Hennepin County — Transcript
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety
60th Anniversary of the Federal Voting Rights Act
Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge Award
Accelerating Zero Waste Implementation in Minneapolis
2026 Health Plan and Premium Rates for County Employees
National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation
Votes (10)
Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Discussion
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Following recent tragic school shootings, the board engaged in an extended discussion about the unacceptable level of gun violence. Commissioners shared personal reflections and called for urgent action, including declaring gun violence a public health crisis, enhancing county initiatives, and pressuring state and federal legislators for gun control reform, particularly regarding assault weapons and preemption laws. A directive was given to county administration to analyze and propose enhancements to existing county efforts.
Return Consent Items (10A and 10B) to Staff
Dissent: None
Moved by Irene Fernando [0:46:27] · Seconded by Marian Green [0:46:28]
Two consent items, which had not passed unanimously out of committee, were moved to be returned to staff for further review or revision. No specific content of the items or reasons for the return were detailed during the meeting.
Appointment to 9M Creek Watershed District Board
Dissent: None
Moved by Debbie Gotel [0:48:47] · Seconded by Heather Eden [0:48:48]
The board considered and approved the appointment of Larry Olsen to the 9M Creek Watershed District Board. Commissioner Eden raised concerns about the process for attracting applicants and suggested a conversation with watershed districts to improve outreach for future appointments.
Accelerating Zero Waste Implementation in Minneapolis
Dissent: None
Moved by Irene Fernando [0:50:06] · Seconded by Angela Connley [0:50:07]
Assistant County Administrator Lisa Cernney presented an R3 (revised resolution) for this item, clarifying that it requests data from Minneapolis's commercial, institutional, and multi-family sectors to inform zero-waste strategies, without mandating premature closure of the HERC facility. Commissioners emphasized the need for Minneapolis, as the largest city, to lead in implementing effective ordinances and data collection to drive county-wide zero-waste goals, while ensuring collaboration to avoid increased landfilling and associated costs.
Award Set Aside Contract for District Court Psychological Services Expansion Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Heather Eden [0:59:58] · Seconded by Kevin Anderson [0:59:59]
The board approved awarding a $1.9 million set-aside contract to Generation 1 Contracting LLC (Morris Construction) for a project to remodel 11,000 square feet in the Government Center A tower. This expansion will provide new interview rooms, workstations, and support spaces for the District Court's psychological services program, with significant minority and women small business enterprise participation.
Establish 2026 Health Plan and Premium Rates for Self-Insured Healthcare Program
Dissent: None
Moved by Irene Fernando [1:01:29] · Seconded by Debbie Gotel [1:01:30]
The board approved the 2026 health plan and premium rates. The Labor Management Healthcare Committee (LMHCC) successfully negotiated a 7.3% total premium increase, down from a projected 11.2%, marking the first consensus on rates since 2021. This was achieved despite significant increases in pharmaceutical costs. Commissioners inquired about the financial impact on employees' paychecks.
Appointment of Elizabeth David as Interim Assistant County Administrator for Human Services
Dissent: None
Moved by Irene Fernando [1:07:07] · Seconded by Debbie Gotel [1:07:08]
The board approved the appointment of Betsy David as the Interim Assistant County Administrator for Human Services. Miss David, currently the Director of Financial Administration for Health and Human Services, was selected for her extensive experience in management and finance to ensure leadership continuity and capacity during ongoing recruitment for a permanent position, addressing the complex challenges in human services.
Declaring September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Henipin County
Dissent: None
Moved by Angela Connley [1:10:35] · Seconded by Irene Fernando [1:10:37]
Commissioner Connley proposed and the board approved a proclamation declaring September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. This action celebrates the achievements, history, and culture of the Latin American and Spanish communities in the county, acknowledging their significant contributions and recognizing the UNIDOS employee resource group.
Negotiate Agreement for Permanent Bridge Easement (Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie)
Dissent: None
Moved by Kevin Anderson [1:14:46] · Seconded by Debbie Gotel [1:14:47]
The Henipin County Regional Rail Authority approved negotiating an agreement with Henipin County for a permanent bridge easement and temporary construction easement related to the reconstruction of a bridge over the Hopkins to Chaza corridor along Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie. The agreement formalizes necessary property rights for the new bridge.
