Ramsey County, MN Board Meeting

Like to call to all that the Ramsey County Budget Commission, its roll call, please. Jeff, and saying here it change here. Mueller here, taking. Stand for the pledge of to flag the United States of America to Republic for which it stands. One nation under And it is team as well. Then acknowledgment Commission Thank you, MR. Chair. Every community owes its existence and vitality. 2 generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams and energy to making the history that led to

This moment. Some were brought here against their will. Some were drawn to be there just in homes in hope of a better life. And some of lived on land since time immemorial. Tucson acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all their years of heritage and difference. We are standing on the ancestral lands of the Dakota people. We want to acknowledge the ojibwe the Ho-chunk and the other nations of people who also called this place home. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the treaty's made by the tribal nations that entitle Non native people to live and work on traditional native lands. Consider the many legacies of violence displacement, migration and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such troops at any and all public events. Thank you. internal motion on the agenda of APRIL 28th 2026. The discussion roll Call. I victory Mueller. I Moran John, I have been saying for take a and to take the motion on the minutes of APRIL. 21st

Seeing no discussion. W'll call player. McMurtry. Mueller eye for an eye. Joan. Jeff and saying I were to go. Administrative Agenda Commission thank you, MISTER Chair. I move item number 3, an amendment to the administrative code to increase settlement authority. Seeing no discussion roll call the Eye McMurtry. Jevon sing. Will take a all right.

Legislative update. Want to thank legislative team headed Julie Wood. Last week, the House Capital Investment Committee heard an informational presentation several local bonding project requests, including River's Edge Project. Thank you, Commissioner Moran for testifying at that hearing. You stand went commissioners, we've all been reaching out to our legislative delegation to ask them to advocate for this project. And I'm I'm hoping all of you I I know that you're all doing that. I know I'm doing. And hearing back from our our colleagues in the legislature about there and knowledge and support of this project. So that's that's great government relations is also continuing to engage our legislators in there with their support for And bonding bill is always unclear until the very end. Both House and Senate leaders are working on it and would like to see it happen. So we'll we'll It needs two-thirds of the body the past. So there need to be a lot of support for it. And we are hoping that it will happen this year. Our human services related priorities are. We're hoping we're watching to see what becomes of the omnibus bills that are moving through the Senate finance and to the Senate.

Floor and the the house, the houses is willing to put in. So it's all still tentative. Whether these provisions are gonna make it through. So we'll stay posted on that. The federal update, the Department of Hmeland Security funding and immigration reform. Last week the U. S. Senate adopted budget blueprint for a 70 billion dollar increase for immigration enforcement and the eventual reopening of the Department of Homeland Security will see you where that goes in the House Republicans plan to use the budget reconciliation process, too circumvent the filibuster and fund dhs ending a shutdown. S we're looking forward to not having a shutdown and that some of the ways that they're going to get there is I'm going to be tough. That's end of the report. Thank you. MISTER Chair. Thank very much. Kind Thank you, MISTER Chair. I'm only late on this. But last week was I volunteer Appreciation Week. So that has been celebrated since 1974.

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power volunteers to tackle some of our cmmunity challenges and to build stronger communities many dedicated community members volunteer thousands of hours and Ramsey County every year through a variety of programs. I want to take a moment and share our appreciation to the dedicated our residents who share the town sometimes through those many hours of service. And why can't name all the volunteer opportunities across the couni did want to highlight a few this morning. One as you're all very involved in the process is serving on a Ramsey County advisory board. It's a great way to get involved your local government and make a positive impact. There are a variety of boards, including everything from, you know, working with our 9-1-1 workforce Prks and rec commission and many others. In addition, Ramsey County Parks and recreation offer many volunteer opportunities to help maintain trails, remove invasive plants and prepare a garden and gardens for spring at Tamarack Nature Center.

And for those folks that handy and we definitely always can use help repairing broken items at volunteering at our county fix-it clinics at the Environmental Center, a volunteer and fixers who have skills and soldering electronics repair, sewing woodworking in general tinkering are essential to the clinic success and Ramsey County libraries obviously has a lot of volunteer opportunities as well. And then lastly, you can help violence, victims and survivors in our community by volunteering with the Saint Paul Ramsey County Public health s o violence services so volunteers are needed to staff a 24 hour resource line on nights and weekends and to arrive, provide support at local hospitals and training is provided. I just want to say on this morning, thank a little weak belated, but thank you to our volunteers and our community. In addition, I want to take some time this morning to give what I think is more about the final encapsulating update on Metro surge.

Obviously, tey're still work that the county is doing along with our partners. But this is going to be here. I'm kind of a more inclusive summary. I did send you all a memo this week. And and so I just wanted to have more focus less on all the actions that we've done, which we've went over quite a bit at the board meetings, but to talk about the financial impact summary today, because at some new information that we've been able to gather. So after the surge County departments were asked to estimate costs of the surge, the resulting estimates indicate that the county incurred about a million dollars in total costs as a result of the surge. This includes custom made it hours of work that county employees diverted from other almost $600,000. And so while we would have paid county employees anyway, I think the one part of the opportunity cost that isn't always being able to be measured truly by the wages is the things that we would have been doing in that time period.

Had we not been doing the surge in youth. That's almost, you know, impossible to truly quantify things that we didn't get to. We also lost revenue due probe and not reduce for enrollment. Some programs and reduced attendance and county events. Almost $350,000. And then some other miscellaneous things that we had to spend money on, including trainings mental health support. And so I wanted to just make sure you understood some of those costs as we've all worked through as an organization. In addition, I know many of you have asked for a usage update on the impact of the property tax extension. I plan to give that after we have that data available, obviously because people have JULY 15th, 2 partake in that extension. Should they need it? In Ramsey County, you know, our staff, we also surveyed ourselves internally through our directors to see our response was. And while we did do a good job in many things, including having a lot of prior around our federal re response Action team we were able to we already have created some protocols in partnership with the county attorney's office and they helped create a very strong foundation for our response.

We created a search team that was quite effective in coordinating across departments, clarifying rles, responding to needs quickly. Did well and communicating with our employees and the public was consistent and we were working very hard support staff with all that said. Obviously there are areas for improvement and the directors provided us that as well. You know, it was clear that we MAY be needed to activate our response team just a little bit earlier. And in addition, some guidance was delayed. You know, as we were navigating the levels o review and sometimes things were delayed and employees working outside regular hours sometimes lacked a sufficient support in that continues to be something as we manage emergencies that, you know, the bulk of our organization is is working the traditional business hours. But we have really critical functions that are operating. 24 7 and we'll have that communication and decision-making infrastructure on those hours is something we will keep working on and the surge will have a lasting impact packed on the state, obviously in Manatee County for for a long time.

The county is continuing to monitor efforts to address these impacts to partners and at the state level, obviously there's quite a few bills that the legislature aiming to certainly help our small business community. And that search took significant tell our employees and the county will continue to work with our hr department to ensure, you know, promoting ap resources of us to the surge that we developed in partnership with our vendor, an app to support employees live sessions related to healing mental health are connecting employees other support. So that the action analysis will be used to, you know, work. I want to be able to be a framework for all other emergencies. Really? We we can build upon the work we've done. I really want to thank all our staff over the past few mnths from Deputy county managers, directors, managers, supervisors all the way to frontline staff. Everybody worked through different challenges with the goal of ensuring continuity of services meeting our community's needs the best that they could.

And we were able and I want to say a special thank you to our surge response team was led by our deputy chief of staff, Andrew family and also our chief staff, Idea, Deputy County Manager Reyes, Communications and public Relations director Rose Lindsey and are planning manager Christy Cobb Self. Lots of work there. I I think I've shared this with the board as well. But we did get some business impacts from the city of Saint Paul in particular. And those are quite significant, you know, based on the same methodology that the city of Minneapolis said Saint Paul's estimating that they had 129 million dollars. A small businesses last between JANUARY and FEBRUARY. In addition, some other statistics I think are worth noting they're estimating the same politics pants or rent gap of 15, almost 16 million really per month for the last 2 months from JANUARY and FEBRUARY as well. And then the one that I you know, kind of because we are the social safety net for our community.

This one stood out to me. Turn to a household impacts. Saint Paul residents lost an estimated 59 million dollars per month totaling 118 million in household income lost during the months of JANUARY and FEBRUARY. Those types of significant losses going ripple through our social safety net system. As people, you know, sometimes it takes a while for them to bottom out and need to come to the county for some sort of support. So so thank you for all your support. I'm happy to take any questions on that.

This time. I just have a question. But we continue to monitor this. Just was you think of the tax and families that we can speak, seen the increase and needing assistance now rather than 2 months ago. So I'm just making sure that we continue to monitor that. So we know. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. Thanks for update. I think it's helpful for us to just go into some south. The impact that we've seen. To your point county manager to really use a framework as we're living times where we're just going from crisis to crisis quite honestly. So it's hopefully that's something that we can use make sure is bustling if this happens again. My question is in your conversations with other. The county managers and can an administrator was sitting in the Metro. If there are any takeaways that you learn from things that other counties MAY have been do doing during Metro surge, that could be helpful for us in the future.

Yeah. Thank you for that question. Commissioner. I will say that the impacts have been very different. Across the metro counties, obviously what we call the collar counties, the ones that kind of surround Hennepin and Ramsey, the impacts were a little bit last, though. You know, they had some incidents of impacts. I will say, you know, we continue to talk to Hennepin. Obviously they had the biggest impacts and I think for us like the one unique thing in in the newspaper, there was an article over the weekend about, you know, the things that are happening in downtown Saint Paul right now in some.

