As Finance Director for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), Juli Wiseman plays a critical behind-the-scenes role in making sure public resources are used strategically and equitably. With an annual budget of more than $150 million, MPRB is larger than all but 5 Minnesota municipalities. Most recently, she helped lead a complex, citywide effort to secure funding that would relieve residents of the financial burden caused by the removal of ash trees from private property.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), is an invasive beetle that has devastated ash trees throughout Minneapolis. In its wake, hundreds of homeowners were left with costly assessments for tree removal. Thanks to Juli’s financial leadership and collaboration with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and local funders, the MPRB was able to eliminate or reimburse those costs for many residents, with a focus on equity and access.
In this month’s Community Profile, Juli reflects on that process and what it means for the future of Minneapolis’s urban forest.
To begin, can you share more about your role and background with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board?
“I’ve worked for the Park Board for 31 years, and for the past 15 of those I’ve served as the Finance Director. My work covers a wide range of responsibilities – everything from financial reporting and annual budgeting to internal audit oversight and accounting for capital projects. Because the Park Board is such a large and diverse organization, my role intersects with many different departments. That variety is one of the things I love most about the job. I get to collaborate across the system, help staff navigate financial complexities, and ensure that we’re being responsible stewards of public resources.”
I know over the past few years you have been particularly involved in getting funding to help alleviate the financial burden for homeowners who have had to remove trees that were infected by EAB. Can you walk me through how the Park Board handles diseased or infested trees on private property, and, particularly, describe how the EAB crisis has shaped the Park Board’s tree-removal process and its impact on homeowners?
“The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has been involved in condemning and removing diseased or infested trees on private property for decades, going all the way back to Dutch elm disease. Unlike many other cities, we manage the entire process because we’re responsible for protecting the urban forest. That means our inspectors identify and condemn diseased or infested trees, including those affected by EAB, and then notify property owners. They can choose to remove the tree themselves or have us handle it, in which case we hire contractors, coordinate the work, and pay the invoices. Once the removal is complete, it comes to my side of the organization where we bill property owners. Any remaining balance at year’s end gets added to their property taxes, which could be paid over a five-year span.
The issue really surfaced during the pandemic. In 2020, we paused the levying of assessments, so that we could review the process with an equity lens and provide property owners with other options. The costs can be significant: anywhere from $1,000 to well over $10,000, and we saw firsthand how those assessments were disproportionately affecting low-income households. For some families, these sudden bills were simply unmanageable. We realized the assessment structure wasn’t working equitably, and it sparked a broader conversation about how we could better support residents.
For me, this became one of the most intense and challenging processes of my career, but ultimately one of the most rewarding.”
What did you hear from community members? And how did the MPRB respond?
“When we started holding community meetings about EAB, they quickly shifted from information sessions to listening sessions because residents wanted us to fully understand the financial burden tree removals were creating. A major theme was the request for retroactive relief going back to January 2020. Many people felt the financial strain deeply during that period, and some faced assessments shortly after major life changes or hardships related to the pandemic. We immediately began looking for solutions. That included creating more flexible payment options, reviewing which assessments could be eligible for relief, and exploring ways to reduce the financial burden for families most affected. One solution that came about through community conversation was introducing the option for property owners to select a 10-year or 20-year payment plan, along with the original 5-year plan. And at this same time, we started searching for funding to help assist with retroactive relief.”
How did you work with federal, philanthropic, and community partners to secure the funding needed for this effort?”
“The first major funding opportunity that emerged was a federal grant. The MPRB and the City partnered on the application and successfully secured funding that now supports tree-removal assistance through 2029. However, the federal grant couldn’t cover the retroactive relief residents were asking for, going back to January 2020.
That’s when the Minneapolis Parks Foundation became a key partner. They helped bridge donor intent and community need to secure philanthropic support from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. That early gift allowed us to pay off assessments before they were levied.
To address the remaining need, the community continued advocating, and other funders, including the Minneapolis Foundation and Mortenson Family Foundation, joined the effort. The final contribution came from Black Visions. With their support, we were finally able to provide much needed retroactive relief back to January 1, 2020. Altogether, we secured $890,000, which allowed us to cover assessments for many residents living in disadvantaged areas of the city. Without philanthropy, that level of relief simply wouldn’t have been possible.”
What has this project meant to you personally?
“This has truly been the most challenging and the most rewarding project of my entire career. The amount of coordination required – legal, financial, operational, and philanthropic – was enormous, and there were moments when it felt almost impossible to find a path forward. But hearing from residents who were relieved and grateful reminded us why the effort mattered. It reinforced how deeply park-related decisions can affect people’s lives and how important it is for us to keep equity at the center of our work.”
What would you say to people considering supporting the parks?
“I would say that every contribution makes a difference. Gifts of any size help us maintain and improve the park system, respond to community needs, and take on projects that might not be possible through public dollars alone. Philanthropic support helps us bridge gaps, create more equitable access, and ensure that people in every neighborhood benefit from high-quality parks and services. If people care about strong, inclusive, healthy communities, supporting parks is one of the most impactful ways to make a difference.”
And finally, what’s your favorite Minneapolis park?
“Theodore Wirth Park. It has so much variety and beauty, and it’s a place I’ve always loved.”
Image Credits: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board