And whereas Mr. Budson, despite losing ocular vision, traveled faithfully at his own expense from out of state to attend every investment advisory committee meeting in person pre- pandemic to offer valuable insights into financial markets and risk management. Be it resolved that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners thanks Richard F. Budson for 50 years of uninterrupted stewardship and generous contribution of his expertise in maintaining the financial well-being of Henipin County. >> Thank you. Wanted to um open it up in case colleagues or if anyone from um if Miss Wetland or any from administration would like to speak to this commendation. Colleagues first. Uh Commissioner Goel. >> 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. You know a lot of us up here know what it means to be vested in our community but somebody who does this is really invested with their their time and their talent and we can't thank you enough for giving back to your community. >> More colleagues. Oh what's up excuse me. Uh we'll go down the line. Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Yeah, I echo the the thanks. I mean, 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 because we seem to be always having these conversations about how we can do better with what we have. Um and like honoring somebody who is an architect of like uh like multiplying our investment earnings by tenfold like amazing. So thank you so much for the amazing dedication and service. >> Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you Madam Chair. I just had to comment on 50 years. That is staggering and utterly marvelous and Henipin County is so lucky to have that sort of longevity and and dedication and commitment and institutional memory and just all of that. And I appreciated that in the commendation it referenced um somewhat obliquely that there was a time before we had a AAA bond rating. >> And um it was that's a good reminder not to take it for granted. It's due to great work like um the work of Mr. Budson. So, thank you so much and and gosh, enjoy what's next. And oh, and um I also was thinking to myself is what what's that name that people have for the like the savant of Omaha or whatever the you know the or the oracle of Omaha. Exactly. We need like the you know the the something of Henipin. [laughter] Thanks so much. >> Absolutely. Um, Miss Wellin, anything you like to add before we bring it to vote? >> Chair Fernando, commissioners, um, as indicated, this is greatly appreciated. Our investment committee, the the infrastructure of our county, Joe Matthews, our chief financial officer, has a few, um, statements that he would like to >> Absolutely. Welcome. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Joe Matthews, chief financial officer. Thank you for uh, recognizing Dick's contributions. It's a privilege for me to be here uh at the tail end of the 50 years. And I'm also going to invite John Delarius, our chief our investment officer to come up and make a few comments as well, but did want to highlight uh there was a time before AAA bond rating. We got our bond rating in 1977, but you'll notice from the time frame uh Dick's work really started much earlier than that. And so we're very fortunate, I think, to follow uh and build on that work. There's been a long history at Henipin County of really fantastic individuals. Um it is interesting to see the connection and kind of the true lineage of of people building on one another's work over that time from Dick uh through all of the various CFOs including Dave Lawless which we all find entertaining that Dick was actually his professor. Um and you know we can expect to continue that trend in the future and we hope to to live up to that expectation and I'll turn it over to John to make a few comments who has probably known Dick longer than all of us. Welcome, >> Chair Fernando and commissioners. I'm John Valeris from the Office of Budget and Finance. Uh, it is an honor to speak to this commendation before you. Um, as the current investment officer, I'm only the fourth person to succeed in this role in what Mr. Bolson started. Um, in 1975, he started uh he was hired by the county as an accountant. Um that's a source of great amusement to him because he um is not an accountant and he doesn't want to be an accountant. Um and then what was the finance and records department? [clears throat] So it was in that department which is not OBF. It's in that department where the county's bank accounts were managed. So there's you we're talking about the uh credit rating issue. Uh there was a time, I think it was during his probationary period where um Dick realized that uh there was going to be a problem funding payroll and he asked the finance manager of the welfare fund if he could go to St. Paul and ask the state of Minnesota for an advanced payment of welfare revenues. and that happened. Um, that's just kind of a way of saying, as we've already mentioned, that the county did not always have a AAA bond rating. So, situations like that made the county administrator realize that you can't manage bank accounts and manage budgets separately. They're very aligned. So, Dick was transferred up to county administration where the Office of Budget and Financial Affairs, a unit of county administration, was then located. Um, so it'd be hard to overstate the positive effects of uh Dick's 50 years of employment and volunteer service. Um, in making some extra comments, um, Mr. Matthews has advised me to state the caveat. There's no open checkbook here. [laughter] So, here's the most concise summary I can make uh, about Mr. Budson's work. It has two parts. 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. And even today, the county has considerable pass capacity to respond to unforeseen immediate needs, emergencies, natural disasters. We can do it. Uh secondly, the ownership of those very same highquality, very liquid, very safe US government bonds means that we produce healthy earnings that offset property taxes. So that is Mr. ute Alson's legacy. Um, the county's assets are safe. We use them to fund operations and they produce healthy earnings that exceed benchmarks in most years, not every year, but most years. Uh, 29 out of the last 40. Um, anyway, I believe on today's consent agenda, you um have you'll be voting on the annual statutory request for additional investment authority. So that authority goes directly back to Mr. Budson's work. He started that. So you you you've seen that um that that request every year and I'm sure you kind of scratch your heads about it. That's where it started. Uh anyway, so Mr. Budson's talents got noticed beyond the county. He he he went on he did very well for himself. Um he worked for two very large banks and he was a globally recognized fixed income manager. Um and all that time he stayed connected to the county and um personally I can't say how much my relationship with him has meant to me. Um, he is always just a phone call away and I always know that if I need to talk to Dick, I have to have at least an hour on my agenda to do it because they're they're never any shorter than that. Anyway, so I just want to um end by saying thank you to Dick. I know he's on the phone, so >> thank you. >> Well, thank you so much for um for this item. Uh very much looking forward to hearing Mr. Budolf Bulson in a moment if is he on right now. So uh we're going to vote here in a second and then we'll hand it over to you. Uh thank you for your commitment, your leadership, your stewardship, the ways in which you have clearly um innovated and it has become foundational to the county that I have been privileged to join and uh we and all of the residents of Henipin are very very grateful for for your service. So, with uh no further comments, we'll proceed to vote on the commendation. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. And um Richard Dick, if you'd like to speak, we would love to hear from you. [clears throat] Is Richard on? Richard, if you're able to unmute so we could hear you. Richard, are you able to unmute on your device? >> On a landline. >> Oh, he's on a landline. >> Try star 6. That's often how I unmute myself in situations where I want to be unmuted. >> Richard, if you're able to try star six, otherwise we can um hopefully see you in a different format and take a photo with you. But if you're able to press star six, we would love to hear from you today. And if not, we will see you again. >> Hello. Can y'all hear us? >> Yes. >> Okay, I'm going to put my dad on. >> Thank [clears throat] you. here. Here he is. >> Well, I want to sorry about the mess up. I want to thank the county board for their activities of this day. 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. [sighs] >> We kind of wish you could, too, honestly. Um, it's a bit of a financial moment here, but thank you so much, uh, Dick, to you and your family. We know that any contribution to public service, especially volunteer public service, is a household commitment. And so, we extend our gratitude to you and your family and your community. So, so thank you so much, Richard. [applause] >> [applause] >> It was my honor and distinct distinct privilege. >> Thank you so much. [sighs] That was a commendations that is moved up usually lower in the agenda. We are moving to henip and highlights. We have two today. 