethatisprohibitedbytheenforcingauthority.Poplar,willow,elm,or cottonwood treesshallnotbeplantedwithinonehundredfeet(100')from municipal sewers.
12.24.070 Removal orAbatement of Nuisances:It is the duty of persons occupying property toabate orremovepublicnuisancescausedbyplantlifebydestroying,removing,or trimmingthe plantlife.AIIpublic nuisances shall be referred to Chapter 8.14 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code forenforcementactions.
12.24.090 Care of Plantlife:Excepttoabate or remove a public nuisance as allowedor requiredbySection12.24.070 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code or as allowed by Section 12.24.030 of theMoses
Lake Municipal Code,thefollowing events are violations ofthis chapter.
A.To damage,destroy,or mutilate any plantlife in a public place.
B.To attach or place any ropeorwireto any plantlife within a public place,which rope or wire isnotusedtosupportayoungorbrokentree.
C.To attach or place any sign,poster,handbill,or otherthingtoanyplantlife growingina publicplace.
D.To allowanysubstance toharm plantlife within a public place.
12.24.110 Remedies Not Exclusive:The remedies prescribed in thischapter are in addition to allotherremediesprovidedorauthorizedbylaw.
12.24.120 Penaltv:Any person,firm or corporation violating or failing tocomply with the provisions ofthischaptershallbedeemedtohavecommittedacivilinfractionsubjecttoaC-4 penalty.
Section 2.This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5)days after its passage and publication ofitssummaryasprovidedbylaw.
Adopted by the CityCounciland signed by its Mayor onAug
ATT R nald C.Codey,Mayor
¾nd R.Cone,Finance Director
VEDA
JamesA.Viitaker,CityAttorn
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