And there was interesting quote in there about, you know, when they're sort crisis, sometimes a smaller, more tight-knit community is able to poll year your srings a little bit faster and a little bit clear. And I actually think maybe that's a lesson that we can give to some of the oher communities. I think we've really built a beyond the county administrator is where I really feel like my minutes, you know, having a regular twice a month meeting with that includes the city, the Port Authority, the chamber. You know, lines some of the key people that all impacts some of the same things. And we're in a very, you know, frank conversations with each other. So I think we're really fortunate to have a lot of committed leaders right now at this moment. And I think Co Lessing, whether situations like this or some more positive things like the work we're doing around downtown. It really comes down to relationships.

And I think sometimes when we look at their other counties you know, I'm I'm when I hear their stories. I'm really grateful for the relationships that we have in Ramsey County. I think that comes as the testimony of folks like you, but also our staff and just history of working together. You know, so I think that's our asset. More than a learning kind of more reflective learning of just what we have that's been a powerful tool. I also really a strong relationship with county attorney's office. I'm Jada was phenomenal and helping us and also a strong relationship that, you know, while we continue to work to budget issues and different things with a sheriff's office, you know, the commitment that chair and others of you have committed working closely with the sheriff and understanding importance of that relationship beyond just managing a budget, but also the law enforcement side of of how he fits into the puzzle.

You know, those are those ae really good things that we we were working. We have as a strong foundations. So couple of things. But I think start with one which is building off the conversation around our partnerships with the county attorney in the county Sheriff's office. One of the things that I think was it I think went in internally was the idea of how we are coordinating communicating together and how the relationships that are in place facilitated that. One of the things that I know that there have been reflections on. I continue to get requests from community to talk about the the the risk of the law enforcement response or not response or like everybody was dealing with this in a way that it was that everybody has a thought on how law enforcement should show up in this time and across the board, right show up, don't show up support. Don't try. It was we were hearing all of it.

We have our own thoughts on what that would be. But it's another elected office. And I guess one of the questions I would have is whenever I have constituents who or groups who have those questions, I direct them to the correct elected office. But one of the things I want to think about is whether it is our municipal partners, whether it her school partners, whether it's the other elected offices. You know, this is the kind of up to your point county manager back or that the idea of how do we pull those strings of our partners in in our community so that we can react and coordinate and also relay what we're doing to community in a way that is responsive to community and residents need to know what's going on their behalf. Even if we have to be not fully detailed you know, privacy of individuals or businesses or just, you know, lot whatever's going.

So I guess one of the questions I would I would have I don't putting you on the spot for this, but I think it would be lovely at some point to be able to do some kind of. Debrief on that piece of it. How do we appropriately? Communicate the work that we're doing. That isn't public work, meaning meaning it's not happening in front of right now in these meetings. But as the work that's going on behind the scenes, I mean, I don't mean that just a behind the scenes work in to respond to the needs of cmmunity to know more in real time. And this was a unique situation. And when I say real time, people were like this thing happened 12 hours ago. How come you haven't given a report on what you've done, right? I mean, it was a very emergent time. It was a usual time but tere will be tornadoes. There will be I unfortunately, still years left in this administration.

So we know that more will cme with whether its operation Metro surge or some other government shutdown are some whatever tat's a long-winded way of saying that. One of the things that I think that we I still get feet folks saying we didn't do well was to be able to explain what we're doing on their behalf in real time. So I would I think, would be helpful for us to reflect on that a little bit. Thank Thank you. Thank Our chair and I just want to my colleagues comments and just to thank county manager Becker for her. Relationship building. I we all head, you know, things going on and all of our communities, all of our other cities, an in Ramsey County and, you know, I just I just appreciate the relationship building that you made with our cities and that they're feeling a more a part of things. And it's a it's work in progress.

I know. But it's if we can really feel that the county is is there with us. And and I know that our city's appreciate tat. And and then working with our county attorney and our sheriff, all of that working together. I think for my community or communities really feeling that. And so thank you for Continue to build those relationships and continuing to work work as one county and really trying to really make sure that our residents, you know, can can feel that. And so that's I'm sent my my residents are our feeling that. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair and thank you. County manager for of providing that update. I think it's really helpful for both the public and also for us. Here is body too, talk about these publicly, too, because like we said, this isn't going to be the last the emergency is I have a question about our report. Are we planning to share this with our legislators and also our congressional leaders.

So that's great question. Commissioner, appreciate the question. Yes, I think that's a good idea. We had provided an update probably the end of FEBRUARY because our mid-FEBRUARY cause is right. It went around when went to Naco. So I do think now that we have this new piece of information of the financial impact that we to have one outreach to the elected officials at both the state and federal level. So thank you for calling out. That's definitely crucial. And also just want to echo what my colleagues have said to about continuing to monitor this ongoing a week or 2 ago, we heard about one of the restaurants that closed in my district. Cink won like just and they just posted it on social media to state that, you they weren't able to work with their landlord you know, make rent, of course, because ongoing metro surge resulted in just, you know, less folks going there. It's a it's a head.

