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~ TREI~ Sec. 32-1. Purpose and intent. (a) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a city policy regarding the largest and most va]u- able trees in the City. Trees are hereby declared to be of great value in the maintenance of the public health and welfare of the inhabitants of the City, in the conservation of vital energy re- sources, and in the preservation of the city's his- torical heritage. (b) Trees are a valuable amenity to the urban environment, creating greater human comfort by providing shade, cooling the air and atmosphere, reducing glare, reducing noise levels~ and break- ing ~he monotony of u~rbanized development on the ]and, all of which aid in protecting the health and general weIfare of the con~munity. They greatly reduce the requirements for air cond/tioning, thereby reducing the demands for utilization of scarce en- ergy souA-ces. (c) Many trees were growing when Paris was selected as a town site. These trees should be preserved to the maximu~ extent feasible for the education and enjoyment of future generations, since large, old trees, ff destroyed, can be replaced only after generations of time. (Code 1970, § 29~-1; Ord. No. 84.067, § 1, 9-10-84) Sec. 32-2. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the special meanings respectively ascribed to them below, which special meanings shall govern in case of any conflict with other definitions set forth in this Code: Approval Approval means write, eh approval from the departmen~ of parks and recreation pursuant to a duly executed application for approval made on a form promulgated by the department of parks and recreation. C. LP. Capital improvement project. Mature tree A mature tree means a tree haY-' ing a trunk circumference of at least ten (10) inches but less than sixty (60) inches measured four and one-half (4~i) feet above natural grade level. Owner. Owner shall mean the person who has legal title to the property or a lessee, agent, em- ployee or other person acting on behalf of the title holder with authorization so to do. Protected tree. A protected tree means any tree having a circumference Of sixty (60) inches or more, measured four and one-half (4~i) feet above natural grade level. Removal Removal as applied to protected trees means uprooting, severing the main trunk of the tree or any act which causes, or may reasonably be expected to cause the tree to die, including but not limited to, damage inflicted upon the root system by machinery, storage of materials, or soft compaction; substantially changing the natural grade above the root system or around the trunk; excessive pruning; paving with concrete, asphaltl or other impervious material in a manner in which may reasonably be expected to kill the tree. ~rke~ A tree shall be defined and will qualify as such if either of the following are met: (1) A woody plant having one well-defined stem or trunk and a more or less definitely formed crown, and usually attainin4~ a mature height of at least eight (8) feet; or (2) A plant listed as a tree in any of the followin~ a. Forest trees of Texas, by the Texas For- est Service of the Texas Aand M Uni- versity System. b. Simon and Schuster's Guide to Trees. c. The Audubon Sociel~y's Field Guide to North American Trees. d. A list of trees prepared by the city parks department. Code 1970, § 29~-2; Ord. No. 84-067, § 1, 9-10-84) Cross reference--Definitior~ and rules of construction gen-' erally, § 1-3. Sec. 32-3. Administration of chapter. (a) This chapter !hall be implemented by the director of the department of parks and recreation who is hereby designated city arborist until such time as he appoints his successor. He shall over- see regulation of the care and removal of pro- tected trees growing now or thereafter in the City, and shall enforce and administer the provisions of this chapter. 1897