Hennepin County Board 11/10/2026

Monday, November 9, 2026

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Hennepin County Board Clears 25-Item Consent Block in Single Vote

Block of consent items 9A through 9Y approved without discussion; no non-consent items.

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County Board Weighs 2027 Legislative Platform, With Hennepin Healthcare Funding in Focus

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Hennepin Highlights: Shop Local / Hennepin Rewards app

Economic development director Patricia Fitzgerald launched 'Hennepin Rewards,' a free app by Open Rewards, letting residents earn rewards at eligible local businesses starting Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28. Eligible businesses auto-enrolled; rewards last while funds last, into 2027.

Approval of minutes (Oct. 20, 2026)

Minutes of the Oct. 20, 2026 meeting approved without corrections.

Referral of correspondence and department communications

Items 5A-5B correspondence and 5C-5AM department communications accepted and referred. Item 5M on healthy aging across the lifespan highlighted for committee discussion next week.

Commissioner communication: Veterans Day

Commissioner Anderson recognized 45,000 veterans in Hennepin County, noted Minnesota effectively ended veteran homelessness, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon certification, a Veterans Monument due 2027, Veterans Court mentorship, and a Veterans Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Commissioner communication: Better Business Bureau Strategic Partner Award

Chair Fernando announced Hennepin County was named BBB Strategic Partner of the Year for Elevate Hennepin, which supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs and 11,000 hours of consulting in 2026.

Commissioner communication: LISC Community Asset Transition (CAT) Fund 5-year update

Claim registers

Claim registers for periods ending Oct. 30, 2026 and Nov. 6, 2026 approved.

Areas of Interest (6)

Who vets eligibility for Hennepin Rewards auto-enrollment, and what is the county's contract/cost with Open Rewards, a public benefit corporation? Funds reportedly last into 2027.
Five years after 2020 unrest: CAT Fund leveraged a $3M county investment into $30.5M across 17 projects — audit outcomes, vacancy, and which projects stalled.
State advisory task force on Hennepin Healthcare governance and financing: what options are on the table to reduce county property tax reliance?
Minnesota's claim of 'effectively ending veteran homelessness' — verify against Hennepin County data on 45,000 resident veterans.
Status and cost of the new Veterans Monument slated for 2027 and Victory Memorial Drive preservation.
Elevate Hennepin's outcomes: 1,000+ entrepreneurs and 11,000 consulting hours in 2026 — measurable business survival rates?

Topic analysis (9)

Hennepin Highlights: Shop Local / Hennepin Rewards app

Residents download Open Rewards app and select Hennepin County
Commissioners distribute window clings/materials to local businesses
County outreach via social media, libraries, service centers, city halls

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Approval of minutes (Oct. 20, 2026)

Minutes of the Oct. 20, 2026 meeting approved without corrections.

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Referral of correspondence and department communications

Items 5A-5B correspondence and 5C-5AM department communications accepted and referred. Item 5M on healthy aging across the lifespan highlighted for committee discussion next week.

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Commissioner communication: Veterans Day

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Commissioner communication: Better Business Bureau Strategic Partner Award

Chair Fernando announced Hennepin County was named BBB Strategic Partner of the Year for Elevate Hennepin, which supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs and 11,000 hours of consulting in 2026.

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Commissioner communication: LISC CAT Fund 5-year update

LISC Twin Cities' Jonathan Sage-Martinson reported the CAT Fund, seeded by the county's $3M first investment after 2020 unrest, invested $2.8–3M in capacity grants and $30.5M in 17 projects totaling ~$158M, ~350,000 sq ft commercial, 100+ housing units.

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Claim registers

Claim registers for periods ending Oct. 30, 2026 and Nov. 6, 2026 approved.

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Consent items 9A–9Y

Block of consent items 9A through 9Y approved without discussion; no non-consent items.

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2027 state legislative priorities and platform

Board took up the 2027 state legislative platform section by section. Commissioner Eden moved an amendment on Hennepin Healthcare directing work with the state advisory task force on governance and financing to preserve the safety-net mission, increase state funding and reduce county property tax reliance.

