Ramsey County, MN Board Meeting

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Like to call to order the Ramsey County Board Commission is Roll. Call, second thing here. McGuire here, McMurtry year. Mueller here, Moran here, here I We stand. And to the Republic for which it stands. nation under God. was team's justice for all. And then they can acknowledgment commission saying. 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 are drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life. And some have lived on this land since time immemorial tooth ad acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect and crossed all barriers that heritage and difference. We're standing on the ancestral land to the Dakota people. We want to acknowledge the to avoid the ho-chunk in 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 plants. Consider the many legacies of violence displacement, migration and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths if any and all public events. Thank you, commissioner. I looked motion for the huge end, though, June second, 20. 26 of second. Seeing no discussion hall. Kevin saying aye. Require. I my tree Mueller. Moran don't take I. I want to take the motion on the minutes of May. 26. 2026. Some of second. Seeing no discussion roll call thing. I McGuire, I make my tree. Miller. I I wrong?

I. ministry attend the commission saying. the following items for approval item. Number 3 appointments to the personal Personnel Review board. Item 4 appointments to the Corrections Advisory Board. Item 5 appointments to the community. Health Services Advisory Committee. Item 6 appointments to the Park and Recreation Committee Commission. And discussion. Roll Call, 7 thing. I my tree Miller, I Moran I

We now have presentation and aging and disability services. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to welcome up. Came on air from social services, the deputy director to talk about some of the work that they've been doing. This is continuation of a progress update of the ATF to ease that you approved to support them in choice assessments effort. So thank you. Thank Mister Chair Commissioners County manager Becker the Morning. Again, my name is Katie Mullen era Service, a deputy director in our social services department and have the privilege of leading are aging and Disability Services Division. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you this morning and provide a brief update on the work in our division. I'll begin by providing some context. My team and I were in front of this board in March of 2025. at that time we shared several of the challenges that our division have been experiencing for the previous several years.

This included CA shifts and budgetary constraints which resulted in a decrease in full-time equivalent psitions alongside increase community need. In addition, there were a number of changes in DHS policy which increased workload for teams. All of this together resulted in significant backlogs and long wait times for residents seeking services in our area. After that, this board approved 80 additional full-time equivalent positions for aging and Disability Services division. That happened on March 18th of 2025. Tday all We hired for those positions on boarded our new employees and also talk about the impacts to capacity in many choices, specifically initial and reassessment as well as overall service delivery for residence. Today's update is intended to be brief. We do have a board workshop planned for September provide a more in-depth update. I'm pleased to share that we were able to hire for all 80 positions we hired in Onboarded in groups or cohorts. There were 4 cohorts, 3 took place in 2025. they started on June 30th September, December 8th.

And then we had one cohort that started in January of this year that cohort was specifically designed for 7 employees. We welcome from detox. choices, assessors in our case managers participated in an 8 week onboarding training program after completing that program, joined their teams as mobile workers and begin serving residents with a graduated caseload. Inman Choices assessment that caseload takes 2 months, 6 to be a full case load and case management. It takes a little longer. They have approximately a half of caseload at the six-month mark and a full caseload by approximately month 11. Now I'll share some operational impacts. The 18 new positions added much-needed staffing capacity that is being used to serve. Residents were quickly. I had some additional context here as well. When we spoke to in March of last year, our division was in a state of crisis. We did not have enough assessment capacity to be able to assign all reassessments timely if a reassessment isn't completed timely.

The resident risks losing services and or the provider may not be able to be reimbursed. We were using utilizing overtime to get as many reassessments done as possible. And we were also doing very few initial assessments because we needed all staff focused on those reassessments. Now we are able to assigning complete all reassessments timely every month. We've ended the use of overtime. We have started completing initial assessments in our division is on track to effectively end the initial assessment backlog by the end of 2026. In fact, we've made some tremendous progress even since the update memo I sent you a few weeks back at this point, we have effectively ended 2 of the 3 backlogs and I'll say more about that on the next slide. As we've moved out out of crisis and into a phase of being able to be more planned, full and proactive. We have done a number of things. And one example is joining a pilot with the mental health Division of social services and financial Assistance Services or F a S this pilot is designed to expedite choices assessments and waiver openings for residents.

Exiting state operated facilities such as an open Metro Regional Treatment Center. This is the pilot did that Deputy director Kenny Walker spoke about during their board workshops on May. 5th. Now are to my favorites line where I have the opportunity to share with you. Some positive impacts to the residents that we serve. The graph on the left of the slide shows the number of backlogged initial assessments over time on the left column is the number o assessments along the bottom or date set for different points in time. March of 2025. October of 2025. January of 2026 and May of 2026. The Orange Line at the top with the squares is the total number of initial assessments in the back lawn. The second lne from the top, the blue one with the trying. But with the diamond represents residents 60 under 65. We're waiting for an initial assessment. The 3rd line which is green and has a diamond or triangle.

Sorry Triangle. This represents the number of residents who are seeking a developmental disability waiver. Those waivers have to be completed by a specialized group of assessors. No, no one is qualified. Developmental disability professionals or Cutie peace. And the bottom line, the Purple One represents residents 65 and over who are seeking an initial assessment. So the 3 lines at the bottom all total up to equal that orange line at the top. You can see that when we spoke to in March of last year, our backlog is around 17 or 1800 residents waiting for an initial assessment as we work to hire an onboard new staff over the course of 2025. The backlog continue to grow peaking in October at around. 2500 residents for weighting approximately 11 to 12 months. As we gain capacity were able assessments you can see that - the backlogs have decreased pretty significantly in pretty quickly. At this point, we reduce the backlog by more than 1800 residents between October of 2025.

