WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: https://stpaul.granicus.com/player/clip/5932?view_id=37&redirect=true

Part: 1

1
00:00:10.743 --> 00:03:48.492
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

2
00:04:01.440 --> 00:06:53.143
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Roll call, please. >> Chair Jhnson I spear cast member voting here. Councilmember combing councilmember can Jones councilmember making here president and no one absent. >> 2 presentations today first up, this presentation on. Precision of the tree Canopy start off, guess is the we'll - cheapest The budget and for me is missing item that will go first with the force. Your presentation. Welcome, Rachel. And as a Ward. Jean record >> I'm good. How are you doing? Good. Thank you for having me. Today. Council members to talk about our

3
00:06:55.140 --> 00:08:26.970
forestry budget gonna give you a brief outlook on where we are currently in. Where will be in the future based on our current budget and then optimal budget. Ad I will rely on my notes. So I apologize. I'm looking down a Okay. So I thought it was important to start kind of who we are and what we do. And forestry during budget budget presentations and a lot of the city council, president presentations. I understand that you typically will see like the big bucket items of pruning tree, remove and planted. But I wanted to point out some of the other important work that we do in Forestry. Grant management is one big thing we currently have 3 grants that we are managing in the Forestry Division with the U.S. Forest Service and the DNR. Community Forestry. We we hve a we don't have a dedicated fund for outreach and forestry, but we do work collaboratively with private nonprofits on public and private tree-planting initiatives. We host events such as Arbor Day and we have a small team of volunteers called the tree Stuart's who do pruning planting for us. We currently have one urban Forester who reviews all public construction and development projects in Saint Paul, including anything that public works is doing. Ramsey County

4
00:08:31.176 --> 00:10:16.546
in that same poll, regional water service and then all of the private development that individual provides feedback and requirements for tree preservation ad removals tree planting, et cetera. Our crews also help with those pojects by pruning trees in advance As much as our capacity for that work, allow us. Often. Those projects are planted by our contractor with forestry Oversight. Storm response is another big thing that forestry I know pobably know over the last week we've had several small storms. Work has generated well over 200 calls to our office for trees that are down trees, tree branches that are So we've been working through all of that. And I think it's worth noting that the storm response is something that is entirely on budgeted for forestry. I forgot the name teaching sites too. Where we are budgets and then pressures in the general fund. We did have a small increase in 2025 of $500,000. Otherwise my understanding going back, you know, a couple of decades is that that budget has remained relatively level with the exception of increases for salaries and fringes. Historically, it's been a pretty under-resourced in comparison to the workload that we have. For a B it was so if you go back to Dutch, ELM disease stays back in the 1970's, there was a ton of

5
00:10:20.180 --> 00:12:04.921
federal funding to 2 cities and states to help with Dutch elm disease. And that really never came to fruition with emerald ash borer, although it is just as devastating of an insect versus disease. There were some state and federal grants that we we have been awarded throughout the EA be years, but not, you know, the millions that were needed for the program. The city did start a general fund for EB management that I think around 2010 or 11. But overall it was less than half of what was spent on managing EB in Saint Paul. Staffing wsn't increased substantially. So back logs were created. That worst are still working way out of. For our capital improvement budget that hs remained levels since before I started wrking here, which was around 2004. So I'll get more into that a little bit later. As far as the planting that that budget covers. The Port Authority funds that came in. I think 2021 or so was an 18 million dollar package over 6 years. And that was to complete the EB program, which we did in 2024. And it is allowed us to start addressing some of the backlogs as well as purchase, seen some needed equipment fr Cruz. Are acessible removals budget I'm really not going to talk about this a whole lot later in the presentation. But if you have questions on it and we can

6
00:12:07.593 --> 00:13:47.231
take those on, it's right now is $100,000 annually. And I don't know of any create increases to that budget, but that basically is is the budget that is used to resolve any private property abatements in the city. So it goes back to the Dutch elm disease days when the city was marking trees on private property that were diseased. And dad from Dutch Elm disease we're now using it primarily to address emerald ash for or infested dead trees. But the need well surpasses the budget there. Grants. Like I said, we we've received varying levels of grant funds over the years since I've worked It is in the millions, but it's not funding that we've been able to consistently. consistently rely on because there is a lot of competition in the state for this small amount of grant funding that's available for urban and community forestry. And just kind of it for a comparison. The Minneapolis Park and Rec board manages about the same amount in terms of tree numbers and the size of the city and their funding about twice what ours is as well as staffing capacity. I think they have around 90 staff where we have 42 and forestry. 43, maybe ad I believe their budget is around 9 to 10 million dollars per year. Despite all of that, it's it's good to have goals, right? So when we got the Port

7
00:13:56.410 --> 00:15:32.936
Authority funding we wrapped up AB management, but part of the process when looking at the port funding was to develop goals associated with the backlogs that were created during management of emerald ash borer. So we looked at what we could achieve once those funds were exhausted with sustain general fund dollars. The ultimate goal being to reestablish last canopy, citywide increase species, diversity and maintain both established and young replacement trees. And so those goals did include, as you cn see, establishing a printing cycle and establishing a three-year tree replacement program citywide. So we would be looking at, you know, if a tree came down due to the storm last week that we would grind the stump next year and then i 2028, we would be replanting a tree there. And I'll get more into all of those things that say. Go So for pruning. Like I said before it been with the city for close to 20 years and the first time we've established an actual pruning cycle was in 2024. Immediately following the Management program. Prior to that, I think we did say that we anywhere from a 12 to a 15 year cycle, but that was really all complete break based. So we might be on a street turning all of the trees one year and say we might get back in 12 years,

8
00:15:35.674 --> 00:17:19.709
but it really wasn't doing a systematic pruning of individual areas. I think as we all know, complaint based management of programs is not really equitable and it's not sustainable. It's also in terms of forestry. It's not good for trees. So routine pruning is really the number one thing that we can due to care for. Our trees in the city. It helps with storm resilience by removing overextended so long branches or structurally weak limbs. It increases air flow. So if you see trees, even young trees waving around in the air, if you prune out some of the lambs, it will let airflow go through so that it doesn't snap the tree off. It increases health and longevity by removing dead and dying limbs, increasing air flow again, which decreases fungal growth and redirecting energy to healthy new growth. It also helps with risk management and mitigation. We have clear sight line so that people aren't running, stop signs and it's trees are tree branches are touching. I roofs or structures. You know, Andy, damaging the exterior of homes or buildings. So when started thinking about what a training program could look like 2020 ish and knowing that there's not really a an absolute industry standard, but that 5 to 10 years is generally excepted throughout the

9
00:17:23.916 --> 00:18:59.825
industry. We used our tree inventory to split the city and a 50 small areas with the goal of reaching 5 per year. And that. Te thought process behind that you know, that we would be on a 10 year cycle. We have 5 crews. They would reach one of those. Each crew would reach one of their areas a given year and they would go through 10 years and then that 10 years later they would be back doing those same areas. So you can see what we completed over the last couple of years. And we do have the 2026, which is here are 3 of the program is in progress. I 2024, there was some funding to support contractor assistance for this long-term. It could have cut the first cycles the First 10 year cycle in half down to to 5 years. However, that funding was an sustain. And since then, it's been 100% in-house crews doing the work. So like I said, we are we are meeting the goals of program far. Have a quick question Councilmember can solve Coulter at this time. You say you're on a roll. >> Can what I believe? I heard you say was these were determined based the like the current like. Understanding of what trees or where. What's my question of trying to determine how did you determine on these kind of based on your knowledge of the tree. The diversity of trees that we have in the city.