Consider amendment placement under 'increase the financial stability of HHS' heading
Final vote on full platform after section amendments

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Votes (7)

Approve the agenda

CarriedVoice vote, no opposition

Moved by Commissioner Lundy · Seconded by Commissioner Greene

Approve minutes of October 20, 2026

CarriedVoice vote

Moved by Commissioner Goettel · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson

Accept and refer correspondence/department communications 5A-5AM

CarriedVoice vote

Moved by Commissioner Lundy · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson

Approve claim registers 8A and 8B

CarriedVoice vote

Moved by Commissioner Conley · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson

Approve consent block 9A-9Y

CarriedVoice vote

Moved by Commissioner Goettel · Seconded by Commissioner Edelson

Item 11A, 2027 state legislative priorities and platform

Under consideration; section amendments pendingn/a

Moved by Commissioner Lundy · Seconded by Commissioner Edelson

Amendment on Hennepin Healthcare governance/financing task force

Under discussion at transcript endn/a

Moved by Commissioner Edelson · Seconded by Chair Fernando

Notable Quotes (8)

Local independent businesses are a key part of what makes each community unique. They bring character, create jobs, and keep dollars circulating close to home.
— Patricia Fitzgerald

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Shop Local / Hennepin RewardsLaunching Hennepin Rewards before Small Business Saturday

Businesses do not need to offer discounts or train their staff to use the new technology, and they don't need to do anything to sign up.
— Patricia Fitzgerald

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Shop Local / Hennepin RewardsExplaining auto-enrollment eligibility

We recognize the service and sacrifices of the 45,000 veterans who call Hennepin County home.
— Kevin Anderson

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Veterans DayVeterans Day commissioner communication

Veterans tend to isolate. They tend to not want to tell their story... But if they understand that the person across the desk, it's a fellow veteran, it immediately establishes rapport and trust across the table.
— Neil Doyle

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Veterans servicesVideo on VSO staffing by veterans

Entrepreneurs, small businesses, dreamers, makers are truly the backbone of our vision as a community.
— Irene Fernando

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BBB Strategic Partner AwardBBB award video on Elevate Hennepin

It's fair to say the fund wouldn't exist without Hennepin County's first move as an investor.
— Jonathan Sage-Martinson

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CAT FundCAT Fund 5-year update

I grew up a block off of Lake Street... you can imagine what it was like going back to my old neighborhood in 2020 and seeing everything just gone.
— Angela Conley

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CAT Fund / Lake Street rebuildingResponding to CAT Fund presentation

It's a pretty simple amendment. Just brings into light the state task force advisory and making sure that we'll be working with their recommendations or considering them.
— Heather Edelson

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2027 legislative platformMoving Hennepin Healthcare platform amendment

People (12)

Irene FernandoBoard Chair, District 2 Commissioner

Accepted BBB Strategic Partner of the Year award for county

Jeff LundyDistrict 1 Commissioner

Moved agenda and other motions

Marion GreeneDistrict 3 Commissioner

Presented LISC CAT Fund 5-year update

Angela ConleyDistrict 4 Commissioner

Spoke on Lake Street rebuilding and downloaded rewards app

Debbie GoettelVice Chair, District 5 Commissioner

Asked about business reaction to rewards program (transcribed variously as Otel/Gau)

Heather EdelsonDistrict 6 Commissioner

Moved Hennepin Healthcare amendment to legislative platform

Kevin AndersonDistrict 7 Commissioner

Offered Veterans Day communication; asked about business eligibility

Patricia FitzgeraldDirector of Economic Development, Hennepin County

Presented Hennepin Rewards shop-local program

Jonathan Sage-MartinsonExecutive Director, LISC Twin Cities

Reported CAT Fund results

Neil DoyleDirector, Hennepin County Veterans Service Office

Veteran of 15 years; described VSO work

Jesse RossDeveloper

Proximity Collective, North Minneapolis

Abe DemageDeveloper

Unity project on Lake Street

Places Mentioned

Hennepin County, MinnesotaLake Street, MinneapolisLake Street and Chicago Avenue (The Ruckus site)38th and Chicago, District 4Whittier neighborhood, MinneapolisNorth Minneapolis, Second Street North (Proximity Collective)32nd and Minnehaha (Elite Cleaners)Coliseum BuildingPillsbury House / Creative CommonsVictory Memorial Drive

Events & Meetings (6)

(Tuesday, November 10, 2026)
(November 11, 2026)
(November 28, 2026)
(October 20, 2026)
(ending October 30, 2026 and November 6, 2026)
(2027)

Ordinances & Resolutions (1)

Item 11A

2027 state legislative priorities and platform, amended by section including Hennepin Healthcare System governance and financing language

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