And May of this year. Wait times for residents under 65 have decreased within 20 working days. Wait times for the residents. 65 and over have also decreased to within 20 working days. This is the statutory requirement. If I had balloons, I would let him fly right now. think the green line at the bottom again, these are the residents seeking a developmental disability waiver and those assessments need to be completed by acute EDP, qualified developmental disability, professional. You can see that line. His state, approximately study. We have a smaller number of those assessors. And so backlog is taking a little bit longer. And I will speak more about that in the next slide. The current wait time for that population is approximately 7 months. And while we're on this slide, I do want to make a connection to our anyone interested. We have performance measures on the Ramsey County Open data portal. You can click through the social services performance dashboard to see the measures for aging and disability Services.

In our measures are really around the timeliness of many choices. Assessments. The first measure is the average number of backlogged assessments on a given day in 2024. For some context, that number was 1180. As I mentioned a few minutes ago last fall around. 2500 assessments. And currently it's just over 500. Our goal for 2027 with 700. So we knock that one out of the park. The other 2 measures that we have or the percent of residents under 65 and the percent of residents over 65 for assessed within 20 working days. And now that we have appropriate capacity, we expect to make very significant gains as we move forward. Those measures are in the process of being updated. One note on make here is that the visuals on the dashboard showed 2025 2027. So the progress that we've made in 2026 is a visually reflect affair. We have written a narrative to speak about the progress that we want people to see it until the updated 2027.

Well, we have made remarkable progress. We still have work to do. We will continue shifting capacity within the division. 2 areas of highest need them in choices. Assessment is the first step in a series of steps for resident to access services. Now that residents are not having to wait as long for the the first step, the initial assessment, we want to make sure that they're able to move through our division in a timely manner. And so we'll move positions around to make sure that we're able to do that. We'll continue to pilot this mental health and with financial assistance. This bill supports residents and discharge into community as quickly as possible. It also decreases the county CA share for those states. We have a focused effort underway right now which is started within the last week or so to address the residents waiting for the different developmental disability assessment by the QT P. We recruited a number of volunteers from across assessment will focus on those cases exclusively for the next few months so that we can make significant reductions in that bathtub.

We'll continue to respond to other pressures, including waiver opening delays, case management capacity. The ruling implementation of community for services and supports. I do want t make a note for case management. We recently added 4 new contract to case management providers to support us and adding additional case management capacity. In addition to adding capacity, our vendors provide a lot of other benefits that I'll just speak about briefly. This does allow some additional choice for residents. Not everyone wants to be served directly by the government. We also have vendors who have expertise in serving different types of disabilities. For example, we have a vendor who specializes in providing services to folks with brain injury. And we also have a vendor who specializes in serving individuals with autism. Our vendors also support us in providing culturally responsive service, which is especially important here in Ramsey County. Some of our vendors belong to the communities that we serve and understand the cultural norms and practices and are better able to build trust and report.

Then I myself as a white person may be able to. Sol again, we have a board workshop scheduled for September 22nd of this year will regret over, provide a more in-depth update. I thank you for your time this morning. And I'm happy to stand for any questions. Commissioner thank you so much for bringing this back to us. And also congratulations on successful hiring and getting so many of those backs walks down. Thank So we have to celebrate those My my question goes to around just more understanding about the qd DPS officers for the wait times that are about 7 and a half months is that? Are w making meeting? Likes state expectations or mandates around that time? No okay. even their chair committee on, you know, we're you share a little bit more about that, too. And just help me to understand a little bit more about, you know, process of identifying folks who are able to do that.

And also if we can use our current staff to do the training become certified, to be able to do that. Mr. Chair Commissioner Sean, thanks for the question. We are out of compliance with that piece of the statutory requirement. I will say 20 working days is a high bar and it's not uncommon for agent lead agencies t struggle and we want to be within the statutory requirement. Currently, we have approximately 10 assessors who service qualified developmental disability professionals to DPS. We con que is they need to have a bachelor's degree in a field connected to serving development people developmental disability. And they also have to have a minimum of one year of experience. So once we clear the initial backlog, we do anticipate that the 10 ongoing positions will be adequate to serve in coming referrals. But we do need a focused effort to address the initial backlog. So we recruited a number of assessors currently employed in the division who maybe meet the criteria to be acute EDP.

But aren't typically doing different types of cases? And so that group, I think we're going to have between 15 and 20 who'll be focused on doing those assessments over the summer NRF. Our goal is to have a significant improvement. By the time we speak to you in September. Sounds like a great plan. Thank you. answer my question. So exciting to hear that in this time when we know the work shortages being able to recruit people to want to do this really important work can be hard. Kudos to getting al 80 hired. What has been our retention rate as folks have gone through, they're learning and how many folks have stuck through the program. Mr. Chair Commissioner Jevan same great question. Lt me find it on my head. My team prepare a list of potential questions for me. So it's on here. I just have to find it. Our retention rate is 91% for the 80 positions.

So we've had 7 staff who are hired and then laughed. One of those moved within our division from one position from a social worker to a senior social worker. So as a promotion, we've only had 6 folks leave the division that wouldn't have pretty proud of the 91% retention rate. Yes, SA, that's really fantastic. And I just wanted to use this as as a a chance to thank all of your team. And your staff, it seems to me that they have been dealing with a quite workload. I'm hearing over time. I'm hearing trade helping to train in and in bringing in and mentor their new colleagues. I'm hearing asked to be nimble and shift to where they are needed, which means additional training and understanding. So while we're here congratulating your team. I just want to lift that up that there are individuals who are stretching themselves every day to make sure residents are getting served soon as we possibly can.

