Hennepin County — Transcript
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Story
Hennepin County approves workforce plan, rejects commissioner pay freeze
Story
Hennepin County Board Unanimously Approves Future Compensation for Key Elected Officials
Hennepin History Museum Annual Update
Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Local Plan
Human Services and Public Health Alternative Response Programs
Sheriff's Office Staffing and Overtime Study Implementation
Public Works Cost Participation and Maintenance Policies Update
Votes (5)
Public Hearing: Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Local Plan Update
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [16:03] · Seconded by Unknown [16:03]
The public hearing provided an opportunity for review and comment on the proposed Hennepin-Carver Workforce Development Area 9 WA local plan, which serves as a strategic roadmap for the local workforce development system. The plan aims to align resources and expertise across partners to connect residents to opportunities, help employers, and respond to economic needs, reducing duplication and closing system gaps. No public comments were received.
Approval of submission of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act local plan to the state of Minnesota
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Gatel [16:04] · Seconded by Unknown [16:04]
Following the public hearing, the committee moved to officially approve the submission of the updated WIOA local plan to the state.
Commissioner Compensation (4C), Sheriff Salary (4D), and County Attorney Salary (4E) for 2027 and 2028
Dissent: Commissioner Anderson voted 'I' in favor of her amendment, but it failed. The final vote on the slate of items passed without recorded dissent.
Moved by Unknown [16:06] · Seconded by Unknown [16:06]
Items 4C, 4D, and 4E proposed setting salaries for commissioners, the sheriff, and the county attorney for 2027 and 2028, consistent with historical patterns and contract agreements. Commissioner Anderson moved to amend the commissioner compensation for 2027 to a 2% increase, aligning with budget targets for departments, noting the difficult budget year. This amendment was opposed by Commissioners Irene and Connley, who argued for maintaining the negotiated 4% increase, citing historical undercompensation and the need to attract future commissioners. The amendment failed, and the original motion for all three items passed.
Human Services and Public Health Resolution (2A), Joint Powers Agreement with City of Brooklyn Center (2B), Amendment to Agreement with North Memorial Health and City of Brooklyn Park (2C), Amendment to Agreement with SAMHSA (2D)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [16:11] · Seconded by Unknown [16:11]
These routine items collectively addressed various contracts and agreements related to human services and public health. Commissioner Lundy highlighted the success of the 911 Alternative Response Team program, specifically praising its integration with police services in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, and its effectiveness in connecting residents to appropriate services. He noted the challenge of finding qualified social workers for these roles, while acknowledging the program's growth and positive impact. The agreements for these programs, including a federal addendum and grant extension, were approved.
Agreements with District Court for DWI court program (3A), Agreement with Ostera Initiative Minnesota prison doula project (3B), Agreement with Independent School District ISD 281 for GED testing services (3C)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [16:46] · Seconded by Unknown [16:46]
These three routine agreements were grouped for approval. Commissioner Connley expressed strong support for the Ostera Initiative Minnesota prison doula project (Item 3B), praising its work in supporting incarcerated parents. She specifically inquired whether the doula services extended beyond release and if there were 'warm handoffs' to post-release support systems. Monica Long, Division Manager at the ACF, confirmed that doula services do extend beyond the ACF and that transition planning includes warm handoffs, often leveraging existing social service attachments.
Notable Quotes (8)
This local plan is required under the federal WA which is the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and serves as our strategic roadmap for our local workforce development system.
The recommended compensation is consistent with historical patterns and notice requesting the adjustments must be sent to the county administrator by the dates listed in the board action.
I know that we are approaching a very difficult budget year and we've asked um every county department to hold themselves to a 2% increase.
Most likely because again this was a contract thing that we negotiated and for years and years we have not compensated this office and as we look to the future for other commissioners to take into some of these seats as some of us retire and come off. We need to make it it's not it's not an outrageous amount if we look at the colleagues and there was a great study that Commissioner Fernando brought to us about compensation across the nation um for commissioners and we are well below that average and so um I won't be voting that for for that and so for the motion on item 4C only um excuse me
I just want to, uh, highlight the work that the 911 response teams continue to do, um, working in community. Um, I've done ride alongs. Um, I've seen talked to police officers both cities talking about the value that it presents and the opportunities where it makes more sense for a uh alternative response to show up at a house than um than a police officer because a police officer can't bring access to services, cannot set up appointments, cannot speak on what kind of programs when that's the real problem, not because that there's a need for a police officer to show up.
I think one of our big challenges is going to be is finding the talent pool who wants to do that 911 response as a social worker to kind of go out there when it is a special calling that you want to show up live in people.
I think they do incredible work um in toward in terms of um making sure that parents have the right skills that they need um and the supports once they are um exiting the ACF.
the doula services actually do extend beyond um time at the ACF and typically many of our residents who are at the ACF also have social work uh social service attachments as well. So, as part of transition planning, we do ensure that there is that warm handoff as they work to transition um out of the facility.
Ordinances & Resolutions (24)
Recurring presentation on the county's financial health and budget tracking.
Federal policy changes anticipated to impact county revenues, especially administrative revenues and error rate, affecting the 2027 and 2028 budgets.
Anticipated federal reductions impacting all clinics within Hennepin County's system for 2027 and beyond.
The budget document for 2027, anticipated to be presented on September 22nd.
Recommendations from a task force wrapping up its work on capital projects.
A federally required strategic roadmap for the local workforce development system, updated for Hennepin-Carver Area 9.
Document providing more information on human services and public health contracts.
Agreement with the City of Brooklyn Center for the 911 alternative response team program.
Federal grant supporting Community Crisis Response Partnerships.
Studies conducted for the Emergency Communications Facility and Adult Detention Center, providing detailed recommendations.
Study providing recommendations on managing and reducing overtime within the Sheriff's Office.
Computer Aided Dispatch events, used as a metric for workload increase in the Sheriff's Office.
Minnesota statute rule regarding personal service of papers, clarifying that the sheriff is not the only eligible party.
District court program for DWI offenders, with agreements for probation and treatment services.
Project providing doula services to incarcerated parents at the Adult Detention Center.
Agreement with ISD 281 for providing GED testing services.
Hennepin County policies for funding and maintenance of transportation systems with city partners, currently undergoing an update process.
County policy, adopted in 2009 and updated in 2023 to include green streets, emphasizing multimodal transportation.
Concept incorporated into the Complete Streets policy, relating to environmentally sustainable street design.
County plan influencing transportation policy updates.
County plan adopted to emphasize safety in transportation, influencing policy updates.
New state funding mostly focused on active transportation, influencing county cost participation policy.
Minnesota Department of Transportation's recent policy update, referenced for comparison in county policy discussions.
Capital Improvement Program, impacted by proposed changes to cost participation policy.