Parks superintendent could pause some tree assessments if private funds are found
Roxxanne O’Brien, left, and Felicia Perry chided park commissioners Wednesday night over the removal of ash trees in North Minneapolis. Photo by David Pierini
By David Pierini, Editor
The Minneapolis parks superintendent can delay the levying of special assessments against some low-income property owners stuck with hefty bills for the forced removal of diseased trees if private funding to help can be secured.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on Nov. 15 gave Supt. Al Bangoura the authority to hit pause, allowing him time to work philanthropic channels to assist low-income property owners saddled with tree removal costs. The vote ended a contentious public hearing where a handful of residents and activists accused the board of blind-siding Black and Brown neighborhoods with orders to remove trees inspectors say were diseased with emerald ash borer.
A large ash tree, depending on size and location on the property, can cost a few thousand dollars. If property owners do not remove the tree, state law allows the parks board to contract with a service to remove the tree and attach the cost to property taxes with interest.
Bangoura requested the authority to allow him more time to find donors to help defray costs for property owners living in federally recognized “census tracts defined as disadvantaged.”
“Right now, I’m working towards a resolution to help homeowners who have been assessed,” Bangoura said. “This is a way to stop that assessment until we are able to figure the private funding, which, hopefully, means none of those homes will be levied.”
The total number of pending assessments in Minneapolis stands at 737 for $1.6 million, which will begin to appear on the 2024 tax bill. In the Northside zip codes of 55411 and 55412, the count is 156 properties for more than $327,000.
If the board secures money for retroactive compensation, some impacted Northside homes will not be eligible because they don’t fall within the census tracts. Those could include homes near the Victory Memorial and Theo Wirth Parkway.
The anger over the tree condemnations and removal costs has forced MPRB to change the way it has engaged communities around the removal of diseased trees. The parks board has held listening sessions for residents to vent, gave residents the option to spread the cost over 10 and 20 years on their tax bills and lobbied the state for grant money to help fixed-income property owners.
Felicia Perry addresses parks commissioners, including Becka Thompson, left, Steffanie Musich and board President Meg Forney. Photo by David Pieirni
The federal government recently awarded an $8 million grant to the city, however, the money can only be used on future tree condemnations. Bangoura is working philanthropic channels to help with retroactive costs.
During the hearing, Felicia Perry spoke against the “unauthorized” removal of two of her trees and said a third was marked earlier this year after she spoke out at a meeting. She said the parks board violated the law by not presenting proof of infestation to residents.
“The process of standing before you today has taken a significant toll on many of us,” said Perry, who received a bill for nearly $5,000 for the two trees. “Yet, it’s crucial to amplify the gross injustice occurring literally in our backyards. I have 35 more seconds (to speak). I need y’all to look at me and see the humanity. You took my trees.”
Despite the park board’s efforts to address the harm, activists and residents at Tuesday’s hearing kept up a steady stream of invective as board members discussed the resolution.
Activist Roxxanne O’Brien, whose elderly mother was saddled with tree removal costs, rejected the board’s attempts at decorum. She made several accusations against board members and dared board President Meg Forney to have her forcibly removed.
“I am so frustrated with you all, I don’t know why some of you are on this board other than to terrorize this community,” O’Brien said.
Forney tried in vain to excuse O’Brien after her speaking time lapsed and asked her to sit down.
“How dare you? How dare you? How dare you try to take someone’s home, this is the new redlining,” O’Brien said.
Forney said, “You’ve been asked politely to sit down.”
O’Brien replied, “This is not polite, this is political war. Move me, Forney.”
Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported some assessments were paused.