So please extend or thank you and our gratitude to the work that they've been doing. Mr. Chair Commissioner, if I may add to that, thank you for bringing that up. our team in our division has a whole has been amazing the last year. Plus, he's very intense. Everyone across the division has worked really hard. Frontline staff serving residents directly with multiple changes coming over time. Our leaders literally participated in hundreds of interviews alongside leading their teams to support the hiring of these new positions. It's been a big list. So I join you in thanking Craig it might could have done it without him. I get to be a peer speaking. You voted today, bt they've done much of the hard work to get us here. So kudos to them. And and I just want to also say in in noting this success in that in starting to bring down tese backlogs and lifting up the work of our team.

This is a way to do acknowledge that we have the bandwidth to 2. I dress these issues and we take really seriously. And the the backlog for the developmental disability that QB D P P assessments that need to be done. I Commissioner Sean for for for making sure that we are not gliding over that. And I appreciate that. There is a plan in place. 2 tenant, chip away at that as well as we know that when when our residents are are waiting for these assessment, when families are waiting for these assessments, when providers are waiting for these assessments there, there's a cost in quality of life in in the ability of of loved ones to be working rather than being at home, caring for for, their individuals and their family. For providers to go without payment through all sorts of things that can happen while we're waiting for those We take this work very seriously.

Really happy to see the progress that's been made and excited to hear more of that progress in some of these other areas in September. I have 2 quick questions. Thank you, Phil. Good job. And entire team. one of the slides and the challenges you had. One of the issues is capacity. tell me what that references to. One of them is case management capacity. So a lot of the positions went to assessment because that's where the biggest backlogs are. Sorry, Mister Chair. We did add some positions within case management system of the 80 went to case management. We have some additional internal capacity. And then we also added contracted case management providers to support us ad making sure that we have enough case management capacity. The more people. Come on to Weaver, the more people need case management. And so those numbers continue to grow. When I mentioned kind of shifting capacity within the division. One of the things we're looking at is do we need to have some of the positions over the case management longer term to make sure that we have enough capacity moving forward.

And yet on sort of relate, it has to do with the vendors. What communications that we at with the vendors to make sure that. some of our residents don't fall between the cracks. seems to be the area when they might be more confusion. The people with folks. And a shortage case I'm aware that.

That's where I think. Things might get my down sometimes and it you know, people get caught in ping-pong type of back and forth. Talk a little bit about Mr. Chair, thank you for the question. We A good deal of support for vendors. And it's something that we're looking to enhance throughout the course of this year. So currently we have a small team of Endor liaisons who provide support to our contracting agencies. We have weekly consul TSO, any case manager, whether they're internal or with the vendor can come in the consul in bring if you've got a question about what to do with the residents case. Our leaders are in that meeting and they can provide some consultation. We have a monthly training session that's required for all case managers. And so the vendors come to that as well. And those are ongoing training topics to make sure that our staff have the resources they need to serve residents.

Well. S we have done alot for some of things that are popping up right now with in-home and community-based services. We've been having. And additional weekly consul focused on those areas to make sure the case managers are getting the support they need fr that here I'm speaking about some of the payment with holes that have been taking place it's you have some other notes or that if they missed anything. We have a lot processees and written standard operating procedures. We go through an update those regularly. So if the case manager just has a quick question that can go look up soapy and understand how to work through a process. We have an official grievance process that's required by state statute. But if resident is not experiencing good case management, they can either contact us informally or they can go through the grievance process. And we take a look at each of those very carefully. vendor liaison team also does case file reviews for every agency every year.

They'll take a percentage of the cases that they hve and they near the process windy when the Minnesota Department of Human Services comes out and does teen years, that process for - the vendor. So we'll look a select group of their cases and see how they're doing in comparison to statute. And then again, the in 4 sessions and the weekly consulates. And there's also a monthly meeting just for the vendor supervisors for our team can connect with them from a leadership perspective. we have the works out the full board, Shep, who we make that we talk about that because that. You kow, we address one weak link. Now we get address the other one night. to make sure we have good seems like let me ask you one last question. And that is. If apply my have you as my case manager. I have 6 mnths later. If I have to. Mr. Chair, that's a good question.

In theory, you should. What we are seeing it says is that sometimes the turnover rates that the vendor agencies is higher than we would like it to be. To be fair, we contributed to that when we hired 80 positions. We welcome several employees from venture agencies and there's some different reasons for that turnover rate. There was a lot of discussion about this during the legislative session this year. And s some of legislation that came out of that is still be a rate study for waiver case management. There's also going to be working group to look at case Lever case management as a whole to understand where the system needs to make some adjustments. The case manager role has also grown over time and because become more and more administrative and the rules becoming pretty untenable. So there's a number of factors that are playing into this. But that is we do want for people to have a consistent case manager. That's where you can get.

Typically the best service. And that's one thing we're looking support of Anderson, doing as we move forward. thank you. If you could just sort of noted that that the way except maybe we get an update and see how that's going cause. creates, you know, if you take 2 steps forward and one step Woods, right? We we need to keep pushing forward all all the horses moving to other. Thank you. Feel like I have make that you And a quick question about the greed that process. Are they able share verbally on does it have to be written?

Mr. Chair commissioners on the resident can submit it in any way that they prefer. So there they can call us. They can send us an e-mail. We have a dedicated grievance email. We're happy to take their information. However, it's easiest for them. We have some folks. prefer one method of communication or the other. So we'll take it. However they prefer. OK, sounds good. Thank you. And only thank you, Mr. Chair, just thank you for. Fr great work. And we we know that when we're very excited for you for all of our residents that this hiring these positions Are happening? I have a question because this is the aging and disability services. Do we have an idea of our of our numbers as far as our demographics goal? Do we anticipate will have more and need in this area or are we keeping know we have You've been talking about capacity issues. even with just the current need, what will we continue to see this need growing can you talk a little bit about what you how you see this aging somewhat county.

