Title
Amending Title IV of the Saint Paul Administrative Code to add Chapter 92, titled Tree Preservation for City Sponsored Construction Projects.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, trees provide essential public benefits including improved air quality, carbon storage, urban heat reduction, stormwater management, erosion control, wildlife habitat, contributions to public health, and improve public safety and neighborhood livability; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul’s tree canopy has been significantly degraded by the spread of Emerald Ash Borer, with resulting long-term impacts on environmental quality and equitable access to these benefits; and
WHEREAS, urban heat islands disproportionately affect areas with lower tree canopy cover, resulting in higher temperatures, reduced air and water quality, increased energy burdens, and elevated public health risks; and
WHEREAS, these impacts are concentrated in neighborhoods with higher proportions of low-income households and historically underinvested communities; and
WHEREAS, advancing climate resilience requires intentional, equity-centered investment in tree canopy restoration, preservation, and maintenance in areas most affected by environmental harm and historic disinvestment; and
WHEREAS, the Tree Preservation Ordinance Public Input Group (TPO PIG) conducted an eighteen-month collaborative process involving residents, advocates, technical experts, and City staff across multiple departments to evaluate and refine tree preservation policy and implementation; and
WHEREAS, this process resulted in a consolidated ordinance and Standard Operating Procedures framework intended to be clear, enforceable, and operationally implementable while advancing environmental stewardship, accessibility, and infrastructure compatibility; and
WHEREAS, the recommendations developed through this process prioritize strengthened tree preservation policy, improved public engagement and accountability, and consistent, transparent implementation across City sy...
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