It has a banquet room, too. So it's just less usage up banquet room as well as the restaurant. And it ended up having to close, just very abruptly. So those are just some of the examples of the continued rippling effects. And there are many examples of that. That's not the only one. Yeah. So just kind of circling back a couple of things. One is I do want to say that this is a legislative and executive. Anything. We have rsponsive, direct responsibility of the enterprise of the organization. So I truly do appreciate all of the updates that we were getting about. The operations that were happening, the pivots that were happening the cycle and make things the trainings, the different ways are reaching community throughout the how we're doing it. But also then how? Staff was getting supported. One of the questions I have is along with the data and the numbers I started seeing in community that there are organizations that are now gathering stories of what happened in people's qualitative experiences.

And I think that this is important for the healing process. It's important for the this is what happened process. I think one of the things that we continue to say from the tsa has maybe not as strong and strident as folks wanted to hear was to call out that what was happening was not normal. And I think that we see we instantly saw in real time and real news cycles. The rewriting of history to normalize violent behavior. And I think I'm just wondering if there's, you know, along the way of being able to gather what happened along the way of being able to allow individuals to have a place to share their stories, but also for arced for staff to be able to to to say, I don't know if people truly understand how this upended my life and I want somebody to see what I did to service to community and what this the impact it had on me and my colleagues.

I think that would be really interesting to be able to to acknowledge because I think we all important thing. So just. You know, considering if there's a way for us to do any of that, or if any of that was part of this work. Yeah. Thank you, commissioner. You know it. We have not talked about that. But I do know that I was aware that the governor's office set up some sort kind of a group to look at that. So let me see if there's like a way collecting those things statewide before we kind of create another effort at like to see where we can have the biggest impact by contributing to something even bigger than ourselves. So let me just see what groups are out there. And we can figure out a path to maybe having people share many of those stories. I don't I don't know if it has to be something per se the county's pulling together.

You know, I think there's already another venue that's doing that. We can just make sure employees know about it as a place share her helps maybe one of our historical societies or anybody else who gathers. I mean, who knows what? That's something I was thinking about. The other piece is thinking about the impact on households and businesses. One of the things that I I'm I just want to just pause and say one of the reasons why I think there wasn't an immediate kind of rallying around Operation Metro surge internally is because there already was a rally around all of the things that coming at us from executive orders mean there already was a huddle team. There already was an executive a response to what's happening. You all were already in the mode of what every wave that was coming out of. So that was already there. So I just want to to state that it was If we went from 0 to 60, we were that the frogs boiling in the pot right already rights and this was happening.

So just wanted to it out to say that there was a group are really that you had a symbol that was working. So I didn't want to have that the but also the idea of there will be this continued waves. We have all the impacts of nature. One, we have all damp. I mean, there's so many things that are hitting says the county, all of the entities around us, all of that work in is a that supporter Comey's all of these kind of things. And I just want to just also commend us and remind us and continue the big work of not only the relationship building with our municipal leaders and our and our other, like formal public eye leaders, but also within the hour, nonprofit faith coming. All of the groups that were were showing up to support provide help for our residents and figuring out whether that's convening with its coordination where that's technical expertise.

These are things that that already were being called out as a way for how Ramsey County can show and just say one. Thank you for that for thought of setting that kind energy into space. But to remind us not to let that go, because as we know, there are individuals who who will not trust or feel comfortable coming to the county for those support. So we need to make sure we know who else and community can step into those spaces. And when I say that, I mean, because it MAY be that they are completely legal here and they have a right and are eligible for for any of the safety net programs that we have. But because of the fear that was happening during that time because of the threats of data sharing are always kind of things that we keep, you know, hearing in the ether. Some of them are is perception some of its reality.

Some of them we just don't know just the idea of of I just encourage us to continue whatever those convening czar, small-group large group, all the ways. And I sing this to my colleagues as well. And I know that commissioner parity has been working with his small business goups and his think I think all of these efforts that we're doing only help us as we go forward. So just if there's anything, we can do to support those efforts, I think it's really key. Yes, I really appreciate all kind of insights. I appreciated. You know that. Yes, absolutely right. We already had some of that structure that we've built upon because. And most of the started in JANUARY 2025, you this wasn't went. 26. We already had. You don't even on the immigration front. Ithink it in MARCH of 25 that Jada was first working and some of that initial immigration You know, we were at ready, I guess in some ways early to at pull those tools.

And then I still go back to the pandemic like I don't think we would have had the same. Experience had we not gone through the pandemic. I mean, the fact that we already have most of our staff able to work. I bread. We have virtual service delivery like we would have had to spin that. You know, prior to pandemic like that really wasn't a model in the county, we would have had to figure out how to even ensure our staff could even work. Nevertheless, then, you know, deliver services. So the you know, I think able to me our community and in different ways because of things we've gone through over the last, you know, 6, 7, years And that's pretty significant. But on the flip side of that, you know, you build sort of some muscle there. But you're also very tired. And county government, I think it's like a really exhausting time in that.

