For internal use:
TREE REQUEST FORM
Your Name:
Street Address (with ZIP Code):
Telephone Number:
E-mail:
Are you the owner?

“Disadvantaged communities” qualify for FREE trees
o
o
o

or tenant (see page 3)?
Made possible by a grant through CAL FIRE
Trees must not be under high-voltage electrical wires
If you are able and willing to pay anyway, we'll put your
donation toward others who don't qualify for free trees
Locations not qualifying for the grant have two options:
o
o
Join our waiting list to get free trees, depending on outside
donations and grants.
Pay for the tree to be planted ($200-$500 sliding scale).
Are you interested only if the trees are free? Yes ____ No ____
Are you able/willing to pay (sliding scale)?
Yes ____ No ____
Amount $
If it is possible, would you want more than one tree?
Yes ____ No ____
Areas in the green outline qualify for free trees.
Check whether your property qualifies:
bit.ly/FreeTreesforOaklandFlatlands
How did you hear about us?
By submitting this form, you agree to water the tree weekly (at least 3 gallons) for 2 to 3 years.
Signature
Date:
SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST TO:
Derek Schubert, Sierra Club Tree Team Coordinator
[email protected] 510-848-0800 x327
MAIL: Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter Office, 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite I, Berkeley, CA 94702. “Attention: Tree Team.”
FAX: (510) 848-3383. Please also call us, to tell us that you have sent the fax.
WHAT’S NEXT? An arborist will conduct a site visit with you to determine the best location & species for
your new tree. If all goes well, the tree should be planted within 2 months (between November & June).
For Internal Use:
Date Received:
Date Visited:
By (initials):
Maximum Size Category: S / M / L
High-Voltage Wires? No / Yes
Pavement to be Removed? No / Yes Notes:
Date Pavement Removed:
Removed By:
Tree Species Approved:
Date USA Notified:
Ticket #:
Date Verified:
Date Planted:
Funds: Grant
/ SCTT General
/ Owner
(date paid:)
DETAILS ON THE SIERRA CLUB TREE TEAM, OAKLAND STREET-TREE PROJECT:
(TreesForOaklandFlatlands.org)
BACKGROUND: In 2008, the Oakland City Council reduced funding to their Tree Division and suspended
routine tree-plantings, so the Sierra Club S.F. Bay Chapter began to plant trees where homeowners would
take care of them. Since early 2010, the Sierra Club Tree Team has planted trees using only small groups
of volunteers, hand-tools, and private vehicles. As of November 2016, we have planted over 1,900 trees.
From 2016-2018, our goal is to plant 1,500 more trees in the flatlands, from West Oakland and
Downtown through East Oakland out to the border with San Leandro. A grant from CAL FIRE helps us
fund trees to be planted in communities rated as "environmentally disadvantaged", according to
CalEnviroScreen2.0: http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/ces2.html Since this grant emphasizes big trees (25' or taller
at maturity), we cannot pay for small trees in narrow strips or under overhead high-voltage wires.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS: All requests must come from the property's owner or their agent. The
trees generally go along the sidewalk ("street-tree"), but we can provide trees on private property under
certain conditions. The Sierra Club Tree Team provides the tree, stake, compost, mulch, and other
materials, as well as labor and equipment. You will do basic maintenance for the first 3 years, including
watering and weeding. Long-term pruning and maintenance of a street-tree will be the responsibility of
the City of Oakland, but trees on private property will be the responsibility of the property owner.
WHAT KIND OF TREE DO YOU GET? You choose the species of tree that you like, from a list of Cityapproved species. We might make a recommendation based on the other trees on your block and other
factors (such as whether the tree would shade your house), but the final decision is yours.
IF YOUR PLANTING STRIP IS OBSTRUCTED (CONCRETE, STUMPS, OR BUSHES): We will check the
condition of your planting strip when we visit. We can pay a contractor to remove concrete and grind out
a stump, or you can hire your own contractor or do it yourself. We ask homeowners to remove pavers or
stepping stones, and to remove or transplant any bushes or other plants in the way of the new tree.
HOW SHOULD YOU CARE FOR YOUR NEW TREE? It will need water every week during the dry season
(roughly May to October, but also unseasonably dry periods during winter or spring), and it should be
kept clear of weeds. We will give you further instructions on caring for your tree after we plant it.
VOLUNTEERING TO PLANT WITH US: Our volunteers plant trees on most Saturday mornings from
November to June, as well as some Sundays and occasional days during the summer and fall. You can
sign up to volunteer with us at www.meetup.com/sanfranciscobay/ . If you belong to a club, neighborhood
association, church, or some other group, your group is welcome to work with us; please contact us at the
number and e-mail on the first page.
DONATIONS: We prefer to plant at no cost to the homeowner, but we do not always have the funds to do
that, so we welcome any donations. Each tree costs us about $100-150 if the planting strip is not paved,
but cutting the concrete to open a new tree-well costs another $150-200.
Gifts by check (tax-deductible) can be made out to "The Sierra Club Foundation" with a memo of "NACG
Tree Team Account" [NACG = Northern Alameda County Group], and mailed to this address:
Sierra Club Tree Team, c/o Treasurer Anna Robinson, 1865 San Pedro Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Gifts by PayPal or credit card (not tax-deductible) can be made through our website.
Revised 22 November 2016
Sierra Club Tree Team - Tree Request Form
Owner-Tenant Agreement
If you are a tenant, please provide owner’s signature approval and contact information:
Street Address:
Tenant's Name:
Owner’s Name:
Owner’s Mailing Address:
Owner’s Telephone Number:
Owner’s E-mail:
By submitting this form, you approve of the tenant taking care of the new tree(s).
If the tenant leaves the residence within 2 years of the date of planting, you agree to assign responsibility
for tree care (including weekly watering) to the new tenant or to your own representative.
Owner's Signature
Date: