committee of the Metropolitan Council. I'm Tony Carter and I'm here chairing in the absence of our chair Robert Little. Um we will start out our meeting with the first agenda which is um or with our agenda I should say. Members see post agenda if there are no objections or changes and by sentences we will move forward to our business and the next item is our minutes from July 20th our regular committee meeting. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you very much. So Chambl was moving their second Is there any discussion on the minutes? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Forget that. [laughter] We will wait to approve the minutes until we have which we should have very shortly. Thank you very much. We will move on then to the next item which is um business item 2026138 our public hearing for the 2027 public housing agency PHA annual plan. As an administrator of the US Department of Housing and Urban Developments Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Metropolitan Council's Housing and Redevelopment Authority is required to prepare and submit an annual update to its public housing agency plan. And the plan serves as a guide to Metro HR programs, policies, operations, and strategies for serving the needs of very low and extremely lowincome households. The plan is intended to be a convenient source of information for program participants, for the federal government, and the communities of our region. The administrative plan, the H's main policy document is an attachment to the plan. We have for the most part federally mandated changes and so we will open now the annual PHA plan and its attachments as the subject of this hearing. Now opening the public hearing [clears throat] and we welcome public input. I understand We do not have anyone here registered to speak. I will just check and ask if there is anyone here who would like to speak. And I'll do that two more times just in case. Is there anyone here who would like to speak? I don't see anyone, but is there anyone here who would like to speak? And I see that we have no one here. And so I will officially close the public hearing. Uh thank you. The public comments I should note for anyone watching must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 31st. And as a reminder to comment on our 2027 public housing agency annual plan, members of the public who are listening may provide public comment in the following ways. You may write the council at 390 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota, 551 01. or you may fax the council at 6516021313. You may email the council at stephanie.pollson. That's s e p h a n i e do pulson p a ls o n at mec.state.mn state.mn us or you may record a comment on the public comment line which is at 6516021500 0 TTY651291 0904. So at the close of the public comment process staff will prepare a summary of public comments. The Metropolitan Council will have an opportunity to review the comments prior to that council's action on the plan. And now we'll resume the remainder of our meeting agenda. Um members, you have consent business before you. >> Yeah. Okay. We can't do that. Thank you. So we are waiting for a form. Thank you. us. Um, and so we will move to the information section of our agenda and when we have we will return for our minutes for our consent and for our nonconent business. We are at the information section now and we have two items on the agenda. First, the family affordable housing program FHP portfolio update. And thank you to Stephanie for being here, Stephanie Paulson for being here to give us that update and presentation before. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Madame Chair and council members. I got bumped to first. [laughter] Thank you for having me today. Um, I'm here just [clears throat] essentially as an information item to give you an update on our portfolio, our family affordable housing program portfolio. As a reminder, the Metropolitan Council owns 154 scattered site units across 11 cities and that's the subject matter of the information item today. So to regground us in our um kind of disposition and acquisition journey, I have seen you for two prior um business items. One was 2022-75 approval for property um approval of property for disposition and acquisition, the family affordable housing program. That's when the council approved um program staff to update the FA FAT portfolio as a in response to changing needs. Um and 2024110 was the 2024 budget amendment in the second quarter to authorize the use of uh H's operating reserves to replace the FOB units. So those were the two business items that allowed us to dispose and then acquire replacement units. As a reminder, we were um the goal of this rebalancing was really to think about resident success, accessibility, location, and unit type all while maintaining the overall number of units units, which was 154 units in the in the portfolio. So, regardless of disposition, the goal was to replace with the same number of units, which we've done. The the portfolio remains at 154. I thought it might be helpful just to share some visuals as to kind of how we've come to the FA portfolio, what you're looking at. Um, when we first came to you in 2022, we talked about the rebalance. A priority through this process has been to decrease the number of our FOP units in town home associations and increase our single family home units. This image that you're looking at represents those changes. So the dark blue is in 2022 and then the lighter blue is a snapshot of the current portfolio. So our town home portfolio has um decreased and our single family home has increased. You may notice that the sum of the dark blue and the sum of the light blue are different. That's only because the 2022 snapshot is prior to um you may recall uh previous action where the city of Edina partnered with Metropolitan Council to acquire some units. So that's why you're seeing the difference in 150 to 154. So just wanted to call that out. It's not a typo, it's just a difference um after that business item. This next image that um is intended to show you the changes that have been made in the portfolio focused specifically on the number of bedrooms each FOP unit has. So you'll see that we have updated um the portfolio using capital funds to add bedrooms to units at turns when space permits. So at each turn we do an evaluation of space in the lower levels or in basement or um opportunities to maybe add a bathroom. Those are all through the capitals program that we do at turn. And then of course the disposition and acquisition um that you was mentioned on the first slide. So we've increased um bedroom sizes pretty much across the board. I wanted to talk to you specifically about the um new units that we purchased. So when we disposed of five, we acquired five. And this is basically a highlight and summary of the new units that we acquired in Richfield. There's three two-bedroom units, one three-bedroom unit, and four one and one fourbedroom unit. Um they're all single family homes all in Richfield. And I just thought maybe some fun things in the in the table that you'll see are just what we did um in each of the units. So you see one unit got an added bathroom. We've done window replacement. Every unit needed HVAC. Every unit needed plumbing. Every unit needed electrical. We've done some concrete repair. We did a basement build out in three where the basement was either unfinished or in disrepair. So, either added a bedroom or a bathroom. And all but one needed insulation replacement or repair. So, um it's been a longer process, but now these units um four of the five are currently leased and in great condition. The fifth we purchased in 2026. Um, and so we're still in the process of doing um the repairs um and necessary updates before we can move a family in. I wanted to just mention that we have some future discussions that we'll come to see you. Um what we would like to talk to you about in a future business item is identifying 10 units um to sell and at that time we'll project proceeds. So, we've already been looking at how we can continue to kind of rebalance the portfolio, sell 10 