Hennepin County — Transcript
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
EMS Awareness Week: Opioid Crisis Response and EMS Bridge Program
State Legislative Session Wrap-up and HCMC Funding
Votes (5)
Amendment to an agreement with Wellness That Fits LLC to provide mental health and wellness services to Hennepin County Sheriff's Office employees
Moved by Chair Fernando [0:50:45] · Seconded by Commissioner Lundy [0:50:55]
The amendment sought to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $450,000 for a new total of $907,000. Commissioner Fernando requested clarification regarding the allocation of unspent funds. Rick Bezosky confirmed that the increased amount accounts for consolidating agreements and potential fluctuations due to critical incidents, and that unspent funds would not be reallocated to other agreements.
Authorize supplemental appropriations and contingency transfers to amend the 2025 budget
Moved by Commissioner Goettel [0:53:30] · Seconded by Commissioner Lundy [0:53:35]
Joe Matthews, CFO, presented 13 adjustments to close the prior year's financials. These included higher enrollment for Hennepin Health, changes to Department of Revenue sales tax fees, adjustments for internal service funds (fleet, employee benefits, health plan), contingency transfers for Adult Representation Services (due to increased attorneys), the Compliance Department (new, under-resourced), and Operations Administration (for 625 auditorium upgrades), and technical adjustments for Public Works and Housing/Economic Development, plus capital project budget reallocations.
Establish annual Heart of Hennepin Service Awards
Moved by Commissioner Edelson [0:56:45] · Seconded by Unknown [0:56:50]
Commissioner Edelson presented an item to establish annual awards. An R1 (revision) was distributed to incorporate feedback, clarifying that the awards would be given to multiple recipients and specifically to 'neighborhood organizations,' which was deemed a beneficial change to avoid potential issues with awarding other types of organizations.
Proclamation: Recognition for invaluable work of the Hennepin County Community Action Partnership (CAP-HC)
Moved by Chair Fernando [0:58:30] · Seconded by Unknown [0:58:45]
The proclamation recognized CAP-HC for its 40th anniversary and its work in fostering economic independence and community prosperity. Commissioners Goettel and Edelson, who serve on the CAP-HC board, offered additional remarks, praising Executive Director Dr. Clarence Hightower's leadership and the organization's long-standing impact and resilience.
Negotiate an agreement with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for programmatic maintenance responsibilities
Moved by Chair Fernando [1:07:00] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [1:07:10]
An agreement was proposed between the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for programmatic maintenance, with the key detail that it would incur no cost to the Regional Railroad Authority.
Notable Quotes (5)
This is not a request for supplemental budget appropriations and any unspent dollars would not be going to another agreement.
This is part of our annual process to close the prior year's financials. There are 13 adjustments that we're making here in this resolution and I'll just briefly mention each one.
This was just taking feedback. Thank you to my colleagues that that gave some feedback last week. And so the R1 just incorporates that there will there intent is that there would be multiple awards. And then just clarifying that it would be neighborhood organizations, which I think was a really good change actually because I think us getting into awarding organizations could be problematic.
Dr. Hightower is here who is the executive director and just such an incredible leader of CAP-HC. And so, thank you for coming downtown. And it's been really an honor to serve on um on CAP-HC. Just to learn, quite frankly, before I came here, I had no idea what CAP-HC did. Um but now I realize just how important your role is.
I've been on the board of CAP-HC actually 22 years, some odd years, off and on. Um because they also have cities. So, I served as from the city perspective as well. So, I've been through a lot of different executive directors, too. And it's still survived while a lot of other CAP organizations did not.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
One-stop shop for EMS systems to set up buprenorphine programs.
State document on lowering barriers for patients to access opioid use disorder medications.
Legislation impacting healthcare financing, requiring county SNAP administrative funding and leading to hospital stabilization efforts.
State bill funding various projects, including some for which Hennepin County is fiscal agent.
Received one-time funding of $15 million.
Sunset extended to 2032.
Received a one-time $40 million increase in funding.
Environmental legislation that was protected from changes this session.
Adopted by Hennepin County in 2022 to ensure inclusive digital experiences.
Outlines steps for the county to build long-term digital accessibility maturity.