And I think, you know, and this gives me a chance to segue, you know, back to the chair after this. But, you know, just on a personal note like ice should this with a few of the directors. But I want to say to the staff like it's ok to just say, you know, I need a moment to reset like I I definitely needed that like after those first few months, I happened to a couple days off and kind of got back here. APRIL 1st, as you all know, I left for a week and I came back a completely different person. I was able to just be like those patterns of my life that I was living from JANUARY t the end of MARCH, that's not how I want to I don't want to be on media like that. I don't want to be thinking about things like that. I don't want to getting up at 3 in the morning with rushing thoughts like I need to do something in my life to just hit a reset button and that's going to take a lot of intentionality because there's just so many things that get you right back there.

I feel like I talk to, you know, and you know, everyone find that person that can help you. Be a little count of all to yourself. But was able to share of my husband like, you know, I don't want to do that in. These are the things that you need to help me watch for in the fight. You know, you see me, you kow, up at 02:00am doing union. Tell me like you're going back to bed. You know what I mean? Like because sometimes you know where our worst enemy in terms of just the patterns we build and it starts to spiral in office and you don't know year. You know, 10 feet deep until you're it's too far, you know, Damian. And so I'm just grateful for the support. We have a great team and but it but it's real. This is the stress and anxiety and sort of that the racing a living like every moment sort of with this in crisis is it's just not a healthy place to be.

And there's no one that can do their job. Well, I you're living like that too long, you know, so thank you. I just want to add that. Staff and fantastic job to and not just Everybody's point. This has been one crisis after another. Well put Garrison. And unfortunately it's going to continue this another crisis in the horizon. Just don't know what it is shipped. We have the staff and we need to take care of each other. The other thing with community I want would you include a lot? of folks. But, you know, this was really multigenerational. We had. Ellis senior citizens out marching. And I know personally because both my daughter and son-in-law and education to students, the young people well making food baskets and delivering it to folks besides much, have the Sooners went to but what I heard from so many areas about how they got together make food baskets and collect food and so forth. So it was truly multi generational thing. And that's what it's going take. It isn't about one group of - the other. It's going to be the entire community. So. We

Got think of all said because unfortunately analyze some negative. But, you know, we've been this. It's been it's it's been a long time for for many of mean, the recession, Coleman Metro just like one right behind the other. And that staff they got another. We appreciate that. And that they're doing a fantastic job. Even went even with it. The mistakes with the faults doing a great job. So thank you. Outside board and committee points. You want to stay clean. Sure. Just a few things Monday, APRIL 2020, a and hurry. State of the city address. In Saint Paul, which was a strong reminder importance of collaboration. As we've been talking about vision and continued best month in our communities. As we work to move our city. Our county for together. Also dissipate into important meetings, focus on the minutes. African-American family for the patient. Our fate course, an alley at. I both statewide group and the Policy Accountability Compliance Action team to continue events and efforts to disparities and improve outcomes for deaf American families involved in Amber Frey system and others who are disproportionately impacted by system.

And also they but to have the honor of attending her inauguration. This past weekend was really great and I just I'm so and Marie are. Mayor in our storytelling ot. The vision and that she really bringing people in bring people together. On Wednesday. 22nd I tended to board meeting of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control when we continue see overseeing efforts to protect public health. Mosquito in disease control across the region. Also, John Representative think e for a binding tour of the mcd laboratory facilities. This discussion focused on 2, 2 state investment to support critical infrastructure

Upgrades that strengthen our region's public health response. Really around the prevents a piece it. The laboratory is small is outdated. So they have about the request in for that. And then later in the day, I'm it will have a community member dining room. I store to stay connected to community perspective and ongoing local concern. I met him at the last amc conference. He was presenting at the conference in. It was just good to make that connection and continue to build on on connections. On Thursday. APRIL 23rd to it in heading home. Ramsey coc orientation session stay at state of mind with county priorities and system works also met. Will I? Now Freeman and the sun to hear directly from residents and remain ground in the live experience of those that we srved see is a part of our coalition. A housing advocate. We stay have right there. Working on. Some parties around. I'm the homeless and housing and shelters. And if you believe that she shared her experience being homeless, that you feel is now a mother. Who tuition

Also finding himself homeless. And so I shared with for you know, statistics would tell us that if you have a family, you full-court homeless and going to a doubt they are also predicted to become homeless themselves. Des research and data. I just really I join our legislative team meeting to stay coordinated leadership for our Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, as we continue to work on our priorities at the Legislature. Have to see for to Connect are really one. I says moving through the legislative process to stay connected to our Ramsey County delegation so that they can also be a part of the message of our priorities here in Ramsey County and that aligns with their constituencies. So I have. That's it for me of women. Was able to participate on the panel yesterday Jack in Tech and Legislative Day. It was here that have weakened brown communities. And I did that a long off that tree. Along with Senate, his wife, Senator Clinton. I don't want to MISS It for Some of the players, right? Yeah. Along with City Council