10
00:19:03.163 --> 00:20:33.851
Because like even when I look at you know, even the lower part of race street kind of near the graveyard like that. I was living in that area and every single tree on my block was taken down for EA. Be sure. I don't know if it was like we're part of the protective order like so I'm just kind like are those considerations being made, as you think about like where you're kind of prioritizing your plan based on like where was been has been where you are taking on trees like how do those connected all and how did you make a decision around where you're going next? >> Sure. So the way that we generated the prune areas was really looking. Mainly at the number of trees in each area to try to make it as even as possible. So you'll see some really strange squiggle in and out type of thing on And it generally in all of those small areas, it's around. 2500 trees. We. We've done asked replacements everywhere and I will talk about te young trees a little bit more. we've done them everywhere. We also did look at the age diversity in each area. So how many young trees there were versus older trees? But in general, it's it's pretty much citywide like there's a good a good max. But I will talk about a little bit about younger tree and turning with Does that answer your qestion? Okay.

11
00:20:42.195 --> 00:22:19.691
What we have been meeting the goals of the 10 year pruning cycle over the last 2 and a half years we have a really good start this year. We've done most of our pruning done for the year however, we do have to we will have to go back and finish that up. And that will depend on how many trees come down this summer either just do too, you know, age death, what not? And then the storms that we we see throughout the year we also have been addressing prioritize complaints such as trees touch a blocking stop signs and touching houses. And we've done a lot of construction related requests this year. Early this year. And this is where get to the butts of the program. Constituents could wait well over 10 years to have a tree pruned you know, if you're accounting for trees that were planted before we started the routine training cycle and depending on which proves zone there. And so the crew's own one is what we is we are one crew's own 10. Is your 10. So if a tree was planted in 2020 and therein turns on 10, they could wait, you know, 14, 15 years to have a tree proand and I think we all know that means continued complaints right about where we are in our cycle and how long it's taking. This doesn't include formative prune in to your question, councilmember him

12
00:22:25.310 --> 00:23:58.456
young trees. There are now 10's of thousands of those because we've been replaced ash trees, replacing storm storm damage trees and everything else. We should actually have a separate program for structural pruning of young trees where they're prune 2 to 3 times in the first 10 years. That is somewhat of a industry standard where, you know, if you have a preand cycle of anything between 5 to 10 years, that is considered good, but for young trees, it really is that you're getting to them at least a couple of times while they're young so that you're giving them a really good structure for there. This also doesn't include park trees. So we are the parks department. But unfortunately, we we don't have a lot of capacity to to do a lot of maintenance and This does. The Pru's owns the 2500 trees that I mentioned is really just street trees. And when we if we get areas done early, we would go into parks and do as much pruning in those areas as we For a budget I think this was presented this graphic by Andy last week. I'm pretty sure I director Rodriguez an ideal scenario would include roughly 3.7 million dollars annually in additional funding to support printing contracts. We would have the capacity and that's included in that ideal

13
00:24:03.196 --> 00:25:36.973
number that is circled in We don't have the capacity due to expedite the first round of the cycle. Reducing it from 10 years down to 7. I think that's what would be achievable now that we're already into year 3 of the printing. It just address backlogs of complaints. It would keep us up on construction related pruning needs develop a program for a structure pruning of the young trees and complete park pruning during the same years cycle. I see a question as well from council president maker, thanks, chair. >> Can you give us a sense of how the 6.3 million for general tree care breaks down and you mention staff. I'm curious how many staff we have, what else the money goes toward. >> And then can you speak a little bit about what the expectations are? The metrics are for staff like. Week or month or day like, how are we? Setting expectations to get a certain amount of this work done that meets our goals. I do have. information. >> So your question is for the face 6 point. >> 2. >> 9 million is that the? Or the yeah. I see this sort of sources here, but I'm curious what the uses are like. How how is this money being used and then serve? A second question is for just.

14
00:25:41.446 --> 00:27:30.486
Staff expectation of what is out was the average ideal amount that accrue can perform any one of these areas we measure >> Roughly 6 million in general fund rate. Now. 4 and a million. >> Roughly 4 and a half is staff and salaries and fringe benefits. That leaves us with around a million dollars for. What is it included in like supplies, services materials. So that's any contract work that we do. So we do contract owner planting program. And we do contract out our stump removal program and those are the 2 like bigger ticket items that come out of our budgets. And then we have, you know, just smaller contracts, work such as crane, remove all up touch a little bit on later that assist with our crews doing their routine W have some trainings that are required for forestry staff annually. So like smaller things like that safety equipment, which you'd be surprised by, you know, how much equipment is needed to do this type of so I think right now for 2027, if we had the stuck with the budget that we currently >> are planting program. We would. is roughly for $450,000 of our General fund would supplement plan teen, which going to talk about next is how the budgets with the plan teamwork. And then. Roughly

15
00:27:33.491 --> 00:29:26.201
the same amount for stump grinding. Which leaves a little bit left over for the miscellaneous, you know, trainings and equipment that we need for our programs we are increasing some of the work that we do with the grant funding that we have right now. S, for instance, the Forest Service grant that we that I mentioned there is small amount of that is going toward stump, grinding next. You're around $300,000 of that will go toward Street plan. Teen. And then our capital improvement. The $330,000 budget that goes towards tree planting. So the majority of general fund does go towards salaries and and fringe benefits. That is I think we're at 42 or 43 staff. So there's myself. We have 2 other supervisors and forestry who really they're supervising are crews that are doing all of the work that you see getting done. There are 5 crew leaders and arborists that are responsible for all of the pruning all of the removals that we're doing, which again, like removals, talk about a little bit. Those are really done in-house. We we contract out very little in terms of removal work. As far and then we have our professional side where the technicians we have for technicians forestry and 5 urban foresters urban foresters are overseen different programs such as are

16
00:29:27.205 --> 00:31:07.107
planting program. Park tree inventory management. So we have one urban Forester. Who is doing the park trees look, you know, doing inspections and parks, making sure that we're keeping up on the minimal amount of work that we can do in parks we have a forester like Ace talked about before. Who does all the construction related work? And then we have to Forster's who kind split the city in half for doing all of the general inspections of our street trees. And they're also doing all the private property abatement work. So if they're going on a private property, damar trees and the 4 technicians we have support customer service. So there. Taking turns answering phones specifically for forestry that are routed to them assisting with all of those other programs and then running some of their own smaller programs and helping with grants that are partnerships for grants in terms of what is expected of a daily workload. It really varies, you know, based on what? What they're doing for the day. So if if they're doing for a crew, it could be that they're removing 50 small trees or 2 large trees, right? So it varies pretty significantly as far as the pruning work. Those ice seeing crews were generally completing and I don't know if I have the numbers off the top

