Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the administration's operation and budget committee of Thursday November 13th. We begin the agenda with item 1A, which is the race equity advisory council annual report. Erica Ryan, chair, and Katherine Boule, uh, vice chair will, uh, be our presenters today. Any opening remarks, administrator? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners, the Race Equity Advisory Council was created and adopted by Henipin County Board in 2019. Henipin County is focused on intentionally confronting and overcoming barriers that impact many residents disproportionately residents of color. The mission of the race equity advisory council is to strengthen the county's goal of disparity reduction and to advise the county board and county administration on the county's vision and strategy focused on reducing racial disparities and advancing racial equity throughout Henipin County. Henipin County has dedicated leadership and resources to drive the importance of reducing racial disparities and supporting self-sufficiency. And this work will be most successful in partnership with our residents. Today we have representatives from the race equity advisory council who will present their annual report. We will now hear from deputy county administrator Kareem Murphy who will introduce our presenters. Thank you. >> Hello Madam Chair and commissioners. I'm Kareem Murphy. I use he him his pronouns. I want to thank you, County Administrator Wentland, for this opportunity to introduce the Race Equity Advisory Council leadership. I do truly value the work of our race equity advisory council. I'm very much looking forward to uh hearing from them and the recommendations for continuing to support the work of the council in advising the county board and county administration on Henipin's vision and strategy focused on eliminating racial disparities and advancing racial equity throughout the entire county. I'll now invite Chair Erica Orion and Vice Chair Katherine Buouie up to introduce themselves and any other members of the council that are here in person today and share the council's recommendations with the board. Thank you. >> Welcome. Chair Gotel, uh, commissioners and Henipin County Administration. I'm Eric Orion and the chair of the race equity advisory council this year. I bring the experience as a director of diversity, equity, inclusion for the Minnesota State Bar Association. I'm joined by our vice chair, Katherine Buouie, who will be presenting with me today. Thanks, Erica. Chair Gotel, Commissioners and Henipin County Administration. I'm Katherine Buouie, vice chair of the race equity advisory council. I bring the experience of working as an HR practitioner for a Twin Cities Fortune 100 company. We are also joined by other council members in the audience today seated here. Please stand. Wave your hand. All right. [applause] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, next slide, please. We continue to examine inequities and focus on community and in county engagement towards assisting Henipin County's efforts to reduce racial disparities. In 2025, REACK focused on critical priorities in health and wellness, juvenile justice, education, income, and housing areas especially vulnerable to federal cuts, executive orders, and increased scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. These focus areas ma remain central to advancing racial racial equity, and eliminating disparities across Henipin County. Next slide, please. We've created five committees to guide our efforts this year. Mental health and wellness, juvenile justice, education, which is a new committee this year, income and housing. Thank you for this opportunity to present our annual report. I will now share our mental health and wellness committee recommendations on the next slide which is right here. The purpose of the mental health and well-being committee is to bring awareness to mental health issues from an intersectional p perspective. Our re recommendations are number one expanding the shape survey. According to the 2022 shape survey, nearly one in four residents reported delayed or unmet medical care with cost and insurance most often cited as reasons. Other barriers might include transportation, availability of providers, trust, and language and cultural barriers. The second recommendation revolves around child health. The recommendation is to track and report equity in early childhood special education. We encourage you to direct staff to develop and implement metrics that track access, utilization, and delays in early childhood special education services such as help me grow. Third involves male health and cancer disparities among black men in Henipin County are widening. We direct you to direct resources to expand and increase funding for Henipin Healthc Care's mobile health program with a focus on providing prostate and coral cancer screenings in black communities disproportionately impacted by these diseases. And fourth is to um the anticipated changes to Medicaid and Medicare will have significant impact on the community within Henipin County. Therefore, we're recommending developing a plan for accurate and timely information sharing. Partner with community organizations for culturally appropriate messaging in accessible settings for information sharing. Establishing a contingency plan for residents at risk of losing coverage, including clear communication of alternatives and next steps, and expanding support services to assist residents with Medicaid, Medicare reenrollment. Our juvenile justice committee recommendations are on the next slide. Here they are. The juvenile justice committee is dedicated to prevention, education, and providing resources for justice impacted youth. Our recommendations are one, update and simplify domestic violence resources for youth and families. While the Henipin County Court is responsible for filing orders of protection and handling convictions, Henipin County has an essential role in providing accessible update up-to-date resources, especially for youth. Second, expand immigration legal resources for youth on the county website. We urge you to consider minors left in vulnerable circumstances to receive timely and compassionate legal care with pathways for reunification and legal representation. Finally, REIA recommends the county work towards opening a long-term notfor-profit incount facility appropriate in size and scope of county needs that is focused and named as a rehabilitation space. Katherine will share the income committee recommendations on the next slide. >> Thanks Erica. The income committee aims to address income disparities, promote wealth building and advocate for economic equity amongst our residents. Our recommendations are number one review and publicize data from the guaranteed basic income pilot program. Early findings and national research suggests that GBI programs can support financial stability, mental health, economic mobility, and cost efficiency. Number two, continue partnerships like the one with the improved group to ensure rigorous mixed methods analysis and engage through independent evaluators. Number three, following a full evaluation, considering expanding this program if results show clear benefits. Expansion could include serving more families, increasing funds per family, adding wraparound services, and extending program durations. Number four, the establishment of a reparations research task force in Henipin County is necessary and a courageous step forward to acknowledging past harms and building more a more equitable future. [snorts] Some of the work could include conducting a historical analysis of interracial harm, community engagement, public forums and listening sessions, and identifying best practices from other jurisdictions. And recommendation number five, develop and publish a single accessible county action report to advance meaningful support for indigenous communities building upon the land and water acknowledgement adopted in 2022. On the next slide, it includes our education committee recommendations. The education committee aims to address educational disparities and promote equitable learning opportunities for all students in Henipin County. We recommend that Henipin County one create a countywide countywide education collaboration task force that includes representatives from both from each school district inviting schoolboard members or their representatives, community organizations, parents, and students. This task force would host regular forums or summits to share best practices, data, and strategies for reducing disparities. Number two, provide training on anti-racism, culturally responsive teaching, and implicit bias for K through 12 educators and administrators across the districts that fulfills personal professional development requirements. Number three, provide programming and resources for community engagement and educational programs for parents and caregivers that include navigating educational systems, advocating effectively for uh school improvements, understanding school choice options, and accessing college preparation resources, including application processes and funding opportunities. Our housing committee recommendations are on the next slide. The housing committee committee's mission is to collect and analyze housing related information from diverse sources and propose solutions to the commissioners to address and alleviate housing disparities. We recommend that Henipin County should one increase housing reparations through down payment grants, housing revitalization grants, government subsidized mortgages with low interest and little to no down payments, and formal apologies for historical injustice. Number two, apply the racial equity impact tool to all housing related decisions to assess and mitigate unintended consequences. Number three, revise eligibility criteria for housing assistance programs to prioritize people in zip codes with lower home ownership, those who are descendants of enslaved people, anyone who claims English as their second language, indigenous people or Native Americans, adults with a close relative who is or was incarcerated, and anyone who is a single parent among with along with those from lowincome households. holds and first generation home buyers. Number four, increase the Henipin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority uh levy and expand the affordable housing incentive fund to replace the loss of federal funds. Number five, establish a $2 million eviction prevention and legal aid stabilization fund to provide rental assistance, mediation, and legal representation for household at risk of eviction. Number six, strengthen housing stability through emergency funds, program reform, and development. Seven, launch a lease purchase pilot program spanning 24 to 36 months and serving 25 to 50 house homes across suburban and urban neighborhoods. The pilot would allow residents to lease homes for 2 to three years while building rent credits towards a down payment. And finally, number eight is develop a fund develop and fund a pilot program for medication assisted treatments in integrated homes. Erica will close out our time with you today. Thank you. Next slide, please. This year, our work focused intentionally on areas where disparities remain most pressing. mental health and well-being, child and male health, healthcare access, juvenile justice, education, housing, and support for indigenous communities. These priorities were not chosen lightly. We recognize the importance of being specific in our recommendations, especially at the times we find ourselves in. Our research was datainformed, targeted, and intentional, ensuring that every effort contributes meaningfully to dismantling the barriers facing communities of color especially. Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our communities to build on this momentum. By working collaboratively with all stakeholders, we can continue addressing systemic inequities and move closer to creating a more inclusive and equitable Henipin County for every resident. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to this vital work. We would like to recognize the individuals who participated as Henipin County Race Equity Council members during this reporting period listed on the next slide. Many of them also with us today. As we conclude this year's report, we extend our deepest gratitude to Henipin County staff, leadership, commissioners, county officials, and community partners for their unwavering committee commitment to advancing racial equity. Your dedication has been central to the progress we've achieved together. We thank all present and formal former REACK members, presenters, partners, and collaborators from private organizations and the community. On behalf of the race equity advisory council, thank you chair Gautel Commissioners Henipin County Administrator Jodie Wetland and W County Administrator Kareem Murphy for this opportunity to present our annual report and we look forward to hearing your feedback and will attempt to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. >> Thank you. This was an amazing report. I just want to say that um this is really meaty too and I look forward into working with um Mr. Murphy later on about how we can implement some of these great ideas that you have and I mean this is news to me about u male health. So I'm so glad that's why we have you because you need to bring these to the forefront so we we have an understanding of these. But I'm going to open this up and go down the day to see what my uh colleagues would like to say about this first. I'll start with you Commissioner Edel. Well, thank you so much um for all of your work. I this is my second year learning a little bit more about React in the second presentation I've seen. So, in the report um yes, agree that I was surprised to see some of the numbers around some of the health. I I I guess I'm curious in terms of some of the recommendations how we can um enact some of them. So, we'll be good to flush some of that out. Um, but I really do appreciate specifically I interesting ideas um that you came up with. So, it's so easy to identify the issue, but I love the solutions that you've come up with. Um, when you decided to go with the five committees to address this year, can you just I mean it seems it makes a lot of sense, but were prior years have you done something different? I guess I'm just curious. Most of the ones this year are um kind of recurring, but I will say um the mental health committee really did expand this year on specifically targeting and looking at male health. So that kind of aspect is new. Um we were really grateful to have some folks on our committee who are uh uh health practitioners or work in the mental health space. So we added that kind of new lens. I think male health doesn't get talked about as often as um uh women health. So that was kind of a priority. Um, also some feedback from this group last year, I think specifically from um, you Commissioner Lundy is around looking for more information on how the county can kind of bridge between what your role is in school districts in terms of how do we oop, sorry, how do we support progress in the education space? That education committee specifically is new. Um, and that's been continued to think about how what is our kind of scope within Henipin County. um and how can we kind of build better bridges between the county and the school districts. >> The one thing I'll add to that is given the federal cuts, we tried to be as intentional as possible and took a look at how the cuts were not only impacting Minnesota, but specifically Henipin County using the tool that's um provided by the state of Minnesota. So that helped us inform where we wanted to lean into as far as focuses. >> Great. Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh I want to thank the committee for the robust report. Um and of course triggering my obsession with literacy. Thank you. Um [clears throat] but uh I I think you know and I said this last year I'm going to keep saying it is you know in 20 years from now the inequities will have started today in first grade. >> And where kids fall behind they it's very hard to get caught up. And when people are now graduating without the knowledge, I mean there's now there's been reports about how many colleges are setting up remedial math and remedial learning because the incoming students that they're uh having uh come to university don't actually have when I graduate the high school reading and math. And so there's a remedial part of MIT has a remedial math program that's one of the most preeminent engineering math uh universities in the entire world. and they actually this year set up their first one. Um, and I'm not blaming anybody. I'm just stating the facts that those are those hard realities that we all need to work together. And so I I greatly appreciate that. And um I like the approach on colleges. I do think there's some those navigating to get to money. You know, people like, oh, there's money to pay for tuition, but okay, you got to have reports. You got to have your parents taxes. You got to have there's a lot of stuff that pulls together. And uh you know if you're a kid whose family may have suffered financial challenges, you may not have all that paperwork and it can be difficult. Um something I I'll put uh for the education committee maybe to think about is is looking into colleges and starting to demand, okay, so if a thousand people start, how many actually graduate? >> And I think you're going to be shocked at how low that number is and how many people drop out, you can actually, you know, if they make it to the third year, their chances of succeeding are pretty are really good. But the first year and the second year is where they lose students. And so you never hear colleges, community colleges, universities talk about persistence >> because it's not a good number. And so having that, but what happens is if a kid starts college and they don't make it for whatever reason, they don't succeed. And I know lots of people don't succeed and they go back. But if they've applied for a student loan or student aid and they don't complete and [clears throat] they owe money to that college, they cannot enroll again until they make good on that past debt and they don't forget that. Um, you know, and so >> I've seen that when I taught at Henipente that people to get back in it was they had to make up for a bunch of stuff that is kind of with them forever. And so, um, just applaud the work that you've got going. I I like the male health. I would just encourage bringing males to the table to talk about male health because almost everybody I've met that talked about male health, mental health >> are females. >> Yeah. >> And so if you want to talk to males about it is different on how people uh seek care, how they do things differently. And so I think that's important and I want to applaud you for bringing that forth to in your report. Thank you. >> Yeah. in our mental health and well-being committee. Uh it was actually one of our new members who as a as a male who kind of brought that to the forefront and we hadn't thought about that. So, it was really valuable to have his perspective. Um he's not here today, but and then as far as the education piece, I think when we recommended, you know, having some type of forum, we know that there's really great pockets of teachers and educators among school districts who have really great success, um especially post-secary. And I think those forums bring the opportunity to connect those people, especially I'm a former um educator of color and I did feel really siloed in my school and in my space and having opportunities for people to connect, see one another who even look like them and can share similar narratives. Um even maybe bringing in, you know, diverse college professionals to that to that forum I think is a really great space to help mitigate some of the concerns that you have. >> Madam Chair, may I add one thing if that's okay? I'm sorry. >> Please go ahead. Um I I think something else you mentioned is really key is uh you know I only spent a year in elementary as a volunteer coordinator. There was one male teacher. >> And so when we talk about where kids you know with oh they act out or they're not they're out of control they they get they get labeled they get uh applied into a different program. Um and so a lot of that is just there are difference between students that are males and females. And the fact is uh the male students who may have challenges controlling emotion stuff, they tend to do better in a class when there's a male teacher, but if you look at the teaching ranks or just, you know, encouraging males to join the teaching ranks, I think is such a good thing. And so, thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Thanks, Commissioner Conley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Thank you all for just all the work that you do. um you do incredible work and this report is extraordinarily comprehensive. We have moved from reduction of disparities to elimination and part of that is because reducing disparities means that sometimes it's okay if somebody dies because of disparity dis because of a disparity that's not okay. We have to get rid of that. So when I look at like the mortality rate for some of the one of the cancers that you pointed out at 70% for black men, we have to eliminate that disparity. So we save lives because just by reduction means that a few lives lost is okay and it's not. So I really appreciate the raw data that you used, the research that you put into it. I would say that we've got to do a lot of work around breaking the stigma of a colonoscopy. We've just got to break that stigma and make it more accessible. You know, in in um in black culture, we have a very uh a very struggling relationship with the healthcare institution overall for reasons that you all are probably familiar with. Um and so bringing um men into the spaces of talking about health care, talking about access to the screenings that can provide early detection is going to be really important. I think that that's an incredible recommendation and thank you for calling that out. I hadn't seen it before uh in in such 4K detail. So I appreciate that. I think breaking