Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the administration's operations. s budget committee for Tuesday, December 2nd. We'll begin the agenda with item one, which is the minutes from the previous meeting. I'd like a motion to move both 1A and 1B. >> Second. >> Been moved and seconded. Um item 1 A is the November 10th budget hearing men minutes from the administrator amendments and the item 1B. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners, >> my name is Derek Wridge. I'm the business information officer with Hapen Health. My name is Derek Woolridge. >> Okay, I think they've got that cut. Um, the second is item 1B is from November third the November 13, 2025 meeting minutes. This is from the administration operations budget meeting. So, I've had a first and a second. Any corrections or changes? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. Um, next are three routine items. I can have them moved al together. Items 2 A through 2C. If that's >> I'll move the block. >> Okay. Move the block. Blocks been moved. Item 2A is ratifications of permit leases, lease agreements, and related property agreements approved by the county administrator from 71 of 25 to 9:30 of 2025. Item 2B is to negotiate an amendment to an agreement with the US swimming foundation extending the term to 1231 of 27 with a not to exceed of 150,000. This is a new not to exceed of 400,000. And item 2C is to negotiate an amendment to an agreement with V3 Sports. Um its term is 1231 to 26 increasing the not to exceed by 125,000 to a new not to exceed of 250,000. Are there comments or questions about any of these? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. The next item, item 2D, is an item for discussion and action. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> This is always our fun one. Henipin County Youth Activities Grant Program, fall 2025 play area grants, equipment grants, lifeguard services, and arts and musics grants totaling 1 point just over $1.3 million. So, can I ask for a quick summary on this? >> Madam Chair, Jennifer Yang, uh, the director of grants management administration is here. And there is an R1, um, that we would like to have. >> All right, I'll move the R1. It's been moved and seconded. Oh, that's right. They put in some corrections. Welcome, Jennifer. >> We need the mic on, please. Oh, sorry. >> Thank you. There it goes. My goodness. >> Thank you. Uh, madame chair, commissioners, good afternoon. I am Jennifer Yang, director of the grants management and administration department. I'm excited to share the recommendations for fall 2025 youth activities grants. For the first time in the program's history, uh funding opportunities were offered concurrently across all grant initiatives, and those are play areas, sports equipment, lifeguard services, and arts and music. The fall 2025 grant cycle was again very competitive, reflecting the community's interest and the program's responsiveness to the community needs. The county received 90 applications altogether during this grant cycle. The review process for grant applications was a countywide effort involving reviewers from multiple lines of business and also community organizations. The recommendation before you today includes 27 awards totaling 1,31,924. Of this amount, uh there are four awards for play areas totaling 804,640. 10 awards for equipment totaling 89,450, four awards for lifeguard services totaling 200,000 and nine awards for arts and music in the amount of 27,834. The recommended grant awards will allow for over 12,300 children of all abilities and backgrounds to benefit from increased opportunity and access uh to youth activities. I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you, >> colleagues. This is always a fun thing. What a great spread to the opportunity. You all the Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Commissioner Eden, >> very supportive. Um, if anybody's listening that controls the the AC or the heat temperatures, if you could turn it down a little bit. I'm cooking up here. Thank you. >> I usually were cold, right? >> No, no. The grants are great. Very wonderful. Thank you. All All those in favor signify by I. >> I. I. Yes, it is warm in here. >> Okay, we have several items for addendum and since we're going to have to go through these one at a time. Um item two E is establish Henipin County Reparative Justice Research Task Force. This is offered by Commissioners Connley and Commissioners Green. I'm sure one of you would like to move it and the other second. >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. >> And who's going to speak? >> I can kick us off. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am very excited to bring this board action in front of us today. Um when we received uh our annual report from the Race Equity Advisory Council, it was very clear to us that there was um a lot of very comprehensive things that we could do as a board to uh work to eliminate disparities in our county. And that is why um the race equity advisory council was established in 2019 to be the voice to be the experts with the lived experience to guide this seven member body on what it is that we need to do to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial disparities. Um from uh 2024 to 2025, this comprehensive report that we've received uh has included exploration of reparations. And reparations isn't a word that should be scary. Reparations is something that um municipalities and jurisdictions all over the country are starting to um uh name explicitly and do the work that um it takes to repair harm in our communities. This is called the reparative justice um task force because in um in my view restorative justice uh is more of a phil philosophical term that uh actually shares the same definition as reparations. It really is uh taking meaningful and active accountability um and responsibility to work to repair the harm that is caused um by historic r uh historic discrimination, historic policies that were rooted in racism. And what the report from our race equity advisory council stated explicitly was that Henipin County does have a documented history of racially discriminatory policies including housing covenants, exclusionary zoning, unequal access to public services. Um, and those are policies that uh even today in 2025 uh create significant uh racial disparities in our county. Um it's not lost on me that we have been a diverse county board for only six years. Six years ago, two of us made history and diversified this board. We are still establishing firsts in our county. And that is because in my opinion and in research that for many many years um people who look like me, people regardless of um where they show up in society in their socioeconomic status or level or zip code um don't have the same access that others do. And so, um, I understood the assignment from our race equity advisory council and wanted to, uh, my staff to craft a bar that really reflects what was in that report about the establishment of this committee. It was important to me though that the REAC have the uh, authority to uh, work towards work with county staff to establish the membership, the meeting schedule, all of those things. um because this was kind of fruit of their labor, it's important to me that they uh have the ownership of that labor to say uh to establish the group and then report back to the board. Uh and I am looking forward to the report back. Um so so that's uh that's how I wanted to sort of introduce this uh this uh kind of it's a staff directive to work with our REAc to establish this group and also um get the spend the next year forming the group identifying who should be a part of it and then giving the county board actionable steps to repair harm based on the harm that this county caused black and indigenous communities um in the 170some years that it has been a county. Thank you. I'll pass it to Commissioner Green to add. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Commissioner Connley. Um, I'm excited to bring the forward this bar in partnership with Commissioner Connley um to establish the repairative justice research task force. I want to thank Commissioner Connley and her staff for putting a pen to paper on this and also Henipin County's Race Equity Advisory Council for its work generally and for bringing forward bold recommendations. The REACK's recommendations on this particular topic uh exemplify to me what the REACK brings to the table. a thoughtful first step on a topic that's big and challenging, complex and important and necessary um grounded in particular understanding of the issue driven by community voices. The establishment of a repairarative justice research task force fits as the county has shifted efforts and language from disparity reduction to disparity elimination. The conversation about reparations and reparative justice began for me when recreational cannabis was legalized at the state legislature. At that time, I spoke at a briefing in this room about how revenue from cannabis sales should go to those differentially impacted by the criminalization of marijuana. Commissioner Connley and I discussed it at the time and the idea percolated. On the heels of the murder of George Floyd, the civil unrest, and the global outcry for systems of oppression to reform, with Minneapolis the ground zero, Commissioner Connley and I shared the desire to see cannabis sales tax revenue steered with intention to continue addressing long-standing racial disparities, which we all saw exasperated by the CO 19 pandemic. There are examples of jurisdictions around the country using cannabis revenue to support community programming, racial justice efforts, and reparations, including Evston, Illinois, directing a percentage of sales tax for housing assistance and wealth building to black families historically redlined. And Portland, Oregon, directing a percentage of sales tax to economic support for underserved communities and blackowned businesses. This generation, it's estimated black Americans and people of color have been arrested three to four times more than their white counterparts for marijuana possession, despite studies indicating generally the same pattern of marijuana use across ethnic groups. The structural targeting of black, indigenous, and people of color has led to deeper disparities, limiting employment and housing options, risking family separation, and generating increased exposure to the criminal justice system, which can increase likelihood of future arrests, all of which limit stability and wealth building opportunities. And this is just one example. We know that in our country, our history and our current systems have targeted and continue to target and treat residents differently based on ethnicity and race. Establishing the task force continues to acknowledge that reality and continues work to repair those harms. This is our work as a county and I say as commissioners, this task force is a step on that path. We're at the very beginning of what this task force will produce. I'm enthusiastic about what's possible. I believe it to be fundamental to the county's overall goal of disparity elimination in Henipin County. Thank you. >> Thank you. Colleagues, would you like to speak to this comment on that? Commissioner Anderson and Mundy and Alison. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to both of you for for bringing this forward and starting this conversation. I want to start by naming something and I think you address this really well. So I thank you for this is that I don't think we need another report on harms that have happened. What we need is what actions we can do about it. Um, and I'm I am really looking forward to that work uh coming to fruition in partnership or in like merging in with the disparity elimination line of business. uh because we have taken some very concrete actions to um systematically and uh institutionalize the work of being able to uh repair the harms that have historically happened and I'm very proud of that. Um, one thing that I think we need to make sure that we are doing is that we are this work is precise in uh in the role that Henipin County is playing in this ecosystem. Um, Henipin County certainly has played a role in historical discrimination and uh racial uh profiling and causing harm to communities of color. But we weren't the only uh bodies of government as a part of that. Um and so I think part of this I think we want to make sure that our responsibility is to identify where the county level policies or practices have contributed to that harm. Um and then not to take the entire scope of the harm that has been created and put it on our uh on our plate uh solely. Um, I I just want to make sure that we aren't biting off more than we can chew as a as a county, I suppose. Um, we do have an obligation to repair the harm that is ours, but I don't want us to assume the obligation to repair harm that is others. So, um, I hope that tension is is wellreceived. I I hope that the um the recommendations that come out of this um what I hope to see is to identify specific county policies uh that created the uh specific disparit impacts. Um outline whatever corrective actions is appropriate and legally permissible because we certainly live in a kind of a narrow focus of what we can and can't do sometimes. Um, I'm also very interested in what resources are available and required to to do the work. Um, you mentioned cannabis sales. I would love to see what um what else is available to us to to do this work. Um, and I want to clarify also in this what we can't do because I don't want to mislead the public on uh like overselling our ability to solve harms um that are in our communities, very real harms. Um, I also want to just name another source of tension for me individually. We live um in a current political environment where this type of work is often targeted by the federal government who we have a reliance on to do the work of repairing these harms. Um, and I don't want us to jeopardize the ability to do the work um, by the investigations of how to do the work better. Does that I don't know if that makes sense, but we have so many things that we are doing well and I don't want us to put us um put the work that we're doing in in any more jeopardy, I guess, is is what I would say. Um so I think we need to be strategic. We need to advance our equity and repair while still complying with whatever federal funding requirements so we don't lose the resources that make that work possible. Um, and so I hope that part of this uh can provide us with some sort of risk assessment. Um, and ultimately what I really want us to see is the ability to expand our capacity to eliminate uh these disparities and not invite any additional fiscal crisis for this. Um, I mean, I'm going to support this. I really want to see what comes out of it. uh because I really do believe that resolving and addressing the disparities that have existed is a part of governing efficiently. Um but I want to make sure that we're doing it in a in a thoughtful and strategic way. Thank you, >> Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh just want to uh thank my fellow commissioners for bringing this forward. Um I will be supporting it. Uh I wanted to add I'll say some realistic outcomes. I there's been efforts across the country to look at this and then the price tag comes back. I think of California is the first and probably foremost and then it dies because the price tag on what people say this is how you repair harm and I think theirs was a very large uh price tag. um and then it sat and I think that's also disingenuous to say if we're going to say we intend to not just study it but also act upon it we need to have stuff that are realistic I also very familiar with Evston's uh model it it's successful it's small um uh we looked at some of the programs that uh cities offer a couple years ago that you know made the news made a great article Star Tribune everybody talked about how innovative it was And the absolute number of people who used it after three years was a sum total of zero because it was a good idea on paper, but it didn't reflect how housing is, you know, purchased, how does that process work, how fast things move, how do agents work. Um, and so I just I think there's good stuff. I think Gston has a good model when I think about housing. Uh, they're a good example. Um, I just always worry that we come up with a plan and we come up with here's what we're going to do and then it makes us feel good, but it doesn't actually deliver on that. And so, um, I think this is a good start. Um, I just want to be realistic because I just think of the California model where they came back with a report and they had a very large price tag that the state still hasn't acted upon any of it and um, they sign up for everything in California. So, it's surprising they didn't find a way to do it. But, um, so I I think this is good stuff. I think there's some really good stuff we can do. I think we should be surgical. I think we can do some really good things and then also measure the results of those actions and if things don't look good and aren't working, stop them and double down on the stuff that we find out that could be working. >> Commissioner Eden. >> Um, thank you, Commissioners, um, for bringing this resolution. I had looked up when REIA was doing their presentation and I had sent um to Commissioner Connley to just an interesting um 10 10 different counties across the United States have actually um looked at reparation uh working groups to see how to address this. Um so I appreciate the bar and we'll be supporting it today. Um, one of the things that um that I just noticed though in looking at it um that I would encourage us and I mean it doesn't I don't think anything needs to change in the bar but um the work that Henipin County has done that I think there actually has been a lot of really good work that you guys have done I mean before I got here um though there's been some since I've been here I'm just going to say too um but there there's been some really good work that uh with disparity elimination um and it was reduction before but there's been a lot of really good investments and honestly the state of Minnesota has that a lot too. So I would just encourage um the REIC uh advisory group when they're looking at that. I I think it's really important to look at the large scope of what the state has done, what the county is doing and also I would encourage and I don't see cities in here but cities are also doing this work. So, we comprehensively need to look at all of that. Um, because it doesn't it it's just I think honestly the report is good because it has us look at one place where it's what are we doing, how are we doing, and then what are other additional things we need to do. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, I also extend gratitude to my colleagues and to chair and vice chair of RIA, who I believe are in the house. So, thank you for that. That was a very coordinated wave. Uh what is really incredible about this is it's reparative justice research task force. The word research is I think very meaningful here because it is rooting in informed decisionm communitydriven recommendations and and um a research process has a journeying involved in it. I think we are often as policy makers trying to see the recommendation or the conclusion. But for me, reparative is a more dynamic word than reparation. Justice is certainly a dynamic promise and one that I uh wish for us to be better at large. And then the research element um I think is quite meaningful because you're hearing a lot of different feedback here. I saw the reporting to REACK. So, it's not quite a subcommittee, but really an extension of the five plus years of work that RIA has cumulatively been able to build upon. Um, I think some of what uh colleagues are expressing is we are seeking to to further bolster our Henipin's um engagement in this space, but we're not coming from nothing. We have our own journeying. We have the journeying that we've inherited by these seats. were uh in this geography and um we have entrusted with REIA members, Representative Democracy truly at work through um through resident appointment really uh to to come forward every year with a set of reports and recommendations. And so I think assessing the reparative um how how we might assess our your past recommendations and our past work through this new kind of lens and framing I think will be quite illustrative. And uh since we happen to be one of the only counties I believe with a formal research relationship with our flagship um in uh you know educational institution here, I do wonder what it would look like to be more entwined with our local uh research institution and to be more specific about the types of recommendations that that institution is bringing forward. um you know mentally raise your hand for any report that you've read that recommends policymakers do something. Policy makers is too broad. We just said it here. It's county, it's state, it's city, it's parks, it has to be the right year. And so really really inviting that nuance in that and I know that I'm kind of emphasizing the research aspect. um inviting that nuance and uh seeing this as a dynamic commitment versus a single report or vote is how I'm experiencing this. And perhaps it is because of the time period where we're in where people feel very unsafe because people are not quite safe. Um there's not due process on the streets right now. There's really really overt experiences and footage of mistreatment that is completely outside of Henipin Countyy's values. So, I feel very moved by this action and I think my colleagues um and I'll also shout out that Commissioner Connley also authored the REAc board action so should certainly um a very divided vote uh at the time. Barely got through actually. And so this is an extension of that previous commitment. And so I thank you. I thank all of the REACK members. I think the staff that have engaged with working with the building of a resident body, right, a resident group to develop communitydriven solutions that intersect with governance, governance that we didn't all invent. Uh so I extend gratitude. I extend my resolve and I very much look forward to seeing the many ways that this comes back before us. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. I I also want to thank my colleagues for bringing this forward. Thank you. And I I want to specifically talk to React and the board members and say, you know, I think one of the things that when the first REAC boards came, they said, well, what will you do with this? What will you do with this? And we talked about um maternal health and we put a million dollars toward that. Then we put $2 million toward that. I mean, this is so vital. The things you do as a volunteer, we we really take it very seriously what you bring back to us. let them know that the quality of your work matters and that we really uh really care about what you're doing here and we're willing to take action on it. So, it's not just your board, but all the boards that serve the the county board. We can't do this work. It's too much for us to do it on our own. We really do rely on you. So, you're you're much appreciated. I want to say that. Um I also want to echo what Commissioner Eden said about great investments that we've already made. This is true. We've made good investments. I mean, we even put a department together. We've hired people into this. Um, but I see this as the next step we need to make. That's what I see. We've done all those things. This is the next best step for us to do. I mean, when I look at this and I and I think about it, too, as we look at and I'm looking at as a research piece, too. Some of the things I think about is making sure those voices of lived experience, I never saw that as so valuable is when uh Commissioner Connley and I first served on the um child well-being together. the the because sometimes things fail because those voices weren't at the table and say that's not really what we needed. That's why nobody came. So that's we need to make sure that we're doing something that's meaningful to the people we serve. And I also like to think about our our native populations that are here too. When they talk about things, they talk about things in seven generations. We need to make sure what we're doing is impacting seven generations ahead. They look at it that way. We should be looking at it that way as well. And so sometimes too there's large price uh p um price tags to this. But I'll never forget I was um on mission one time and I met this really wonderful bishop out in Africa and I said, "Well, look at how immense this is. I don't know where we get this money." And he says, "What can we do right now though? What can where can we start with this vision and this dream? So let's not give it up. Let's just start somewhere. It will grow if we keep seeding it." And so I'm always about what can we do and where can we start and I think this is a good place to be. Go ahead, Commissioner Connley. Thank you, Madam Chair. And and thank you to my colleagues really um really great ways of looking at this um just just a closing statement for me and that's just that uh I wanted to just also the research component of this is so important um because there's a lot of examples. Commissioner Lundy brought up some in in California. So, the city and county of San Francisco, for example, um had um a uh a move to get $5 million out the door. There was not a calculation involved in that. It was basically for the purposes of of um taking money and giving it to residents. It was for the descendants of slaves. And then um the the entire state of California uh had done some work along this issue. They created a task force to finalize recommendations. and those recommendations wanted to see 1.8 million residents get $360,000 a piece. Very ambitious, but a hefty price tag. What I appreciate about this being rooted in data collection research, maybe partnerships with HUP, the our institutions that do this kind of research is is to Commissioner Anderson's point, the scope being Henipin County. what existed in Henipin County that was disastrous that deserves reparations that deserve a reparative framework and keep that scope to Henipin so that it is targeted to what it is that we can do that we supported or that historically we were a part of that was disastrous for people's lives. Um so so that research and data collection from this task force um which a task force is tasked with doing a thing right so I'm really excited for the future of what is to come for this but the scope is important um and the research is important because what can be learned from Evston or what can be learned from San Francisco or California and let's not do it that way but here are some things that we can do and if Henipin is going to do anything we're going to do it with greatness and love for our residents I'm just going to say that out loud because I believe it. Um, and uh I appreciated in the in the in the race equity advisory council in your report this year how immediately following the reparation section was a was um a full uh section on our indigenous relatives. And so the reason that you see reparate the reparative justice task force including black and indigenous is because I saw those two combined. You can't really have a conversation about reparative justice without including our indigenous relatives in that. Um this is Dakota land that we are on. Um and it's part of I think you even say it like building off of our land and water acknowledgement. So I see that this is a task force. This is a research task force that will look at the harms to black descendants of slavery and our indigenous relatives and how Henipin County um was a part of doing that. I look forward to the research that this body of I'm sure thought leaders will come up with um over the next year uh to be able to give us some really groundbreaking um I think recommendations on how Henipin can move forward. So, thank you. Commissioner Green, you wanted to add? >> Um, yes. Thank you. I want to um thank my colleagues for your remarks, all of which I found additive and um really um I guess I'm just thinking about sort of the oral record of this conversation and um you know, future years understanding the intent of this work. And I feel as though everything that has been said today really adds to the intent that um Commissioner Connley and I were were teeing up here. um especially as I scratched notes, I was thinking the specificity um that uh everybody has mentioned in their remarks that the identification of this as the next step, the shape of which will determine the next step um and and appreciate that sort of layeredness to it. And then the fact that research is so much a part of this that it that is um what research conveys sort of a thoughtfulness that uh really is going to be a part of this uh uh what is it a um methodical nature to it as we assess other jurisdictions and think about them as they applies to Henipin County. Um and then last and very much not least I did not know that we had REAC leadership and members in the audience. So that's fantastic and just a big thanks to you again. >> Okay, any other comments? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. Passes unanimously. Congratulations. >> Item 2F is to negotiate a lease agreement with Simpson Properties LLC for Family Safe Space at 128 West 33rd Street, Minneapolis, starting January 1st of 26 through 1231 of 30. Um, it's $200,000 for the first year based rent plus ordinary operating costs. Do I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and second. Um, further discussion. Anybody? Do we need further discussion on this one? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. Um this is the next item is 2G which is a joint powers agreement with the city of Golden Valley civic campus master planning uh starting January 1st 2026 to 1231 to 26 and not to exceed of 175,000. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh do is anybody need a synopsis of this one? >> Make a comment. >> Please comment. >> I don't need a synopsis. I'll just make a comment of my gratitude for this really favorable in my opinion multi-jurisdictional kind of expression that we can uh work across our you know our our lines to um contribute to the local vision. I mean that's what's kind of uh kind of fun on the county level. We are local but we have like a more localized set of leaders and it is really quite an honor to get to weave that planning with our existing planning. um it is cheaper for uh is more cost affordable I should say for the taxpayer and then there's a more kind of comprehensive or holistic um view of how kind of that services and land use can be uh portrayed. So um I Golden Valley residents are quite excited. They'd prefer if the library was open yesterday and maybe 10 times bigger, but I I digress. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Yes. Other comments? Go ahead, Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so the, um, I apologize for not h having looked at this as closely as, uh, as maybe I should have before. Um, where is the the $175,000? Can you maybe I would benefit from a brief synopsis of what this this action does and >> uh, the scope of it and where the money is coming from and all. Deputy Director, please. >> Madam Chair and Commissioner Anderson, uh Brett Bower is here from facility services and can provide some background on this item. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Bowers, please. >> Good afternoon, Madam Chair, commissioners. My name is Brett Bower. I'm with facility services planning. Um the board action we have before you seeks um to approve a joint powers agreement for cost sharing with the city of Golden Valley for a um civic campus development that the city is pursuing and inclusion potentially of a um relocation of the Golden Valley Library. Our fees are 20% of the cost of this consulting um agreement that's going to be moving forward. um leadership has met with the city um from the county and has agreed to consider a relocation of the Henipin County Golden Valley Library as part of their um civic campus redevelopment project. They're calling it their building forward Golden Valley and it's supported by local sales tax that was approved in 2023. Um the city has a 12 acre campus currently that houses their city hall, their police and fire and public works facilities. They're in the process now of relocating their public work facilities as part of their redevelopment plan. Our county library is on a threeacre lot just to the north. Um their campus is on um Wetka which is how County Road 156 just north of 55 >> and they have their iconic water tower. Our camp our campus for our library is a threeacre site just adjacent to their campus. Um our library was built in 1971 54 years old. Um it's it's on the banks of the Ha Wapadon, which is the indigenous name for Basset Creek. Um and due to the library's age, um outdated design and significant infrastructure need, this is a timely opportunity to partner with the city of Golden Valley and move forward. We went out with an RFP, the city and county staff jointly uh put an RFP out for architectural engineering services. We've received 12 proposals. We interviewed five firms and the city is currently negotiating with a firm to conduct just this master planning option. It'll be done in 2026 and if there is a um a path forward that the county supports, we would develop a comprehensive development agreement with the city and operational and identify future costs within a capital budget project in the future. Um the city council is having this joint powers agreement before them on December 16th, the date that um their consultant contract will be approved. >> Thank you. Thank any questions. >> Commissioner Anderson, do you have a question to follow up? >> Thank you. I I really appreciate it. And just knowing our like the current financial situation that we find ourselves in, um is this $175,000 part of our 25 fiscal budget? Is it part of next year's budget? Where is the money coming from? Because I feel like we're shaking couch cushions for pretty much everything at this point. Um, and so I just want to better understand the impacts of this money uh on other projects and uh where it's where it's being spent. >> Yes, Madam Chair, Commissioner Anderson. Um, the money for this project is coming out of a prospective capital project that's in the 2026 capital improvement program. It's called the Golden Valley Replacement Library and it's currently up for approval on December 11th for $250,000 for the year of 2026. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. >> Other questions? All those in favor signify by I. >> I close. Motion carries. Thank you. Um the next is item 2 which is agreement with Alliant Insurance Services Inc. for actuarial advisory and compliance services in support of the design, administration, and communications of employee benefits plans sponsored by Henipin County starting January 1st of 2026 through 1231 of 28 and not to exceed of $975,000. I'll move this. Do I have a second? >> And I would like a short summary on this one. >> Certainly, Madam Chair, Alyssa Johnson from human resources is here with us via teams. Melissa, we can't hear you right now. Oh, we can. Can you start over? >> I can. Thank you, madame chair, commissioners. I'm Alisa Johnson. I am the senior department administrator for our um total rewards benefits programs. Um, this bar seeks to enter into a contract with Alliant Insurance Services for our HR benefits consulting supports. Um, we have had an HR benefits consultant for many decades back to 1977. This uh bar went out or this RFP went out last spring. We had representatives on our panel from HR, LR, and OBF. We had three vendors submit proposals and Alliant was the unanimous decision by that panel. Alliant was chosen based on experience with public entities, their inclusive pricing, a tailored approach to consulting services, their scope of services, and their cost. Alliant provides a broad array of services including strategic planning, actuarial cost and benefit use analytics, legal and compliance guidance, RFP and contract deliverable supports, vendor relationship management, data warehouse reporting, federal reporting requirements. They'll do a benefits return on investment analysis and they have a dedicated public sector team. Their public sector division supports numerous public entities including NAO. They their c cost structure will result in a $200,000 overall contract savings as compared to the other two proposals that were received as part of the RFP. >> So there's actually a cost savings here. How do they how do they manage into a cost savings? They have inclusive pricing and that means that all all of the services are included in the the one cost which is 325,000 a year for three years to the not to exceed of 975. Our current vendor and other vendors um have more of a cafeteria plan. Currently, we're we're paying less per year, but with the new cost structure, the other proposals provided brought us up to um a higher amount than Alliant proposed. and they are cafeteria plan means that the services that are included in the overall cost the 975,000 would be costed out separately via additional statement of work projects with different cost amounts when those cost amounts were added in the estimates that took them over the amount that Alliant was proposing with Alliant then being the cost the best cost option for us. >> Okay. Right. Other questions, comments? Go ahead, Commissioner Anderson. Sorry, I'm the only one asking these questions here, but um uh just a question is does this um cover any subsidiary uh health benefit or HR benefits um that Henipin might have oversight of >> this provides consulting services specialized in our all of our health benefits. So our health, our pharmacy vision, um our Medicare plan, our uh it they provide supports with our um leave packages, our life insurance. So really all of the benefits that were offered as part of total rewards. >> Okay. Chair, Commissioner Anderson, this um provides um services for Henipin County but not for our subsidiary. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. I. >> That motion passes. Item 2 is an amendment to an agreement with Neighbor Works Home Partners for Home Buying Assistance Program extending the term to April 1 of 2026. No change to the ex seed. Do I have a motion? I'll move it. >> Second. >> Second. Does anyone want any further information? >> All those in favor signify by I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Item 2J is exploring ordinance 18 amendments as a funding source to further accelerate zero waste implementation. This is offered by Commissioner Connley. Commissioner Connley. >> I will move it. >> Okay. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. Would you like to speak to this, please? >> I do. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, and thank you, colleagues. You'll remember this booklet. >> Yes. Uh so when we were having our hearing, yes, I brought it with me. I just remember going through these fees and seeing ordinance 18 and the possibilities uh just seemed like they were just sitting there waiting to be taken advantage of and that's what this bar will do. So um what really caught me up is ordinance 18 is a county collected solid waste fee uh solid waste management fee and it was created in 1995. So it's a 30-year-old ordinance that has been sitting on the books. Uh the rate right now is set at zero and it has been at zero for 20 thou since 2009. So the purpose of the ordinance though is to um you know fund waste management programs including waste prevention, recycling, composting and other preferable waste management activities. Um the point of contention here is that the the there was to be a rate set by a fee, but that is at the market value of taxable property in Henipin County. Um what I the reason that stood out to me is because I I want us to be able to use this ordinance, but in a way that it's not just on the backs of every property taxpayer in prop in uh Hanniban County, but let's look at our biggest waste producers. And so what this bar does is it will allow county staff, it's really a staff direction to allow county county staff to do a few things. And that's to evaluate amendments to ordinance 18 that would allow for us to accelerate the implementation of zerowaste actions and analysis on what potential revenues we could collect from this ordinance that is already on the books especially from or particularly for the biggest waste producers in our county. and then to develop options including recommendations for that new revenue along with proposed um public engagement process and timeline to implement and provide to the board by the end of the first quarter 2026. So ultimately we have uh been in the business of accelerating zero waste for the sole purposes of one it's better for our environment. It's good for Henipin County. Uh it's good for the residents of Henipin County to move towards zero waste. But the onus isn't just on the end user in my opinion. Um we need to hold all accountable for the large amount of waste that goes into our incinerator because we have a goal to close that thing. And I think that we do that through um things like what you see in the background of this board action, which is evaluating what ordinances are already there that we could use just by restructuring them or amending them to bring in revenue um for continued work to to increase the acceleration of zero waste um in our county. So that's what this is really about. It is directing staff to look at ordinance 18. And there could be others, frankly, that are on the books that are older that could be revamped to 2025 standards of where we're at today in terms of um accelerating zero waste and collecting revenue. So, there's been a lot of talk uh as we've, you know, sort of been dealing with the landscape that we're in about looking at new sources of revenue to do the great work that we do. We do incredible work around zero waste implementation. Right now, we've got grants going out to community organizations. We've got uh education for residents of this county on how to reduce waste. But, um and we've got a a packager uh uh legislation that passed, packaging fee waste that that's coming to fruition um in a couple of years. But for what we can do right now is look at our own books and say, you know, what can we do differently or how can we bring in revenue based on some of these older or ordinances that we have. So, I think I'll leave it there. This really is um asking staff to to really dig in to ordinance 18 specifically, but again, there could be others to look at revenue sources for one and who we collect those revenue sources from. And and it says here that we will be looking at the biggest waste producers in our county. Well, I just want to say that I applaud you. You are always talking about finding new sources of revenue, your endeavor, and I support your endeavor of always trying to do that. I appreciate that. that's one of your talents and skills. So, um I think we should be looking and turning over every rock and under every cushion, too. So, I really appreciate that you brought this forward. Does other colleagues want to comment on this, Commissioner Eden? >> Thank you. Um over overwhelmingly, I'm supportive of this. I just would caution us. I would caution us a little bit um when we're approaching um looking for revenue because when we look for revenue um by passing it to possibly commercial. Now we were just actually on a composting tour, Commissioner Conley and we learned about some businesses that had some practices that were interesting. Um so certainly I think there's room room for improvement but with the producers responsibility bill which takes place in 2032. I think 2039 is when some of it starts. um we have tariffs right now. We have a lot of costs that are happening. So I guess what I would just say to staff from my perspective is we really also have to just be cautious about um looking at how did how much revenue are we trying to generate so that we're not passing it to the consumer because it's going to happen potentially. So I just think we need to be cautious but overwhelmingly I think a study is is just fine to look at where there's opportunities. >> Commissioner Green. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and um, thank you, Commissioner Connley, for bringing this forward. I wholeheartedly support this, and one of the things that I like about how you've sculpted this and, um, made it something we're sort of looking at essentially is in order to avoid perverse incentives and make sure that we do design a program that achieves what we want it to achieve with the objective being zero waste. So, thank you for the way you put this together, >> Commissioner Anderson. Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the as always the exploration of other revenue. Um I I will share the concern about um the unintended consequence or uh being very cautious about the the downstream impacts to those least able to pay. um which you included in here. And I want to make sure that that is like as we are looking at this that we are very um that we are looking broadly at how fees uh levied against um an industry or uh hauler or whatever gets passed on to the end user. Um, we see this in our organics collection. Uh, we see it in every instance that we levy a fee onto um the people bearing the responsibility. It just gets shifted right back on to the the consumer. And I I know that we just that's not the intent of this, but we have to be very mindful of how those how we can protect ourselves from that impact of putting like a fee being transferred onto people who really just aren't able to pay it. Um an additional fee. Um, you know, I my reading of ordinance 18 is property tax based, which is, you know, tied to home values. Um, which should loosely be more equitable perhaps than um than a straight flat fee across to everybody. But if there if there are mechanisms that we can uh have a more progressive way of collecting the fee, I'm all for it. >> Other comments, Commissioner Lendy, and I'll come back to you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh just I think I would just ask staff as I think it's going to pass that we just I think any proposals come back really identify the um what using the funding if if unintended consequences or the intended unintended consequences and I think that could be just part of the report back but I mean I share the concerns but I think we can ask for the report to kind of highlight that so we're all I think we're all eyes wide open before we actually were to consider adopting anything but so thank Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just going to add to the to the current discussion that yes, you know, I I don't want anything to be a burden to that what the reading of ordinance 18 stuck out to me, too, is that that it's based on the fee would be based on property taxpayers in the county. But I want to shift that to the types of property tax, you know? So, when I look at my water bill in Minneapolis, it has your water, your sewer, your trash, right? and and that uh is a bill that I don't want to to go up. I appreciate the service, but you know, that's in addition to, you know, a bunch of other bills that you have to pay. Um, so this piece in the background about the evaluation will also assess how the potential revenue options would affect residents with lower incomes and small businesses to mitigate those unintended consequences. So, it's codified in here and I really have to give it up to staff. staff really I had this idea about ordinance 18 and our public's work public works staff really came in and helped draft this what you see before you so heavily uh worked with um with our staff on this but um but am also thinking about uh ways that we can do this that's equitable that doesn't impact the lowest incomes that doesn't impact um residents further um given that property taxes are something we just cannot rely upon to do the good work that we want to do in the future. Um, so I'm looking forward to the end of March when we have options before us that do um um address potential un unintended consequences or how we can do this in a way um that doesn't put a burden back on on residents. I think that there's a lot of strategic thinking that will go into here, go in this and um in addition again just the evaluation of not just ordinance 18 although this is specific to that but like there may be other ordinances around solid waste on the books that could be revenue generators um that don't impact us but the the evaluation around those options need to be done with a lens that doesn't um harm uh the those with the lowest incomes or our small businesses that may thrive. So, >> Anderson, you had something you wanted to add or a question? >> Thank you. I I really appreciate the added explanation and something that you had mentioned, the the working with staff um got me thinking about our It's because we're in budget season and we've been talking about a very difficult budget where we are holding staff and um and we know that staff is being stretched pretty thin as it is. And I'm wondering if I could just ask uh administration like to how much capacity do we have for additional projects? I I know that staff does really an amazing job at doing whatever we ask them to do. Um but I want to know like if there is anything that falls off uh our task list by adding more onto Chair, Commissioner Anderson, thank you for the question. I think um in a broader sense um clearly we're looking at where priorities are um and we'll be looking at those adjustments. Um in specific to this one, Lisa Cernney can speak to that and um some of the thoughts around how this aligns actually with our staffing resources with our zero waste efforts. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? I think she was gonna >> okay give us something. Okay. >> All right. Chair Gatel, Commissioner Anderson, consistent with what administrator went said, there's not an intention to drop off any of the work. This is just supplementary and really exploring options on how we can accelerate zero waste and how we can bring different uh revenue sources and uh things to the table to help us continue to do this work. >> Thank you. >> Other thoughts, questions? All those in favor signify by I. I >> oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 2K is approval of the 2025 community health needs assessment and health services plan and adoption of the 2026 2028 community health needs assessment implementation plan as submitted by Henipin Healthc Care Systems. We have an attachment on that. I'll move this. >> I'll second. >> Mr. broken. >> Chair, commissioners, Dr. Thomas Clemen, the chief executive officer of Henipin Healthcare Systems is here and can provide background information. >> Welcome. >> Thank you, Dr. Clement. >> Uh, thank you, commissioners. Just a quick overview. Uh, the community health needs assessment is a base obligation uh that is part of our nonprofit IRS status. It is also, I think, foundationally important work to connect community uh and our efforts to um a shared vision of what we should be providing. Um it's part of our health services plan, as you know. Uh and it's uh again, as I noted, it's accountability to community. We need to make sure we're providing what our community says is most important. Uh we use data. We focus on anti-racism and uh disparity reduction, elimination, uh and accountability. Uh it's a three-year uh plan that we have for you. uh it takes a year to prepare it. That involves uh developing, reviewing data, finding more data, asking questions, collaboration again between Henipin County uh Henipin Healthcare Services and uh community leaders and community organizations. Uh from there, from gathering data and conversation about what's most important, we look at where the health system is, what resources it has, uh and we develop a list of priorities that will be part of the three-year plan uh that is before you. Uh the uh the three items that are the core of the plan uh from this process are uh community centered prevention and health promotion uh mental health and substance use disorder uh approach and treatment and perinatal and child health. I think it's important that uh all of these are really derived with the lens of what does health mean? What does good care mean? Uh from a community perspective, not assuming that the health care the prevailing health care perspective is uh is the right one or the total one. Uh great opportunities for uh individual benefit and also systems change. So this helps focus our efforts on these things that have been found to be most important. Uh so we are seeking conversation and approval by the board at this time. >> Colleagues, would do you have questions or comments for Dr. Clement? Go ahead, Commissioner Edson. >> Uh, thank you. Um, uh, Dr. Clement, I'll be supporting this. I just want to, um, note there were m there were multiple testifiers at the very beginning of the meeting, and I just, I would appreciate a followup with them. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Other comments or questions? All those in favor signify by I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. So item 2L is approval of the 2026 Henipin Healthc Care Systems Inc.'s financial plan. There's an attachment on here. I'll move it. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Jurgotal commissioners. Dr. Thomas Clement, chief executive officer of Henipin Healthcare. Welcome back. >> Thank you. Uh so quick overview. Uh safety net hospital. We're a city corporation. uh we have a mission to provide care for our community all who come to us uh particularly the most vulnerable. So this budget is an effort result of an effort to uh be able to continue services and ensure quality patient care. Uh very significant challenges as everyone in the room I think knows u many of which are beyond our control in terms of costs of healthcare going up uh more patients being off of insurance or requiring care without ability to compensate. So it has been a very difficult uh 12 months and I anticipate a very difficult another 12 24 36 months from here. Um our days cash on hand have been very low in the single digits. Um we have had an operating loss now for eight of the past 10 years. Um and uh the existential crisis that resulted in uh dissolution of our board uh and county leading in. So we appreciate that partnership uh and I think it speaks to the severity of our condition. Uh this budget is uh the result of uh exploring from top to bottom the organization looking for efficiencies looking for uh ways to generate revenue creatively or different streams. Um and it is a break even budget. It is a zero margin budget which is again an incredibly vulnerable situation. Uh we do anticipate with the projections being able to generate about $7 million in 2026 which might get us to three days four days cash on hand as a target. Um so we appreciate uh the uh the collaboration on this the kind of high points growing revenue by 5% which is an achievable target we believe the zero margin as I noted uh high productivity and efficiency at benchmark. So we're very lean in uh across the board in working to achieve this uh and a staffing ratio down closer to 66% which is closer to industry standard. This also includes uh $25 million allocated for equipment capital which was a challenge in 2025. Uh I would pause there. I think we have uh cash flow and uh consolidating income statement which includes uh HHF, our philanthropic arm and HHRI, our research institute. I'll pause there and take questions. >> I I first of all just want to make a comment. I want to thank you for all the work we've there's a lot of us who've seen this budget several times now in many iterations and I know this was a lot of hard work and I appreciate you getting to zero and I think it's actually a doable budget this year. It's not a pie in the sky that we we hope to reach reach and we won't. I want it that deflates people's egos. I think this is actually doable and moves us forward and I think it's also safe to say that it doesn't lay anyone off at this point that we are really trying to save our staff. We know we need them. There are such great great trained professionals that we want to keep as many of them um employed in Henipin Healthcare. We need you now more than ever as we have we're going to face some huge significant changes in the next few years and we'll need your talent, your skills and your ideas to save more money down the road. Colleagues, Commissioner Connley, then Commissioner Eden and then Commissioner Rundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just going to say um thank you. We set out on a goal to financially stabilize this hospital knowing the importance that it is, the critical importance that this institution has in our community and in our region. And I think that this financial plan um gets