Ramsey County, MN Board Meeting

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What a commission as roll call, please. Second thing here, McGuire here, McMurtry year. Mueller here, Moran here here and we'll take a we stand for presidency. And the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And make my and commission is 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 were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life. And some have lived on this land since time immemorial tooth. An acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect in connection across all their years of heritage and difference. We're standing on the ancestral lands of the Dakota people. We want to acknowledge chip away. 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 trees made by the tribal nations that entitled Non native people to live and work on traditional native Lance. Consider the many legacies of violence displacement, migration and settlement to bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truth at any and all public events.? When team? Like that and emotion and end-september first 2026. second. Seeing no discussion. Jevon thing. I McGuire McMurtry. I I. want to take motion and the minutes of August, 25th 2026 so moved second. See no discussion. Roll. Call 17. I

McGuire. I. I I I entertained. Of administrator And I have commission is saying I move the finally following administrative items item number 3settlement agreement. And Felicia Marie Wilson versus Ramsey County Court found number 23 CB '01, 309, number 4, joint powers Agreement with the state of Minnesota for election recount Services item 5 funds transfer voice tone Maplewood Properties to redevelopment implementation project. I like call police. It full it.

? Okay. Clint item number 6, safe and secure Courthouse initiative Grant for Ramsey County. Item number 7 Joint Powers Agreement with the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board. And if it is discussion. Seeing check McGuire, I think my I Mueller, I I I item number 5, garrison. I think share like the pull 5 on transfer from total for hometown Maplewood Properties to redevelopment implementation project. Just

Wanted give an opportunity for the county manager for see the director of the common. Explain a little bit more about this. Kawhi them. Yeah, thank Mister Chair Commissioner McMurtry. I will invite rational sunup. I just wanted to kind put a connection to this to some of the broader work that we're doing while this seems like a little bit of administrative and kind of an rba. It actually signals a pretty significant next step for u when it comes to our building, stronger together, work. You'll remember last week when I was presenting the budget the critical illness while we're managing our budget and doing all those things. We also have to work on growing the tax base and one of that, the key ways we're doing that is selling county on property. And we talked about how we have to sustain momentum and sort of remove barriers and continue to align the work that we are in control of.

And so this is this RV is a good demonstration of that work as Doctor Olson has activated sort of a whole set of strategies under disposing of county on properties. So I'm gonna turn over Dr Wilson, thank you so much for this ongoing effort. building stronger together. W look forward to hearing more about it this morning. Thank you, Mr. Chair Commissioners County manager back or so. Appreciate the opportunity to kind of step up here and give you a little bit more background information on this action. So as county manager, Becker noted, this action actually does create some additional opportunities and flexibility as we kind of further the implementation of the building stronger together specifically within that core aspect. If you remember, there's 2 parts. One is aound downtown and the other is around selling county on land. So earlier this spring, we we brought forth, you know, workshop, some information, including the statistic that well over 500 acres of of county county on land is currently in that active state of redevelopment with an additional 100 plus acres scattered around the county.

That previous. It identified kind monitoring and identified as opportunities. But without having gone to that next step. So well over 600 acres of properties owned by the county, our kind of areas of opportunity for building a tax base, identify new opportunities for housing growth, cetera. So Maplewood North sometimes week in the in the board action today. We know that is made properties that was actually composition 2 properties at that time in 2021 Maplewood South Property, which was also known as the Ponds, Battle Creek Golf which was sold around that bard workshop. And that was 80 acres. And this was there's another parcel north of there as well as ways town. Again, these were properties that had previously identified as may be pop potential opportunities for a variety of factors. They just haven't moved as fast as other There's other series of actions that need to go along with those developments. And I would just say that this action doesn't result in any impact to the budget.

It's just a sliding over into a project account that provide some flexibility, nor does prevent any anticipated work that we've already identified are needed for voice town or that Maplewood North parcel, rather, really the primary purpose today's action is to expand the list of eligible properties that we can And for this funding to spport. So each property, as you know, comes with its own attributes and might identify its needs for what i needs to execute its own rollout plan of next steps. So adding flexibility allows emerging needs to be addressed quickly. And so we're excited to kind of do that over the next several months. And we've noted this through a series of actions to you all. You know, there's a active projects that we and the CD Department or Community Economic Development Department are tackling are big ones. Obviously, Rice Creek Commons and river's edge. But we have in a series of other smaller projects that we've stepped up and provided some more active oversight focus towards its reviews.

