Hennepin County — Transcript
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Story
Hennepin County approves $2.5M in environmental and housing initiatives
Reciprocal Use Agreement
Watershed Management Levies and Water Quality
Housing and Rental Assistance Programs
Supportive Housing for Mental Illness and Addiction
National Purchasing Cooperative Memberships
Health Care for the Homeless Program
Human Services and Veterans' Homelessness
Legal Services for DOJ Investigation
Public Works Infrastructure and Environmental Projects
Good Steward Natural Resource Grants
Healthy Tree Canopy Grants
Votes (15)
Establish 2026 premium rates for self-insured dental care program
Moved by Unknown [0:01:52] · Seconded by Unknown [0:01:52]
This item concerned the routine establishment of premium rates for the county's self-insured dental care program for the year 2026, applicable to employees, eligible dependents, and retirees. No further explanation or discussion was requested by the committee members.
Negotiate Amendment Two to Reciprocal Use Agreement with North Point Health and Wellness, Inc.
Moved by Unknown [0:02:29] · Seconded by Unknown [0:02:35]
The committee considered negotiating an amendment to a reciprocal use agreement with North Point Health and Wellness, Inc. This amendment pertains to the use of space within the North Point Health and Wellness Center located at 1313 Penn Avenue, North Minneapolis. The item was presented as routine, and no discussion or questions were raised by the commissioners.
Approve Minor Plan Amendment to the Elm Creek Watershed Management Plan and Set 2026 Max Levy
Moved by Unknown [0:03:09] · Seconded by Unknown [0:03:13]
This item involved approving a minor plan amendment to the Elm Creek Watershed Management Plan and setting the Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission's 2026 maximum levy at $630,000. These funds are designated for projects aimed at improving water quality. A commissioner extended gratitude to all watershed bodies, explaining that while the committee approves these items, the commissions themselves develop robust multi-year water management plans locally.
Set Basset Creek Watershed Commission 2026 Max Levy
Moved by Unknown [0:04:36] · Seconded by Unknown [0:04:38]
The committee considered setting the Basset Creek Watershed Commission's 2026 maximum levy at approximately $2,500. These funds are allocated for projects focused on improving water quality and reducing flooding within the watershed area. The item was presented without requests for further background information.
Set Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commissions 2026 Max Levies
Moved by Unknown [0:05:07] · Seconded by Unknown [0:05:10]
This item involved setting the 2026 maximum levies for two separate watershed commissions: Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission at $848,400 and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission at $106,500. Both levies are intended to fund projects dedicated to improving water quality. No additional explanations were requested by the committee members.
Modify Agreements with HUD for 2025 HOME Grant and Amend Program Year 2024 HOME Award
Moved by Unknown [0:05:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:05:57]
The committee addressed several addendums to modify agreements, including increasing a receivable to over $1.5 million for the 2025 HOME grant, negotiating an award modification not to exceed $385,000, and an amendment to an agreement with St. Louis Park HR not to exceed $495,000. Julia Weller from Housing and Economic Development explained that the additional HOME grant funds are directed to the Stable Home program, which provides tenant-based rental assistance to 45 low-income families, ensuring continuity of the program's administration costs and services.
Negotiate Amendment with Tasks Unlimited Lodges to Add Properties, Amend Documents, Extend Term, and Increase Not-to-Exceed
Moved by Unknown [0:07:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:07:57]
This item sought authorization to negotiate an amendment with Tasks Unlimited Lodges to add three properties, amend related real estate documents, extend the term to 2030, and increase the not-to-exceed amount to over $538,000. A commissioner raised concerns about oversight in supportive housing given recent investigations. Julia Williams clarified that the funding is for the capital portion (acquisition and rehab) of properties in Richfield and Bloomington, which provide employment, housing, and recovery services for individuals with severe mental illness or addiction since the 1990s. Another commissioner strongly endorsed the program's long-standing success in converting dilapidated homes into dignified housing.
Negotiate Agreement with Region 8 Education Service Center (TIPS Purchasing Cooperative)
Moved by Unknown [0:12:35] · Seconded by Unknown [0:12:38]
This item sought authorization to negotiate an agreement with Region 8 Education Service Center, specifically the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative. The purpose is to allow Hennepin County membership in this national purchasing cooperative at no cost to the county. Commissioners expressed positive sentiment for the no-cost benefit.
