§ 14-21. General restrictions.

(a)

Except for clearing branches lower than seven feet above ground level and branches posing a danger to property (each only after issuance of a special permit), oak trees of any type that are growing within the corporate limits of the City may only be trimmed during July, August, September, December, and January.

(b)

All wounds to oak trees shall be painted immediately, but no later than within one-half hour of cutting, trimming or other wound of the tree to prevent contact with contaminated nitidulid beetles.

(c)

No person, firm, corporation or any type of business entity, nor agent for, shall trim oak trees within the City without first obtaining a permit for this purpose from the City.

(d)

The cost of the permit shall be established by the City Council from time to time for tree services, landscape contractors and private utilities for each tract of land. Homeowners doing their own trimming shall pay a different fee, as established by the City Council from time to time.

(e)

The revenues from these permits as well as any fines collected for noncompliance will be located in a designated fund (minus expenses) to assist City residents in the defraying of costs to prevent the spread of oak wilt if such an event should occur.

(f)

The commercial permit shall be valid for 14 days from date of commencement, and it may be extended for unforeseen circumstances.

(g)

The residential permit shall be valid for one year from date of commencement. A residential permit for a property shall not be valid for use by a commercial company tree trimming on said property.

(h)

Each resident, commercial tree trimmers, tree services or landscape contractors shall report to the Permit Clerk the address of each tract of land and the date(s) upon which the tree trimmer intends to perform tree trimming and/or removal.

(i)

This permit is to be posted in a conspicuous place where it can be seen from the street whenever trees are being trimmed.

(j)

The planting of Red Oaks (i.e. Quercus texana) is prohibited on all residential and commercial properties.

(k)

No resident shall knowingly bring red oak firewood into Shavano Park's jurisdiction.

(l)

All brush resulting from the trimming of the trees by a commercial tree trimmer, corporation, or landscape company, must be removed from site.

(1)

In the case of dead or dying red oaks, all plant matter must be removed immediately from Shavano Park and burned, chipped or buried.

(2)

Diseased or dead red oak plant matter shall not to be used or stored for firewood.

(Ord. No. 600-137-04, § A, 10-19-2004; Ord. No. 600-01-09, 2-17-2009; Ord. No. 100-02-11, § I, 5-17-2011; 0-2015-007 , § I, 3-23-2015; Ord. No. 0-2016-015 , § I, 10-24-2016; Ord. No. 0-2017-015 , § I, 6-26-2017)