But and also I don't know what if we have a sense of that with and the disability services. Mr. Chair Commissioner McGuire, thanks for the question. And a high level demographics to have Minnesota population aging, as you mentioned here in Ramsey County as well. So that it seems probable that we might see more residents 65 and over who are seeking services to remain in the community. I don't have any hard numbers for you today, but I anticipate. I think it's probable that it could continue to grow. I will see generally speaking, we've also increase in residents of all ages seeking services through our area. When I spoke to in March of 2025, the average weekly referrals was about 100. And at this point that's increased to about 117. So we are seeing more people requesting the men traces assessment. And Mr. Chaired by just this a bit clarification. Do we think it's because we're getting the word out more, which I'm glad, you know, with letting people more people know about it.

Or more people need it and maybe a combination of both and what you're probably going to say. But Mr. Chair commissioner, I suspect it's a combination of Yeah. questions. Thank you so much. Thank you. County connections. Thank you. Mister Chair. I wanted to provide a brief update on relocation of our public health services that were at 5, 5, 5 Seater. pleased report that after lots of work on behalf of our property management team, public health and our contractors. The clinical services successfully opened yesterday morning at the new Public Health Center, which is located at 18, 50 avenue in Maplewood. So we anticipate a grand opening later this summer service is now operating at the new location includes clinic 5, 5, 5, the immunization clinic to losses, clinic and the public Health lab. There were a couple of services that were located at 5, 5, 5, that did not relocate to Maplewood. Those are house calls, which has moved over to the environmental health offices, which are in May.

It Maplewood and so violence services, our transition, its operations to other county locations, te syringe services program will continue to operate a 5, 5, 5, Wow. We are finalizing arrangements of a new downtown site that will meet client needs. So that service will stay in downtown Saint Paul. We have under the public health team is under undertaken in partnership with communications, extensive outreach to clients and the community through direct mail.

Text messages, signage on going. Public communications for a transition and those continue. If you've been following the county social media, there's been a lot on that as well. This move happened on quite an accelerated timeline to take advantage of a really unique opportunity to be able move into a form of medical clinic. That was very much ready be able to be used. So I want to thank all the departments and teams from making that transition possible. In addition, I want to briefly acknowledge the work of our chief clerks office and in a surprise him here last week during our senior management team meeting. Jason was able really to board processees in - the many resources and tools that he has available on the chief clerks Web page. I want to take that moment to recognize, you know, the office that overseas, but also the many staff across the organization who contribute to the board processees.

Yeah, a lot of you obviously have packets in front of you every Tuesday and it's it's the work of a big team over many weeks that gets those items before you operational excellence. Depends on having really strong systems and clear accountability to thoroughly review things. And so before an item actually gets to you. It hs been reviewed by program staff likely mltiple levels, fiscal team, legal counsel in county leadership to insert sure that commissioners have complete and accurate information to support your policymaking. So it's not a super exciting part of the work, but a lot of the public gets to see. But it is actually a really, really important part to making sure that you all have what you need to do. Your most important work, which is make policy at this table as a reminder to both commissioners and the public are board materials are posted by Thursday afternoon for the following Tuesday board meetings.

This reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency, preparation and providing sufficient time for review and public engagement. I want to thank everyone across organization for taking. I had this duty. I was what I would call it a very, seriously. And so I thank you, Jason, to you and your team for all your good work. Lastly, I want to invite director of property management to talk about rain days. So. We got some things even hand out. So

Probably think you manage back or a deputy county manager handing out a few swag bags. These are items that will be part of train days. This coming weekend. That will be part of the festivity part of the free, if you will hand out to attendees so train days this year is June 6, 7, This has been an annual event at depot since we have reopened and had trains there. If you have not been, it is a fun event t come to to see the number of people at any indie folk to see the diversity in the people visiting. You need people. Whether or not unlike training equipment of freight trains, passenger trains, etc or not. I will say it is pretty awesome to be able to be right next to some of this equipment and understand just the magnitude of this equipment and that some of it as well as the depot itself have been around for decades.

If not 100 years this year, Union Depot is celebrating its 100 years. Portions of the union people opened in years prior to 1926, it was a. Practically a 9 year construction process to build what you see today as Union Depot, that included the elevated train deck and at the time 21 sets of tracks that came into Union Right now. We have. 2 sets o tracks 2 and a half sets of tracks. We would love to have 3 or 4 or 5, but the train traffic that rain volume is obviously what is considerably less than it used to be again, train days as the 6th and 7th. In addition to the training equipment, there are many vendors concessionaires who set up in the waiting room out on the South Lawn selling all sorts of Toys, books, photos, etc, as well as this year in honor of the 100 years. We are having music fest which will literally be an outdoor concert on the South Lawn that will go Saturday afternoon from 3 to 9 pm that rain dys event and they access to the train equipment closes a little bit sooner than that on Saturday.

But then Sunday as well. We expect to see crowd each day that could b throughout the day in the neighborhood of 10,000, 10,000 is the number of passengers that used to be in Union Depot daily. Last year. Union Depot in total for the year surpassed a million visitors for the first time since te reopening on average. That's still less than 3,000 a day. So if you really want to see the excitement of te deep ball and when please stop by.

Also visit the retail tenants that we have at the depot when we opened commissioner taking will remember, we had some basis. We added a bike shop, Lower Town bike shop and they have expanded to serve coffee as well. That was a dream from the beginning was a bike shop coffee shop. It's there. We have hurts with rental cars. We have obviously the buses, including the Metro transit, MBTA flick bus and the regionals, Jefferson, etc. of course, Amtrak and with the addition in the recent years of the borealis has been hugely successful that we really have achieved that multi-modal. Center. That was the vision of many who came before m. In addition, the retail shops, the starting line books that you're to Bob's the DJ pilot are all doing very well. If nothing else stop by and check out 18 81 eating house with that any questions for train days but stop on. Jane Jane, can you repeat that?

