Green space is a premium downtown Saint Paul. Rice Park and Mears Park do most of the heavy lifting, Kellogg Park is there as well. An effort to further develop Pedro Park has unfortunately become an example of civic breakdown in any circle where community engagement is discussed.

Another green option downtown comes in the form of trees lining our streets! Trees add all kinds of character to our city, but having designated places in the sidewalk also makes it very easy to notice when one is missing. Alternatively, the character that a dead tree provides doesn’t hold up to a whole lot of scrutiny.

Rather than speaking broadly about the missing and dead tree situation, I thought maybe it would help to be more specific. Already a great fan of the unsung My Maps feature of Google Maps, I thought I’d take a walk…up and down every street in District 17 and document every instance of such trees (or lack thereof).

So far I’ve covered every North/South* street, and my goal is to document the East/West streets before the leaves come off the trees (making dead trees more difficult to identify). 

*I’m calling streets perpendicular to the Mississippi River North/South.

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Activity Log

November 18-20, 2019 – Emails w/ Councilmember Noecker

From: McKee, Shevek
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2019 9:46 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: RE: FW: Downtown Trees

Understood. The EAB thing was the answer I was expecting the first time, actually. That whole situation is pretty depressing, additionally so that it’s monopolizing resources for such a lengthy amount of time that could be used in much more ideal ways.

My thoughts go to figuring out if private dollars would be able to get downtown trees planted, and if so specifically how much and would it be better practically/fiscally to band together and do as many as possible or would it be better to consider a block at a time.

If I think of a concise way to ask these questions I will direct them to Rachel in Parks & Rec.

Once again I appreciate your follow up on this matter.

-Shevek

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 2:15 PM
To: McKee, Shevek
Subject: FW: Downtown Trees

FYI. Unfortunately EAB-related work is sucking up the bulk of staff time/money for the present. Let me know if you have any follow-up’s for Rachel (you can also contact her directly).
Best,
Rebecca

From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 7:04 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Cc: Hahm, Michael (CI-StPaul) michael.hahm@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Subject: RE: Downtown Trees

Hello Councilmember Noecker,
There is not a downtown specific maintenance plan. We are concentrating most of our efforts on EAB-infested ash removals throughout the city which takes the majority of our staff and time. Unfortunately, we have time for little else which will be the case for the next several years.

If there was a specific issue we could look into it and dependent upon the scale we may be able to address.
Best,
Rachel
Rachel Coyle
Urban Forester Supervisor
City of Saint Paul
Parks & Recreation Department

ISA #MN4325-AM
P: 651-632-2431
rachel.coyle@ci.stpaul.mn.us

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 2:17 PM
To: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul) rachel.coyle@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Subject: Downtown Trees

Hi Rachel,
A constituent of mine reached out to inquire whether there is an urban forestry spring workplan that includes specifics about downtown sidewalk trees – i.e., what specific maintenance/care we give downtown trees each spring.

Can you let me know? Thanks!
Best,
Rebecca

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 9:46 AM
To: McKee, Shevek
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question
Thanks Shevek.  I’m sorry for the delayed response though I know we’ve discussed a bit of this message in person since you sent it.

I’ll reach out to forestry to find out if there’s a spring workplan for downtown trees and let you know.
Best,
Rebecca

October 29, 2019 – Email w/ Councilmember Noecker

From: McKee, Shevek
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2019 9:56 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Interesting. I appreciate you including the emails. The cynic in me is curious what the expense of this miscommunication is. I’m also very curious if this was already in the process of being corrected between the departments or if our inquiry was the catalyst, I’m not sure how much stock to put in the departments’ answer to that question were it posed.
As far as the rest of the trees downtown. I have noticed several dead trees on the sidewalks removed recently, maybe any activity is progress. I’m wondering if there’s an urban forestry spring workplan that includes specifics about downtown sidewalk trees?
Thanks,
Shevek

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2019 8:29 AM
To: McKee, Shevek
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question
Hi Shevek,
I wanted to get back to you on your question re: downtown tree openings. The long story short (see below for the torrid details) is that four treeholes were paved over were done so by Public Works on the assumption that they were abandoned. Parks then requested them to reopen the holes and replant trees in them and that’s set to happen next spring.
A bit of back-and-forth between departments but it looks like we have a resolution, at least in this area.
Let me know if you have further questions and hope all’s well with you.
Best,
Rebecca

From: Kurtz, Paul (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2019 7:41 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

CM Noecker,
Public Works closed up some tree openings (4) this year because they appeared to be abandoned for an extended period of time and the grates that were on these openings were not ADA compliant. We have worked with Parks (Zach) in developing a plan to get these 4 areas opened back up next spring for tree planting. So the answer to your question is yes. The reopening of these sidewalk areas for tree plantings is on our Public Works workplan for Spring of 2020. Let me know if you need anything else.
Paul

