UPDATED: Cupertino Tree Tags Called 'Ugly' Provide Important Information

Update as of 9:45 a.m.: The City of Cupertino announced "Trees 95014", an iOS app related to the topic of this article. More information can be found at the end of this story.

Tags attached to thousands of city-owned trees in Cupertino are there for the edification of residents about the trees themselves, and to identify which trees in the neighborhood are public trees.

But at least a couple of residents object to the identification tags arguing they are ugly, the method of affixing tags to the trees could harm the trees, and it’s all a taxpayer waste. One Patch reader noted he was further incensed when he saw city workers pulling out nails they had installed just a couple days after they had installed the tags and nailing the tags a second time.

“They were out again today because the first tags put up were put up incorrectly. So now they are pulling nails out and re-nailing the sign properly. This is really an atrocious waste of time and city resources,” said Todd Kushnir. “This is like a fleecing of America story. There is so much waste here it's unbelievable.”

The tags, called “badges” by the city, cost about $1 apiece for some 13,000 public trees bringing the total cost of the badges to about $13,000, according to Timm Borden, director of public works. Borden was unable to provide a cost of the crew’s time it takes to install the badges, but says they are city employees who also help maintain the trees throughout the year.

Kushnir said he plans to do his own cost-benefit analysis of the program.

Borden argues that the nails in the trees cause no harm as Kushnir insists.

“Nails are very commonly used all over the world, including in botanical gardens and arboretums,” Borden said.

Furthermore, the tags that hang from the nails will help clear up confusion among residents who aren’t sure if a tree on or near their property is a public or private tree, and will make clear who is responsible for maintaining and caring for the tree.

A tree ordinance passed by the city in March 2012 that made provisions for the tags was done so in part because some residents pruned or cut down trees that weren’t on their property. In some Cupertino neighborhoods the sidewalk is attached to the curb and the area where some public trees are located look like they are in homeowners’ yards.

“They don’t realize they are damaging or pruning a public tree,” Borden said. “The fines for those trees is very high. It put everyone in an awkward position. They probably meant well, but here we are with a public tree that has a lot of value, and a homeowner is damaging it.”

Just by being there the tags identify the trees as city trees hopefully eliminating the confusion, and Borden said there’s an added bonus to the tags, too.

The tags come with a QR code, which is GPS enabled, and will provide “quite a bit of information about that tree” Borden said.

The tags will also help residents alert the city in the event the tree looks as if it needs maintenance or care.

The one complaint Borden can’t really combat, he said, is the aesthetics of the tags, which Josie Zamarian complained about in an email to Patch: “What is the deal with the tags that the City of Cupertino posted, with nails, on the city street trees? They are ugly to see. Every time you walk by you see the tag, not the beautiful tree.”

And Kushnir agrees.

“I'm not sure if they realize exactly how unsightly these signs are, and how much it will cost to maintain. Trees are not signposts,” he said.

The tags were deliberately put at eye level to serve the purpose of being seen, and providing the necessary information, but Borden said he can’t argue with what one person sees as ugly.

“Regarding the aestethics, that’s in the eye of the beholder,” he said.

Implementation of the tree ordinance helped the city achieve its Tree City USA designation, something “we’re pretty proud of,” Borden said.

Four standards, established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, needed to be met to achieve the designation. They include observance of an annual Arbor Day—which the city did in October—a tree department, a minimum of a $2 per resident expenditure on tree-related programs, and an ordinance with a written annual forestry plan.

Editor’s note: After the initial publishing of this article the City released a statement announcing an iOS app “Trees 95014” for iPhones and iPads—other smartphone apps will be available later. Trees 95014 will allow residents to search for trees by street address or proximity as well as scanning the QR code on the tags. They can name their tree, request service and sign up for tree-related notifications.

The city’s tree program includes plans to add 1,600 more trees over the next four years.

By the end of July the city expects to have all public trees tagged. About 5,000 have been tagged so far.

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