Hennepin County — Transcript
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Story
Blue Line Extension Project Gains Momentum with Key Approval
Story
Hennepin County Board Advances Search for Healthcare System Leadership
Story
Hennepin County Board Addresses Disparities in Victim Advocacy Services
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Hennepin County Board Seeks Deeper Dive into Public Safety Metrics and Funding
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda Approval
Minutes Approval (May 19, 2026)
Referral of Correspondence and Department Communications
Commissioner Communications: Pride Month
Commissioner Communications: Juneteenth
Commissioner Communications: Recognition of Success Graduation Ceremony
Commissioner Communications: 250th Anniversary Celebrations
Commissioner Communications: Governor's Workplace Safety Awards
Claims Register Approval (May 22, May 29, June 5, 2026)
Consent Items Discussion and Approval
Establish Annual Heart of Hennepin Service Award (Item 11A)
Establish Closed Labor Meetings (July 14 & August 18, 2026)
Submission of Local Performance Measurement Data to State Auditor (Item 13B)
Data Transparency and Utilization in County Services
Areas of Interest (10)
- Hennepin County's First-Time Participation in Twin Cities Pride Parade: A step towards greater LGBTQIA+ visibility and inclusion.
- Blue Line Extension Nears Reality: With 90% design complete and over 85% municipal consent, the project aims to address transit reliance and boost economic development in underserved corridors.
- Disparities in Victim Advocacy Across Hennepin County: Services for victims, particularly domestic violence, may vary significantly by municipality, raising questions about equitable access.
- Hennepin Healthcare Systems Undergoes Governance Change: A consultant will be hired to vet candidates for a new professional board, signaling a significant shift for the county's healthcare system.
- Transparency vs. Action: County's Local Performance Data Report Sparks Debate on How Metrics Inform Service Improvement and Address Disparities in Public Safety.
- Hennepin County Celebrates Cultural Diversity: Pride Month and Juneteenth activities highlight the county's commitment to LGBTQIA+ and African-American communities.
- Workplace Safety Excellence: Hennepin County awarded 'Gold Achievement Award' for preventing workplace injuries, reflecting strong safety culture.
- Hennepin County Honors Youth Achievement: 79 young people in county services (foster care, teen hope, juvenile justice) celebrated for graduation/GED achievements, shifting narrative from obstacles to strengths.
- County's 250th Anniversary Celebrations: Programs focusing on local, state, and indigenous histories aim to connect residents to the 'Power of Plays' theme.
- New 'Heart of Hennepin Service Award' Established to Recognize Community Contributions.
Votes (8)
Approve the agenda.
Moved by Angela Connley · Seconded by Commissioner Green
Approve minutes from the May 19, 2026 meeting.
Moved by Kevin Anderson · Seconded by Debbie Gotel
Accept and refer correspondence and department communications (Items 5A-5X) as recommended.
Moved by Jeff Lundy · Seconded by Debbie Gotel
Approve the claims register for periods ending May 22, May 29, and June 5, 2026.
Moved by Jeff Lundy · Seconded by Angela Connley
Approve the block of consent items (9A-9T).
Moved by Kevin Anderson · Seconded by Debbie Gotel
Establish an annual Heart of Hennepin service award (Item 11A).
Moved by Heather Eden · Seconded by Debbie Gotel
Establish closed labor meetings on Tuesday, July 14 and Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m.
Moved by Irene Fernando · Seconded by Debbie Gotel
Approve submission of 2026 Hennepin County local performance measurement data to the Office of the State Auditor and declaration of participation.
Moved by Kevin Anderson · Seconded by Angela Connley
Notable Quotes (16)
June is Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, strength, and contributions of our LGBTQIA plus residents and neighbors.
Next week, June 19th is Junth. Junth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
We celebrated the success of 79 young people who graduated or earned their GED while receiving county services in foster care, teen hope, or the juvenile justice system.
To honor this anniversary, we're creating and supporting programs that highlight the state, local, indigenous histories.
Henipin County is proud to be recognized as the 2026 Minnesota Safety and Health Conference with the Governor's Workplace Safety Award. So excited. We earned the Gold Achievement Award for our strong performance.
We're just so close to the reality of this project. We're at 90% design kind of for this second time.
over half the residents in the corridor. Um this isn't just an add-on. This is a need to have half of the residents don't have cars. This is the most transit reliant community sets of communities in the state.
I just couldn't agree with your remarks more and want to underscore what you said about 85% or more than 85% municipal consent um for this project like there's just enormous interest from the community and community leaders in this project.
I also want to underscore the climate impacts of having uh light rail and as part of our system and I think that's going to be my final point is a system.
Are moving ahead with um contracts and uh uh retaining a consultant to assist with the vetting and finding of candidates for the uh Henipin Healthcare Systems uh professional board.
There can be such a difference in services available depending on where you live even though a crime is a crime is a crime.
What this will do is establish um a way to recognize community members for doing work that's important to um the county.
The county does receive about $25,000 for our participation in this voluntary program.
Is there a way in which we respond to the data and in which case highlight a statistic that we might be responding to?
We don't provide a specific response. We simply put the data out there for people to see. So, it's really about transparency.
I'm very interested in the public safety portion specifically understanding the relationship of of the metrics here by municipality.
People (11)
Irene FernandoChair of the Board, District 2 CommissionerCalled the meeting to order, led discussions and votes, provided commissioner communications.
