The City Council passed the Tree Protection Ordinance on Tuesday.

City Councilwoman Jane Brunner (District 1-North Oakland) spent much of the past year pushing for changes in the ways the Public Works Agency cuts down city trees that may pose a hazard to sidewalks or sewer lines nearby.

The law covers trees planted by the city in or near a sidewalk, according to a city report.

"For the first time, we're looking at the trees and sidewalks together," Brunner said.

Also, Brunner said, the city will consider options to removing problem trees. She estimated that new techniques will cost Oakland about $2 million each year. Her staff is working with the city to research how to raise the money, she added.

Among a dozen other changes, the law calls for the city to post public notices about any tree removal, including the reason for the removal and an explanation of how residents can appeal the removal.

The city now must plan for tree removal before finalizing a contract for sidewalk repairs. The law also calls for the city to plant more trees each year, as well as create a new list of approved species; 179 trees were planted last year.

In the past, Oakland paid for the trees that grow in sidewalks. Property owners prepared the sidewalks for tree planting, according to a city report. Now, the city will provide sidewalk-cutting services.

The changes may result in serpentine sidewalks, bulb-outs, different root pruning techniques and new sidewalk materials, said Dan Gallagher, director of tree services with the Public Works Agency.

For more information about tree removal, call the tree division at (510) 615-5850.