Reuse and develop redevelopment. So a couple of those just the name out loud. And I just want to call out. There's more coming but these are the 2 that we've been really actively working on doesn't do not have a project account at this time. So one acre parcel near the intersection of pain in Maryland on the east side of Saint Paul given its size and its the fact that it's a vacant It's a vision to be a nice complement to eerging diverse developers program. So we'll have more information to come on that one. A 2 acre parcel that's been brought to you. I believe in 2 different forms, one through this county board, but also through our regional rail authority. It's a 2 acre parcel located near the intersection of Frost in English and Maplewood. Again, a couple smaller sites, opportunities where we can kind of tackle them at the same time while we had kind of look towards the larger picture of redevelopment. was noted in the court action, one of the limitations that has hampered over the last several months is our ability to.

In our ability to assist multiple properties at the same time has been resources. And so today's action begins to address one of those limitations on the funding giving us a little bit of added flexibility to kind of tackle multiple projects, but also on the staff inside. So I'm happily joined by our new deputy director and he has this in our community economic development Department. Andy, Most recently served as the executive director of non-profit Community Development Corporation serving 5 neighbors, neighborhoods in Saint Paul. And that was a Redesign Inc before that he worked the city say Paul. So we're happy that happened to his knowledge and resources there as well as the Native American Community Development Institute. So I'm thrilled to dive into that work with him. We've had some additions to our team to kind of help fill out the county, the community economic development team and begin to kind of support. The multi pronged approach of a building stronger together as well as tackling multiple properties.

The same time. Mister Chair. I will just say before, maybe this is really your question. Maybe not for I know several of you have talked about. You know, kind of what is our plan for as we have all these properties to figure out sort of a privatization or how we're gonna quote, unquote, dispose of them. And I've been working a lot with Deputy County Manager Collins and I'm kind of with the transition from some of this work from property management actually it into CD officially now that we have Andy on board as Josh was stating and so we do plan to and have been wrking on a property disposition framework and plan to share more with the board many workshop. You know, around building stronger together before the end of the year. So I think it's important as we've whether it was when we comedies building or other sites, you know, even our dry streak comments that bed sort of the multitude of plans that this board in previous reports have said sort a body sort of the body of work and the and the things that we as a county care about along with our values.

And so that framework sort of takes into account all of those different plans as well. As you know, our county values in order to make sure we're prioritizing the right things. When we think about what we want to see as the next use of some of the properties, it is not let's just expose them only for tax base, but we want to be thoughtful about those conversations as well. So that rpresent. Okay. Thank you. I you know. Thank you, Mister Chair. I just have a question about the 75,000 from voiced hometown. What does that from that account or like what is what does entail? Mr. Chair commissioners so that account was set up and that 2021 board action and it was really kind of set aside. And it was intended at that time to be a complement to one of the board actions are account that was set up in property manager and around what is necessary to maintain a property through a process.

So if you could think about it is like 2 sides of the coin coin being skinny on the operation side and what is necessary to maintain kind Maintain the property as it goes through its next processes. And then that secondary account was really kind of to be talking about future development. Future disposition future needs the big nor any of the time. particularly to that project has been focused in the operations Can and our property management department has kind of been focused on that one. So in many ways we have commissioners on we have not to tipped into That that accounts and one of the limitations is that we call that out specifically as one project. And I think recognizing where we are in this moment that there's a multitude of projects, the projects are at different stages, bt also they have different market realities of some projects. May right right now. Some have to go through a series of other actions, whether that's partnerships and work through community through land, use.