more units, but then the real question becomes, how are we going to fund the gap, right? If we sell town homes, how are you going to buy single family homes? And that's what we're working through. We aren't prepared to have that conversation quite yet, but we will come back. Um, we're working with our partners in real estate and budget and finance to think through kind of some options for us. Um but really uh what was exciting is that we've purchased um our fifth unit which was something we wanted to share. We've sold five, we've purchased five, and we have um plans to come and speak to you again at an upcoming CDC item for a potential business item. In addition to the future discussions about that gap financing, um we will need to expand our cooperation agreements. And as a reminder, we have city partnerships with 11 cities across um the region and those cities are listed there. Blaine Rapids, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Roseville, and Shore View. In order for Metro H to operate within each city, we um execute a a cooperation agreement. And so we are seeking new city partnerships that will be part of kind of the strategy that we strategy discussions that we have. As you can see, we don't really have much of a presence in the east metro. We pretty much have like Roseville Shore View in the East Metro, but we'd like to have a little bit more presence [clears throat] in the East Metro. And so, uh, that will be our preference as we talk with families when they're on our waiting list about kind of their wish list and things that they'd like. A lot of families would like to be in the East Metro. and so would like to explore um potential partnerships with those cities. Initial conversations haven't been super successful. Um we've heard themes like trying to balance um affordable home ownership for people that want to buy at an affordable price point and balancing that with affordable rentals. Um we've also heard that, you know, being mindful of the non-t taxable kind of real estate that exists within their city. Um and then not everyone has responded to our request to meet. So, we're still working through those and we will certainly make that this topic a part of a future business item and conversation. Um, with that, I will take any questions or conversation. >> Thank you very much for the work that you all do to keep our portfolio balanced. It's good work and thank you. I'll find out if there questions They express interest in affordable housing for their community. So we have a couple of points that I can cooperation cooperative cooperation agreements as best I can. >> Madam chair, council member Lindstrom, thank you so much. I will certainly send you talking points. Thank you, chair and Stephanie. I am glad that we were successful in getting to this point. I know that there were challenges in the past with some of our project based uh units uh that just weren't uh working out as well as we wanted. And now that that you have cooperative agreements and people who are very interested in partnership. Um it's going to be a benefit to the residents as well. Um I also think it would be good to let council members um know before it gets presented as a information item um or business item uh that um we are looking to have a balanced portfolio and be a contributor in the region to affordable housing opportunities and also to help um cities utilize their um naturally occurring um housing opportunities to get their homes up to speed so that if they do go on the market as well questions question and I did see a couple of cities for whom partnerships. Is there anything in particular about seeking out those partnerships in relationship so that we can help anything? Uh, Madame Chair, uh, council members, whenever I would be happy to send talking points or kind of talking items to the the entire CDC just so you can kind of see what we have been kind of brainstorming and strategizing internally. So, if ever you have the opportunity and you're, you know, speaking with someone from the city, you're speaking with a community partner that you have those kind of up your sleeve for future talking points. In all reality, if the east metro is something, it's certainly something we're trying to prioritize because we've heard from residents that they're interested in in more of an east east metro um kind of city partnerships. Um we're open to expanding anywhere. The more opportunities that we have for our portfolio, the better. And so I would um be happy to send talking points or kind of what we've strategized to all of the CDC members. That's of course to all of us and I think that goes to council channel's point. We want to be helpful and want to understand their advantage. Council member, >> thank you madam chair. We have some uh districts in the east metro that are represented by people who aren't on CDC and I would urge you to speak with those members as well because they helpful even though they're not on the committee. They know their communities for conversation. >> Madame chair, >> council member, thank you so much. >> Great point. Any other final comments? >> Yeah, exactly. >> Thank you so much. >> And so we are at a point where we have Thank you very much. And we are going to go back to the top of our agenda, item number three under our call to order to look for a motion to approve our July 20th CDC committee meeting minutes. Is there a motion? Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Moved by Lindstöm. Is there any discussion on >> I'm sorry. Second by ch. >> [laughter] >> Okay, thank you. My hearing is off the Okay, so thank you for that correction. Any other comments on this item? If not, oppose. All in favor, please say I. >> Oppose. No. Have been approved. We also need to go to our consent business items and look for a motion on the four consent items that are there. Is there shameless? >> Nope. That was [laughter] Thank you. Now I'm [clears throat] looking. I'll second it. >> Thank [laughter] you. All right. So, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on the consent business? Then we're ready for a vote. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> And oppose. No. Thank you. The consent business is pass. And now we are back then to our consent business. There are two items on the non I'm sorry, our non-consent business. There are two items on the non-consent agenda. One is a presentation on the 2026 bring it home project based voucher award recommendations and we have Chan Lo here. Thank you for being here with us and for the presentation on brand. Thank you madam chair. My name is Chong Lao, senior HA manager, and I will be presenting today the bringing it home 2026 project-based voucher award recommendation. The Metro H administers assistance in 96 communities in an NOA, Carver, Henipin, and Ramsey counties, excluding the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Richfield, St. Louis Park and Bloomington. We also operate 11 housing programs. We provide assistance to 7,284 voucher households. And in 2025, we paid 100 million in annual rent payments to,400 active landlords. The difference between the housing choice voucher program and the projectbased voucher program. For the housing choice voucher program, the voucher is tied to the tenant. The tenant locates the unit of choice. Assistance remains with the tenant upon vacating. For the voucher uh for the project based voucher program, the voucher is tied to the unit. An eligible referral is made to the designated PV unit and upon vacate, the assistance remains with the unit. In March 2025, we began engagement about the PB about the BIP PB program with owners. In April of 2025, uh we presented an information item at the CDC to share BI application details and set the stage for future action. In December of 2025, we collaborated with Minneapolis and also St. Paul PHA hosting an owner information session providing BI BIH PBVB options. In March of 2026, uh the council adopted the BIH policy and then in April 2026, we hosted an information uh owner listening session on the BI uh PB RFP requirements. In May on May 4th, 2026, we then issued the art the request for proposals offering 