It is 1:31. We can roll the tape. >> [music] >> Good afternoon. I'll call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Board of Commissioners. It is Thursday, February 12th, 2026 and 1:32 p.m. I'm Irene Fernando, chair of the board and District 2 Commissioner. I'm joined by District 3 Commissioner Marian Green, District 4 Commissioner Angela Connley, Vice Chair, and District 5 Commissioner Debbie Goautel, District 6 Commissioner Heather Eden, and period, sorry. Uh, Hen County acknowledges that the magnificent land and vibrant waterways from which our institutions benefit are located upon the cultural, spiritual, and indigenous homeland of the Dakota Oate. Henipin County calls attention to the Dakota people's ongoing connection to this special place. On to the agenda. The first item is the pledge of allegiance. Please join me. I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Next item is to approve the agenda. May I have a motion, please? >> Move approval. >> Second. Thank you, Commissioners Connley and Green. All those in favor of the agenda, please say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Three is Henipin Highlights and we have an environmental response fund grants 25th anniversary highlight presented by Rosemary Lavin of environment and energy. So, please come on up. Chair Fernando, commissioners, thank you. I'm Rosemary Lavin, director of environment energy department. I'm honored to be here today to present the success and legacy of 25 years of Henipin County's environmental response fund, the county's brownfield redevelopment program that supports the cleanup and assessment of polluted properties. With me here today are county staff who serve in our contaminated lands unit, Mary Finch, Lance Robinette, Michael Torres, Michael Zazera. We're also joined by John Evans who contributed 25 years to building the program and retired last year. Many thanks to each of them for their commitment to protecting health and eliminating disparities in their work. This work started in the mid1 1990s when Henipin County was increasingly dealing with contaminated properties which came with liability, health hazards, and environmental costs. A pivotal site for the ERF program, the national super fund site in St. Louis Park was prioritized by the state for cleanup in 1997. To fund that cleanup, a state law was passed allowing Henipin County to collect a small tax on every mortgage registered and deed recorded in the county. Once the national lead site cleanup was addressed, Henipin County established the environmental response fund in 2001 to help clean up additional contaminated sites throughout the county. We'll play a video now to highlight a few ERF funded projects from around Henipin County where communities were improved by environmental cleanup. [music] For the past 25 years, Henipin County's Environmental Response Fund has helped fund the costly [music] cleanup of hundreds of polluted, vacant, and underused community sites, transforming them into community assets. Juxtaposition Arts in North Minneapolis is a great example. The site had historically been polluted from neighboring dry cleaners and gas stations. With help from the Environmental Response Fund, Juxtaposition Arts cleaned up and revitalized this highly visible section of the West Broadway Cultural District. One of Juxosition Arts primary goals is to train and employ young creatives into the creative economy through [music] training in marketing, advertising, graphic design, public art, and [music] engagement. The Environmental Response Fund enabled us to be [music] able to uh clean up and reinvision our key transit corridor here on the corner of Broadway [music] and Emerson. This area has more young people under 18 than any other place in the state. And with those young people, that's the next creative workforce. >> As a major economic center for 150 years, Henipin County has many contaminated sites that were polluted years ago before environmental regulations. Chemical spills, industrial waste, dumps, asbestous, lead paint. Any pollution [music] left behind or buried must be cleaned up before a viable project can start. The Environmental Response Fund has been key in filling funding gaps for cleanup and reducing costs for housing projects like Vista 44 in Hopkins. >> I've been staying here at Vista 44 for about a year. I have two kids here with me. They're seven and three. If it wasn't for Vista, I wouldn't be here. I'll still be in the shelter. Well, we're really uh grateful to land in this location which is right [music] close to downtown Hopkins and close to a lot of transit community and schools. [music] It was a a contaminated lot before. I really grateful for the funding to be able to to clean that up. We were able to move forward with developing [music] it into Vista 44, which is a really unique and special place. It's family supportive [music] housing, which so little exists in the Twin Cities. >> Wonderful. I'm glad [music] Vista 44 is here. >> The Environmental Response Fund supports projects located [music] in all parts of Henipin County, including helping to revitalize historic main streets in smaller towns like Rogers. >> This is at the heart of our main street in our downtown area. The site's being transformed into a 40unit senior affordable development that's at 30% area median income. Affordable multif family developments are extremely hard to make [music] work financially. The environmental response fund is pivotal to make a contaminated site actually move forward since any [music] contamination cleanup is added cost to a development. It also provides a [music] large private investment in the area which is going to help spur additional private investment and really revitalize our downtown district. >> The environmental response fund prioritizes areas [music] where costly cleanup has stalled redevelopment. Places like these are often in areas that have disparities in [music] health, housing, and income. >> I'm Teddy Crow. I work at the Red Lake Nation Embassy. The building's name is Menow Bea Disney. It means living the good life in Ojiway. What used to be here before is it was Ambles. It was a machinery [music] shop, metal metal factory, and then it was a like a hardware store. What the building provides is a lot of wraparound services. anything down from daycare all the way up to outpatient treatment, adult psychology, there's a rental uh office, Hayes Gibson, there's a Red Lake housing. We're surrounded by the native community, you know, and we're pretty tight-knit. Over the past 25 years, the Environmental Response Fund has invested more than 80 million in over 500 projects for costly specialized [music] assessment and cleanup that helps bring much needed housing services and jobs to communities and put properties back on the tax roles. With more than 6,000 sites still in need of cleanup in Henipin County, the Environmental Response Fund will continue to play a critical role in revitalizing communities. Thank you for the video. As we just saw, the ERF program is a catalyst for redevelopment in communities across Henipin County. Each of the 500 projects supported through these funds has a story to tell, like the ones highlighted in this video. These projects spur economic growth and neighborhood revitalization when comparing property values before and after assessment and cleanup. The completed ERF aided projects have increased property values by more than $3.4 billion through partnerships across lines of business and with cities. These projects also support housing development, more than 23,000 new or retained housing units and jobs with 25,000 jobs created or retained with these projects. Later in the meeting, you'll be approving the latest round of environmental response fund grants. These nine grants totaling nearly $2.3 million will soon have their own stories to tell and will contribute to the sign significant legacy of re revitalizing communities. And our work isn't done. There are more sites that still need to be cleaned up. We'll be working hard this Minnesota legislative session to extend the sunset date on the mortgage registry and deed tax so we can continue this important brownfield cleanup and redevelopment program. Thank you for the opportunity to share the history and highlight of a great Henipin County program that aligns with Henipin County's vision, mission, and values. Thank you so much for the wonderful update in the video and the whole crew is back together including you know back from retirement which we're privileged to have from time to time. Uh colleagues want to open it up if there's comments. Commissioner Kau >> I just want to say that I remember when the brownfields was legislation because I was actually down there supporting it. Um, and people didn't realize this is a jobs bill because hooked with any of the cleanups are living wage jobs. And so people don't realize what the generator of jobs are, but except you highlight it here. And I think that's such a key piece of this and everything. Not only are we doing the good thing and the right thing for the environment, but we're really getting livable wage jobs out of this. So, thank you for the hard work. >> Commissioner Green. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. I also just wanted to say congratulations. um 25 years. It's amazing. And um I want to thank everybody who's a part of the work now and has been a part of that work. Um just really marvelous history. Um speaking of the history that you shared, I it's my honor to serve St. Louis Park. And you alluded to sort of the beginnings and that big project in the big federal project in St. Louis Park, which I know um has a little bit of a different history than the ERF, but it's it and the projects other other projects you highlighted really demonstrate what a change to a community this investment can bring and how changing something from uh um environmental degradation and you know and and is it possibly even usable to land that is um as was shown thriving families, people, commerce. Um, that's just it's it's really uh I would say policy gold. Thank you, >> Commissioner Connley. Thank you, Madam Chair. I like policy gold because that's exactly right. So, [laughter] thank you. Uh, congratulations to everyone who's been a part of this. This is not just, you know, community building and resilience. This is environmental stewardship. And you know when when we have projects um that come and they want to be a part of making our communities vibrant and and all of the things and they start digging in that ground and realizing centuries of um pollutants etc and then find out that we've got resources for that it really is a gamecher. So I'm this is a a program that I'm very proud to say that Henipin County offers. It's funding that I'm very proud to say goes a long way in supporting families and the communities that we serve and the land in which we're on. So, thank you. The thing that I'll add is when I joined this board, this was a heavily debated set of awards. I'm sure you all can recall a time. And so I uh I I share that because the way in which residents, workers and our policies have moved with respect to climate, with respect to um livability have really improved and are not guarantees. uh as we are enjoying immense progress here, I am quite wrought over uh globally and federally what is um the ways in which effects of unregulated essentially um into our soil and the the winding back of and so I I just want to appreciate how this came to be there. These are effects that are all the way into the soil and depending upon what you are going to build there next indicates how deep of cleanup needs to occur. I will not uh try to quote what I thought I learned from you know Mr. Evans many years ago but I think it's like isn't it like 8 ft deep uh um if it's housing and then it's like one and a half or three feet if it's like another use. I mean that's just a lot of cubic area. So, we are not always a regulatory body. We're actually very rarely a regulatory body, but I just want to connect the effects of um you know, land use and regulation and and how this county and you all as a team for 25 years have have found a way to contribute um and to kind of reverse uh those those climate effects. And then on top of that, jobs, housing, uh, valuation going up, that's more tax base for, uh, property taxes. That means it's almost more tax base distributed. Our schools are more funded. Our, um, our public spaces are more funded. So, it's the environmental response fund is such a specific intervention that decades ago leaders brought forward and this this board um saw saw its wisdom and I'm very grateful uh that we get to continue that legacy. Without further comments, um I Yeah. Okay. Okay. Let me We'll give you applause. 