[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the administration's operations and budget committee of Tuesday August 5th. We'll start the agenda with item number one which is the minutes from the previous meeting of July 22nd 2025. May I have a motion? >> Moved. >> Second. >> It's been moved and second. Are there corrections or changes or updates? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. New business. Item uh 2A is uh a routine item to declare property at 8941 Portland Avenue South Bloomington Surplus and authorized sale to Touchstone Mental Health for intensive residential treatment services. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. Does anybody need a further explanation on this one or >> I'd like to hear about it, Madam Chair. >> Okay, please. Thanks. Go ahead. >> Uh, madam chair and commissioners, uh, as was referenced, 8 8941 Portland is a 16 bed intensive uh, residential treatment center owned by the county and operated by Touchstone, Inc. Uh, this board does three things. Uh, this board action does three things. First, it consistent with state law declares this property uh surplus property because public ownership of the building is no longer required. Second, uh after a competitive process, uh Touchstone, Inc. was selected to purchase the property. This bar authorizes the uh county administrator to negotiate the sale at a little over $1.2 million. And third, it authorizes the county administrator to negotiate a loan with Touchstone for $600,000 uh during the period of uh September 1, 2025 to the end of the year in 2035. The loan requires use of the property for an Z for 10 years. Spencer Agnu from facility services here if there's more questions about the real estate transaction and Leah Kaiser's here if there's questions about uh the services provided. questions, comments? >> No, Madam Chair, I think it's a great action and just want to reiterate the collective need for greater bed capacity in the state and regionally. And while this is not new beds, it uh for me it seems favorable um for ownership to be uh centered with those who are operating that service. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Absolutely. Thank you. All those in favor signify by I. >> I post. Motion carries. Item 2B is ratification of permits, leases, lease agreements, and related property agreements approved by the county administrator starting April 1st of 2025 to 6:30 of 2025. Um, and we have that attachment. Do I have a motion on this? >> So, move. >> Second. Does anybody need a rundown of any of these? All those in favor signify by I. I >> I opposed. Motion carries. Um, item 2 C is to negotiate an amendment to an agreement with Cycldia Technology, Inc. for panoramic images of properties in Henipin County for an additional 5-year period starting September 14th uh um to 9 uh 15 of 2030 and not to exceed of just over $1.8 million. Do I have a motion? >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Um does anybody want a further discussion? I I did have to read the background on this one. So, can you give us a quick summary on this one, please? >> Certainly. Uh Madam Chair, as you pointed out, this is uh seeking to amend an agreement that we have with Cyclop Media that we've had in place for five years. It adds an additional 5-year term. And this the previous uh board resolution was passed in uh 2020. This new term increases the not to exceed amount by $1.1 million and includes uh a 2025 fall uh time drive capture spanning approximately 6,732 miles of roads in the uh Henipin County and 48 miles of trail capture. Um along with 5 years of licensing and hosting the service. Uh the imagery is used extensively by a number of different departments in the county including the assessor's office, uh public works, GIS, emergency management, and we also make it available to uh our city and other uh local governments. Uh there are 17 participating cities uh loss and uh the the MEES board also participate in it. The renewal will continue full coverage of a 5-year term and is structured to ensure uninterrupted uh access to the imagery platform and related services. One of the primary uses of this is in the assessor's office where they're able to do local assessing uh using the the images from here when uh they're they don't go onto a particular property to make sure that we get uh an accurate uh assessment of of that that local property. Josh Hogland is here from the assessor's office to answer any questions that you might have. And I have Glenn Gilbertson if there's uh IT related questions. >> Commissioner Anderson, any further appreciate. >> I know there's a lot of background or why we do these kinds of photos. It's really interesting. Okay. All those in favor signify by I. I opposed. Motion carries. Item 2D is to negotiate agreement with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for rental space utilized by North Point Health and Wellness Center at 10:15 4th Avenue North Minneapolis starting October 1st, 2025 through September 30th of of 2030. Um, and the gross first year gross rent is $28,24. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> And do we want to any further information on this? Anybody? This is pretty routine. All those in favor signify by I I post. Motion carries. Item 2E, submission of general amendments to the 2021 HUD annual action plan and home ARP allocation plan and negotiate agreement with city of Minnotonka. So for CDBG program starting July 1 of 2025 through 630 of 2030 receiving just under $80,000 and termination of four CDBG agreements. Do I have a motion for this? >> Been moved and second. I'll ask for a quick summary on this one because there's a lot to this. Chair Gotel Commissioners Julia Willie is here and can provide background. Welcome Miss Wellers. Chair Gotel Commissioners. Uh Julia Weller from Housing and Economic Development. Uh this action um is quite routine. It recaptures prior year unspent funds uh and then reallocates them to uh meet our both our federal requirements and county and community goals. Uh specifically, these funds will be reallocated to our consolidated pool, which is the largest portion of our um suburban cities uh for our essential home repairs program. Uh we did hold a 30-day public comment period and receive no comments. Thank you. >> Follow-up questions. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. I. Post. Motion carries. Item uh 2F is submission of a submittal um amendment to the 2022 and 2024 HUD annual action plans. Negotiate two award modifications from 71 of 2025 through 6:30 oft total amount not to exceed 950,000 and to negotiate one home agreement from August 13th, 2025 through August 12th of 20 um70 and not to exceed of 900,000. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> This is very similar. Does anybody want this? >> I'll just make a comment, Madam Chair. >> Just very, very creative work as always. Um, of course, the repurposing is in part because of federal federal timeline. Um, but just really appreciate the way in which staff is ensuring that our funds are being used to their fully full extent while advancing our broad affordable housing agenda. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thanks. Anyone else? All those in favor signify by I. I >> oppos. Motion carries. Um item 2G and I believe we have an R1 on that. Um is accelerating zero waste waste implementation in Minneapolis. Do I have a motion for this? >> I'll move the R1, >> Madam Chair. >> And do I have a second? >> A second. >> Okay. Second. Okay. And then do you have a comment? >> I do actually, Madam Chair. I would I would actually like to lay this over to to the next committee. I'd like to make a motion to lay it over to the next committee. >> I second that. >> So, it's been a motion to lay over >> and madam chair I can speak to that. We received a letter from the city of Minneapolis and I I think it's as we're trying to aim to close the herk, I think it's good to be collaborative with the city of Minneapolis. So, if staff could work with the city of Minneapolis in the next two weeks and come back when we're at committee and just maybe have some revisions for a plan. >> Okay. >> Okay. There's been a a motion to lay over. All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> I. >> This item has been laid over. >> And madam chair, if I could just say one more thing. Yesterday I understand that there were protesters in front of one of our colleagues homes. >> And and I say this I I know we have a a bigger audience today. Um my friend Melissa Hortman was murdered and she wasn't just a community leader. She was a person in her home that was attacked and her life taken from her. She'll never see her kids again. Um, we have two of John Hoffman, who was somebody I served with for six years at the legislature, was murdered or was shot multiple times in his home. His wife shot. People showed up at one of our colleagues homes yesterday. When we run for office, we run for office, not our families. We should not go to people's homes. Please come to our places of business. Please come here. Call us. If we're not responding, make sure we do. We will. We have staff, but please stay away from our homes. We all feel very unsafe right now in ways that are different and variable. So, I just want to say that. Um, and Madam Chair, I'll hand it back to you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Understandably. Uh the next item is item 2H which is county board governance of Henipin Healthc Care Systems. I'll move this. >> Second. >> Been moved and seconded. And would you like to speak to it? Commission. >> I'm comfortable progressing it to next week, but I understand if others um would prefer to speak at this time. >> Do would somebody like would you Commissioner Anderson? >> I'll move to progress it to the August 12th board meeting. >> I'll I'll support the progress. I I think it's worth having a little bit of conversation um just to make sure that we have an opportunity to kind of be transparent with where we're at and try to make sure that um we are doing this process in a way that is respectful of the community um and the HHS leadership uh as we're as we're moving forward. I think it's clear that we all uh who are connected to the the health care system care very deeply about being able to make sure that we are providing care to the people who most need it uh at HCMC and our affiliated clinics. Um, it's also very clear that there are very, very serious financial challenges facing our hospital system and we need to make sure that we are working collaboratively to resolve those and address the the issues. Um, one of the reasons that I'm very thankful that we're progressing this and moving it to our our next week's meeting is we have uh another meeting scheduled for this Thursday uh where we're going to be able to hear ideas and take back uh feedback from our HHS uh board uh and their task force. And so I want to make sure that we are more to come. I guess >> Amber alert. Just wait. Let's just let it play out. >> Just hold for a moment. >> Madam. >> All right. >> Please continue. >> Okay. Um I I want to make sure that we are giving uh opportunity to hear ideas to digest them uh and come back. But we need to make sure that we are taking actions that are going to stabilize uh our health care system. Um be responsive and responsible to the public and to make sure that uh that we have a hospital that is going to last into the future because we cannot afford to have this our our hospital and our public safety net closed. So thank you >> Commissioner Eden. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Um, and I want to thank everybody that came here to testify today and speak. Um, I've been here at the county for a little over a year from the legislature and, um, I'm glad to see the systems are working. Um, and right now the hospital is facing a a very steep financial situation. I want to be honest with you. This is not something I I go into this with eyes wide open. I don't know how to run a hospital. I don't know how to. And we we run a county and I'm still learning that process. Um I value the doctors and the nurses and the respiratory therapists and every single person, the lab people um who who work at the hospital. And I'm not going to say that this transition is we I'm going to be supporting this next week. One thing that you learn at the legislature is that you always tell people where you're at because transparency means that you should know what we're all thinking up here because transparency could be a word if we if we leave it hollow. Um I'm going to be supporting this next week and the reason I am is because we have to work on our communication, our collaboration between the county and the hospital. This is temporary from my perspective that we will rebuild the hospital hospital board. Um it is nothing in my opinion not a reflection on the 14 HHS board members that we have there now. They have tried, they have served. Um my regret is that I didn't call each one of them to let them know what my thoughts were last Tuesday when this came. Um, when you're in government and when you're in politics, you have to tell people with where you're at and people are serving and they're doing the best they can. We all are. And the financial picture that we have over the next six months, honestly, to 2027 when we have Medicaid changes are going to be big. And I we cannot just pass this to the taxpayers. I don't know how we're going to do this, but I promise you, if you call my office, I will be honest with you. I will let you know what I know and I will listen to you and try to incorporate feedback. But um for now, I just want you to know that I'm here and that this is going to be I think from our perspective, from the county's perspective, what we've been hopefully talking about is making sure that we have a transition team, that we make sure that we will protect patient care, that we all want the hospitals to survive this uncertainty, and that we will make sure that our communication is as good as it possibly can be, and where there's areas for improvement, we will hopefully do that. So, thank you, Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, just, you know, I