100 BIH PBVS. The bring it home bring it home is a statewide rental assistance program esta established in the 2023 legislative session. The program is funded by state appropriations as well as a portion of the metro a metro area sales tax. This past February 2026, the bringing it home rental assistance program grant agreement was executed awarding the metro HR with approximately 900 bring home vouchers. The council adopted the BIH policy authorizing up to 25% of the voucher allocation to be projectbased. the Metro HRA has not previously awarded BIH PBVS leaving 225 available for award and that also each project is required to have a minimum of 10 units each. These are the program requirements that are set by Minnesota state statute. Priority shall be given to households with children 18 and under with annual income up to 30% AMI, are a Minnesota resident, households with annual income up to 50% AMI, paying more than 30% of income on rent, and household is not receiving any currently receiving any form of federal tenant based or federal projectbased assistance. Proposals were submitted representing eight separate projects requesting 187 BIH PBV units. Proposals were ranked according to the selection criteria. Proposals for households with children 18 years of age and under and annual incomes of 30% of the area immediate income will be prioritized. Projects serving other populations such as single adults will then receive second priority. And moving on to the offer and award. The RFP required each proposals to have a minimum request of 10 PBV units and that they are also existing housing and new construction will then be available. The next round of RFP round units awarded BIHPBS must be located in Metro HRA service area which include Anoka, Carver, Hannipan, and Ramsey counties excluding the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Richfield, St. Louis Park, and Bloomington. Be occupied by very lowincome households at or below 50% of area median income. have reasonable rent not to exceed 110% of the payment standard and also meet health and safety inspection standards set by HUD. Five existing projects representing 100 BIH PBVS received letters of intent and are recommended for award. The existing projects are Autumn Ridge in Brooklyn Park, Balair Apartments in Whitebear Lake, Boutner Ridge phase 2 and three in Maple Grove, Maple Pond Homes in Maplewood, Taspen Ridge in Bookham Park. Autumn Ridge Sherman Associates is requested 50 BIP PV units with 48 two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom units to total 50. The Metro H is recommending to award 48 two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom units to total the 50 request. The site is located near the city boundaries of Broken Park, Crystal, and Maple Grove, providing access to transit corridors, employment, and retail services. Bellay Apartments has uh requested 18 BIPV units. The project consists entirely of all two-bedroom units. The Metro H is recommending award of 14 BIHPVB units. The site is located less than one mile from Century College Gateway State Trial Transit and Employment Corridors Centers. for Botnu Ridge phase 2 and three in Maple Grove. Aduppy development is requesting 10 BIP PBVS for six two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. The Metro H is recommending 10 BIH PBVS awarded for two, excuse me, six two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. The site is located in Maple Grove downtown within a half mile from C Central Park, Henipin County Library, and Arbor Lakes Retail Center. Maple Pond Homes requested 47 BIP PBV units for 26 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units. The Metro H is recommending award of 16 two-bedroom units. The site is located along a main transit line, Route 64, providing connections to employment and retail centers and Hayden Heights uh recreation centers located about one mile away. Tesman Ridge Duffy Development requested 10 BIP PBB units, five two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom units, and one four-bedroom unit to total the 10. The Metro H is recommending to award 10 BIP PB units, five two-bedroom units, four three-bedroom, and one fourbedroom unit. The site is located within one block from the Henipin County Library, North Henipin Community College, and transit lines along 85th Avenue. The next step, uh, we will be collaborating with each project to determine eligibility of existing households. We will then enter into a housing assistance payment contract upon inspection completion to to ensure uh they meet health and safety requirements and then pay rent on behalf of low-income families. And then the next round of RFP uh we would like to issue to include both new construction and also existing. The proposed action today uh is to award 100 bring it home BIH project based vouchers to five projects as shown in table one. Authorize the Metro HR race senior manager to execute the necessary documents with the project owners of the awarded projects. >> Thank you. >> Um [laughter] Thank you very much. A couple quick questions. Number one, slide 12 and slide 14 seem to have the exact same pictures. Are they just stock photos or did they accidentally get repeated for two developments and >> my ap chair and council member good that's a great catch um it is uh it was an error so that is all those pictures are from botn >> okay and >> I would love to see the pictures of chessman too so that we see what what it is that we're approving. And then um are these units currently occupied? So the people that are in there get a gift basically of home affordability. >> Thank you uh chair and council member. Um so um these are ex uh existing units so hopefully they are occupied. Um we what we will do is collaborate with each project. For example, Autumn Ridge will be sending out uh it's they have like 30 366 units and so uh they will be uh marketing uh the availability of the BI to all households that meet the uh award for the bedroom size and then will be a first come first serve and then a pre-application process to see who does qualify and go from there. And so um it will be mainly existing households that will receive the um the assistance. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks for that question. Uh Champlas and then Abasaka. Yeah, I can um say that I have visited Tesman Ridge when they first opened and it's a beautiful building um across as she said from the North Henipin Community College and now um they have access to the East West 85th Avenue transit that we have added as part of our um network now work. Um what else can I say about it? Um, I did meet the developers as well that were at the open house, Duffy Development, and um, it's, you know, I think both of them are are probably really very nice. They have nice community rooms, exercise rooms, child care facilities um and the access to um in Brooklyn Park at least um to uh a lot of amenities around uh 85th Avenue and uh West Broadway where the proposed Blue Line extension is supposed to go. Um and then they also mentioned um that state-of-the-art library uh that is nearby. Um, I did have a question on Oh, well, I have a comment on the fact that I like uh adults being the second priority to families because as we have mentioned before and I have mentioned uh there are adults that are really looking for affordable housing and some of them are at risk or are actually homeless. So this is an opportunity um for adults as well uh and that growing population of uh individuals that you know are getting housing stressed. Um but my question is um for the second criteria uh on the selection um I I don't have a question on the possible points but the definition of what is an area of affluence um related to you know how you're selecting units in an area of concentrated poverty or uh improved housing choice in an area of affluence. Now, I know this goes back to um when we had the choice and opportunity [clears throat] >> and the question of areas of affluence um came up back then and I don't know if that 15 years ago or something maybe longer. Um so can can you expand on how this area of fluence came about and what it means to the selection criteria? Yeah, def. Um, council member, uh, chair and council member, I'm wondering if Terry, uh, the award the selection criteria were approved in 2020 by the council. >> Thank you. Uh, nice job, Chunk. Uh, Madame Chair and council members, um, the way that criteria used to be written is that we wouldn't award projects in areas of concentrated poverty. Um and so when we changed that language, um it was part of the choice place and opportunity report, but it was also to allow for improved choice and improved housing conditions in um high poverty areas. Conversely, rehab units in areas of affluence, so higher income areas of the region that have lower poverty rates, so improve choice in those communities for voucher holders. So sort of balancing those two out. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. I always need to hear that and so thank you very very much for asking that question. Appreciate it. >> Council member Obasaken. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just quick question. Uh the uh program requirements I saw the 30% AMI is that uh why that number just 30%. Why 30% I should ask? >> Yeah. Um so that it would count chair and council member. It's a set by state statute and >> perfect. >> Sorry. >> So that we could serve the lowest. >> I wanted to Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Council Member Chai Ali. >> Yeah. Thanks, Madam Chair. Um just a quick comment. Um I appreciate that we are um helping folks with larger uh three and fourbedroom units um during and since the recession even though that seems so long ago uh we know that folks are u staying longer with their families in multi-generational housing whether that's adult children living longer with uh parents or elderly parents staying longer uh with adults and being cared for and so I appreciate that we um can help folks with as many bedroom units as as we Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well, it is um as I said, it was really nice to hear the update and to see the projects that are being recommended across a number of areas and their proximity to jobs and to amenities and to parks and public facilities, transit, trails, and the like. and to see this uh these recommendations coming from you. Thank you very much. The bedrooms as well, trying to do what we can to expand for large households as well. Our next steps here um are to look at the proposed action and it is that the Metropolitan Council would award the 100 bring it home project-based vouchers to five projects as shown in table one below to authorize the Metro H senior manager to execute the necessary documents with the project owners of the awarded projects as they are presented on slide 16. And before I ask for a motion, I just ask if there are any further comments or questions uh that should proceed. >> Just what a a great day it is that this is coming forward and so much work has been done by so many people for so many years. um even since it was passed in 2023 to get to this point where we are >> bringing some more stability to now 100 people. That's a lot of people >> that um qualify for the for these projectbased f vouchers. 50% be very be occupied by very lowincome households at or below 50% of the area median income for that amount of people to now have more stability in their lives. Um that's a huge deal. So I'm thrilled that we're moving this forward and excited for the future uh projectbased vouchers that that we have. >> That's it. >> That's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Council member, are there any other comments, questions before we move this forward? And if not, if anyone is prepared for a motion, we're ready to take it. >> Move approval. >> Thank you very much. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. And without further discussion, I believe we are ready for our vote. All in favor, please say I. I. >> And oppose? No. >> Thank you very much. The motion has passed and we are happy for these new projects and the help that people will receive as a result. All right, we have a next item on the non-consent business agenda and it is our third quarter budget amendment. Heather Gizel is here. Thank you, Heather. >> Uh good afternoon, Madam Chair and committee members. I'm Heather Gizel. I'm the director of finance and administration for community development. Uh tonight we're requesting to amend community development's operating budget and capital program. Uh first in the authorizing new project section where you're requesting to authorize a number of items from the uh uh state fiscal year 2027 legislative session. Um first up is the legacy appropriation uh which is a total of 27.2 2 million uh $24.5 million of which will go to uh the agency shares uh to the parks implementing agencies. Uh there is another $2.7 million of that that will be set aside for land acquisition. Uh and that will be matched uh with $1.8 million in council funding that is in our capital improvement program. Uh as in addition to the legacy, there is the environment natural resources trust fund. Uh these were competitive funding recommendations from the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Uh it's a $2.4 million uh appropriation with a required 1:1 match. Uh the council provides a 3 to2 match of $1.6 million and the remaining portion of that 1:1 match will come from the parks implementing agencies. Uh it is a first come first-s served program awarded through the PAOF program. Uh we also have uh regional park state bond appropriation. Uh that is $10 million with a 3 to2 council match of $6.67 million which will be distributed by formula to each of the parks implementing agencies. Uh 70% based on the uh relative share of their most recent population estimate uh and the other 30% based on their relative share of non-local visits uh based on the council's most recent visitor uh survey. There's also uh additional money for the community trees program. Uh so $5 million will be awarded competitive competitively to local governments through the program that was established during the 2024 legislative session. And then we also have the parks direct state appropriations. Uh that is $27.8 million in state bonds and $5 million from the state general fund uh for projects defined by direct appropriation. Uh just as a reminder that a council does not match direct appropriations, but we'll pass those through directly to the organizations uh identified in the appropriation. And finally, in uh HR, we are authorizing $1 million in capital reserves to purchase replacement properties as part of the HA family affordable housing program property disposition and acquisition plan. In the closing project section, we are removing approximately $12.3 million from 17 completed projects uh from the park's authorized capital program. All of those program or all of those projects are complete and have been fully expended. Uh we are also closing one project uh from the HA capital program which will remove $253,000 from the uh ACP that is from the uh FOP capital expenses. Um, moving over to the operating side of the amendment, we have uh $300,000 uh to local planning assistance pass through accounts. So, we are taking um money from our reserve account and building uh towards the uh planning assistance grants that will go out to those agencies in 2027. Uh applications are due this November, but we don't anticipate um making or expending any money on those awards until next year. Uh so, no impact to the use of reserves. We are just uh repurposing unprogrammed expenses. Uh and that is getting moved into the pass through budget which is where you'll see the $300,000 in local planning assistance moved over to that as well as uh $2.25 million in LHIA funding uh that is getting moved through to the pass through budget. Um and so our proposed action is that you authorize the 2026 unified budget amendment as indicated and in accordance with the attached tables. Uh, thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions that you have at this time. >> Thank you. It's it's good news that we have the opportunity because of >> additional support from our state and um we appreciate your making sure that these funds go to the places we intend to use them for housing, environment, uh for community development, for all of the parks and recreation purposes. um and for just keeping track of the funds [clears throat] and their various uh uses. >> I want to find out if there are questions. Uh council member Wolf, please. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The family affordable housing program, house acquisition, million dollars. We just had a presentation on that. Um, are there houses that have been identified that this is budgeting for or is this to have the money there when we find the right houses? >> Closer is nodding. >> Heather, >> uh, Madame Chair, council members, Lisa's nodding. I don't know if we're setting up if there are houses identified already or if we're just >> Thank you. I know >> preparing for some and we're getting ready for others. Thank you. Hello again, Stephanie Pollson, assistant director, Metro H. Madame Chair and Council Member Wolf, the million dollars, as I understand, is basically authorizing the proceeds that we kind of gained through the purchase of or through the disposition of the five units that we sold just to move it into our capital fund as available spend. There's no um homes that are currently been identified for purchase. >> All right. >> It's just moving the money. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you for the question and thank you for the response. All right. I thought I saw another hand over here. Um, Council Member Lee. No. >> All right. Thank you, Council Member Chamblas. >> Okay. So, with that clarification um those dollars being a um open for available spend, could that be I mean, how would we make the decision and what is the process of deciding what to do with that money? Okay. So, Stephanie, I think we need you back [laughter] as I look at her face. >> I'm sorry, Heather. Okay. [laughter] I don't have the answer. >> Want to skip you. >> Madame Chair and Council Member Tamblas, um the million dollars at this point would be if used at all would be used and any major renovations that would be needed for the home that we purchased in 2026. So if we exhaust capital funds and need to use any of the million dollars that we're transferring in, it would be to do kind of critical or fundamental repairs to the 2026 purchase. Any purchases beyond that, we would certainly have a discussion with you as our policy makers to prioritize purchases and kind of understand priorities. >> So that would be a use that we have already uh approved and beyond that you'd come back to us. >> Madam Chair and council members, that is correct. >> Very much. Thank you. Great. >> Thank you. We'll go back to Heather then. Are there any questions for Heather [laughter] or comments on the uh presentation that we've had today? Thank you. Well, we have a set of amendments or a an amendment including a number of different opportunities for our funds. And before us then is the task of approving uh this business item and it again is to authorize the 2026 unified budget amendment as we have spoken of as is indicated in the item. Are there is there a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second and that was Wolf. Thank you. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Is there any additional discussion, comment, or question? Y'all quit laughing at people. [laughter] >> Having fun. >> Okay. >> All right. >> If not, we're ready for the [laughter] >> All in favor, please say I. >> I oppose. No. >> Thank you very, very much. The motion is approved. >> Thank you. >> All right. And so, we've gotten we've caught up >> and we are now back on track in our information items. We've heard from the family affordable housing program and we're now at our draft regional parks and trails systems competitive equity grant program uh which we'll be describing our notice of funding availability and thank you very very much. Uh this is Emily is this Emily? I'm sorry Jessica. Jessica Lee. Thank you for being here with us Jessica. >> Thank you chair and council members. For the record I'm Jessica Lee. I'm a planning analyst in parks and I'm here to discuss the regional parks and trail system 2027 competitive equity grant program draft notice of funding availability. So first I want to start with a program purpose which is to provide funding to the regional park implementing agencies for projects that advance equitable use of the regional parks and trail system with a focus on one or more of the following: race, ethnicity, income, ability, age, or national origin. Um the goal is to increase capacity and understanding of equity work across agencies and support and expand existing equity work. So the equity grant program started in 2019 with a pilot program. Thrive 20 240 committed the council to strengthening equitable use of the parks and trails system and the council honored this commitment by setting aside $300,000 in council bonds. Um this funding was only available for capital projects. So that first year we were able to fund three out of 14 projects which showed a great demand um for additional funding as well as more flexible funding that could be used for programming in addition to capital. So in 2021 the council dedicated the interest earnings from the parks and trails legacy fund to the equity grant program in addition to some council funds. Um, and so this gave us $2 million and we were able to fund 23 out of 37 projects which were a mix of capital and programming. And in 2024, our last round, we had a similar funding makeup and we funded 22 projects. Um, I want to share a project for each agency to kind of give you an idea of the type of work we've been funding and the equity projects that the agencies are working on. Um, so I'm just going to give a brief description of each one. you see here. So, the city of St. Paul Parks and Recreation received a grant for their BIPAC ambassador program to offer outdoor education programming led by BIPAC educators, specifically developed for the BIPO community. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board received a grant to convert an obsolete tennis court into a bike skills park designed for youth to learn and build bicycle skills along Minihaha Parkway Regional Trail. Ramsey County Parks received a grant to fill in their final funding gap for their premier new tulu courts at Keller Regional Park. Washington County Parks is currently conducting an American Indian historical cultural study to cultivate relationships with native communities and to document historical and present-day perspectives in order to provide guidance on authentic indigenous interpretation, programming, and stewardship. Dakota County Parks has created a unity trail interpretive loop along the Mississippi River Greenway regional trail that honors and celebrates the contribution of indigenous communities of color and emphasizes the connection between racial equity and environmental justice. Anoka County Parks received a grant to purchase a variety of adaptive equipment for use throughout the regional system to increase participation of individuals with differing abilities, especially children. And Carver County received a grant to update their ADA assessment plan for their three regional parks. And I have additional information for the next two. Um, so Scott County Parks has received two phases of grant funding for their mental health and nature-based wellness programming to provide opportunities for communities of color and lower income to access free mental health focused and beginnerfriendly lowimpact outdoor programming such as yoga classes, group walks, paddling classes, guided forest bathing, and community picnics. A significant portion of their programming is provided in partnership with local organizations such as the Scott County Family Resource Center and the Reed Mobile, a library on wheels, has been available for some of the events as well. A monthly newsletter is sent out in both Spanish and English promoting these offerings. And finally, we have Three Rivers Park Dist Park District. They have created a very successful water safety education program in partnership with V3 Sports to provide