25. >> Okay, it looks like commissioners are wishing for a photo. Let me rephrase that. Let me rephrase that. Great. We are on to item four of the published agenda which is the minutes from the previous meeting. 4A is for the January 27, 2026 minutes. May I have a motion, please? >> So move. Go tell. >> Thank you. Commissioners Gotel and Eden. Any notes or corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Five is referral of correspondence and department communications. 5 A through C are correspondence and 5D to 5X are department communications. May I have a motion to accept and refer as recommended? >> So move. >> Thank you. Commissioners Green and Connley. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Six is commendations for which we have none. Seven is commissioner communications and we have one which is shop local month offered by commissioner Godell. Go ahead commissioner. >> Thank you madam chair. Today we are proclaiming February shop local month in Henipin County in partnership with Governor Walls and the state of Minnesota. We're encouraging all residents to support small locallyowned businesses, particularly those who have reduced foot traffic and heightened fear and uncertainty due to the ongoing federal immigration enforcement presence in our county. We're collaborating with community-based organizations, our local government parts, uh, excuse me, partners, and others to promote community-based support for small businesses and to connect owners with available resources. Shopping or dining in one of our immigrant-owned businesses is one way we can stand with our neighbors and show support for our businesses that contribute so much to our community. And I'm kind of glad we have this wonderful video and I saw the other video played so I'm pretty sure this one will work. So this is a video message from Aaron Frell, co-founder of the Coven and an Elevate Henipin advisor staff. >> I'm Aaron Frell. I'm one of the three co-founders of the Coven co-working spaces. I think what we're seeing from an impact perspective, you know, is the entirety of the small business community very primarily here on on each street is impacted um significantly across, you know, lower foot traffic, folks not feeling safe to come to work, the operational expenses [clears throat] that come along with that. Um it's created a you know a really significant humanitarian emotional uh fiscal um crisis in in our small business years along the corridor. It takes about seven to nine questions with a particular small business owner until you get them to actually share an ask that they have. What they do for the first seven to nine questions is they're just in an offer mode. They just want to provide. No one here along this corridor has been asking for a handout. They just want customers. They want to be part of community. They want folks to remember that we are here and that we are an integral part of the cultural fabric that is the Twin Cities and that is Minneapolis specifically. >> I think that's wonderful. >> Our uh small business community is demonstrating incredible courage and generosity in the face of this crisis. Many small businesses are standing up mutual aid and serving our communities at a time when our own their own livelihoods are threatened and often at great risk to themselves and their businesses. They are standing up to take care of others. Some examples um include Rectangle Pizza on Lake Street has given away pizza to vulnerable neighbors and organized fundraising drives. We see businesses like Modern Times pivoting to only providing mutual aid and offering free and donated based foods to the community members. And on each street alone, we see businesses raising funds, setting up mutual aid for their community and providing food, shelter, product, and spaces for those to visit Alex Py's memorial. Business owners in Henipin County can find up-to-date information and resources through Elevate Henipin's federal response resources guide, small business relief fund guide, and can meet one- on-one with one of the staff business navigators to quickly get connected to support. Um, and all this information can be found on elevatehenipin.org. I know in my own community, our local grocery store, Lo Bonita, that just opened, Loma Bonita, um they said if it wasn't for other traffic from the rest of the community that their supermarket would have closed weeks ago and they are still going and I know I'm a regular lunch person over there just to help support that business. I'm sure we all are doing the same in our communities. So, thank you for allowing me that communication. >> Thank you. And Commissioner Green. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and um, Commissioner Catill, thank you so much for highlighting this and bringing this forward. I wanted to underscore some of the things that you said. Um, first of all, I wanted to actually underscore something that Miss Frell said about how it it's this like seventh or eighth question when somebody when a business owner asks for the help that they need. I was at a um gathering that was hosted on Eat Street by the Whittier Alliance and Lake Street Council and I was humbled that the so much of the conversation was how businesses could collaborate even better than they already were to serve others in the community even though the objective of the meeting was to talk about their needs. Um and I did want to highlight the work um not only of Elevate Henipin and thank the Elevate Henipin team for being so present in the community. really appreciate it. Uh, and then also their partnership with Whittier Alliance and the Lake Street Council. I'll mention that the Lake Street Council is doing a you belong here cash mob on Wednesdays where you can sign up for an email and then on Wednesday we all rendevous and uh enjoy a small business on Lake Street and I'm looking to Commissioner Connley because she's the other side of Lake Street. Um, and so wanted to encourage folks to sign up for that and then underscore your last remarks about elevatehene.org and that that's a place to go find additional information and that um I can tell you because I've heard the team say it like don't weed yourself out from that help. Talk to them about your needs and they will help connect you with what you need whether or not it's something of their portfolio or elsewhere u in the county or community. So thank you so much. Yes. Thank you, Commissioners Gotell and Green. [sighs] Next on the agenda are our claims registers. 8A is the claims register for the period ending January 30, 2026 and 8B for the period ending February 6. May I have a motion for both? >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you. Commissioners Connley and Eden. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Nine are our uh consent items. um 9 A to 9M. These would have passed unanimously out of committee. May I have a motion for the block? >> So moved. Goel. >> Thank you. Thank you, Commissioners Gotell and Eden. Um so colleagues, I will uh speak to 9M uh before bringing the the consent um items to a full vote. Are there any that colleagues would like to highlight prior to that? [snorts] Commissioner Green. >> Um thank you. Just a quick highlight of 9J, which is negotiating various 202025 fall ERF grant agreements for one or two-year periods combined for a total not to exceed of 23 $3 million. And just wanted to highlight that because it's the 25th anniversary of that sort of ongoing investment. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Any others before I'll speak to 9M? So 9M is reaffirming the county's plan to reinvent the solid waste system and want to highlight uh this action unanimously passing out of committee and um uh presuming it'll unanimously pass again today just to emphasize how important Henipin County's position is to zero waste. These are not easy subjects. Solid waste, zero waste, environment, climate, these are very complicated. We spoke about the regulation a little bit earlier and this uh board and this organization are deeply committed to zero waste and understand that generations to come are are counting on us to uh to lead well uh in this space and to to lead well regarding climate action. The resolution makes clear that the progress Henipin County has made in these areas. Um however, there's more work that needs to be done. We are still collectively discarding more than 700,000 tons of trash each year, enough to fill target field from the top to the bottom of the sand six times. This resolution, while reaffirming Henipin's resolve, is also clear that Henipin County cannot achieve zero waste alone. The county seeks shared responsibility and mutual accountability to make zero waste a reality and everyone's collective responsibility. Henipe County needs the Minnesota legislature to lead policy efforts that advance transition to zero waste, including financing to match desired outcomes, changing state statutes to support the shift away from disposable and toward a circular economy, expanding accountability for zero waste outcomes to include producer even further expanded producer responsibility, redeveloping infrastructure to meet state waste reduction and recycling goals, and supporting markets to adapt to changing demands. Henipin County also is eager to partner with cities to drive and implement these policies and objectives. Without significant investments and policy direction from cities alongside county and state, particularly of course in the city of Minneapolis, the reduction of burning on our desired timeline will be very difficult. Henipin County has made clear to the MPCA, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, that we are also interested in their leadership as uh we that was the most robust presentation that I have had. Uh certainly thank uh Mr. Kadelka for coming uh by last week because this really is a team effort on behalf of all of our communities and future generations. Um I wanted to highlight NM. Yes, >> I just want to add and say how much I support support you again in these efforts to especially as we're going into the legislative session. I think you know there will be those who will look at that packaging bill and want to try to tear it apart a bit and we have to defend that because we have one of the most aggressive packaging bills in the nation and we need to set that kind of an example. Second of all, we're going to be looking at electronic waste from the Partnership on Waste of Energy, which um we sit on as a board. And this is the time that we have to get those things across. These are these are zero dollars. This is about people taking responsibility for their waste. And so, I think these are very doable things. These are probably could be bipartisan if people looked at this in the right way. And I think it has has some legs to get some more. We won't get to zero waste without the legislature. and they really need to decide to start passing some of these bills we're bringing forward. >> Thank you. Further discussion on the consent agenda or 9M with a motion and second for 9A to 9M. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. 10 are is a non-consent items. These would have been passed out of committee but not unanimously. We have one item 10A is an agreement with senior community services for the provision of digital readiness training. The period is February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 with a not to exceed of $30,000. I'll move it. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, [clears throat] Commissioner Green. Colleagues, are there any uh questions on this one? Yes, Commissioner. >> Thank you. Um, you know, I support this work. I I just uh I know that Commissioner Anderson had brought up this would be new spending. Um, and I do think just for um, county administrator Wetland, we had talked about this with the cuts that we're seeing in public health, we're going to have to start making decisions. It's going to be all these little teeny tiny things and then if it goes here, then it doesn't it's going to come from here. And I just want to make sure that I mean to to my colleagues, I would rather see this 30,000 go to STD funding. And I I I unfortunately we're going to be in a place like that soon. And so I just want us to be cautious about where we're putting money. Um any new money I would love us to flag so that we can really start to make sure that we're going to help people because if this funding is getting cut, as much as we can say they we want the legislature to pass things, they have a divided house >> that bad that battery the electronics bill. I wanted that to pass years ago when I was there. And do you want to know it's not going to pass this year because of that? They Republicans don't support it. So I just want to be very clear. We need to start making some tough decisions. So, $30,000. It might not seem like a lot here, but I I really honestly would even love us maybe to consider sending it back to staff. I know we did an RFP. I just am really worried. I'm worried about the care that people are going to receive. And I just colleagues, do you have any concerns about this or you want to just go? I'll I'll go either way. >> Commissioner Connley. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I I appreciate what you're saying, Commissioner Eden. Um for me, uh I'm reading the background and what this is for. This is for seniors services and our seniors are vulnerable people and they are being taken advantage of. They are the subject of fishing scams etc. What this funding will allow us to do is to provide digital skills training um helping vulnerable seniors stay safe um and one-on-one SC uh small group formats for youth but for not youth for senior groups. That's important to me as someone who has a 75-year-old mom who who doesn't text. She just calls because she doesn't know how to text. Um, but there's there's active threats against vulnerable people and I think that's part of like our mission as a county is to protect them from that. Um, yes, we need to be thinking about how we're spending money very much so and I think we are. But I do think that programs like this that align with disparity elimination for all vulnerable populations are important dollars to spend. Um I can't imagine that the federal government would spend money on something like this. Um so then again it's up to us. I often use the phrase that counties are your first line of defense and so for me protecting our seniors in this matter um is important to me. Thank you >> Mr. Green. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and and thank you, Commissioner Eden, for raising this super important question that I think is on all of our minds and and I appreciated what um, Commissioner Anderson said last week on this particular item as well as um, the great remarks shared by Commissioner Connley about why this is great work. I also feel like the horse has left the barn a little bit, like we did the RFP, this is budgeted in 2026. Um, I think that if we want to reook at the 2026 budget, that's something we could do, but maybe not on a contract bycontract basis, but earlier on. Um, but I appreciate everything that you're saying because you're exactly right. Like we're going to have such difficult decisions ahead of us and and I I I hope and I think that county administration is going to set up the conversation where we're not sort of thinking of those gigantic issues with each and every $30,000 contract, but rather um looking at it at more from a bird's eye view uh and setting our priorities um that way. So, thank you for naming the difficult work ahead. >> And Madam Chair, we can just go ahead and vote. Actually, I mean, I we can go. We can go. Let's just vote. I I'm good. >> Okay. All right. All right. With 10A before us, we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor of 10A, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. 11 are our progressed items. These are items that would have progressed from committee to board without a vote. And we do have one. 11A is a JPA between Henipin County and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force. The period is February [snorts] 1, 2026 to January 31, 2031. Um, I'll move this to get this before us. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Eden. Um, I just want to acknowledge that I see the sheriff's office here. I, in transparency, I wasn't able to get the follow-up, so I was intending to lay this over to the either to bring it back to committee or um to go back to the next board meeting, but I'm aware that presenters are here. So, would be happy to have you uh take the mic uh if if you wish. Thank you, Commissioner. Would you like it reintroduced or I guess >> it's kind of um the the queue the followup was not uh I didn't get all the followup or we did not get all of the follow-up. So, I'm kind of saying to my colleagues um since we're at a board, it could either go back to committee or it could go to the next board is what I'm communicating to my colleagues is my wish. Uh, I do think that in any time, but especially now, there's a level of detail and robustness that I um want to be able to review for every agreement. So, it's I know it's kind of awkward, but I I I wanted to be transparent about the motion that I will eventually be doing here. >> Madam Chair, can I ask them a question? >> Thank you. I just um I to the question um that I'm so I wonder with this because this is a human trafficking investigation task force. That is correct. >> I wonder if this is tabled or if there's a delay will there be a will there be victims that are not receiving services? That's that's my question. >> There are there's potentially a detail we're hoping to work in the future that we would not have access to the equipment and personnel to run if it's delayed. Yes, that is correct. my my interest. Uh, Commissioner Eden, I haven't had a chance to review it. I'm concerned about the surveillance data as we've mentioned as I've mentioned previously. I know I've asked that of council. Um, I've been deeply troubled by the surveillance technology that's been used and I am wanting to make sure that these JPAs are not um grounds for residential data being shared with other bodies. So that was one thing um that I uh communicated and then there was a specific case that occurred about six or eight months ago and if it is connected to this JPA um that had such an effect in the community that I would want clarity on that. >> I can tell you that case was is not connected to this JPA. >> Okay. >> It's even more intriguing than >> if if if there's if I would like to hear more about the surveillance too. I would like to hear about that kind of I'm concerned about that too. Not when I read about all these surveillance techniques and stuff especially being used by the federal forces, the ICE forces that are in here right now. It's pretty scary stuff. >> Yeah. So that's I I totally hear Commson's point. I really do. But that I just want to express why I wanted a chance to review myself and I know that you might share with me, well June 3rd had nothing to do with it and the drone that followed me home is not connected. I still uh I I believe residents would uh are requesting for due diligence and I want to be able to engage in that individual due diligence, but if the will of the board is different, then that's up to to the board, of course. Um, Commissioner Gonley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, can either of you speak to the timeline on the information that was requested and how and how soon we might get that back. >> Yes, Madam Chair. Commissioner, we did send some information back today that included the JPA for the human trafficking task force, the one that's before you today. We had, I think, nine federal JPAs that were sent over and what those were. And then there's been an additional ask for all agreements with the federal government or state government. We are compiling that now with county administration to ensure we have all that put together. And then we did have additional information related to to the incident last summer that you're referring to. That did not have anything to do with any joint powers agreements at all. That was a a referral that came to our office through the Minnesota Attorney General's office. They stated, "We have a potential crime victim in our in our community related to wage theft and labor trafficking." That referral went to our detective who does our financial crimes within our special assignments unit. They took it, initially ran with that. As they were investigating, they learned that the federal government was also looking, several units within the federal government, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS, I believe the FBI were also looking into this same transnational criminal organization. This was a large organization. So this wasn't as as per any joint powers agreement. That was a referral to us. We investigated, learned the federal government was also investigating it and that led to ultimately several search warrants last summer. >> So um just as a followup, the timeline, right? So [clears throat] for the rest of the JPAs that we're waiting on that you're working with county administration to get to the board, is there a timeline that you can maybe can we get it in a week? What does that look like to you? Yeah, Madam Chair, Commissioner. Yes, within a week for sure. We're hoping by tomorrow. I don't want to overpromise on that, but by early next week, we'll have it. >> And there's more. And I'll just for the public, I know that you sent it up, but it was today. I mean, so I when I had requested it last week, it was so that I could read it with some deliberation and have a thoughtful, you know, ability to discuss it. So, I I just want to clarify that we that that the language was not sent until today. And so I Irene am facing the same dynamic as last week which I didn't have the information. So want to clarify that I have commissioner Eden and then go tell. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Though I absolutely agree with you on surveillance. I'm concerned about it too. Um but I think it's important for us to to hold something separately here. Uh I'm a strong believer in making sure that we protect victims of of human trafficking. Um and so I don't want to delay important efforts and I don't think Henipin County the public would want that either. I agree with you on surveillance and I wonder if we can come to an agreement about getting the documents if they're going to be here to what Commissioner Connley had said that we don't have to hold up this JPA which I believe this this that this task force also serves minors. You you work to protect minors too, correct? Of human trafficking. >> I don't think we should do this. I I don't think we should hold this. I I just I would ask my colleagues to reconsider. Um I just don't want to create harm by the fact that we actually need to get information which I would agree with you on. we need to get it. And this the the surveillance has been troubling. And I don't know if it's the surveillance by you, but I also think there's surveillance with ICE that has been really really really terrible. So I just I guess I would maybe hope that we could consider um reconsider the GPA today and approving it. >> Yeah. I just wanted to speak to the fact that we need timely responses to because we these are serious issues that we're facing in our community is coming to us to ask for these questions and everything. And so it would help if you could respond um in a more timely manner. I definitely still want to know about the surveillance and perhaps you could educate us not just on that but what ICE is doing, what other federal operations are doing and what the sheriff is doing so we can be see distinctively what different uh parts of our our public safety are doing because I think some of it is very alarming. You probably find some of it alarming. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner. Yes, thank you. And I apologize for the the disconnect on the joint powers agreement making it to you. It was conveyed to us that it was provided last week by county administration to I I don't know if it went to the entire board. So that's why it was not included in our initial communication. It was told that it was that you'd already received it. But yes, we do we do share some of those concerns too and and work towards >> a memo on this would be really good to clarify all the surveillance no need to assign stuff to others when it should have come to the county board. I will state it like that that we are all under the Henipin name and it's favorable to demonstrate uh professional connection in that manner. This was not sent up, not yesterday. And um it is it's it's it's I said last week, I'm happy to approve it as I have in the past, but just for the public, this was brought to us for approval on February 5th. Uh would have been ratified today, perhaps passed today, and the start date was the first of this month. So the there are operational if there's an operational delay that is not all this board and um and I just will I'm not going to do a lot of blaming up here. So thank you for that. Uh colleagues I'm fine voting on this if that's since we've had this >> I'd like to call >> Okay, sounds good. Colleagues, are we ready to vote? Yes. >> Are we ready to vote? Do we want to do roll call or are we ready to to >> whatever? >> Okay. I think we might need to do a roll call vote. And so so this is to pass it. So that's the the vote. So if this does not pass, then it is not approved. So that's what I I just want to I I I'm just looking to you, Commissioner Edson, because you expressed calling a vote. So wanting to clarify, >> Madam Chair. Yes. because I think we found out that that there human trafficking victims could be impacted by this. I think that we all can agree that we can get this information in a few days from now and we have the chief of staff saying that he can get that. I just I think we have Yes, I would like to call a vote. >> Sounds good. We'll do a roll call vote. Maria Rose, >> Commissioner Green. Nay. >> Commissioner Connley. >> No. >> Commissioner Gotel. >> I >> Commissioner Eden. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernando. >> Nay. And I don't think that either got four, right? [sighs] >> Three ns two. >> Yeah, it was 32. So that's what I'm saying. There's no there was it did not pass. It also technically didn't I don't know if it failed, but it certainly didn't pass. So um I it is not approved at this present moment, but I think it can just come back through the committee cycle. It not being approved is it not being the same as not approved, but it did not pass as written and so would need a re-enter uh during the committee cycle or in an immediate approval. But clearly would recommend um follow up on the surveillance piece specifically, where do that data goes, etc. if there are specific cases that we should be considering. Um, and >> do we do not meet next week, but there I I see that council and admin is conferring. I'll unmute for a moment if you'd like to speak to something. Uh, madam chair, commissioners, um, so the the the motion to pass the item not having prevailed, um, the body could consider a motion to lay it over to um the next board meeting or um you you could uh the the motion having failed, you also could just move to the next item in the agenda and then this would have to come back as a new item. um in a new board cycle. >> Um Madam Chair, I move that we lay it over to the next board meeting. Second. >> There's a motion to lay over item 10, excuse me, 11A um from Commissioner Green to lay over the next board meeting. A second by Commissioner Connley. And then Commissioner Conley, you'd like to speak? Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I want to approve this. I want this to come back with all of the information that you say that you can get us in a week. I think that it's important for us to have all the background and especially now under the current terms, under the current times that we're in, it's important for us to have really good information so that we can make votes um well informed. And so I want to see this pass. I want to see our victims and survivors taken care of. So the work that you do is really important in this area. I can't tell you how much I support it, but I would like to be able to vote on this when it comes back with the information that was requested. So thank you. There's a motion and a second for progress. Further discussion on item 11 A hearing and seeing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. So that the progress motion prevails. Four in favor and one opposed. Next item is old business. 12A are the 2026 watershed board applicants and appointments for the Minihaha Creek wershed district board. Uh this is an item where we are uh for those following at home this is a part of our kind of community advisory board process and this particular um item will will have voting via a single district name or commissioner named per time. So, and Miss Rose will guide us in that. We have four applicants for two at large spots and hopeful that we will be able to appoint both of the atlarge positions. I'll note that Richard Miller and Jessica Loftess would each need a super majority to be rep reappointed. We also received a memo on this item from council. Mr. Schwagert, um would you like to add anything before uh Miss Rose guides us in voting? >> Uh madam chair, commissioner, there's nothing further. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. >> Okay. in the comm. Oh, >> no. I just I just wanted to make sure the memo and you guys all got it. So, >> right. Thank you, Commissioner Goodell. >> Um, thank you. I wanted to acknowledge that I believe unfortunately Jessica Loftess has moved out of the watershed district and so >> Well, she was redistrict out of the watershed or Okay, >> that was in the memo that was sent out. [snorts] >> Sorry, I thought he was referring to a different memo. Um and so her name was mentioned on the deis and so I wanted to acknowledge also on the deis that we unfortunately cannot appoint her. Thank [clears throat] you for the clarity. My apologies for naming that. Thanks. Okay. So I believe that we have all the um information and Miss Rose will guide us in voting. Commissioner Green. Uh, Dick Miller, >> Commissioner Conley, >> Richard Miller, >> Commissioner Gotel, >> Richard Miller, >> Commissioner Eden, Ricardo Ber Bonner, Commissioner Fernando, >> Ricardo Bonner. [sighs and gasps] So, um, we did not have the appropriate amount of votes prevailing for any of the named appointees. So, let's try it again. Commissioner Connley, Ricardo Bonner, Commissioner Green, >> Ricardo Bonner, Commissioner Goel, >> Ricardo Bonner, >> [snorts] >> Commissioner Eden, >> Ricardo Bonner, >> Commissioner Fernando, >> Ricardo Bonner, and Ricard Ricardo has uh attained a prevailing number of votes. Congratulations on Ricardo's appointment. We have one more at large uh vacancy and let's see if we can appoint that today as well. Commissioner Gautel, >> Janet Schaefer, >> Commissioner Eden, >> Janet Schaefer, >> Commissioner Green. >> Pass. Commissioner Angela Connley. >> Janet Schaefer. >> Commissioner Fernando, >> Janet Schaefer, >> or for Janet, >> I think. I'm sorry. I tried to say the thing where my name would then appear at the end. >> Commissioner Green. >> Janet Schaefer. Thank you. Congratulations to Janet on Janet Schaefer on being appointed to the watershed district board for Minhaha Creek. And thank you to all of the applicants and for um all of the continued service from um from residents. [sighs] We are now at uh 13 on the agenda, which is immediate approvals. And we have uh several 13A is an in agreement with the Minnesota DHS for emergency rental assistance. The period is January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. There's a $2.55 million receivable. I'll move this. May I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Connley. Miss Wellland, >> Chair Fernando, Commissioners, item 13A is a receivable from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for emergency rental assistance funds. The funding will allow the county to preserve housing stability for approximately 690 households facing eviction in 2026. David Hwitt, assistant county administrator of human services, can provide more information if you would like. >> Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I I have a question on um I I don't know that this is new money because we get rental assistance from the state annually, but I'm I'm wondering if this is a decrease of what we've seen in previous years or is it on par with