Negotiate Agreement with Public Promise Procurement
Moved by Unknown [0:13:21] · Seconded by Unknown [0:13:23]
The committee considered negotiating an agreement with Public Promise Procurement to allow Hennepin County membership in another national purchasing cooperative, also at no cost to the county. This item, similar to the previous one, was viewed as a beneficial, routine administrative action.
Amendment to Agreement with National Health Care for the Homeless Council for Health Care for the Homeless Program
Moved by Unknown [0:15:06] · Seconded by Unknown [0:15:08]
This item involved an amendment to an existing agreement with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council for the Health Care for the Homeless program. The amendment's sole purpose was to extend the program's end date to December 31, 2025, with no change to the Not-To-Exceed amount. It was presented as a routine procedural extension.
Human Services and Public Health Contracts and Amendments; Amendment to Joint Powers Agreement with City of Bloomington; Joint Powers Agreement with MN Dept of Veteran Affairs for Homeless Veterans Direct Services; Joint Powers Agreement with MN Dept of Veterans Affairs for Homeless Veterans Funding
Moved by Unknown [0:17:49] · Seconded by Unknown [0:17:51]
This block approval covered several human services initiatives. It included general human services and public health contracts, an amendment to a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Bloomington to modify the embedded social worker program (reducing one FTE while maintaining one), and two JPAs with the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs for providing direct services and accepting funding to address the income needs of homeless veterans. Commissioners praised the successful embedded social worker program and reaffirmed the county's commitment to continuing efforts to end veteran homelessness and support precariously housed veterans.
Amendment to Agreement with Miller and Chevier Chartered for Legal Services
Dissent: Unknown [0:26:50]
Moved by Unknown [0:23:44] · Seconded by Unknown [0:23:46]
This item proposed an amendment to an agreement with Miller and Chevier Chartered for legal services, extending the end date to June 30, 2026, and increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $150,000. Sarah Davis from the County Attorney's Office explained that these services provide outside counsel in the context of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. While some commissioners supported the need for external legal expertise in complex situations and appreciated the firm's cost-effectiveness, one commissioner voiced dissent, expressing discomfort with what they perceived as a continuing 'fight' with the federal government and a desire to focus solely on constituents' direct needs. Another commissioner countered, emphasizing the necessity of legal protection for the county and the prosecutor's office.
Authorization for Lake Harriet Parkway Paving Project Variance; Agreement with Hennepin Recycling Group for Organics Dropoff Grant; Contract with Millerben Manufacturing Co. for Traffic Signal Poles; Agreement with MnDOT for Bridge Replacement Grant; Amendment with Three Rivers Park District for Multimodal Safety Improvements; Agreement with MnDOT for Federal Force Account Funds for Signal Equipment
Moved by Unknown [0:31:01] · Seconded by Unknown [0:31:03]
This block of public works items included authorizing a variance for the Lake Harriet Parkway paving project, approving a $15,000 organics dropoff grant for the Hennepin Recycling Group in Brooklyn Center, and executing a $2 million contract for traffic signal poles for maintenance replacements. It also approved accepting a MnDOT grant for bridge replacement over Twin Lake in Crystal and Brooklyn Center, negotiating an amendment with Three Rivers Park District for CAS 66 multimodal safety improvements (increasing county not-to-exceed to $1,048,000), and accepting federal funds from MnDOT for signal equipment related to the same project. Discussion highlighted the county's zero-waste plan and the importance of organics diversion, the strategic necessity of the traffic signal pole contract for supply chain resilience, and the regional benefits of the Basset Creek Regional Trail project.
Negotiate Various Grant Agreements for Good Steward Grant Natural Resource Projects
Moved by Unknown [0:46:17] · Seconded by Unknown [0:46:19]
The committee authorized negotiating various grant agreements for Good Steward natural resource projects, with a combined total not to exceed just over $61,000. Karen Gallas from Environment and Energy presented that these grants provide financial assistance to residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, and local governments for projects that preserve and restore natural resources or improve water quality. Since 2016, the program has awarded approximately $2.5 million, leveraging an additional $14 million from partners. This board action specifically covered 3 projects to Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and the Somali Community Resettlement Service, with 10 more to be awarded through administrative processes.