17
00:31:09.912 --> 00:32:36.997
of my head, but going pretty well and probably pruning. Around 100 trees per crew per week. I think so. They they have been getting through that work pretty efficiently and the routine training program. I think we're it varies pretty significantly from the complaint is, as sure you understand, is if we get a complaint for one tree, we are going they're going resolve that one tree. We're not going to say Ole every other tree on the block is also low. We should do this, too, because it kind of his never ending at that point. So. To going to a an area and prune every tree on the street out, you know, once or within a short time frame is really I'm much more efficiently of going about the work. >> Thank I really appreciate just kind of a deep dive. I'm going to turn commish to Councilmember Cleman just to see if her answer or answer that question him at she had a follow-up. >> Thanks, Candy. So should the presentation that's super helpful to get a lot of questions about trees and care. So it's very interesting to me that having presented budget for storm contingency thinking about a week like last week where some that was ton of the work with storm cleanup. So I'm just curious how that plays out is that do end up spending more than for

18
00:32:41.804 --> 00:34:05.285
us to that other work isn't getting done. What we have big storms. If we have a super stormy summer that just sort of throws us off on every other metric. And then the second her the question is are looking to if we were to it, able to add that million dollar budget for 2027, here's how that would be. So would be more staff. Would it be more equipment? But with that look like thank you for the question. to your first question. I think all of the above. It does throw our schedule off. Obviously, it also can generate, you know, hundreds I think last with this storm in late July. And it didn't help that. There was also a cyber attack, I think flick the week of so. You a little more difficult to resolve issues. But that was a close to a I think it was close to 1000 calls >> so numbers of trees, obviously for removals increases during the year. >> It can pose issues if you're trying to stand up running cycle it's definitely impacts the budget in terms of all of the overtime that is done so and we have a large storm like that. Even the storm last week, our crews did work until. >> I think 07:00PM. So if we have a large storm, they are 12 hour days, at least which there's overtime involved and

19
00:34:09.225 --> 00:35:43.984
potentially on weekends depending on the size. >> We do. Have contractors assessed, which then it's kind of up to people like Dave over there to try to find money within the parks budget, too, pay for contracted work and typically looking at contractors helping with things like park trees. Because on our kind of list of priorities, parks come in towards the bottom of the list, wouldn't we're trying to clear streets for emergency vehicles, get trees off of cars and houses. So the park trees are kind of at the bottom. So we'd have contractors help with that. We, you know, dpending on the size of the storm, we have contractors hauling material so we might set up a number of marshaling yards or dump sites where we would have contractors. Then. Calling all of that material down the pig's eye because it's more efficient for us, too. Drop it at Como Park it for working in the Como Park area. The new drive all the way down to pigs. I to loads of material down there. So it's kind of a variety. And I think the the 1 million dollars. We've looked back at storms in the past in the larger storms have cost that much so Ithink the 1 million mark would be for a large storm. But just to have that funding available, if there was storm damage, we've

20
00:35:47.122 --> 00:37:38.577
also had a few storms. I think since I've been here it was a large enough storm that the city decided that we needed to expedite tree-planting, fr instance, for those areas that were hit hardest or 2, I know of at least oe storm where we did hall all private brush along with the public brush, which is a lot because people. Do take advantage of that and will every tree on their property pruned and put it on the bulevard for us to also it varies. I think by storm, but that's kind of what it would assist All right. So for tree planting. CS or objectives now for planting are increasing diversity incorporating climate adapted species, increasing Canady in underrepresented areas, areas and utilizing volunteers for for work. With that, I mentioned grants earlier and that we have 3, but 2 of them are. >> Planting related grants. They prioritize plantings and of underrepresented areas. R D NRA grant is a one-time funding which will support around 560 trees being planted this fall and then the Forest Service grant that we have is a five-year program. It includes a job training component. So we are working with tree trust. We had been. For the 5 years before that to do a job training program the job that they do is is tree planting. That also supports a

21
00:37:44.451 --> 00:39:17.800
bit of stump removal work. The sun. And like I said earlier, don't know if this is something different story. These grants typically also have requirements for diversity and climate adapted species. And like I said, those are all things that were already doing, but they typically work pretty well for the planting that we're doing to supplement those programs. >> And Joan Hart. we got into I saw for get too far into the tree planting. I just want to go back t council member camps question. I fish it. They're like not connected questions but connected to different side. So. yes. >> first question is around the last night around increasing canopy and underrepresented areas. And so how it connects connects to your printing schedule. She said each areas about 2500 trees and some are areas are larger than others. So, for example, like a looks like legs on 10, right is quite large. In comparison. The lake's own. To write like North Northwest Como. And I just sort of wonder, lke is another way to look at. >> This map. Is it also an indicator of the caught like the tree canopy coverage as well? Given the fact that like so intent is so much larger than zones. And if every zone has 2500 trees, are we to that? Unlike in for that in that area, the tree canopy is lower. that

22
00:39:18.745 --> 00:40:50.101
kind of connect or tree equity? Score? Canopy scores across the city are thinking just like way too deep into it? >> Maybe a little too deep, but we you know, in terms of we don't know what our canopy percentages are in in neighborhoods right now. I know that there are like national calculators out there. >> But we do one of the grants that mentioned is for the it's through the DNR and I should have the contract that hopefully today and that will support a new urban tree Canopy Assessment which is really needed. We did one in 2010. And so the goal would be to do one yet this year and that go down to the neighborhood and even the individual property to show the canopy percentage is and then to develop an urban forest management plan. So we would look at that. I think that the size of the more is an indicator of. >> You know, if there's there's some more industrial areas, right? Like in down district 3 see a really large area. >> And that's because it's the airports down there and it's more industrialized and there's larger lots and not as many boulevard So it's not necessarily the size of the tree or the amount of canopy in an area. though, reason

23
00:40:55.108 --> 00:42:06.911
that we split it into 50 small areas into those cruises that then we are working throughout the city every year. We're not focusing on, you know, own one through 5 is all on this side of the city. So we're working kind of all over the place every every year. Yeah, that makes sense. I appreciate ACA's that reassessment. The canopy study was something have a reference to. But now it sounds like it's outdated to be good to updated. other question that I had was sort of related to like the staffing question, but also recognizing like your staff have gone through like EA be and you're like fighting against us like massive tree disease and while also trying to increase the biodiversity of the canopy and the existing like for sure that we have and all this time thing. And it sounds like nt even within our parks. So sounds like maybe even a in our parks department. They're forced staff as well. So just treason, treason, trees. So question is. Really related to staffing. So even recognizing like when a surge of a storm happens, like the one that we saw very recently in the one that we had in como last year, like entire trees really chopped in half or split apart. That amount of work is incredibly cumbersome and wondering and this doesn't have to be a two-day question.