Member and makeup. We in the c o from the African American Leadership Forum. It was as it was really, really good to see the profit, the leadership there from county to state to city. Representation. Just to talk about the work that each are doing. Our respective area. It was really good to see them that the parents in that young people who attended that event. I have a 2 now. So it's really around civic education, advocacy importance of staying connected legislative process and just really aligning, you know, so all the individual think that the power we do have politics as elected officials. But there is so much politic come from community voices. And again, as I talked about, the mayor storytelling using voices to tell their stories and to help direct elected officials around policies. That nice to That would be helpful to create better outcomes for individuals and families, not institutions across this state in our county.

So it's really good to see show up and be a part of it. It for me. Thank you. All right. So last week I attended the Mosquito Control full board meeting that same evening, I joined the Tamarac Nature Center volunteer Pancake Dinner. Some say it was really a great evening and a good reminder of how much our parks and on programs rely strong volunteer support. On the 23rd. I attended the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Spring meeting in Rogers. And that was was a routine meeting with reports from the treasure and the audit committee and also with appointments standing committees. Glad to share. I joined the Budget Committee Ramsey County staff and I will also be participating in the public relations and outreach committee. I'm not sure if I was kind of mayor man might have pressured of welcoming me want to participate they want and then they're like sure I also want to take a moment to really recognize our Ramsey County staff who support this work across all departments.

So whether it's parks, environmental health, emergency communications, housing, transportation and more staff are consistently showing up. And staffing these boards and committees committees and helping this work forward. So that prtnership does not go unnoticed. It's very much appreciated. And it really makes a difference, especially all. So say thank you. And then on Friday, I did attend the rising together. A celebration for mayor her. Which was a really great evening. And then yesterday we met with commissioner for former Commissioner Reinhart, discuss the pics. I task force. And with that, I You. think thank you as a Just one of how a couple of this last week as we were wrapping up Earth week last week on Saturday had a chance. Join dozens of of our residents in the hamlet, Midway neighborhood, too. Pick up trash Snelling Avenue and so it was just great to to get out there and to be with so many folks in the community who wanted do their part make a difference to make sure that cleaning our our neighborhood.

And so huge kudos Waco. Alicia, who was leading that effort and coordinating that event. Also last week, I had a chance to speak with members of the group. I to cover a number of issues. They want to hear updates on some of the economic development announcement that we made in the last couple weeks of the county. They also want to get an update on what we have learned. Coming off of Mitchell surge. And other piece that I thought was fascinating to back to that conversation was. They're real urgency of finding out how they can continue to be a part of what's next. I think that's the piece that we have to continue think about what we saw. That very much so community led during mental search and the movement that was treated to something that we're going to have to continue, that that's going to happen, really sustain. And so my message to them was, you know, the work that that you have thus far, especially during these turbulent times.

Don't don't put your foot off the gas like we have to continue with that effort. Do so with us as a government body. Collaborating and and working with them in the work they're doing. So. Great conversation there. And then I wrapped up with meting so Spencer and David Higgins with the Downtown Alliance to get a for us to to frmally connect, especially coming off of the announcement with building stronger together initiative. And to learn more about the work they're to revitalize downtown and how we can continue to collaborate bth the county and their organization and to you know, county manager's point continue to nurture that relationship because as we look at a lot of the challenges that we're facing and the city and of the county is going to take a coalition of of many of us to to really bring about the solutions that we know that we need. So great conversation with them and looking forward to continue to build that relationship.

So as long as some of my we were able to go to that Battle Creek Park to do some last week. A nice you says we as commissioners say, we went We also mean that there are a number of other county staff and other people who are in the word to making tese things work. And I just want to say how lovely it is to get to know folks in there where they are situated, especially our park staff and in there they are a jovial bunch they get to work in the most beautiful places. So that's great. So both Battle Creek Park Electric clean up and then also the Tamarac Nature Center volunteer. Thank you. We got to have the pancake breakfast with the syrup from had been tapped from youth groups and educational groups, you know, all winter and then volunteers who are in the Sugar Shack, you know, boiling that town. I walk in that area quite often and to to then be able like this is what you guys are working on.

This is amazing. That takes a lot of different people. And during and this is some of the comments that I made there. But it's so true is I was back at Tamara Saturday for a walk with a friend and one of the staff were there and and it's the idea of, you know, these parks faces these programs. They create place of respite, places of of it's good for the U. S. All. You see kids who can run free and you see older adults who can go and have a piece, a sense of peace and quiet. I mean, it's it's a real thing to add to community to have these natural places, especially when we need time to heal. And to take a break from all that's going on. So thank you to all of the volunteers said Oliver Park system's who who provide that for our communities and talking about volunteers. I was at the friends of the library used book sale and was able to meet some of the volunteers there again, I will say the friends of library.