It was just a particular moment were we have identified this particular project as well as the Maplewood Properties Project is one that if we can pull those resources together, I think we're we have great opportunities to actually execute faster as well as kind of address other needs across the portfolio of projects that we have. Mister Chair. I would just like to say you know that some 5,000 it just seems like, you is there hasn't been much movement at all since 21, actually. And I didn't even know that there was a budget for set aside for it. So that you know, obviously before my time. But, you know, I think just given that there was a budget set aside that, you know, we could have done engagement that's needed because I'm a part of with questions about touring it or like different ideas about it every single year and monthly right now to lead. It's it's a property that the county owns directly.

We're not waiting on any other landowners and it is basically just sitting if a Kent and also the cost to maintain it. And that's upwards in the millions. So I would say that, you know, I would like to see this prioritize in terms of just some movement. And what does this mean if we are taking this action today? Does that mean that BT to still gets put on te backburner? Mister Chair Commissioner John, you know, certainly not. I think based on our conversations and both the city, you know, with the city of thing, pollen with our own team like this is still rising to the top of one of the things we need to continue to talk about. I mean, it is also something as we kind of think about the use of our current impasse, correctional spaces. I think there's a broader conversation that we need to have. That was we were sort of assessing back to him that something that I had we had actually talked at the legislature about this last session.

So I can give an update on that at some point. But I do want to say, like in between 2021 and today there were things that were happening. We sort of had to clear out the you know, there was a natural resources survey done in 2022, there was a archaeological study that actually didn't wrap up until May 12th of 2025. to look at burial site kind of authenticity station work. So I mean, I think 2 things can be true like we probably maybe could have done a little bit mark mean gauge where we were also just making sure w understood the condition of the property to the point where it made sense to engage on the right things as well. So I do think that by pulling this money, our new DCI planned the new building Stronger Together Initiative. thinking about I know CDs been working on getting some new contracts with different vendors around sall area planning community engagement, like lots of things so we can work on all these properties.

I hear you that this is a high priority and I think we were still trying to understand the property as well. There were a lot of things that happened since 2021 on that property just as records cell and I have a whole list of them come to read them. But, you since 2020, we there's been environmental phases done. So just know if that helps yet. Yeah, I appreciate point. And I'm also getting to also is that should be doing the engagement side of it to, you know, having. Had this information are ready that wrapped up last year, ready. And I haven't seen a plan to do that. Engagement the prioritization of this at And that also with our building stronger together plan we we literally are losing using millions each year to just maintain the site. Its well maintained. Our the neighbors are happy with the county being a neighbor, but I would say that we really are just maintaining the site and it's in the millions. we just said that. Doing 21, we had a little thing called so community engagement was not. Something we can move at time. But to your point, I think we kick studying it now getting going.

Commissioner Murman and the Thank you, Mister Thank you guys updating and more information about this project here. And what we do in around building stronger together, you know, ask chair of budget. I think this is a time the conversation as we are just like going to a supplemental budget right now is we are looking at know our performance measures and looking into the future to how we need to began to look at what we are investing in, what we spend in dollars on a time where we know HR is going to bring really big issues, too. The county, the states, So it's really good that we are doing deeper dive to line are working to be very intentional about how we are investing or not in the work that needs to take place within Ramsey County. Some really. We're glad to hear that wind and that we're looking at a property. You know, there has been many says my time here, too many conversations about hometown cmmunity members.

He an infant is of meeting Community members given suggestions about what could be there and how they would like to a line of support. And in Ramsey County to be able to do that. But we definitely need to be in what that looks like for the county because we do not in the day. Want to put a total burden on residents. Right in on the levee to do things that we need to do in. I definitely agree with Commissioner song Land has been sitting for a really long Right Mi 5 years. This is 6 years. This is And that we need to look at our property. You see what it is that we can do. What needs to be done and how to best efficiently do this work. So. It is a priority that we need to move forward be intentional in his work. And so Thank you for that. Think that get some balance that we can move around into like kick this You also mentioned a new person, Andy Candy stand.

I have no idea welcome to to county we look forward to in this area helping us to move forward in a really into snow way as we. 2 to 2027 and beyond in doing this work on behalf of the people. Thanks for bringing this forward. A mission and guests. Thank you, Josh, for this. I just have a couple questions. So with this action, what can we expect going forward? So is going to be like an You know, just this is just time for you guys and CB to really look at these properties and say, what could this be? can we engage? actually and working with community and I say what you sow that I keep going. No, m our chair Commissioner Miller. I think what I'm thrilled about. So I let me just get to the excitement part that we're actually being able to one with additional resources, additional staffing that were actually able to kind of begin to tackle.