24
00:42:07.447 --> 00:43:22.405
But answer of interested in of the like turnover or like attrition of your staff, given the demands like what I'm hearing this entire time, is that your understaffed sort of not as well equipped as you like to be to respond lake storms. What does that look like for your staff numbers, how they then changing year-over-year and then the other thought is that doesn't have to be answered now. And the others out for my colleagues, which I think we're on the same page on us if we planned for a certain number of snow emergencies every single year in the public's first department. What would it look like for us to plan for a certain number of major storms for forestry Department? So just the start of interest in having that discussion with my colleagues. But feel free to follow up on the staffing Thank you. I can now I 4. >> Like I said, the professional side, there's not a lot of turnover. I think that we have if we post a position for a technician or a forester, we have at least 50 candidates and a strong candidate pool and people in general. I think in that group really do love working here you know, we've had like one forest or leave in the last 10 years. So on the labor side. I think it is a little bit. It

25
00:43:30.950 --> 00:45:10.847
does. It's more in We had when I started in this position and 2018, we had a pretty large group of people who had been here for a long time they slowly a lot of retirements happened over the first few years. And then COVID. And so we have had a bit more turnover in that group, but Honestly been, you know, maybe a couple of people per year and they have left for. Various reasons. So and I haven't heard from anyone in that group that it's because they hate their job and they feel like they're overworked in general. I would say the opposite people typically will come here from the private sector where they might be working 12 hour days all summer. And then in the winter, they might not have as much work. So it's it's a more consistent schedule. And there is we we do make it very clear during the hiring process storms happen. And when they the expectation is that staffer available. Answer that question. Okay. Great. All right. So with a little bit with our planting numbers and where we are with the port funding. Again, it was an opportunity for u to kind of close the gap on on some backlogs that were created by a bee management. think a few years ago we probably close to 10,000 vacant sites >> we're moving in the 2027 with about 4300 vacant site.

26
00:45:17.990 --> 00:47:15.105
So we had the capacity to reduce that backlog pretty significantly over the last few years. 2023 through. 25 we averaged about 4700 trees planted per year. What this year it will be a bit last and that's including grant funding. And what we're looking at for 2007 or 2027 excuse me planting roughly 2000 trees. So that you know, anticipating that are funding would support planting less than half the number of tees that we would like to in order to close that gap. The chart. That is up there basically shows those numbers. The yellow is annual planting numbers under current funding. Green is planting under optimal funding. And so you see the large green bar for 2027 and that is really trying to close that gap as much as possible. It fluctuates a little year by year based on the current Grant funds that we do have both for this year and then for a few years with the Forest Service. But it generally would level in. 2020 8. Planting roughly 1800 trees per year. And that would again, be on that getting assigned to that 3 year. Ccle of removal, one-year stump grinding and then planting. Budget need see a hand from president >> It a great here, but but I think you and just trying to figure out why our numbers have been going.

27
00:47:15.708 --> 00:48:56.340
since 2023 as that are we investing less every year? your partnerships. it 2023. We port funding. So that kind of allowed us to use a peromone of our general fund, a supplement or planting program. And that was through. We really have those funds through 2025. >> And then 2026. >> You know, we're we're looking at 3500 this year. And that's really putting all of our budgets, all the money that we have anywhere together to get to that 3500. And so then why so many fewer in 27. Because 2026, we Have some funding from 25 that we used for spring planting this year. Just sort of general question. Have we? Have we ever been caught up? not question. But in in general, because I think when I started on the council, we're in the midst of the AB and understanding I had was that it was because of be that all of our resources were going there. So they were up all the time in detention for everything else. And sort of underneath. That was the input implication that like once that therefore that went away, we would be able to do everything else. I'm just curious like has it ever been the case in time that we have been on the right tree planting cycle turning cycle something cycle and if so. How was that? Possible? Yeah. And

28
00:48:59.945 --> 00:50:48.989
if not. county that are, but I'm just wondering, no, I understood no, I don't think we have so for planting. I think best we've Don is a 5 year cycle. So and the cycle really being that >> not necessarily that your tree was removed 5 years ago and we're going to replant it. But we would we a lot. Most of our work by planning district, right? So we efficiency wise. We're going into a district. Every 5 years. So that's the best that I know that we stayed on for planting some and I will hit on it a little bit. But we there wasn't program when I started working here. It did. >> I they had stopped it probably around 2000 as she and then I think we started it back up in 2011. And so we started grinding all of the stumps from previous 10 years. >> And like I talked about with turning, we've we really haven't had a uprooting cycle You know it largely has been complaint based. It might they might have had one, you know, back when I was in college. So I don't really first. But if they did, it was it was a long it was over 20 years ago. So it's So and to your question of have we been on track with planting? I think where we've gotten off of track really is that the cip budget hasn't changed from that $330,000.

29
00:50:55.265 --> 00:52:51.450
What has changed is the average cost of a tree being planted when I was here back in 2006 is an intern. The cost of tree planted with a one year warranty was $175. And now it's $450. So where you are getting, you know, 1900 trees, maybe annually were now getting around 700 out of that budget. Like a talked about a little bit. General fund has really been the bulk of our planting program over the last few years. with it going backs basically Dupree ab levels. There's not alot in the general fund to to go towards planting. That's why that number next year goes down. So the optimal budget again includes a 1.5 million dollar increase in CA B, which is really what's needed to to sustain. Planting program. It's probably worth pointing out on graph here. The chart that if if it's remains at the level that we are at right now. So if we have the 4300 ish kind of vacant sites. We would reduce that a little bit over the next cuple of years with what we have and with the grant funds. But then it would pretty quickly go back up to the same number. So we would be looking at planting at a deficit. So for tree and stump removal. We mark trees throughout the year. We do. The bulk of them are marked in the summer during our annual citywide survey. Our goal for

30
00:52:56.319 --> 00:54:46.294
tree removal is always to get them rmoved by the end of the year. If their marks in 2026. Will get the majority of them down in 2026, there might be a couple of stragglers that we need assistance from a crane company on. But it is primarily in housework. That is down that way. And I looked back at our average removal numbers over the last 10 years. And it's roughly 18 100 trees per year. First, like mentioned, We were able Baden. We were able do get caught up on stomps lst year on the backlog that we had. That due to the assistance of the court funding and the Forest Service funding that we So all right of way and parks, that we had in the system were removed in 2025. Regardless of what tree or what year they were removed. I think we we did a lot of stumps for trees that we had removed in 2025. As well just to try to get ahead. This year, removing sums from 2025 removals and we would continue to do the same. This work is primarily accomplish through contractors. We have multiple contracts for stump grinding just to keep up on them and to increased capacity. There. So the the budget need for that, you know, for tree removal questions have like don't like going through Monday. I saw vice chair Yang and Councilmember Coleman. >> Council approved.