4 A is farm family of the year presented by Dan Rogan, deputy county administrator. Leah Spaniolo Extension, Khaled Al-Hassan, Sudin Farming Group. Welcome. >> Good afternoon, chair and commissioners. Um, as you know, the extension committee has um members of the county board uh commissioners Eden and Lundy on it and uh additional members from the community and we have several of them uh here today. And today it's uh my honor to uh talk to you about uh how each year Henipin County partners with the University of Minnesota Extension to recognize a family that represents the best of agriculture and community service in our county. This recognition celebrates innovation, stewardship, and education in both rural and urban settings. I'd like to introduce Leah uh Spaniolo uh of the University of Minnesota Extension who will share this year's story. Please, >> welcome. >> Thank you, Dan. And good afternoon, commissioners. Um, I'm Leah Spaniolo. I'm I work with the University of Minnesota as the extension educator for urban agriculture and small farms based here in Henipin County. And I'm excited to be with here with you today to celebrate the 2025 Henipin County Farm family of the year. Um the Sudin farming group is a remarkable community of fi families who are sustaining their agricultural traditions right here in Henipin County in New Hope. This group began in 2022 when a few families spearheaded by Khaled Al-Hassan and Heitham Ibrahim brought together about 20 Minnesota families of Sudin descent. They wanted to grow the foods of their heritage. crops like uh okra, Armenian cucumber, and jute mellow, also known as Egyptian spinach. Um, and to share those experiences with their children and neighbors. The farm sits on half an acre site where families gather weekly to plant, harvest, and cook together. This project helps them carry farming traditions forward while building community here in Minnesota. The Sudin Farming Group uses sustainable chemical-free methods that reflect the practices they grew up with. The food they harvest goes to their families and any extra is sold at local farmers markets. Those sales give young people a chance to learn about the business and leadership um skills while strengthening connections across generations. The land they farm is available through the food group which is a Minnesota nonprofit that operates big river farms which is an incubator program for emerging farmers. Through that program, Khaled and Heitham received mentorship from Melee, who is another farmer with her own immigration experience who's been a guide and partner in their success. The Sudin farming group also shared their story at the Emerging Farmers Conference, and their work has been featured by NPR News and the Guardian, shining a light on how immigrant farmers are contributing to Minnesota's local food system. So, looking ahead, the group hopes to add uh sheep, actually, which they have added this year. um and goats uh and chickens and this reflects the diverse farms that many grew up uh with in Sudan. Their long-term goal is to purchase farmland of their own and eventually pass the New Hope site on to other new farmers who can continue learning and growing there. As one of the founders said, "Our farm is not only about growing food, it's about growing people and preserving culture." Henipin County and the University of Minnesota Extension are proud to recognize the Sudin farming group as the 2025 farm family of the year and uh for their leadership um in sustainable agriculture, education, and community building. And I'll also add that I was able to go out to their site in New Hope earlier in the summer uh this year and for a volunteer workday and they're truly a very warm and welcoming group of folks. So, I was really happy to go and do that this uh this summer. So um now I would like to present to them um a certificate uh to recognize their contributions and I I think I can ask everyone to come up to the front at this point and we can present the award. >> Oh, speak first. Okay. >> Yeah, we'll have them speak and then we can do a photo with uh with the award. >> Okay. Um let's see here. I'll I'll give this to you at this point. This recognizes the Sudin farming group as the University of Minnesota farm family of the year. Um, do you want to hang on to that? And then, uh, Khaled, would you like to come up and say a few [clears throat] words >> here? You can hold that for me. >> Thank you. >> Yes, you're welcome. >> I'm [clears throat] just going to say a few words and then we're going to take a picture. >> Okay. >> Look, just we're really very grateful uh commissioners. I mean, this uh the news of such a recognition uh goes a long way in the immigrant community. Not just a few families are here. This is thousands and thousands of immigrant communities in Henipin County that they get the news. they'll be very grateful and this is a confirmation that we're not just a side group but this is a welcoming environment uh that celebrates the success. I mean we came all the way from subsahara and Africa and growing crops from such a hot desert climate that wouldn't have been possible without the help of the University of Minnesota extension. takes a lot took a lot of research, a lot of hard work to be able to grow these crops. But we didn't only grow crops, but we put these far families together, our youth, and we built very strong uh culture and very strong relationships that are strong enough to keep us going. I don't know if you follow the news, but our country back home is going through a very bad civil war, and this helps us stay together and stay grounded. So, thank you very much for the opportunity. We really appreciate it and we're grateful for everything that we're all the opportunities we're getting. Thank you. [applause] >> Go up around everyone. Everyone Wonderful. We will move to the next Henipin highlight. Thank you. Congrats. 4B is a Henipin highlight focusing on Small Business Saturday presented by Patricia Fitzgerald, economic de development director. And so welcome Patricia and I believe you have a couple small business owners with you. Let's see, Jacqu Lee and Rajes Svaraj. And so welcome that Henipin County invests in and supports their growth. Small businesses with fewer than 100 employees make up 96% of businesses in Henipin County. Our small local businesses are centers of community and culture that make places where people want to live, work, play, and build their futures. By focusing on entrepreneurs and small business owners, our economic development strategy is focusing on innovators. Those who grow the economic pie, who solve problems, provide services, and offer new products. We're celebrating our local entrepreneurs who generate revenue that stays in communities, creating value and jobs for themselves and jobs for others in the process. This highlight is before you today in part because this is the season when the county is joined by several city partners to encourage our residents to love their local businesses by shopping, dining, and getting services locally on Small Business Saturday and all through the year. Our talented small business team led by Lily Shaw has been reaching out to local businesses along main streets and business districts throughout the county, handing out love local window clings, expressing appreciation for our small businesses, and letting them know about Elevate Henipin resources. Henipin County shows its support for small businesses by investing in Elevate Henipin, the county's brand of small business support. The value proposition of Elevate Henipin is simple. We provide entrepreneurs with tools they need to succeed, including expert consulting at no cost and access to capital. We make resources easy [clears throat] to find with a memorable brand with our online resource directory at elevated henipin.org, our one-stop shop. We eliminate barriers to entry, making it easy to get to the right resource with an onstaff business navigator or to connect directly with consultants. And we provide in-depth support at key stages of growth with our cohort programs. Over 15,000 livelihoods in counting have been impacted by the growth and expansion of the over 4,000 unique businesses that have leveraged Elevate Henipin services. Next slide. Thank you. U we gather customer feedback constantly and in our latest survey out to 900 business clients. 98% reported feeling more confident in their ability to start or run their business after working with Elevate and likely are very likely to recommend their Elevate adviser to another business owner. We hear additional positive feedback and success stories from business owners like Ann Andrews for example, owner of Honey and Rye Bake House in St. Louis Park quoted here. And I'm very pleased uh that two local founders are here with us today to [snorts] share a bit about their experiences. These are just two um of the business owners that are making Henipin County more vibrant, more prosperous. Please welcome Rajes Svaraj, founder and chief pizza officer of Pizza Karma and Jackie Lee, CEO of Silva Way, formerly Silver Screen Printing. And we'll hear first from Rajes. Okay, >> chair, commissioners, good afternoon. Uh, thanks for the opportunity uh for me to be here to present my story. So, I've been a Henipin County resident for the 17 years and uh I'm an immigrant and I came to the country and I landed in Minneapolis in 2006. So something called back back called me back from Florida to Minneapolis in 2009 and I stayed in Henipin County from there. Uh pizza karma it's a tandi pizzeria. We started in 2018 after two decades of being an engineer and working for a lot of corporate companies around the world. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and I wanted to create a product which is uh uh made with a clean label ingredients and kind of part of the fabric of the community and pizza being a communal food you know there was a no-brainer and the funny thing is I had my first pizza when I was 23 years old so it means you can understand what kind of knowledge I had on pizza when I started my pizza business so 2018 a year uh after we started our first location 3 months after was started our second location COVID hit. I think it was a rough patch for everyone around the country and especially for a business that started just a year before without a lot of clientele you know with a pure determination or a passion for what we do like uh you know that's what this country is standing for. It's like you know we made it through the co and uh and the one thing what we realized as we uh started uh getting this business you know getting the expansion and everything is we are lacking something. So in a corporate world you always had the tools uh the mentorship and everything what is required for you to be successful along with the cushion if you fail back you know there is someone always there to watch you out you know support you in every step but when you become an entrepreneur you're all by yourself you know you have to take care of the lease you have to take care of the payroll take care of your employees your P&L you're you're an accountant you you have to wear a multiple hats along with you know being a dad or a parent you know support your family as well. So being an entrepreneur has its own challenges. So the elevate Hannipin I believe it just bridges that gap right. So it connects you with all kinds of knowledge the uh expertise uh it's not only just you know it provides you the platform for you to validate your thoughts to make sure that am I going in the right path is it the right decision I should make right so that is something it's like you don't have to reinvent the wheel every single time right so that is a strategy we used to follow in the past like iteratively change see if it works if it doesn't work change it again but elevate handpin I feel it is like a It made us you know save a lot of time and energy as well as the uh dollars you know to make the right decision the first time. So really appreciate uh what the county is uh doing to support a small