I mean, we are already attacking multiple properties, but frankly, being able to kind of tackle them in a myriad of ways and areas. And so one of evolutions that he's kind of cone from the building stronger together is the development of kind of an internal internal multidisciplinary group. Why that's important is that we there's a lot of skill sets across the organization. A lot of knowledge related to certain properties, but also acknowledgment that lake individual properties are on different trajectories. They have different and it's not that they can't be prioritized, but we need to actually go through that hard and fast inventory of what it means to get from what the current state is to a future state where the county does not own that property. And in some instances that is a little bit of the work property management led related to to voice what in town, which is doing detailed. Environmental surveys detailed archaeological service, things are really important for us to it as a county to do our due diligence how we show up with community, how we show up with development, the development community who might have a strong interest in it as well as an understanding of what are limitations?

Because not every property you're going to be able to do everything on and maximize and so actually the thing that we're county manager Becker noted, you know, a goal to come back towards this board and a workshop to kind of talk about the properties. I think one of those things because of the added cpacity that we have in our seat department is the opportunity to kind of actually present what i full and exhaustive inventory of properties that may be opportunities like active like what are the active ones and what are their needs? But also what is that next list of all the things that need to be accomplished. Some of them will come with added costs. And so this $200,000 pulled together gives us a little bit of flexibility to kind of tackle those in the moments. Whether that is, you know, specific environmental things, specific surveys getting the ownership, right, that kind of thing to everything to like starting to develop those long-range engagement land use. partnership needs that are often required of any development across the county doesn't have land-use authority.

We need to partner with cities to make sure that we're aligned and we envision to happen in the future. And I just want also just know that I'm familiar with these properties are various different properties. One is very wooded. One's vry like Savannah Lightfoot. I understand the importance of increasing our tax base. But I also want to just remind us and I've said this, a county manager Becker, and I've said this is the CD team that we don't want us to end up in a situation in 2 years where we come back and say all man, it would great if the county on 10 more acres so we could expand of this or we that's I really want be thinking long term and not always just at our short-term goals, our shore at very short sighted. And then also to remember that, you know, the equity peace and this and where he ensure that we work across parks departments on, you know, some of that land and that protection and even working with how you know we go about and working with community on this and making sure that we're not just us.

Very interested expanding the tax base, but I'm also very interested in how we go about doing that work intentionally. Mr. Chairman Commissioner want to agree with you wholeheartedly. And I think that's part of what I meant by the excitement around te kind of this formation of a multidisciplinary team because I know that as CD, we maybe the ones who are kind of leading aspects of this economic development aspect, how work? But pulling in those perspectives and needs across entire organization I think will be fruitful for us. Understanding the long-term vision, both as a organization, but also for these properties. What these properties presents, whereas in other instances where they present other opportunities. And that's why, you know, I I call that a couple projects, smaller projects. They feel a little bit more tangible and like ready to go. But where were already testing hour how w as CVE work closely with Paul public works. Parks and property management to dispose of properties effectively and efficiently.

But also opportunities for how we embed other work. you know, I I noted the workaround pain in Maryland. We're excited because we we see that as a U. S. testing ground for how we in bed, the emerging a diverse developers program inside of that, it feels, you know, easy, I say easy, but like it feels like we can do that relatively more efficient effectively. But then o pain in Maryland where we're kind of writing a new chapter in partnership with the city. Just in the last few weeks. They went for it and vacated part of right of way. That was kind of in between 2 Ramsey County regional rail, parcels. So they went ahead and did that kind of proactive work on behalf to kind of consolidate and ready that site to something a little bit easier and more appropriate. So that work has begun. There's a lot more work, especially on that property next. it's all kind of as we're kind of testing things and moving and kind of building tat muscle to be able to kind explore the economic development opportunities to community development, which a thinker in 2 sides of 2 points.