They did shirts. Training days and the train equipment is Saturday. June 6, the training equipment is available for viewing from noon to 06:00PM. The training equipments available Sunday for viewing from 10:00AM to 04:00PM. And the Music Fest portion on Saturday is from 03:00PM to 09:00PM. Union Depot DOT Org. Web site would have all of this information and more. Folks to check out. But it is truly a fun event to Union Depot full of people both inside and outside. there any further questions? Well, thank you, Jeanne. And especially they use stewardship over all these years, you've really the Lou, all the pieces together for Thank you so much. Thank you, commissioner. You've done I'll

Sign Board and committee Little Nice, though. Commission is saying all righty. Had a chance to be in community this past week I was at the small sums breakfast says on university they provide access to tools, training and transportation needed to start and succeed in new job. So I really appreciate this organization. They work conjunction with a lot of different organizations to get people started. I know is. As somebody as a parent of a child who started many, many jobs, you always need to have that hand pair of pants for that read. You know that red shirt or the black toed shoes or whatever. And sometimes those expectations come before the paycheck comes and small kits people out as the inter new jobs and make sure that they can get that little boost. So. Happy to be able to learn more about that program. I was at the White Bear Lake Area, Schools certified nursing assistants pending ceremony there in partnership with Century College in their career pathways program.

I I will just say my mom was a nurse in the pinning ceremonies are very sentimental. It's a long tradition that goes back. There's a different pen as you go through each one of the different certifications. And it's just wonderful to see young men and women who are interested in our medical professions. We need more of that and excited to see them get that lift right as they're going to high school. I went with many of my colleagues, 7 set the walk-in tp center opening and what a tremendously beautiful day. And all I know that the commissioner, Sean, was able to speak at it. let her speak. You save more about it. great to see community coming together. And and just and to see that land as it should be such a sacred space folks together. I was able to do an introduction to one of the events at the Flint Hills Family Festival. And if you have never as a family member or come down to the Flint Hills Family Festival.

All of Rice Park the ordway are just there's kids. There's music. There's crafts. And art was just So I encourage folks keep in mind for future years and then went over to the water fest. Unlike family and and wonderful to see our parks just to live as we come into festival season. couple of more substantial updates. The Race Creek Commons GA met last night. As we had our our workshop recently and talked about the hybrid approach to our RFP process being presented to the board. It was approved and week directed staff to continue moving in that direction. So what that means now is that both the city and the county and the gta staff instead of just creating lists and thinking about how alignment would work. There may be some slight changes that have to go before the planning commission. There may be some bits and pieces that have to be more with the Della T in coded to make sure that the decisions that that can be made by city and county to be in alignment so that when we go to presenting the RFP to either to a multiple potential developers for the different sectors of the Race Creek Commons that we have those pieces in place.

It puts us in a nice position of being able to clearly define what the expectations of the project car. And we'll just keep moving on Another piece to this was we did note that you with the Army for system, it has been in place. There was this is one of those kind of administrative behind the scenes bureaucratic sags that we're a little worried about. There is a bit of a pause because of the government shutdown last fall. And thank you to everybody from all the different entities to keeping that moving. This allows us to continue with the work for the planning and the construction in site. Preparation. And as we prepare the site for grating and then also for the spying row to Race Creek Boulevard. then there will be an opportunity for public engagement with our public works around Race Creek Boulevard and at the 75th anniversary celebration in Arden Hills on later in July.

I held for number of the mayors from the municipality's in my district. What will be the first of quarterly gatherings of the mayor's? That's a salon. Sure we can gather and and see collectively what's happening in our community is how I can be better connector to the county and some of our services there. We were reflecting on experiences and continued activities in our areas around Operation Metro Surge. And we anticipate future conversations as broad as to how are people handling e-bikes in the parks and on their sidewalks. 2 issues around on better understanding Ramsey County resources. Timing of public works projects communication with their sheriff's office and other departments. So there's a broad number of topics and I'm excited that that group is going to be coming together more regularly. While this is not something that was specifically that I attended. I just want to lift up. On the discussion of Operation Metro Surge over the weekend.

The people of the Twin Cities were honored with the John F Kennedy Library Foundation's profile in Courage Award for defending immigrant neighbors and constitutional rights during Operation Metro Surge. And I just wanted to quote, Caroline Kennedy from that award ceremony. She said the people of the Twin Cities remind all Americans that we cannot take our democracy for granted their compassion and unwavering commitment to the ideals that sustain our democracy, inspired communities across the country and forced the federal government to back down. We especially remember the courage to run a good and Alex Pretti who gave their lives for their community in our country. And I just want to take this moment to again, thank all of our residents who came together in support of their neighbors who forced a violent occupation faced violent occupation with acts of kindness and courage. Thank you. assuming it Thank Thank for time. Thank Chair. couple things. One the highlights of last week I had a chance volunteer at Zion Community comments.

I tend to go their monthly to volunteer with Collin Anderson and their team. They have an open market in the community and also 2 nights a week. They just they do amazing work, especially during Operation Metro Surge to ensure that the folks in our community were dire need for assistance and for L we're getting at least So great. Great to connect with Colin. They're also going to be expanding and doing open market in July, a cadence records coffee on Payne Avenue. So looking forward to that as well. Last week, I also had a chance to meet with executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota. I know many of us attend that their annual gala couple of weeks They are facility offices in my district. And so I wanted to get a chance to once again connect and learn more about that. The things that they've been experiencing over these last few months and to provide updates on what we've been working with the county.