Negotiate Agreements for Permanent Easements on Midtown Corridor Bridges (Cedar and Portland Avenues, Minneapolis)
Dissent: None
Moved by Marian Green [1:16:58] · Seconded by Angela Connley [1:16:59]
The Henipin County Regional Rail Authority approved negotiating two agreements with Henipin County for permanent easements on Midtown corridor bridges at Cedar Avenue and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. These agreements formalize temporary construction and permanent easements between the Midtown Greenway corridor and the specified bridges.
Notable Quotes (18)
The current level of gun violence is simply not acceptable. Henipin has recognized gun violence as a solvable problem for the last 5 years through several board resolutions, county initiatives, and investments.
Our country has a deadly disease in its commitment to unregulated gun ownership.
We have a generation of children who this is all they know is code red drills, active shooters, and the tragedy that we saw just a couple weeks ago here in our own backyards...
I what I would like our board to do is declare um gun violence a public health crisis. I think it is is something that we can do.
I d grew up in central Minnesota. Gun culture was alive and well. Hunting was a part of my upbringing. This is not hunting. This isn't safety. This doesn't keep our communities safe.
We have two and my understanding is that both 10 A and 10B need to be returned to staff. Um so I'll move for 10 A and 10B to be returned to staff.
I I I just just no comments too too long here, but I just um will say uh I want us to figure out how we do a better job getting more people that are applying.
The R3 reflects two key changes to the resolution. First, an updated whereas clause clarifies the data is needed from the commercial, institutional and multifamily sector... The second change and additional be it resolve clause clarifies this action is not a direction to close the her prematurely on a timeline that would increase landfilling.
If they have a plan in place um and have a resolution on the books that wants to see her closure, well then we've got to get some reporting around what it is you're going to do to get us there.
I really hope that with our conversations with Minneapolis... that they are a leader because if they craft really great ordinances and put them in into fruition, we actually see them instituted in the city, they could be a leader to show other cities how to do this...
I understand they're the the largest uh, municipality um, but they are certainly not the only uh, And uh as you pointed out uh Commissioner Gatell, like if the uh if Minneapolis were to divert garbage to landfills, uh the costs would go up in immensely for every community.
This project will remodel approximately 11,000 square feet on A5 in the government center A tower. This project will provide space for district court's growing psychological services program and will include interview rooms, workstations, conference rooms, and support spaces.
For the first time since 2021, the LMHCC was able to reach consensus on a plan design that reduces the increase of total premium from the 11.2% to the 7.3%.
I always want to know the dollar amount. So 11% would have been outrageous. So I'm glad that we could bring that down to 7.3% and that it's something that was amicable for all involved.
Miss David currently serves as the director of financial administration for health and human services... Miss David's extensive experience in management and her financial experience will provide us with a firmer basis to ensure continuity of services and positive impacts on our residents.
Whereas the people of Henipin County and the United States honor the achievements, history, and culture of the Latino community with indigenous roots that were b born from this continent as well as descendants from Spain.
The uh agreement in front of you today has to do with the reconstruction of the bridge over the rail authorities Hopkins to Chaza corridor along Pioneer Trail.
This uh this action before you really formalizes the temporary construction and and easements over the between the Midtown Greenway corridor and the Cedar Avenue and Portland Avenue bridges.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Historical actions by Henipin County recognizing gun violence as a solvable problem.
Historical actions by Henipin County for gun violence prevention.
Signed into law on August 6, 1965; its 60th anniversary was celebrated.
Ratified in 1870, ended the ability to deny the vote based on race nationally.
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act, allows voting from abroad.
Passed in 1920, brought national suffrage for women.
Passed at the state level in 2023, re-enfranchised over 55,000 Minnesotans with felony history.
Passed in 2024, strengthened voting protections in Minnesota.
Minneapolis plan outlining progressive zero-waste policies.
Henipin County plan that includes commitment to infrastructure planning and facility closure plans.
Governs the county board appointments policy.
Requests for Proposals, used to invest funding into the community for workforce development.
Employee Resource Group for Latin American and Spanish heritage communities, hosting a celebration.