The statement came as Brunner helped plant one of 16 trees in North Oakland, the first of 1,000 she has committed to see planted with funds from her office.

The council member was surrounded by supporters who have worked with Brunner for more than a year to save trees on city street. The city is responsible for maintaining street trees and can be held liable for any damage or injury they cause.

Oakland resident Philip Laing, who is on the city's street tree committee, said Tuesday's planting on Apgar Street was a good day for Oakland.

"It is a very positive step," Laing said.

The trees are Aristocrat pear trees, a flowering tree that reaches a maximum height of 40 feet. Oakland Parks and Recreation tree supervisor Dan Gallagher said the trees produce flowers but no fruit and their limbs rarely "fail" or fall.

Also, he said the trees will not grow as high as the high-voltage power lines that surround many streets in the North Oakland neighborhoods near West Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. That is important, he said, because they will be easier for city staff to maintain.

Walter Miles, who Brunner said planted the tree in front of her North Oakland home during a similar campaign 30 years ago, said he is behind the greening of Oakland because "trees make you feel good."

"We won't be that other city across the Bay," he added. "We'll be Oakland."

Brunner said people who want trees planted in front of their homes should call her office. City staff will then go to the requested site to see if the proposed planting is on Oakland property and if it could damage public utilities.

Once the tree is approved, the city will remove part of the sidewalk to plant the tree, if necessary. The person who request-

ed the planting must commit to watering the tree for one year.

"Our hope is eventually the city will have a program where they plant 2,000 trees a year," Brunner said.

Brunner can be reached at 238-7001.

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