I think there's a tremendous opportunity for us to maybe renew some collaboration with the International Institute and had a chance come act executive director our F a S director as well as hopefully to provide their staff with an update HR one and the implications for their clientele. So looking forward to just continue to grow that partnership and that collaboration with amazing work that they're doing at institute last I also met Vivian Tran who is the new executive director. For the pain failing Community District Council. I like to keep in touch with all of my district council they are really on the ground and doing it. instrumental with folks in the community. S we had a chance to to come at them know that they hosted last week, a listening session with mayor her around the Northern Iron Foundry, which technically isn't commissioners arms distric. But we know there are remnants of and the impact is felt in communities throughout east side.

So we had a chance connect with the in on that front as well just sharing a little bit more about the things working with the county. So really looking forward growing that partnership. Saturday, as commissioners have been saying, I had a chance to attend the Flint Hills Family Festival. It was the first I'd ever to to this possible and it was absolutely packed with families in Wright Street Norway. I got a chance to introduce. Click, Clack, Tony it was. It was like the Beatles. I walked on stage people like that's the Commission into the U. S..?

Scientists and idea get off the stage what really is is a chance for families to come together and and just celebrate the arts. And yeah, so many other things that that we're our community affordable I really appreciate that. And then I will give one update fr an upcoming event that's happening on tomorrow. The city of Saint Paul and Ramsey County will be collaborating for Blood Drive in partnership with Memorial Blood The Blood Drive will take place here in the courthouse in Rome, 40 in the basement from 0:30AM, to 02:30PM. So what to make that plug Well? Thank collector movie Last week I with executive

Committee meeting the full board meeting is this week. I also attended the joint powers. And that's if you're gonna mention this. But I'll just quickly. The joint powers meetings have a the board, approve budgets, updated policies. It's the wind down and congratulations. You are the vice chair this year. Yeah. We also had the Ramsey board which the full board approved the proposed budget. There's no changes. And then the next step is they'll come the Ramsey in Washington County boards for approval by August. And also we did get a presentation which I thought was pretty cool about the odor that they do. Order monitoring in Newport around the Rams around the R D Center and they have an actual sniffer. It literally you put a little thing on your nose and it looks like a gun that they have to be trained to sniff. I wish I knew the official word likely, but it was a pretty pass.

An 18. then I attended I S D a 6 to 2. state of the District Attorney High school. And last Thursday, it was really cool to see a tour of the new high school that day high school really just an opportunity to continue strengthening those partnerships with time. Our school districts. And then following that, I joined Commissioner Jim and saying at the White Bear Lake Area High School CNA pinning ceremony. just want congratulate the graduates for this. This is really a great example of workforce development in action, through partnerships between the school districts and colleges. And I also wanted to recognize and thank long keeping framework for solutions for his leadership and partnership in helping, you know, create this and be a part of Kudos to him and the team that they're doing congratulations all the graduates do you play. he is now he has to give it to him. Thank a few I last week with a couple women from. Count for more United Methodist Marin. Greg, answer and cry. is a part of a coalition just organizing around issues there are

Impacting. Individuals and families in it with the discussion behavior, health care. I'm so they be to just share some of work that we're doing here in Ramsey County around Ba to have fun how that partnership could possibly be share, you know, within communities in the work that they're doing and had to lead on the issues. You know. In partnership with Ramsey County, but also at the Legislature. And it's a pretty get our meeting just to hear and learn from them and the great work that they're doing. Also in the part at the Saint Paul Church in collaborative Strategic planning work group. Where we met to prioritize. We created a working group to justice some type of reflection on to Saint Paul to collaborative. Beyond grant making over the next 3 to 5 years. So he is a unique role one of the Pirates looking to address dressing in our priorities effective brand teams reporting process is Who out. the S P C C target audience in a few of the ideas as we move forward, it was just a chance. The first meeting to come together really look at, you know what it means, looked like it had we move for intentionally as Saint Paul. Collaborative. Shouldn't collaborative. I also have that on 2.18, heading home. Ramsey County Governing Board, I was

Honored to be re-elected the chair of the governing I am truly grateful for really the work that we're going to do together moving forward. You to remain commit advance in our collective effort to prevent and end homelessness. The Ramsey County, we believe that through collaboration, innovation and continued focus on housing, stability. We are working toward a sustainable solution. They have in division within families attain and maintain safe and stable housing. It's cool out to the work is going on our staff Manatee County to in this work, which is also a partnership with the city of Saint Paul. And so we're moving forward and I am hopeful for the work that we can do together. I also have a great opportunity to to partner with the Flint family festival on to deliver brief remarks to introduce one of that feature performances. I mean, it was just like really all some to walk i. And this is a partnership that the family, Flint family heals, family.

If they family have over the last 26 years in a partnership with the or wait But to just see everything close, To see all the schools in attendance. And the key is doing tests in array of different activities and event, but to go inside wait, the attorney to lap really introduced a feature of the day was really, really awesome. Just to see so many young people there just a hype them up a little bit so that, you know, they can get Britain prepare for the performance. It was a really, really great evening. A great way to start my day off. I mean, really call a couple. My daughter is He has need to know. So it on Friday and Saturday. So the the issue of Saturday for the events on Saturday, it was really great. You see here. On this Saturday and my district, there was unveiling of the David in wind fields statue at that Toni Stone Field in Saint Paul. event celebrated their remarkable legacy of the Hall of Famer who is Dave Winfield and highlighted importance preserving honoree local history Even community pry.