free swimming and water safety workshops for families in and near North Minneapolis. Uh with a grant of only 65,000, they have already held 10 workshops research uh reaching 250 people and hope to hold an additional 20 workshops before the end of the grant period. These workshops teach participants life-saving skills such as how to hold their breath underwater, how to float, maybe learn a new swimstroke, and simply gain confidence being in the water. And there's a great write up on their website. Um, there's an address on the bottom of the slide if you want to read it. So, that brings us to the 2027 grant round. Um, this year we have 1 million in council bonds. That's a result of building up funds for the last three years. and we have 7 million in parks interest earnings which is way more than we've ever had. So, we're very excited about that. We will uh prioritize programming again this year, but we expect to have plenty of funding for capital projects as well. Um and so we've decided to change the funding limits this year. Um our minimum has increased to 100,000 and our maximum to 1 million. And so we're really hoping for some creative capital projects as well as the programming projects. Um agencies may submit up to four. Uh we are limiting them to four uh basically just for the review team. So manageability of the review process and we are encouraging agencies to partner together and if they do so those applications won't count towards their limit. [sighs] Um here's the scoring criteria. This is hard to read, I know, but it is in the attachment to the info item if that's easier for you. Um, there are five main categories. They all have equal weight. The first is impact on equitable use. Uh, this is clearly identifying one or more underserved populations that the project will benefit, why they were chosen, and proposed outcomes, and responding to a need demonstrated through previous community engagement and or long range planning. The second category is community partnerships. So demonstrating community involvement throughout the project by both developing new relationships and strengthening existing partnerships and demonstrating how those partnerships will continue after the grant period. The third category is community engagement and awareness. So demonstrating how partners and underserved populations will be engaged throughout the project and after the grant period. and having the proposal include uh parks and trails system awareness building among underserved communities. The fourth category is capacity building, increasing the ability of the regional park agencies and their partners to grow their skills in working with underserved communities and demonstrating the agency's capacity to leverage the council's funds through non-state funds, grants or inind contributions or the ability to continue the work after the grant period is complete. And the final category is programming initiatives. So describing the internal process used to identify and develop the project and demonstrating how new programming efforts will affect underserved populations. And we really want the staff to work together so the projects aren't just coming from their planners and directors, but their outreach and engagement staff are involved in coming up with the projects. And I wanted to just kind of share the engagement process we've had with the agencies. We started back in spring of 2025 with the agency outreach staff and we discussed their current projects and where they are at and they um there was consensus to wait until the fall of 2026 for the next round so they could finish up their existing projects. that we then held a workshop in the fall of 2025 with agency directors and planners and we invited the outreach staff to that meeting and had them give presentations on their current and past equity grants. Uh they were able to share their successes and challenges with each other and ideas for future projects. We also discussed funding levels and timelines at that meeting. And then that helped us develop the NOA that you're seeing today, which we shared at the spring 2026 partner meeting with the agency directors and planners and also the outreach staff. Um, I also presented the NOA to the EMPOSK and equity advisory committees in July and our anticipated timeline is for to bring the NOA through the council in September and posted on our website by the beginning of October and open our application in our new grant software, Flux. uh we want the applications we want the applicants to have 3 months so they'll be due at the end of December which gives us internal review time in January and then our technical review team will meet in February to develop funding recommendations that we'll bring to the council in April and get the grant agreements out in May before their spring session starts. And I just wanted to highlight the review committee here. We do need up to three CDC members for that committee. um the time requirement would involve meeting towards the beginning of February briefly to receive the applications and information about the process and then you'll have 3 to four weeks to review those projects um and score all the applications and then we'll meet again 3 or 4 weeks later uh for up to 3 or 4 hours to go through those scoring and develop those funding recommendations. So, if you're interested in serving on that review team, um you can let me know or Lisa know and we would appreciate your help. Thank you. Um with that, I'm happy to take questions. Thank you very much for all the information and uh notice of funds that are going to be available for this use and the timeline as well. I know that members here will be interested and we'll leave it up to us as individuals to uh get back with you. we can email you our interests if in fact you would like to serve on the review committee. Thank you. So there are questions from board members from committee members. I thought I saw hands. Thank you [laughter] >> council member Wolf. >> Thank you madam chair. Uh generally this was well supported at EMPOS and I appreciate the uh update to the language in the first section. There was some discussion at EMPOS about making sure we uh tease out the why, how how the need was identified um to make sure that there was outreach and and that communities are actually asking for the things that would be offered for them. So, I appreciate the updated language. That's that's great. Um, and as far as the timeline, uh, the our terms will be up the like the second week of March. >> March. Yep. >> So, you might want to keep that in mind with your >> scoring. I'm I'm willing to participate, but >> just I don't know if you want us after we've been given the boot [laughter] >> potentially. I think we may have to update >> a little bit. >> Good point. [clears throat] Thank you. Thank you. Uh you know that the council will look forward to participating and >> we we hope that members some of the members here will be able to do so and of course with a new governor >> may come new members as well. So you'll stay informed I'm sure. >> Council member Chamblas. Well, just to add to that, [laughter] chair, the um the newest folks on uh the board are going to be fresh, so they'll be all ready and eager. [laughter] Okay, I'm just kidding. Um so um I do have a question on a few of the things uh regarding the that were in the criteria and that's related to community partnership capacity and community engagement. Um there's a focus on capacity of maybe folks at the city which makes sense especially if it's a smaller city. Um but all of these have links to community leaders, community participants who are being reached out um in multiple ways, not just for um parks and trails, but housing and development, for transportation and other areas. Um, so how are we building um readiness and capacity for community organizations that we want to partner with? um that's something to think about um and to maybe um address that or have the folks applying um address that because I see that as kind of a big gap and we also need to to make sure that we're being efficient in how how we engage but still be thorough in how we engage and some of that might be might require u more resources and more capacity um for neighborhoods or community partners. >> That sounds like a multiple >> multiple faceted question and certainly that's always a consideration for us. Jessica, can you address the question? >> Yes, thank you chair and council member. I think that's an excellent point. Um I know that many of the agencies have existing relationships they can build upon. Um, but part of this is to also build new relationships, new partnerships. Um, so I don't have a great answer for you today, but it's definitely something to think about and I appreciate I appreciate you bringing it up. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate the question, too. And I I think a part of what can be possible is that as we work with organizations who may be asking questions about responding >> uh to encourage them to build in those activities that they're going to need to be sure to be able to create or build uh continue existing partnerships such as will be needed to fulfill the objectives that they set forth. Uh did you have any other comments? >> Oh um >> council member >> I think it's something that um would require some con more more convening around and some more discussing because uh it is multiaceted uh and it and eventually we could reach a point of saturation >> um that could have an impact on our results. So I think it's important to get ahead of that and be proactive and also be helpful to those that we are serving, >> right? so that that they aren't being overwhelmed uh and that we have impact in the outcomes um that result from these projects and initiatives. Because if they if if our um if our community impact um is such a small portion compared to the amount of engagement >> or the amount of activity, then we've got some imbalance. So that's why I think um it needs to be looked at especially. >> Yeah. And hopefully that would be reflected in the genuiness of the partnerships uh and the ownership of the work, the shared ownership of the work. >> Thank you. Thank you for that question, Council Member Lee. >> Yeah. Thanks, Madam Chair. Um, I was lucky enough to be on the pilot year in 2019 and I I appreciate how we have evolved over the years, both the parameters of the funding and also the the the the guard rails and especially um adding non um capital projects. Um if you know after 8 years if someone asked me what was the coolest funnest thing you ever been part of me council this this would be it. it would for me it would be uh being part of the uh the pilot of the year in 2019. So I'm glad that we still have this wonderful grant for uh for our partners. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there further questions or comments as Jessica continues and making this information available in our communities? Well, I really do appreciate your coming forward. we all do. Um, and for such a time as this, to have prepared the Metropolitan Council for this kind of work, I think was really insightful for those who were here at that time. We all feel privileged whether we were here then or not to be able to continue with this work to see it grow and to see the impact that it will make in our world that we have not paused that we continue to stand and to promote the work that needs to be done to be sure that all our community can be healthy and well and included. So, thank you so very much. I don't think we have an action here. This is for our information. So, we very much appreciate it. Thank you, Jess. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, we are um at the third item which is an update on the dennial system statements dispute resolutions and Angela Taus is here to share that with us today and a presentation that you will have. Thank you very much, Angela. Hello. >> Good afternoon, chair and committee members. I'm Angela Torres, the senior manager of local planning assistance. And as you mentioned, I'm here to give you an update on the system statements. Um, we'll start uh very quickly um with a brief um refresher uh just letting you know that the council is required by statute to provide each local government uh with a system statement which outlines the changes to the system plans and the impact those changes have on the local plans. um after the council updates its regional development guide. Um obviously this happened in February of 2025 with the adoption of imagine 2050. So the statement then includes really key changes to regional policy like forecasts for example. You hear us talk a lot about forecasts this afternoon. Uh we distributed system statements in September of last year and that distribution signals to local governments that the next round of comprehensive planning has begun. Um if there are no concerns with the system statement, they are considered final after 60 days. After distribution, the first step if there are concerns or questions uh is for local governments to call their sector representative. As I emphasized here on the slide, which you can see, uh most of the concerns are resolved at this step. Um however, it's normal for there to be some disputes. uh local governments have 60 days to send in a formal letter of uh dispute with a adopted city resolution to that effect. Uh from here uh then we work with the local governments to not only try to resolve the concern uh but to set hearing dates and move forward in the process if we need to. If a hearing is held, the local government can choose to have that hearing either at the land use advisory committee or at the office of administrative hearings. uh 30 days after the hearing, the council is provided uh with a report and then must make a final determination within 30 days of that. Um the Met Council does make the final determination. Uh the LUAC and the Office of Administrative Hearings provides a recommendation. There were 183 system statements that were accepted without formal dispute. I wanted to make sure and emphasize that again. The vast majority of all of these things um were resolved with either a quick call from their sector representative or no questions at all. Uh we did reissue some map corrections, clarifications or revisions that were very minor and then we responded to about a dozen more uh calls that from communities that had questions. Uh we did have five communities that submitted formal disputes. I'll start with Farmington in alphabetical order, not by any other order. Um [laughter] Farmington uh requested an increase in forecasts which we did agree to some level of increase although not as much as the city had initially requested. Uh we resolved this one first uh in January. Forest Lake requested an increase in forecasts and objected to the change in their community designation to suburban edge uh which was a change made in Imagine 2050. the emerging suburban edge community designation um was absorbed into the suburban edge designation and so we reduced those by from 5 to four and so they objected to that change um which was fine [clears throat] um although that was um something that complicated there wasn't another community designation that might be more appropriate for the city. So we worked through many of those conversations um with them. Um we had ongoing discussions. Um they um presented at the land use advisory committee uh in lie of in agreement to withdraw their remaining um request for changes. Um they then presented to the land use advisory committee on their view of density calculations. Something which we struggle to address with them because that's not in the system statement itself. And this process is really built around what's in the content of the system statement. Um, but we did want to make sure that they felt heard and so they wanted to present to the land use advisory committee and they did that uh in May and that agreement then was completed at that time. [clears throat] The city of Hugo requested higher forecasts as well and we did agree to some increase. Uh we also agreed to a revised 2050 forecast that they can use during the preparation of their 2050 plan uh for planning purposes. Uh we iterated reiterated the council's previous commitment that we made in their 2040 uh comprehensive plan