us uh u to a a very comfortable place for now. Um there is a lot more work to do. I think that goes without saying, but I think we have the right mechanisms in place right now to be um uh very comfortable knowing that we are moving in the right direction to financial stability. That's the goal. That's where we need to be. Um and you've crafted a plan that uh is solid in my opinion. We have become very familiar with this plan uh in the finance and apps committee and just as a as the board. Uh, and so, uh, there's no surprises here. It's, uh, a good direction, and I appreciate all of the work that has gone into it. Thank you, >> Commissioner Eden. >> Uh, thank you. I'll echo, um, the words of Commissioner Connley. Just very appreciative of your work. Um, and while this work was hard, uh, we know that the work now begins for next year's budget. And this administration is very clearly attacking people that are impoverished in this country and in this county. I mean, just today we're hearing about what is happening to HUD, what is happening to SNAP, and what is happening what's going to be happening to Medicaid. So, the idea that that we're okay right now is fine, but the work must begin right away for um for next year. And uh I don't I honestly think we need to be as creative as possible. I don't think there's a lot of areas for us to get revenue and I'm really concerned about what we're going to do about that and then the fiscal reality of that. Do we go to charity? What do we do? And so I think we honestly need true answers and as leaders we're responsible in this moment. And so uh it's a it's a big burden to carry. And so I will just thank you for that and then let's get to work. >> Commissioner Lindy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um also want to thank staff not just for what you have done what you are doing but what you will do. Um you know the Medicaid cuts are spread out over 10 years which means every year we get a present that says you start the hole is a little deeper and that means every year we have to approach it that we are already negative through no fault of our own. It's just the reality we are in right now unless things change. And I'm I assume we can't can't hope or believe in that until it actually happens. So I know that this work is just foundational to that. I think the stuff that the teams and the hospital and county and everybody involved has been working about efficiencies. We know that if we are as efficient as possible, which I don't think we're there yet, but we're getting there at all levels, that will help prepare us for what's coming. And and so I just want to really thank everyone for really digging in. Um, I think as we gave presentation to a lot legislators a couple weeks ago that we can't fix this problem for the state of Minnesota, uh, we continue to be one that we accept uh, people who who arrive from wherever they arrive in the state of Minnesota. Um, but other hospital systems around the country have said, listen, if it's not an emergency and you're have uncompensated care, we may not take the referral. And that's something we haven't done. But I do think that that challenge we put to legislators to say if we help fix just this, that doesn't fix the rest of the state and actually may attract that we become the place where everybody goes, "Well, we got nowhere else to go. We're going to refer them to Henip and Healthcare Systems. Therefore, deepening the need because as of right now, unless we get help from legislature, the only people who pay for Henipin Healthcare Systems is the property tax owners of Henipin County. And it doesn't matter where the person who needs care comes from in the state. There is only one place that pays that difference. And so I know you're working on that. I'm saying that for the public that we do need legislature to look at a statewide solution. What is that? I don't know. But I'm not a legislator. And so I know that they have the wherewithal to look at a statewide solution because it's coming. And uh you know I feel sorry. Um I'm a person who grew up in a place that uh didn't have a hospital. Nearest hospital was an hour away. Uh, I grew up with a younger sister who was born without part of her brain that it was faster for my dad to get in a car and drive 120 miles an hour, be met by the sheriff at each county and kept going because you waiting for an ambulance to get out an hour and getting uh the sister to the hospital doesn't happen. And that has not changed. Math doesn't change the fact that it takes how many minutes to get a person of care. And so as this system is collapsing around the uh state, people are going to find themselves hours away from help. Um and if you think about we talk about minutes when I was mayor, we talked about 9 minutes was an average time. Four minutes was an average time to get a fire truck and EMS to a house. We're talking 40 minutes in some parts of the state. And so we do need the legislature to work with all of us, the counties, all healthc care professionals around the state to fix this. um we're gonna fix ourselves, but we can't take on the burden for the rest of the state. And we certainly can't help those. And uh I I feel bad for them because I know what it's like to have to drive two hours to get to place that might be able to save a loved one. Um I can tell you people think six minutes is too long here in the metro. Well, other places it's 60 to 120 minutes. So, thank you, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Green. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and um, thank you, Dr. Clemen. I wanted to um, thank you and the whole team for the work that goes into a budget like this. Um, I especially was grateful for the sense that, uh, as we looked at forecasts and goals that every question was answered with an assessment of the realism and everything felt realistic. Um so I didn't feel that there were that that we were sort of um we had rosecolored glasses on uh and that um you know there was just full understanding of of um the possible risks etc etc. So very appreciative of that. I also want to share the the sort of chorus saying like we do need a statewide solution. We are we are a team on that. Um I remember when I was a legislature in 2011 touring HCMC. Uh and guess what we you know we we the legislature at that time were being asked for to for greater understanding and sort of financial reflection that this is really a statewide asset. And sort of what I want to say right now to those legislators listening at home is the gigs up. Uh the the pockets are inside out as was alluded to earlier. The couch cushions have been shaken. Uh the rug has been vacuumed. Um there there there's no more change between uh any cracks around um to help to help uh to help to enable us to pay all the bills for the state. Um and it's it's present tense that people are being sent to this fantastic institution from across the state. It's an amazing state resource, but we need state support in order to fund it. Um, so I just wanted to thank you, acknowledge that into the microphone, and particularly thank you for the sort of serious tone that I think you set. Um, because you're you're there's no sugar coating and I really appreciate that. Thanks. >> Other comments, Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. um echo the the appreciation for the I think the realism of of the plan. Um, and also the like I'm I'm going to say it the the cautionary tale that you know we've heard the realistic plan and we've met like growth targets and expenses have still gone outpaced the uh the revenues that we've we've brought in. And so the realities around healthcare haven't gotten any easier for us. Um, and I just want to express like this next year, two years, three years, 10 years is going to be incredibly difficult because of things that are well outside of our control. Um, and we will need the state and at some point hopefully a federal government to support healthcare in this country. Um and the there are going to be very very difficult decisions made um you know over the next few years on how to make sure that um that we are at least moderately comfortable. Um like 0% isn't necessarily comfortable to me. Um, but I do appreciate the amount of work that it took to get there. Um, and know that, you know, we'll be here at every step of the way trying to think creatively about how we can continue to stabilize and support the the workforce and the hospital um to make sure that healthc care delivery in Henipin County is still top tier for every resident. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Fernando. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I appreciate everyone's optimism on this budget. I was going to express and I'm glad I went last to not disrupt the wonderful >> I don't know, everybody was saying it's realism. I'm like, oh, this seems very fragile from my perspective. A lot of hard work, not a reflection of the effort. >> From my perspective, um, I've seen many HHS budgets with pursuits nearby. Now, my colleagues are correct that in the last several months and the last several years, quite frankly, I want to extend gratitude to uh the HHS board members that I've been able to serve alongside and those that have served in the decades previously. Um, it's it was a tough climate before and it's only getting tougher. And so, I I'm noting that we believe we will have more revenue and fewer expenses, which I understand is the objective, but there is a fragility in that. And I want to express uh why on the county side myself and um others have also expressed the the need and I want the public to hear this. I want um residents and you know legislators whomever is is is listening uh that this this is not like I I can't believe I'm saying this but this is not like 2020 and 2021. I was on the HHS board at that time period. um this is more fragile somehow and I want to just clock that because we will need in my opinion to be much much more pronounced with our consolidation of shared services again nothing that's new um really really pronounced in our analysis of the data related to all of the drivers of this and that's all of it productivity um you know support structures for workers ers uh compensation um consultants. So I just I want to express some of these words that we have been privileged to receive that feedback from residents, patients and workers and we do hear you. We're just not able to give it all in this uh in a speech in this moment. Um so while I say it's a fragile budget, I will also say that it was quite literally not even six months ago when you expressed that HHS might close. So I I just we have to hold those intention with immense pride that we as a county, the residents who uh have who rely on us um and we as a board uh with with uh Henipin Healthcare System stated that we must have this service open and continuous for patients, workers, and the community at large. And so while I'm saying this is a fragile budget and uh why one of the reasons why we are more activated than um previous years is because of uh our our resolve in ensuring that you and uh the workforce are supported in achieving um some version of these measures and perhaps inventing additional measures as we kind of get straight to work. So really incredible progress in the last handful of months and relative to the task at hand um we are I am uh very very eager to remain in um in deepened partnership and to be even deeper into the data that of there's so much data at um at HHS that we can be pursuing for the betterment of patient care worker experience and of course the taxpayer. So, um I you're going to hear from us many times in the next year. Um so I want to extend gratitude and and just for those watching at home, I guess I'll cover this in the next bar. Never mind. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Any other comments or questions for Dr. Clement? No further comments. All those in favor signify by I. I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Clement. Item 2M is direct uh comprehensive study of Henipin Healthcare Systems Inc.'s governance offered by Commissioner Fernando. >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you. So, u Thank you, Madam Chair. So, for those uh watching at home, the seven of us commissioners are committees as a whole. And similarly, we're also the HHS board while also being the county board. Why am I saying this? Because at um at a previous meeting of the of the Henipin Healthcare System board, there was a discussion around governance and its timing with respect to kind of sequencing um leadership uh actions. And um after kind of reflecting on that experience, governance really resides with the county board and not the hospital board. And so I brought that to council and to the administrator to see what resolving clause or excuse me what resolution might make sense from this body in order for the both the county board and potentially the hospital board to engage more um informed in an informed manner regarding uh governance uh options. So that's why it's here. Uh this was meant to be a reflection of our discussion when um HHS chair Lundy was chairing and so I am very open for this being um progress if that's uh what's needed because this was meant to reflect our discussion. Uh but I do hope that colleagues see themselves in this in the resolving clauses and should it be um should it be satisfactory to begin you know I would appreciate it you know prevailing so that people can get to work on it uh if if that's all right. So um that's all I I guess I'll say for intro happy to uh further further discussion. Madam >> Sure Anderson. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you Commissioner Fernando for for bringing this forward. Very supportive of this. I I do see kind of what's in here and um if I don't know, you know, maybe it doesn't need to be said, but um in our original uh motion to take control of the board, we had directed um a a report back by no later than July 31st, I think, of like financial stability and governance. Um, and so this has a June 30th, which I appreciate the advanced timeline and like the um the moving forward of it. Um, and I just want to make sure that we're not duplicating that this covers that governance part for for staff. Um, so this is my just kind of verbalizing that I appreciate this coming forward. I look forward to the engagement of the work that's happening. um that's directed in this and you know ready to to get to work on it. So >> may may I >> Yeah, please. Sorry I'm not the chair. >> Please go ahead. >> Yeah, thank you. Uh madam chair and commissioner I understand I hear you on the date. So the original action from a early August um you know you had amended to have a report. If I've learned anything about this or there's always more information and more reports so I have no doubt that there will be more revision at the date that your uh amendment outlined. Um the last resolving clause here says progress report by March 15 and recommendations by June 30. What I was trying to be responsive to was the feedback um around hiring a leader and searching for a leader and um lead you know uh searches usually begin with what is the job description, who do you report to and and in this instance um the governance structure would just end up being quite a discussion. And so uh the the intention was to sequence and just to get more of that work done earlier so that should this uh should either the county board or the hospital board made up of these seven commissioners uh wish to act faster then we would have some amount of information kind of um earlier than those previous dates. So that was the the truly colleagues, the intention was to be reflective of the discussion and just noting that at the time of that hospital um board meeting, this was just the only cycle left and wanted to make sure that uh should something like this prevail that county staff could get um get started on it uh as soon as possible. Thanks, Madam Chair. >> Okay, Commissioner Edlesen's next. >> Uh thank you. So I supportive of of of course having more um a governance discussion. I I was talking about that at the last one when I also think that we should have already started the CEO search but I understand governance we are still figuring it out. I guess what I would say on transparency is it's really hard for the public to be able to engage with this board and with government in general if we don't have timelines set out clearly. Um and I feel like that's lacking right now still. um right now I I so supportive of what you're trying to do here um March then we have June we're going to start by June of 2026 we're going to start the CEO search but you have to dig to find this and you have to be watching the board meetings so the public I think we have to have one document where we can have a timeline I've requested that and then uh Commissioner Lundy as the chair I' I've requested that from you as well and I was going to bring that up at the next board meeting. Um, we're a little delayed in my opinion on the CEO search, but I get it if we need to have the governance discussion, but I want to just go to what this bar actually says um on what was successful but what wasn't successful. So, I think that's that's a really interesting question and when I would I guess I don't know because I wasn't on the board before is did we have key performance indicators so that the board before actually knew exactly what we expected of them. Did we ask about board effectiveness and engagement, oversight, strategic alignment, compliance and regulatory oversight? When's the last time we as a board did that? Was it when we established the board? Um, so if we want a group to be effective, we have to be changing the policies and really looking at the direction that we're giving them. And I so I guess whoever is going to and that was actually my other question is so we're passing this um so it's directing the county administrator to do this work. So, they're going to be identifying the aspects of past governance, what it was successful, what wasn't. So, I guess I would ask the county administrator. Um, typically when you look at a board like this, you'd look at key um performance indicators, but also who else outside of you is involved with it, right? We want we it shouldn't just be the county administrator. It should be staff. Um, it should be people from the hospital. Um, we had many people that were here today testifying. I'm sure they would love to give a little bit of feedback there. Um, so it can't it should be the public. So, it shouldn't just be us in our siloed um you know, little area where we're getting to decide this on this own. This hospital is a an asset for this county. And so, I just would request that um if we could expand what success actually means because I think if you want something, we have to be very clear about what we want. I learned that through marriage. Um and thank you for listening. Um, and then also I just think that we should involve a broader than just the the county administrator. And no offense, county administrator, I think you're amazing. Um, so I'll end with that. And then also it's still really hot in here. So thank you, >> Commissioner Lundy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, >> excuse me. >> I just want to acknowledge the comments on the um, you know, I tend to have little frequent touchins with uh, Dr. Clemen uh Mr. Huff and uh Dr. prostate and you know some of the other models across the country were intriguing to hear about you know but you have a chief medical officer you have a administrator you have different uh things a die or triad and I'm would never say any of them are the best solution or or the worst solution but I do think having this kind of go out and study and come back with ideas because I'd like to hear did it work I mean if someone moved from a a single CEO to a dad did what did they see and those are kind of things we and sus out. We could have conversations with other hospital staffs to say where, you know, where they saw the strengths and weaknesses and we can learn from other people. And so I think that's a good good step because I uh you know I think to Commissioner Edison's point, you know, bringing a CEO on, we don't even know what they might be brought into. Um and I'm intrigued by some of these ideas, there are multiple ways to do this. Um you know, at the end of this rainbow is a pot of gold we're all trying to find. But you know how we can manage that process I think is important. So u I think it's a good step. I think there's some really good ideas. Every time I hear have meetings we talk about these different options are out there and no one is perfect. No one is the perfect fit for any particular solution. But I'd sure like to have that information kind of presented and give us a strength analysis weakness and then um but I do want to acknowledge Commissioner Alson I do think having those those metrics are important um because who knows maybe we were wildly successful in how we did things but I don't know because I look at other hospitals around this state that are closing or no longer exist and I can't I know what that looks like. So, but anyway, I'll stop there. I think this is a good idea, good first step. Um, and there's lots of interesting models out there. Thank you, >> Commissioner Green. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, let me ask a question first. I think what so what is the outcome of this? Is the outcome a recommendation about what the governance structure will be or is the outcome a recommendation about the process to explore various or an alternative governance structure. >> Commissioner Fernando. >> Yes. What I was attempting to resolve is that governance kept getting raised when we were seeking to advance other kind of operational desires. And so on the on the HHS board side, um so since governance is with the county board, uh directing the county administrator, of course, not doing it by herself, but directing administrator to kind of look more broadly at the last couple decades of of the governance structure. I mean, for example, um eight of the last 10 years were negative balance. You know, that that was not something that was communicated in that kind of manner until the last couple of years. And so uh analysis of how was the governance kind of um the the effectiveness of the governance relative to our goal. So this does kind of get to Commissioner Edison's point. We h we have had a governance um model. It has been working functionally and clearly we are in a moment of need and wondering is it the exact same governance structure? If so, why would it be that? May maybe it is exactly the same. Are there different models that we should be um looking through? And then you all might recall a year year and a half ago maybe at a HHS quarterly meeting we did have we did ask the administrator at the time to collect the past governance kind of reports. >> Yeah. >> And so there's just hundreds of pages of like governance in quotes, whatever that means. Um and so how might we assess that in today's climate? How might we assess that against the operational or financial effectiveness um of the organization? Did did the county get what it was desiring in that? So, it it does feel broad. I I um I will admit to that. I will say though that the conversation at the deis was broad and that I was attempting to reflect all colleagues perspectives um was the priority versus kind of picking and choosing. But again, I am we only have one more meeting and I understand it's going to be a long one, but the last cycle is always a bit long. Like colleagues, I'm more than comfortable progressing it and people can add to it if you wish. But I was I was hoping for a way to just begin >> um with the objective of because again governance is actually meaning a lot of stuff to a lot of people right now and I do know we need we need some sort of kind of shared understanding around how um we are thinking about this subject. Um and so that the the intent is for there to be a multiple perspectives and analysis of what has occurred. Multiple perspectives, that's that second resolving clauses, right? Ways to improve engagement with community, workforce, patients, clients, leadership, and elected officials. um just knowing that we are going to be in session advocating on behalf of this hospital and health at large to stabilize and to make sure that you know that folks are um getting the health access they need and I'm I'm I believe that um legislators will also ask us what's the government you know what are you doing with governance so so that that's really the intention to you know a lot of times we have to know a very defined scope in order to begin um and in this instance agreeing on scope in order to begin I didn't see as practical um just given the timeline of the year and the urgency into next year's calendar um you know I I obviously don't need to tell people with former legislators on this day but you know session is a continuation of the last session which I learned about and so there's uh legislators are already reaching out wanting to know these types of answers and um this type of process can actually engage them in well what type of governance uh structure might be needed. So again it's open-ended to reflect commissioner collective perspective would be thrilled if it was uh prevailed today but of course open to it being progressed if colleagues would um like to you know add to to amend or add more of their perspective to the actual bar. Thanks chair >> Commissioner Conley. Oh you have another question. Yeah. May I say >> thank you? So I um so thank you. That was super helpful. And I I guess as I'm reading this and and hearing the additional remarks, I feel like I feel I have an understanding that this definitely includes an assessment of past structures and strengths and weaknesses thereof. I'm a little murky on whether or not this recommendations that would be provided uh by June 30th are recommending a governance structure. That question actually doesn't have to be answered for me right now. Um, but I would like it I suppose soon. Um, so I appreciate that we want to take a a step forward in governance. I think it's a hugely important issue. There's, you know, we've had the meetings as you said, piles of analysis. Um, I appreciate that governance is going to guide the CEO search process and so it feels like, yeah, let's take a step on this before we can really get to that. There are a couple things I'm more uncomfortable with. One of them is is that this came, this is not a criticism, it's just a sort of statement of fact. This came in as an addendum over a holiday weekend. So, I'd like to come back with a little bit longer runway to understand what this includes, but also like I have to I I just can't let go of the fact that uh the last time that we did this, we as we as Henipin County did this was what, 20 years ago, and it was a huge community process. Um, and given the unique nature of HHS, and I would say maybe even more unique in 2025 than it was back in 2000, I think we really do need um a process that has more input than this describes. And so my preference would be that we lay this over until January of 2026. Uh and and then these what I think are pretty big questions about like what what is this getting at um could be uh sorted out and I could feel more comfortable moving forward. >> Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to add um how I'm reading this and and for for me uh it's it's really kind of cut and dry and I I'll explain and that's I see two things happening and that's we do need to do the governance review right we do need to look at what worked what didn't worked where are there areas that are needed for transportation transformation opportunities for improving transparency all of those things And then it also adds ways to improve engagement with community workforce, patients, clients, leadership, and elected officials. Then that so that's a report that's done by our county administrator that is, you know, she'll be authorized to utilize internal and external resources to assist in the work. And then this report coming back and that's the second part. The report to me is what gives us how we create that robust communitydriven process. So this is setting this is the bones that sets that off in the way that I'm reading it. This is the structure that sets off those next few steps from now until March, from now until June that get us uh the foundation we need to create a governance model rooted in community, driven by, you know, transparency, driven by lessons learned from past successes, lessons learned from what have been past failures, uh lessons learned from ways to be more transformative. All of the things written out in that second resolving clause will be worked on uh to bring us uh a product in March and then in June that allows for exactly I think what you're describing Commissioner Green and that is this this robust way in which a new governance structure is created. So I see I see this as the first step to that. Um, I'm comfortable with approving this today because I see it as really a barebones structure in place to get to the next step. Um, similar to kind of how we were talking about the financial plan for 2026 was this is a start. It's not gorgeous, but it gets us to the next step. Um, we're at a space right now in time where we are actively, as Commissioner Lley stated, having conversations with our legislators. people are interested in this now and I and you mentioned this Commissioner Fernando and that having um this direction to administration to start this review I think is helpful. Um I think it is necessary. Uh I think it should start now. Um and that's just because of the timing that we're in. But also like I'd like to see that review again. It's been 30 years. It's been a long time and we're in a new space now, a new um environment uh where we sit with the hospital. Um we've been talking about govern governance in a way um that I think uh is grounded in future stability. So uh I think I'll just end with that. I see two the two things here that that stand out is that we are directing a review with the help of internal and external uh resources to examine all of these things in the second resolving clause and then give us the tools that we'll need uh in March and June um with that report containing the background and recommendations for that fuller robust process that will take place. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I'm going to comment before I go back around to my colleagues here. I just want to say that this is one of the things that I have been talking about. I I know there there have been some um push to look at getting a new CEO, but I've always said we have to have a governance model. Will before we do that, we have to set this up right because we don't want to come in and have a CEO try to reenact and redo this. And you know, we started that governance model back in 2000 and we may have outgrown that. it, you know, maybe that's why at the end we faced this financial crisis and a board that we we were concerned could not move out of the financial crisis in a fast enough pace. And so there are a lot of other good governance models we should be looking at um that are doing okay. I mean, nobody's doing fabulous here in this space, but there are some who are doing a little better than we are. And there's also some things that we might want to keep that we liked, but we're not going to know that until we go through and do all the analysis and everything. But I'd like to see those over governance models and I'd like to have us then have a have a discussion about what we want some input then from a broader base. So I'm definitely in favor of looking at that. I'm going to go to Commissioner Eden and then back to you Commissioner Fernando. Commissioner Edson >> I I I want to be very clear. I support this in in for the most part. Right. But I think it's like a bill at the legislature. We just need to be tweaked. So, I would support a progress today and then actually I was just drafting up some amendments that I can I can either send you um I mean and it was just clarifying I don't think we should call it success or not success. I think we should add in a timeline because it's actually interesting, right? This is a first for me that we're the hospital board plus we're the county board and we're trying to navigate this. We're all trying to figure this out. I don't think anybody was uh on this county board when we were the hospital board before we were it was in we were in charge of it. So I think um I I would I would I would support a pro a progress if uh if somebody would would like to second me. >> Commissioner Fernando, I'll let the conversation >> happy to second the progress motion. I just wanted to speak to timing the um Commissioner Green. So the we met as a governing board on the 18th and that's when this discussion um was most robust. And so uh I I agree with you that it would be best for this to have not been an addendum. But there was just to to to be clear the conversation that I was seeking to reflect in the board action took place um just on the same date as our last meeting. So wanted to express that. Thanks >> Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you Madam Chair and and and thank you for the timeline note. I I will say like we have hard time getting people to pay attention to what we're doing in this room and it's even harder to get them to pay attention to the HHS meetings. Although a few key people care a lot, I think I mean if so I appreciated sort of the additional remarks that helped me see what my how my colleagues are interpreting this and specifically I'm going to call out and and and thank Commissioner Connley for your use of the word process. If if the recommendations to be provided by June 30th are about process then I'm comfortable. I was worried and the way I interpreted this was the recommendations are about governance structure and that I felt like wait I need a little more I little need a little more meat on these bones but if um you know we absolutely do need to do a review and I feel like I'm repeating things that you said like if we want to do a review and that's sort of the content that informs recommendations on the process for picking a governance structure uh I can be comfortable with that and and would second a progress mo motion as opposed to punting to January. >> I think I already seconded this progress motion to the last December 11th meeting. But what I will say colleagues, if you could offer any if you are bringing an amendment, that's fine. But you can offer just feedback directly to the administrator. Perhaps there will be an R1 is possible in a smoother manner for what will be our very last meeting of the year. >> Yeah. Uh but again um it was just a couple weeks ago and we didn't have a meeting in between. Uh you all might recall we just had such a robust conversation around governance and HHS governance actually resides with the county board and not the hospital board and just wanted to make sure that we initiated that in kind of the right spot. >> I really appreciate that and I know that that conversation even came up at the finance uh meetings too. So everybody I think is talking about governance and how we move forward and how we do how do we put this back together. So I think it's timely that you brought this to us. So there's was a layover motion and there was a second. >> I believe there was a progress motion for December. >> Progress and a second. Um further discussion. All those in favor of the progress motion signify by I. I. >> This item has been progressed. >> Okay. Now this last item of business and it and it's got a few pieces to it is old business item three which is the 2026 proposed operating capital budget. And for right now on this budget resolution, I would ask to progress this budget resolution um 25364. I'll ask for that. >> Madam Chair, >> please there's a I saw an amendment. >> Yeah, we're going to talk to the amendment next. We progress first. I've got this I've got the the motion is supposed to go. >> Okay. >> Okay. Second. >> All those in favor signify by I. >> I. So, we all know about the motion to we need uh this approval of amendment 13. We got this. This was about the Gatsby. This is all technical stuff. So second. Now I need a motion to approve the administrator's amendment number 13. >> Second. >> I'll move it. >> Is that what you said? >> She moved it. >> Sorry. Second. >> Oh, I thought you moved. Okay. So, it's been moved and seconded. >> I will move it. >> Okay. So, everybody understand the technical the Gatsby 103 that was explained. Excuse me. >> Um, Madam Chair, commissioners. um that the uh the item needs to be before the body in order to be amended. So that that I think the the process um probably ought to have been a move in a second on the progress motion, but not to take the vote until after considering the amendment. >> Okay. >> Um and so I think at this juncture there may be the need for a motion to reconsider the progress motion to get it back before the body. >> Okay. Motion to reconsider. >> Move week reconsider. >> Okay. That was not in the instructions here. >> Second. >> Okay. So there's a motion. Would somebody like to make the motion then to progress? >> Um I'm sorry. I think we have we have to progress it again. >> Uh well the Madam Chair, Commissioners, the motion to reconsider will bring the progress motion back. >> Okay. >> And so with the with the item before you, then you can consider amendment. >> Next time write clear instructions on here, folks. Next time. Um so a motion to approve administrator amendment number 13. >> I'll move that. >> Okay. It's been sec moved and seconded. Any discussion on that? Everybody understands that one? All those in favor signify by I. >> I I carries. So then a vote to um for the pro to progress the vote on the progress motion. So it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by I. I. >> I. Now that has happened. So I guess we're we have concluded that and that moves to the next person. And that's the end of our business. >> Yeah. Break. Oh my goodness. >> Yes, we can take a break. What? Right. Yeah, they got it. >> They got it here. >> Yeah. >> Well, Lundy is the next long one. His public safety is >> your public works is nothing really. I mean, winter kind of slows everything down. >> We'll be done. >> Relax. Good afternoon everyone. I will call to order our health committee on this Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Our first order of business today is to approve the minutes from our meeting held November 13th, 2025. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? >> Move approval. >> Second. >> The minutes have been moved and seconded. Are there any corrections or 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 2A on our agenda uh is a routine item. I'll ask for a motion to bring that before us. >> Item has been moved and seconded. 2A is an amendment, the fourth amendment to an agreement with Kotiviti, Inc. to provide CMS interoperability and patient access services to Henipin Health. We're extending the end date to December 15th of 2030 and increasing the NTE by over 2.8 million for a new total NTE of 3 a little over 3.6 million. That item has been moved and seconded, but Deputy Murphy, I would love to get an idea of the increased NTE. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Derek Witch is available uh to answer that question and provide some more background. >> Thank you, Mr. Witch. Welcome to the committee. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, commissioners. My name is Derek Wolage. I am the business information officer with Henipin Health. So the resolution before you today is to amend our contract with Cotivity Inc. to provide CMS interoperability and patient access services to Hannipan Health. We're extending the current contract like like it was stated, the contract period through December 15th through 2030 and increasing the not to exceed amount by 2,841,231 for a new total not to exceed amount of 3,616,919. Quotivity Inc. was selected to provide CMS interoperability and patient access services in 2022 as a result of an open competitive RFP process. CMS interoperability refers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services efforts to ensure that health information can be securely and efficiently exchanged across health care systems between patients, providers and and payers. Cotivity has worked with us through the first phase of CMS interoperability and this move will allow us to move to the next phase. The goal is to enhance interoperability across health care systems, reduce administrative burden for providers and payers, improve and improve patient access to their health information and to modernize prior authorizations. This board action request aligns with Henipin County disparity reduction efforts to improve access to culturally specific sensitive health services and increase community well-being. When completed, members can access their health records more easily through thirdparty apps. They can take their data with them when switching health plans, and this empowers members to make more informed decisions about their care. I'll pause here and take any questions. >> Thank you. I appreciate that background. I'm I'm going to assume and you and please correct me that the because we're entering into the second phase, is that uh the increased NTE? >> Correct. >> Got it. Thank you so much. I appreciate you being here. Colleagues, any questions or comments? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That item passes. And that concludes our agenda for today. I will call to order the Human Services Committee. It's Tuesday, December 2nd. It is 4 PM. I'm the chair, Heather Edson. Our first order of business is to approve the amendments from November 13th. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you. It's been all those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. We have one routine item before us today and three agenda before us. Um, if I can have a motion to I'll move 2A before us. If I could have a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um, it's been moved and seconded. Item 2A is the human services and public health resolution including contracts and amendments to contracts with providers. More information is outlined in the human services and public health contract report 2517. Are there any questions on this? All right, being no questions uh or comments, then we'll go to a vote. All those in favor of approving item 2A, please say I. >> I opposed. The motion carries and we'll move on to the three agenda um that we have items for discussion and action. I can if I can have a motion to move as a block items 2B through 2E before us, I will read them into the record. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Items 2B is an amendment to an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Services for a grant for the state's long-term homeless supportive services fund program as a part of the human services and public health's long-term homelessness initiative increasing the receivable amount to 4,251,451. Did I get that right? My goodness. >> Yeah. >> Okay, good. I was like, it's been a long day. for a new total amount of 15,58,657 and extending the term to June 30th of 2027. Item 2 C is an amendment to an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to incorporate language changes to clause three consideration of terms and payment subclause 31 A2 budget modification and the receivable of amount of 3 mill,500,000 for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30th, 2027 remains the same. The grant will support Henipin County's HSPH's operation and support services for the multi-sight family overflow shelter program. Item 2D is a is amendments and agreements with the 10 cities for the services of Henipin County embedded social worker program. Madam >> chair, >> yes. Yes. >> Just want to note that there's a update that needs to be made to the amendment number. >> Okay. >> For item 2D. >> Okay. And if what is that? U Mr. Murphy? It should read the amendment number should read A2412472.2. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. Um and so item 2D will note that amendment. Um, and then item 2E is an amendment for a GP JPA with the city of Hopkins for participation in the 911 alternative 911 alternative response team extending the uh end date to December 31st, 2026 and increasing the receivable amount to uh by 8 $88,431. Um, there being no further Oops. Actually, with that, do you have any questions? >> We moved in. We moved and seconded. I know it's been a long day. It was moved and seconded. Do we have any questions on this? >> All right. With that, um, no no questions. So, we'll move to a vote. Um, all those in favor, please, of moving approving items 2B through 2E, please say I. I. >> Opposed. >> The motion carries. And that concludes the human services committee. We are adjourned. Just wait. I'd like to call uh the committee, law, safety, and justice committee to order. Uh today we have a few items. We won't be as efficient as the health and human services. I'll just warn you up front, but we'll do our best. Uh first item is approval of the minutes from November 13th. If I get a motion second, >> we have a motion, a second. Uh any changes, additions, corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Uh we have a few items. I'll got a couple groupings, but pretty much one by one. Um first up, can I get a motion for 2A? >> So moved. Second >> 2A is nine agreements with local government agencies to provide work crews from the sentencing to service program. Various contract dates total receivable of 1,27,481.76. Any requests for background? See none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Next item is 2B. If I can get a motion and a second. >> So moved. >> Second. Um we have 2B is an amendment to agreement with REN collective provide complex legal communication services extending the end date 123126 increasing the not to exceed by 60,000 for a new total not to exceed of 210,000. Um can we get background please >> chair Lundy commissioners I'd like to invite Morgan Coons from the county attorney's office to provide background on this amendment. the mic. Can you put the mic on? >> Chair and commissioners. Uh thank you so much. I'm here uh covering for Sarah Davis who was unable to be here and apologizes for that. Um the I could restate what's in the bar um if that would be helpful or I could take questions. Uh the brief summary is that the Ren Collective helps the Henipin County Attorney's Office with its communications with the public about very complex legal matters that uh come before us. >> Any questions or comments? Commissioner Anderson, >> thank you. Um, are there uh communications I know the county has a communications team in house. Is there um like do we have agreements with the county to utilize those? Like is there a specific reason that we have to use outside services and contracts knowing that as we've mentioned in other settings, we're shaking all couch cushions at this point. So, >> yeah, absolutely. So, the county attorney's office does have several communications folks on staff. We have one main communications person that deals with the bulk of our communications with the press. Uh we also have another staff member who helps with digital storytelling and communicating to the public using um digital means. Um and then we bring in some staff from our community relations team to help augment that. Um the the problem is is that we would need a professional level communications person uh to be able to replace the work of the Ren Collective. I know that we collaborate often with um larger Hannipin County um communications office. I I would defer to um Miss Guzman uh to inform us if they would have capacity to help provide these services. It's been my experience that uh they don't always have that capacity and that I believe um you know the Henipin County Attorney's Office sort of has unique issues and with Mary Morardi being an elected official um needs to be able to communicate to the the public um using her communications folks. I would love to know capacity >> chair uh commissioners commissioner Anderson in uh in addition to the staff that are inhouse at the county attorney's office we do have communication staff that the county helps to support we are a liaison to that office um you might uh be aware that where there are vacancies in the elected offices we oftentimes help in a temporary basis to help support and ensure that we are timely and responses to media inquiries and the like. Uh so we do not have staff to offer and augment but we can in a temporary uh occasion when there are vacancies. Uh but as Mr. Coons has identified there are a number of staff already assigned in the county attorney's office that provide multiple services and supports including videography which we've seen and it's of great quality. >> Commissioner Edson Thank you. Um, and so I'm going to just be honest in the the last time we approved this uh my community I get so many emails um in opposition, but I I very clearly um stated and I think it's my position still today is this is in within her current budget. Is this not >> sorry uh chair and commissioners? Yes, this is within the current budget. And the other thing I will add is that we have significantly reduced the monthly spend. I think last year it was reduced uh by 50% and now we're reducing it by another 33%. So we're very aware of all the fiscal issues and we're being uh conscious of that. The amount is currently um significantly reduced from what it was in past years. >> Okay. Thank you. And I will just note my community was strongly opposed to it before, but I will support it because it is currently within her budget and that's the current spend. So thank you. >> U myself I will not be supporting this. Um, let me just read the Ren Collective, just so we're all on the same page. Uh, first, this is theirs. Democracy under attack. The resurgence of the death penalty. An honest conversation about public safety, the president's plan to lock everyone up, our futures on the ballot, using criminal prosecution manipulate the 2026 election, the end of accountability, uh, Trump's longing for the days of Jim Crow. Um, this is the Ren Collective is not a PR firm. They are an advocacy group and the fact that we're using taxpayers money for an advocacy group. Uh before I was told this was a PR thing, I thought hey if you need PR help this isn't a PR group. Um they are here to advocate. I am also looking at the bar where twice in three sentences there's complex information like as if we can't understand information. Um we can understand things people can have differences of opinions. Um, in the second sentence is a broad public misinformation campaign. Um, to me this is nothing more an advocacy. Taxpayers should not pay for it. If uh uh Miss Morardi wants to pay for it, they use campaign money because that's what this is. It is not uh good use of our services. Uh we don't have the money. If we need help with PR, we have people can help or we can hire. But the Run Collective is not a PR firm. If you look at their website, I don't think I found anything actually said helping with press. They are a narrative driver. They're here to push an agenda. The fact that we're paying using money uh has a lot of people upset. Um that's where I stand. Uh this in no way is a PR. Uh absolutely. Uh I'd be happy to support a real PR firm. Uh this isn't one of those. >> Any other questions or comments? Um, I do, Mr. Chair. >> I'm sorry, Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you. So, that begs the question. I'm looking at their website, too. How did you go out for the bid to find uh the communications that you were that you were would use for the complex legal issues? Um, because I too don't see uh there's there's a lot that they do, but I don't see like contracted media work for government agencies. So, can you talk to me a little bit more about the process to obtain REN to do this work for you? >> Uh, uh, chair, uh, commissioner and other commissioners. I was not, uh, involved in in that stage. I believe the REN collective has been working with, uh, the Henipin County Attorney's Office since probably the first year of Miss Morardi's administration. So, I'm not familiar with the background. We would have to get you additional background on that. Um I will say that in in my experience working with them, it is communications work. The work that they do is helping to draft uh press releases. Um helping to uh let me look at my notes here. Um helping to draft communications materials, helping us respond very quickly and clearly. Um they provide a lot of information about things that are going on nationally and how other county attorney's offices um are dealing with them and how that will impact our community. Um there's been some examples just today recently of uh national uh news stories coming out of DC where disparaging things are made about folks in our community and that has a really significant impact on the public on how our office relates to victims of crime on how our office uh handles it and so working with a firm that has that national perspective has that professional level communications experience is really important. Um, and if we were going to hire someone, it would cost uh significantly more um than the the current ask of this contract. So, just as a followup, Mr. Sure. I um I would very much appreciate learning how this went out for bid, understanding that hiring a person is um more expensive. But typically, these are types of these these go out for bid and then we select the best one, right? So, I'm going to assume it went out for bid. I'd like to know um what that process was like. Uh, I do understand that even today my phone is blowing up about some pretty terrible things that will happen to a large group of people who live in my district very soon. And so that's going to need some very complex uh community relations or media stuff. So, Miss Guzman, I think my question I will support this today given the history that it already has with uh this is an amendment to an agreement, but I would like to get some background on how we uh went out for bid on this. And again, this is within uh our county attorney's purview considering it's her budget. Uh so, I don't have a problem with that. I'll be supportive, but the background will be very helpful for me in understanding this. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? I. >> Nay. >> I'm sorry. >> You said I >> Oh, wow. Nay. >> Chair, can we just do a voice or a committee roll call? >> Yeah, let's do roll call, please. >> Commissioner Fernando. I >> Commissioner Green. Hi. Commissioner Connley. >> I >> Commissioner Gautel. >> I >> Commissioner Eden. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Anderson. >> No. >> Commissioner Lundy. >> No. Motion does uh pass 5 to two. Um thank you very much. At this I move on to 2C. If if it's okay, I would like to group 2C and 2D together. >> See no objections. If I get a motion, chair >> second. >> We have a motion to uh approve 2C and 2D. Uh 2C is an amendment to Corner House Inter Agency Child Abuse Evaluation Center for assessments of child sexual abuse victims and expert witness testimony extend the end date of 63026 and increasing not to exceed by 133,000 for a new total not to exceed total of 1,346, 319. 2D is an a amendment to six agreements to local agencies to provide victim advocacy, legal representation, and intervention and prevention services for cases handled by the domestic abuse service center and hemp county attorney's office. Extend end dates to 123126 and increase combined not to exceed amount to 2,326,274. Is there any questions? Commissioner Fernando. >> Thank you, Chair. More comments. Um I'm very very supportive of this work. Um, I am a bit heartbroken about why the need continues to grow with respect to victims and um, I've always expressed that I wish for at some point the county to have a parallel path with with respect to its victim services. This is housed within the county attorney's office and ask for which we are very grateful. Oh, there's members here. Hey, thank you for your work. Thank you. Thank you. Um and so I am I'm just very very supportive of the work. I am appreciating that the number is going higher in that we are supporting it. But it is heartbreaking to read about the statistics and the inaction um persisting over decades spec specifically for domestic violence victims and um individually just colleagues. because I know I've already said this, but so much of DV funding and a lot with children is is federally funded. And so I individually and appreciate that that was a unanimous uh vote a couple months ago. Now, this is a public health um need from my perspective. And when we're talking about um people who feel like they must stay in their scenario in order to survive uh and and and then they're not getting the same type of holistic support from government at large. That's a dynamic that I know many of us care about. Um so I want to express gratitude to the county attorney's office and to DASK. uh but then also uh re renew my public commitment to ensuring that victims specifically domestic violence and intimate partner victims are viewed through a public health lens and are funded as such. >> Thank you, Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um thank you for those comments, too, Commissioner Fernando. I could not agree more. It is just devastating. I wanted just uh to get some clarification on the on the um the the local agencies that we are uh increasing the NTEEs for. Um they're very culturally specific, but I don't see any organizations targeted to African-American and black communities that cross the diaspora. Um, and I'd like to know if we do have agencies or organizations that we contract with that really focus on um, black and African-American women and um, any victims, survivors, uh, because I I just don't see the organizations are very well defined in the background, but I don't see any with a specific focus on say Somali American women or um, African-American black uh, survivors or victims. So that's a question. Do we have contracts with local agencies or the amendments just to these six? Talk me through that please. Thank you. >> Chair Lundy Commissioners, Commissioner Connley, I'd like to invite Siri Logan to uh provide background and to answer more directly your questions. >> You need the mic on. >> Sorry. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Lundy, commissioners, uh thank you for having me today. My name is Siri Lokensgard. I'm the director of the domestic abuse service center. Um to Commissioner Connley's question, um currently we do have an African-American grant under OJ, which is Office of Justice Program, um to serve primarily the African-American community along with all victim survivors of domestic violence. Um, Commissioner Connley, to your point, um, you know, last year alone, um, in 2024, and I apologize, I don't have, um, statistics for 2025 yet, um, but in 2024, um, we did serve, um, around 1,609 individuals who identified as black and African-American. And so, um, the need is there. Um, one of the supports that we are able to offer and provide through our African-American grant through the Office of Justice program is financial assistance. Um, that is primarily um, financial assistance for individuals um, who have experienced domestic violence where there are high lethality and risk factors in their situation. Um, and those financial needs go towards assisting um, with safety planning resources. Um, and that includes uh financial help with relocation, um, safe housing, transportation, lock changes, security systems, um, etc. Anything that could benefit victim survivors, um, in, you know, assisting with their safety plan. But you are correct. We don't have an agency specifically. >> Yes. I was going to ask, you know, I'm just looking at some data from a couple of years ago that just said black women are 7% of the Minnesota population, 40% of its domestic violence victims. So, so there's a lot there. And there's a couple of organizations that just popped up um when I just typed in, you know, African-American domestic violence Minneapolis, right? Um there's a something there's an organization called uh FU fumulani Minnesota African women African women against violence that serves women from Africa. I'm just wondering if we can maybe look at that look at what local organizations or agencies might exist that serve specifically black women from across the diaspora. So whether that you're born here or born um in another country and come here, there's got to be an organization that works for works specifically with those survivors outside of that because I'm familiar with the OJ grant. Um, but this work is so detailed and comprehensive for domestic abuse survivors and and um and victims that there's got to be an organization that is culturally specific to African and African-American women that exists that we can partner with to have in this list of of agreements. So, just um something that I hope that you look into. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments? I I I just was going to ask a similar question uh with African immigrant uh communities. I'm more familiar with um nonprofits uh in the Brooklyns and you know Crystal New Hope that aren't connected but they're offering services. They're trying to find you know support. They've tried to raise money for a house many times. Amwag comes to mind um is a group that has done that. Um but you know they're always operating with a shoestring budget and they're using community resources to help shelter uh females um and males because that was one of the things they were talking about is the immigration comes in uh when the victim is and you know and so that complication comes into play as well. So, um, what I was going to ask for, and I don't know if, uh, you know, I know we've had conversations up here, is maybe, uh, next year if we could get a briefing, uh, find time on the calendar. I don't I would defer to that to, uh, Chair Fernando, but, uh, to kind of have a conversation because I'd love to learn more. Um, I remember when Brooklyn Park, we had our city prosecutor was settling all the time and there was a desire to have more aggressive uh, and so we partnered with Cornerstone. We brought advocate in-house to the department to gather information to really capture that first few hours information because things uh, people become more reluctant and the numbers grew because we're actually getting closer to the real number. Uh, and so I think that is we're more successful. I expect that number is going to grow not because it's worse, but because we're actually seeing what is already out there. So that is my belief and I would defer to you on that question, but I do think this board is really interested in understanding more about this relationship and how we can plug in better. So I'll I'll stop there and let you respond. >> Oh, absolutely. I agree. I think we are always um looking to see how we can expand and and better serve the communities that we are in contact with. Um and I agree with you, Commissioner Lundy. I think that um domestic violence is pervasive and and I think it's not um you know, our numbers have increased. Um and is that a matter of um us increasing access or is that a matter of you know domestic violence you know becoming a bigger um public health crisis? Um and I think it's it's both. It's both accessibility and um just being more accessible to the communities that we serve. So so I agree and definitely something that we can look into for the 2026 year. >> Yeah. Um, and thank you for that. And I think, you know, having sometimes looked broken some of the crime data into categories, you've in the suburbs, you'll find that domestic abuse cases are some of the highest calls. In fact, I believe, and I haven't looked for about a year or so, I'll defer to that. Maybe I'm wrong here, but it is the highest in every one of my six communities. And I'll wager it's the highest in every community. Um, and so when we talk about crime and people are always on the news and social media worried about something, but there is one number that is much bigger than the rest and people never I shouldn't say never. That's not fair. They talk less about that. Put it that way. So, >> okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of uh 2C and 2D say I please. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next I have um uh if it's okay I was looking at well actually let's just do 2E. It's a routine item. Uh if I get a motion a second please. >> So moved. Second. >> Uh 2E is amendment to agreements with local agencies provide adult diversion services to the Henipin County Attorney's Office extending end dates to 6:30 26 and in combined not to exceed amount to 2,411,37. Any questions or comments? >> See none. All those in favor say I. I >> opposed. >> Motion carries. Uh the next two I've got I think we should keep them separate because I think we have some people here might want to have specific questions. So uh first if I get a motion and a second for 2F. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second for 2F which is an amendments agreements with eight adult representation services ARS legal representation contracts for 2026. Does anyone want any background or have questions? >> Commissioner Fernando. >> Yes. I just always love the opportunity to thank our adult representation services um internal staff as well as these kind of external community providers and at a in a time period where due process is not always reliable. We are very grateful for your service. Thank you chair. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of two say I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next we have 2G. If I get a motion, a second, please. >> Uh 2G to read the record is an amendment to agreements with the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, Alina Health Systems, Henipin Healthcare System, the city of Adina, the city of Minneapolis, and Henipin County, establish a relationship between and among the parties for the procurement of components to support shared emergency communication services. I was wondering if we could set back on, please, Jelly. Chair Lundy, commissioners, I'd like to invite Major Michael Jy uh to provide background on this item. >> Oh, or Tony Martin, pardon me, Tony Martin from the sheriff's office to provide background on this item. >> Thank you, Miss Guzman, Mr. Chair, members, uh commissioners. Uh thank you for the opportunity. My name is Tony Martin, emergency communications director with the sheriff's office. Uh some background. Back in 2014, uh all of these entities uh went into an agreement uh to purchase a shared 911 system. So we are uh operating on the same platform um using the same data centers um ultimately just satellite locations. Uh with the shared system we we're going to continue to operate uh separate 911 centers. However uh this amendment is going to be adding uh Bloomington and Eden Prairie. Uh they have both expressed interest. Uh in essence they're going to still operate their own centers. It's just going to be joining onto our shared system data centers and that. So stand for any questions. Any questions, comments? Commissioner Fernando, >> another comment. I very grateful for you, director, and it is really important. Commissioner Anderson and I both serve on the MESB um regionalism and resilience among our systems in case one system needs uh a backup for any reason has been a important discussion for which director Martin has been a key contributor. So, I wanted to thank you for your work and express my support for uh this action. Thanks, Sher. Mer Edison. very supportive. Um I guess I'm curious uh Mr. Burton if um first of all just let's just say the city of Vina Rocks because we were like the only city like that the suburban city that was in there initially now Bloomington and Eden Prairie are joining um and then remind me Mr. Martin where did you start your career? Was it there? >> I did start in the city of Edina. So I was a part of this initial the little plug there. >> So I ain't been a part of this since day one. >> It's it's been a long day. Um but really a question is um because the cities are we're getting more cities in are they able to share data easily? Like is that something because I know that's been an issue with just you know trying to share all of the access to data. >> So I I appreciate your comment and I would say that's in a completely separate platform as far as when we deal with our systems. We have our radio, we have our phones, and we have our CAD. CAD, we have a lot of different initiatives going and a lot of other um projects that we're trying to to get that shared data, to get that shared access. Um can certainly provide some information down the road, but we're we're trying that. As far as this and the 901 system, um it it's not necessarily data, but it it's under the same umbrella. And so it just it I'm going to give you a small example. During COVID, uh, HCMC, Henipin Healthcare had to split their center because they're in a very small center. They utilized our backup center um, just logging into the system. They didn't have to do anything different because I could go log in at one of these other centers and I could just answer calls for whatever entity. So, I would say on a redundant platform, this is just it's it's helping with the redundancy um, especially during certain events, etc. So u this would be a separate um but under that same and it it is a cost savings because we are sharing and decreasing the data center costs amongst each other. So it's a it'll be a cost savings for all the five current and then also for the two additional >> that's great news. Okay. Thank you. >> Um I just had a comment. I'm going to since I can't run I'm just going to limp across like eight landmines all at once. Um I don't know if everybody saw the letter from uh former commissioner uh the chart Tribune about the need for governments to rethink how they deliver services. >> Uh pulling things together. I think governments, you look at the property taxes, we're going to have our tooth tonight. I think this is our first of three bad budget years and it's going to be the easiest because it's easy to cut empty positions. It's easy to cut uh stuff, but the next year and next year are going to be tougher. um that I do think it's active and imperative for all of us to look at how we deliver services. Um my impression as mayor, no one ever called and said, "Dang it, why did Champlain Park our Champlain Fire Department show up at my house for a fire?" Not never happened. They don't care what ambulance shows up. They don't care what they want as professional people in a time of need. You're the delivery mechanism. I do believe it's time for our PAPs to unify under a system because as we go forward um computer systems become more expensive. We're going to have tougher tougher time staffing. It is I think one of those moments and tomorrow. No. But I think what the work we're doing to have systems that are common lead us down a path where a city doesn't have to go crap. We can't afford this upgrade and now we are orphaned. So, I applaud you and the rest of the system, but I do look at one of these as just it is an opportunity. It's not to say that things are going to be different or less or better. It's just when people call 911, they ain't calling because things are good. They're calling because they want the best person in the entire planet to arrive at their place the fastest possible moment. And they the rest of it's all just uh decorations. They want the best. And so, the best is the one who arrives first. It's my experience. So, I just want to say that I support this. Um, I do think it's along many things that we should look at a lot of things. I think other things since I'm already in the minefield throwing things around. Uh, police departments, we have I think too many. I think we have people that are struggling to keep things staffed. Um, that's a reality. We're not creating new police officers. We're just stealing from each other. That's that's how the system's working right now. So, um, that's just my belief. It'll come. It's going to be because of money eventually. That is how everything happens. >> Yeah. >> So, any other questions or comments? >> All those in favor of 2G say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. And with that, the last safety justice committee is complete. >> I'd like to move to a >> Kevin. I'd like to move to a public works. Don't worry, I'll keep this to a half hour. >> Well, dinner time. Oh, this is another one. Is this the same? The same one. I got it. >> Yeah. I will call to order the public works committee for today, Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Um, our first item on the agenda is to approve the minutes from our previous meeting. May I have a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> We have a motion and a second. Any additions or corrections? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. Any opposed? >> The minutes are approved. The uh we have one routine item. Um, may I have a motion for this? >> So moved. >> I will second. Um, the item 2A is to negotiate an agreement with Richfield for reconstruction of Nicollet Avenue, uh, estimated county cost of $32,410 of state aid with an estimated receivable of just under $8 million. Um this is uh moving advancing a uh construction project that we have long been working on. Um >> do you have any questions or >> No, I just can I just say something if I may, Mr. Chair. I just want to say that, you know, this this is about the city participation and I know it's been really hard for not just the city of Richfield but many cities to to bring in their cost participation and I know that um county staff really sharpen their pencils on this to try to get this more in aligned for what they can try to do. They're also on the bonding tour hoping to get bonding money to put into this and I just want to thank the staff for the work on this. I know we're looking in the future about cost participation as a general and our and looking at our policy, but this is a good place and this is where the conversation started. So, I'm I'm just appreciative of where we're at. >> Thank you. Any additional questions are correct. Um hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? That item is approved. Uh we have an addendum. I'm going to move uh the item 2B in agreement with the city of Minneapolis for waste delivery during the period of uh January 126 to 123127. May I have a second? >> Second. >> You have a second. Um Commissioner Fernando, I know that you had a >> Yes, colleagues, I'm aware of the time, so I understand if you know we want to progress, etc. Um, but this item got separated from the previous action because of my own amendment. And it's cuz I wanted to be able to vote on something favorable for the city of Minneapolis residents that has um Minneapolis policy makers also weighing in on this request. This is a very peculiar tension in my opinion. Minneapolis uh policy makers have all expressed a end of incineration date that is the same date of this agreement the end date and they have expressed um a decommissioning a full closure of the herk facility which is inconsistent with our plan. I have not been able to attain anything different from that in writing in the last year. So u my understanding from staff is that council Minneapolis council has not yet um looked at this action and so that's what was tough. I wanted this to come back before us hoping that the city would have taken some sort of action in the interim. Since that wasn't the case, I wrote a resolution that I'm comfortable voting in favor of. I'm not comfortable voting in favor of the waste delivery contract as is, which is why I invite progress if that's preferred. um because there's a complete conflict with the operational requests from the city and the policymakers verbal commitments and um published statements and voted record. So for me that's just distinct from the 74 other contracts. No other user of the herk has passed a resolution that is so inconsistent with our plan and quite frankly in some ways their own plan. So, I get if we want to see if we want to punt it or something, but I wanted to be able to vote in favor of something today. And that's why I attempted to draft more um concretely. Just again, for me, it's peculiar um that the city of Minneapolis's policy position is so distinct from their operational requests. >> Thank you, Jerem. >> Thank you, Commissioner Fernando. Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, uh Mr. Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Fernando, for bringing this ahead of us. Um, you know what? I I am still, and I I think I mentioned this when when the holler agreements came before us the first time, was that we do have cities of the first class, and the one in Henipin County, cuz only one uh does have a a legislative action on record that says that they want the hurt closed and to cease incineration. So again, there's there's contradictions there, but I think that this is a this is a bar that makes sense. In addition to that, I'm also thinking about the um zero waste policy we just um approved with the amendments that um I made to the cities of the first class so that we can get some better reporting because this isn't just about the city of Minneapolis not uh bringing trash to the herk by 123127. they don't necessarily have a path to get to that according to what we saw. Um but we have a policy in place now that can hold them account accountable as soon as February. Um and so that contradiction remains. Again, this is the only one of our 45 cities who has a a legislative action um that is outlined in the second resolving clause in red here. Uh so I would be supportive of this today. I think it makes sense. It doesn't change the hauler agreements to uh our other cities and it's actually asking for clarification from the city as to what it exactly is that they want to do because right now they're they've got one thing on record um but uh contradicts um uh something entirely different entirely different and doesn't align with the zero waste goals that we've seen them present to us. The structure does not exist at the city of Minneapolis to reach accelerated zero waste. So, uh, having a resolving clause that actually calls that out and asks for the clarification is what, uh, is is really the the power move that is, uh, that I reason why I support this. It is late. My bad, but like is why I support this as is. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, any other Yes, Commissioner Eden. and then I have some comments and I thoughts on this, but >> Okay. Well, first of all, I just want to start by saying I' I'd like to um make a motion for progress here. Um and I don't know if I have a second, but I'll give it a second. Um I I guess I'm just saying this and reading this and there's huge implications for us closing the herk without a plan. And I know that that's not exactly what this is doing, but I'm just trying to There's so much going on today um that I don't feel prepared to fully understand exactly what is A2513181. Is that our agreement to the city of Minneapolis? I guess that's a question for Commissioner Fernando. >> Yeah. So, and just to be clear, I'm happy to progress this. I was trying to have an action today >> that I could vote in favor of as a Minneapolis resident >> because uh so the red is what I added and the black is what was provided. Right. >> So this agreement A2513181 is the agreement between us and the city that staff is proposing that would establish an $85 per ton rate versus the $150 per ton rate. um waste could still be delivered to the herk at the 150 rate without a contract. This establishes a a reduced contract rate um because we've created this agreement. Uh again, my my wrinkle in this is we have not received any formal policymaker communication or request regarding this agreement. Um I don't even know how they would I mean it's not in front of their committee I think until this Thursday and not in front of the full council until next week. And so I I'm aware that city staff have asked our staff, but as policy makers ourselves um my own policy makers have said, well, we don't agree with this. And so I I wanted to create some space for the policy maker for the policy makers to clarify their position on behalf of their organization, their entity. Um, but I get that it's a bit complicated and so I'm happy to have it be progressed, but I I just can't express enough as presented to us establishing a rates through 1231 2027. But the city of Minneapolis's resolution states the end of uh waste incineration no later than 1231 2027 the same date and entire of the entire facility by December 31 2033 which is in direct conflict with our reinventing solid waste plan. So, I I want to pass something for the residents of Minneapolis, including myself, for continued services, and I am eagerly awaiting some amount of policymaker clarity around what their intention is as the land use authority, as the individuals responsible for organized hauling. So, I'm again I'm hap this does not have to be uh today, but if people really wanted to pass this agreement today, I wanted to offer language that would allow me to ethically um and like morally kind of be in favor of that as both the resident of the city. So, again, I'm not um this is it's a lot of money. I mean, it's 40% a reduced rate with a contract amount. So I again I I I wish for some sort of smooth operations to exist and it is it is peculiar for me that we don't have this clarity from policy makers when they passed the resolution a year ago. So obviously we're aware that this has been a very tenuous community subject and um that's the other aspect here. We've all heard public comment. People are saying that we're the only ones that are kind of in the way. So, I will second a progress motion if that's where we're at. This is just so odd to have such a >> distinction. I know Commissioner Lundy and Commissioner Gutal and then Commissioner Green. >> Yeah. Okay. Just make sure um I I I'm going to vote to progress that I'm not send vote at the end. I just want to I think progress in it is I'm fine with that because we'll we'll have more discussion. I could do some more studying. So, I'm good with that part. So, I just wanted to be honest. I'm still kind of like 50/50, but I see the value and continue that. My one question is is um in my second month of mayor, I thought it'd be a really cool idea to take on organized wasting um which anybody who's been through that process will >> Yeah, it was it was a spectacular way to start off my time as mayor. So, I was going to ask our new county administrator um if to reach out to the city managers in the suburbs because the last time we talked about the hurricane and we asked for feedback, we got feedback. It was not the same. And I feel like to not go back out and I realize this is just for Minneapolis, but things that just happens before one tends to get applied to others. Uh and I'm not saying that's the intent. I just know how systems work. Once you have it and set up, it's easy to say, you know, second tier starts at 75,000, then pretty soon we're So, I do think it's important because we did go out and we did get some feedback and it was not at all supportive of uh what we're trying to do. And I think if to not go back out and ask the suburbs, even though I know this isn't game to them, they're all going to have the same worry that I do, which is, okay, you're going to apply it to us. like I just I can write I know my city managers that's exactly what they're going to say. So, um I think it's worth that. It is a countywide thing. It is uh lots of people I can tell you I wouldn't lose an election by saying I didn't support shutting the herd down in Bookham Park because I've knocked on doors. I know what people think and that doesn't make it not the right thing to do. But we have got to engage with the city managers, the city councils to start to talk about where are we headed, not just about this, but the whole system. And I don't think people have that um that kind of that knowledge about where it is because I'll just say this, in the suburbs, trash don't get picked up. Trust me, every city council member gets a call. >> Um that is it can't be more simple than that. And not one person, not my wife, not any of my neighbors will ever care about where it goes. They just want to know why the heck that trash is still sitting at the end of my driveway. Um, and I'll just apologize to Mr. Rogan. Robin still had the month-long thing of no service. So, um, anyway, I'll stop there. >> I'm probably going to continue some of this because I have talked to my cities and I regularly talk to my cities about the the Hurricane, the solid waste program, and our zero waste initiatives. And I know that some of my cities are performing better than others. And there are those conversations that are going on. And I have I'd let them know that I know about their e either the really great goals or some that need a lot of improvement. And so I I have those conversations around this, but they're all trying to step up. But even this the cities that don't um contribute to the herk, they are concerned about the herk closure because they realize what will happen to their residents garbage when it closes too. I think this is specific to Minneapolis and Minneapolis has brought up very something very specific to us. Um and and I think one of the things I want to say is when we do something like this somehow they seem to be listening to us for a change and they actually respond then the last time we looked at an initiative around them too and you brought in R1. We got communication back finally. Um, I think this is a really hard tool to have to use, but I find that I'm not getting communication from Minneapolis either, and I do represent Minneapolis as well, and they don't talk to me about this. Um, and and I don't see them reaching out to me to talk about this either, and I can tell you that they do reach out, and I do talk to representatives and and city members of the other suburb cities that I work with. So, um, it will get their attention hopefully, and they'll sit down and start talking with us more. We really want to work with them. You really do, but I I'm not finding we're just having a hard time finding a path forward some reason. Seem to be some challenges there. So, I I would be supportive of something like this or somewhere. >> Commissioner Green. >> Um, thank you, Mr. Chair, and and really interesting hearing people's remarks and taking it all in. I feel like I benefit now from maybe speaking last. Um, so I would say generally I'm not a huge fan of of um, you know, sort of needling our partners in this way, let's say, comma. However, um I really feel exactly what um you've described here, Commissioner Fernando, with uh the the the inongruity um between what the city is how they're voting and then what they're sort of asking to contract with us on. Additionally, I I realized as I was listening today like, oh yeah, it was this county board that wanted to expand. I'm sorry, not this county board. It was the Henipin County Board at the time that wanted to expand incineration at the Herk and Minneapolis said, "No, you may not." And then Henipin County said, "Okay, if we don't, then you've got to offer curbside recycling and that's how we have curbside composting in the city of Minneapolis." And I think that was a win for city residents. Um, so I'm thinking of that as I consider this. I support the progress motion just for the sake of transparency. if I were giving you odds today. I'm sort of a 6040. Yes. Um but um yeah, thanks. >> Thank you. um before second rounds or third rounds or whatever. Um I so um what is just clarifying process right now the the original item is before us not the commissioner Fernando's R1 with discussion of potentially progress progressing my personal opinion on this is like our part in this is to handle the garbage that is coming to us through agreements that we have with cities who sign an agreement with us. Um and the other 40 or however many 36 cities well the 44 that have an agreement for this I think it's less than the 45 whatever the number is um they will be approved um this you know if the city of Minneapolis chooses to approve the um or not approve like your policy makers can say no, we don't want to approve this and then they will go to the other rate and that's a choice that they get to make. I am not in favor of closing the door on that possibility. Um I I view our job as to be consistent with our policy of we will continue to work on zerowaste policy. We will continue to in like engage with the city of Minneapolis to implement fully a zerowaste plan that gets us to a point where we can close down the herk. Um the city of Minneapolis can make a choice to not approve the the agreement that's coming before them Thursday or sometime in the next week or two. Um, and that's that's a choice that they get to make and that's not a choice that we have to like it's not a choice for us to dictate to them. I guess in my opinion um I I view us as the facilitator of having this agreement created and for them to accept it or not accept. Um, and then they get to they get to make their choice. um and then we'll deal with it in in that way. So, I'm, you know, a progress doesn't change the execution date and I would support the original language um at whatever point it comes before us before the end of the year so that if the city of Minneapolis chooses to um vote in favor of this, they have made that that choice and then we will have that executed agreement in the end, they still have to engage with waste hauling in the way that Minneapolis residents demand of them, just like every other city. Uh, you know, Commissioner Lundy, you made the point of if trash don't get picked up, people are going to call and um, you know, I have a call into my organics collection because it didn't get picked up this week and I'm mad. But, you know, it's like this is what's uh what's going on, right? Um that's up to the city, not us. So, um I I understand that there is a progress motion or an appetite for a progress motion. I would entertain that at this point. But, um >> just one more thing, Mr. Chair. I just it would be 5.2 million more for Minneapolis. I just I mean I I just want to make sure we're we're clear on that because it's 81,274 tons um at a $65 more per ton. I mean again I I get I I think I'm getting what you I just would like to understand it. So I think if we could progress I just need to understand what we're doing. >> Yeah. >> Gerald second the progress motion. What I'll just express though is city um the city is multiple things right now. So city has requested this of us and they have a policy that conflicts and so that was my interest in yeah >> the potential drafting >> because we should this pro if we were to have approved this today as is the literal last date we would approve is the same date that they are expecting the conclusion of waste incineration. I just that in congruence that inconsistency I cannot part and parcel as separate. I want good governance on behalf of all of our residents and businesses. But again, I am happy to support a progress motion and I am certain we will hear lots of perspectives. Uh in the meantime, sorry, >> Commissioner Ghana. Yes, >> thank you. I just was going to call out that the second be resolving clause does say that the market rate of the city's agreement is contingent upon their formal approval of the agreement. So it is like saying the city has like should they choose not to then right the way that that I'm reading this is that then market rate is just contingent upon what the city does at the city council meeting on Thursday. >> So I do want to just >> is that what you mean >> in the current what's before us that what we're what we're voting on actually doesn't have whereas clauses there's a single resolving clause to >> approve the contract. Um the >> um this is not before us. >> Okay. >> So >> So I'm looking at that. Yep. >> But that does have >> Yep. So >> um >> yeah, they just want to be in transparency of what we're what's >> the original one. So thank you. No, because that's another reason why I supported this and and well supported progress is, you know, I I'm no I have no problem with that because it does spell out that con that formal approval. But I want to be clear too about other cities and like we we should we should absolutely be in the business of partnering with every city in this county who has these agreements with us. The specificity on the largest city in this county who arguably brings the most trash into the burner that they want closed uh is um is a cause of it it gives me pause as well. So, I don't I don't I think that there's agreements that can be made with other cities in our county that um that who have not like crafted legislation to close this thing that can be more nuanced and um that you know administration leadership in public works can like um draft up what there's accelerated zero waste looks like um with our the new policy that we have in place. I mean like everybody is going to be responsible for adhering to county policy that accelerates zero waste. Acceleration of zero waste is the ethical way that we close down the garbage burner or that we just have no further use for it because it's just going to sit empty uh if we really go hard on accelerating zero waste which I I'm very optimistic that we'll be able to do in the next few years even. Um but for uh so I I represent Minneapolis and I don't necessarily hear from policy makers about this issue specifically other than um you know getting updates from us but um I again support the progress motion but want to just be clear that this R1 is comprehensive and it is very focused on the one city of the first class that we have and whether or not um they pay a reduced rate or they pay a larger rate based on the fact that from their own legislative action they won't be utilizing the herk after December 31st 2027 is how I read their legislative action. >> Minneapolis is saying that they want to end incineration by 1231. So my assumption is that 1231 2027. So my assumption is that they'll be looking at other options come that date if the if we're still incinerating trash. So, that'll be a a Minneapolis jurisdictional decision that they will need to have to make. Um, and until then though, I think we should be doing what is in um our purview to do and this feels right. I will be quiet and support the progress motion now. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Um, any other comments? Um, all right. All those in favor of the progress motion of the original language, sorry, not the R1 language. Um, say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The item is progress to our full board meeting. Thank you. >> And with that, we are adjourned. You're >> in the way of dinner.