This is one of our own came out of the Rondo community who went on become Hall of Fame all of a nerd. So they half of beautiful statue. A in the park next to Central High School Marching Avenue. It was inspiring to see residents, leaders and supporters come together to recognize the Saint. Paul native. accomplishments continue to serve as a source inspiration for future generation. So on Saturday to hit, the unveiling of the statue did Sunday, I tended 50th annual Winfield annual banquet at the Intercontinental same popular Front hotel. This is also in the event that recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership service and commitment strengthen our community. But The afternoon was really eliminated with recognition of students have excellent. So there's I think least 18 students from different high schools who were recognized for achievement academic success for us in leadership. We did in Saint Paul Public school. It was a great afternoon, a recognition of our future us. But I was just really, east

Work that these young students have. Diane and I doing Overton, many of over 4 years, the defendant high school. But what they have achieved. In outlook for the future moving on to college. If a had. It just made so far out. You know, sometimes we look at what's happening the world and we don't know what this means for future leaders. They have showed us. What it looks like when we invest in our young A really good evening of just getting would people a good meal in recognitions of our students in Saint Paul School money. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. You The big thing, but glasses I can just add on a little bit more context with the goal line with a cult-like board. I'm pleased to share that. You know, ridership more than doubled from last year. So those are really updates and just numbers and trends. We're seeing in addition to that, the electric was recalled last year.

The vendors still working on it and the plan is get online later this year. And then the other part with the update around this is the extension t Minneapolis and it will all the stops would be included in there is a long all the stadiums that are in the metro here going downtown Minneapolis. I also wanted to share that the Kellogg Bridge will be reopening later this year in November. So that means that it will decrease travel time by 9 minutes for the gold line. So that is a huge improvement. And just support the reliability and travel time to make coal mine much more appealing. In addition to and walk-in tp and opening, I was honored to be one of speakers and really it's a big project that both the legislators part of senator from her. Senator Mary could niche and then also the city of Saint Paul played a big role in this, too, because this was initially consider City Park land the city worked a deal with, you happy giving this walk-in TPL appease organization to lke managed to lease manage essentially the simple public parks director was the year addition to mayor her and also councilmember, she quit Johnson.

And, you know, this is you know, I rceived a comment about in a race server, of of of of the Congressman Presidental right. But I've just been reflecting a lot on that. And that, you know, doesn't erase anyone's legacy that this is really providing in preserving history about the legacy of of what colonialism has done and that you're a sure of an entire her indigenous population so bad fr away is with what the senators trying to do is just to to connect us to this legacy as well. And it's not in a race share of any person's legacy as well. In addition to that, I toured the kuz childcare hub just 2 years ago at 2, 3, years ago with Arpa funds. We were able to help support clues with this and also with community partners and hearing about just need for lunch health care access and to just supporting home, home base health care that it's actually businesses right?

So we we also helped with gave a presentation. I was proud to tour rooms, the classrooms now that they have available. And unfortunately, unfortunately, because of Operation Metro Surge, you know, we're just seeing a slow enrollment into the classrooms and folks you taking their kids to childcare centers anymore or and or, you know, are relying on other ces to support provides health care. So they have openings available. It's a it's a model in Did it even though they have multiple rooms each individual groom is a operated by independent owner. So it's a it's a hub

Uptight model. they wre able to receive a lot and raise money for new equipment everything. So the classrooms are beautiful. It's a great place for kids. So they have openings. Yeah. And this is on the east side with located. It's right behind natural state. I'm Maria. Maria in the 7th Avenue. Yeah. 6 and with Give back my time. Thank Thank you. Thank Joe. Thank you, Mr. Great things going on. excited about the childcare. Have That's wonderful. So I mentioned last week that I ws going to be attending some of my city council meetings and it's always great to obviously BD at our city's meetings where we get to talk about the things that working on together. So I was in Saint Anthony where thank us for our again express cycling that we put it there. City Hall. Saint Anthony is a villa is a city that is as 2 counties, Hennepin and Ramsey, which they love being in 2 cunties because they get you know, used both both of the resources of the counties and we have our reset.

Our organics, recycling their at their city hall. So they love that. And we they also have participated in an emerging in diverse developers program and acquired 3 unit rental on one of the roads. And so it's great to be working with our cities on on different things. And I and then I was we were at little counted. And I think our county manager, think that go get a great presentation and little about the work that we're doing with our building stronger together. And I want to Give a shout out to Nick Schwellenbach who was just appointed to be a new council person in the Canada. There was a retirement every resignation of out of the another city council person. And so next, while back was appointed and sworn when we were there. So congratulations to Nick and welcome to get to as public service. So that was exciting to be tere. They also in Little Canada proved a housing program with loop a development, a senior housing building.

So it's really fun to see our it's our communities really embracing housing in needs of our of our communities and using our diverse helping developers. that was great. I also met with our former colleague, Nicole, for who's now the director strategic initiatives and Community Relations Far County Attorney's office and it's great and I'm we do some restarted justice in our county. And I know the state has a restart of Justice Department now and and really looking forward to us doing a lot more. We started justice practices a lot of the work that we do. So I'll be talking to our county manager and hopefully we'll be able t find out how ways that we can really immersed in immerse or insert every starter practices. And in a lot of our work. Also had and my Commissioner Miller talked about the Ramsey County, the Ramsey, Washington, Recycling and Energy Board meeting that we had, which was very interesting. always interesting because we talked then we get to hear all about the programs that are being that are out there and you mentioned the older machine.

And so it gave me a chance to look it up. So I will give the name of it. It's called. That was a nasal Ranger Fact a No, there wasn't factor meter. I want wanted to find some way that we could. that we could compete with the move. What is it I could collect. Move. Compete with that. But anyway, it is 6. It great that our center is is obviously so community center that we are very conscious of the older that might come out of recycling energy Center and and they do these tests, which we were all learn, which we all learned about. So that was great. And they I'm talking also about the food trapped program that is continuing on and by the end of this year, we are going to have our food scrap collections will be countywide. So we're all excited about that. July 6 is another roll out of cities and then by December, all of our cities will be able to including Saint Paul will be will my city of Roswell where were the final the final cities?

