§ 8.12.160. Definitions.

"Appeals board" shall be the town council for the purpose of hearing appeals concerning decisions rendered under this chapter on behalf of the town pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

"Bark beetle brood material" is any residue less than six (6) inches in diameter resulting from pine species removal.

"Building footprint" means the cumulative area within the outside walls of any building or structure authorized for construction by town issuance of a building permit.

"Damage" means any intentional action or gross negligence which causes injury, death or disfigurement of a tree.

"Dead tree" means a tree in which one hundred (100) percent of the foliage-bearing crown is dead or fading in color from a normal green to yellow, sorrel or brown, excluding normal autumn coloration changes.

"Dbh" means diameter at breast height, specifically four (4) feet, six (6) inches above natural grade as measured on the uphill side.

"Diseased tree" shall mean a tree that, based upon certification by a tree expert or other substantial evidence, has a strong likelihood of dying within one year and infecting other trees in the area with pathogens or invasive insects and/or becoming a hazard as a result of the disease.

"Drip line" means the outermost line of the tree's canopy projected straight downward to the ground surface. As depicted in plain view, the drip line appears as an irregularly shaped circle.

"Face cut" means the initial cut while felling a tree that removes a wedge-shaped piece of wood and determines the direction of fall. Also known as an undercut.

"Girdle" means to encircle the stem of a living tree with cuts that completely sever all bark layers to kill the tree by preventing the passage of carbohydrates to the roots.

"Hazardous" means presenting an imminent danger to people, existing structures or fenced animals.

"Landmark tree" means a tree that has been designated by resolution of the town council to be of high value because of its species, size, age, appearance, historical significance, or other professional criteria.

"Legal parcel" means an independent, lawfully created property that meets the minimum subdivision and zoning standards at the time the parcel was established.

"Overstory" means that portion of a stand of trees forming the upper canopy or uppermost layer of leaves.

"Permittee" means a property owner who has been issued a tree felling permit by the town.

"Qualifying tree" means any living woody perennial plant characterized by having one or more main stems or trunks, one stem or trunk of which measures either thirty-one (31) inches or more in circumference or ten (10) inches or more in diameter at breast height (dbh). Trees shall be measured at a level that is located four (4), feet six (6) inches above natural grade as measured on the uphill side of the tree.

"Town council" means the governing, legislative body of the town.

"Town manager" means the town manager of the town, or his/her designee.

"Tree advisory committee" The tree advisory committee is composed of up to five (5) individuals appointed by the town council. The committee is charged with duties designated and delegated by the town council on matters pertaining to the management of tree resources within the town.

"Tree expert" means a California registered professional forester; or an arborist certified by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture; or a state licensed contractor, with seven (7) years or more local tree service experience.

"Tree felling permit" means a permit issued by the town authorizing a person to fell, top the crown, destroy or remove a tree pursuant to the authority of this chapter.

"Tree maintenance activities" means physical actions performed by a person that are intended to sustain a tree. Such activities shall include, but are not limited to: tree felling and removal, tree transplanting, pruning and application of pesticides upon trees.

(Ord. No. 565, § 7, 12-13-2016; Ord. No. 482, § 2, 5-27-2008)