Hennepin County — Transcript
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Story
Hennepin County approves $22 million housing bond, honors 50-year volunteer
Community Agriculture and Cultural Preservation
Small Business Support and Economic Development
Energy Conservation and Sustainability
Affordable Housing Preservation
Environmental Policy and Community Engagement
2026 State Legislative Priorities
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Extensions
Transgender Rights and Remembrance
Regional Park District Budget Review
Regional Rail Authority Lobbying and Easement Agreements
Votes (11)
Commendation for Richard F. Budson for 50 Years of Service
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:13:28] · Seconded by Unknown [0:13:28]
Commissioners and county staff lauded Mr. Budson's half-century of dedication, emphasizing his unpaid volunteer service, profound financial insights, and instrumental role in securing the county's AAA bond rating. Specific contributions highlighted include his pioneering work in investing county funds into safe, liquid US government bonds and using trading arrangements for daily operations, thereby offsetting property taxes. Tributes also acknowledged his global professional career and mentorship.
Authorization to Issue and Sell Tax-Exempt Multi-Family Housing Revenue Bonds for Affordable Housing Preservation Project (South Haven and Summit Point)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Fernando [0:42:38] · Seconded by Commissioner Eden [0:42:47]
The request sought final approval for the issuance of up to $22 million in housing revenue bonds to finance the preservation and renovation of South Haven and Summit Point in Edina. These properties will continue to provide 129 units of deeply affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities. The Hennepin County Board's approval was required by IRS code for conduit financing.
Establish Community Environmental Advisory Board
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Lundy [0:44:59] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [0:45:04]
Commissioner Lundy introduced the proposal for a new Community Environmental Advisory Board, outlining plans for inclusive membership including youth, and a recruitment process to ensure diverse representation across the county. Commissioner Green expressed strong support and satisfaction with the additional details provided on the board's structure and function.
2026 State Legislative Priority and Platform as Amended
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Connley [0:53:57] · Seconded by Commissioner Lundy [0:53:57]
Liz Young presented amendments to the legislative platform, including a broader focus on protecting directed pay in hospitals, securing non-property tax revenue for healthcare (emphasizing the regional importance of Hennepin Healthcare System), and defending against state takebacks of county revenue. Commissioners expressed strong support, highlighting the platform's importance for taxpayer relief and funding critical services like the ballpark sales tax for healthcare.
Authorization to Adopt Laws of Minnesota 2025 First Special Session Chapter 13 Article 5 Section 4 (Maple Grove) and Sections 2 & 13 (Edina) for TIF District Extensions
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Gotel [1:04:47] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [1:04:49]
The Board considered requests from Maple Grove and Edina to extend existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts based on special state legislation. Chair Fernando raised broader questions about the impact of TIF on tax burden, though acknowledged it wouldn't affect these approvals. City representatives provided details: Edina's extensions for 70th & France and 72nd & France aim to complete pandemic-delayed mixed-use projects expected to significantly multiply the tax base. Maple Grove's extension for the Gravel Mining Area supports industrial development, job creation (e.g., BAE Systems, Boston Scientific), and will contribute to the 169 Elm Creek Boulevard interchange reconstruction.
Proclaiming November 29, 2025 as Small Business Saturday in Hennepin County
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Goodell [1:06:40] · Seconded by Unknown [1:06:46]
Commissioner Goodell presented a proclamation to recognize Small Business Saturday, building on earlier discussions about the importance of local businesses. The proclamation highlighted small businesses as innovators, job creators, and community assets, and promoted county support through initiatives like 'Elevate Hennepin' and the 'Love Local' campaign.
Proclaiming November 20, 2025 as Transgender Day of Remembrance in Hennepin County
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Fernando [1:09:25] · Seconded by Commissioner Green [1:09:30]
Chair Fernando introduced a proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance, emphasizing the need to honor transgender and gender non-conforming individuals lost to violence and raise awareness of persistent anti-transgender prejudice. The proclamation cited alarming statistics on violence and anti-transgender legislation across the nation, declaring Hennepin County a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community and condemning acts of violence and intimidation.
Review and Approval of Three Rivers Park District 2026 Budget
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Gotell [1:14:46] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [1:14:49]
Bo Carlson and Shauna Hamilton presented the Three Rivers Park District's 2026 budget, totaling $78.1 million, with a general operating fund of $55.4 million, reflecting a 4.8% property tax levy increase. Key initiatives include the operationalization of Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, expansion of the regional trail system, and focus on natural resource stewardship and community engagement. Commissioners praised the district's effective partnerships, accessible programming (Park Pass Plus), and commitment to providing health benefits through nature access, noting the modest $5 average annual increase per residential property owner.
Negotiate Agreement with Messer and Kramer for State Lobbying Services
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Eden [1:36:03] · Seconded by Commissioner Connley [1:36:08]
The Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority approved an agreement with Messer and Kramer for state lobbying services for the 2026 calendar year, with a not-to-exceed amount of $44,000. Commissioner Goodell thanked the firm for its ongoing partnership and strong work.
Negotiate Agreement with Cardinal Infrastructure for Federal Lobbying Services and Met Council for Federal Lobbying Participation
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Fernando [1:37:15] · Seconded by Commissioner Fernando [1:37:20]
The Regional Rail Authority approved two agreements for federal lobbying services for calendar year 2026. One with Cardinal Infrastructure for up to $245,000, and another with the Met Council for federal lobbying participation, with an estimated receivable of approximately half of the Cardinal Infrastructure cost. Commissioner Fernando thanked Cardinal Infrastructure for their positive relationship and work.