Will be able to have O organics vgan special bags and put in your in your in with your garbage pickup and they'll started out at at our processing centers. So we're all really excited about that. More to come as we continue to roll that out. I'm also just to let you know that there is a podcast by our executive director there called Trash Talk with And so encourage wherever you get your podcast to go to trash. Talk with Trista. it all about the work that we're doing with our respect Energy board. All right. And wth that, let's one more thing Mr. Chair, I only had active living. Ramsey communities met yesterday. Oh, my gosh. It's always exciting. This is a coalition of subsidies and and members of the public who come together. We had members from Saint Paul often is suburban communities. We get public works, their parks and rec. And we talk about how we can have.

I mobility for all in our communities and so talked about the Roseville bicycling PED plan. Well, back in the sustainability specialist there gave a great report on the Roseville plan and then we had a review of the Ramsey County Bike and PED that we're working on in. And we just had great conversation about how all the communities do want to connect and how we want all these trails to be connected. You don't want to tell the end, but one city in and and when it goes to another city. So we want all of the all of the connections to be made. So that's great work. And then we representative from the high school, the climate action team in the high school young gentleman who told me that they have started now and you've all heard of green steps, cities. These are cities that do a series of things that allow them to be considered geen staff school districts have started this.

You can be a green Step School district and the roads with area school district is the first school district in the state to be a Green Step School district. So there are going to have them be working with our recycling any, but I'm guessing that a lot of other school districts we're going to want to become that. But it's always great to have the young young people interested and involved in this. And so we're going to be continuing. To work with them, either active living and of course, in our and our solid waste issues, too, because that's a part of being green step as well. Just want to give a shout Coming up, there's a revived fest in New Brighton. This is a very exciting and really fun event in it. When after you've done train days, you can go new Brighton. People which is in Long Lake Regional Park. It's the trained people there the and they have amazing rhubarb and so go to breakfast and that's on Sunday then just want to say I'm glad that my colleague brought Commissioner Jevan saying, but at the profiles in Courage Award we I was glad to hear that.

And reminds me as I go by, I manufactured home park in Roselle, you know, every day on the way to work that we still have a vest, you know, volunteers with there with their safety vests on that are still making sure that our kids get on and off school buses safely. And so it's still out there. People are still nervous and we still have amazing community members that are helping people feel safe. So thanks for it's great to be honored for these awards and to know that it's we still have members that working on that. So thanks to thanks to everyone for their work. Let me just say that I had planned to attend the Family My 4 year-old, first of all, my 5 year-old granddaughter went there with the school. She came back she the whole day. And I was fine to take my 4 year old was she taught me taking a swim.

She's a. How that happens. I don't know happened, but I heard it was a great events. Let's say can love it. The other thing is come to regions. I had a region's board meeting last weekend. Usually I talk about it because in tissues they I call mundane business, but it shouldn't be. But it it's just the operation of business. The Muppet last meeting we had the one now a presentation by some of the medical staff. You know this all out and innovation going on and that hospital for because they want to get More in terms of trying to keep the costs down. And so I'm on the Finance Committee and, you know, over the years we've been, you know, just looking at how do we all sent the increasing costs and cuts uncompensated care.

This a lot of innovation going day by employees. And we now have this going to be. Moving into an area with his interests by outside. Corporations. When we we we just hospital would monetize some of these innovations. By having licensee cause of a house for those then started copying the same. It could be a procedure. It can't be. I mean, you know, we have unit there. It's an urgent its entrance entrance of this is a lot of innovation by employees. And the first thing

They came into my mind is that that's what where we have see county should try and see how we could spike more innovation by our employees, by the people on the So I just bring that up because he's a very good conversation. And? I just turned it for innovation by employees, the male cleaning. I'm talking about like 100 million plus and licenses a year in revenue. And they'll believe it is. and is. It is fantastic that they've already. have been doing this S

Organizational culture of fall. 80 years, 50 years. So region says is is getting is starting to move in that direction. Just say I just tell you because. It's one the things we should keep an eye on that and see how as we work together, we regions we can learn some lessons from them in terms creating more innovation in Manatee County. A nation question. because is looking looking at great work and innovation. Great. But as we look at what's happening with AC, I'm seeing so many other hospital across state in the country. Our highs financial. I mean, they do a lot on compensating care and things like that, too. So we Philly? Anything? reaches our there is concern, especially the head the medical center was to close. We weekend. The swamp, quite and that we then cause a lot of issues, including financial, but also want to capacity tey were very supportive. And advocating. At the state to head of the medical comparison Regents is financially healthy. you know, it's a business that fluctuates penson. How many births are in the hospital? How many surgeries hospitals and many people come to the ER room and how many of those are

On compensate. How many of those cannot pay bill if they say jobs? I mean, all of that is on compensating here. The but if we look April's report financially, ahead of the So it's financially in good shape. But has a lot to do with a lot of those things about innovation. And so I mean, it goes down to the people in the supply over the years that I've been there. The folks in the supply. I do. We do things differently to save money and become more effective and efficient for the call. It's not just about saving money. It's about also, how is this a for patients? You So it's just it's something that has The medical team present. I just started thinking that, you know, maybe that's something that the boy should start thinking about. put a little spike ahead of the start heading in direction of that. So it. Thank you for The following the board meeting, we will have the closed meeting chaired by myself Wilson versus Ramsey County. lunchtime. We had a luncheon that Iran we will be learning more about the the operations of purchasing and contracting. Ten this

Afternoon for mission and Jevon seeing chair, te Ramsey County Girls report up to 8. We can take about 10 minutes before we go into session. Okay. We