I heard that they have had an uptick in folks who wanted to join and be part of it. And I think it's just again, it calls on how our community in Minnesota and in the Twin Cities, the response to strife in trouble is how can I pitch in and help? And it's such a beautiful thing. And all these different avenues I was able to attend the friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network, a bent iPhone. Was really important to going to be part of that, especially in light of the recent vote opens up opportunity and concern over copper nickel mining in and near the boundary waters. And we think that's so far away. But all of this water is really, really important. And so much of this is pretty is connected. You know, water doesn't really care where a boundary stops and starts its get You know, once that that spoil, there's not much we can do so just kind of keeping tabs on some of that work.

This week. And there's a lot going on. It was able to go to Merrick's Bull upon and their marriage provides a lot of work and programming and other things for for adults with developmental disabilities in my area and talk about positive energy in Flaherty's. And so just look schowalter local bowling alley. I was able to go the sure which had a number of different entities. Again, some of our folks from Ramsey County where we're doing some outreach get ready for spring. Lovely to see folks there last night there was a food scraps program that shoreview. We're getting excited to have scraps coming to our area this summer. Very excited. Some of our colleagues who are part of the Burns Institute cohort kind of wrapping up of of and celebrating 3 years of professional development and real transformative work and how the county addresses issues around systemic racial disparities in our role setting policy and implementing programs in the way that we do our work that can help to address how that so set specific actions in motion within our community and in current things that are going on and how are responsible for addressing and thinking about them.

And it was it was great again to be to see the cross departmental work that's going on that that sense of one Ramsey County as we take on that big work. Him continue my work with the direct care and treatment for representing Ramsey County and the association, Minnesota counties on the advisory board. And I in I just wanted to let folks know reminder that direct care and treatment. It is a high highly specialized behavior, health care system support. 12,000 civilly committed patients and clients served at about 150 statewide sites and the core services include community-based services, outpatient services, forensic services, mental health and substance use treatment services, the Minnesota offender program and other services. And the reason why I'm bringing this up is that there is a web page of that's up and running. That has the agenda as it has the packets that has the minutes past meetings and then also there is an opportunity for public comment.

And the reason why I'm bringing this up some of the work that is most of the work that's done here for individuals who MAY have on family advocates, they themselves MAY be self ethic, hits ad it is an opportunity to interact with the advisory board and the executive for to make sure your voice is being heard. So please check out the trick here. Treatment Advisory Committee website. If you have questions as a provider as a family member is an individual who's in the systems, please not head of state. There is ways to access the board members of the committee members to make sure your voices are part of our conversations and coming this week, there's disability advocacy tmorrow morning rally at the Capitol. So much of what is going on and this community is threatened by what's happening with hr one in some of the issues that are out around reactions t potential fraud concerns and how how a different organization certain and service providers and families are being impacted by that.

So keeping an really looking forward to touch base with individuals who are directly impacted by this to make sure that we're keeping them at the heart of how we're reacting as a county to some of this, too. There's a county road f open house this Thursday at Four-thirty to Six-thirty of Venice Heights Commons. Everybody always asked well, how come they decided to do this instead of that on the road? Well, this is where you get to like, put your pet in on the thing and say I want a roundabout here. Secondly, here this is. This is when you get to make tose choices and then the 3rd of 3 Immigration series put on by the many faces of White Bear Lake. This one is focusing on Operation Metro Surge and where we now is the communities that Saint Andrews on a meta again, that is on on Thursday. Evening. And then lastly, it's been a busy week, but I just want to say I had the opportunity of having to students shadow me last week, Nick and faith from very different backgrounds and different interests.

But it was just so inspiring to have have folks be able to watch what we do and not think it's boring but want to maybe find a way get into this work public service. So thank you to make and faith was. It was lovely to you to have you along side me for a day. Thank thank you, MR. Chair.

So always so exciting and inspiring to hear all the amazing things that are going on for my colleagues. So thank you all for all of your work and to our community groups, our community, our cities, our public entities are private entities in our community groups. They're all doing such great work. I want to continue to shout out to parks an and all the work that they do in our communities, into our local parks must De Rosa had an Earth day celebration last weekend and the area are nature center, which is an amazing statewide asset. And Saint Anthony Village had their spring cleanup as wll. So a lot of Earth Day activities showed up to the communities that are working on that as well. The Battle Creek Park Senate that I appreciate all my colleagues were able to be at. I was I'm a I'm I'm on monthly calls with the organization, its wealth, the climate, smart municipalities and counties.