what we've seen in other years. Thank you. >> Excuse me. >> Uh thank you, Chair Fernando, Commissioner Connley, uh answering with my housing hat once more today. Um thank you for the question. That was actually my first talking point on this board action if asked was to clarify that this does not represent an increase or a decrease or a change in the proportion of emergency general assistance that we receive into our community. Uh what this represents is really the culmination of many years of work to streamline the operations of emergency rental assistance for our residents whereby historically we had multiple funding streams each with their own processes, priorities, eligibility criteria and we've been working to consolidate those into one process, one set of priorities uh in order to take the burden of navigating those complex funding streams off of our residents and place it where it belongs on us. So historically at least in the last year we received approximately 3.2 million in emergency general assistance or our residents received it I should say uh for all classes of emergency uh through department of human services. Of that we estimate 1.7 million was emergency rental assistance. This number this is where it gets a little bit wonky um is an 18month amount based on that 1.7 million a year allocation. Hence 2.55 million. But how it breaks down is we anticipate the same amount of emergency general assistance. We will use the same proportion of it for rental assistance, but we will do so more efficiently, effectively, and equitably through a single source that pulls it with our local affordable housing aid, our family homeless prevention and assistance program money, and has us really kind of working behind the scenes to work out which funds can help which residents so they don't have to navigate that themselves. So, as just a followup, it sounds like it'll be easier for residents now to access these funds when they're facing eviction. >> Chair Fernando, Commissioner Connley, that is the plan. Easier, more efficient. We process claims through our emergency rental assistance in under 14 days. It can go quicker when necessary to prevent the loss of housing. um and clearer. It really allows us to align all of the funds behind very clear priorities which are to prevent loss of housing through eviction for low-income households with children, seniors, and people with disabilities in the household. >> Good work. Thank you. >> Further questions or comments on this item? Nice to see you officially in a seat in your uh new role. Uh so 13A before us. All those in favor, please say I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. 13B is to establish unclassified position of chief healthcare innovation and strategy officer. Approve the appointment of Dr. Charles Chima to the unclassified position of chief healthcare innovation and strategy officer effective March 9, 2026. I'll move this. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Green. Miss Wellland. >> Madam Chair, commissioners wrote this morning. You had the opportunity for um a briefing on our health, our public health system. Um and this afternoon I get the honor um to offer an item for your consideration. This board action requests the establishment of the unclassified position of chief healthcare innovation and strategy officer as well as the appointment of Dr. Charles Chima to that position. This position will lead strategies to improve health outcomes for Henipin County residents with a priority placed on those experiencing the most health disparities. Dr. Chima is an experienced leader in the area of public health, health equity, and healthcare innovation. Most recently, he was the chief healthc care innovation and strategy officer for the Washington State Department of Health, where he led statewide strategy for aligning health care, public health, and social service systems to improve equitable access, strengthen health workforce, and build a system of care. The position will report to assistant county administrator of health Sarah Holly and will work across systems in supporting our disparity elimination work. Thank you. >> Thank you. The background is uh incredible and of course what you just pulled out. Hopefully Dr. Ochima knows that that's what we're you know hoping for here. So the colleagues any comments before we bring this to vote and bring Dr. Chima up. [sighs and gasps] All those in favor of this appointment, please say I. I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. And congratulations to Dr. Chima. [applause] >> So now's the time for your big speech. Chief Fernando Vice to our commissioners. I would like to start by saying thank you for the appointment. Uh and uh also a special thank you to uh administrator wland uh deputy minister Murphy and ACA Holly for the confidence and the support to take on this important role at this uh critical time for our community. As you all know uh we are in very uh trying times right uh both things that are unique to us here in Hing County and the Maple Simple area but also challenges with healthcare access and affordability that are that are happening across the country. you know, with all things going on with the changing policy and fiscal environment, particularly at the federal level. And I like uh really uh the point that Commissioner Anderson, I think, is not here this afternoon made earlier in the day during the briefing about how we our moral responsibility remains right the same. Uh but we have to do that even with fewer resources. So sort of building on the conversations earlier this morning is part of that strategy is how how do we meet this moment where we are being called upon to do more with even less. And part of that requires as we already recognize working externally in terms of strengthening our partnerships uh with city and state and other uh actors at the community level. But even more importantly is looking within how we can align our own internal health assets. uh we either directly in oversee or operate or influence uh quite a few healthcare uh resources and facilities and services in the county. So how can we see that we are working as one henpin and and breaking those uh you know what my uh one of my mentors call silos of excellence right is how do we uh uh see that we are working as a system and not just doing the best work in our individual areas but working as a system to better serve our residents and uh so that really requires us to that gives us the opportunity to be more efficient to figure out ways that we can uh not just uh u meet the services that are need but reimagine how we deliver care and how we deliver that care in a way that allows us to address the challenges facing our local uh you know safety net hospital but also that allows us to meet even the uh the the the looming impacts of HR1 and and the things we see coming down the pike uh facing our residents. So there's a lot of work to be done uh but this is a great community uh from the very moment I had opportunity to engage with the team. I really look forward to to to being part of the team and I know uh uh you know continue to build on the relationship uh that has already started and how we can uh use there's a lot of talk earlier about data right and I think that's one of the areas that I really enjoy and I think that I have a strength in that I hope to be able to key into the strong analytics team uh here at the county but also at the at the hospital Henipin health system how we can bring together uh the systems together to work as one uh so that we are using data not just to uh shape our strategy and inform the work but also to evaluate again one of the points I made earlier is about effectiveness. How can we know when we are being effective in addressing these challenges and measure the impact of our work and know when we have been successful in our in closing the gaps in achieving our disparity elimination goals. So uh like I'll end by saying thank you again for the appointment and I'm really excited and ready uh to get on the team and for the important work uh that lies ahead. Thank you. >> THANK YOU. [applause] WONDERFUL. WE ARE ON TO 13C, which is to establish the unclassified position of chief children and family services officer and approve the appointment of Quacy Booker effective February 22nd, 2026. I will move this. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Goel. Miss Wland. Chair Fernando Commissioners, this board action requests the establishment of the unclassified position of chief children and family services officer as well as the appointment of Quy Booker to that position as a Henipin County Children and Family Services Director. Um, Mr. Booker as a Henipin County Children and Family Services Director has been in this role since January of 2022. He has led programs and services designed to prevent maltreatment of youth and children, strengthen families, and find safety and stability when abuse occurs. He's taken on increased duties and responsibilities to fulfill the needs of the department and the community. This position reflects the broadened scope around child well-being and the Minnesota African-American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. This change also brings the county in line with the national industry standards around child welfare leadership. Quasi is unable to join us today, but I hope that I have your support in this appointment. Thank you. >> Thank you. Colleagues, are we ready to vote? All those in favor of 13 C, please say I. I opposed. >> Motion carries and congratulations to Mr. Brooker. 13D is acknowledging heart health month in Henipin County. offered by Commissioner Connley. Would you like to move it? >> I will. >> I will second it and go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, February is heart health month and this is an important time to raise awareness always. Every day is an important time to raise awareness of heart disease and to promote strategies to improve cardiovascular health. So, I will ask uh Miss Rose to read the proclamation, then I'll have some comments after. Whereas heart disease is the leading cause of death for all genders and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. And whereas heart disease costs the United States about 414 billion annually from 2021 to 2022 including the cost of healthcare services, medicine, and lost productivity due to death according to the American Heart Association. And whereas heart disease is the number one killer of women causing one in three deaths each year. It's a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and more. It's a third of the women we can't bear to live without. And whereas heart disease is the number one killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths, black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates. And whereas heart disease is the second leading cause of death to Henipin County residents with more than 12,000 deaths occurring between 2013 and 2021. And whereas significant health disparities persist with US-born black and American Indian indigenous residents in Henipin County, people with disabilities experiencing significantly higher rates of hypertension compared to the county averages. And whereas Henipin County Public Health works with partners throughout the county on communitydriven policy and system level approaches to prevent heart disease