2 sides, one point skews me, but also just other opportunities for how we partner our departments across the county. Any further questions? Discussion. Roll call. Kevin Thing. I acquired at McMurtry. Miller high Jong. Ortega. You know, have presentation and the emergency communications. Mr. Chairman, as Nancy passed comes up, I just wanted give this a little framing as well. So as some of you know, it's part of our operational excellence work. We are doing a deep dive on some of our J Pa's summer, quite dated. And

This is one of the ones that we're currently tackling to sort of simplify and modernize and sort of improve the way that we do work. So thank you, Dr past for being here to that this morning turned over to you. Thank you very much. Good morning, Mr. Chair members of the board county manager Becker, my name is Nancy Pass and I serve as the director of Emergency Communications Center. Thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief update on our Joint powers agreement. Modernization effort. Quick agenda today and being five-minute presentation, just to kind of give you a little heads up, we're going to do a Overview in the history of our consolidation, our joint powers agreement, modernization efforts. And then we'll talk about next steps. I like to begin with a quick overview of our consolidated 9, 1, operations and how it came to be. We're the largest center in the state of Minnesota providing dispatch services for 1 police departments and 9 fire departments and we serve 5500,000 residents.

Our team includes 151 employees and those that are taking that. And I 9-1-1, call speaking to community and dispatching our public safety responders. We have 60 telecommunicators that answer the phones. 60 public safety dispatchers that dispatcher responders and we have 14 shift supervisors that are on the floor. 24 7, 3, 65. This is a slide of our call. Volume from 2025. Last year we process just under a million calls it, which is our busiest period is during the summer months between 01:00PM and 05:00PM, which show that in the higher call volume this past July in 2026, we handled over 84,000 calls in the month. We are large high-performing center dedicated to delivering exceptional service to our partner agencies and community. A bit of history so that 2006, the county had 4 independently operated 9, 1, centers in Maplewood say Paul Light there and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office which covered the remainder of the jurisdictions.

In 2007, those 3 of those centers consolidated services resulting in the creation of 3 joint powers agreement. And I have to apologize. I have title. It says October 2006, actually 2007 that the center actually opened. So with the creation of a joint powers one was with Saint Paul. One was with Maplewood and one was with the City of Arden Hills, which is the template that we used for all the other suburban cities in 2017 white Bear Lake joined the consolidated model, creating a 4th joint powers agreement.

From these agreements. The Dispatch Policy Committee was formed to serve as an advisory board representing all 9-1-1, center users. So all of cities township. framework was it all made sense at the time? But 20 years later, it's best practice to revisit and modernize these agreements to ensure they continue to meet the needs of a significantly larger and more complex operation. The existing jpa is were built during a period of uncertainty. And the ECC has demonstrated that we are stable and capable and a trusted partner in emergency services. The current agreements no longer reflect today's rapidly evolving 9-1-1, environment, technology, cybersecurity and procurement have changed dramatically moving from one time hardware purchases and capital improvement to subscription based cloud hosting services similar to commute consumer models like Netflix. As we modernize goal is to keep what is working. Well, an update, the governance structure so that we can continue leading the state in 9, one service delivery.

Areas of focus is ensuring the language reflects today's operational and governance realities, including technology updating the agreement to support cloud-based systems, subscription models and ongoing lifecycle management. Strength in the Dispatch Policies committee's purpose, expectations and communications pathways. To date. The DPC supports the ECC budget but invoices are issued directly to the city administrators. And so we would like how without consistency, cations, only symbols and voices. We don't have communication with the city administrator. we want to establish a transparent, predictable. Guidelines for how the fund balance should be used to support the ECC operations and technology. We aim to create a single operational jpa rather than 4 accompanied by primary service agreements for core systems such as radio and computer aided dispatch or CAD systems. I should mention that we also have separate joint powers agreement with each city that relates directly to the cad system. So really this work the lines, all joint powers agreement within our jurisdiction.