And this is an organization set up by Sabine Angle with who works for the University Minnesota says she sustainability. She's director at the u that does stand ability and environment and we she does calls involved internationally international experts from Germany. We heard from someone from Virginia. Yes, on Friday data centers and data centers is a big deal. We hearing about it and they they called out district energy, our own district Energy and Saint Paul as a place where, you know, we they burn wood and they provide energy. Then for Saint Paul and and, you know, it's the really circular efforts that people have when we when we create energy and then how do we use some of that energy and other parts data centers is going to be a part of that. But it was it was interesting to hear the person talking my Data College District Energy anyway, these are great cause and I encourage all of you would be welcome to be on these cars and miles City people, county people.

I'm a mpc. A lot of people on these calls and we d their there on sustainability issues and we're going to hear some of when we hear a solid waste are our workshop today. But that climate smart municipalities and counties is working with us on on that work is well south. Just shout out on that. If you want information on how to be on those calls, it their great to listen. And I. also how we use speaking of second we have a board meeting this Thursday. So looking forward to that new Brighton has their citywide sale this Thursday as well. This Saturday is great an event at our Environmental Center, which is the plate to garden event with free compost giveaway. So that'll be really fun at the it said that the Environmental Center and that's Saturday MAY 2nd. I'm looking at the time from 9 to one go to the Environmental Center can't in my printer and pick up free.

Compost with Saturday. MAY second this this coming Saturday. So when encourage people to go and get free. 3 great dirt. And with Suburban Ramsey County cabinet. He's having connection event with more needs to will this Friday to which. If you mentioned it. I know Tara is usually goes to those. Thank you, MR. Thank you. Nation. Thank you, MR. Going along the line water I attended the

Capital Region, Watershed District. It's insane offices in Saint Paul. But this year they are hosting that. We are water, Minnesota exhibit. So I had the chance to attend their opening for it. And I heard from Christina Bank was one of the artists who painted in there and just shared about, you know, her connection to the water and about how. Each one provides different type of perspective and connection because there are also 15 other community voices that included as a part of big step so it's open. Folks are invited to attend as they can and also outside, they have water feature, too, that my kids really enjoyed so very family-friendly. I would encourage folks to go there. And also to reflect water and how we can be all sorts of protecting our water. The next one is are snap a subcommittee. I attended that yesterday. This is the one thats hosted by emc that brings together county commissioners staff who administer well dci off.

We heard we received a demonstration from Hennepin County because with the change is an hr one, we're working towards reducing our error rates overall because we have 87 counties that me do this differently. So we're working to it together do this to our rates Hennepin County presented something that they have, what they're able to pull reports and are able to flag potential cases. We they MAY need to do more digging into the state system to make sure that they are actually documenting and or verified information. So this is they went into details about it that I'm not aware, but it was just helpful for me to understand that, you know, other counties have, you know, ways in which they can help to minimize those error rate. And also hearing from other counties like smaller counties who have said, you know, this is something that's great that we would like to. But for us to have data staff like staff who specialize in data would be really hard.

So I think it was just really important that, you know, that conversation was done and having dc why off listening to counties talk about its impact. Additionally, we got update about the snap bill status, the one that the governor introduced however, the at the House, we don't have a bill there only in the Senate. So the Senate is actually having a hearing on that today. And that's the bill that we get that. It's good for us. And in the sense that, you know, the state will be taking the bulk of the costs of the benefits and that we would just be sharing in on the administrative cost. And next you know, I want to give a shout out to director. Isaacson from public works for joining us at the East funders group the Est Side Business Association that did a presentation of falling. Just construction impacts we've been experiencing. But also what they did state dollars that they've received last year.

So they gave a report back the impacts of that whole data. That gauge meant how they worked. Businesses too provide a $5,000 to the businesses that were impacted, providing prioritizing businesses that rely on foot traffic and the working to businesses that MAY have a smaller impacts to give out $5,000. They reported with East 7h Street. They're looking at Apollo $60,000 gap. And of course, this is just to share and share information about what the need and what their experience has been. And we also did a walking tour of the impacts. I director Isaacson was able to like point all some really good things, but also to share about take ideas of how the county des it and give an example of Rice street experience from the air. And then finally, I want to add that I also attended the Francis to learn in court. I thought that that was just really hopeful that it included false like director Level County manager Joe leadership there, along the cnn's and you across the organization, we did some reflections and report back.

And I think my biggest take away from that and something that's like been consistent needle and thread is about the need for sharing data across departments and also having a perspective of both human services and health outcomes. And with that intersection. The need to also be collecting data, right? Like are we measuring who we are serving and is that reflective of the demographics in our communities. At those weren't key things that I heard and also just a desire forest for staff to have a space in which they can both have courageous conversations. I like the framing that it's not a safe space necessarily, bt it's a space to have these conversations that are critical to the impact and outcome summer residence. You know, following the board meeting, we will housing. Chip, a commission. Joan. We will then have the workshop on solid ways. Covid Commission and the la.

Will be chairing that and then we'll have the luncheon. Learn on tax increment financing and Commissioner Moore and which is that? And then I want be a board workshop all hands on that access. And that could see commissioners young that. So we have full day working right for lunch. And we always

And recyclable mission.