31
00:54:50.233 --> 00:56:17.262
Thank you. Chair And I wanted to ask questions just on the slide about Tree Cheney and removal and then also lapse with the slides have about the I don't know in the past we have that partnership with the port the port and the and Paul Parks and Rec to do I believe this stump removal. So I'm not sure if tuning was a part of that. So can you clarify if if 20 was indeed a part of the responsibilities there. And you know, the there in terms of the budget slides here, it doesn't have that partnership continued. And I'm wondering if you believe that as a I believe that that partnership there. Extending starting up a partnership again with the helpful in trying to get on track with our work. >> Sure. So for the question of pruning. I believe with port funding has to be a capital expense and pruning as maintenance. So it's not included in that. As far as the continuation of port funny name. I defer to our O Fs. Director on that question. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. And I just wanted to share, too. I'm very supportive of the partnership. I bass mention to Director Rodriguez that I would love to see us continue it. thank you for the clarification about the pruning. >> Chair doesn't cause job or new director of the Office of

32
00:56:19.133 --> 00:57:37.800
Financial Services. >> If council and the city would like to pursue further additional partnership with the port, I think it's worth talking about. 2 phases that we need to go through. The first would understanding that at capacity for the general obligation, Levy and the second would be sort of the legislative mechanics that would need to be adopted for that. To occur. After that analysis that would start with a declaration of intent from the Port Board of Commissioners that require an ordinance chain change authorizing the bond sle. We had a joint powers agreement for tis in 2021, it's my opinion that we should do a new joint powers agreement. If we pursue this for their son spend 5years and the last to be a budget amendment that would be required to go through be presented to see So those are just a bit a value of some of the mechanics that informed that partnership to know that it takes time probably is the punch line there yet. >> Thank you. And then just a last question for me. I'm wondering if you can explain at the roll that she played in any of work year-round to any stump removal at one point here and presented to us. And so I I I really love the work. I the number 2 and on. I would love to an update about Have

33
00:57:43.350 --> 00:59:16.775
any? >> So the project that they're working on for us in this, this is a continuation of of what was done during the Port Authority funding that they are planting trees. So the primary project is planting trees. And then there's just general tree maintenance included in that such as and it's really going back to those trees that they've planted If there's any needs as far as staking the tree goes watering chain, those types of things, they aren't doing any pruning for us. They are not doing some grinding. So it's it's basically tree planting. >> Kyle Clark, Councilmember Coleman. And then just for a time check, we're at about 10, 10 for 3 men will wrap at 11. And so I want to leave their answer that at the presentation. But before we go to counselor, Coleman, but we let's finish or last 2 slides >> 15 so some free Basically it's including optimal budget is including roughly point or a half a million dollars annually to support the stump training program. If. There weren't additional funds stump, grinding numbers would drop in 2029. based on, you know, the funding available and exhaustion of the port are not poor to very sorry for service finance. And we start having a backlog of of stops.

34
00:59:27.188 --> 01:01:00.546
Sorry. That was I was on the wrong side. It's a point. What does this all mean? A thing to wrap it for pruning. You know, I went through that we could have a better, better printing program, both in terms of cycle hitting parks, reduce scene. That first that first cycle going through the city better resources for our young trees to get those prune structurally in the first 10 years >> and I think a continuation of complaints would be expected if we stay on the cycle that we're on. I know others thousands of very low trees throughout the city right now. And I know that you all get a lot of those complaints and I just know doing the best we can with it to get on track. >> For planting. We could be I think we could really achieve the three-year cycle with if funding was available. So I would love to get on that. I think that a lot of people that I that we hear from expects that if a tree was removed one day that the system would either come out that same day or the next and that a tree to be planted. You know, the next season. And that's not going to be accomplished. And I don't. I don't feel that it's a real realistic expectation for a city of our size to be on that type of a program. But I think that a three-year recycle

35
01:01:04.351 --> 01:02:26.450
replacement program would be beneficial. And for some free Movil, you know, we could do the same. stay on that program and and get everything done within that 3 years. I think for all of the other important work that we do, that I didn't really get a chance to talk about. >> Our group is really good at doing what we can with what we have and the resources we have available. we make the most of it and we have a great group that is, you know, really proud of of the resource that we manage and proud of the work that they do. And I think we could just do more with more. So. With that, I would just like to say thank you for having me. And I can take some of the last questions that you have. >> Thank a couple of Councilmember Coleman and then how some are police questions. And has a follow-up for folks that have additional questions. Please feel free to reach out as well. And I saw some folks already have. So you'll have some additional follow-up questions and thoughts to from council members. But thank you for being here, thanks really quickly. Just yet. Anderson, an issue that is not realistic for city of size of our size to do trigger one-day stop granting the next day new tree on the 3rd day. Are there reasons other

36
01:02:30.722 --> 01:04:01.744
budgetary that we wouldn't do that because that could that be something we did if we had an unlimited budget? >> Well, want to do. >> I don't know. I you know, I would have to think about the Allen and how you would do that. It >> It's entirely different equipment. It does take time on our end after removal is We actually go out. We do measure all of the systems that are out there because that is how the contractors bill us and we're not relying on them to tell us the size of the stump that they're grinding. So there there is work involved in that. And, you know, you can only do stump remove all >> from May to November. So you're never really going to be able to do it all in that same timeframe because you have 6 months side of the year where you can't Graham stomps, same with planting we have 2 seasons that are pretty quick. For Minnesota. And Councilmember Thank you. Chair because of that. I just want to ask particularly more. So just Focus like more like workflow management in terms of like audience of cars, Texans to for complaints. As you can imagine, the councilmembers, one point. And, you know, a lot of flagging of complaints that's been sent for street where

37
01:04:05.684 --> 01:05:32.435
people last year that, you know, they've been told that there's a backlog nearly a decade here their their tree stump in their boulevard. you know. been years and just has it been like they've escalated, but he has not been confirmed terms of like so. I'm just curious to know, just like what is the volume of complaints that comes i versus the volume of like work orders cycle out. If we can have like some type of like like tracking of that just because I think, you know, as we're talking about just like the budget, I really want to know just in terms of like staff capacity like what is the return of our investment in terms of like increasing this budget will help us accomplished getting more trees, remove our solving. Now, some of these complaints are coming in. Sure. I >> I'll have to look at the numbers, but I do know. Because we did meet with the mayor's office or constituent services group. I think earlier this year. So we did put some numbers together for volume of calls that we receive. >> I in the summer months, which is, you know, we we do get more calls in the summer. It was definitely in the hundreds per month. It tails off during the dead of winter. I think in terms of our capacity. A lot of the

38
01:05:41.646 --> 01:07:10.800
complaints that you're likely getting are from the folks who have been told. your tree was removed last year and we're going to be removing the stump next year. And there. >> The ones who might want it removed that, you know, expect that it would be removed within a month of the tree removal, for instance, or the planting cycle at this time is that we don't we are going to be with the the funding that will have in 2027. We won't have much of a planting cycle at best. It's going to be maybe a 5 year rotation. Partially planting. Planning districts right. So I think those are that types of continued complaints as well as the pruning cycle that you would continue to get. And it's nt that we're not logging knows. It's that we again don't have the capacity do everything in a given year or season. And it's kind follow-up question. appreciate that context. I wanted to just focus more on likes trees that are actually like a nuisance type of trees like very dangerous trees like we have limbs that's like falling houses are like the tree that just, you know, dues for the storm has spillover. And I'm just curious only is there a policy here that we're in you know, requires us to attend to those trees time frame,