the stigma is going to be a part of it. That stuck out to me. And then I really appreciate that you brought reparations back. I appreciate it wholeheartedly because you mentioned that it was a topic that you brought up in the 2024 uh report, which you was, and I was like, "Wow, let's talk about reparative harm. Let's talk about, you know, what does it mean to repair harm in our communities?" And the way that you fleshed it out this year is just very uh incred. The detail is incredible. I'm very much interested and have been for years in the work that came out of Evans Evston, Illinois. They were able to take dollars and like give it back to people. I mean, this this was incredible. But also, I see this in the very next recommendation is around um how we support indigenous people. And I think that the two are tied, right? Um especially when we start talking about things like land. Uh, so I appreciate that those follow each other because I could see something like um a reparations research task force including the work of supporting indigenous uh our indigenous relatives and and what that might look like. Um so one question to you would be when you envision a task force like this, who do you envision on it? Is it um there's a way that we do community advisory boards, but I think this is more like unique and and distinct. So I I see professionals on there. Maybe you mentioned uh research happening out of St. Paul. So when you envision the task force, who do you see as part of it? >> Good question. Um I think for me it makes sense to have people from that community to be a part of it as well as people who have lived and worked in this city in Henipin County. Um to know kind of the look and feel and to figure out how to work together. Uh but I see people from the community, the indigenous community as a part >> a pretty large voice in that. Yeah. >> Yeah. And then it also be great to have some feedback or guidance from folks um in other areas and cities that are also doing reparation work because you know especially with resources you don't want to necessarily reinvent the wheel if you don't have to. Right? If you can find examples of people that are already doing it well like bring them in, have them be a part of a conversation and how can we take what you did and apply it specifically to the needs in Henipin County. Wonderful. Thank you. And and just I the last thing I want to mention is um there's a there's a paragraph that just really stood out to me and it's timely because it says Henipin County like many jurisdictions has a documented [clears throat] history of racially discrimin discriminatory policies including housing covenants exclusionary zoning and you go on. Um, in my district recently, we celebrated the change of a street name from Edund Boulevard to Lena Smith Boulevard. And Edund Boulevard Edmund Walton was the architect of redlinining and racial covenants in in Minneapolis in in our in our region uh, where we live. And so for just the act of removing his name and replacing it with a black civil rights lawyer or uh u real estate lawyer who was fighting against segregation was super meaningful, but that just happened just a couple of weeks ago. So So it it tells you that in our communities, we're still honoring people who are the very architects of the work that we're trying to to um to reverse or eliminate, right? Um, so just just so you know, I really appreciate um that this is very that the task force is very much flesh fleshed out. I love to see it and uh look forward to that work. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thanks, Commissioner. Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um really appreciate everyone here, all of the time that you've placed into this. Sharing your genius with the county uh can't always be easy. you know, you're sharing um perhaps personal stories of injustice, perhaps calling upon moments of pain or moments of uh discomfort or oppression for your uh communities. And so that's not uh that's not lost in us. And we truly express gratitude for the courage it takes to not only embody that, but then to try to fit that neatly into 19 pages that are methodical with citations. I mean it's very very impressive. So I just want to um kind of acknowledge that uh the the the very clear um effort and choices and prioritizations that are embedded in what's placed before us. Uh a few comments just to add to what my colleagues have have already said. Um there are a number of these uh recommendations that really is about information >> and data and that is something that we have been committed to as an organization >> and we are aware that in this current moment um data and verified data is not always easy to attain >> and may not be predictably accessible in the future. >> So really uh want to lift up um especially the quick turnaround on the shape survey. Just want to highlight that. Uh some a few follow-up questions particularly about delayed care really aligns with the health access prioritization that we have um outlined here disagregating data publishing results on um our are our um raise the baseline pilot. So just uplifting there are a number of these that are really about information and data. A couple of information ones that really uh stick uh are meaningful for me individually is what you outlined with regards to domestic and intimate partner violence and resources for particularly um [clears throat] you know when a a kid comes home and their parents aren't there. Mhm. >> You know, that's that's like the that reality that deportation reality has always been present for a young person, but today it's present in a really um without due process, without warning and in in such a harmful manner that uh intersects directly with the same systems that we are and services that we as a county are mandated to provide. So just want to um call out that some of your recommendations is around data >> and really uh publishing publishing reliable information and resources in a time where that is not predictable from other governments. >> Uh the yes that's how I'll say that. And then I just wanted to close um extending the conversation around reparations and reparative um and restorative activity. uh for those anybody watching at home there's probably a lot of ways that people think about the noun reparation >> but I I believe what was written here and what I am inviting myself and others to consider is how are we we being reparative how are we repairing and restoring when we know that something has been systemically not correct. There has been an extraction of wealth via land and labor that is documented that is painful and that has not yet been corrected in our day-to-day lives. And so inquiry that is compassionate and data centered regarding uh those subjects is uh really appropriate especially in the moment. [snorts] Thank you madam chair. >> Thank you >> thanks commissioner green. >> Um thank you madam chair and thank you colleagues for your previous and excellent remarks and thank you both for presenting and this amazing report um so substantial. Uh I um don't have a lot to add to the remarks that have been made, but maybe I'll just name two things. One of them is uh as I read the report, I this is not me trying to punt, but I did feel like gosh, there are other jurisdictions that would benefit from this and I don't know if they I don't think that they have react equivalents. I don't think me sending them the report is the most effective idea because, you know, we don't like it when other jurisdictions tell [laughter] us how we need to manage things. Um, but I thought I sort of made a note to myself to maybe visit with uh Assistant County Administrator Murphy to talk about like how can we sort of get this out there in a way that we think would be effective and palatable and also not adding a ton to your job description realistically. Um, so thank you for that. And then um I um Commissionerchair Fernando, the way that you um spoke about reparations and and you as well, Commissioner Connley, I'd like to add my name to that conversation. It's something that my team has talked about. I think some of us have talked about it in the context of uh um the legalization of marijuana here in Henipin County and what the county role is in that and how we can sort of use that as a stepping stone. I don't know. That's one idea amongst many. Um the way that the REI has presented it makes me realize there are other um resources to draw on specifically like academic expertise. you know, the county has a really tight partnership with the University of Minnesota. Like, what are what are ways that we can advance the conversation that are more sophisticated than I'll say me as a commissioner being like, "Hey, here's some new money. Can we do something? >> You know, [clears throat] let's let's make it bigger and more strategic." And um so I really appreciate you highlighting that and what you had to say there. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Anderson. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you all for the the wonderful report. I um yeah, I don't want to repeat everything and this is the challenge of of going later on in and everything, but I did want to uh highlight um I think getting data and having that available. Uh, I really appreciated the the calling out of the guaranteed basic income uh pilot and learning more about the results of it and really being able to examine um the impacts and the potential benefits and connecting that. I think Commissioner Green, you tied it to like what are the other uh you know layers of government that would benefit from this kind of information because it shouldn't stay with just us. Um and so I I really appreciated that that calling out and and lifting that up. Um I also huge proponent of the collaborative um push towards making sure that we're working with our education system. Um it is so important because so often our education uh system is the front door by which we see where the like problems in community exist first. Uh our teachers are the ones who see it. uh you know the the reflections of home life on children who are coming into their liv into their doors without oftentimes the the resources or means to help in meaningful ways and I think the more we are able to collaborate and partner in those spaces the better off our entire communities are going to be. So really appreciate you lifting that up and and building that into the recommendation. So >> thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks, Sure. >> Thank you. Um, I'm just going to jump on the bandwagon, too, about increasing reparations. There's been a lot of really good reparations work done more recently. There have been reparations before, and I would say they were trivial or they were set up for people to not be successful. >> And in fact, we gave land to African-Americans and they all lost it because they couldn't pay the taxes or because they were run off of their land. >> And so, this was not a holistic approach. they we need to make sure to set people up for success. Um, and make sure and that's why I'd like us to be more of a government thing than I would private equity or anyone like that because I don't think that they have the heart of the people in mind. So, just my my take on what I have seen being done, what's worked in a lot of what's not worked. So, I really like the idea of navigating services for education because we have a lot of newer Americans and residents in here and they really do struggle and some of our absenteeism and issues is around that issue because I talk to our superintendents regularly and a lot of times it's with those that community that they're really reaching out and talking to them about what's important and what they need and also getting services to them. Many time they just need services and they can do that when those conversations happen. So, I'm glad that you're bringing this up. One of the things I thought was really great is the juvenile rehab space. I think that's necessary, much needed. And I think if you have that space where they're not maybe back in the space where they were having issues, if they are separated from the past that brought them into a place that was probably not a good place, this would be a different place for them to have a foothold in the community and move out. Now, how we can do that, you know, you know, we're all under a little bit of bud budget pressure, but I think these are such great ideas. They have to figure out how to launch some of these. So, and I was the one who brought out the male health. That was really great. Um, I like expanding the shape survey. I I remember the shape survey from the days when I was mayor and everything like this. And expanding that very question that you're talking about, delayed health is something we just talked about in the safe uh the safety and quality meeting for the hospital. And so this is so timely. You are on the right conversation here. I just want to say that and I think everybody else is on this too. How do we make things more accessible? And I like the idea of the mobile clinics. I just toured the pediatric mobile clinic. You are right. This serves a community and a need that that is gone unmet. And so expanding those services to get to some of these other areas means a lot, I think, to our community. It'd be a huge prevention, huge moneysaver for us, too. Absolutely. >> Besides joining people, trust, >> trust, you know, we would gain trust. >> Yep. >> So, anyway, lots of accolades and you got a lot of work to do. So, [laughter] >> any any final thoughts on our feedback or comments? >> No. And I would just say like we definitely recognize the um restraints of, you know, budget and resources and so you've already talked about it, but we hope you find that in a report. We kind of recognize that in the meantime, you know, bolstering resources, adding links to resources page, um starting to ask research questions so when funding does become available, you have that platform um and the kind of organizational structure to do it is really important. So um hopefully we've given you some good uh kind of interim steps until those opportunities arise to be able to start planting the seeds to do some of those bigger projects and work. I want just thank you also for stepping up into leadership roles and I want to thank all you board members who made it here today. Thank you. You guys are phenomenal. I know others had to work but this is really great work and and yes our undying care and love for you as you continue your work. >> Yeah. Thank you so much and we look forward to continue this year. Our year's only halfway over. So, um, we'll definitely take these comments, bring them back to our committees and our larger group and figure out how we can continue kind of getting at some of those questions you answered and hopefully working with more of you individually and collectively going forward. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Yeah, I know. [applause] >> It's always great to see these great work that these folks do. Um, item two is minutes from the previous meeting of October 21st. Do I have a motion? >> Move approval. >> Second. So moved and second corrections changes. Anyone? All those in favor signify by I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. We have item three is new business, but it's all routine. It's item A through 3L. I would move the block if we could. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. We'll move the block. I'll read them [clears throat] all in and then if you have questions, we can um Madam Chair, >> please. >> Is there one to pull? We would ask you to pull 3F uh which uh we would like to go to the HA first and have a progress motion for that to the November 18th. >> Okay. So progress I'm going to put that at the end of all this 3F to progress. So we'll go um items uh to 3E and then G through L and then we'll we'll take care of 3F. Um uh rea amendment to an agreement with Minnesota Safety Council to provide occupational safety and health training in consultation at the direction of the county extension ending date of 12 uh 3128 increasing the not to exceed to 100,000 for a new total of 200,000. Item 3B, amendment four to an agreement with Optimax, the county's self-insured pharmacy benefit plans third-party administrator to include diabetes management solution services and allow data sharing for required section 111 reporting. Um item 3C is an agreement with Deer Oaks EAP Service LLC. Um uh doing business as all one health for provisions of employee assistance program services for Henipin County employees and their household members from January 1st of 26 through 1231 of 28 not to exceed of 415,000. Uh 3D is an agreement with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota for the provision of financial counseling and financial wellness education services for Henipin County employees and their immediate household members starting date of 126 through 1231 of 30 not to exceed of 350,000. Item 3E, negotiate an agreement with the IMED Vision Care LLC for provision of the voluntary vision insurance services. That's starting January 1st, 26 through 1221 of 28. And we are skipping 3F going to 3G to modify an agreement with HUD for 2025 CDBG um starting July 1st of 2025 going through June 30th of 2030 increasing the receivable two just over 2.9 million negotiated award modification to the agreement with Prism um starting July 1st 2025 through June 30th of 2030 increasing the not to exceed by 140,000. Item 2 is amendment to an agreement to transfer ownership of Willowwood Estates to SR Willowwood LLC with no change to the contract period or not to exceed agreement 3 I agreement with Summit Academy OIC to provide supplemental nutrition and assistance program employment and training. That's SNAP and E ent we know it as um October 1st 2025 through September 31st of 2026 with six with a not to exceed of 173,680 3J work order under principal cooperative agreement number um long number and with the uh University of Minnesota and joint funding of the Henipin Avenue partnership program starting January 1st 2026 through 1231 1 of 2027 not to exceed of $39,967. And finally 3 L authorizing investment officer to use additional statutory investment authority relating to repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements through 2026 with statutory and board authorization limits. There are several attachments. We have seen this before. Um so I have read those in. They have they've been moved and seconded. Uh, Commissioner Anderson, any comments or questions? I'm going to go your way. >> Um, >> on any of these? >> No, I don't think so. >> Okay. Commissioner Green. >> Oh, you're going down the line. >> Yep. Going down the line. See if anybody has a question. >> No. No. I have two questions then. Um, what is the requirements of of section 111 reporting? What is that? >> Um, Madame Chair, I'll have Alyssa Johnson come up. You're talking about the agreement with OPM RX. >> Yeah. 3B. >> Welcome. Thank you. >> Afternoon. >> I'm not familiar with this. So, >> hi, Alisa Johnson. I'm the uh senior department administrator over benefits. The reporting that you're asking about is standard IRS reporting. >> We do this every year and Optimus done them for us every year. >> So, it's IRS, it's not healthy. Okay, that's that answers that question. And then I just want to put a shout out to Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota for financial counseling. I not only for our own people here, I can't tell you how many people in the community I have um referred to Lutheran Social Services and they are just a stellar organization that really helps us out. >> Yes, they are a great organization. In fact, some uh stats that I'd love to share with you are I know you love this. Um 172 employees have been benefited by individual financial counseling. 939 employees have participated in webinars and other trainings. And the debt debt management program has assisted 99 employees in paying off $1.4 million in debt. >> Wow, that's amazing. Yeah, we can applaud for that. We can applaud for that. [applause] Thank Thank you. Thank you to the county for providing that. All those in favor signify by I. I >> I oppose. Motion carries. Item 3F now is to authorize the issuance and sale of one or more tax exempt multif family housing revenue bonds by Henipin County Housing Redevelopment Authority for the affordable housing preservation project at 3400 Park a Park Lawn Avenue and 510 Summit Avenue in Edina. And a progress motion is in order. >> Move the progress to the board meeting on Tuesday. >> Second. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Made my job easier. We'll go to items for discussion and action. We'll go through these one at a time. 3K is a contract with M. Arthur Gendler Jr. Associates for the architectural engineering services for the schematic design phase of the Brookdale Library renovation and facility preservation. Um, this starts 121 of 2025 through 71 of 26 with a not to exceed of just over 1.1 million. Uh, Commissioner Lendy, would you like to move this? >> Yes, I'd like to move it. >> I'll second. Um, do we could we have a staff report, please? >> Certainly. Madam Chair, Liz Ferero from facility services is here. >> Welcome, Liz. Good afternoon. All right. Uh, Chair Fernando, Vice Chair Catel, and fellow board members. As mentioned, this is a request for the schematic design contract with Gendler. Gendler was selected by the county selection or designer selection committee in March of 2024. [snorts] Along with the project team, they recently completed a robust pre-esign phase this past summer. The schematic design phase is estimated to begin at the start of 2026 with the plans to complete an early summer. Of course, we will be back in front of you at that time with a schematic design report and contracts for approval for the remaining phases. Uh construction is anticipated to start in uh mid 2027. Uh the Brookdale Regional Center is a singlestory building approximately 130,000 square feet housing, library, district courts, service center, sheriff, dccr, and the public defender. A key note is a building was last remodeled and expanded in 2004. Objectives of the next phase will to be springboard off the findings of the pre-esign and continue to work through feasibilities including sustainable features and refinement of four key areas. the library renovation, the service center renovation, and throughout the entire facility, asset preservation, including but not limited to roof replacement and building envelope and site repairs and replacements of mechanical, electrical, and lighting systems. The project will continue to keep disparity elimination and climate action initiatives as top priorities. I am available for any questions, of course, that you may have. >> Commissioner Lundy, any comments? just was excited. I know the community is and um I just want to thank the library staff for the conversations they're having with Brook Brooklyn Center School District on as they about a block away are redoing their facilities have early childhood learning and really uh trying to engage the whole family and I think there's been lots of good conversation about uh joint programs, shared interests and um and uh a variety of other things. So this is perfect. Thank you. Other comments? >> I just want to say that I heard a lot through the capital budget task force uh person I put on to that task force about the roof. So, I understand the challenges of this building and everything. I'm glad we're taking care of it because we need to preserve this aspect and that that roof has to be addressed. So, thank you very much. >> All those in favor signify by I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Okay. >> Item 3N is to set the 2026 special levies. Madam Chair, 3M >> 3 M. I'm sorry I said 3N or M. >> You skipped 3M. >> Oh. Oh, that's Oh, that's right. I did. Sorry. 