Funds will be used to provide relief for homestead property owners in certain disadvantaged areas in Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has received a $500,000 donation from the Margaret A. Cargill Fund of the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation that will be used to offset costs to remove diseased trees from private homesteaded properties in certain areas across Minneapolis.
The funds will first be applied retroactively to all private property tree removal assessments on homesteads residing within census tracts defined as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool that are currently pending and remain unpaid with the MPRB. That amount currently stands at approximately $368,000 after MPRB administrative fees are removed but will likely increase as outstanding invoices for trees removed are received by the MPRB’s Finance Department.
“We are so grateful for Margaret A. Cargill Fund of the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation for stepping up and helping the Minneapolis community with this need,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. “Emerald ash borer has been killing ash trees throughout the city since it was discovered in 2010 and the number of condemnations has increased. We have heard from the community that the assessments are having an inequitable impact on homestead property owners within disadvantaged communities. Since the MPRB cannot pay for private tree removal, this generous donation will offer relief to many impacted homeowners.”
As additional funds remain, the MPRB would prioritize assistance as noted below, until all funds are allocated:
- Clear any private property tree removal assessments that become pending between November 1, 2023, and the start of the federal grant assistance listed below for homestead properties located within the same disadvantaged communities as defined above. The MPRB Board of Commissioners is also considering a resolution to temporarily pause any future removals until anticipated federal funding can be applied to offset future tree removals.
- Retroactive relief would then be considered for private property tree removal assessments that have been levied to Hennepin County to provide relief to homestead properties located in those same disadvantaged communities (as defined by the federal grant) beginning with assessments levied in 2022 utilizing a needs-based application process, as funds allow.
In addition to securing the $500,000 donation, the MPRB and City of Minneapolis partnered and secured a federal grant that will aid private property owners that reside with census tracts defined as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool in the City of Minneapolis with tree removals. However, this grant does not provide relief retroactively. The start date of the federal grant is the date the grant is fully executed and is yet to be determined.
The Park Board has also taken other steps to improve and better communicate the private tree removal process:
- Requiring tree removal companies to first examine the trees to get more competitive bids for all removals that will be assessed against a homeowner’s property taxes. Previously, only trees with difficult removal circumstances (called special trees) would get in-person inspections from companies bidding to remove them.
- Adding a 20-year option for repaying the tree removal debt on private homestead property taxes. The previous repayment options of five or 10 years are still available.
- Beginning to translate private tree removal materials into multiple languages.
- Updating and better organizing the MPRB private tree removal web pages.
- Creating a flow chart that helps explain the private tree removal process for Homestead properties.
Additionally, at the December 6, 2023 Board meeting, the MPRB Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution pausing the condemnation of ash trees until anticipated federal funding can be applied to offset future tree removals. They may also consider an MPRB staff amendment to that resolution that would allow condemnations to continue but pauses the contracted removals of trees on private properties that may potentially qualify for the grant until the Minneapolis Health Department and US Forest Service have finalized the grant contracts.
“While we are deeply grateful for this gift, we know our work is not finished,” said Bangoura. “We will continue to search for federal and state grants and philanthropic entities to give more homeowners financial relief.”
Anyone interested in contributing toward this effort may do so by sending a check or money order to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, ATTN: Finance Department-Private Tree Relief, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55411 or debit/credit card by calling 612-230-6400.