39
01:07:14.472 --> 01:09:00.246
because those are some of the complaints that I've been That street is as a cut Ward. complaint constituent service. But I was really curious because that some of feedback that I get is that last to go into the inventory, just to hear that there is like line year's survey of those trees. Is there a different type of response when there are like more emergency base know trees like particularly around, you know, like weather are we see a tree nuts may not have no been called in. as visible like risks to the neighborhood. >> understand so for storm-related you know, I don't think that there's a good way of. >> Anticipating what tree will have storm damage, right? If there's 80 mile to 90 mile 200 mile an hour winds. We don't know which trees are going to a lot of them don't have any exteriors signs of decay. Right? Is just the wind hit it and it got taken down >> I think for. Complaints related hazardous trees. >> The evaluation of te tree to 2 D Matt Hazardous is really something that I think I would leave up to. >> Our professional forestry staff who do have training in risk assessment with up with trees and evaluate a tree for risk versus, you know, we get we do get calls all the time from people saying, well, this

40
01:09:05.320 --> 01:10:40.280
tree is a hazard because it did drop a limb in a storm that doesn't necessarily make the tree a hazard. A large storm may have gone through and broke in hundreds of branches off of healthy trees. And that's something that does happen during storm So we do evaluate trees if someone does calling for an inspection of a given tree or trees, we do it that that is part of the urban foresters. Jobs is to go out and evaluate a tree. I think oftentimes property owners may just not like our result. Teen. Inspection details, which is that it's not necessarily that the tree is a hazard. You know, it may need pruning. But again, I think. We understand as much as anyone else every tree in the city does need to be pruned. And that's what we're trying to be more proactive about is too. Get on a cycle where we can. Accomplish some of that work so that those types of things don't happen in the future. >> actually that, too. And I think just really, as we think about the work that the for 4 your team, does I just, you know, want to share that? We we have talked on the council, you know, and for a few years since I've been here, she canopy the tree planting pruning you know, just all. Volume of our tree canopy has continued to be a on the council. And so it's one of

41
01:10:41.883 --> 01:12:05.231
the reasons why we asked you to to be here today. And I think it's really helpful. I think they'll be probably follow-ups that we. We may reach out to. And with that, be for for you that we reach out to the follow-up questions that folks have more questions like what counselor bullies was asking or if there are certain things on the slides that we didn't see. But we want to know more about what that be for a question for you. >> that is a good question. I'm not sure how the department would want that crowded. I'm looking at you, Erica sons here. Yeah, we'll send it to the both of Thank you so much. Thank W're going to pivot over to the right track team. Just one of the things that really prompted bringing them forward more so to hear about it. We've had a lot of conversations, especially regarding youth wages and also just hearing more about the work force that you have and wanted to be able to give it the time that it was do so. Thank nervous thank you, Karl, for both being here. I spoke here. >> We'll try to be as quickly move as quickly as possible. I know we are short on time. So as you all know, right track to the city is a positive employment and training program really targeted that

42
01:12:05.233 --> 01:13:24.911
creating it. Career exposure, opportunities for Saint Paul. You barriers to employment. We. The program is designed around 40 outcomes. So first is to develop workplace readiness skills such communication, teamwork and problem solving second is to expose you to careers and industries that may not otherwise accessible 3rd, to build relationships with caring adult, and to develop that network and the 4th developing their financial capability really quick. And then show you lot right track team. So this is a team that carries the work ranging recruitment employee engagement trends and program management. We're expect proud of the 5 team members asked are extending their names because they're all program alumni and their presence reflects the long-term impact that the program and demonstrates how investing in young people today can lead to future leaders in our community. With that foundation on this quickly, give an overview programs. And so one of tracks, Francis, know it's not a one size fits all experience a new Force readiness, workforce, readiness, experiences. So we ensure that we have different levels of experience to the different opportunities for young person to engage. The first being are. Why do one

43
01:13:26.848 --> 01:14:44.935
program which really focuses on foundational skills for you, the app or often entering the workforce for the first time. subsidized positions with libraries, parks, small businesses non profits the second program being our Windy too program, which expands on those foundational for young folks slightly older. So 16 to 21. And in this program, we partner with partners across industries and so public-private nonprofit and support young folks do a deeper dive into specific career path. They may be interested in. And then next we have our public pathways push. So as you all know, the public sector is the largest employer and say call the Austin. That workforce doesn't reflect. The residents So we put really intentional push behind this the last few years so we have waited to internships and most city departments. Some of you in this room also hosting trains, which we at greatly appreciative for it. And we also have track Scholars program, which is in its second year that the college internship program and our scholars here today Con he is supporting went. Data supports Al you Ation and some by training facilitation, this which are really excited about. He said education at the All right. So together, opportunities that create

44
01:14:51.210 --> 01:16:07.550
progression of experiences from first ads to career exploration to credential attainment at and ultimately a career path of allowing us to support young people throughout their workforce. Charity. I will pass it to Kylo quickly. He'll share some by 2025 program highlights. Great. Yeah. Before we kind of continue into 2026 and what that's bringing one of this little bit about some more results from this past year. So during 2025 we have the opportunity to serve 1024 young people throughout the city of Saint Paul in 1138 different internship experiences with 144 employers throughout our city. Our city, and then few internships that exist in like people would kind of surrounding suburbs. So every young person that's a part of our program has what the state will consider appear to employment. Majority of them coming from across burden households, a meeting, some level of income requirement. Although many other young people meet the program eligibility by having a disability being behind grade level, speak English as a second language. >> Being justice impacted foster care and several other opportunities that qualified them for being a part of the right track program. >> one >> of the things that I just

45
01:16:10.756 --> 01:17:20.957
really want to highlight on here, we, of course, providers of cold kind of breakdown of where young people are. >> Are working or where they're coming from. And I think one of the things that we really intentional about is really making sure that we're reaching out and making sure young people have access for primarily in people from most marginalized backgrounds and in. >> In our city. And one other piece that I just really want to highlight before we move to the next slide is 2.3, little over 2.3 million dollars and wages and statements were earned by our young people in 2025, which is a significant number for our young people. >> I'm gonna hold questions and let them go through presentation for it just so we can get through before sorry for president. We're scrolling great. >> So just some additional highlights. And I'm not going to read through these, but I just want to be clear that our program collects significant amount of amounts of data we collect I youth hearing young people. What their experience was and they get to tell us information about. how they experience or program but also program outcomes. And so hearing from supervisors about how >> they interacted and what their support of program in

