§ 53-4. Planting and care program.

(a) Program mandated.

The Department of Recreation and Parks shall initiate and maintain a program of planting and caring for trees along the streets, alleys, lanes, and other public ways and in parks, squares, and other public places of this City.

(b) Scope and implementation.

(1) The program shall include at public expense the full cost of acquiring and planting the trees, including the cost of digging holes and preparing for the planting.

(2) The size and scope of the program shall be determined from time to time by the amount of funds appropriated and authorized therefor.

(3) It is the legislative intent that this program be vigorously implemented and pursued, and that a large and increasing number of trees be grown and preserved in and along all such public ways and public places in the entire City.

(c) Spacing.

Trees shall be planted and preserved at intervals of not more than 30 feet from the next contiguous tree or trees, except where requested by a property owner.

(d) Species and varieties.

Species and varieties shall be planted and preserved as most suitable for the particular area by means of availability, long life, full foliage and limb structure, beauty, and the specific request of property owners, except where the request of the property owner as to variety of the tree is not practicable in the opinion of the City Arborist.