business like ours and right now we are operating four brick and mortar three in Henipin County and also we have three food trucks that goes all around and we're already looking for one more location in Henipin County. So thanks for the opportunity and all the support you provide for the small business especially the immigrant businesses. Thank you. [applause] Um, madame chair, commissioners, my name is Jackie Lee. I'm the CEO of Silver Screen Printing. We are a high volume direct to retail screen printer. We decorate apparel that ends up in the supply chains through distribution channels. uh our company located and many of them in the middle of US are responsible for product that gets distributed out to retail stores kind of nationwide. I've been with Silva Screen Printing since 6 months after they opened in 2001. It is a family-owned business. The Silva family operates the production arm. My family operates the executive arm. 2003 I was invited to participate in CEO Next. Uh I came into it skeptical. I'm going to be honest because I had participated over a number of years in a significant number of peer groups and at the cost of thousands and thousands of dollars. This is something that is a very expensive process to go through. When I was approached by the wonderful folks at the uh county here, they had a free option and I was like, "Wow, what am I going to get for that?" [laughter] Uh, so my expectations were really low. I could not have been more wrong. The program that was all-encompassing between the speakers and the cohorts was so incredibly wellthought out and and well built that it offered more than those paid services ever offered. I'm still with that same group. We still meet uh three years later. they're going to be at our office on Thursday. Something that we found that was really important through the group of CEO uh folks that participated in this organization was that idea of stewardship of our community. We were investing as much in each other as we were receiving in return. For our company specifically, I went into it with one project. We were in the middle of coming out of the COVID situation. Precoid between us and our end buyers like a Walmart of the world there would have been eight to nine middlemen all sort of taking little chunks out of the pie. Postcoid that middle market shrunk substantially. Uh as we all kind of went through this process we realized that it was fraught with waste and abuse. it wasn't sustainable and the middle market of this imaginary service of transferring data or transferring product um really needed an overhaul. So I came into this program thinking >> [clears throat] >> um I'm going to figure out a way to optimize our manufacturing process to facilitate an outcome to position ourselves better in the supply chain. It was a big ask and and I came to Art and I said, "Hey, this is what we need out of this." He's like, "I got you. I I got something for you." The speaker groups came in. He connected us with some experts. Our specific cohort were people that had compatible businesses that had similar problems and were all approaching it from different solutions. The immediate result for us was we completed our optimization program under budget and ahead of schedule coming out of that and positioned ourselves farther forward in the supply chain than we were ever uh expected to be. It became a more transparent position. So, as a result of that, our business grew. Well, then I went back to my cohort of CEO Next folks and said, "Hey, I'm I'm growing. Help me here." And and again, that support structure was there. There's a really deep interest in the success of small businesses in Henipin County. And I think that it is really important that programs like this get much more credit and and become really appreciated for the fantastic opportunity uh opportunity that they are. I cannot thank you enough for offering it. I am so glad that I let my skepticism go and [laughter] went to it because I I really I really came into it thinking I was going to get a little and received so much more. I am hopeful now and continue to stay involved in organizations like this uh with the ability to give back because of of what we've received from you. So, thank you very much from my heart, from our family. This was something that was really really valuable and and I hope other people get the same experience out of it. Thank you. [applause] >> We're going to take a photo here a second, but just want to You can sit down for sure. you get uh [gasps] but just want to express gratitude to both of you and really the program areas that you uh represent. Um Jackie, you are correct that uh the founder community and the entrepreneur community is vital to uh to the health and vibrancy but doesn't have that same level investment. So um a nocost program for you is really an investment from our perspective because you all are taking the risks of uh you know building a real livelihood for your workforce and really building a community asset that that can far kind of exceed any single person's vision or imagination. And so same thing with you uh Rajes like I I know it sounds like no no no cost consulting no cost program to you. It is an investment because of the ways in which small business aggregates its impact uh for our local community. And so we extend our gratitude right back to you for the ways in in which you invest in Henipin that you are likely of course um hiring people that are in Henipin and really just contributing to a community that we can all be proud of. And so I wanted to ensure that you uh felt the gratitude kind of mutually uh and I think we should all take a photo. So yeah, thanks We are on to five on the agenda. 5A is the minutes from the November 6, 2025 meeting. May I have a motion, please? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioners Lundy and Eden. Any notes or corrections on the minutes? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Item six is referral of correspondence and department communications. 6 A through C are correspondence and 6 D to 6R excluding 6K um are department communications. May I have a motion to accept and refer as recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Commissioners Green and Gotel. All those in favor please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Seven on the agenda is commissioner communications and updates. There are two and the first one is from me on community advisory board announcements. Right now is our annual call for applicants to serve on a community advisory board. Members of the public and local officials can be appointed to serve on four watershed boards and more than 11 various county advisory boards, task forces, and committees. Members of these boards advise county commissioners on issues and programs, help set policy, and deal with a variety of topics of concern to the county, ranging from mental health and racial disparities to the environment, as well as employment support. This year we have open positions available on our adult mental health local advisory council, birth justice community advisory board which is new this year, capital budgeting task force, community action partnership board, county extension committee, human resources board, library board, Minhaha Creek wershed district board, race equity advisory council, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act board. I encourage anyone who may be interested to visit the county website at henipin. us/advisory boards to learn more about these positions and to apply. And of course, we extend immense gratitude to the dozens and hundreds of people who serve on these boards as well as support these boards work. The next comm commissioner communication we have is the Henry Awards offered by Commissioner Goodell. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. This is always so fun. I get to go to this every year. Last month, the uh facility services department celebrated the 18th annual Henry Awards. The event recognizes facility management division, staff, teams, and individuals across the county for their commitment into reducing energy consumption. I had the pleasure of attending the event to thank and celebrate the staff for their ongoing efforts to help the county reach our goal of net zerocarbon emissions by 2050. Rising energy prices, environmental factors, and a growing number of county buildings have made measuring these successes more challenging. Awards were given to the buildings and their facility staff that saved the most energy over the past years. And these are the winners in each category. First, the library was Roosevelt Library. The non- library was adult corrections facility men's section. The best natural gas savings was library Minnatonka Library. Non library was Bloomington Recycle Center. Best district energy savings was the central library. So, everybody's going to get it. I think everybody's district is re is here. [gasps] The best overall energy saving savings was South Minneapolis human services center. The best three-year overall energy savings was library was Lynen Hills Library and non- library was AIO maintenance station. So yeah, amazing work. Thank you everyone for what you did. We got to hear a little bit more how they did that when we were at the awards. Other awards include the Sather A Spirit Award which recognizes one staff member who goes above and beyond in their commitment to energy savings. This year the recipient was Dan Halverson and yes that is Sadather himself. Mr. Sather came back and helped present this award. We have to thank him for that. Finally, [snorts] the team spirit award, which recognizes a team of their superior efforts to collaborate and work together to identify and reduce energy use. This year, the adult correction facility team received the team spirit award. And yes, that's Leah Henker in there. She returned back just to be at the awards to see these great few people lose their voice. So, um I would like uh once again to extend my congratulations to all the energy award winners and to thank you all for the work you do and the help the county to achieve our goal to reduce energy consumption and carry out our climate action plan. Congratulations. [applause] All right, guys. Raise your hand. Who's here from facilities? Raise your hand. I don't see you guys. Look at them all. They showed up. You know what? They they felt so bad that you guys didn't get to go that they brought me some of their candy bars to give away to you. So, I'm going to pass some of these down to my colleagues. But with the swag you didn't get cuz you didn't go was the cool little coaster that warms your coffee. >> Very, very cool. Very cool. See, >> let's go take a picture, everyone. >> Yeah. Yeah. You take your bar with you. I'm gonna steal that coaster. [laughter] >> There's a bunch. >> There's a bunch. Everybody can grab them. There's a bunch of bars. Come on up. Come on up. >> You got a whole box of these. >> Thank you so much. We have something to see. Can I have a couple folks come and like stand to rush to another meeting? So, we've got me Everyone say [applause] >> I love this. They're so they all have a purpose otherwise they wouldn't be ours. >> Right. Right. >> We are on to number eight of the agenda which is the claims register. 