This effort is highly collaborative. We began with sending 44 stakeholder surveys in July, receiving 20 responses followed by a productive meeting with our dispatch policy committee. Our next steps include meeting with the city administrator police and fire leadership across all participating jurisdictions. We're working under a tight and I hopeful achievable, timely. Our goal is to finalize the modernization ahead of the 2028, 2029 biennial budget cycle. That means releasing a draft jpa in October or more like November of this year gathering feedback, revising and returning an updated draft to stakeholders. Our target is execute the modernized Joint powers Agreement in March of 2027 positioning us to make final budget recommendations in May of 2026. Mister chair and members of the board. This concludes my update. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. He questions discussion. Issue saying. Yes, I'm what has been the initial response from the partners in knowing that this new this modernization and we look at the Jpa says under way.

Thank you, Mister Chair and Commissioner Jevan saying it's been positive. In the survey results as a whole, I would say there are some things that we can tweak. There are some there's definite understanding of like it's 20 years old. It is time, right? So I just think it's been very I cunty manager back or I don't know if you want to chime in at all to with some conversations you've had. But so collectively, it's been positive. Yeah, Mister chairman saying, you know, we started with this one because it feels like one week it has so with that communities of how that, you know, to a process like this because to get, you similar to I think when, you know, see the work so closely, commissioner, did the whole tour to get the HRA Levy, you know, like these are these are all stakeholders. And we have got a lot o conversations engaging with our cities.

And it's both that the administrator level sometimes with their law enforcement and police and fire and also with our. With the City council's, I will just say this is really a testimony of the great work that Nancy and her team does. I mean, we have a stellar 9-1-1, department and service. And so people are more than willing to engage in even making it better. They feel very please with the service that they get from Ramsey County emergency communications. And so that really helps. So they see this as a process improvement in a way to get better. I was at the last epc where the mayor of see the mayor little Canada was there are hills. White Bear and also a city of Saint Paul had representative. So we have quite a bit of engagement that they even were saying, you know, they they see the need to sort of modernize. And so even just realizing they could even have burchel Ott public meetings.

As you know, they're they're evolving in the way that they're even thinking about how they do our work as as a set of partners. So it was that. I'm I'm I'm looking forward to it. I want to Nancy to bring this here because we are going to be doing set of road shows with the city Council. And I kinda want you to be surprised if you know you run into somebody and they said, oh, we heard year, changing your your jpa just that. You know that we've in this process and most of it has to do with language updating the technology. We were pleased generally har that there's there's the cost structure of how the ECC the calls themselves are sort But we use that Nancy could explain how that works, how we distribute the cost people seem pretty pleased with the way tat isn't. That isn't necessarily what we need to tackle in this tape. He a

And can I just follow up and say that I have having been in community? Well, some of these different well, I at least one wife there what, you know, kind of tipped in joins the centralized 9-1-1. And I do know that there have been times in in community to your point of being stable. Now, there had been, you know, really good women report that had studied whether or not a centralized 9-1-1, would be. That was back in the day and there was concern to lot of discussion and now that we have everybody on board and have been there for quite some time, the success of this and the need to modernize agreement. Now that we do know that this is a successful model. So I appreciate that. We take that time in 8 and as part of operational excellence, as the county manager said, this is one of of many like agreements. And I I appreciate that.

You are the first ones to to to to take it a go to set a precedent and encouraging that we take the time to to bring our partners along we do a lot of collective work in the how we do it is sometimes I think even more important than the what we do. So thank you for bringing this to us and we look forward engaging with our communities is wet. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question you know, for this modern modernization and the Jeep Jpa. Will there be consideration or conversations about least the capital improvements such I believe in here, last budget, you did flag that, you know, there are dispatch radio consuls that will need to be upgraded for the next generation. And it's looking upwards of 13.0. 1 million i that included in this conversation. Thank Chair Commissioner John Multi point question on that Right tackle in 2 different formats right now at the legislature.