4 quotes
Called the meeting to order, led discussions and votes, provided commissioner communications.
“Good afternoon. I'll call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, June 11, 2026. It's 1:31 p.m.”
Opening the board meeting.
“June is Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, strength, and contributions of our LGBTQIA plus residents and neighbors.”
Delivering commissioner communication on Pride Month.
“We celebrated the success of 79 young people who graduated or earned their GED while receiving county services.”
Delivering commissioner communication on Recognition of Success graduation.
“I'm very interested in the public safety portion specifically understanding the relationship of of the metrics here by municipality.”
Commenting on the local performance measurement data report.
Jeff LundyDistrict 1 CommissionerPresent at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
2 quotes
Present at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
“Hipper County has joined the nation recognizing 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.”
Delivering commissioner communication on 250th Anniversary Celebrations.
“I wanted to highlight 9M and really highlight not as much as the what we are doing but the discussion we had as a as a board along with staff and the Henip County Attorney's Office about understanding not just Minneapolis but countywide what's happening how there can be such a difference in services available depending on where you live.”
Commenting on consent item 9M regarding victim advocacy.
Angela ConnleyDistrict 4 CommissionerPresent at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
1 quote
Present at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
“Next week, June 19th is Junth. Junth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.”
Delivering commissioner communication on Juneteenth.
Debbie GotelVice Chair, District 5 CommissionerPresent at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
1 quote
Present at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, provided commissioner communications.
“Henipin County is proud to be recognized as the 2026 Minnesota Safety and Health Conference with the Governor's Workplace Safety Award.”
Delivering commissioner communication on Governor's Workplace Safety Awards.
Heather EdenDistrict 6 CommissionerPresent at the meeting, offered item 11A to establish the 'Heart of Hennepin service award'.
1 quote
Present at the meeting, offered item 11A to establish the 'Heart of Hennepin service award'.
“what this will do is establish um a way to recognize community members for doing work that's important to um the county.”
Introducing the 'Heart of Hennepin service award'.
Kevin AndersonDistrict 7 CommissionerPresent at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, commented on consent item 9T.
1 quote
Present at the meeting, moved/seconded motions, commented on consent item 9T.
“I wanted to uplift uh item 9T on this. Uh are moving ahead with um contracts and uh uh retaining a consultant to assist with the vetting and finding of candidates for the uh Henipin Healthcare Systems uh professional board.”
Commenting on consent item 9T regarding Hennepin Healthcare Systems board recruitment.
Commissioner GreenCommissionerSeconded the motion to approve the agenda, commented on the Blue Line Extension and local performance measurement data.
2 quotes
Seconded the motion to approve the agenda, commented on the Blue Line Extension and local performance measurement data.
“I just couldn't agree with your remarks more and want to underscore what you said about 85% or more than 85% municipal consent um for this project like there's just enormous interest from the community and community leaders in this project.”
Commenting on the Blue Line Extension (9Q).
“Is there a way in which we respond to the data and in which case highlight a statistic that we might be responding to?”
Questioning how the county uses the local performance measurement data.
Mar MorardiCounty AttorneyAttended the LGBTQIA+ employee resource group Pride celebration.
Attended the LGBTQIA+ employee resource group Pride celebration.
Jody WermaAssistant County Administrator for the Operations Line of BusinessProvided details on the submission of local performance measurement data to the State Auditor.
1 quote
Provided details on the submission of local performance measurement data to the State Auditor.
“The county does receive about $25,000 for our participation in this voluntary program.”
Explaining the benefit of participating in the local performance measurement program.
Ken BurnsDirectorDirected 'The American Revolution' documentary series, partnered with Twin Cities PBS for screenings.
Directed 'The American Revolution' documentary series, partnered with Twin Cities PBS for screenings.
Eric EricsonChief Data OfficerMentioned by Jody Werma as compiling data for the local performance measurement report.
Mentioned by Jody Werma as compiling data for the local performance measurement report.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (18)
- Hennepin County Board of Commissioners meeting, Thursday, June 11, 2026, 1:31 p.m.
- May 19, 2026 Board Meeting (minutes approved)
- LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group Annual Pride Celebration (week of June 11, 2026)
- Twin Cities Pride Festival (June 27 and 28)
- African-American ERG Community Juneteenth Celebration (June 8th)
- Minneapolis Juneteenth Celebration at Bethune Park
- Change Starts with Community Juneteenth Celebration
- JCP Edina Juneteenth Celebration
- Black Storytellers Alliance at St. Louis Park Library (June 16th)
- Hennepin County Annual Recognition of Success Graduation Ceremony at McNamera Alumni Center, Minneapolis (Tuesday, June 2nd)
- Go Outside with Hennepin County Event Series
- Hennepin County Fair
- America 250 Genealogical Research Events
- Community Screenings of the American Revolution Documentary Series
- 2026 Minnesota Safety and Health Conference (where Governor's Workplace Safety Award was received)
- Closed Labor Meeting, Tuesday, July 14, 10 a.m.
- Closed Labor Meeting, Tuesday, August 18, 10 a.m.
- Submission of local performance measurement data to State Auditor (by July 1st)
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Established an annual 'Heart of Hennepin Service Award' to recognize community members' contributions important to the county.
Approved the submission of 2026 Hennepin County local performance measurement data to the Office of the State Auditor and declared participation in the voluntary program for potential reimbursement.