Negotiate 12 Healthy Tree Canopy Grant Agreements
Moved by Unknown [0:49:52] · Seconded by Unknown [0:49:54]
The committee approved negotiating 12 healthy tree canopy grant agreements, totaling over $332,000. Dustin Ellis from Environment and Energy outlined the program's goals: combating threats from invasive insects and diseases, funding tree planting, educating the public, and increasing tree canopy diversity and resiliency. Grants were awarded to various cities, housing providers, nonprofits, and school districts. Commissioner Conley inquired about partnerships with MnDOT and specific planting goals. Ellis confirmed an MOU with MnDOT for planting along interstates and an ambitious county goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030, with approximately 576,000 trees planted or projected by year-end. Commissioner Fernando suggested integrating flood mitigation with tree planting and exploring innovative solutions like moss technology, while Commissioner Gatel praised the initiative's resilience-building by planting climate-adaptive tree varieties.
Notable Quotes (22)
Uh, just want to thank all of the wersheds... for those watching at home, this body has the privilege of approving these items. However, it is a separate body typically for each watershed that is uh working directly with the their impacted area and usually developing pretty robust multi-year water management plans.
This request acknowledges the final grant amount for our program year 2025 home grant. As outlined in our action plan, the additional grant funds are directed to our stable home program. This stable home program provides ongoing tenant-based rental assistance to 45 families referred from the housing stability department of Henipin County in partnership with other health and human services departments.
I know in the news supportive housing some of the vendors are getting a lot of um there's a lot of investigations going on and I just think in terms of I know the county has a lot of practices that we we do to make sure that we are protecting taxpayer funding. um if you could just to explain uh like do we do on-site visits um things like that just to make sure that these services actually are being delivered when we're we're contracting with someone like Tasks Unlimited.
in the 1990s the county provided these four home loans totaling uh 538,000 to tasks unlimited to acquire and rehabilitate the four properties in Richfield and Bloomington. Um per the loans tasks use these properties to support employment, housing, and recovery services for people diagnosed with severe or persistent mental illness or struggling with addiction... this action is consolidating the four loans and then extending the term to 2030.
I just I uh this is one of the the the one of many programs that I very much appreciate and love and we've been doing this for a very long time. We are taking homes and rehabbing them for people to live in um who otherwise may not have access to places and I am just a places to live and call home that are dignified... I think that uh more counties need to in like invest in this type of work where we are partnered with a trusted organization um to take dilapidated homes, dilapidated um buildings and structures and turn them into suitable dignified housing.
Madam Chair, I just wanted to say first of all, I hear from the city of Bloomington. and I meet with them regularly and they always sing the praises of this great program from Henipin County and I can't thank you enough because this I know we're doing it, you know, through all our cities, but I hear especially from them a lot and so just thank you for that. And then I'm just really excited to see us with a one full-time equivalent in the dollars that we're spending to keep um our veterans housed and so that we keep that designation of um zero homelessness for our vet. So, thank you.
one of the things that I appreciate is that when we talk about how Henipin County has effectively ended veterans homelessness we also include the fact that the work does not stop there that we still have um veterans who may be on the verge or precariously housed. And so continuing this work with the partnership with the VA, another staff person, um receiving dollars to do this, uh just means that we can continue on taking care of our veterans and that's very um uh it's a very very special work. Uh we do it very well and I I want to continue to do it.
chair, this is a contract that's about providing legal services outside counsel to the office in the context of the U. United States Department of Justice investigation.
I first want to thank you for taking the time to kind of help lay the groundwork and inform us um of the the scope of the work and why it's necessary. Um, as was outlined, uh, in kind of in the description, um, the kind of the standard practice of making sure that we have outside counsel when navigating these kind of often complex or unique situations that um, we find ourselves in. Um, you know, I don't think anybody wants to be here, but uh I appreciate you finding a firm that was under uh a number of the other proposals that was cost effective, responsible with our our taxpayer dollars.
I I will not be supporting this motion. I I've um I understand the why part. I'm just uncomfortable with the tenor of how not just here but everywhere it seems like we are more interested and I say we so not second out the county attorney's office but everywhere it seems like interested in the fight whether they agree with the federal government they don't agree and we go back and forth and I feel like um I just want to focus on the people that I represent I feel like we're just continuing those fights and so I'm not going to be supporting this.
and with this I am supporting this and and the reason is why is what they're requesting of us. I think we have to have council protect to protect the county. And I think that's really important. Um, politics should not be at play when we're talking about a prosecutor's office. And unfortunately, um, some of this is is we just can't help having to protect our county. And so I think this is about something much more um is just making sure that we the prosecutor's office is going to be solvent and that it can do the work that it's actually here to do.