Negotiate Easement Agreement with AT&T Enterprises LLC to Construct a Fiber Optic Line in Minnetonka
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Gatell [1:39:06] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [1:39:08]
The Regional Rail Authority approved negotiating a new 20-year easement agreement with AT&T Enterprises LLC for the installation of a fiber optic line in Minnetonka. The project involves a 2400-foot conduit installation along the Hopkins to Victoria corridor, parallel to Minnetonka Boulevard, with AT&T required to relocate or modify the line if future corridor uses demand it. The estimated receivable for the agreement is $630,6635.
Notable Quotes (23)
I just want to say how impressive this is. somebody who spent their life 11 years here but then decided 39 years of volunteer service for us. I mean that is some dedication and some real care for the community.
50 years is an amazing amount of time to give back to the community. And I think especially in like what's happening today, the forwardthinking way of looking at investment and utilizing investments as a tool to help the county achieve its goals um is remarkable in its own right...
And I appreciated that in the commendation it referenced um somewhat obliquely that there was a time before we had a AAA bond rating... It's due to great work like um the work of Mr. Budson.
First he started the practice of investing county monies into highquality, very liquid, very safe US government bonds. And then he started using trading arrangements so that those bonds could be available to fund daily county operations.
I want you to know that what you did this day means more to me than anything else you might do. Right now, my head is full of wonderful memories over 50 years of all that we did. And today, in a wonderful way, you put a capstone on those memories. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I wish I could do it again.
Today's request is for final approval of the issuance by the HA of up to 22 million in housing revenue bonds to support the preservation of South Haven and Summit Point. Through this renovation, the properties will continue to provide 129 units of affordable housing, all of which are reserved for seniors and people with disabilities.
Just big thanks to the team. This is it's pretty amazing that um all of us and all of you are developing this draft together essentially and another remarkably smooth year.
this platform is our goals and that more success IGR has, the more success we have of limiting impact on taxpayers or uh hopefully lessening some of the impact when we're talking about cuts and changes and stuff like that.
if we don't get funding for this, I people will genuinely be harmed in ways that are honestly I don't think a lot of us can really foresee what what's what's going to happen. And so, um, I would just say if we're going to get anything out of this next session, it is not any more cost shifts and also getting that ballpark sales tax because not much will get done.
I appreciate the flexibility so that we're not just, you know, um, limited to the ballpark sales tax, but that there might be other options available to us.
I want to be very eyes wide open around how financing tools might be impacting tax distribution and tax burden. Not a a commentary on these projects, not even a commentary on the tools. I'm just trying to understand if there is a uh if there is a disperate experience or if there's an impact we should be measuring.
altogether when these are finished both sites will increase the tax base by between a factor of eight times to 11 times the current tax base. So that's why we use tax increments strategically, not just to boost the tax base a little bit, but to transform it by a factor of eight to 10 times.
The reason why we asked for five more years is we're not quite done yet. So, the area just north of the new Boston Scientific Campus, there's about 60 acres that remain there that we'd like to get done in the next five years within this um this current piece of legislation.
Earlier in this meeting, we heard about the economic development staff and some wonderful local business entrepreneurs about the importance of our local business community and the ways we at the county are supporting local small businesses.
Whereas Henipin County celebrates all of our businesses and recognizes the important roles that local small businesses play as job creators, innovators, and as a reflection of what makes us unique as a community.
Whereas transgender day of remembrance is an annual observance in November that honors the memory of transgender people around the world whose lives were cut short by anti-transgender violence.
Be it resolved that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners do hereby pro proclaim Thursday, November 20th, 2025 as transgender day of remembrance. And be it further resolved that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners declares Henipin County a safe place for transgender, gender non-conforming, gender expansive, lesbian, gay, bisexual, interex, queer, and questioning persons and in doing so condemns acts of violence, intimidation, and harm against such persons.
It is unconscionable the ways in which shared humanity has been weaponized, victimized... I am saddened that we are in a space in our society where we have to call out over and over again that we see and support individuals for who they already are.
One of the real highlights of 2025 was the opening of Mississippi Gateway Regional Park... This was the biggest redevelopment of a park that we've done in the history of the park district.
Our final levy will be scheduled to be approved on December 18th, assuming approval from the Henipin County Board. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.
access to the outdoors, access to nature is a form of healthcare. It's a form of um reversing devastating impacts. I'm so glad that you're a part of that work.
One of the I want to make a couple of comments. One of them is how much the cities really appreciate how you work with them... they only have accolades to say about working with um Three Rivers Park District and some of the great benefits and resources they have with you.
The installation will include a 3 2in conduit installation and run for approximately 2400 ft along the rail authorities Hopkins to Victoria corridor parallel to Minnetonka Boulevard. The ement will have a 20-year term with an option to extend for two additional terms. Uh, AT&T will be required to relocate or modify if necessary to conform future uses of the corridor.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
State legislation extending the maximum duration of the Maple Grove Gravel Mining Area Soils Deficiency TIF district.
State legislation extending the maximum duration of the Edina 70th in France tax increment financing district.
State legislation extending the maximum duration of the Edina 72nd and France tax increment financing district.
Hennepin County's legislative agenda for the upcoming state session, outlining key goals and priorities.
County plan guiding efforts to reduce energy consumption and achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Three Rivers Park District's long-term strategic plan, emphasizing connecting everyone to nature.