3M. Authorize anti-displacement community prosperity program contracts various dates um combined not to exceed of 2 million. Who would like to move? >> I will move it. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. >> Madam Chair, K. Adam is here to uh report on this. >> Okay. Welcome. >> All righty. Uh good um good afternoon officially um Chair Gutell and commissioners. Um we're making a request to approve up to $2 million uh in pilot funding for the ACP uh program. This will allow the county to be able to uh better address displacement that is happening in the Blue Line corridor ahead of uh Blue Line construction in 2027. Um about 13 um contracts have been identified that span the housing um stability pillar, the business stability pillar and the real estate uh stability pillar and they cover um all of the cities um along that corridor. >> Further questions? >> I have a comment. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am so grateful to see this before us. This is for those watching at home like democracy is such a group project and this is such an example of a group project. Uh the blue line extension is a a significant uh transit light whale project that the county doesn't operate but we fund and invest in because we know how vital it is. Um in the effort to further the blue line extension over the last handful of years a community raised the concern about displacement and so first of its kind uh in the country we locally here establish anti-displacement as a key aspect of the Met Council project uh for the blue line extension and as residents came together they went to the legislature and asked to have this body be established. they were successful in that and uh the county um was uh happy to help to administrate the funds that they were able to attain. So that that's what I mean about a true kind of group project community effort. Um I want to thank all of the uh individuals who advocated the organizations who've been a part of this of course to county admin for working with community to administer um this important kind of first of its kind type of program. And we always know that first of its kind takes um some creativity and diligence. And so really appreciate uh county administration and um the prosperity board uh for their persistence and their vision. And I'm really uh eager to to see how this might be able to transform future transit projects or future transportation projects. uh feedback around transportation um displacing or perhaps dep prioritizing the communities that are already there is a long-standing pattern and so perhaps this could be um a little bit of an example proof project uh as we uh proceed with the values that this uh that this board has outlined. So want to express my gratitude and excitement. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I want to give credit for to the the board uh for doing the hard work um you know really starting from scratch establishing the rules establishing the process. We want it to be community-led because there are people who want to kill the blue line who don't give one damn bit about the people in the blue line. Uh their only goal is to just try to stop this project. They don't care about the businesses. They don't care about the people there. They don't care about the history. They don't care about the needs. Um, and so I want to commend the board for stepping up and being aware of all these things that are happening where other people's goals are just to to destroy. And you guys have set up a board, you've set up a process that is defendable. You've set up a process that delivers on what we hope would happen. Um and so I think you know succeeding in that I think that credit goes to the board the board members um who are all volunteers um who have come together to do this who really care about the communities um you know you think about where do transit projects when they're going to go through a neighborhood they don't go through the rich neighborhood they go through the poor neighborhoods and part of that is just it's easier to buy land it's amazing how where you can put a road and where the cheap land is are all together and that's usually where you find people who don't have power so we want to make that the people who are going to benefit from this line are there uh when the line is made for them. Um and so I just want to commend that this is just steps by step that where we could change things for the better. Um one thing request I'll have and I've said it before and I'll keep saying it is done I would ask the board to think about the differences between how things are done Minneapolis and how things are done in the suburbs. Uh typically in the suburbs, the cities are much more involved because they help provide some of the connections. A lot of uh my nonprofits are young. They don't have connection to power. They don't have, you know, decades of uh institutional knowledge and connectivity. And so they use city resources to help expand scale, expand scope. And so, uh I know the purpose of this is to get the money out the door, but it is important that there be some flexibility in the future. um for how that is provided out so that uh we can be aware that how things are done in Brooklyn Park Crystal and Romill is not going to be the same as Minneapolis and that's okay. We can work many different ways to make sure that the people there um are served best by this. And so again, uh all credit and kudos to the board. Uh I think we're going to see some good projects and I'm excited for that. Thank you. >> Thanks, Commissioner Green. Um thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I just wanted to join and say it's so great to see this happening. To have it gone from a notion, an idea to to this item on our agenda is super exciting and really grateful to the committee for all the um thinking and investment. Um, as Commissioner Lundy alluded to, there are people out there who doubt that this project is going to happen. And I when I talk with them, I like to invite them to sort of check in with what's actually happening on the ground. Um, and this is one manifestation of great work and excitement and the reality that this project is for many people and that I think we're all committed to. Um, and that's probably a great segue to my third point, which is that Henipin County does believe in transit and the transformative power of transit investment for our region. And I do think that we are getting better and better at how we do it. Uh and there are so many ways that I see great stuff happening on the blue line that reflect learnings from previous lines and this is one of them. And I see this work and I think about um the importance of uh acknowledging and combating displacement. uh and I think that that is needs to be slash is standard fair for the work that we do going forward to invest in transit. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Go ahead, Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um echo the appreciation and kind of the um the excitement of getting this off the ground and seeing it come to fruition. I did have some kind of practical questions. Um, this is uh $2 million and I know like the legislature had allocated uh some money that required some matching funds. Does is the $2 million is this like our match to that fund? So, is this really $4 million going out the door or can you talk a little bit more about the scope of what we are um putting through here? is just like we're putting or managing 2 million that is expected to be matched in community. >> Um great question uh Commissioner Henderson. Um so this is two out of the 10 million the pot of [clears throat] 10 million that we have that we are hoping to get out of the door. Um there is an expectation um for that the contracted sort of vendors would um come up with their own sources of match. I know there's a lot of efforts on the part of the ACP board chairs and some of our Henipin County leaders to also marshall some support from the philanthropic community to support some of the organizations who might not necessarily have the matching funds on hand, but there is an expectation that the organizations would be identifying matches um from other non-state sources. >> Perfect. So, so that's kind of to a certain extent double the excitement. We have $2 million that we're administering and getting out the door. uh with uh the potential of all these matching funds coming from other sources really showing how community is going to come together. Um hopefully and I would love to hear more about the progress of this as we're administering this program and as we're seeing how we are managing to keep uh community in place and um so that they are able to see the benefits of of this future project. So, thank you. Very exciting thing. >> Okay, I'm Go ahead, Commissioner Edson. >> Yeah, thank you. I I'm very supportive of this. Honestly, I wish we would have done something like this a long time ago with pretty much every project that we have throughout the city. Um, but just a question on this. I'm I'm reading it and I wasn't here um when this was passed and so I'm just trying to understand. Um, so when we appropriate 2 million, the project is still being planned right now and it looks like it's to preserve and enhance affordable housing, small business support, job training and placement, economic vitality, and benefit the people. So, are there measures that when we're allocating the funds that the board's looking at and how are you tracking? >> Very, very good question. Um, I'm an evaluator by heart. Um, Commissioner Eden, we're working with SPY, our internal um, department here, um, to help us build in an evaluation plan. It is a pilot. There's a lot that we don't know that we don't know. And so, we're trying to build in as many learning mechanisms as possible and to have the learning also inform how future funding is going to go. And we're also going to be building in some of these um measures into how the contracts are written as well to make sure that that we there's some accountability built into I think what what um what the money is going to be spent on. >> Go ahead. >> One more followup. Madam Chair, I guess as you're learning that, I would really love an update or even just a meeting to talk about what that looks like because you kind of are setting I mean this is this is something new for Henipin County, but this is going to be state leading and so as you do this work, just know that you're setting precedent. So, thank you for that. >> And I would say that we might even want a briefing on this um chair as you make the briefing ideas. Um, and I just I just want to say that, you know, this is this is ground ground setting. I mean, this is something we've not done in the nation that I know of anybody else doing this kind of work at this level. And so, um, I think people will sit up and take note of us as we go through this. So, yes, I think, uh, us diving further into this and making sure that we know what's going on and everything would be good because I think we should really tout the great things and it might also bring more philanthropy to us if we elevate, you know, this and other counties see what we're doing. So [clears throat] across the country. So thank you for bringing this. Okay. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Item 3N. Set the 2026 special special levies for Shingle Creek WHED at $795,375. Basset Creek wershed at 2,535 um.5. West Mississippi River Watershed at $106,50 and Elm Creek wershed at $630,000. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Does anyone want any explanations or anything? Go ahead. >> Um, not an explanation, just gratitude. These are also four bodies that meet all year. They generate multi-year essentially kind of capital uh planning that's rolling. um just for the sake of having the information uh maybe having just their plans sent out uh is a request that I have their existing plan, right? Nothing special, but just uh we get to be the body that approves at the very end of a process that um volunteers somewhere have been investing in on behalf of our wershed. So, just wanted to say thanks. >> Yeah, they do incredible work. All those in favor signify by I. >> I motion carries. Item 3 is established community environmental advisory board. This is offered by Commissioner Lundy. Commissioner Lundy, would you like to move it? >> Yes, I move it, please. >> I'll second. Commissioner Lundy. >> U Thank you, Madam Chair. Just u you know, putting forth I think uh the idea that we, you know, we we talk about the environmental time, we talk about zero waste, we talk about uh things that we are trying to do for climate, for the the good of I think all of our health. And uh this is what I put before this board is a realization we didn't have an environmentally environmental advisory committee that actually had uh different aspects of all of our county kind of represented to provide us some feedback on an ongoing basis. I think it's important because as I've you know how environmental activists in Minneapolis talk about things is completely different than how they're talking about Bookham Park. Um and so where you go different places you get different feedback and where people's goals are. And so I think it's important to have all those views brought forward. Um I think having a standing committee allows us that kind of landing or kind of a bounce back where we can kind of start to propose stuff and get feedback. Also very proud that uh this includes a youth advisory u which I as I think everyone has figured out. I love where we engage youth uh that they're they're the future. Sure. I mean, we talk about the environment. Uh it is their environment in 30 years if it's not now. And so having those voices, uh I want to give credit to the library board. They've got the youth uh advisory that has been set up. And for those who haven't done engagement with advisory, sometimes people just add youth to committees and after about three meetings, they kind of they float off because a lot of our stuff, no offense to everybody here, can get a little boring. Um, and I, you know, if it's not Tik Tok in 5 minutes, it's just not that interesting. But, um, bringing things to youth that matter to youth is the key. And if you want to keep an engaged youth advisory, it's to bring stuff that matters. And so, there are things that does matter to them, there are things that doesn't. And so, really harnessing their opinions and uh what they believe on stuff uh in an appropriate way is is a good thing. And so I think that's how you engage youth is be aware that, you know, centuries ago when I was young, not everything was that interesting. Uh, and some things were really interesting, but having that kind of good back and forth is important. And so, um, I hope everybody will join me. I think this is, uh, good for the the Henipin County going forward. Thank you, >> Commissioner Green. >> Um, um, thank you, Madam Chair. So, um, thank you, Commissioner Lendy, for bringing this forward. I think it's really interesting and as you said um reflects uh what optimism and desire to check in with young people about how they want their future shaped which is marvelous. I really like the idea. I do want to acknowledge that um something similar was considered a couple years ago in the context of developing the zero waste plan. Um although this is different in um in some pretty big ways and so so cool. Um I so I I wanted to open with positive uh my positive remarks because I would like to move to progress this item. um not because I don't like the idea but I want to understand better um both how it's going to be managed what the exact output is and sort of how we're going to make it something where we really do take what they say seriously and they can have this a sense of satisfaction and sort of solidity about how ideas are carried forward. I just want to make sure that it's something real for both for us and for participants. Um and I'd like to understand that better. So, when appropriate, I'd like to move to progress. But >> other comments? >> Go ahead, Commissioner Eden, then Commissioner Fernando, then. >> Thank you, Commissioner Lundy. Um, I I do I do like this and I like you, I actually really think youth involvement is incredibly important. I'm curious um on your ages for the youth advisory, um why 15 to 21? >> I believe that's consistent with how we frame other ones, >> uh for youth. So, you know, taking them from, uh, high school at that age and then into, you know, the beginning of college before they if they're going to college. Um, and so it's just establishing that as a kind of a guidelines. So, um, I think 18 is, you know, maybe too much of a cut off, but having somebody and also you can get some college age kids who come, whether it's our youth internships or, um, dropping the term, >> yeah, pathways where it fits in those ages as well. I I just would maybe consider us to think about 14 because I I just um I' I've had some youth do my internships that are 14 and you'd be surprised that they're actually contribute a lot. So, um outside of that, I'm supportive. >> Commissioner Fernando, >> thank you. Just want to express my immense support. I know you had um introduced an aspect of this last year and I was a part of the group that said how can we make sure that's more consistent with other bodies, etc. So, it sounds like and I'll also support the progress motion to um you know that's just a few days to make sure that if an age you know if if an age or a certain output gets to be identified um just want to express my gratitude to you commissioner Lundy and my uh support for this item. Thank you Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Yeah, absolutely agree with you that having uh voices from across the county and weighing in meaningfully on the work that we're doing around um zero waste and our environmental policies I think is is really important. really also echo the appreciation of including youth in in this as a a separate body that gets to um weigh in and offer their own ideas. Uh because I think very often youth and like well I'll put myself in the establishment um like we don't always see eye to eye right but it's important to hear and and take time to understand what what is being um offered. So thank you. >> I want to say that I I support this too and I'm really glad that you brought this forward to us. Um but I I also will support the progress motion uh Commissioner Green when you make it and and that is true. I just to make sure that um we make sure that we have diverse folks with diverse ideals. I mean maybe perhaps I don't know if we want to have some appointments by uh county board or if we want to do it through their regular process or a combination which we have also done like the REAc. Um, I just want us to be really careful about that. So, we do get truly diverse attitudes and voices at the table. You're right, uh, Commissioner Lundy, suburbs do see this very differently than those who are in the city. And so, I just want to make sure everybody's at the table, um, at this time and it doesn't get stacked one way. Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I wholeheartedly support this. Um, I I absolutely think that we need youth voice in everything we do around zero waste and solid waste management in this county. Um, we need young people at the table. We need them guiding it and um so support the progress motion because I want to see like how robust can we make it like so that maybe they're up here next year reporting back to us their recommendations for how we move quicker on accelerating zero waste or what we can do differently in um mound that we aren't doing in uh St. Louis Park for example. I mean just some ideas and I would I would I have a value of compensating young people for their time for participation in this. So if that's something that can be written into however that is if there's a um a way that we can provide a stipend or food or whatever so that they can um be participatory in this work. how closely they will work with um leadership in public works or in environment and energy or um in climate resiliency so that they have all the tools that they need to be successful but are some things that I would um want to see out of the establishment of this. Thank you. >> Thanks Commissioner Green. Are you ready for your progress? >> You move we progress. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved to progress uh to the next board meeting. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. I >> motion carries. And the last item, no I still have two items. Sorry. Um uh two addendum items. Item 3P is to authorize to adopt laws of the Minnesota 2025 first special sess 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 five years to June 29th 2046. I'll move this mad chair. [laughter] >> A second. That's a mouthful. Can we get a a brief on this please? >> Certainly. Madam Chair, um Joe Matthews is here and can uh provide background. >> Welcome, Mr. Matthews. I had to practice that. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Joe Matthews, chief financial officer at Henipin County. Um item P is uh very similar to the next item as well, so I'll kind of speak to both if that's okay. >> Sure. >> Um this one is an extension of the existing tiff district. There's a history in the background. It's not unusual for cities to go to the legislature to request that the tiff districts be extended. It can either be caused by development occurring more slowly in the district than anticipated or uh sometimes uh you based on the economy or other things that it may take longer. I would also just point out that in this one it also allows them to use the funds to help pay for some of the improvements to the interchange at 169 and Elm Creek Boulevard. Um the next item uh which I know is not before you yet uh very similar for the city vina. Uh again they're looking for an extension. I would just call out this the the next item has two resolving clauses because there actually in fact two districts uh that are being impacted but they're in close proximity. >> Okay. Thanks. Please commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Why is this coming now? Is there a timing dependency and intransparency? You've all heard me talk about my intrigue on TIFF like the whole fall. Um, and then also in transparency just in general, the city of Minneapolis has a very long packet of modifications. So, I I want to just make sure that I and the public have a little bit of eyes wide open as to why is the timing um I was surprised I'm just surprised that like at the end of a year when it is decades from now um that the timing part is confusing to me. Uh, Madame Chair, Commissioner Fernando, excellent question. Um, so the special legislation was passed this last year. The Maple Grove Tiff District, uh, they're up against a deadline that lapses next summer. And so they're in need of having the local governments, the city, the county, and the school. If that law is to be effective and extend the district, that has to occur before next summer. Uh, we have in the packet for Maple Grove, the school district, and the city have already taken action for the Edino one. Um the city's taken action. The school district has already discussed it and are expecting to move it forward on December 8th at their next meeting. Um for the Minneapolis uh that you mentioned, each of these special legislation uh bills that are passed by the legislature can be somewhat different. Sometimes they require um county or school approval, sometimes they do not. Uh Minneapolis sought special legislation uh for their tip districts that I would say is somewhat unique. And I think we're all uh in the process of kind of digesting that to understand exactly how that's going to move forward. >> So, Madam Chair, so colleagues, personally, if there is not a time sensitivity sensitivity to this year, I'm I'm individually not comfortable voting to support them at at this time. I if there's other information on time sensitivity that makes sense to me. Um I'm happy to receive it. Oh, sure. Madam Chair, Commissioner Fernando, I will say from an administration standpoint, even though the deadline of the tiff district is next summer, we do need to know by the end of the year what is happening with these districts so that our administrative folks in the property tax area and in the cities and the schools can plan accordingly. There is a state um or a statutory process for all the tiff districts and the processes and so um you know if we do if we were to push this back particularly into next year that could be problematic. and chair. I'm not necessar I'm sharing where I'm at individually. We have a couple more cycles left. I'm just sharing that I'm not prepared to vote in favor of this at this time. Um and my individual reason for it is cuz there's just a volume coming at once and I know that the implications are significant and I just have not had the individual time to digest it. The um the other aspect that I've been raising tiff for all year is because of property tax strain. So by extending this, it does not impact our levy, but it does impact property tax burden. And so, you know, even just some math on like how does this impact their residents? Um, you know, for example, if city X has a lot of tiff and then they have to keep their levy low, then that that burden is not distributed in a way that is equitable. So that that is my reasoning. This is not about again where I live is Minneapolis and there's like a 177 page packet that um I was shocked to uh receive. So I am I'm equally critical um of of that. I my interest is property tax burden and and really making sure we understand that impact. So uh this is not my these are not the communities I represent and I want to acknowledge that. Um, but I I do not yet uh individually have the information that allows me to vote in favor of that. So, I just wanted to express that with transparency. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> I have Commissioner Green next. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, and thank you, uh, Mr. Matthews. Appreciate it. I wanted to ask I have two questions. first is and they're they're the their ven diagrams are probably overlapping with um with Commissioner Fernando's comments is so is are these changes driven by a change in legislation or do these communities need to re-up on the money or is it something that's a little bit of both? >> Yeah. Uh Madame Chair, uh Commissioner Green, that's a great question. So typically what happens uh if you're looking within the geographic boundary of a tiff district, if there's a number of infrastructure improvements that they're looking to finance and the development in that district occurs more slowly, the tiff district will not generate enough revenue to cover those costs over its lifespan. And that's typically when you see a city go to the legislature and ask for an extension. It's relatively, it's not uncommon, I won't say it's common, it's relatively uncommon for that to occur. Um, and typically they're trying to do that for a finite number of times. I will point out, um, for Maple Grove, you'll note that in 2017 they had gotten a three-year extension. That would have put them to about 2020. Then they, uh, went back and asked for another, um, another extension. So, I'm sorry, uh, would have been through 2026. So, next June 29th is when that district would their period for doing the improvements would expire. This will allow them more time to complete those improvements and finance those. Um, thank you. And then my second question is, could you remind me the does this this has an impact on how the jurisdictions, the cities do their finances because they're deciding to put the tax increment financing into into whatever it is that they want to put it into. Does it have an impact for us? >> Yeah. Um, Madame Chair, uh, Commissioner Green, uh, if you haven't had a chance, I think last week we distributed a memo on, uh, TIFF financing. >> And hopefully that would give you much more detail. But what I will say in response is, >> um, the TIF districts basically capture the increase in tax capacity, the increase in value, and then raise the property taxes for that increased amount, that increment to pay for the improvements if the improvements occurred. but the tiff district didn't exist, that would spread. That would basically be new tax base for everyone and help lower property taxes. Part of the argument for TIF would be that those improvements wouldn't occur without this as a financing mechanism. And that's really the policy choice in front of city, county, state policy makers when they consider these provisions, whether they believe it would occur with or without that financing. >> [snorts] >> quick followup and I do recall receiving the memo and I remember thinking, "Oh, I want to read that, but I haven't yet." Um, and so, and what you're describing is sort of dusting off some cobwebs some from something that came before me when I was a legislator. So, thankfully there's a little bit of structure in there. um when you talked about the um the the the cost but then also the benefit being either localized or spread across a larger geography. So is that the whole county or is it just the amount of property taxes that that city is collecting and if it is nibbling into the county what the county would collect on property taxes does the city have to account for that to us? Uh, Madam Chair, Commissioner Green, also a great question. Uh, it does capture the tax capacity of the city, the county, and the school, which is why the special legislation is requiring all three bodies to take action. one example um of where these have been handled differently in the past uh when the Egan Outlet Mall was constructed. The school district in that case uh indicated that they just didn't have the tax base within that school district to allow that to be captured and the special legislation was drafted to exclude them u from participating in that. So that's a policy choice that can be made. uh in these I'm not privy to you know the approach on that the cities took on these two but typically cities are able to impose tiff districts without prior approval from the school um in the best cases those generate new property tax base that when the districts expire and they come back in the tax roles that is a long-term improvement to the overall tax base and that's what we would hope to see um in these cases I think they are having successful development I think they're just trying to complete all of the improvements that have taken longer than anticipate on it. >> And I'm sorry, final question. Would it be your recommendation, and this this may be a bit of a doozy of a question, I acknowledge. Would it be your recommendation that we respond to this and the other issues that are for going to be coming in the next couple weeks individually or would you recommend that we take a policy position on tiff districts? Like I have had constituents who have, you know, years of the legislature, for example, call me to say, Marian, you know, end the addiction to tiff districts. Um but but on the other hand, as you've just described, they enable certain things that end up driving a big benefit that, you know, it um creates an opportunity for like a bigger lump of money, you know, etc., etc. Anyway, I I just am interested in your advice on how we should respond to these. Like, should we evaluate like, oh, yes, they're doing well. They just need to finish these this project, or should we take a more um philosophical approach to all of them and respond in the same way? >> Uh, Madame Chair, that is a doozy of a question. Uh, I don't have an election certificate, so I'm a little hesitant to to tell you [laughter] all what you should do. What I would say is I would recommend uh looking at each district individually and I think um they're all very unique. They all fund different projects and I think that um depending on where we're at in the economic cycle. So if you think back to the great recession, uh there was a lot of tiff districts that there was no development occurring. And so you have an opportunity at those times to come back and look at whether that plan still makes sense or whether you think that maybe uh what they're trying to build maybe would have happened in a different time and now you know a major event economic event or a world event has occurred and maybe now that's not the direction we're headed. Um, so I I'm not trying to totally sidestep your your question, but I think that they are really unique and different. And if you were to look at the I want to say hundreds, I don't remember how many if we're over a thousand tiff districts in Henipin County, they are all very very different. And over the history of TIFF, which is several decades long, um, they they have all taken different forms and each one has kind of a unique history to some extent. There's a lot that follow a similar pattern, but um I do think it's probably worth looking at them one by one. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, >> Commissioner Eden. >> Thank you. Um so on Listen, I totally understand Commissioner Fernando Latif has been up for debate for years. I just it really has been and at the legislature it was in our caucus. We would we would fight about it a lot. Um, and so I guess what I would encourage us to do is maybe look at a legislative because what will happen right now is if we don't certify if we start to not certify these then we're interacting with the legislation, right? So the legislaturator's already approved it. So if we would like to start to not certify them, I think we should be I think we should honestly it I I would like to support this and I would like us then if we want to revisit the discussion about tiff and how we want to deal with tiff moving forward. I think we should do that in our state platform with the IGR and then work with the legislature on how the preceding year so we can give cities a notice too. I I feel like um TIFF is a tool for cities and so for 72nd in France it's actually one of our diverse it's the most diverse part of Edina and so I really would prefer I don't I actually think this is if we're going to start it now we should really assess on where we're doing it because honestly the economic viability in building up in that area for the city of Vina is really something I believe in and the school district I've already talked to them as well because uh Commissioner Green we I've gotten people for years too that have said oh well tiff Again, it's a debate, right? It's there's two different sides to it. But I just I guess I would I would request as that we look more thoughtfully to the to the future of maybe next year. >> Okay. Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um with like some pretty deep understanding of this particular tiff district and um and the importance not just of the development that's happening there. I I want to speak a bit to you mentioned the uh the little oddity in this particular extension um allows them to uh fund the improvements to the bridge uh on a county road that is Mandot's bridge on a county road that the city is trying to shoulder uh because we didn't have it in our CIP. Um, so this is another one of those little pieces that um I I will say that bridge is incredibly important for the not just the community but for future access to the blue line extension which connects like is one of the major connectors from Maple Grove to where a light rail line is going to be. Um and um this is an important tool in order to get us to a point of being able to do that. Um and so I I really support this. I've been seeing if you've driven out um along 94, you've seen a lot of development happening. There's a lot of businesses happen coming up out there. There's also a lot of apartment um and highdensity housing going in in that area and I know the plan is to continue to build and and develop out there. So it's it is growing. It is you know the the future benefit to our tax roles is really really apparent especially at this point. So, I happen to see this as a as a really positive function of that tool. Um, even if at times I've also heard the like, hey, we shouldn't be terribly addicted to TIFF. But, um, this particular one, especially because of its kind of more specific uh function in uh funding a project that like everybody kind of acknowledged needs to happen. um but was unexpected and because somebody like a truck hit the bridge and damaged it. So it's not like anybody had capacity to plan for it. So this was a tool in their toolbox to try to address something. So thank you >> commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Um I find it humorous a little bit only in this that uh my city set the standards for the unique ways and use tiff districts. Brooklyn Park was the tiff district city uh at the forefront of the whole city's layered with them. Um they all expired during my term as mayor and I had the distinct pleasure of going to Senator Rest and Representative Leeski I think from Bloomington to make the case which I think um Gotautell knows how those conversations went uh to get extensions on those especially after the recession when they're expiring. Um and so I'm you know judging and then I'm also judging myself because we used them all over Bookham Park. And so I do think to your point though, they are they're not like a block of just they're all the same. Uh we used a housing tiff district that frankly was going to expire to fund the um the homeless shelter for youth in Brooklyn Park. It's where we got the money. So sometimes those things are there. I I think it is very nuanced. Like there are certain things that that you go, "Okay, it makes sense." Other times just like what? Um, but they are a a tool that cities use to fund infrastructure. Um, we have one in north side of Brooken Park that's used to move a a major uh water line that's not ours, but it goes right through the heart of our uh development area that you can't build over the top of it unless you move it. So, those kind of things go there and they take places. Everybody does a different I I think Commissioner Allison is correct that maybe you know I would be more inclined to support this in lie of having a conversation later about do we want to try to find out how this impacts people and stuff like that. So but uh I just want to allow and admit that yeah Brooklyn Park has a ton of them and we were there asking for extensions all the time for because of the exact point they all expired during the recession. So thank you >> commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you. I mean, if colleagues are open to it, perhaps a progress motion. My my reason for asking this is because there's no n numbers in here. It doesn't describe the project. I I believe you and the cities on the benefit, but as a person who's meant to say I I I actually have no context for this project. I don't know how much money was collected. I don't know what the five years was prompted for. And so, um, my own inquiry on TIFF, as you all know, is an inquiry. I have not concluded anything cuz to you all are right if there's a tool out there. It's more about my desire to understand it. My reason for saying I'm not equipped to vote in favor today. But it sounds like others are. So we could also just move forward. But I just wanted to share from my own vote. Um I do not know what these projects are. I don't know when they were constructed. I don't even qu I couldn't even Google them easily cuz they're large locations. Nor do I know how much money um we're discussing. So that's I want to be super upfront. This was not me um signaling that I was going to, you know, upend which what should be really seen as an approval process for this body, not unlike the watershed districts or other aspects. Um but I I just haven't had the opportunity to engage with the uh nuts and bolts of this particular project and and unless I'm missing it, unless there's an attachment, I didn't see one. So, I I apologize if I missed something, but I don't see the financial um or project descriptions that it sounds like others might have context for. >> Commissioner Eden, >> just Madam Chair, really quick, you know, I wonder if in the future, just as as these tiff um requests are coming forward that we don't just change the process, too. Right now, I would support that um that we request exactly what you're saying, the financial background because the legislation does actually have it. the legislation at the legislature. So, how we're preparing it right now, being somebody that has done tiff extensions, we have a lot more detail. So, Commissioner Fernando, I would support um asking staff to prepare that as these tiff proceed if they come forward that we show exactly what you're asking for. So, I don't know if we need to make a motion for that or if we could just be informal. >> Um, finally, you know, I think we can include that in a progress motion. We could ask for the data. So, that I think that solidifies things. Um I just want to say that I am actually really familiar with this the city of Maple Grove um this particular uh gravel mining area soils before I was ever in public service I was an activist and this was a piece where they wanted to try to finally put some affordable housing and it has been a very heavy lift because every time they dig into that ground they find some other problem with it. But for that, but for tiff, there would not be a way forward to this. And Maple Grove has a plan to actually put affordability up there. But and and I want to talk to about tiff because there's two kinds of tiff. There's housing tiff and then there's development tiff and they're different and they have a lot of different criteria from the legislature. And again, I agree this is an impact to taxes, at least a burden to them. But unless we have another tool to take its place, there isn't a better tool at the moment. And I would say that in a lot of ways like our HUD tools, everything is exceedingly archaic and and doesn't really always send the purpose, but we haven't given them something else. So I think there might be brighter minds out there who have some ideas about what the tools would be to replace this or how we make this um a different kind of a tool to work for people. But otherwise, cities don't have a way to take redevelopment and blighted property and turn it over because there isn't a developer who's going to go over there and do that. And it it is decades. This is decades in the making here. And it's just now getting that's how long these projects take. It would double or triple the time. And it may never happen if we don't have a tool. I'm not saying it has to be tiff, but we don't have a tool. So, I'm okay for the background information because there's a lot of dollars tied up into this. I was never so happy as when Best Buy came off their tiff because that really threw a whole lot of money back into my little city of Ridgefield. Um, you know, so we all know what this is, but there's a lot of housing tiff that's still going on in Richfield and it's made affordable housing. Uh, that's a