8A is the claims register for the period ending November 7, 2025 and 8B for the period ending November 14. May I have a motion for both, please? >> Move a second. >> Thank you, Commissioners Eden and Connley. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Nine are consent items, which would have passed unanimously out of committee. We have 9A to 9 today. um noting that we received revised bars for 9Q and 9 AP. So with all of that, may I have a motion? >> Thank you, Commissioners Lundy and Green. Let me pause here for a moment to distribute the revisions as well as to invite if there's any item that colleagues would like to highlight prior to voting. So I'll just give ourselves a second here. >> [snorts] >> anything on the consent agenda that colleagues would like to highlight? I'll note that for um for item 2550478, this was uh a a request for me to break out the actual financial aspect and so I appreciate the revised background although the action remains the same. So I'll note that. Anything else, colleagues, before we bring in a vote? Hearing and seeing none, the consent agenda is before us. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. 10 are non-consent items that would have passed out of you uh out of committee but not unanimously. Four of which we have none. 11 are progress items. These uh would have progressed from committee to board without a vote. And uh there are several of them. We'll just go one at a time. 11A is to authorize the issuance and sale of one or more taxexempt multif family housing revenue bonds by the Henipin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority for an affordable housing preservation project at 3,400 Parkland A and 5010 Summit A in Adina. Um I will move this. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Eden. Uh colleagues, this was a companion document uh because of sequence last week Thursday. Uh so we did just review it but uh Miss Wetland if there's anything you'd like to introduce. I welcome that. >> Chair Fernando Commissioners Abby Lucen's available and can provide a um brief background to this. >> Welcome. >> Uh good afternoon madam chair and commissioners. Abby Lucen with Housing and Economics Development. 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. This is deeply affordable housing with all incomes reserved for residents with very low incomes. Um, as you noted last week, the H board provided final approval for this bond issuance. IRS code requires that the applicable elected body also approve the issuance to qualify it. staff recommend full final Henipin County approval for this conduit financing. Thank you. >> Colleagues, any questions or comments on this item? Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. 11B is to establish community environmental advisory board offered by Commissioner Lundy. Would you like to move it? >> And seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Uh Commissioner Lundy, go ahead. >> Uh thank you, Madam Chair. just I you know we discussed in committee there was a number of questions I think people wanted it answered and um I just wanted to know I think believe everything was provided which kind of talked about the scope and the uh the how the committees will be formed both the I'll call it the youth and the non- youth I don't want to say adult but um and you know kind of what the how they will be supported u when they'll be recruited the idea that uh members will be appointed and also kind of a mix so that we have a good cross-section from all of Henry County. And uh I'll just stop there. >> Open for discussion. Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Commissioner Lundy, for the additional information that your office provided. I was the person who loved the idea and sort of wanted to understand a little bit better how it would it would um take real shape. and I appreciated the information provided and am as I was uh last week and continue to be excited about the prospect and look forward to voting in support. Further discussion colleagues hearing and seeing none all those in favor please say I >> opposed motion carries and uh that's approved and thank you commission for for bringing that forward 11 C is the 2026 state legislative priority and platform as amended. Um co-chairs would you like to move and second this? >> I'll move it. >> Thank you commissioners Connley and Lundy. Uh, Miss Wetland, >> Chair, Commissioner Liz Young is here and provide background information um and the updates to the platform for your review. >> Thank you. Welcome. [clears throat] >> Thank you, Madam Chair and commissioners. Liz Young with Intergovernmental Relations and I just have a few uh changes to highlight in the platform following a good discussion at last week's IGR committee. So, thank you for that. Um there was an amendment in committee to the priority which has been uh updated to reflect that uh thanks to Commissioner Conley's amendment. So moving on to the platform, you'll see three sections highlighted in yellow to draw attention to where those changes are. The first change comes on page five in the hospital section. Uh, and with my apologies for not being able to flag this further in advance, given the ongoing federal changes and CMS direction that we see, staff thought it was best to make this point broader and focus on protecting directed pay. Uh, so you'll see the change to delete the first part of that sentence and begin with the word protect. Second, on pages 11 and 12 in the taxes section, we have an amended bullet point around securing non-propy tax revenue to support healthcare operations and facilities. With thanks to Commissioner Green for the idea, this bullet point now better reflects that services are not exclusive to Henipin residents and emphasizes the state and regional importance of Henipin health care system. I do also want to mention that staff will be developing a one-pager on this to bring to the legislature. So there will be a space to highlight the importance and the work um and the people that the hospital serves. And then finally on page 12, we have a new bullet point suggested by Commissioner Anderson. Though this point was originally raised during the transportation discussion, staff thought it was most appropriate to add to the taxes section so as not to limit the scope of our work in defending against any state takeback takebacks of county revenue. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions you have. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um colleagues, we had a robust committee discussion, but if there are questions, comments, or amendments, now is the time to speak about that. Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you, Madam Chair. 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. And thank you so much for all the leg work that makes that happen. Further discussion, colleagues. Uh, Commissioner Conley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just going to echo the thanks to the team. I know a lot of work goes into this. I really appreciate the focus on the priority uh and the additions that were made here from colleagues. I think that this all makes sense and it's a strong strong platform to move into the legislature with this uh coming session. So, thank you so much, >> Commissioner Lindy. Um, also want to say thanks team, but just kind of point out, you know, for the people who may or may not be watching, uh, that this platform is our goals and that more success IGR has, the more success we have of limiting impact on taxpayers or uh hopefully uh lessening some of the impact when we're talking about cuts and changes and stuff like that. And so all these little things and the work that you do and your team does matter because you know people right now with property taxes are very aware of expenses and so everything we can do to continue to lobby does have a payback. And so um now the easy part just get all this stuff adopted. So thank you [snorts] >> Commissioner Eden. >> Thank you. Uh thank you Madam Chair. And yes getting it all adopted in a house that has 67 67 is going to be amazing. Um, what I would say on this, I had to leave early because I had to pick up my son last week, but um, again, lawmakers don't typically, being a former lawmaker, don't see this document that we pass. So, I think one pager is going to be, um, really important. Even if you did, you do send it to them. They're written inundated with so many things. Um, I really, really want to see us get the ballpark sales tax done. Um, Commissioner Lundy talked about property taxes. I have so many emails on property taxes because people just received their notices this last week and this week and um cost of groceries are going up, the cost of insurance is going up. Um, so in terms of the hospital meeting that we had earlier today, 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. a bonding bill hasn't really happened except for the state's bonding bill since I was at the legislature. So, this will be the second session. Um, my hope is they get a bonding bill, but the reality is is if we can get that ballpark sales tax, uh, that would be lifesaving for many people. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you. And thank you for that, Commissioner Eden, because one of the things that um uh really gives me a lot of optimism is um at the bottom of page 11 when we talk about taxes, um it kind of encompasses not just the ballpark sales tax, but seek non-property tax revenue source to fund Henipin County healthcare related operations. And I think that gives us flexibility um to look at new revenue that the state can give us permission to collect that is not on the backs of property tax owners. So, I couldn't agree with you more. Um, and I and 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. Thank you. >> Further discussion, colleagues, uh, as uh, shared for anybody following at home, this is these are our goals at the legislature and so there is much work to be done here. This is really the beginning of a a very long and robust process. And so also want to extend gratitude to the IGR team and to the dozens of uh departments who have offered these suggestions who will be subject matter experts um during committee and uh all in service to Henipin's mission. So uh looking forward to a very activated uh 2026 session. With no further discussion, we'll vote on 11 C which has both the priority document and the legislative platform as amended. Um all those in favor please say I >> opposed. Motion carries and our legislative agenda is adopted. Uh we have two more progress items. They are similar and I think I was the cause for the progress. So I will read them both in. Um obviously if staff would like to speak to it, but I can express my own position as well. Uh and I'll be voting in favor. Colleagues, no uh please no stress today for this item. Uh 11D is the authorization to adopt laws of Minnesota 2025 first special session chapter 13 article 5 section 4 as requested by the city of Maple Grove for the purpose of extending the maximum duration of the gravel mining area soils deficiency tax increment financing district by 5 years to June 29 the year 2046 11E is the authorization to adopt laws of Minnesota 2025 for a special session Chapter 13, Article 5, Section 2, as requested by the city of Adina for the purpose of extending the maximum dur duration of the 70th in France tax increment financing district by 10 years to July 13, 2047. Additional authorization to adopt laws of Minnesota 2025 for special session chapter 13 article 5 section 13 as requested by the city of Adina for the purpose of extending the maximum duration of the 72nd and France tax increment financing district by 5 years to July 6 203. >> I'll move them >> second. >> Thank you commissioners Gotel and Anderson. if you'd like to present on it. I can I I am aware that I progressed so I can also speak to myself but Miss Wetland if you I'll leave it to you. >> Chair commissioners Joe Matthews available and he will provide background information on both of these items. >> Okay, great. >> Welcome back. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Joe Matthews chief financial officer as discussed in committee. These are [clears throat] somewhat routine modifications to tiff districts regarding special legislation. I'm actually going to defer to Deputy Administrator Dan Rogan who sent a communication up yesterday to speak to more of the specifics. >> Thanks, Commissioners. And I'll be brief. Um there was a robust discussion and there was a request for more information and uh we collected that information from both the city of Maple Grove and the city of Adina and provided that in an email um about the specific uh tiff districts and the need for the extension and the the requirement for the county board to vote here. And I have representatives from both the city of Maple Grove and the city of Adina here if there are any uh specific questions about uh any of the um tiff districts that are before you. >> Thank you. And so for those following at home, I was a big uh question asker on this one and I still have many questions. It's just not specific to your project. So I um uh welcome any feedback. Uh the question that I have around tax increment financing and particular financing tools from the state is really about tax burden and tax distribution. I don't think that we've really um studied that question yet. And so I think some of my questions are uh interesting curious questions but not questions that would shift the approval that um is coming before us today. And so I will kind of uh take that back for myself in terms of how I might want to refine what it is I'm asking about. But I wanted to express in public um these are very particular tools that allow for tax collection. And in a time where property taxes and sales taxes and groceries are uh continuing to offer strain for households, um 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. I'll refine that question. and I look forward to pursuing that further with my colleagues and with staff. Um, I'll open it up if there's any further discussion. Otherwise, go ahead, Commissioner Alison. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Well, and I think maybe just having the city staff that joined us since they came down just speak maybe a little bit to the project would maybe be helpful. >> Absolutely. Happy to welcome um one staff at a time. Come on. Come on up. Please identify yourself and thank you for being here. Oh, >> thanks. Yes. Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Bill Nounorf. I'm with the city of Adina. I'm Adina's economic development manager. So, a pleasure to be here today. Uh, thanks for considering these proposals. Uh, these are two sites um, uh, along France Avenue that have been, uh, the targets of redevelopment for for several years. Uh, we thought we had good momentum going into the pandemic and then a lot of things happened during the pandemic economically that stalled uh, progress on both of these sites. Um so starting in 2024, the city pursued special legislation on the state level to give us a little bit more time. Um anytime that tax increment financing is used, there are specific statutory limitations, time limits, duration limits, etc. Um and so with the with the delays due to the pandemic, we knew that more time would be necessary. So we did receive that state approval uh in June of this year. And then that means that we go to the city, the schools, and the county uh to re to uh to secure your recognition of that. So the two specific projects are both mixeduse projects. Both sites are about five acres in size. Um and they were uh both developed in the 1960s and 1970s. And while they were um very strong projects in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, they became not very strong projects in the 2000s and 2010s and 20120s. And so there is um uh both sites have been cleared in the last couple years. Uh uh one of the sites thankfully we are under construction um a couple years later than we thought. Um but we're actively building a class A office building and a new mixed income apartment building on that site. Um the second site uh we have the buildings down in the first phase which is a banch which is a branch bank that's finished but uh the rest of the site is still vacant. uh delayed uh by the uh by the uh capital investors that are just a little bit cautious these days more cautious. So we hope to stimulate that one and get that moving again. Um 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. And that's where we're aiming for these projects with with your approval. >> Thank you. And I think it was well just the opportunity to present, but colleagues, any questions? Otherwise, we'll invite Maple Grove up. Thank you so much for the overview. >> Thank you, Chair Fernando and commissioners. appreciate the opportunity to be here today. Um so Maple Grove's request to the legislature was to extend the 5-year rule by another five years as well as the term of the district for 5 years. Um we did get that approval at the last legislative session. Our school district has all also approved um this tiff extension. You know, Maple Grove has a long history in the gravel mining industry really dating back to the 1930s. And that gravel mining area has really served as a source of construction material for the entire metro area for decades. um piece by piece as that land was completed, the mining was completed and that land was reclaimed, it has moved into development. Much of the retail area in the Arbor Lakes um district, retail district there was was formerly gravel mining area. Um as we looked at the next phase of development in the gravel mining area, we knew that we needed to shift gears to industry. And with shifting gears to industry, we needed a tool. And that tool was to have a soils district that would help us with that soil correction and the infrastructure needed to serve industry. Um to date we have created about $275 million worth of new value out in the gravel mining area. If you've been out that way along 694 just west of 169 you see the new BAE Systems campus as well as the new Boston Scientific Boston Scientific Arbor Lakes campus. Um in addition to about 10 different um multi-tenant industrial buildings there. We've created over um about 1,800 jobs in that area. Um the jobs with Boston Scientific um range in the hundred to $170,000 a year jobs. So we are really striving to create opportunity for industry and job creation in the gravel mining area. 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. So, um we're asking for your consideration of that extension. Um and uh we're confident that, you know, barring any other significant financial difficulties in the next few years, um that we will be able to accomplish um development much of in much of that 60 acres out there. In addition, I do want to note um the 169 Elm Creek Boulevard interchange, which is just on the east end of this area. Um a county facility, county state facility. Um that is a interchange that's in need of replacement. And so we're targeting that construction to start next fall. Um we intend to use a portion of these proceeds of the pooling dollars from this district to assist with the reconstruction of that interchange. So that's just a quick overview. I'd be happy to stand for any questions that the chair or commissioners might have. >> I think it was more overview than questions, but I'll look around. Thank you so much for both of the presentation and the background. I, you know, sorry for alerting everybody uh with the progress motion, but it was really informative both the verbal presentation and the background that was provided. So, uh, thank you both for your efforts in ensuring kind of a long-term vibrancy here in Henipin County. I don't know if I said my name and title, but for the record, Heidi Nelson, city administrator for Maple Grove. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> So, uh, colleagues, before us, we have 11D, which has one resolving clause, and the R1 for 11E, which has two, uh, two projects. There are two resolving clauses. >> I move approval. >> Second. >> Did we Okay. Commissioners Green and Connley. Um, they're both before us. I I wasn't sure if they were both Were they already before us? Yeah. Okay. They were moved. >> I was just reminding us what was that there are three and the R1 for 11E. >> Okay. >> Further discussion seeing none. All those in favor please say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you again for the presentation and for the followup. Uh 12 is old business. These are items that would have been seen by this board but laid over to today. Um which we have none. And then 13 are immediate approvals. We have 13 A and B and then the new 13 C. Remember 6K was moved down just as a reminder. So 13A is proclaiming November 29, 2025 a small business Saturday in Henipin County offered by Commissioner Goodell. Would you like to move it? >> I would. >> I'll second it. And go ahead, Commissioner. >> 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. Today I'm bringing forward a proclamation to recognize Small Business Saturday 2025 here in Henipin County. And I'll ask the clerk to read the proclamation. >> 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. And whereas the Small Business Administration celebrates Small Business Saturday to recognize the hard work and the ingenuity of everyday people who start and grow businesses in their community for their community. And whereas Henipin County supports these entrepreneurs all year long, including through our work with Elevate Henipin, which offers expert consulting, focused cohort programming, access to capital, and a hub of resources at no cost for aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses at all stages. We also promote shopping at our local small businesses via the multi-jurisdictional love local campaign which encourages residents to support local independentlyowned businesses that create jobs, boost the local economy, and make our communities vibrant. Be it result that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim November 29th, 2025 as Small Business Saturday in Henipin County and encourages all those who live and work here to celebrate our local small businesses on this day and throughout the year. >> I want to say thank you to everybody and for all those who participate and elevate and make this a really great project for everybody, but all those what they do for our economy and our community. Thank you. And remember for Christmas go by local. >> Further discussion on this colleagues >> holiday. >> Yeah. Other holidays as well. >> Uh without uh further without more further discussion we'll proceed to the vote. All those in favor please say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. And Saturday November 29th is officially small business Saturday in Henipin County. 13B is proclaiming November 20, 2025 as transgender day of remembrance in Henipin County. Offered by myself. So, I'll move this. >> May I have a second? Thank you, Commissioner Green. [gasps] Thursday, November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a very important day to remember the transgender and gender non-conforming community members we have lost to transgender violence. In honor of this day, I'm bringing this proclamation forward, and I'll have Miss Rose read um and I'll have some remarks after. 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. And whereas this annual observance provides a platform for transgender communities and allies to raise awareness of the threat of violence faced by transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, as well as the persistence of anti-transgender prejudice that permeates our society. And whereas there have been a record number of transgender and gender non-conforming conforming people killed across the United States, including 68 people in 2022, 76 people in 2023, 73 in 2024, and at least 35 in 2025, according to the Trans Lives Matter. And whereas transgender people have been attacked and mur murdered simply because of their gender identity, gender expression, or because of hatred of a transgender person's appearance. And whereas research and advocacy organizations including the National Center for Transgender Equity, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the Human Rights Watch, find that transgender persons, especially black transgender women, are at an extreme risk of being the target of violent acts. And whereas across the nation since 2021, states have enacted 306 anti-transgender bills. And whereas of the over 1,000 anti-transgender bills introduced in state legislatores in 2025, including Minnesota, 107 have passed so far. And whereas currently 27 states that have active ressions on medical care for transgender people. And whereas a growing number of bills across the nation seek to specifically ban gender affirming healthcare for minors. And whereas the state of Minnesota through state law, administrative regulation, and governatorial executive orders in 2023 declared itself a a refuge for transgender people. Whereas Henipin County recognizes that transgender employees, residents, and members of our communities are disproportionately affected by hate crimes and violence and experience compounding challenges in their daily lives due to discrimination, disproportionately high levels of unemployment, and limited access to healthcare. And whereas by observing the transgender day of remembrance, Henipin County recognizes and celebrates transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary people and honors the memory of people who are transgender whose lives were lost in all acts of 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 has been an honor to bring this action before this body um multiple times, but the heaviness in this particular year, at least for me, is really prominent. It is unconscionable the ways in which shared humanity has been weaponized, victimized. Um and and so I I re my heart really goes out to all people who are just trying to be their whole selves. People trying to to honor their own personhood and to live life and contribute to their community and you know seeing thousands of anti-gend anti-transgender bills. And this is distinct from uh from the efforts that really victimize, you know, women, children, immigrant communities. I mean, I think I think it's just really uh been a bit deplorable how shared humanity has has um has just become such a a weaponized topic almost. And so I 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. [sighs] Colleagues, any uh comments you'd like to add? Uh we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. >> [snorts] >> Motion carries and this Thursday is transgender day of remembrance. [clears throat] 13C on the agenda is the published 6K which is the review and approval of three rivers park district 2026 budget. May I have a motion please? >> So moved. >> Thank you. Uh commissioners Gotell and Anderson Miss Wland. Chair, commissioners, Bill Carlson, superintendent of Three Rivers Park District, and Sean Hamilton, the chief financial officer of Three Rivers Park District is here and will provide background information. >> Welcome. It's been a year already. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner, [laughter] thank you. >> Bo Carlson, superintendent with Three Rivers Park District. On behalf of our board, thank you for the opportunity to present our budget for 2026. Uh, I also want to take the opportunity to introduce our new CFO and director of finance, Shauna Hamilton. Uh, Sean is joining us here today. Shawn comes to us from the University of Minnesota in Howard Kulik, our long-standing CFO who's been with the organization, retired in July, still doing some special projects for us, but he'll work until the end of the year and then transition with Shawn as our new CFO. So, with that, I have a very brief PowerPoint. I want to share a few details and information regarding the budget. But first wanted to start with uh a few highlights. And I'm not sure where the program if it's going to pop up. Maybe it's coming. >> And just wondering how I advance. >> She'll advance. Okay, perfect. >> Now you got to start. >> I think just get going and it'll catch. >> Yeah. Okay. Sounds good. Well, they're mostly just pictures anyway for the first few. But uh one of the real highlights of 2025 was the opening of Mississippi Gateway uh Regional Park. The reopening of Mississippi Gateway Regional Park. This was the biggest redevelopment of a park that we've done in the history of the park district. >> $35 million total reconstruction of the visitor center, total reconstruction of play features, a new maintenance facility, trail connections, all kinds of really neat stuff. Uh it's been very wellreceived and we're we're very pleased about that. We had our grand opening on September 6th. We had record numbers of visitations since the park has opened. We're seeing daily we're already in an overflow on a regular basis. So, it's a good problem to have and something we're very excited about. Henipin County was a huge partner in that project and has been a huge partner all along the way. Uh, in fact, one of the elements that we've partnered with the county on and now we have the facilities to actually support this amount of kids, which is awesome, is our naturefest program. So September 30th, October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, we have a free program that we partner with the county. The county provides all the transportation for fifth grade classes. We do five or excuse me, four different schools. We have all the fifth graders from two schools in AIO and two schools in Robinsdale come out for a long day of nature programming and it's hugely popular, hugely successful. Now we actually have a building that they can go in and use the bathrooms, have some classroom space, see some of the exhibits and those fun things. Next slide. Thank you. Uh, next is our Basset Creek Trail. Again, a partnership with Henipin County looking at County Road um or excuse me, Golden Valley Road and some of the upgrades of the intersections there. It was an opportunity for us to close a very valuable gap or a very important gap uh within our system. We had a trail connection that was going to lead from French Park and the city of Plymouth through the city of Crystal and Golden Valley. we had a small gap essentially from um roughly 160 or excuse me highway 100 into Worth Parkway to make a connection to the Grand Round. This project will link that and make that final connection complete. This has been 20 plus years in the making. So, we're very excited to see this final link happen. Uh it is going to be a very popular trail and a very popular connection for folks on the north side. I want to talk a little bit about uh community partnerships. We've had great support from Henipin County helping us achieve our vision of connecting everyone to nature. And that's one of the cornerstones of our vision plan for 2040 is nature parks matter. Nature matters in our communities. And we can connect with people every day to ensure that they have those experiences. And we've done that through a variety of funding programs through the community violence prevention program through cardiovascular health. The ship programs have partnered on a number of different things that we've done with the indigenous knowledge project, water safety workshops, which have been really popular, the Linta family engagement that we've