through active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobaccof free living. And whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages everyday prevention through physical activity, healthy eating, stress reduction, managing blood pressure, and working with a primary care provider to manage and prevent heart disease. And whereas this February, following an investment and campaign that Henipin County started in 2025, the county in partnership with community is urging women to take care of their heart health through the your heart beats for generations campaign, meaning take care of your health for yourself, your family, and your community. Be it resolved that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners proclaims February as heart health month in Henipin County in recognition of the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and for the need for policy systems and environments that support heart healthy communities for all residents. Thank you, Miss Rose. So as we heard uh in the proclamation, heart disease just remains this leading cause of death uh in the entire country [snorts] and it's certainly a critical public health issue especially under times when we are enduring extraordinarily high levels of stress. I read a report recently that talked about how the reason, one of the many reasons why black and indigenous women are at the forefront of the heart disease crisis in our country is because of living under discriminatory practices for so long. It becomes generational. It becomes something that runs in our blood. And so I think the work that we're doing through Henipin County's your heart beats for generation campaign is working to reverse that. And it's one of the things we talked about this morning about what will we see a year from now, three years from now in terms of effectiveness. I think we're going to see some good results. Um, so again, I'm grateful for another year of this campaign. Your heartbeats for Generations is an investment. It is an initiative that we funded at a million dollars annually ongoing at the end of 2024. Uh, was funded again this year. It's a special shout I want to send a special shout out uh to the team in public health that really led the launch of this and led it brilliantly uh and the effort to continue to make it grow and to just reach out into our community to share awareness and prevention. I encourage everyone that's listening right now, especially women, especially black women and indigenous individuals, to take this opportunity to focus on your cardiovascular health and learn a more learn more about how to prevent and treat heart disease, not only for you, but for the generations after you to come. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Any comments before we vote on this hearing? None. All those in favor of 13D, please say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. And February is proclaimed as heart health month in Hannipin County. 13E is declaring February 2026 to be teen dating violence awareness month in Henipin County offered by Commissioner Eden. Would you like to move it? >> Uh, yes. I'd like to move it. >> I'll second it. Go ahead, Commissioner. >> Thank you. February is teen dating violence awareness month and I'm bringing forward this proclamation to elevate youth voices, strengthen partnerships, and raise awareness about resources and support available to young people. I'll have Maria the clerk read the proclamation and then I'll have some additional remarks after. Thanks Maria. >> Whereas teen dating violence is a serious public health and safety concern that affects young people across communities, cultures and backgrounds. And whereas many adolescents experience emotional, physical, sexual or digital abuse within dating relationships. And some youth are at an increased risk of exploitation often without recognizing the behavior as harmful or knowing where to seek help. And whereas the imp impacts of teen dating violence can include trauma, mental health challenges, academic disruption, and increased vulnerability to exploitation and future violence. And whereas prevention and early intervention through education, awareness, and supportive services are critical to promoting healthy relationships and preventing violence and exploitation before harm escalates. And whereas community-led, trauma-informed, and survivor centered approaches are essential to supporting youth and fostering safety, dignity, and healing. Be it resolved that the Henipin County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims February as teen dating violence awareness month in Henipin County and encourages residents, schools, families, and community partners to promote healthy relationships, prevent dating violence and exploitation, and support youth impacted by harm. Thank you, Maria. The most recent student survey shows that reports of sexual violence among 9th and 11th grade students increased 9.8% in 2016 to 13.5% in 2020. And a among rates eighth graders nearly doubled. This data reinforces the urgency of early preventative coordinated responses. >> [sighs and gasps] >> Henipe County addresses this issue through a comprehensive collective system system that's coordinated survivor center centered in response that youth who have experienced sexual exploitation. Um I just want to acknowledge I know Tia Joy Peterson you're here right Tia do you just want to stand up really quick? I think we should all acknowledge Tia with a round of applause for all the great work she does. [applause] Teen teen violence affects young people across our communities and it often shows up in ways that aren't easily easily uh able to see. This month gives us an opportunity to talk openly about what healthy relationships look like, prevent future violence and exploit exploitation like human trafficking and sec sexual exploitation like we were talking about earlier today. With that, I'm I'm ready to That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Any comments on this proclamation before we bring it to vote? [sighs and gasps] All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. In February is also proclaimed teen dating violence awareness month in Henipin County. [sighs] 13F is declaring February 2026 as shop local month in Henipin County offered by Commissioner Conley. Would you like to move it? >> I will move it. >> Second and go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, as mentioned earlier in the meeting today, um we are offering this proclamation in partnership and support with Governor Walls is Governor Walls in the state of Minnesota. So, I'll have Miss Rose read the the commendation. Whereas, Henipin County celebrates all our local businesses and recognizes the vital role that local small businesses play as job creators, innovators, and as a reflection of what makes our communities unique. And whereas the federal immigration enforcement surge is causing tremendous suffering, disruption, and fear across the county, including in our small business community. And whereas the county stands with our small and local businesses that anchor main streets, strengthen our economy, and enhance our cultural life across the county, including many that are owned by, employ, or serve members of immigrant communities. And whereas choosing where to shop, eat, and spend time is one of the most immediate and powerful ways individuals can support their neighbors, help keep local businesses open and thriving, and invest in the vitality of our communities. And whereas the county promotes shopping at local small businesses throughout the multi-jurisdictional love local campaign, encouraging residents to support independently owned businesses that make our communities vibrant and livable. Be it resolved, the Henipin County Board of Commissioners recognizes the hard work and ingenuity of entrepreneurs who start and grow businesses in our community for the community. And we thank them for everything they do to keep our community strong in face of this crisis. And be it further resolved that we do hereby proclaim February 2026 as Shop Local Month in Henipin County, and we encourage all residents to celebrate and support our local small businesses, not only during this month, but throughout the year. >> Thank you, Miss Rose. throughout the year. Um, we are incredibly proud of our local business community and I would say they are the economic driver. Our our small businesses are the economic driver of our county and as such are the economic driver of our state. Um, we are grateful for everything that they do to support and uplift our community now and every single day. To any residents who are watching today, the call to action is we want you to support your local businesses as you are able. Um there's uh I I will shout out Marcato Central on Lake in Bloomington. I will shout out the Midtown Global Market on Lake in Chicago. Now is is u the best time that you can be supporting your local small businesses and your local immigrant-owned small businesses. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any comments on this item before we vote? Seeing none, all those in favor of 13F, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. And February is also shop local month. And please shop local. >> Yes. >> 13 13G is to reaffirm commissioner oath of office. Recognize [snorts] the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Reaffirm existing Henipin County policies. support existing uh HCSO which is Eden County Sheriff's Office policy and recommend continued compliance with Minnesota statutes offered by myself. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Gotell. Uh so first I'd like to acknowledge that this item is coming in as an immediate approval. And while we have many immediate approvals, uh when an immediate approval comes from a commissioner, it likely means that this board or committee has not previously seen the language. So I just want to acknowledge that for the public. >> [snorts] >> Um, I will express that the timing of this bar is in large part a reflection of how much Operation Metro Surge remains active and corresponding resident concerns, media questions, requests for legal clarity and so on. So [snorts] this uh board action is lengthy um and there was a revision sent out and so as it is uh now there are 22 whereas clauses and 10 resolving clauses. The [snorts] objectives of this board action are three-fold. first to continue to document the effects and experiences related to operation metro surge. We are on day 74 of the operation from December 1st to present and while uh you know some of the attention has shifted in the last month. Um, I am hopeful for this item to prevail in order for us to as a county continue to document in these warehouse clauses which are factual and accurate the experience that residents have been engaging with uh during this time period. The [snorts] second objective is to communicate accurate information regarding lawful and compliant cooperation and clarify distinct authorities between the elected county board and the elected sheriff. I'm individually prompted to do to uh was write prompted to write this because of numerous media and external requests around these very nuanced topics. And just in transparency, colleagues, I've not taken any um individual interviews on these subjects because usually people are asking what does the county board think and I'm unable to speak on behalf of the county board unless we have uh had a discussion and and and more more specifically that we've taken action. So given the significant public attention and misconception of various items, I have found that it's very difficult to chase misconception. And so the the action for this body to do is to pass what we understand to be factually verified. And then of course that's the whereas clauses and then uh the resolving clauses are you know the position or the action of this body should any of uh of the clauses prevail. [sighs and gasps] The last thing that this uh bar does is to reaffirm existing policies. This is we have been reaffirming throughout this time period. For example, yeah. So, for example, we uh directed county administration to have a response and here there's a resolving clause that that is recognizing operation reconnect for example. Um and so reaffirming existing policies. There's a couple resolving clauses about this building. It is no news to people in this uh room, but there were two uh public arrests during business hours which took place here at the government center on the skyway level. So onto the bar's content. Colleagues, none of this has new policy. That's very important to express. [snorts] My individual desire to author this is because most of the conversations I've been having with the media and with other jurisdictions and with residents are me kind of explaining what we already have in existence and attempting to not you know overstep into another elected officials authority and certainly not to speak on behalf of this board. So I just want to be very very clear this is not new direction or new policy. Uh this is the existing understanding as I as I know it regarding the board's um operational uh desires as well as the county sheriff office independent county sheriff's office's um operational um uh situation. So I I say all of this because I just want to um highlight uh a couple of them. Um, the biggest question that I have been getting personally is will the county board enter a BOA? Super specific. Um, so I thank Commissioner Eden for highlighting that the language I originally had did not cover a BOA. So it's it's for me personally I don't want to do 10 interviews saying what we have or haven't done. I would prefer to pass something and to confirm uh for this day what is true and then should there be you know then we can all at least speak with consistency around what the h the Henipin County Board's position is um I'm happy to go through them if people would like but I uh given just the prominence of these topics in the media and among uh communities I will uh just pause for a second and open the floor. Thank you madam chair. Um can we uh do the should we do the oral amendment now to the agreement? Do you want me to propose that now and then we can dispate it or >> sorry really thank >> you complete form. I actually have a suggestion if you wait like just in terms of order. [clears throat] So if we took and I can pass this out. >> Thank you. as you're as you're getting back to your um spot, Commissioner Alson, that's a great point. What was published was language that I published this morning. And then there uh the R1 has not yet been moved, so that's fine. But there was an emailed R1 that has not yet moved that has a number of um items that have been included in it, but wondering >> Well, should we move the R1 first and then we can make the edit changes? >> Yeah, I think we should move the R. So, I'll did you want to move? I'll second it. >> Excellent. >> Okay. So then with that I would like to um request an oral amendment um on the whereas clause 16 um to the what I have before you and then for council uh if you want to have that in front of you what I would suggest and I I'm open to your suggestions feedback uh chair is if we took the beginning of um the sheriff so it would be your 16 it would say but my my edit first the sheriff has not asked the County Board to approve section 287G agreement or a BOA. And the Henipin County Board, it would all be in the same sentence. It would go to yours then. And the Henipin County Board has not considered or approved a um section, we would take out a section 287g agreement or a BOA agreement. And actually, we wouldn't need agreement in that because a BOA a does mean agreement. Well, what's wonderful is my email from 1:40 p.m. that is after the meeting convened. So, I'll acknowledge that the email from 1:40 p.m. that R1 does include verbally whereas the Henipin County Sheriff has not at Right. Are we are we together here? Excuse me. at 1:44 p.m. [snorts] I sent an email to um at 1:44 p.m. that says or Henipin County Sheriff has not asked the county board to approve a section 287g agreement or BOA and the county board has not approved a section 287g agreement or BOA. >> Okay, so we're in this meeting. [laughter] Okay, good. Got it. Okay. Yeah, then that's great. That's >> acknowledge that it was during the meeting. I'm not a great um multitasker, [laughter] but I did. I I wanted the document in one spot. >> Okay. So, this is the new which we don't have a copy of us in front of it, but yes, I I will. So, we move in seconded that one just now. >> Yes, we just the R1 that's before us, and I do apologize >> uh is the email from 144, which is very similar to the previous uh R1, but that wasn't moved, so it kind of doesn't matter. The R1 before us, it should be in your email, too, Mr. Schwagger. Madam Chair, commissioners, um it it is in my email. I do have it. Um I'm I wonder >> I mean I I suppose I would want to make sure that everyone knows has the document and knows what they're voting on. There's >> we have we have a few a few versions floating around. You know, >> I I do think Madam Chair, it would be best best practice for us to have copies in front of us if they was just unless we have everybody can just take a moment and make sure they review it >> and the one that's emailed. So the ones in front of us is is accurate with the exception of the verbal um amendment. And so I I thought that it was helpful to add the what I understood was going to be a verbal amendment to the document. >> Okay. So, I just want to be clear. Um, [snorts] the print in front of us excluded originally, not originally, the print out from 130, uh, excludes the oral amendment from, um, from Commissioner Eden, but you informed me that you were going to move a friendly amendment, and so I just combined them while we were meeting, and I know that that's probably not best practice either. >> That's okay. I I've read it. I agree with that. If anybody else, I'm good. I'm good then. I'm good. >> I was aware of the of the friendly amendment. So I was trying to make it very friendly but perhaps >> No, that was very good. You were very >> impressive. >> So is everybody aware of what's before us and want to open it up to colleagues to speak to the so just before so the R1 before us. >> Oh that's >> and I can read it. I mean, I don't know if I want me to read it all, but let's go to some discussion. >> Madam Chair, does you just want to read that one sentence, Mr. Swigert? >> Um, Madame Chair, commissioners. Um I think uh it might if I could make a recommendation um you know the uh and this would also be for the sake of public transparency and and uh so that anybody watching would know what the board is voting on. Um the resolution that was in the published agenda of course the public would have um and so it might make sense for someone to read into the record the changes that are proposed in the R1 and then all those changes would be in the record and there could be um a full understanding of what what is the motion before the body and what you all would be voting on. >> That makes sense. Everybody just recycle everything else. We have new fresh copies is what I'm uh been been provided and I will and I will read all of the shifts from the publish agenda to uh what is here. So [snorts] I'll just go from the top everybody. >> All right. The first uh several whereas clauses are the same one one through six page one. All of those are the same as what was published. Whereas clause 7 um eliminates a period which is a typo. [snorts] eight is consistent whereas clause nine is consistent. Whereas clause 10 has a uh a shift from the original. 10 now reads, "Whereas federal officials have consistently indicated and news reports today reiterated that the reduction of federal agents is tied to discussions between federal officials and local law enforcement leaders regarding cooperation agreements, including a proposed basic ordering agreement or otherwise known as a BOA that would [snorts] involve county jails providing access to individuals for federal immigration enforcement purposes. And there's a new whereas number 11 whereas federal officials including white house borders are Tom Hman of the department of homeland security have announced that the federal immigration enforcement operation known as operation metro surge in Minnesota is ending and that a significant reduction of ICE and other federal agents deployed in the state is underway with further draw down expected over the coming week. So these are new whereas clauses. The the one that I just read is from this morning's announcement. Part of the interest is to document what has been communicated to us so that should something different or should that occur, we are able to uh kind of come back to this. [snorts] 12, 13, and 14's language are consistent whereas 15 is consistent. Uh 16, 17, 18 um have edits. So I'll read these three out loud. Whereas under Minnesota statutes 373.01 subdivision 1 A5 authority to approve any contracts including section 287G agreements and a basic ordering agreement rests with elected county boards and elected sheriffs do not have unilateral authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the county including section 287G agreements and BOA with the federal government. And whereas the Minnesota Attorney General has stated that quote, "Sheriff's powers are defined by state law and do not include the ability to enter cooperative agreements with the federal government." End quote. Stating instead that such agreements require approval of the county board. And whereas [clears throat] the Henipin County Sheriff has not asked the county board to approve a section 287g agreement or BOA. and the county board has not approved a section 287g agreement or BOA. So those are the whereas clauses. Give me a second. Whereas clauses 1920, 21 and 22 are all consistent with the previously published language. On to the resolving clauses. The first resolving clause is the board reaffirming our oath of office regarding the constitutions. second resol which is uh consistent language. The second resolving clause recognizes the US Constitution specifically the first 10 amendments and lists those out that language is consistent. The third resolving clause um has uh consistency edits but this clause reiterates the need for an independent or parallel investigation into the videotape killings of Renee Good and Alex Prey to be conducted by the Minnesota BCA. Fourth resolving clause reaffirm the board reaffirms support for staff and community witnessing these harms while also recognizing operation reconnect. Fifth resolving clause uh the uh reads as the board I'll just read this one. Henipin County supports Henipin County