46
01:17:24.763 --> 01:18:50.580
turns were continue to be an as you can see These are these are numbers that I would say. We certainly compared to other local workforce programs and take pride in knowing that our young people are leaving with skills that they are. >> I'm leaving feeling a part of a team that they were part of for the summer and they are learning and they're feeling as a things are useful and they're kind of for progression with an these programs. And of course, this before we move to the next slide that they are truly learning and contributing to meaningful work experiences at each site that they're part of. >> we'll the jump budget overview. So when we look at how right track invest in resources, the overwhelming majority of funding goes directly twice, creating opportunities for young people. 59% of operating expenses, support youth wages. I definitely get the slide. that. But sir, total budget is comprised of city. A foundation and than supports So right track operates with a total budget of approximately 2.9 million as a part of combination of funding sources. One key takeaway from the slide as well. Right track of the city program. Majority of our funding does not come directly from the city just

47
01:18:52.784 --> 01:20:04.187
over 12% of the budget comes from at the city through debt direct general fund allocations that transfer from Parks General Fund approximately 7% comes foundation in partnership support, including investments from Saint Paul, Minnesota Foundation. The NBA Foundation a think a public school. The remaining 80% comes from other government sources, including arpa funding. >> eat plants, community, cdbg and resources as well as Ramsey County Workforce Solutions this time that by funding approach has allowed us to? Well, it's a more young people that also creates challenges. Much of the funding this time of competitive or tied to specifically to opportunities. So as we think about the future youth employment in Saint Paul the slide highlights the importance of The point of developing sustainable funding strategies to reduce reliance temporary sources that having consistent opportunities for young people. >> This is what I was talking about. breakdown of I was then a funny. >> So again, majority does go get allocated directly to young people. 59% program center, supporting wages, ensuring to it's compensated for all of their work, whether it's an intern jet or training

48
01:20:06.524 --> 01:21:24.840
experience, all experience are paid the right track. And nearly 30% support full-time staff who recruited employer mandate to provide training and manage program operation Long. >> Online percent support seasonal job coaches. I just program component does take place during the summer. So the summer with. 500 and change, we have about 10 coaches joining us. And just over 2% is allocated to. Other services and materials. So the most important takeaway for majority of our funding is invested directly into youth. >> they're going through and he come and work based learning experiences. So already in 2026, $320,000 in wages have been. I you. At the right track experiences and this is our spring experiences in our school. Your experiences, most of our summer experiences are launching up next A couple have already started. And there had to anticipate Levering leveraging about $500,000 employer paid experience. The And so it really demonstrates opportunities. >> Well, it demonstrates that city investment not only creates opportunities directly. It also tracks that additional private and public investments for young people. >> Next, discuss some of our challenges and budget risk

49
01:21:29.958 --> 01:22:52.106
that we're currently facing. >> So this slide highlights some of that. Difficult decisions we've made this year and are making moving forward, do declining funding. So there are several key factors that have contributed to. Some of Some of challenge for some of these changes and we're currently navigating about $100,000 less indeed, network funding ideas are I just wonder at this point first, a fiscal year 2026 2027. Writing in minimum wage requirements continue to. Be challenging France. A stands. Those the funding is leaving of a 6.3 full-time position unfunded after 26. So these positions critical functions, services program, administration employer and even more. So at the same time, the demand for opportunities continues to rise. So the funding challenges the funding counter that we've already had to make decisions on this year. Included. And they are school. Your programming a month. Earlier, we reduce wekly hours for young people throughout this past school year. And we've also made the decision make the 2026 27 school year program. So these experiences that also include internship, the parks and libraries and these experiences help young people. Both connections, a trusted adults develop a sense of

50
01:22:53.109 --> 01:24:14.921
belonging to strengthen and >> Develop a sense of belonging in strengthen public trust. >> You plan is not only workforce strategy. It's often a public safety strategy provides positive opportunities income 10 people in Saint Additional decisions that have been made as we will not be offering a 2026 and program overall between the Sun school i will be 300 fewer experiences. Rethink it. And real briefly discuss that. The importance of the training wage. So right track internships are intentionally designed as a training experience, not traditional employment. As important to note, I when we talk about the youth wages, right track does not use that 30 day youth way to be exclusively, use the training similar to many programs around the country that operate in. And some of ways of that that Carlo, we'll talk about And so there was a one program young people, 14 to 19 and utilizes this trading Either entry level learning experience, unlike traditional jobs, they include significant training and support youth receiver Jameson, financial empowerment training and ongoing mentorship. Jackie And it's important to know that these girls are not meant to replace staff supplement operations are paid less for doing the

51
01:24:15.791 --> 01:25:36.336
same work. And they're intentionally structured as learning opportunities. If we're using this time as an example ad we were to training wage. It would be $250,000 in expenses or 92 fewer experience So the bottom line is wages makes it possible to create a foot and high quality experience that would not otherwise Preserving then expands access, uninsured. Young people can participate in structured workforce, learning opportunities. And next, little bit about some of the provincial great. S. >> We have the opportunity to partner with the national coal or to the city's for Financial Empowerment Fund that operates summer jobs programs across the U.S.. Really looking to integrate banking access, but also kind best practices for youth employment program. Me I currently serve on a kind of a support group right now with Little Rock, Arkansas, Miami, Virginia Beach in Detroit and of this kind of small sample. Each of them have a dedicated, predictable revenue source that has been funding their program for years and years and years in Little Rock, Arkansas, for an example since 1980, they have been receiving funding from violence reduction violence prevention work. through the state legislature and through their city. So but I'm I comparable

52
01:25:41.944 --> 01:27:14.639
programs here. What you can see is that and I think we've talked about our. Our program. So Saint Paul serving over 1100 youth with the budget, about 3 million dollars. within that we also have relied heavily on one time limited funding sources, as an artist mentioned, I'm including our in competitive grants. What you can see here, additionally, as the city of Minneapolis, right? We know they're about 100,000 population greater than Saint Paul that there Served about 659 youth in traditional picks, internship opportunities. And they also provide about 700 additional paid training opportunity. So they participate in some professional development for a statement at the end of that program >> what seems so Boston, Boston, we see we know that there's a larger city then Saint Paul or Minneapolis. what we see there's that they're serving over 10,000 young people per year with up. 33 over 33 million dollar investment. What we also know is that about 20 almost 24 million of it comes from their city's general fund. >> And then they have another 10 million or so that is left for its external kind of. Private What we seen and we've actually had several conversations with Boston about their model. What the

53
01:27:17.510 --> 01:28:40.524
out, the way that they're executing on that additional 10 million Israeli that by public. Public figures are elected officials that are really leveraging those relationships to really telling about how the summer jobs program is that critical for? Our city. And so I guess what I just want to emphasize is related to this program in some of the other examples that provided about Little Rock for Miami or without is again, just emphasizing that the these programs for the most part are operating off of predictable, sustainable revenue sources that they can predict year-over-year and don't necessarily sift. And just I think underscores that a demonstrated need for continuing working together as a city to really find out how we can dedicate additional dollars to youth workforce programming. In the near future. How can we do this and why should we kind of consider this? And so there is this is truly about investing in Saint Paul's future radar. Young people are currently part of our workforce, but they are. going to be the one to take care of all of us. When we are no longer able to continue doing this work in there, working in partnership with us as as we work today. And so. There's kind of 3 key priorities are 3 key items that we want to call attention

