Wednesday, May 14, 2025

WE’RE CELEBRATING THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF SOS!

Pour yourself a celebratory cool beverage,

sit back and enjoy reading our SOS updates.

• Our Efforts Continue. 

Three years ago a small but determined group of Saint Paul citizens began this effort to prevent the destruction of the historic character, tree canopy and streetscape of Summit Avenue by the construction of a raised, separated bike trail. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who has joined in this effort. Many new, valued relationships have formed between those who were brought together by this struggle. The effort continues.

• The City is accelerating its plans for SART. 

According to internal documents SOS has been able to obtain through Data Practices Act requests, the City has now prioritized two segments of Summit Avenue for reconstruction so it can jump start work on the Summit Avenue Regional Trail (SART). The City is already facing a budget crisis. More bizarrely, the segments slated for construction in 2028, Mississippi River Blvd to Fairview Avenue, extending to Hamline in 2029, would not otherwise merit full reconstruction for decades. Nevertheless, both are being prioritized for funding by the new, local 1% sales tax. There will also be assessments for homeowners. SOS will be reaching out to those immediately affected, and hold an information session in June to provide more details.

Let's not allow the City to do this along our tree-canopied west end of Summit Avenue.

• The City goes on trial again. 

A trial to determine to full amount of exemplary damages for the City’s willful violations of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) is now set for June 23^rd. Ramsey County Judge Pat Diamond (who sadly, recently passed) had ruled that the City intentionally violated the MGDPA on fourteen (14) different occasions when it refused to provide documents before critical hearings and the city council vote on SART last year.  Despite attempts to resolve the matter, the City has been adamant that it has done nothing wrong and is committed to appeal Judge Diamond’s ruling. 7.29.24 Judge sanctions City for numerous willful violations.

•  SOS will be requesting an EAW. 

SOS is also setting the stage for another Petition to the City to conduct an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on the adverse environmental impacts of SART. Our first request was denied because the City claimed that SART was not yet a ‘project.' To date, City has refused to conduct any objective assessment of the adverse impact of SART on Summit’s iconic tree canopy and historic streetscape, and has delayed responding to numerous MGDPA requests seeking this information (you may notice a theme here). SOS is committed to forcing the City to assess the full environmental impacts of SART from Mississippi River Blvd to the Cathedral, and we expect further litigation may be required.

• Saint Paul Tree Preservation Policy will be up for a vote August 27.

We have two SOS Steering Committee members on the citizen committee revising the first tree preservation policy put before the city council this past spring. Their main objective is to create a tree policy that honestly aims to protect trees and not merely focus on replacement of trees that get in the way of city projects.

ABOUT SOS (Save Our Street)

Save Our Street is a citizen group that seeks to educate and advocate for the preservation of the historic streetscape of Summit Avenue as a treasured St. Paul destination and a safe, tree-lined, multi-modal corridor for generations to come. SaveSummitAvenue.org

SOS Steering Committee Chair: Gary Todd Grtodd@comcast.net 651-470-4720

SOS Public Relations Carolyn Will carolyn@cwcommunications.info 612-414-9661