Board supports the Henipin County Sheriff's existing policy with respect to federal immigration enforcement. urges the sheriff to not make substantive changes to the policy to voluntarily increase cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and requests the sheriff to publish notification of the county board and residents if any substantive changes to the policy are made that result in increased cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Six, resolving clause is also consistent talking about um support for the sheriff's uh existing policy. Seven. There are some uh edits. This one reads, "The county board reaffirms its contracting authority as confirmed by the opinion of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office that only the county board has authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the county, including any proposed section 287g agreement or BOA with the federal government. [snorts] Um 8 resolving clause urges ICE to refrain from civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courouses which is uh what what was the impetus for the two skyway level um arrests in the last week as well as two additional arrests in Henipin County. Nine is be for the result the county board reaffirms existing Henipin County security policy that prohibits security officers from cooperating with ICE agents except as required by law. And then uh 10, this is a new resolving clause and be it resolved that the county board affirms its commitment to public safety, legal due process, and the protection of civil rights in all discussions involving federal immigration enforcement operations and local law enforcement participation. So that's not the full reading of all it, but thank you Mr. Schwigger for uh offering that suggestion. Now I will open it up the floor with the R1 before us and I um who and would anybody like to speak commissioner? >> Well, there's been a lot of misinformation as you stated before and so I really think stating the policy and who has the control over 287s and BOAS is very important and the fact that we're supporting the sheriff and the current policies and we're holding to that. I appreciate this [snorts] >> further discussion hearing and seeing none. um all those >> no >> I'm I'm forming my thoughts but just want to say something supportive and um something that I've really noticed in conversation with the community is we can have you know debates about a lot of things um but the constitution is not as debatable and so I appreciate that threaded throughout this and And um I know I'm uh getting a lot of questions about our partnership and relationship with other elected officials. And I appreciate that this spells out a little bit what we um what we can and can't do and also what they can and can't do and what either of us may or may not have done already. >> Thank you. No further discussion. I'll proceed a vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. 13G is approved. 13H is regulation of face coverings in county facilities per Minnesota statute 624.27 offered by Commissioner Connley. I'll move that. >> I'll second it. Go ahead, Commissioner. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, what this action um does is well within our authority as a county board to regulate the use of our spaces and what can and cannot happen in those spaces. Um so, this is a regulation of face coverings in county facilities. I want to just introduce it by reading a part of the background and that's that allowing law enforcement or security officials to wear face coverings designed to hide their identity in county facilities interferes with the ability of the county to serve its residents. Such use of face coverings creates a culture of fear, dis diminishes trust in law enforcement, impairs public transparency, and impedes the effective functioning of county government. Um, we've just heard references to two incidents with incidents within the government center recently. Um, and what we have seen and what I hear from our residents a lot. Um, a lot is is a word that um does not capture the breath of what I hear all the time. And that's that there's masked agents roaming around our communities. We cannot identify them. It establish erodess trust. Um, and I've heard that from chiefs of police. I've heard that from our sheriff's office. And it's not a best practice for law enforcement within the state of Minnesota to cover faces or to hide their identity when carrying out their duties. So what this action does is prohibits that behavior in county spaces and along county property and county leased facilities. >> Thank you. Discussion on 13H. Commissioner Gatau. >> You know, I I just want to say first of all, thank you Commissioner Connley for bringing this and and giving me a heads up on this. You know, across the nation there there are folks who are reiterating what their best practices and even sometimes what's in law that you can't have face coverings and that you must identify yourself. There aren't identifications on these officers either. So when things do go wrong, we don't have a way to go back and see. You know, civil rights have been trampled. We have seen it on video after video and and we need to stay. I'm I'm not sure that we'll get any cooperation out of this. But it also at the federal level they're trying to get these face masks removed. This shows them that we we also back that that stand and I think this is a great statement. Further discussion. I'll just uh offer gratitude to putting this forward. Um agreed with Commissioner Goautell's observation that this is being set up. It's not always in um followed and it's certainly not always enforceable in other areas. Um, and it's still important for us to assert, you know, how we believe our spaces, uh, the conduct that we're expecting. And it is completely troubling that we can't get out of identification. I mean, I really, it's very, very troubling, um, because in the last handful of years, Minnesota has really worked to try to reform and repair trust uh, with respect to um, law enforcement and community and, uh, what's happening is is undermining that progress and undermining our law. uh a law enforcement professional. So, uh I thank you for bringing this forward and back to you. >> I'm gonna figure that out. Um so, thank you for that. You know, one of the questions that I had in um trying to get this together was enforcement. So, I wonder if we could speak to how county policy typically is enforced. Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Connley, Dan Rogan is here, and I'd like to ask him to speak to that. Madame Chair and Commissioner [clears throat] Connley, uh this uh policy changed as most of our um security policy uh items would be enforced by security. As you might recall, we had uh um a mask mandate um during COVID and security was uh tasked with making sure that people that were in our spaces were wearing masks. This is obviously kind of the opposite of that. So, security uh will be uh putting together a process to make sure that we can uh enforce this. >> Anything further, Commissioner? Okay. Uh thank you. With 13H before us, I believe we're prepared to vote. All those in favor of 13H, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh that concludes our agenda. So, motion to adjurnn, please. >> Motion to adjurnn. Thank you, Commissioner Green and Connley. All those in favor say I. I opposed. We are adjourned, but don't go too far. We have a brief meeting of the Henipin County Railroad Authority. probably should usually. Please. Good afternoon everybody. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Henipin County Regional Railroad Authority. Today's Thursday, February 12th, 2026. Uh the first item of business is to approve our agenda. Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Motion from Commissioner Fernando and a second from Commissioner Connley. Uh all those in favor say I. I >> all those opposed our agenda is approved. Uh second item business is to approve our minutes from our previous meeting. Item 2A is our minutes from the January 2027 2026 meeting. Uh I will move approval. Is there a second? >> Secondel from Commissioner Gutell. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Our minutes from our previous meeting are approved. We have no items under the claims register for new business. We've got uh two items. Item 4 A is to approve a lease agreement with Excelsier Mill LLC for rental of Henipin County Railroad Authority property in Excelsier. Uh the period is March 10th, 2026 to March 9th, 2031 with receivables of $3,518. Um is there a motion to remove this? >> Um we have a motion from Commissioner Fernando and a second from Commissioner Connley. Um maybe a quick the quick headline. >> Chair green Jessica Galat is with us today to provide that brief update. >> Welcome Jessica Galatz. >> Madame Chair board, good afternoon. I'm Jessica Galat with Transportation Project Delivery. This request is for a new 5-year lease with Excelsier Mill LLC. The mill owns a building on the south side of the rail authorities Hopkins to Victoria corridor in downtown Excelsier. The building was constructed to receive supplies directly off railroad freight cars. Consequently, a portion of the rail corridor has always been used or leased by the building owner. Uh the rail authority acquired this lease when we purchased the corridor in 1981. I'm able now to answer any questions you may have. Any questions? Thank you so much. Uh all those in favor say >> I. >> I. All those opposed. That item is approved. Uh the second item, item 4B, is to approve a lease agreement with Bearpath Golf and Country Club LP for rental of Henipin County Regional Railroad Authority property in Eden Prairie. Uh and the period here is March 1st, 2026 to February 28th, 20 I'm sorry, yeah, 2031 with receivables of $5,596. Um is there a motion to approve? >> I'll move it. We have a motion from Commissioner Catel. I'll second. I suspect we will be hearing from Miss Katz. Chair Green, you're correct. >> Thank you, Chair Ford. Uh, similarly, this is a five-year lease request with Bear Path Golf and Country Club. Um, since Bearpath's golf course was constructed in 1995, they have leased a portion of the rail authorities Hopkins to Chesca corridor for golf cart path and fence. Um, the tenant is responsible for maintenance of the leased area and either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days notice. >> Um, thank you, Miss Gallet. Any questions? We have a question from Commissioner Connley. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. not really a a question, but more of a comment, and that's that um there's a lot of talk about revenue, and these are long-term leases at small amounts of money, but I think um I'll vote. I'm supportive of this today, but I think that we should be thinking about what these long-term leases look like and maybe we can increase what we charge to rent the space on our property. Just a comment. Thank you. >> Um thank you, Commissioner Connley. Um, I will add similarly that I support this today. Um, but I'm interested in talking with the golf course about their pesticide use practices. >> Um, thanks so much. Anything else? Um, hearing none. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed. That item is approved. Uh, and we have nothing further on the agenda. So, I will call us uh adjourned. Thank you.