think, uh, Commissioner Edison, you a good point and I think it's a good uh kind of motto to live by, which is to let people know where you stand. U, I will be supporting this motion to progress for next week and I will be voting next week to uh, move forward. Um, you know, we heard lots of people talking today and at no point, no matter what side of the issue people were were on, uh, did I detect anybody having anything other than they want the hospital to succeed. And so, that's a good place to start from that we're all in agreement. There was no one who said, "I don't want to succeed. I want it to change. I don't want it to do what it's doing." Everybody talked about the mission being core. And I think when you start from a base of where we agree on, and now we can start to move toward how do we get that done? And I think what I've heard from many people, staff, patients, community is a real desire to have people's voices truly heard at the table to bring changes that they see that could suggestions. We all should bring things to the table. Um I'm very nervous about the financial situation. Uh I'd be nervous if we weren't moving to do this action because the financial situation to this board, to this voters up here, these seven uh remains the same. And so uh just want to re uh state my commitment to that the hospital's mission uh persevere. Uh we see around the country people pulling out of the markets that serve people who cannot afford health care or who can only afford partial care. Uh we see everyone kind of fleeing and I think that's what's unique about this hospital is we're not going to flee. We're going to stand resolute. Uh we will find a way. It will take lots of work. At no point do I believe next week is a celebration. it becomes another step toward some really tough decisions that we all are going to have to make. Um and so that time is now, that time is upon us. Um and I look forward to that challenge and working with everyone um staff, my fellow commissioners, um everyone, patients, uh staff over at the hospital here and there, um to do that work. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Conley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be supporting this next week as well. Um to me the most important thing um that comes out of this is that we are protecting the patient care that this hospital provides. We are protecting the employees who work bedside who clean and turn over beds at this hospital. We are preserving the integrity of the work of this hospital and the folks who put in that work. Henipin County has an obligation to keep this hospital open. And when I hear publicly that the hospital has a risk of closing before the end of the year, when I hear that publicly, that is an emergency. That is a call to action with the authority that we have as this board to make sure that our level one trauma center remains open. It is within our authority to take these actions. The board action itself, the resolving clauses, the whereas clauses, the background, all give details and answers to a lot of the questions that have been raised, I would say, for the past week. I think that is worth a thorough read through. It's a public document for those watching, for those who showed up today. Um, I am very appreciative of everyone who came to speak about this action. Um, it is not lost on me that it that it is a big step, but it's an important one and it's necessary and it's the right thing to do to save a very critical asset for our entire state. Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, my uh interest to progress is because there is an HHS board meeting tomorrow and um a quarterly meeting was converted to a joint meeting of both boards. So for for transparency, my interest in progressing is because actions are not final until they're voted on at board. And so perhaps there is information tomorrow or Thursday that we will learn that can strengthen the intention of this board action. I will be uh seeking to vote in favor of this action. And I want to emphasize what Commissioner Connley um referenced on June on June 12th of 2025. We had a joint meeting of both boards and the hospital CEO communicated to both boards the risk of potential closure by the end of the year. That was very alarming. I paused the meeting. I repeated that and I have been um attending HHS task force meetings, not all of them but many of them uh in an effort to understand the way HHS management and the board were activating around this reality. It is not just about our hospital but is about the health and well-being of the residents here, the regional asset and all of the motans that use HHS or HCMC to receive their care as well as the thousands of workers whose households depend on the continuity of this organization. So I'll be voting in favor next week. This action is not about feedback to the HHS board. As expressed, I've been on the board since 2020. I'm grateful to all of the HHS board members who've served since 2007 with special thanks for those I personally served alongside since 2020 as we led through a global health emergency. These volunteer members, I emphasize this, these volunteer members and residents dedicated countless hours and attention and service to the HHS mission and community. and I absolutely extend sincere gratitude to the current board um with special thanks to Chair Omar who's who's here today. What is this action about then? This action is about ensuring the operational continuity of the last public safety net hospital in Minnesota. HHS management has identified the operational risk of hospital closure at the end of 2025 and the HHS board has prioritized workforce reductions and program divestment as its primary solutions in service to the continued operations for the hospital. I think the county should have a chance to review this data. We should have a chance to dig in and consider if we might have different solutions uh to provide. At a previous task force meeting, I said almost ingest, but I think this might be relatable for those of us who doublech checkck the order before we leave a drive a fast food drive-thru. And for those of us who have had to balance checkbooks because there were single digits in the account, I hope the whole organization and our residents can appreciate that this board takes seriously the operational continuity of HHS and that we take seriously the stewardship of your public taxpayer dollars and look forward to robust review to meet the expectations outlined in public comment today. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. I just want to say that I sit on the finance committee for the HHS and I want to say that there have been a lot of herculean efforts to address this issue but it's time is of the essence. We we don't have a lot of time. You know the conversation here at the deis is about the possibility of a hospital closing. Um we are concerned about this. You know we have financial responsibility as the county board for any bills that are unpaid by the hospital. We have to hold it up. They have to make payroll. If they don't make payroll, we make it for them. This is this is the understanding that we have. This is a pretty big deal. So, we share the same mission. We share the mission of the hospital. But we are coming into August now. We're in August and this is a seasonal downturn. So, it's only going to get worse right now. We know that. That's how this is at the hospital. This is a this is a usual business cycle. So, as bad as it is, it's going to get worse. And you're right, Commissioner Edles. can't tax our way out of this and we can't put it all on property taxes and on the people and there needs to be big bold decisions and they're not going to be necessarily popular. But I I think we all have to start to work together and make sure that we're on the same page and that we make sure that we have sustainability and that we have a hospital in the future. So I'm voting in favor of this as well. So I'll take that. Second on the progress. >> Yep. >> Seconded. All those in favor for the progress motion say I. >> I. >> I. Oppos. Motion carries. Thank you. This has been progressed. Item 2 I is an addendum to amend um line of succession in the Henipin County Emergency Plan and line of succession for emergency situations. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> It's been seconded. Um can we get a brief chair commissioners? Um brought before you today is a resolution that amends the line of succession. Last week you appointed me as your new county administrator, Dan Rogan and Mr. Kareem Murphy as deputy county administrator. This board action brought before you provides the um succession plan in the event that the county administrator is not available for emergency and non-emergency situations. This the last time this was updated was in 2016. We're bringing forward to update with new leadership in succession planning. >> Thank you. Any other further comments, questions? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. And that concludes our agenda. [Music] That was Good afternoon. I'll call to order the health committee on this Tuesday, August 5th, 2025. The first item of business for us today is to approve the minutes from our previous meeting which was held July 22nd. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. Colleagues, corrections, comments on the minutes? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I any opposed? The minutes have passed. We have one item of discussion and action on our agenda today. Item 2A is an agreement with the Parabon Nanolabs, Inc. to provide forensic artists and sculpture services and creating 2D and 3D facial approximations. The dates on this item are August 1st of 2025 through July 31st of 2030 for an NTE of $107,000. I'll move that if there's a second. Second >> item has been moved and seconded. >> Deputy Murphy. >> Madam Chair, commissioners, the agreement you have before you proposes uh services agreement that would include the creation of drawing and sculptures that are requested by the medical examiner's office to assist with identifying deedants. Uh the proposed artist would be transporting these sculptures, uh make corrections and fix damages. and it's a part of a proposal uh to include uh services for the annual missing person's day missing person's day. Uh we have Sean Wilson from the medical examiner's office available for further questions. >> Thank you. Colleagues, questions or comments? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. We've reached the end of our agenda. I will declare us a journ. 25 through September 30th, 2027 in the receivable amount of 1.5 million. Item 2 C is an agreement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homelessness Prevention Assistance Program to provide funds for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services during the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30th, 2027 in the receivable amount of $8,75,000. If there's any questions, members. Nope. All right. Seeing none, there be no questions. All those in favor of moving and approving items approving, excuse me, items 2 A through 2 C, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. The motion carries. That concludes the human services committee and we are adjourned. [Music] I'd like to call today's uh meeting of the law, safety, and justice committee to order. We have a couple items uh on the agenda. First up is the approval of the minutes from July 22nd. If I get a motion, a second, please. >> I'll move. Second. >> We have a motion and second. Any corrections, additions, changes? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Uh the only item we have is in uh if I get a motion second, I'll read it and I think we'll get some background. >> So moved. >> Second. We have a motion, a second uh for 2A, which is an agreement with act one group to provide jail management system for the Hip County Jail 111720 to 111626 increasing the not to exceed amount by 776,25 for a new total not to exceed amount of 2,66,1250. Um could we get background Miss Guzman? >> Yes. Good afternoon, Chair Lundy. Commissioners, I'd like to invite uh jail administrator Troy Otto to provide background on this amendment to the agreement. [Music] >> Good afternoon, Madam Chair and commissioners. My name is Troy Auto, work the sheriff's office and I am currently in the role of the jail administrator. In 2020, the sheriff's office entered into an agreement with Act One Group Incorporated doing business as ATIMS to replace its outdated jail management system. The scope of services included in the project management, data migration, interface, development, training, and ongoing support and maintenance. The agreement encompass customization, user acceptance, testing, and premium support to meet the specific needs of Henipin County and ensure the efficient system operation. During the impleation implementation process, additional technical support requirements arose necessitating change orders. As a result, ATIMS provided services in response to these change orders leading to increased expenditures and the original not to exceed amount of $1.8 million was met. Even with these changes, the project did not exceed and will not exceed the original implementation budget as identified in 2020. The increased not to exceed amount is already included in the 2025 budget and the 2026 requested budget. Moving forward, ATIMS and the sheriff's office will continue collaboration to finalize the implementation of the JMS. The revised not to exceed amount accounts for ongoing maintenance support, ongoing maintenance and support, implementation of change orders and other related expenses through the end of the agreement term. >> Thank you. Any questions? Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you. So this is um to clarify this is all backend. This isn't like the video call. This isn't anything on the client facing portion. >> Um madam chair and commissioner uh madam chair yes that is correct. This has nothing to do with the video system for the uh clients. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> All right. See no further questions uh bring it to a vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. And with that the agenda of the law safety justice committee is complete. We'll declare a journ I will call to order everyone's favorite committee, the public works for today, August 5th. Uh, our first item on the agenda is to approve the minutes from our July 22nd meeting. May I have a motion and a second? >> Approval. >> And a second. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any additions, corrections, or changes? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Uh, the minutes are approved. We have several routine items. Um, still construction season, which I love seeing. Um, may I have a motion for the block, and I'll read them in. >> For the block, >> second the block. >> Okay, so that is item 2 A through 2D. Item 2 A is an agreement with Bridging, Inc. uh with a for the period of 9125 to 9 or 123127 with a not to exceed of $35,000. An agreement with certified recycling for the uh the same period with a not to exceed of $160,000. Item 2B is a work order with SRF Consulting for design and engineering services for rehab of bridge number 27565 and roadway improvements on CASA 15 uh with not to exceed of just over $500,000. Uh item 2 C is to modify an agreement to include Adina's participation in maintenance responsibilities with no change to the project budget. Um, item 2D is to negotiate an agreement with Rogers for cost, participation, and maintenance of Fletcher Bypass, uh, estimated county costs of just over $3.5 million. Um, any comments or questions on any of the items? Um, I do just want to highlight one thing. Oh, sorry, Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just going to mention how uh great 2A is. Um, as someone who just recently put a piece of furniture on my driveway, uh, I think it's great that that it'll get picked up in a Henipin County truck. Uh, but I think it's just, uh, great that we offer this service to residents, um, especially for those larger items and um that it is um really um a part of how we reach that 75% recycling rate um, which is coming up very soon. and it's almost 2026 and the rate is uh the goal is set by 2030. So um there are folks who are moving or who have uh very large mattresses what everything you can think of but having a place to drop those off or having uh the ability to have those picked up is uh essential to meeting our goals here. So just wanted to call that out. Thank you. >> Absolutely right. Thank you. Um and I'm just going to call attention to the uh the Fletcher bypass and Rogers. uh this has been in conversation for decades and so it's very exciting to see this come through. So um all those in for favor of the routine items say I >> any opposed the routine items are approved. Item 2E is to negotiate various agreements for Green Partners environmental grants for periods between 9125 and 83126 and 9125 and83127 with a total not to exceed of $236,000 and 300. Um I understand Miss Timmons is here >> approval. >> Oh, sorry. Motion in a second. Yes, we have a motion in a second. Thank you. Uh, Miss Timmons. >> Good afternoon, chair, commissioners. Uh, I am Angie Timmons from Environment and Energy Department. Uh, the green partners program supports organizations that implement projects that engage and empower residents to take action to improve the environment. And they also engage youth in environmental education and leadership opportunities. This item requests approval for eight green partners grants um specifically for Brooklyn Center Independent School, Emerge Community Development, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, Lindale Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis Public Schools, Appetite for Change, Spark Y, and Urban Strategies. Um and these uh projects do total 236,300. Um, these agreements are before you because these organizations have existing contracts with the county that exceed $100,000. Um, but there are an additional 17 projects that are being awarded through administrative processes. Um, and looking for sort of a moment of um um joy uh in a in a difficult time. I just encourage you if you have the resolution in front of you, the list of uh community groups and what they want to do to empower youth and residents with a very small amount of money is very inspiring and um is an honor to present here today. Um so these projects do support communitydriven environmental projects that focus primarily on audiences that face disparities and together they're going to engage 9,000 residents and they're also expected to reach more than 65,000 people with environmental messages. Um and together um this program um since its inception in 2012 has awarded 286,000 286 grants totaling more than $4 million for community le environmental education. So um with that I'll just conclude that the funding for this program comes from the solid waste enterprise fund and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Any questions, comments? I love this program. I love being able to uh lift up community groups that are looking to to do good work in our in our county. So, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Uh those are approved. Item 2F is to negotiate various 2025 ERF grant amount agreements total not to exceed of uh 1.866 million. to negotiate ERF grant agreement with St. Louis Park economic development authority for costs incurred uh for a prior period and uh with a not to exceed of 177,000 and an amendment two to an agreement with ERF grant funding with St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority extending the end date to 20 uh 11:1527 with no change to the not to exceed amount. May I have a motion and a second? Second. >> We have a motion and a second. We have seen the uh ERF grants in the past, but I would love to hear more. Um I understand that Miss Colipy is uh available to give a brief rundown of this this program. >> Good afternoon, Chair Anderson and commissioners. Um, we are seeking board approval today to award funding to seven entities and to extend contract timelines for two previously awarded projects through our environmental response fund program. Twice a year, the county solicits proposals and awards funding for environmental contamination assessments and cleanup on brownfield sites to support future redevelopment. The seven projects recommended for funding as part of our 2025 spring ERF round um support the preservation and new development of affordable and supportive housing, the redevelopment of community and civic spaces, and the development of new green infrastructure in the cities of Minneapolis, Rogers, Robbinsdale, and St. Anthony Village. Funding will also be used to provide small environmental assessment grants to nonprofits and emerging developers across the county through our GAP financing program with Minnesota Brownfields. The ERF program helps remove barriers to redevelopment caused by the added cost of site cleanup while reducing impacts to health and our environment and supporting the county's disparity elimination and climate action goals. Happy to answer any questions you might have today. >> Thank you so much. Um, I see a few comments here, Commissioner Fernando and then Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you. I just want I we always love seeing this program come forward, so I want to extend gratitude to uh the staff, but I want to also uplift for the public that these um these awards are in concert with development plans. So, people local to the community expressing a development need. Oftent times it's housing or affordable housing or another community need. and just uh how meaningful it is to ensure that there is environmental cleanup that matches uh and restoration that matches uh the residents in that area and then like mentioned the reducing barrier to development costs. Uh we know that we need more affordable housing and we need more community spaces and although the this doesn't seem as connected to that, it really is a vital aspect and wanted to highlight that. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have uh comments as well because I too love this program and specifically wanted to call out, you know, Little Earth Housing is in the middle of a development and this is uh this award is part of a soil uh vapor mitigation system. And I really want to just stress that little earth is in an area of district 4 that is underneath a toxic when we look at maps that asthma cloud that um that uh sickness cloud of of pollution there's a big red blob that always just sits right over little earth. What they have been doing in this community for several years now have been working to mitigate that through development, through assistance, applying for county awards to clean up the soil there that many residents can't even plant food in because it's that toxic. They've been working to bring um sustainable housing and sustainable food programs to their communities, sustainable urban gardens to their communities, but they need to do so in a way that they won't get sick because the dirt is just so this is uh close to the arsenic triangle they they call it. Um, so I'm thrilled to see that they were awarded these funds um to clean up the dirt. And I can't stress enough how many more organizations um that know about this that are within parts of our community that are hardest hit by air pollution. Uh Little Earth is right next to 94, 55, um all of that. Uh this is a way that we can give back to projects that are trying to um reverse those devastating impacts. Um we can do our part by helping them at least clean up that dirt. So I've always been a fan of environmental response grants when I learned about them. Uh and uh really am excited about the whole slate of folks who got awarded, but really wanted to call out the necessity of Little Earth to be able to do this work. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Any other comments or questions? Um, yeah, I just wanted to highlight too, Commissioner Fernando, you brought up the importance of being able to um provide development or put housing stock. This support for land cleanup is essential for developers to have a viable path forward to development. So uh even just the return on investment if you're purely looking at it from a financial standpoint is uh we get multiple time return on the investment for every dollar that we put in um it is returned through uh future development and and like back into our tax roles. So this is a win-win for everybody involved. Um so thank you. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Those grants are approved. Uh our final item is an addendum to authorize section 5310 uh TCAP grant application to Mindot negotiate an agreement with the state of Minnesota uh for the period of January 126 to 123127 uh with an estimated receivable of $620,000. May I have a motion and a second? >> Second. I'll second that. Um, Mr. Solar, I believe you get to present this one. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, members. Uh, Dan Solar, director of transit and mobility for Henipin County. Uh this action today uh authorizes Henipin County to submit for a grant application to um the it's a it's a federal grant through the state of department of transportation that allows us to continue the mobility program that we have put in place. We began this our first application for this grant was two years ago and we've been advancing that program since. We have our mobility manager on board. We're beginning to put our work group together. We're beginning to uh work with other county departments to identify mobility needs and challenges for, you know, primarily the most um dependent um from both elderly and disabled services residents in Henipin County as well as primary users of Henipin County services that might find mobility as a challenge to access those services. So, we're going to continue to work on providing and determining where those needs are and what are the best ways to address those in, of course, a very diverse county that we have all the way from very highly transit served areas of downtown Minneapolis and elsewhere out to very rural areas of Henipin County that have much more challenges for mobility. So the goal is to kind of determine what best fits where in those and so this grant will help us do that. So the this board actually would allow us to authorize us to apply for that grant and of course we're working with the grants office as well as it's a federal grant to um work out the details of pulling that together. Any other questions? I'm happy to answer. >> Thank you so much. Any questions for my colleagues? Very excited to see this go through. I know that uh countywide transit is is essential in order to making sure that we uh meet the needs of our aging population and transit dependent population. So, thank you. Uh all those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? That item is approved as well. And that is the final item on our agenda. It wasn't Good afternoon everyone. I'll call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority for Tuesday, August 5th. The first item of business is to approve our agenda for today. Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> The agenda has been uh moved and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? The agenda is set. Item 2 A is the minutes from our previous meeting that was held June 24th. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? >> The minutes are u moved and seconded. Any corrections, comments on the minutes? Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? The minutes have passed. Item three on our agenda is our claims register. 3A is the claims register for the period ending June 30th of 2025. Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? The claims register has passed. We have several items of new business colleagues. Item 4A is an amendment to an agreement with NeighborWorks home partners for home buyer assistance program funding and administration. There is no change to the term and we are increasing the NTE by $245,000 for a new NTE of 1.49. 