This speaks to organics in our trash, right? We have talked uh for a few years now about the sheer amount of organics that are in our trash stream and how it is important to take those out uh and and provide resources to in this instance and have been recycling group uh to organizations, schools and other folks... I think that when I see um uh these items on our agendas, it it's proof in the pudding that our zero waste plan is solid and it's strong and our goal around 90% of uh diversion uh is is very clear and we're providing the resources to 45 cities in Hanniban to do that.
I share your excitement about this particular grant because it is for the city of Brooklyn center which is part of the Henipin Recycling Group and if if you look around up there they're not currently an organics drop off site available and so we're excited to get that opportunity in place and it's available for people who don't have access to the city program. So, a lot of people living in apartment buildings and the location is at will be at Brooklyn Center City Hall.
I just think back uh to, you know, our efforts to have a redirect our money from the organics uh to the sorting facility in Broken Park and I think some misguided actions by people to uh sabotage that um really has led us to this spot where we need the ability to sort trash and this is just kind of like a I call it a band-aid to have this kind of facility... if we continue to get push back on the sorting facilities, we're going to have to look at ways to put more grants out there so that people own these apartment buildings and they tend to be smaller family-owned buildings can retrofit.
two E and F are both related to the Basset Creek Regional Trail. So I just wanted to express immense excitement over those two items. Um this will connect French Regional Park in Plymouth to Theo Worth in Golden Valley. So from a multimodal perspective and just from usability, these are two huge regional assets...
I also um one that was kind of flying under the radar here uh to see the the contract uh to purchase traffic signal poles. This is kind of a um like under the radar, but I think uh we experienced this in in 2001 uh sorry 2021 uh during the pandemic where supply chains were disrupted and we needed to make sure that we had uh the materials in place in order to um to do the work needed to maintain our infrastructure. uh and with the uncertainty that is currently facing a lot of uh the components uh piece of the work that we do um having contracts like this to make sure that we have the the resources we need to to do it um is incredibly responsible and I appreciate the proactive uh nature of of doing that.
Good steward grants provide financial assistance to residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, and local governments to implement projects that either preserve and restore the county's natural resources or improve water qual quality. Since 2016, um we've awarded about $2.5 million in these types of grants and leveraged $14 million from additional partners in their contributions.
The goals of the program are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and diseases by funding tree planting activities, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.
I'm noticing that a lot of the heavy red areas have are around uh our interstate system. And I wondered if there's any um work being done if we know from um Mandat or the state at all around supporting this initiative. And two, what goals do we have associated with our tree canopy planting? Is it plant a thousand trees by 2020 2030? I mean, I don't know, but is there what are do we have goals set?
So we've we've previously have been working with Mandot and we have a memorandum of understanding with Mindot to plant trees along the um rightsway rightways along the interstates... And as far as our goals, we have the ambitious goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030, which we have planted or will at the end of the year be right around 576,000 trees.
It'd be interesting to intersect flood mitigation directly with where we've planted trees. So one of the most important aspects from my perspective for a mature tree is the storm water infrastructure. Um particularly with the climate patterns that we're seeing nationally and just in general a need for greater climate resiliency... I want to toss moss in there as another consideration.
one of the things that I find so exciting is just the variety of organizations and places that are getting all these trees, but also that one of the cool things that I don't know if we've shared here before is that they're looking at some of the trees that are kind of further south because our zone has changed. So, there's peon trees. I want a peacon tree on my property. there are some really cool varieties of trees that we're planting that could be moved into our area. So, um I I'm that's really ingenious. That's exploring. That's also the resilience we build in there.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Minor plan amendment approved by the committee.
Final grant amount acknowledged and agreement modified for Stable Home program.
Amended to fund essential administration costs for Stable Home program.
Outlines contracts and amendments for human services and public health.
Amendment to modify existing services for embedded social worker program.
Agreement to provide direct services and accept funding for homeless veterans.
County's strategic plan for waste diversion, linked to organics recycling efforts.