um to provide a certain level of of sewer service um within a certain area of Musa. uh with the acknowledgement that the council believes that that level of service while we will provide it we believe that it might take a little bit longer than we initially forecasted. That agreement was executed in July. Uh the city of North Oak had several concerns. Apologize for the smaller font there. That just means that we had more discussions with the city. [laughter] um they requested a reduction in forecasts and this was another one where we needed to correct a mapping error. Um both of those were agreed to early on. Uh more substantially though, the city requested that the council expand the metropolitan urban service area to include the entire city and to provide regional sewer service to existing unseeded lots. Uh while we were able to resolve um like I said the forecast and map corrections uh rather quickly, the sewer extension is something not in the regional system plan. Uh we did agree to include North Oaks in an ongoing capacity study of regional infrastructure for the northeast metro area. Uh that's ongoing and was already in process. We agreed to include North Oaks in that study. Um and that we anticipate that that study would be completed in the spring of 27. Uh we also agreed on a process for the city to provide feedback on that study and to provide certain planning considerations for their 2050 plan so that they weren't held up um in order for uh they didn't have to wait for the 27 or for the capacity study to conclude. Uh we agreed to also consider reissuance of the system statement following completion of the capacity study and following direction from the council on pri priorities u on regional sewer service. That agreement was then completed in July. Oakdale requested a forecast increase which we agreed to uh some of that increase. Uh we also agreed there for unofficial 2050 forecast that they can use in their 2050 planning process and that we would then re-evaluate their forecast following completion of the White Bear Lake area work group which concludes in mid uh 2027. This was a big process. So I want to say a really huge thank you to the many partners it takes to come to agreement on these sometimes very complicated issues. Our local partners of course should be should be mentioned first. The local staff worked to provide addition additional information on upcoming developments. They met with us often and worked very hard on behalf of their community. So we want to say thank you to them within the council. I would also like to share the hard work that the land use advisory committee members with chair Morales did to prepare for prep potential hearings including extra meetings um off schedule and uh training that was excuse me specifically targeted uh for um the system statements process. uh community development staff were greatly supported also by the office of general counsel as we navigated hearing schedules and then rescheduled hearing schedules uh legal review uh data uh requests and so much more. Uh of course also the technical experts like Todd Graham the council's principal forecaster in working through these complicated and timeconsuming forecast reviews. You might have heard that all five of those included forecasts and that's a lot of Todd's work and he was very very helpful and responsive to the communities uh throughout the process. I also want to thank our partners in environmental services. Anytime we're talking about sewer service, we are obviously coordinating with them and working through their system uh plan issues uh and working to uh coordinate long-term service. Um I would also like to s thank the sector reps for each of these communities uh as well as Lisa Barahas and Ryan O' Connor uh as we work to problem solve different issues. Uh so it takes a team and just wanted to say thank you to everybody that's involved. And with that I will conclude and answer any questions you might have. >> Wow. Thank you. It's great. >> Uh what an incredible [clears throat] presentation >> of a process that you all have worked diligently through uh from the beginning and the release of statements and now as you've been working with our communities. I have to say thank you uh not only to those communities that you've been working with but thank you to our staff for the dedication, commitment and stick tuitiveness that you've shown. Uh these are incredible processes and as our cities consider their growth, their needs, uh their characteristics and need to negotiate that um with our planning assistance. I think you all have illustrated just an incredible acumen and ability to work through very difficult processes with calm and um assurance. I am noting that you've presented five resolved disputes. There were 183 system statements. What's the rest? >> Oh, there were 188 Oh, sorry, chair and committee members. In total, there's 188 system statements that go out. Five resulted in disputes and the other 183 were accepted at the 60-day mark as final. >> Goodness gracious. >> Yes. I know there's still work ahead. You know, you've described to us the processes that you've described to the communities and we appreciate all the work that's been done and work coming. I have questions or comments. Council member Lee. >> Yeah. Thanks, Madam Chair. And I know the trend is um most of the beefs they want higher forecast as opposed to lower forecast. Is that the trend from each um system issuance to the other? >> Excuse me. From each system issue >> like each year each each time we issue the system statements. Is that the the majority of the disputes is that they want higher most of them want higher forecast as opposed to lower forecasts. >> Chair and committee member Lee. Yes, thank you for clarifying that for me. Yes, forecasts are often uh the main issue. Sometimes um community designations and usually communities are in asking for increases rather than decreases although this had a mix of both. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh council member Chamblas. >> Um this is kind of a tag along to his question and that is uh related to the request for connection to our sewer and the requirements for connection to our sewer. related to the forecast. >> Uh chair and committee members. Um yes, that's a more complicated one for sure. Um it's if we were to extend sewer service to a community where that sewer service is not currently planned, we would have to modify and amend the um water policy plan first. So, we did walk through what that would mean. Um but first we're going to start with the capacity study to see if we are even uh in the realm of that. >> Okay. Does does the capacity have anything to do with the forecasted population? >> Chair and committee members. Yes, of course. Um we're trying to accommodate forecasted growth and planning long term. Our sewer system uh extends much further beyond the current planning horizon which is 2050 of course. Uh so very long-term uh sewer service. Uh so yeah, it it I mean it does um impact whether or not um we have growth in certain areas. Uh whether we want to accommodate forecasted growth as a priority, we'll have to talk about that. Um as this the capacity study comes before the council, we'll have those conversations. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for that question. And certainly some of the things that we see require a second thought and I appreciate the manner in which you've pulled back and are making suggestions as to the work that we need to do together with our communities in order to understand the need and then to planfully work together with them if any adjustment is required. So again, thank you. Well, I'm looking across to see and I believe we are going to release you. Thank you so much, Miss Taus, for the presentation. Um, council members, you have done a lot of work and in um just an hour, not quite 30 minutes. I believe that we are at the end of our agenda. That's what I think. Just confirming we are. And so with great thanks for all of the staff that have come before us and the work that is represented on behalf of our communities, we are without objection adjourned. [clears throat]