49 million. I will move that if there's a second. >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. I will ask Miss Will Julia Wellier to present on this. >> Welcome Commissioner Connley uh Commissioners uh Julia Welli with Housing and Economic Development. As noted, this amendment will implement the remainder of our 2025 home ownership assistance fund um to continue the great work of our home buyer assistance program for the rest of this calendar year. Um back in 2023, we set out to create a home buyer assistance program that would leverage the learnings from our home buyer assistance program pilot and our research partnership with CURA. Uh we were trying to meet two headwinds at the time um and both exist today. first stark disparities in home ownership rates. Um for households above 50% of the area median income, we see a 13,000 household gap between white and black and brown homeowners uh home ownership rates. Uh but the second headwind being the basic lack of housing supply. Uh high interest rates are keeping current owners in their homes which is creating immense pent-up demand for those buyers. So, we are really proud that so far NeighborWorks has been able to help 60 households averaging 80% of the area median income to buy a home. All those households were buying their first home and 57% were black or brown. This amendment today will allow Neighborworks to support an estimated nine additional households uh yet this year. Thanks for your time. >> Thank you. Um colleagues, questions or comments? Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to also express the generational wealth that is built through home ownership. I know that's not true in every instance. Um, but as the second born in the US in my family, home ownership has been a really key aspect of economic stability and we have more barriers still. Um, people here know that uh it wasn't until like 2021 or 2022 that I learned that not everybody pays for caskets out of pocket and funerals out of pocket. And so, uh, generational wealth and being able to leverage against an existing asset is really, really meaningful for families generationally. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Other questions or comments? I just um I wanted to add that, you know, I'm very proud of this work to be only two years old. We're making progress. We're making a lot of progress. And um Minnesota has the worst disparities in the country for home ownership rates for black and brown people. And I know that there will be a day where this pilot that turned into just a a part of what we do will bring that disparity down, right? To the point that we eliminate it, right? That's the goal. So I'm I'm happy to see that 50 almost 60% of the folks who are buying their first house are black and brown people. and recognizing that it's not a great time to buy a house right right now. Uh so um let's keep going. Let's keep moving. Thank you for this. Um we'll move to a vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. Item 4B is to terminate and forgive a 2003 AHIFF agreement with Claire Apartments Limited Partnership for 929 Central in Northeast Minneapolis. The dates on this are November 22nd of 2004 through November 22nd, 2034. There's an NTE here of $425,000 or is there a motion to bring that before us? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. I believe Miss Wellers, you're speaking on this one as well. Welcome back, >> Chair Conley. Commissioners, uh, for more than 20 years, Clare housing has provided housing stability and positive health health outcomes for people living with HIV AIDS at Clare Apartments over in Northeast Minneapolis. Uh, in recent years, the HA and other funders have awarded new capital funding for essential repairs to the building. This additional debt now far um exceeds the property's appraised value. So, forgiveness of the 2003 loan will allow the project to close on the recapitalization funding, which will ensure quality, affordable, supportive housing for a new 50-year term. Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. Questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? >> That item passes. Colleagues, I'd like to move items 4, C, and D together. There's a motion for that. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. and I'll read them into the record and then ask Miss Lily Shaw to uh give us an a background on both. 4C is to negotiate agreements with Dakota Ramsey and Scott Counties for the CEO Next Business Institute. There's a total receivable here of $104,000 and to also negotiate an agreement with Edward Low Foundation. The dates on this are September 1st of 2025 through December 31st of 2026 and the NTE there is $137,500. 4 D is to negotiate negotiate amendments to elevate Henipin advising agreements for small business consulting. There's no change to the contract period. We are increasing the total NTE by $165,000 for a new combined NTE of a little over $2.3 million. Those items have been moved and seconded. Miss Lily Shaw, welcome. >> Good afternoon, Chair Connelly. Commissioners, U. Uh I'm Lily Shaw with Housing and Economic Development. Uh the items before you authorize agreements that provide for the implementation of the CEO Next program. CEO Next is one of Henipin Countyy's secure signature business support cohort programs that provides in-depth research support and peer-to-peer learning for established growthminded second stage businesses. To date, over 180 Honey County businesses have participated in CEO Next. Those businesses have retained over 2,900 jobs and 750 new jobs. Today's action will authorize an agreement with the Edward Lowe Foundation to provide the research component of CEO Next that helps businesses tackle challenges like researching new markets, uh, finding new customers or reconfiguring their supply chains. The action also includes agreements with Dakota, Ramsey, and Scott County that will enable them to contribute a combined total of 104,000 in funding to support their businesses participating in CEO Next. I'll next move on to um the next item um is authorizes amendments with consultants in our elevate henipin one-on-one advisor network and increases the total combined not to exceed amount by 165,000 to a total of 2,320,000. This investment in these 34 advisor agreements represents the core offering of elevate henipin. By investing in these agreements, the housing and redevelopment authority is making specialized consulting services in the areas of business strategy, marketing, accounting, legal, technology, human resources, and more. Available at no cost to Henipin County business owners. Today's a action allocates additional funds to meet the need and demand we're seeing among the business community, especially for consulting in marketing, legal, and business strategy. Resources for this increased amount are included in the HAS's 2025 budget, which recognizes contributions from Henipin County municipalities that total approximately 160,000 annually. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have and thank you. Wonderful. Thank you. Questions. Commissioner Goautel. >> I just want to say that I have the opportunity many times to go to a lot of these Elevate meetings to talk to these businesses. And I want to say that how responsive the staff are. So when we don't have expertise in a specific area where new business, we go out and get it to make sure that we're filling holes that really meet the needs of this business community and these startups. It's amazing what you do and how flexible and quickly you can move. I also want to say thank you to Dakota and Ramsey County and Scott Counties. You know, I see my commissioner colleagues there at some of these too, these ventures when we go and say hello to our wonderful businesses and we hear their stories and how they started and a lot of them are very thankful to either Henipin County or the county that they're in because they get county work. And so we not only help these businesses succeed and grow, we also use their services and we value them. And so I just want to say this is such a great synergistic piece of this and and I can't say enough good about this program and it's it's getting out there more and more. It used to be one of our best kept secrets, but there's a lot of people who seem to know about it now. So I'm very pleased to hear about that. So thank you, Madam Chair. >> Absolutely. Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. To that end, was there an expansion with CEO Next? It looks like an expansion or am I mis misremembering >> an expansion? No, no, we're adding on the new the second half of the program. So, um it's the same program. We're just adding on the research component. So, we have the roundts and then the research component. So, it's the same program we've been doing, >> but there was a new part, Madam Chair. So, I my memory was serving. I just want to make a comment. So, no questions. What's really um incredible about these two items 4C and 4 D is we know that small businesses and entrepreneurs are a vibrant and necessary part of our community. And these are very coste effective ways where the county has identified a very particular pinch point for a second stage entrepreneur or CEO and then for entrepreneurs and smaller businesses. Two pinch points. How am I as the executive being invested in? The second one is on demand ondemand no cost consulting up to 25 hours. So these are very coste effective ways for Henipin to be investing in our small businesses entrepreneurs for their collective workforces and their households livelihoods um and to ensure that we are a community of makers and ideiators and people who are willing to step into the problems and um opportunities of of the coming years. So really wanted to uplift how strategic and methodical these two particular program >> uh in D4 and this is a Somali woman-owned clinic that specializes in maternal care and the way and like you all showed up to this grand opening and it was incredible and they spoke so highly of the support that they were able to get from um from Elevate Henipin from our consulting services from start to finish and even beyond that grand opening. That's unmatched. So, I'm just very appreciative of the work that you're doing around our county to help support and uplift and build new small businesses. I heard job creation in there. A lot of new jobs are created with our support for small businesses. So, thank you. All right, we'll move to a vote. All those in favor of items 4 C and 4 D, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Those items pass. We will move on to item 4E. This is to reassign the portion of an agreement relating to 4215 Road Island Avenue North in New Hope from AON to an agreement with three Kings Manor LLC with substantially similar terms allowing the transfer of ownership with no change to the NTE. I'll move that if there's a second. >> Second >> item has been moved and seconded. Miss Willie S. Chair Connley, commissioners, um in 2017, the HR provided AON a $15,000 loan toward acquisition of three naturally occurring affordable housing properties. This lowcost investment qualified AON for the lowincome rental classification, otherwise known as 4D, um to reduce their property tax obligation and also ensured affordability at 60% AMI um for 30 years. AON is now selling one of those three properties uh as part of its repair and grow strategy to rebalance and stabilize its portfolio. The sale and these board actions allow transferring the property to a local entity uh who will continue the affordability restrictions for the remainder of the term. Thank you. >> Thank you. Questions, comments? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. 4F is to negotiate an agreement with the city of Crystal Economic Development Authority for the town center area use planning. August 6th, 2025 through December 31st of 2025 are the dates on this with an NTE of $17,710. Is there a motion to bring that before us? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Item has been moved and seconded. And I believe Mr. Ryan Kelly is here. Welcome. >> Thank you, Chair Connley. Commissioners, the item before you would approve a Henipin planning grant agreement with the city of Crystal Economic Development Authority to support the town center vision plan. The business district initiative and Henipin planning grant programs are administered through a coordinated process as part of Henipin County's economic development strategy. These programs provide complimentary resources to cities that are actively investing in the success and growth of their local business community and business districts and to cities that are advancing land use and redevelopment plans that implement community visions and help achieve county goals. The city of Crystal was awarded a business district initiative grant in 2023 for the Crystal Vibrant storefronts facade improvement program which included commercial districts along Basslake Road and the town center area. The city did not fully expend this award. The city is continuing its planning efforts in the Town Center mixeduse redevelopment district, which includes the future Bass Lake Road station on the Blue Line extension and is engaging in an updated vision plan addressing redevelopment opportunities and public realm improvements to guide the council in revising or developing zoning requirements and tools for the city and developers. This action would reinvest the balance of the business district award toward the town center vision plan and will leverage a matching investment from the city of at least $25,000. I'm happy to take any questions. >> Thank you. Questions or comments, colleagues? All right. Hearing and seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. Looks like we have one final item on our agenda today. This is an addendum. Item 4G is the appointment of executive director of the Henipin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. I will >> It has been moved and seconded. Miss Mr. Dockery. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners, this will ensure that we have leadership uh going forward. So, consistent with last week's action um that the county board took with respect to the county administrator, we'd like to welcome Miss Wentland to the HR family. >> Thank you. Welcome, Miss Wentland, to the HA family. Colleagues, questions, comments? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. I will declare us ajourned. Thank you.