good thing. We want more of that. So, we just got to look at these tools. And I believe Dan Rogan would like to speak to this. >> Just Madam Chair, just just a just a couple of things just to to clarify. Um, a couple of things. One is there's about a hundred tiff districts in Henipin County and um you haven't seen most of them because we we don't vote on them generally. When a tiff district is created, we get notice that it was created. It gets created by the city and it and it goes into effect. We get notice of it. If a board member wanted to, they could go to a public hearing at a city to to to voice concerns about it. So that's how the law is how they start. The reason that these ones in particular are before you, as Mr. Matthew said is because these are established tiff districts where the city is now requesting a change to the tiff district and because the state uh statutes require when there's a special law that gets made and these were both special laws that were passed in 2025 um the uh impacted uh jurisdictions need to vote on it to approve it. And our past practice has been that we uh bring these forward only after we uh have heard from both the city and the school district so that the board knows that the local community has has approved that. Um we haven't generally included the information that was requested here about how long has it been, what's the dollar amount, what's the anticipated uh information, but that information exists. It's in the original TIFF uh tiff um district when it gets created. So we can provide that and we will provide that um for the board. And then we will also invite uh representatives from uh the city of uh of Maple Grove and Adina. They they have both been in contact with county administration to make sure that we were we're uh proceeding with this. Um and so we will make sure that they're here so that you all can make sure that you have all the information uh needed to to make an informed decision about uh about whether to approve uh both of these bars. >> Madam Chair, if I could move to progress these two items. So I'm going to I'm going to >> to Tuesday. Okay. Right. Excuse me. >> So So we've already we got a motion just to move one. So can we augment the motion for two and then we can progress? >> And madam chair and just add one more wrinkle. We have we just have an R1 for the second one which makes it clear on the background that the school board [clears throat] hasn't voted yet. Their committee has voted but they're going to vote on December. So anyway the progress would be to the R1 for that one. >> Okay. So to the to the uh first person who made it which I believe it was you and seconded can we amend to put item 3Q and then we can do >> okay so I'm going to read 3 QN um authorization to adopt laws of Minnesota 2025 first special session chapter 13 article 5 section 12 as requested by the city of Adina. I don't have to read these again, right? [laughter] >> They're long. >> I know. for the purpose of extending the maximum duration of the 70th and France tax increment financing district by 10 years to 713 2047 additionally authorizing to adopt laws in the Minnesota 2025 first 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 for five years to 76 of uh 2053 and again we are moving the R1 for 3Q along with 3P. So that's a that's been moved and seconded and then we want to progress. >> Yes. And madam chair and so colleagues I want to be clear. I do not oppose these projects. I just want to be very clear. >> Oh no. [laughter] >> I don't even know what these projects are. That's kind of the point that I'm communicating. So I just want to be clear. I don't oppose this. I just need would prefer some information in order to be able to vote in favor. So, Madam Chair, I'd like to progress 3P and 3Q to Tuesday with um some additional background on the project itself and the financial um you know dates etc that are accompanying. >> So, I second >> been seconded. All those in favor signify by I >> I that item has been progressed and that concludes our agenda. Okay. I know. I'm gonna have to scoot out of here. There's my R1 later. Good afternoon. I'll call to order the health committee on this Thursday, November 13, 2025. First item of business for us today is to approve the minutes from the meeting held on October 21st, 2025. >> Move approval. >> Minutes have been moved and seconded. Any corrections? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? The minutes have passed. We have several items of routine business before us. Colleagues, I will >> I'll move the block, Madam Chair. >> Accept a motion to move the block and second. These are all amendments or agreements uh to existing amendments. So, uh items 2 A through 2E have been moved. 2A is to amend uh amendment five to an agreement with Infomedia Group, Inc. to provide after hours telephonic nurse advice line services to Henipin Health members. We're extending the end date to December 30th, December 31st of 2030 and increasing the NTE by $1.2 million for a new NTE of 2.3 million. 2B is to a is an amendment four to an agreement with forensic and telemental health services LLC for the provision of peerreview counseling consulting services and intensive community treatment in the area of behavioral health care for Henipin Health on an as needed basis. The dates for this are September 1st of 2019 through August 31st of 2026. We are increasing the NTE by $20,000 for a new total NTE of $118,000. Item 2 C is amendment two to an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for the Child and Teen Checkups Program. The dates on this are January 1st of 2026 through December 31st of 2026. We are receiving a little over $2.3 million. Item 2D is an agreement uh master grant contract with the city of Minneapolis to receive funding for programs and services for the period of January 1st of 2026 through December 31st of 2030 delegating authority for the county administrator to approve subsequent funds availability notices. Finally, item 2E is an agreement with United States Department of Health and Human Services for year three funding for the Better Together Henipin Communities Healthy Youth Project from July 1st of 2025 through June 30th of 2026. We are going to receive a little over a lot over $1.9 million. Uh those are the items. Colleagues, questions or comments? Commissioner Fernando? I'm just want to shout out um my gratitude for the child and teen checkups program and then a special shout out for the better together. Um the health mentor program is just super cool. If you all just check out the uh stats, the one that I'll highlight is 2,000 students surveyed. Literally 91% feel better to make decisions. 93% reporting that it's helpful and comfortable. And so I just these are um really astronomical numbers in a uh in a context where young people are feeling quite disconnected. So I wanted to express my gratitude specifically for those programs. Thank you. >> Thank you. Other comments or questions on those? Uh those were two that I was going to call out as well, Commissioner Fernando. So thank you. One that I do have just a a just a quick summary about um Deputy Murphy item 2D. Um, if you could explain this this uh collaboration with the city of Minneapolis. >> Madam Chair, we have Christy Yun available to respond to any questions for or to provide a brief overview. >> Thank you. >> This is the master contract with the city of Minneapolis for our social safety net services. >> Awesome. Welcome. Thank you, >> madame chair and commissioners. Um the city of Minneapolis, our master agreement. Oh, there it goes. There it goes. So, this is our master agreement. It's been a long-standing master agreement that we have and it includes all of the boilerplate legal langu legal language such as our indemnity, our insurance, all of that in one agreement. And then as we get funds for the various programs that we have, those come through the funds availability notices, the fans. And so it saves a lot of time by having those go to our county administrator versus always coming to the board um just on all sides with all the departments involved in execution. So it's it's parallel to what we have with the Minnesota Department of Health and it really helps to streamline operations. >> It certainly does. Thank you. Let's talk about efficiency right there. Uh okay colleagues, seeing no other further comments or questions, all those in favor of the block, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Those items pass and I will declare us adjourned. I like your yellow. I like a sun. I have pick up time. Okay. I will call to order the human services committee. It's Thursday, November 13th. It's 3:23 p.m. and I'm the chair, Heather Eden. Our first order of business is to approve the amendments from October 21st. I'll move those. Can I have a second? Second. >> Thank you. They've been moved and seconded. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Say nay. The motion carries. We have two routine items before us today. Uh if I I'll put a I'll make a motion put 2 A and 2 B before us. >> Second. >> Thank you for It's been moved and seconded. I will read these into the record. Um, item 2 A is a human services and public health resolution including contracts and amendments to contracts with providers. More information can be outlined on the report that's attached. That's 2516. Item 2B is an amendment to a cooperative agreement with the Metropolitan County Consortium and the state of Minnesota continue cooperatively provide administrative services for non- non-emergency medical transportation and related services among 13 counties. MCC region extending the date through December 31st, 2027. And I will just say non-emergency medical transportation is amazing. Um so I'm really glad that we have uh we're helping with this. Uh any questions or comments? None. Okay. With all that um all those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. And they are adopted. The human services committee is adjourned. >> I know next is law, safety, and justice. Uh we will pause till 3:35 using the red clock which is wrong. Uh, but it's the one everybody can see. Um, so we won't start the law, safety, and justice committee until 3:35. So, we'll take a take a break. >> Yeah. I know. [clears throat] [laughter] Come back. Yeah, we can just reset the Well done. I'm just I I'm a politician. usually And I have so Monday morning too. I'm going to be joining the meeting from Richale because I have my PW meeting >> whatever the end of our meeting. So >> this is my flight is I don't pingc Are you ready, Maria? >> You ready to go, Maria? Okay, >> I will call us back in order. So, I'll call uh to order the law, safety, and justice committee for today. We have a few items. So, first up is uh the approval of the minutes from September 30th. If I get a motion, a second. >> Move approval. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any changes, additions, corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Um, I would entertain a motion to approve 2A through 2G as a block. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And I'll read them in order. So thank you. We have a motion, a second. 2A is agreement with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities on behalf of Hen Technical College 1126 to 123127 not to exceed amount of 18,400. 2B is an amendment to an agreement with MFAM Capital to provide program services department of community corrections and rehabilitation clients. No changes to date increase not to exceed by 127,360 for a new total not to exceed amount of 316,000. 2C is an agreement amendment to an agreement with Securous Technologies to provide resident phone and video visitation services at the adult correction I'm sorry the adult detention facility the adult correctional facility and juvenile detention center extend the end date to 123128 increase not to exceed amount by 1 million for a new not to exceed amount of 2,500,000 2D is an amendment with community growth solutions to provide mental health counseling from the sheriff's office personnel 4124 4 to 63026 not to exceed amount of 150,000. 2 E is an amendment to an agreement between the Henford County and the city of Golden Valley to provide law enforcement and related services to the city of Golden Valley extending the end date to 123126. 2F is an amendment with independent emergency services LLC in Henipin County as a member of the consortium agreement facilitated by the MS MESB to support and maintain the next generation 911 call handling system. Dates are 1124 to 123128 increase not to exceed by 244,000 for new total not to exceed of 1,130,000. 2G is a joint powers agreement between Hen County and the state of Minnesota for the coordination and implementation of network circuit upgrades 12125 to 11:3027. Are there any background or questions Ray has? >> I just had a question on the Golden Valley agreement. Chair Lundy, commissioners, I'd like to invite Major Jy who will provide background on item I believe that would be 2E chair Lundy Commissioners Hen County Sheriff's Office uh began providing contracted law enforcement services to the city of Golden Valley. Actually, it started in late of October 2022. Uh under the agreement A241-2704 uh law enforcement services of the city of Golden Valley effective were effective January 1st, 2025. The original term of this agreement ran through June 30th, 2025 and was extended through December 31st, 2025 by the previous county administrator. Amendment two further extended the extends the agreement through December 31st, 2026 and introduces more flexible scheduling options for personnel assignments and adjusts hourly rates to account for anticipated increases in personnel costs. The city of Golden Valley continues to fully reimburse HTSO for all the services with no financial obligation to the county. Uh thank you for that. I always feel like when we have these agreements asked for the background and they ask a question. My always concern is just the um it does can create stress on our officers as far as you know staffing and stuff like that. And so stress manifests itself in other ways, mental health or trauma, you know, things that just add up. And so I always worry about that. But it sounds like we have a pretty good tight agreement with Golden Valley. I know this is a renewal. I think I think we're hoping to be pulling out of the agreement, but I think they still need us around for a little bit longer. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Just additionally, for 2025, uh they requested uh 62 shifts uh in January and then it slowly kept declining. Actually, we didn't uh need to offer any in November and it's looking at like in the area of three to 10 each month. So, it's not a major stress on our personnel. >> Okay. Any other questions? We do have a motion for 2 A through 2G. Uh, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Next up, we have a agreement. If I get a motion, a second put on the table >> for two. >> Second. >> We have a motion in a second. I'm sorry. 2H which is a joint powers agreement between Henman County and the state of Minnesota cities of Brooklyn Park Champlain a new hope for the provision of an afteraction review of the response of a public safety incident by responding law enforcement agencies period of 12125 to 10:3026 not to exceed amount of 165,000 if we get back on please Jella >> uh the board action before you is a joint powers agreement between Henipin County state of Minnesota and the cities that you mentioned Uh this afteraction review is of the law enforcement response that occurred to events on June 14th, 2025. Uh if there are additional questions, uh we have Major JY again available to provide more details. >> Any questions or comments? >> Commissioner Fernando, I >> I think it's very good that we are participating in this afteraction and I appreciate um how this is coming before us. Okay. Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just echoing the appreciation. Wondering um after the review is completed, what we might um learn, how will it be shared with us? Thank you, >> Major JY. >> So, the afteraction report uh is going to be conducted uh from my understand by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Um we've done these for a number of years. Uh so once that is completed uh it will be uh disseminated to all the agencies involved um the whole process after that I'm not really uh clear on um but uh that it'll obviously take some time a lot of interviews uh with people and going over reports and uh all all the stuff that happened within that uh two three days of of chaos. So, um, they'll take it over, do their work, and then we will get, uh, whether it's version drafts initially, I'm not 100% sure on, but we'll get we'll get to see those reports when they're completed. >> Thanks. Any questions? I I've just shared that uh you know has been described to me the this organization has done they did Uvualdi they've done Colbine they do other they're frequently used because of their expertise to come in and do an abstraction to uh see you know that critical analysis by an outside group to say here's where things worked here's where they didn't work here's changes and so you know hopefully it's something we never have to go through again but maybe we learned something and uh it's just a good it's good for public record um I would just point out that you know being in agreements with Hen County this board will uh will get the report as well. So see no further questions all those in favor say I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Last we have two I if I can get a motion in a second please. We have a motion, a second for 2 I which is an amendment to an agreement with Axon Enterprise Incorporated for public safety technology equipment and maintenance of a software platform 102219 to 123134 not to exceed amount of 39,885,000 which is the biggest amount I've done uh in this committee. So [clears throat] can we get some background maybe a little bit? [snorts] >> Yes. Chair Lundy commissioners uh Major Kristen Tomlinson is available to provide background. and will provide additional context as to the agreement with Axon. I would just note that Axon provides services not only to the sheriff's office, the department of community corrections and rehabilitation and also you'll note in the background of this item there is reference to other departments security facilities security uh accessing the services or technology the body cam uh that's available through Axon and would note that uh the driving force behind this item before you is cost savings and to try to leverage uh the multiple users we have within the county to get better rates. So with that, I'll turn it over to Major Tomlinson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair and commissioners. Um since 2019, the sheriff's office has contracted with Axon Enterprises to provide public safety technology, including bodywn cameras, tasers, digital evidence management, and associated implementation and support services. The agreement was amended in 2022 and extended through 2029 to incorporate a new records management system, Axon Records, and other software tools to allow the HCSO to sunset other systems that would become obsolete or unsupported in the coming years. The amendment also provided additional bodywn cameras to the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation for staff serving residents in the juvenile detention facility. In 2023, HCSO entered into a an agreement with Fus Incorporated for a video sharing platform that enabled HCSO to access or enables us to access and aggregate public and private video sources to enhance situational awareness, support coordinated incident response, and allow us to respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs of the community. In 2024, Fus was acquired by Axon. This amendment will sunset the individual agreement with Fus and roll it into the Axon agreement at a significant cost savings over the next two years. The driving force behind this proposed second amendment is cost savings. In addition to existing products and services including FusIS, the amendment will include optional access to Axon's current and future artificial intelligence tools including but not limited to redaction assistant, autotagging, Axon investigate, language translation, and other AI based features. These tools and features are offered to the county at no additional cost as part of the amendment and extension. And the county has discretion in whether and how these tools may be used. In consultation with county administration, the county attorney's office, and the information technology department, HCSO, is assessing how these tools and features can serve operational needs now and in the future. DOCCCR continues to utilize this agreement. Facility Services Security intends to use the amended agreement starting in 2026 and Henipin Healthcare has its own agreement with Axon as part of this new account review and amendment initiative. They are considering extending their own agreement through 2034. If the Fus platform were renewed under the existing separate agreement, the annual cost would increase 88.4% beginning in 2027. Additionally, Axon has communicated that its price pricing will increase on December 1st, 2025. So, receiving board approval prior to this date for consolidating products and services, including Fus, under one agreement will allow the county to secure discount levels, avoid future cost escalations, and preserve budget stability over the 9-year term. >> Any questions, comments? Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I [clears throat] too saw the number and then I did read the background. So I appreciate the you know for lack of a better word like economies of scale that seems to be kind of going on here and um the timing. So I I can appreciate that. Uh, I was trying to do the math on how much annually is actually being spent and so I I think it might be better just to do a follow-up cuz I was trying to do the math from the from the inception paragraph, but then I know in the top it says facilities. So, an actual breakdown of how much is being spent from 2019 or was spent because that's where I got tripped up. So, from 2019 to present, it was not even 9 million. even with the reductions, I I just want to get a sense of how much each department is um actually has expended and then will is planning to expend. Uh which could be a follow-up. Uh but um yeah, and I again I I see the 884% increase. So I individually I'll be supporting this, but I I want a a proper breakdown for transparency sake. Thank you, Chair, >> Chair, Commissioner, Commissioner Fernando. We will follow up with the specifics. Um I will say that the renegotiation process was led by purchasing and contract services in conjunction with the departments that the interested parties and so we will have that breakdown for you >> and chair if I can amend my request maybe just updating the background to include it for for board. I mean if the right none of the clauses will be different but just from a public transparency um adding that to the background it would be sufficient for me personally. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Commissioner Green. >> Um, thank you. Um, Mr. Chair, I wanted to ask, so this is come up in conversation with a constituent about something completely different. So, I want to sort of say that up front. [laughter] Um so but I did want to ask do we know that Axon doesn't share this data with other uh interested parties let's say and given that it is the given the length of the contract do we have insight into them acts on possibly changing its relationships with other jurisdictions and changing whether or not they decide to share information. I will have to get specifics in terms of that, but we do have a contract in place with them that would ensure the the security of our data, which is always paramount when we enter into contracts that have any type of data incorporated with it. So, we wouldn't have initially agreed to it. Um, but in terms of language being included in it, that would prevent any further changes. I would have to get back to you on that. >> Thank you. If you if I'm happy to support today, but if I'd love to hear back. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments? I just uh had a couple more so comments. Um it it's a standard software ploy to say we're going to raise our prices next year if you don't renegotiate. Uh and so I'm like oh you know like you're you're giving us a chance to spend more money with you and in lie of spending more money. But I I think it might be interesting and I know and you know Chel explained to me they're this is kind of like the Borg if anybody's a Star Trek fan that they this company acquires other companies and they built out this platform that maybe we might want to before the next contract extension do a very robust RFP take more time than needed to just make sure this is the right platform because we're saving money based off their list price which is they said it I could say it could be $800 million I'm saving you 750, but I'm still spending 50. So I'm not blaming you. I'm just like that's my former world and that's the games. Uh so but I do think it might be worthwhile to ahead of time to kind of look and see is this right? And also it's good for vendors to know some fear that you might replace them because then you get better pricing versus they think they have us because they own part of our platform and they've just threatened us with a price increase. So uh I don't feel like they're doing us a favor at any any level. So, um I'm not going to say thank you. Uh the second thing was and I think you know today at the criminal justice coordinating committee we talked about AI and we're going to that's going to be one of our topic areas next year. Um I guarantee a Exxon enterprise is not writing their own from scratch AI. they're licensing material from other people and so how that data flows between maybe they keep it so they're not going to share but the backend uh AI uh that they're using a learning machine might be from another entity and therefore that data might share out uh in different ways. So I think that's one of the things the criminal justice recording committee was talking about with all the whole system kind of worried about AI which is a good tool but for some of the stuff we use it for is very confidential and some of the stuff is unproven and we won't know until a court until someone sues and wins something that we find out we have issue. Um I only will share this. My neighbor needed help with a cover letter. She's a flying for a nursing position. and I use co-pilot to help her because I'm not the person writing cover letters for nursing applications. Uh suddenly, miraculously, uh using Microsoft's tools, I now get emails on nursing opportunities everywhere, even though I've signed up for nothing. So, I say that using a tool and obviously it might be different being that I'm just uh out in the free wild versus a contract, but where that data flows back and forth forth for the AI to learn and to apply itself, we don't always know where all the stops are. And so, again, uh lots of stuff. It's kind of wild wild west now. But I also know that software companies add everything for free to get you use it and addicted hooked and then they add on the price later. Um that's just standard uh as we call it shelf shelf wear. I'll put something on your shelf and then later on I start charging it for it. So uh the I think does concern me only because it's unproven and I don't know what's worse either the fact we don't have laws or the fact that we might have people who don't understand it making laws uh could be just as bad. So um I'm all supportive of it. I just very aware that, you know, you think about it that if an officer arrests someone and they use an AI tool to save them time and the AI represents the encounter with the person who was arrested in a way that was not that it gets written down on a form. Everybody trusts the forms. >> Here it is. This is what you said. But that may not be exactly what happened. Um, and so I think that's one of those risks that the justice system is going to have to really wrestle with, not just yourselves, but all of us. So anyway, thank you. Um, all those in favor, seeing no further discussion, say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Motion carries. Thank you very much. And with that, the agenda of the law, safety, and justice committee is complete, and I declare a journ. I will call to order our public works committee for today, November 13th. Our first item on the agenda is to approve the minutes from our October 21st meeting. May I have a motion and a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any corrections to the minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? The minutes are approved. We have several routine items. In fact, um let's see. Items 2A through 2J are routine agreements and uh moving construction projects forward. If I >> I'll move the block, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second for the block. I'll read them into the the record. Item 2A is an amendment to an agreement for ERF grant funding with Minneapolis extending the end date to 122026 with no change to the not to exceed. Item 2B is an authorization to apply for state grant from MIDOT through the 2025 local road improvement program or LRIP for the county road 19 and county road 117 multimodal safety project uh in at the border of Corkran and Hanover. Um the item 2C is authorization to submit a variance request for one lane uh one-way street for the Lake Harriet Parkway paving project. Uh superseding resolution 25273. Item 2D is an authorization to submit a variance request for a six-foot sha shared use path on the north side of CASA 153 at the bridge 900625 underpass superseding resolution 25247. Item 2E is an amendment to an agreement with short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. for final design services for Nicollet Avenue reconstruction, increasing the not to exceed to $3.17 million and extending the period to 8130 uh county cost of 1.6 million transportation advance account complete streets and 1.57 million transportation advancement account preservation. Uh, item 2F is to negotiate an agreement with MDOT for maintenance responsibilities, no county cost. Item 2G is to negotiate an agreement with Maple Grove for cost participation and maintenance for the intersection of CASA 61 or hemlock and Elm Creek Boulevard in Maple Grove. Uh, a receivable amount of $354,423. Item 2 H is ne negotiate an agreement with Wright County for cost participation and maintenance of County Line Road Southeast or County Road 139 in Independence and Delano. Uh estimated Henipin County Cost of $350,000 uh from our 2027 transportation ops uh operating budget. Item 2 I is various agreements for the reconstruction of Gasaw 152 Cedar Avenue uh estimated county cost of $170,000 an estimated receivable of uh just under $10 million and increasing the project budget by $270,000 in Minneapolis. The item 2J is various agreements for the reconstruction of Lowry Avenue. Estimated county cost of uh just under $1.2 million. Uh estimated receiving from Minneapolis 2.2 million and some change and federal funds of 7.6 million. Do my colleagues have any questions? This is a lot of construction and agreements with uh municipalities to get work done. So uh yes, Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you. Just the one um with the Cedar Avenue project is is uh just wanting clarification on the increase. >> Thank you, Miss Ernie. >> Thank you, >> Chair Anderson. Commissioner Connley, I'll let Justice Choic join and share what the increase is uh in in respect to. >> Thank you, Mr. Boyich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, commissioners. I'm Jessa Troboich with transportation project delivery. A budget increase of 270,000 is requested to accept cost participation from Met Council for the construction of conduit to illuminate transit shelters and from the Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization for construction of drainage infrastructure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Commissioner Lundy. >> Um thank you, Chair. Just uh a question and uh I didn't know where to ask it, so I'll just ask it here. Uh I I would appreciate and request whenever timely uh background information provided to the board on the reconstruction of the bridge between Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove at uh I think Elm Creek Parkway on your side, it's broken boulevard on my side. And the reason I asked for that because it is where the trucks go to the uh our transfer facility. So it does have impact at many levels. I know our goal eventually to have a a sorting facility there. So it it is impact is more than just the traffic. It's right in front of our own transfer station. So I just putting that there we talked a little bit about earlier, but I do think that is a going to be a bigger project than just a a simple thing. So um information you can provide to us greatly appreciate. >> Thank you. Um, Miss Ernie, I don't know if you want to talk to that at all right now, but >> Chair Anderson, Commissioner Lendy, I'll just there is a lot of conversations happening both with Mindot and as well as the cities and so we can put together a quick email that can provide everybody an update just on what the conversations are, what the anticipated project would look like and what the timeline is. >> Thank you. Um, I also just wanted to um call out the the cost participation uh for the intersection of Hemlock and Elm Creek Boulevard, also known as the intersection by Costco. Um, and it is a very very busy intersection. So having safety improvements and this is adjacent to the gravel mining area and is connected to the bridge that commissioner Lundy is talking about. So there is a lot happening and safety improvements with uh hotels being built on one side and restaurants on another side. Uh make having these improvements is very very needed. So, uh, very much looking forward to our look at that intersection and even kind of expanding that to, um, other like extending out just past the intersection. I I drove by it this morning and I think I counted nine lanes that a pedestrian would have to cross uh, in order to get to uh, the other side. So, uh, you want to talk about Frogger? Commissioner Lundy. Now, Mr. Chair, I would just like to ask if they could shove more traffic through the Costco parking lot, that'd be great. Um, I think that would really enhance everybody's appreciation for the area as uh there's nothing I dread more than going to Costco on a Saturday. >> Oh, Sunday is worse. Um, but much agreed. [laughter] >> We have some overflow from our Costco that we'd be happy to send you. I just learned that our Costco gives more immunizations than almost any other Costco in the United States. >> Wow. >> Yeah. St. Louis Park. >> I I love this Costco off. Um [laughter] any other questions or comments? Um seeing none, all those in favor of items 2 A uh 2 A through 2J say I. >> I. I. Any opposed? Those items are approved. We have uh three addendum items. Item 2K is to negotiate two cost share agreements for water quality improvement projects in Dayton and Corkran. The various periods total combined not to exceed of 212,000. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Uh thank you, Miss Ernie. >> Chair Anderson, I would ask Karen Gallas to provide a little bit of additional background on these projects. >> Thank you, Miss Gallas. >> Hi there, Mr. Chair and Commissioners, I'm Karen Gallis with Environment and Energy. I use she her pronouns. Uh this request is to approve two new agreements for water quality improvement projects. Uh in our role as a soil and water conservation district, environment and energy, work really closely with residents and partners for projects that improve water quality and have other conservation and environmental benefits. Uh the agreement with the MPET Corporation will provide funding to a horseboarding facility to install a manure storage bunker and some erosion prevention and stabilization infrastructure. Um and this will prevent a lot of phosphorus and bacteria from getting to Diamond Creek. Uh the agreement with the city of Corkran will provide funding to convert 28 acres of city-owned farmland to restored prairie. So this project will not only improve water quality but improve habitat, sequester carbon and capture, infiltrate and store stone storm water making downstream areas less uh at risk of flooding. So about 80% of these projects come from state grants and wershed funds and the remainder of it is made up by uh county contributions and uh the land owners. Be happy to answer any other questions you have. >> Thank you so much. Um any questions or comments? I I appreciate uh also I just want to give a quick shout out. Thank you for your uh presentation last night to the mayors uh in my area. They very much appreciated it. Uh and this project came up in conversation. So always exciting to see the work kind of full circle. So uh seeing no other comments, all those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? That item is approved. Item 2L is to negotiate an agreement with BNSF for new railway C railroad crossing surface on Zachary Lane in Maple Grove and a sub project of CP2201000 estimated county cost of $95,000 of state aid. >> Move approval. >> I will second. Miss Ernie. >> Chair Anderson. Commissioners, this item seeks authorization to negotiate and execute an agreement with BNSF for the replacement of the railroad crossing along Zachary Lane in Maple Grove. This location is in poor condition and was prioritized and is uh also will the work will be done in parallel with additional BNSF scheduled work for upgraded crossing arms, gates, and signal interconnect infrastructure. The new crossing surface will include both the sidewalk and vehicle surface and will be is planned for 2026 construction season. >> Thank you so much. As somebody who drives over this while I bring my kids to school every day, I appreciate the work going into it. Um any questions for my colleagues? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? That item is approved. Uh, our last item on the agenda, 2M, is a very similar agreement. Negotiate an agreement with BNSF for a new railroad crossing service on Bass Lake Road in Crystal. Um, estimated county cost of $175,000 of property tax. Uh, may I have a motion in a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Miss Eernie, >> as you stated, Chair Anderson, similar to the previous action, this railroad crossing is in poor condition, and we are seeking authorization to negotiate and execute an agreement with BNSF to replace the crossing, which would include both the sidewalk as well as the vehicle surface on Bass Lake Road. Again, this work is planned for the 2026 construction season. >> Thank you. Any questions? All those in favor say I. >> I. I. Any opposed? Uh that item is approved as well and I will declare adjourned like to call today's meeting of the intergovernmental committee to order on behalf of myself and my co-chair commissioner Connley. Um we just have two short items. I think we'll be in and out of here fast. Um first one is 1A approval of the minutes from 225 2025 minutes. If I get a motion in a second. >> Move approval. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Uh any changes, corrections, additions? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Now we'll move on to item 2 A. Uh I think if it's okay, we'll start with the legislative priority first and then go through the platform. And the platform I'll just try to we'll go through each section. We'll let uh RGR staff led by Liz Young uh lead that discussion. Then we'll see if there's any amendments or changes and then we'll approve them as we go. So that so let me know if that works. So, Miss Young. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Liz Young, director of intergovernmental relations. Uh, thank you for the opportunity to bring forward the staff recommendations for the 2026 legislative platform and priority and for your support of IGR. Before we begin, and on behalf of IGR, I want to thank all the staff that we have the opportunity to work with. Every victory we see at the capital is because of the incredible county staff who partner with us to do this work. And I'd like to thank my team, Aad, Brennan, Kirk, Liz, Meg, Wanda, and Grace, along with our colleagues Susie and Jessica for everything they do on behalf of the county and residents. This has been a challenging year in many ways and a heartbreaking one in many others, and I am grateful for the dedication and hard work they have shown this year. Thank you. As we considered [laughter] As we considered the 2026 platform and priorities, we had to keep in mind the political dynamics in St. Paul, a tied legislature and a projected budget deficit in two years heading into an election year. So IGR worked to pair back next year's platform and priority to reflect what we could reasonably make progress on. As the county prepares for the impacts of HR1, it was important to narrow in our focus, especially as we also know we're at risk of playing defense next year. Therefore, IGR is recommending dropping to one priority next year, and that is to protect the county's ability to deliver needed services to residents. Through your budget process, you and administration have shown that same commitment, and we are ready to do our part at the capital. With that, uh, we will move to the platform and I will hand it over to Brennan Fess to cover our two new bonding requests. One of which we were actually able to highlight yesterday for the House committee. >> We, uh, are starting off strong. We have change already. I'm sorry, Commissioner. [laughter] We We do, I think, a small change. So, Commissioner Connley, >> very small. I wondered what the appetite might be. I really appreciate the narrow focus here. We are going in and we're going in strong. Uh, and being that we're doing that, I wondered what the appetite might be. I'd like to to have this uh priority read protect the county's ability to continue providing critical services to residents. >> I just think it makes it a little stronger. I'd wonder what my colleagues would say about that. Again, again, that's um protect the county's ability to continue providing critical services to residents. Chair, I'm happy to second that. If that was a motion to amend. >> Okay, we have a motion and second to amend. Commissioner Fernando, >> wait, I'm just realizing it. Did we put the priority? Did we move and second the priority document? >> Oh, I don't >> pardon. I will move the document to have it before us. >> I'll second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second to move the document for us. Now, now we'd amend that. So then I would offer a motion to amend the priority to read protect the county's ability to continue providing critical services to residents. I'll second the amendment. >> Okay. So we have a motion second to amend. Any discussion on that? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you, Madam Co-chair. And with that, I'll turn it over to Brennan for next. So maybe before we do that, I'll just and don't mess this up. We'll put this on the table. So Commissioner Fernando, if you want to put the platform on the table. >> Question. Do we want to vote on the priority to complete that and then the um platform or would you like >> tech technically the platform the priority is before us. I think we should just vote on this one and then we can move the >> So we do have a motion uh to approve the priorities um as amended. >> Priority T. >> Yep. Priority. Yes, as amended and seconded. So, uh, all those in favor of approving the priority, uh, as amended, say, I >> opposed. The priority priority is, uh, passed. So, now move on to the full platform. Commissioner Fernando, if you want, >> I'll move the platform. >> Second. >> All right. Now, we'll start Brennan. >> Mr. Chair, commissioners, Brennan Fess with IGR. Uh, starting off with bonding. We are removing uh the Henipin Avenue suspension bridge successfully uh received funding this last session. Uh and then moving on to two new items and and thank you once again to the staff that helped present these items to the bonding committee. Uh Commissioner Connley for your help in welcoming the committee and Commissioner Lundy for your help as well. Um the two items are really focused on safety improvements in these two corridors that are in line with uh timing for future transit investments. The first one with West Broadway safety and mobility improvements from Lindale to the river and co coinciding with future blue line extension. The second one is with Washington Avenue in the city of Riverside neighborhood uh that will coalign with a line with uh Hline arterial BRT that will begin construction in about 2028. Any questions or I thought maybe we'd go by section and if everybody amends or we make changes and at the end of the section I'll just do a a vote on that section and we'll move on next one if that's okay. Looking for anything. Commissioner Anderson. >> Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Um just a question. I know the uh the bonding committee is doing their kind of their tour of the state right now. Um, do we have are we on their schedule and are these projects kind of queued up to be in that schedule or can you talk a little bit because I know like these two are new as a bonding request, but I was curious how that >> Yeah, we just yesterday the House uh started their metro bonding tour. Uh, we were uh we presented our two items. Uh the Senate has been kind of all over the map on their tours. We're hopeful to get meetings with individual senators to prioritize our projects. Okay, any questions? I think it is it is as presented with no amendments. So I think we can just proceed. Um thank you Bren. Uh move on to climate environment next. >> Thank you Mr. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Kirk Peterson. I will start out with climate and environment section. Uh under the framing statement, you will see that we are adding the words climate action and zero waste uh simply to reflect the actions that the board has taken on those issues. Um we are recommending um deleting in this section the clean transportation issues. You will see that the VMT issue is placed further down in the transportation section to continue our work on that. Um and on the bottom of page one and energy efficiency and renewables recommending striking that out not because it isn't an issue for us but simply because as um Miss Young said we really need to focus our efforts on what we think is going to happen this year. So we're recommending taking that one out. Uh on the next page, um natural resources, new language to permanently authorize the mortgage and deax capture for the environmental response fund used to clean up contaminated properties in the county. Um the our authority to collect that fee expires at the end of 2027 and so we want to get a head start on working on that. Now, um you will see the next two strikethroughs are combined in the new language dealing with EAB and wood waste and uh community forest language. So, that's just kind of a clean up on those sections with the EAB and wood waste sections. Uh the next issue with soil and water conservation districts, just adding the word increased. Um we have some seen seen some stabilization of those funds, but those are chronically underfunded. So, we're going to continue to seek increased funding for soil and water conservation districts. Then, we are uh removing the LCCMR language. We did get that passed last year. Um so, a success on that issue and staff has not put any either LCCMR or Lassard SAMS grants in for this funding cycle. So, we can take that one out. Uh next issue, if there's no questions on that, waste management. Again, um this whole section pretty much stays the same. all working towards our zero waste goals. Um, as you can see, there will probably there's a lot of issues here. We will probably focus on the perennial score funding, e-waste and battery bill, which we got close on last year. So, we're going to focus on the e-waste and batteries and then probably defending the packaging, the EPR uh bill that was passed two years ago. Be playing a lot of defense on that. Otherwise, most of those issues will probably stay the same. uh on the next page and just the updating for the partnership on waste and energy updating the date to reflect the 2026 legislative session on that. Uh and those are the changes for climate and environment unless there are any questions. >> Any questions, comments? >> Okay, seeing none, I I would consider that as adopted or as part of the package. So then we'll move on to general government. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. general government. Uh under elections, you'll notice um mostly strikethroughs because we were successful last year in getting a big elections technical bill passed and most of our stuff was included in that. We are uh leaving in and kind of rewarding the strengthening election integrity and security measures. Uh there are a couple um issues both technical and more work to do with protecting safeguards for election workers, candidates, and voters. So, we're going to recommend leaving that one in. Um, under operations and administration, uh, you'll see a strike through on the marriage license application technical package that we got back passed last year. That was a multi-year effort. It was a many things involved in that, but we were successful in getting that passed last year. So, we can take it off. Uh the next issue changing the word modifying to reallocating when we're talking about marriage license, motor vehicle uh and driver's license fee changes. All of these things fund our deputy registar and service center offices. We're not anticipating uh any increase in taxes or fees. However, a lot of those are statutoily provided to different areas. And if we can reallocate how some of those statutoily dedicated funds um are used, we can beef up our service centers and drive and deputy register offices with those. Uh striketh through on the uh remote remote application for marriage licenses was in that package that we got passed last year. So, we can take that out. um not recommending the third party board for compensation levels. Again, probably not something that's going to be addressed in a short year at the legislature. Uh and then the final addition under this section, uh kind of a big one updating Henipin County statutes um regarding the operation of the uh medical examiner's offices. couple technical things either for the Henipin County specific office or statewide operations for medical examiners offices that we want to get cleaned up um sooner rather than later. Um moving down to data practices again mostly the same um issues. Uh we got some of these into conference committee last year but weren't successful. So we want to continue work on those. Uh however, we are recommending taking out the one issue that was kind of controversial to last year and we didn't have a buy in from all of the parties. So, we're probably not going to have to work on that this year. Uh and then moving on finally to the broadband issue, just continuing that with our u extension of broadband access and digital equity for for county residents. Uh Mr. Chairman, that concludes general government for now and I will >> thank you. Any questions or comments on the general government area? See none. Thank you. >> I'll hand it over to Jessica. Y [cough] [clears throat] >> uh Mr. Chair and commissioners, Jessica Waka. I'm the advocacy engagement manager at Henipin Healthcare System, which as you all know is Minnesota's largest Medicaid provider system and safety net level one trauma hospital. And I'll be talking about our section of the platform here. So the state's response to the federal changes in Medicaid is going to be a pretty big topic of conversation at the state legislature this upcoming session. So starting right away on page five under our first section which reads increase financial stability of Henipin healthcare system we added support efforts to minimize harm from federal changes to Medicaid and then uh maximizing Medicaid reimbursements is stricken out and replaced with this since expanding Medicaid will be of course more challenging uh and that goes handinhand with the addition of the word increase before supplemental funding sources that will impact how we're able to care for patients. with complex care needs. Uh we'll be working closely with the Minnesota Hospital Association, counties, and a whole bunch of other stakeholders uh to help inform how the state responds to those federal changes that passed earlier this year. And then under the second bullet in that same section, we strike out strengthen valuebased payment arrangements and tighten it up to read increase and add transparency to Medicaid directed payments to maximize the benefit of this program. That language is referring to our fee schedule that directly impacts what we're paying in our monthly intergovernmental transfer or the IGT. Um, and those are the dollars that we put up for CMS to match with federal funds. We need increased transparency there to help us understand the methodology or any drivers and changes there that impact uh what we pay in our IGT. Um, there's been a lot of conversations among our finance teams and leadership on that. So that language in the platform really just gives us the flexibility that we need uh to be able to advocate for that on various levels. Uh so then moving on to our health equity section uh on top of page six, we strike out expanding the definition of the community health worker care coordination under Medicaid and tighten up the language around gun violence to read address gun violence as a public health crisis and support prevention efforts. striking out the state plan amendment to Medicaid uh piece of that and keeping it broad to investing in sustainable funding to really give us the flexibility that we need uh to be able to advocate for stabilizing funding for our next step program which is our hospital-based violence prevention program that is housed at Henipin Healthcare but pro provides those services at North uh Memorial Children's in Abbott. And then lastly here um under our healthcare workforce section at the bottom of page six to the top of page seven, we just make some minor cleanup changes there like striking out the lensure of certified midwives because that passed at the legislature this past legislative session and then striking out maintaining current state investment in that last bullet on graduate medical education as those changes were passed previously as well. Um with that that concludes our section. Any questions or comments on this section? Okay. Thank you very much. >> Next, we'll move on to Health and Human Services section. Great. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair and Commissioners. Liz Doyle, deputy director of IGR for Health and Human Services. Um so, you'll see the first substantive addition to this section is that first um bullet under systems reform, which is intended to broadly encompass mitigating the negative impacts of HR1 and other other federal changes on the county and its residents. So this speaks to pres preservation of services for residents, minimizing the administrative burdens for the county on implementing some of the complexity out of the new federal law and offering and supporting alternatives to cost shifts that are that are part of HR1. So that's the first broad substantive bullet here under health and human services. And then I'm going to turn it over to Meg next. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Commissioners. Mag McGomery from Henipin County IGR covering public health and health systems. Uh the second bullet under systems reform is in light of the ongoing national gun violence epidemic and tragic events here in our county over the summer and fall. Um we are proposing the addition of a bullet addressing the crisis of gun violence um in the county's version of the platform um in addition to what already exists in the um hospitals uh platform section. Uh so we at this point do not anticipate a special session on gun violence but we do um anticipate there will be a focus on gun safety, behavioral health supports and community v violence prevention uh in in the upcoming session. The third bullet just has a very minor formatting change. The fourth bullet um is proposed in collaboration with our colleagues in aging access and disability. This is just um underlining the crucial need for partnership between the state and counties when we are proposing um rules or changes to programs such as min choices and case management. And the fifth bullet, we are proposing a change from maintain to increase state support for local public health. This is in light of the dramatic uh lack of funding or reductions in funding at the federal level. Uh we do anticipate that our Henipin County public health team will be called on as experts um when it comes to infectious disease response and expanded vaccine access. Thank you. >> Speak to the next two changes here. So the first of which is striking of language related to the PCA program, replacement of that with language to support seamless and timely access to the CFSS program. This is intended to just reflect the transition of PCA into CFSS. Um so that's that change and then you'll see a strikeout at the end of this section around addressing social determinance of health. This was really just um with an eye to uh removing some outdated provisions in the platform and then I will hand it next to a day. Mr. Chair, commissioners, uh in the investing children families uh section, you'll just see the removal of advanced legislation just reflecting the passage of the Minnesota African-American Family Preservation Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. Um, and then you'll just see the addition of the words invest resources just to make sure giving us the capacity and ability at the capital to work on just to make sure we're investing those resources as the law is meant to go statewide in 2027. And then moving on to the section of substance use disorder just below just a very minor change as well. Uh the last bullet point just the removal of the end of sale of all menthol and flavored commercial tobacco products just because we don't anticipate that uh topic and issue getting any traction or movement this session but we will continue just meeting with our stakeholders on this uh topic of issue >> and I will stand for any questions. If not I can move on to housing. >> Any questions or comments in this section? >> Continue on. >> All right, Mr. Chair, commissioners in the housing section. Uh very minor as well. Um in the second bullet point you just see some grammatical change and then also you'll see the inclusion of the words including those that is just staff recommendation just giving us the ability at the capital to work in that supported housing service areas. Um there's just been a lot of interest in redesigning a lot of programs there and we do just believe this gives us the ability for counties to have a seat at that table and to be a part of those discussions. And that's pretty much it for the housing section. I will pass it off to Wanda unless there's any questions. >> Any questions, comments in the housing? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon. Uh Mr. Chair, commissioners Wanda Cannon, Henipin County governmental relations for law, safety, justice, and related behavioral health issues. Uh in the first section under increase funding, we are proposing to remove the second bullet. The intent of this language is actually covered already in the framing statement for law, safety, justice section. Um in the remove barriers section, the next section down, we are proposing to delete the first three bullets. Uh the first bullet that uh language is actually covered farther down in this section. The second and third bullets around human trafficking and expungement uh laws have evolved to address these concerns and the housing issue covered under those bullets is now covered under the housing section. Um in the last bullet in that section with regard to the Northstar act, we have updated some of that language. Um and then in the final section, improving outcomes, we are proposing to combine the first two bullets to uh account for one clear statement of our strong commitment to advancing reforms and helping county involved youth and their families achieve better outcomes. uh with the priority admissions bullet further down um we are suggesting um language um to highlight the state's ongoing responsibility to expand capacity and ensure a greater uh access to behavioral health services. And then um underneath that we have also added some language around uh domestic and intimate partner violence prevention. This would align with the recent resolution the board passed on October 14th and we think it would be helpful to have this language added into the platform. And then the last uh change in this section is uh merely updating the year um on the MEESB or Metropolitan Emergency Services Board uh legislative platform to continue our support of that. >> Any questions or comments? Thank you very much. >> I'll turn it back over to Brennan. >> Mr. Chair and commissioners, Bren Fess with IGR. Um, moving on to taxes, primarily removing items that we saw success last session and draw your attention to uh page 13. Um we are adjusting the language around uh new revenue sources that to pursue for uh Henipin County healthcare related operation facilities and youth as well as youth activities, library hours and capital needs at Target Field. Uh moving beyond just the ballpark sales tax. If there's no question on taxes, I'll move on to transportation. >> Uh Commissioner Green. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I um I know that we remind ourselves every year that like nobody's actually pouring over the exact wording of this document and yet I have to just ask a question. Right. Exactly. We are. And so I wondered does it make sense to say something in this space about um seeking regional dollars to support a regional asset or something like that? that's that's essentially conveying, you know, a little bit of this. >> Uh I think that you kind of is implicit in the nonpropy tax revenue. Um but you could explicitly say that. Yes. >> I defer to my chairs. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Chair. I um the maybe not the regionalism part, but I I think we can find a way to say statewide asset or statewide services because that's I mean >> I think that's what um to fund the statewide services provided by Henipin County Healthcare related operations and facilities or something like I mean and this can right this will be approved next week too. So we could also just offer that feedback. But for me the >> Yes, >> you you kind of said two things that so I think I agree that the non-propy tax revenue source kind of um gets at the regional portion on the revenue side. Um you are correct that we have not emphasized enough the statewide asset and the statewide services on the the second portion of what you said. So that's how I I would kind of think about that. And um just based off of uh the type of commentary, perhaps we could have, you know, staff recommend how to incorporate that for next week um for our consideration, unless they already have something, which they could because they're that good. >> Uh Mr. Chair, commissioners, I appreciate that you think we can work that fast, but not quite. This was language recommended by OBF, so I think I'd recommend that we come back next week with an uh amendment um in consultation with them just to make sure that we're matching how we need to. >> Anything left? Do you want me to go get him? I will. [laughter] >> U for myself. I think um to me regional I think really should be regional as in multi-state because you know uh thanks to Jessica and Sus's work and the hospital team, you know, 40% of our visitors to our burn and trauma unit come from outside >> Henipin. >> That that doesn't include how many come from the Dakotas, Iowa, anywhere else. So I think even I defer to have no BF come with that language but >> if there's a way to capture regional asis in it is a multi-state asset >> west. >> Yeah. Um and so I think that would be important to make that case. It's not just about capturing Minnesota who come to visit. It's also people from our outside of our state that as well. So is everybody okay with the idea of having OBF come back with maybe some language that might broaden that out? But >> yes. >> Okay, >> perfect. >> Any other questions on taxes? Just make sure. >> Okay, continue on. Thank you. >> Just moving on to transportation. Um, also cleaning up some language um throughout this section and removing items where we saw success. Um, one point to make is just we are kind of pulling apart one of the larger items and and having a separate bullet point on the toward zero deaths initiatives. Um, really um following the action plan that was just released this year and the emphasis that we are placing on that across the board. And that wraps up transportation. >> Any questions? Transportation. Commissioner Anderson, >> my apologies for not saying this during any one-on-one meeting, but um I'm wondering if there is an opportunity within transportation to uh specify like preserving funding that has been dedicated uh to uh existing accounts or something along those lines. like we there was a sales tax uh that was attempted to be clawed back last session. Um and they um also directed how we spend some uh some of our money on a on another project um outside of a normal process. So, if there's an opportunity to include some kind of language about protecting what we uh what they have allocated to us, um I would appreciate that, too. I don't know. I was going to say I was you beat me to it. I'll call it affectionately the Noa County pedestrian bridge uh issue, but because I think that illustrates it better than our Washington Avenue bridge request. But, uh, I I think once there's a taste and ability to start grabbing money from counties, um, or municipalities, there's no limit that if someone's got money for a project that they feel entitled to spend it for us on what they feel is important. Um, I I think this is definitely an AMC issue because I I have to believe it. But I I do think to your point putting that in there is even preventative language to say, you know, in case we get a chance to if it's in the platform, I think one thing I'll just say, Commissioner Connley and myself, especially uh when it's in the platform and there's a request to testify, >> being it's in the platform matters. those words matter so that we can say yes and somebody from staff might show up to testify versus if it's not in the platform then we have a different challenge sometimes. So go ahead Liz. >> Mr. Chair, Commissioner, uh we can review the section to see if it would be best amended into an existing bullet point or as a new bullet point, but can take that into consideration for next week's comm uh board hearing. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions on workforce development or I'm sorry, transportation before we get to workforce development? >> Go ahead, Mr. Chairman. Kirk Peterson again under workforce development. Uh recommend removing out the funding for the Minnesota youth program. Not recommending funding for the youth program, just removing it from this since it's not an appropriations year. Uh the next two additions dealing with the dislocated worker program and SNAP uh ENT program. again more of a reflection of the federal HR1 funding cuts. U and these would give us more flexibility to direct existing and any remaining funds better within those programs. Then the final addition uh with ensuring presumption for um post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and workers comp programs. Uh we've seen um expanding um job c job categories of PTSD presumption and we want to make sure that those uh don't become um financially unmanageable for counties and local governments. So that's it for workforce development. >> Any questions or comments on this section? Okay. Uh, nonprofit requests, >> Brennan Fess, uh, to wrap us up, just, uh, reflecting the change that the board made to the platform last spring, uh, to incorporate people serving people and to serve as their fiscal agent for their bonding request. >> Any questions on that? >> I I right now here's what I have as I was tracking. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Commissioner Fernando. Yeah, just a general comment on the um I'm just catching up a little bit to what Commissioner Anderson I think was trying to say and just for the platform as a whole. I think that's what uh Director Young was speaking about about playing defense, you know? I mean, so there's going to be a lot of like a live defense happening. Um but at at uh we got a memo about how much like revenue the county raises relative to the state or as a subsection of the state. I think as you all are developing the strategy this is wonderful by the way as as you all are developing the strategies on how we will be successful in attaining a number of these items I I don't believe people realize the the service entwining that we have for the whole state like that multi-state service but just the financial entwining like our economics whether it's the court tower across the across this building or a number of other functions we are really entwined and I don't know how to describe that. You know, we we will like kind of fight for more CPA, you know, CPA that's like literally 30 million or something when we probably expend that amount on non-ren, you know, on on like um kind of uh tenant relationship with the state alone. And so I I don't know how we want to think about that. Um, I think in a in a one of I beyond the actual harm of these federal policies is this really dangerous scarcity mindset that um is already present and this this kind of in you know a sense of entitlement about whose money is whose or something to that effect. And I know we can use that language at times and you know I don't I don't favor a lot of the language at the legislature. it's a bit um you know kind of aggressive for for me uh linguistically. So I so I just want to I just wanted to place that here for uh for just our consideration as [snorts] you all are doing the difficult work. I'm I've now spent a little bit of time at the legislature. It is a place. Wow. It is my youthworkings uh background is certainly beneficial at a employer like there. Um, so I don't know how I I'm it's a tall order, but like how are we with data, with compassion, seeking at a time where there is financial scarcity to attempt a a sense of abundance on behalf of our residents because we in fact do know what can work for our residents. the economics have just been completely upended. The last five decades of you know bipartisan building uh whe whether it's food or healthcare etc has been upended. So I I know it's a bit of a tall order um but I again beyond the actual harm which is way worse. I am I am already kind of preconcerned of the just how scarcity will be um weaponized against the good work and effective outcomes that this county has been able to prove and even the good intention of um some of the laws that have been able to pass the last handful of years and we would like the chance to be able to prove. So, a little bit of a soap box, but I I'm hoping that it's resonating a bit with folks. Thanks, Mr. Chair. What I was going to say and I'll give Liz I have two items I noted. One is uh a section having OBF come back with some language. So probably the best thing to do is progress this to next week. Um and then the second section I have is transportation is uh having uh IGR take a crack at is there more regional whatever the perspective to come back. Uh so I just note those as the two things that I heard conversation up here that didn't require a motion because we're asking staff to come back for it. Uh, Miss Young, I'll turn it over to you. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair and commissioners, for um, good meetings and good discussion on this. We'll come back with those recommendations ahead of next Tuesday's board meeting. Um, and happy to answer any other questions that you might have about the platform. >> Um, the only thing I was going to mention, I think to pick up on Commissioner Fernando said, is uh, obviously I spent too much time on Twitter following our legislators and their comments, but sometimes you get honest reaction because most of them are just commenting themselves. Uh and there is sometimes a sense I think in some parts of Minnesota that uh all their money goes to Henipin for all of our projects and which is why I always request that to say it's not you know we don't complain when our money is going somewhere else. Uh well we do but not like but you know the idea is also that I think there is a notion that people think all their money comes to Henipin and we use it all. Uh which is just factually incorrect and so I think having that kind of information helps us. Um, I think of what Jessica and Susie gave me for the visits to the Trom and Burn Center, which is 40% are not Henipin, but a 100% of the costs are Henipin property tax owners. Uh I think in a couple weeks we're hopefully we're going to get some maybe some sample like a a gunshot, a burn visit and a uh car accident or some sample visits so we can actually see the gaps where on average and I say gap as in how much of the care costs, how much do we get reimbursed? So we can actually quant start to quantify on average of those 20,000 visits over those five years here's about how much this cost. Here's what the gap was and our residents are paying this. And it's not to say we don't want to take people who arrive in time of need, but it's also the financial realities as evidenced by we need alternative revenue sources because otherwise it's the retired lady in Robbinsdale. I'll pick Dan's hometown uh who uh is on a fixed income who is paying for care that's going for people or maybe from North Dakota or South Dakota. So, any questions or comments? Commissioner Green. >> Um, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for those remarks that you just made and I I want to sort of second them and and maybe add a little bit about how touchy it is. like, you know, I appreciate the memo and am um looking forward to pouring over it and the TIFF memo in greater detail in the next 48 hours. But one thing that struck me was um when we get into this conversation about how much we provide to the state, when when people who aren't from Henipin see the figures, they are like, "Oh, you know, partly it's a recognition of how how important we are to the state financially." But some of it is also a little like um irritation with the fact that when we raise our property taxes by like 0.01% 01% that there's there's some money there to do something with. And so I just appreciate that all of these angles are being evaluated and that we are guided so abley by our IGR department to sort of you know manage the conversation in a way that keeps it on the issues. Thank you. >> Right. I think we need a motion to progress >> progress to Tuesday. >> Second. >> We have a motion to progress. Uh uh what I'll just call it the platform. That's correct. Um all those in favor of that progressing till next week say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. >> But don't go too far. >> Don't forget this is always >> Yeah. Good afternoon. I will call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority for Thursday, November 13th. The first item of business on our agenda is to approve the agenda. May I have a motion to approve? >> Second. The agenda has been moved and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. The agenda is set. Item two on our agenda is the minutes from our previous meeting held September 25th. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? >> Second. >> Minutes have been moved and seconded. Any additions, corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. Item three is our claims register. We have items 3A and 3B, which is the claims registers for the period ending September 30th, 2025, and the claims register for the period ending October 31st of 2025. Is there a motion to approve both? >> Item has been moved >> and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Those uh the claims register has been approved. We have several items of of new business on our agenda today. Um, I will ask for a motion to approve or to move item 4A before us. It's been moved >> and seconded. Item 4 A is to reassign the portion of an agreement related to Bass Lake Crossing in New Hope to an agreement with to a different agreement with Basslake Equity Partners LLC with substantially similar terms allowing the transfer of ownership with no change to the NTE. Julia Wellie will present this item for us. Welcome, >> Chair Connley. Commissioners, Julia Wellie from Housing and Economic Development. Um, back in 2017, the HA provided AON a small $15,000 loan to acquire three naturally occurring affordable housing properties, including Bass Lake Crossing in in New Hope. Um this investment allowed qual uh qualified AON for the 4D um tax classification and also ensured affordability for 140 units at 60% AMI for 30 years. AON is now selling Basslike properties as part of its repair and grow stabilization plan. Uh the sale and this board action allowed transferring the property to a new owner who has agreed to continue the affordability for the remainder of the term. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Colleagues, questions or comments? Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. 4B is to amend an agreement to transfer ownership of Willowwood Estates to S Willowwood LLC with no change to the contract period or NTE. I'll move that one if there's a second. >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. Abby Lusen is prepared to present on this item. Welcome the 40 unit affordable housing town home development in Plymouth. The project receives HUD projectbased section 8 assistance on all 40 units which enhances affordability for all households. The HA first supported this property with a 2004 AHIF loan. I can scroll in 2020. Henipin County approved the purchase of the property and assumption of this AHIF loan by Common Bond Communities. As part of their portfolio stabilization strategy, Common Bond is now selling the property to Springhold Group. The buyer will maintain all affordability restrictions and assume the section 8 contract. Um as part of the uh 2020 loan assumption um acred interest was added to loan principal and the agreement extended to uh July 1st 2064 so almost um 40 years of affordability. The buyer springhold wishes to assume the loan as amended in 2020 and will maintain the affordability restrictions. Staff recommend assumption of this AHIF loan to facilitate the preservation of this important federally assisted affordable housing property. I'm available should you have any questions. >> Thank you. We're keeping units affordable here. Colleagues, questions or comments? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. Item 4 C. We just received an R1 for >> I'll move the R1. >> The R1 has been moved >> and seconded. And we saw this item uh in the admin ops and budget committee. 4C is the a to authorize the issuance and sale of one or more taxexempt multifamily housing revenue bonds for an affordable housing preservation project at 3400 Parkland Avenue Park Avenue and 5010 Summit Avenue in Eina. The R1 has been moved and seconded and I believe Abby Lucen is going to present on this one as well. Welcome back. >> Good afternoon, chair and commissioners. Today's request is for final approval of the issuance of up to $22 million in housing revenue bonds to support the preservation of these two affordable housing properties, South Haven and Summit Point. Both properties together will continue to provide 129 units of affordable housing, all of which are one-bedroom units reserved for seniors and people with disabilities. This is deeply affordable housing. All units are reserved for residents with very low incomes and all units benefit from projectbased section 8. Um the revision that triggered the R1 is a result of the extended federal government shutdown bumping up against the bond issuance deadline established by the state. This revision allows the borrower maximum flexibility to meet the bond issuance deadline. staff recommend a final H app approval for this conduit finance and the board will consider the companion resolution next week. Thank you. >> Thank you. Questions or comments from my colleagues? I appreciate you answering the only question I had which was with the revision. Um all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? That item passes. I'm going to ask to move items 4 D and E together. We'll have the same presenter on those. >> Approval. items have been moved and seconded. Thank you. I'll read those into the record and then invite Ryan Kelly to come and speak to them. Item 4 D is to negotiate six love local store grant storefront grant agreements. I just love that. Um with local government agencies uh the dates on this one are November 13, 2025 through December 31st of 2027. There's a total combined NTE of $225,000. 4E is to negotiate two multi-jurisdictional agreements with the city of Minneapolis to support transit oriented communities grant implementation from November 13th of 2025 through December 31st 2028. These two items have been moved and seconded. Mr. Kelly, thank you. >> Thank you uh Chair Connley. Commissioners, the first item uh before you would approve agreements with six Henipin County communities to implement a facade improvement program. Love local storefronts in local business districts. Love local storefronts is an offshoot of the business district initiative established in 2015. The business district initiative has been wellreceived and overs subscribed uh most years with a high demand to support local facade improvement programs. [clears throat] Based on this demand and the interest of serving smaller communities that often don't have the capacity to design their own programs, the housing and redevelopment authority created love local storefronts, building on the shop local, love local campaign and messaging that has been implemented in partnership with suburban communities over the past few years. Combined, these agreements will directly benefit an estimated 15 to 20 businesses directly and benefit business districts with approximately 640 local businesses within them and leverage at least $375,000 in matching investments. Happy to take any questions. >> Any questions on that item? Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um question on the the Love Local um storefront. I know that there was some conversation in the city of Madina where they were less keen on the the local match. Um do you know how that turned out or um >> Yeah, >> sure. Chair Connley, uh Commissioner I'm not sure what part they might have been less keen on. I do know that we allowed flexibility of the in the city's uh participation and the participation of actual business owners or property owners. Um, we set it up. We require a dollar for-dollar match. Um, and some cities will provide less themselves based on their own capacity. Uh, and then that will have require the property owners participation. So, I haven't heard anything from Adina uh about not wanting any match. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you, Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And I was going to talk about how nice it was to have a local match. Sorry, Commissioner. [laughter] I just uh I want to thank you for these programs. I think you know uh at a you know thousand foot view it looks like oh facades and this stuff but updating you know those areas where small businesses thrive so that they you know sometimes it's just better storefront people more visibility people are there I know Crystal's taking advantage of it New Hope's taking advantage of it Brooklyn Center um you know when they redid by Humbult where they had uh you know the uh civil unrest after the Dante Wright uh killing um and so I they really do help and sometimes you have owners that can't really update it and so the money is there and I I do like the match simply because uh you know it's to the point can everybody provide all that no but I think having that flexibility but also it's skin in the game um if you're not willing to invest money into something and your only investment is if we are then I I always think that's the wrong approach and so we if they think it's important we think it's important we work together um on that and I I you you know, highlight Robin to obviously uh it'll help uh kind of connect when the blue line uh is started and connected there and that that main street's going to really burst open. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you, Madam Chair. And I just want to clarify, is this a good time to ask questions about 4E? >> Okay. Um, so, you know, greatly interested in both of these programs and think that they do a lot of interesting and good things in for 4E especially as contrasted with 4D is a little less clear what the how the local match works if there is one. So I wondered if you could talk about that and then also it was interesting to see the the year the history that was provided gave the opportunity to see sort of the stackup of investments in this one intersection and again I was interested in the local participation. Thank you >> Mr. K. Would you like to give a summary of 4E and then answer that question. >> Okay. >> Thank you chair conley commissioners. I'll do that quickly. Distinct [laughter] uh item. So 4E that item is to approve two cooperative agreements with the city of Minneapolis under the multi-jurisdictional statute. So the board has previously approved transit oriented communities funding uh for two projects. The Dreamland on 38th Street project which has received two transit communities awards and then the 2815 East Lake Street project. These agreements meet statutory requirements and enable HR investment into the projects. authorizing these agreements enable the two projects to move forward and our funding to be invested into them as they get underway um with a total investment value of over $14 million. I'm happy to take questions. So on that question, this these agreements are with the city and it's essentially the city saying, "Oh, we're aware of you making this award and we're okay with you making that investment into those projects." The city themselves is not required to put money into uh either project via the transit oriented communities program. Uh and in these two projects themselves, as far as I know, the city is not investing them in them at this time. >> Um thank you and and thank you for that uh additional information. And so um I'm sorry that I don't remember from other years with with our um community with no transit oriented communities not community oriented development [laughter] um how what the process is but is this so is this the sum total of our investments for this year like is this sort of a recap of of this process for 2025 or are have there been others that I'm just not remembering? Chair Conley, commissioners, we don't always have to do the multi-jurisdictional agreement for projects. So number of criteria uh under statute is there affordable housing of a certain level. Is the city created a redevelopment district? So we navigate that criteria. In some cases, we have to take this route uh to award the funds. Never have we had a city say no, we don't want you to invest in these projects, but we need to to fulfill that obligation. So, the $14 million I I referenced is the uh development cost of these two projects alone. Um, our transitorient communities uh awards this year was our $2.2 million allocation. Um, you're going to stump me. I think we had six projects we making awards to in total. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Click. Got it. >> Got it. And then Mr. Ducker, you had something to say. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner Green, I ju I just would add so we we did the awards earlier. Usually we don't the authority of the HR that under the HR statute is broad enough to cover um our ability to implement most transit oriented community awards. In this case they kind of fall out um uh of [clears throat] redevelopment areas and so we so the multi-jurisdictional statute which is the agreement we do with the city allows us to open up some additional authority so we can implement what the board approved earlier. So um this is not the uh total TOC investment as Ryan pointed out. This is just two projects that are kind of orphaned um for different reasons. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Other questions or comments, colleagues? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes, which appears to be the final item of business on our agenda. I will declare us adjourned.