§ 21-171. Tree maintenance license.

It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing trees without a valid tree maintenance license by the city. A tree maintenance license shall be valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance. An application for a tree maintenance license shall not be deemed complete until proof of successful completion of continuing education credits and proof of current liability insurance are submitted, and all applicable fees are paid. The applicant is required to carry general liability insurance in a minimum amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) in the aggregate each. Further, proof of insurance shall be required as a condition precedent to secure a permit as required in this subsection and upon each subsequent renewal. A failure to maintain proof of insurance for the permitted year shall result in a revocation of the issued permit. Proof of minimum coverage amounts maintained for the preceding year must be provided with each application for renewal. Proof of insurance shall be underwritten by an organization licensed/authorized to do business in the state. The city shall be listed on the policy for notification of any lapse in coverage.

A tree maintenance license shall require proof of completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) continuing education credits (CEU's) as approved by the city arborist per three-year licensing period before the license is issued, including written acknowledgement by signature of the code of ethics for the city tree maintenance license. An initial temporary license may be issued for a period of one (1) year to allow the applicant time to obtain the necessary CEU's. A temporary license shall only be issued following the completion of a two-hour city sponsored introductory class on safety, Oak Wilt, tree biology, tree pruning and tree identification. The two (2) hours credit will be applied to the 15-hour CEU requirement for the three-year maintenance license. A knowledge assessment administered by the city must be successfully completed to receive credit. Certified arborists will qualify automatically for the tree maintenance license and shall receive fifty (50) percent reduction on their tree maintenance license fee. In addition, if the tree maintenance license holder is not on the job site, a crew member with at least a minimum of two (2) hours of city arborist approved continuing education credits shall be on site during tree pruning operations.

Failure to maintain or submit any of the above requirements will result in the immediate revocation of the tree maintenance license. No license shall be required of any employee of a public utility or the city while performing tree maintenance in their capacity as such employee.

(Ord. No. 97332, § 18, 3-13-03; Ord. No. 2011-10-20-0862, § 2, 10-20-11)