done, the North Henipin Community College engagement, and our trail wayfinding pilot project we did out at French Park. All of which have been very successful and again, thank you from the support of Henipin County. So, moving on to 2026, really looking at what are our goals and again it's continuing that focus on stewardship. We're a natural resource-based agency. That's really what we do. We don't do ball fields. We don't do soccer fields. We focus on natural resources. With 27,000 acres of parkland throughout suburban Henipin County, that's a big task to undertake. Uh so we really want to focus on that. We want to maintain our existing level of service and the offerings that we have. not only preserving and protecting that land, we often have a very valuable asset in teaching in providing opportunities for students and young people to learn about nature, learn to experience it and enjoy it. And last year we did about 750,000 connections with classroom age students uh out in our parks and nature centers. We're constantly working to remove barriers and connecting everyone to nature, as I mentioned, to protect and preserve and restore our natural resources and fight back on some of those invasives that we're dealing with, both uh terrestrial and aquatic invasives that are a real threat to our system. And then a consistent approach to compensation and benefits for our staff moving forward. So, our considerations, we now have Mississippi Gateway fully operational. We got to run a park now. We have to have the staffing needed to deal with all those crowds as they're coming in. We've got the growth of our regional trail system. We continue to add miles. We've got about 150 miles of regional trail that is now open and operational. Um that's significant. That's the biggest in the metro area when you look at the 10 implementing agencies that make up our metro regional park system. We have the most acreage or the most mileage I should say. We have the most acreage, too, but uh the most miles of trail within the system. And the trails are tremendously popular. Like everybody, we're dealing with the Minnesota Paid Leave Act and trying to understand what that's going to look like for us financially. We've got the rising costs of goods and services to maintain existing operations, a challenge we're all faced with. And then recognizing the impact to the PA tax base, recognizing that we're not the sole provider of services, that we have other partners, other stakeholders that also are taxing at the same time. and we want to be cognizant of that when we're looking at property taxes. So, our budget 2026, we're going to be at 78.1 million. Our general operating fund, that's 55.4 million. We've added about $2.1 million. Most of that is staffing. We're predominantly a staff-driven organization. About 80% of our costs are related to staffing. So, most of that is keeping up with the market and making sure we have staff that have the benefits and resources and pay. uh to do the job. That covers our park and trail operations, our nature center operations, programming, just our general uh governmental support that we provide within the system. In addition to that, we have an enterprise operation that's wholly funded by its own revenues that it generates. So, there's no tax dollars that go into any of our enterprise operations. That includes Highland Hills Ski Area, that includes uh our golf courses, we have our fleet operations. Uh we do have a partnership with Scott County that's not completely funded. um by uh revenues that are derived, but it is supported by Scott County. They actually pay the differential and the cost to provide those services. So, no Henipin County tax dollars go to support the operation in Scott County. That's solely provided by Scott County. Couple quick numbers for you just to show uh we'll go back just one more slide. Sorry. Um just to show the success and continued success at least with golf operations, partnerships we have with Henipin County. Uh we operate the Parker Lake driving range. Um this year at least at end of October we had done 250,000 in revenue at the Parker Lake driving range. And if you remember that facility, it's a rather small driving range only. That's all that's there. Um so it shows the tremendous uh I think popularity of golf still and it's maintaining. We saw those numbers jump when COVID came. We're still seeing them. Uh, in fact, at Glen Lake Golf Course, which again is a partnership with Henipin County, uh, so far, end of October, we've done 1.3 million in revenue, which is record numbers for that facility. So, um, that's good news. That's a good situation for us to be in. Uh, and recognize that we have to continue to invest in those uh, pieces of infrastructure to make sure that they're popular uh, remain popular with users going forward. So, funding sources for the general fund, we again really look at property taxes. That's about 80% of the support for our system. Fees make up um about 14% and then we do get a small amount of money from the state of Minnesota. We do receive dollars through the lottery in lie of program as well as a small amount of general fund proceeds that do come to us to cover operations and maintenance funding. Um that is far smaller than what we would like it to be or like it to see it be at, but we recognize the challenges uh with that at the state level. So, the approved 2026 budget, $55.4 million in our general uh operating fund. We added, as I mentioned, 2.1 million. Uh we really look at kind of a three-step approach. We have the property tax levy. We have fee increases. We look at reallocations of existing staff where we have higher priority. If we can reallocate positions, we try to take care of that. We also really try to maintain the compensation and benefits plan that we have. We recognize staff as I mentioned 80% of our work or 80% of the work we do is staff. Uh so we want to take care of those folks and do the best we can uh to try to ensure that they'll stick around with us long term. So funding for this uh the 2026 general fund budget recognizes a 4.8% increase proposed increase in the property tax levy that'll generate about 1.6 million in new funding for us. Uh we also in addition to that have fee adjustments. We're adding or proposing to add about 230,000 uh in new funding. This is both adjusting existing budgets to recognize usage, but then we also have some increase in user fees. So, picnic shelters are going up, summer camp registrations going up slightly, uh, and then a slight increase in our cross-country ski pass, our tubing pass, and our swim pond pass. And we're also sensitive to the fact that those fees are often hard or difficult for people to maintain or take care of. uh and we look at kind of constant fee increases that can become challenging. So we do have and I want to make a mention of that our park pass plus program. That's kind of a mouthful but it's a program that we provide assistance fee assistance to anybody. If you're on any one of 14 assistance programs you're eligible for our parks pass plus uh that allows you for free passes for all the areas where we charge passes. It allows free rental equipment. It also allows for some program costs as well. So, it's a great program. Uh, if folks qualify for those, no questions asked. You just get the pass. You can apply online or you can call the park district and uh request more information on that moving forward. So, our significant cost increases again, uh, wages and benefits, compensation, health insurance premiums, the new Minnesota paid leave program, uh, the park district is covering 50% of that cost. We're asking our employees to cover the other 50%. that seems to be the standard for most local units of government uh implementing that new program. And then operational costs, pretty standard. The one that we are seeing property and liability insurance over the last few years continues to rise. So trying to cover those costs. So bottom line, property tax levy, uh we have about a $1.6 million change. Our debt service is going up about 800,000. So a total levy increase of about 2.4 million. Um the increase in the total levy is 4.8%. This is probably the key to this. The average residential property in suburban Henipin County is valued at $428,000 and we'll see an annual increase of about $5. So from a valuation standpoint, we think it's still a pretty good deal. And if you look at that overall contribution or tax contribution to the park district, that same household probably was already paying about $100. So now their new tax bill for us is about 105. So from an overall tax burden standpoint, it's a pretty small amount. And when you think of the value of all the access to the facilities that we have, the things I mentioned, we think it's one of the cheapest health clubs that's probably out there uh right now. And we think it is a great system for people to use and utilize. Our final levy will be scheduled to be approved on December 18th, assuming uh approval from the Henipin County Board. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. More information on the park district can be found on our website or certainly reach out and call our offices at 7635599000. And with that, Madam Chair, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you, colleagues. Commissioner Eden. Oh, wow. There's a lot. Okay. You might want to stay there. >> I'll [laughter] be really quick. I thank you both for the um update. This was uh really great. I'm such a huge fan. I just actually right before our meeting uh scheduled my son and his cross country or sorry excuse me his downhill lessons at Highlands. So very exciting. Yep. He's gonna go with a friend. Um but I just wanted to you know I'm really excited about the paid family leave program. I was at the legislature when we passed it. Um and just what a tremendous thing that you're going to be able to offer to your employees. Um how many in place do you have by the way? >> Uh Madam Chair, Commissioner Eden. So, Three Rivers Park District Three Rivers Park District has about 360,000 uh FTEEs. We also employ about 2,000 seasonal staff. We're probably one of the higher seasonal employers. >> Can you the FTE account? >> So, FTEES, so it's full-time equivalent. So, we have a lot of people that work halftime or part-time, but the equivalent is uh 360 FTEES and then about 200 uh excuse me, 2,000 seasonal staff. >> You said 360,000. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. >> I was thinking Yeah. No, we're not that big. We're not that big. If we could do that with the money we're talking about, that would be amazing. >> Well, then we'd have a a conversation. But, you know, back to Commission Edson. Just wanted to clarify that. back. Did you have [laughter] >> We're going kind of down the line here. So, >> Lendy, no problem. >> Uh, just want to thank you for the update. Uh, obviously I'm more impressed with 2025 because the Mississippi Gateway project, I just want to tell you that that parking lot is all full all the time. There are people walking across. Um, and I think next summer you're really going to see that place blow up because uh, you know, uh, open this fall, but summer is when that really shines. especially people uh this spring when the Mississippi is going heavy and uh the Eagles are out and owls and stuff like that. So, I just wanted to say congratulations to your staff on really developing uh the project. Many many presentations when I was mayor on what that was going to look like and I think you guys nailed it uh to a tea with everything that uh you guys promised you delivered on. Um, and I did want to thank uh Lisa Cerny and team for helping to find funds for the tunnels because uh now that the Elm Creek when the uh Wetka one is put in eventually um we will have tunnel pedestri you know the pedestrians or transfer active transit people will be separated from cross traffic which is 40 to 60 m an hour at best. So I I think that's important. It provides protections and yet people can ride that trail with their families and not have to worry about trying to cross a busy road. So, thank you. >> And Madam Chair, Commissioner Lendy, if I may, just to piggyback on that and thank you very much for your partnership and and getting Mississippi Gateway done. A project that size could not have been done without partners. And one of the best partners we had was the city of Brooklyn Park. And really that was because of mayor at the time, Lundy, uh, being such a champion and supporter of that project moving forward. the city contributed significantly in the form of both land and financial resources to make that happen. Um, and I also just wanted to piggyback on that. I did ride the Wanka tunnel last week, so that is open and usable. Uh, which again was a great partnership with Henipin County, the city of Brooklyn Park, and the park district. And that's how we get stuff done. That's the only way to do it. >> Commissioner Conley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. uh this was an incredibly robust budget and um you recognize all the challenges and also all the opportunities. What you're doing with your budget is incredible. So, I just have to say um it was Commissioner Anderson who originally brought me out to a very beautiful large farm uh and I learned a whole lot about uh all that's happening out there. But you know, I remember looking at who's doing the work of heart health in um in uh for the women's heart health initiative and when I saw Three Rivers Parker District, I was like, what is this? What are they what's happening? But I found out about the programming and it's incredible. You know, just 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. Um, and uh, I'm scrolling a little bit here because I was like, what what were they doing with heart health? And then I learned you're also like breaking social isolation with seniors, uh, Latino seniors and Somali seniors as well. Like, this is really powerful programming like the introduction of nature and our natural environment to communities that um, may not often get out to our beautiful park systems as much as we should, which is every day in my opinion. Um, so I just want to thank you for all of the programming that you offer in addition to your stewardship to our natural environment. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Bo, thanks for for the presentation and for uh, you know, Commissioner Connley, you hit the nail on the head. Uh, stewardship of the national natural resources that that we have in Henipin County. Um, it really is an impressive amount of work that gets put into all of the programming, the care of the the parks, um, and the communities that surround the parks and the trails and everything else. Um it's you know I know that there is so many different facets that are ongoing and you know trail connections that are running up uh you know the along the Mississippi uh on Dayton River Road and you know like like you said the partnerships with uh counties and cities is essential and I just really applaud the way you approach it um of, you know, steady, consistent, uh, as opportunities present themselves, you have a vision of how you're going to get there. Um, and that's what helps keep the budgets in check. Um, but also the work moving forward. So, just really applaud the work that you're doing on this. Thank you, >> Commissioner Goodell. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Maybe just briefly to piggyback on Commissioner Anderson. I I really have to give the credit to our board. Um they're the ones, you know, the policy makers that set the tone and we've really in the organization, I've been with the park district 20 plus years now and uh one of the things we adapted years ago is taking care of what we have as our number one priority. We as an organization have zero deferred maintenance. So we've kept up with all of what we have before we get enamored with the new. And that's been a credit to our board that's really had that visionary policy. Just keep stride with that and recognize that you got to take care of what you have first. Um, and I think that reflects what we do every day. So, I appreciate you mentioning those words. Thank you. >> Now, Commissioner Goodell. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, and thank you, uh, Mr. Carlson. Really appreciate this. 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. when I go and I regularly meet with city park and recck departments and with city managers and the councils and 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. So I just want to state that out publicly. Um, and I also wanted to say that I I first started to ask about these free passes that you give to those families so that you have opened wide access to people in all parts of of life and wherever they're at. I think the biggest disappointment yet though is not you, but the Met Council that has not figured out how to get some transportation to some of the outer parks um to make sure when there's heavy programming that some of those people from the cities can get out to those beautiful parks and take part in that. They qualify for their free passes, but they have to get there. And that's I think some of the biggest. So, we need to challenge um now that we we see micro buses and microtransit coming in, we need to challenge them to say you need to be getting our kids out into these areas and everything. You want to help our kids do better, get them outside. >> You're here. [laughter] [sighs and gasps] >> Uh any further comments on this? So for those uh following at home, we are at published 6K, but this is the last item of business before this body um verbally as 13C. Uh I appreciate that you um highlighted your board because that is really where credit is due. Uh because of statute, this comes before us as a more of a review and accept than a formal approval. Um just uh just for transparency sake. Uh, all those in favor of this item, please say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries and thank you. I can't believe it was already a year, but thanks again. >> Seeing no further business before this body, motion to adjurnn. >> Thank you, Commissioners Eden and Anderson. Please say I. All in favor, please say I. I. Um, we are journed. Thanks. >> Stay tuned. Not >> just so fast. Any spare Happy. [laughter] Good afternoon. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Regional Rail Authority. Today is Tuesday, November 18th, 2025. The first item of business is to approve the agenda. >> Um motion from Commissioner Eden, second and second from Commissioner Fernando. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed. Our agenda is approved. Um, so we've got the minutes from our previous meeting. Item 3A or actually item 2 A is the minutes from uh November 6, 2025. I will move approval. >> Second. >> We have a second from Commissioner Gatell. Any notes or edits? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. I. All those opposed. The minutes are approved. We have no claims registers today. Um, under new business, we've got three routine items. Um the first is to negotiate an agreement with Messer and Kramer for state lobbying services for the period of the annual calendar year uh 2026 and a not to exceed of $44,000. Um I'll move approval. Is there a second? >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Eden. Uh just want to thank me Kramer for the ongoing >> work. Sorry, was it Commissioner Connley? I beg your pardon. Um anyway, thanks to Meline Kramer for the ongoing partnership and um strong work together. Uh all those in favor say I. I. >> I. All those opposed, that item is approved. And item 4B is to negotiate an agreement with Cardinal Infrastructure Federal lobbying services also for the calendar year 2026 and not to exceed of $245,000 and negotiating an agreement with the Met Council for federal lobbying participation. same calendar year estimated receivable of basically exactly half half of the not to exceed. Um I'll move approval. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Fernando. And I want to also thank Cardinal Infrastructure for um very positive relationship and work together. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I. I. All those opposed those that item is approved as well. Uh and our last item is to negotiate an agreement with an easement agreement with AT&T Enterprises LLC to construct a fiber optic line in Minnetonka uh period of November 18th, 2025 to December 31st, 2026 with estimated receivable of $630,6635. Uh is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. Um moved by Commissioner Gatell, seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Um could we just have a few sentence summary on this? >> Chair Green, Jessica Galat is with us today and can provide a little bit of background on this topic. Great. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, board. Good afternoon. I'm Jessica Galat with Transportation Project Delivery. As stated, this request is for approval to negotiate a new easement for fiber optic purposes with AT&T in Minnetonka. 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. I'm happy to answer questions you may have. >> Thank you so much, Miss Galatz. Any questions? Um, seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed. That item is approved and I see no additions to the agenda. I will call us adjourned. >> Nice. >> Nice. Okay. How are you?