54
01:28:41.995 --> 01:30:07.412
to. One being jst workforce development. So we are right track is really building the direct pipeline of >> Of young people building those foundational works, be experiences. They're building their own individual skills. >> we're providing a level of career exposure to young folks in our city >> that they may. have never independently. And so this really is how we're going to continue to build. And prepare the workforce making sure that young people are competitive as are seeking out type of opportunities. and really kind of bridging those workforce gaps. Now, folks, so the other one another item here is economic mobility. So what we know about our program in and Isay our program, but this is actually like more. So commonly understood is regards youth workforce programming in general. >> This is really giving putting money in young people's hands today, right? 2.3 million dollars earned last year. That is money that's going back into our young people's pockets. And truthfully, it's kind of a catalyst into kind of growing our local economy. Because our families are the next spending. Those dollars in our city at local businesses that are accessible to them in there in their neighborhood. And so, but this

55
01:30:09.682 --> 01:31:38.103
is also again, A proven strategy of increasing their long-term earning potential and so kind of setting themselves up on career path that will continue to expand as we as we move forward. And lastly, this in in cities across the country, a strong public safety strategy. What we see is that young people participating with strong mentor ship that they're engaged in busy during the summer. They're earning in paid employment opportunities. >> What we what we traditionally is about a 40% reduction in crime. That cities would tell us land. There are strong workforce programs in the ecosystem. >> And then out, Leslie, really, really briefly the opportunity exists like we have a strong I contrast from young people in Saint Paul yet more than 3,000 applications that have applied for. About 700 opportunities that we have the summer. and though there's continued since applications close, we've had about 700 additional young people attempt to create an account in our application system. But again, not accepting additional applications at this time. And then lastly, I just want to highlight on year we've done some panda digging around and kind of comparing that to or income eligibility criteria. And what we know is that there's an estimated

56
01:31:41.641 --> 01:32:59.595
about 9100 young people in our city that are in Kampala Jabal for this program. What we also know and want and that's of about 16,000 high school people in our city. what we also know is that the some peers to employment and other program qualifiers, you have about 11,000 young people out the 16,000 in our city. That would be eligible for the program. And in 2024, we were able to serve about 13% of income eligible youth in Saint Paul. >> It will close. The site was quick with are 4 strategies for sustainability. The first is increased public sector engagement. This means all city departments are hosting interns and budgeting to host dozen times. And this looks like increased city dedicated city funding, prioritizing our college internship program. The scholars program for existing internship pipelines at that. It just across the city. The second being a private sector partnership that we need to leverage existing city to bring in more So this includes setting clear expectations for city affiliated businesses engage and expanding partnerships with major institutions. For example, sports and entertainment venues downtown. >> I'm there to be sponsorship model after we do run into instances where we see buying interest. But they able to

57
01:33:02.134 --> 01:34:32.222
actually host intransigent. Policies or whatever it may be. So we'd love to develop a sponsorship model in which employers that local businesses can invest. An internship experiences can invest in training, experience it and still be tied to that work without posting in Dennis. a sustainable funding strategy Diversify their funding. Sources of the program is more stable and last point changing Sunday. And bringing more public and private funders to elevate you. To workforce development. And mission opportunities to engage in. We appreciate you all having a fit the answer. Questions. >> Actually, before they wrap up in just few more things to say. Erica Prosser, deputy director Parks and Recreation. I just I just wanted to quickly say. These 2 are they're extremely humble about. The work that they do and the work that our that our teams do. But I wanted to point >> That in many cases we have nationally recognized for the work that that are. program. Does. For example, I her little mentioned the cohort that he's working for financial empowerment. We are extremely hnored to have Carlo serve in that capacity, but also to be asked to participate with these

58
01:34:35.426 --> 01:36:17.193
programs around the country that are doing such impactful, impactful work. So I want to thank you guys for that. They mentioned a few times in the course of the presentation. But I want to make a particular emphasis on the violence pevention work. The public health model for youth violence rate. You know, it relies heavily on. relies heavily on that intervention work reintegration work. If if you're talking to your constituents about what can what can we do about those kids? You know, these kids in our neighborhood. can get them. We can get them jobs. That's a big that's a big piece of that. And it's not just a job. It is meaningful work experience. We have, you know, you have sall businesses and all of your words that are willing that are willing to. Host in turn, you know, to to have youth work at their businesses, but they may not have the infrastructure to host you know, to host those in terms we can do payroll. We can. We for them. And then we also provide this very important professional development that comes along with it. How do you fill out your, you know, how do you fill out that paperwork? What you know, what does that mean? Financial empowerment strategies that go along with it. You know, what do you do with your, you know,

59
01:36:19.598 --> 01:37:46.215
savings account? How do you set up a You know, all those things. So that. That that is such a a. >> Strategy >> for violence prevention in our community and the more we can invest and you know, the better. I also want to say you guys play such an important role in how we can expand this program. We will always have limited resources in the city and you have to make very difficult decisions about where you're investing. All us. >> But we have employers that can pay the wages and you can be recruiters. We will provide you with the information that you need to hand. You know, every community meeting that you go to every eating one. You should have. We think they should have read track information, be able to talk about our program just like it or, you know, part of our team. And we we would be grateful for for that support. I think given the time. >> Given the time that's kind of what I wanted to say. thank you guys. And thank you. This too. Well, thank you, Deputy director. you. And also to Carlow in Thank you for working with the time that you were given just kind of going through the 5. This has been a constant topic folks are really interested. throughout the presentation tere,

60
01:37:50.421 --> 01:39:01.907
actually where several hands that we're not going to get through today. So I expect to actually have several follow-ups. I've all too well have follow-up questions for you all just really around. You know, the amount I think one of the things that we are interested in is like. Getting getting a clear view picture of the financial impacts of the program. So when you share like these are the changes, you know that we have made it's really understanding the dollar amounts affiliated with them. The breakdowns of the funding. You know, the funding is great by percentage, but numbers are better. And I think just being able to get a clear view picture of the program, especially when it comes to the tough decisions that we all have to make. I think it's going to be really important to understand that clearly and dollar amounts and what funding you have you don't have a funny need to stand the numbers that we have. You know, who makes decisions on what is is not continued. What has changed? just those pieces. I think we're those will be really helpful. I think in the coming weeks ahead for those conversations as well, because quite a few, the sources in are either at her mix expiration or they're one-time funding or other ongoing. So will have some calls for

61
01:39:03.511 --> 01:40:00.232
because, yes, throughout the position I saw several hands. And so we'll be able to follow up with you all to it. Just kind of what we heard 2 from our colleagues you'll probably get that email from committed. Thank you. Thank you guys so much. ? I didn't realize that rehab going to be such a hot topic interest they're at. So we wanted make time for that. But it's not to signify that this isn't just as important for reminder, both items received pretty much unanimous support for the council. so where featured in the on. So it's something that like we are just starting to have these you'll see budget topics that have related to our budget retreat that received more council members and support. So that's kind of what the next few. With the next couple budget committee presentations will be. With that. apologize for over a little bit. Try not to do that. We are adjourned.