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2019 8:59 AM
To: Kurtz, Paul (CI-StPaul)
Subject: FW: Downtown Tree Question

Hi Paul,
Please see below. I’m just checking in to see if reopening these tree openings is on your workplan for the spring.
Best,
Rebecca

From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2019 10:11 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Hi Rebecca,
I would check with Paul Kurtz.
Best,
Rachel

Rachel Coyle
Urban Forester Supervisor
City of Saint Paul
Parks & Recreation Department

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2019 9:50 AM
To: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Thanks. Whom should I check in with in PW?
Best,
Rebecca

From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 8:15 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Hi CM Noecker,
That is the information we’ve conveyed to PW—that they need to redo the openings, likely replace soil, and have completed by May 15 so that trees can be planted. My previous email may have been misleading—I meant that I confirmed within my office that we’ve supplied the information to PW, but we have yet to receive confirmation from them that it will be completed. Since this is a PW project, it would probably be best to confirm directly with them—these sites were included in information that Zach supplied to PW regarding costs for tree planting, soils, etc in the mill and overlay project downtown.
Best,

Rachel Coyle

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 10:48 AM
To: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Hi Rachel,
Thanks – does that mean they’ll be restored to soil and trees will be replanted? Just want to make sure I’m conveying accurate info.
Best,
Rebecca

From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 7:52 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Hi CM Noecker,
Received confirmation that these will be opened up next spring by PW.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Rachel

From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2019 10:28 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Hi Councilmember Noecker,
I believe those were paved over by PW without our knowledge until after the work was done. I am fairly certain we told PW that those would need to be re-done so that we do not lose the planting spaces, but I will confirm and get back to you.
Best,
Rachel

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul)
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2019 9:20 AM
To: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul)
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question

Sorry for the long overdue response. It sounds like the tree holes that have been paved over are on the west side of Wacouta Street immediately south of 7th Street, around the corner from the entrance to the Creators Space.
Do you know if these were areas we requested PW to pave?

September 12, 2019 – Emails w/ Councilmember Noecker

From: McKee, Shevek
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question
The ones that I noticed had been paved over were on the west side of Wacouta Street immediately south of 7th Street, around the corner from the entrance to the Creators Space. I think I marked them red and updated the description on that map I sent.
Personally, my primary issue related to the tree thing is things that look like blight. To me a fresh new sidewalk looks much better than a “tree hole” with a dead or absent tree, but I have a feeling some folks would be concerned if it became a trend to replace tree locations with blank sidewalk throughout the current Lowertown sidewalk rehab work.
Let me know if you need anything else from me.

From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
To: McKee, Shevek
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question
Please see below…let me know if there are particular locations I can send Rachel’s way.
Best,
Rebecca
From: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul) <rachel.coyle@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 10:11 AM
To: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: RE: Downtown Tree Question
Hi Councilmember Noecker,

I would have to ask what they mean by “abandoned”.  Forestry doesn’t discontinue planting those openings without some follow-up, typically that would be our requesting that PW pave over an opening.  Reasons we may discontinue planting a given site would be repetitive mortality of new trees before becoming established or due to repetitive vandalism, changes to a streetscape or building. 

A location would help in getting them information if there is a particular site they’re concerned about.
Best,
Rachel
From: Noecker, Rebecca (CI-StPaul) <Rebecca.Noecker@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 12:46 PM
To: Coyle, Rachel (CI-StPaul) <rachel.coyle@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Subject: Downtown Tree Question
Hi Rachel,
A constituent asked me today who is responsible for filling in abandoned “tree holes” (the squares where trees used to be) downtown with cement.  Is that a decision the private property owner makes or is that filling-in something we do as a City?
Best,
Rebecca

September 10, 2019 – Facebook Virtual Lunch Chat w/ Councilmember Noecker

Shevek McKee “What can you tell me about ordinances related to trees on the sidewalks of downtown? I have a feeling it’s the adjacent building owner responsibility to keep them alive or replace dead/missing ones, but haven’t had that confirmed yet. Is there a specific department I should be talking to about this?
Related, I’ve noticed amidst some of the sidewalk work in Lowertown some empty “tree holes” have just been paved over with new blank sidewalk. Is there a process that has to be gone through to change from a space where a tree has been to just sidewalk or is that up to city/building owner discretion?”

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, St. Paul City Council Ward 2 “Thanks Shevek. Tree maintenance is the responsibility of the City but we always ask for and appreciate building owners’ (and residents’) help in caring for boulevard trees. I am working with our Public Works and Parks teams to include trees as part of our street maintenance work downtown next summer since there are many parts of downtown that are woefully bereft of them. It’s difficult to keep downtown trees alive since there is so much infrastructure underground that their roots need to weave around, etc. I’m not sure who makes the call to pave over a “tree hole” but I will find out.”