There is a work group that is studying the armor project. Looking at subsystem owners like Ramsey County that have 7 tower sites in the county to identify if there's a path forward that it becomes ultimately a statewide system that supported by state funding. So we are watching that very closely. They've had to meeting so far and they are on track to their. It's a 15 fast-tracked. So we're keeping an eye on that through our government relations here in the county. So I would also say in our current joint powers agreement, the original one, there was no There was documentation and how the fund balance can be used or should be used. And in the cad Joint Powers Agreement, identified and so our goal is to merge that so that there's one pathway how we what that structure looks like and how we utilize the fund balance moving forward. Thank thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Director pass. Been a few months since I've seen We had great meeting of the Ramsey County, local governments was touring emergency communications center. That was, of course, running to the meeting and they are I broke my knee cap that that meeting. pass was right there with ice and everything I needed. So if you're going to get hurt going near also, yu didn't have to call 9 lead to pair me. I say for the media urgent care. Great Thank you for all of that. still recovering and it's that. but we appreciate you taking the time to give the Rams kindly good, a great tour. People aren't so impressed as we as we know, they're all impacted in their own now. And, you know, going to be in joint powers agreement with you. So thank you for all of that work a question just curious about is all that they're contributing to this effort? I'm going to be about the same or will it be sometimes you it's going to be a little more.

Kids are getting more services or if it's going to be less because you're combining services. So just talk a little bit about what what city partners are going to contributing to this effort now that it will be new or be about the same. Thanks, Mister Chair Commissioner thanks for all the kind comments as well. definitely so much like a behind the scenes person. So the fact that I was even stable helping you, that's probably because tere was just like the And we also have as side note to little bit. We are with through that meant has some in emergency services board. We have a legislative tour coming up at the end of this month as well. So excited to have on board do a tour of our center to help answer your question. At this point. The 60% Levy funding the 40% paid by the city's which is done by face-off. 9, one call volume.

It's a thrill of rolling 3 year average. And so we calculate that every year. At this point, we're not looking at changing that. it when we're in our dispatch policy committee meeting, there was a vote that they wanted that conversation kind of on the table off the table. I should say so at this point, I believe wll be looking at the same structure of a 60 40 split. Okay. Thank you thank you. Thank you for that. And just to let you know, just remind those of us that are and are so station, Minnesota counties and I serve on the on the Public Safety committee that this is one of our number one issues is this is the cat is statewide system. So I know that every counties working on that. So into that. Still tough one of the top issues that I think is working at Thank you. Appreciate that. I think this provided want to say 2 things.

I think those good that use pot Dr past to 60, 40 split, you know, in that meeting, it kind of dawned on me the importance of when we talk our communities about. The property tax levy that while cities to contribute things toward these shared services, we are actually using a significant part of the property tax levy that we love you for toward the services that are actually shared services. So I thought that was that a good thing to remind ourselves of as we are in property tax kind of season here with our budget conversations and then I know we mentioned a lot of the cities that were part of that dispatch policy committee. I want to thank that group for their It you know, a significant investment for them to spend time trying to. understand the system on behalf of the whole group that I neglected to mention the chair, which is I Kathy in from the city of Maplewood.

And I just want to thank her because she's ben a really strong leader for the dispatch policy Committee. So it's the membership of the Dispatch Policy Committee has a lot. Some at-large positions but has been generally some additions of dedicated seats for the different mergers we have taken on over the years. And so we're going to looking at the membership a little bit as well. They were very open at me looking at the membership. So why why? Tere has a dedicated cny Maplewood has a dedicated, see and it was in one more Saint Paul is that they sort of came on at different, you know, and that this has to do with wat should have been saying was saying when people were still trying trust and sort of feel like they had a voice at the table. Now we've evolved a little bit and there was definitely some openness to think rethinking how that committee is set up.

And that is one thing. I think that would be really helpful in the modernization of the jpa from what I can see that would be helpful to have more cities potentially sit at the table at different iterations Self. Thank you. Thank you very much. And County connections.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I only have one thing and it's going to be a little bit longer. But I did want give the board. An update on the encampment response as well as our shelter capacity and housing transitions. So we county continue to coordinate with the city and Saint Paul and our community partners to support residents that are living at the encampments. The county's approach centers 3 things really connecting residents who need services supporting the health and safety of residents ad staff and working wth individuals to identify pathways to shelter in stable housing. As conditions at the encampments are continuously changing and as additional shelter capacity has become available, the county has evolved its response from abroad, sort of multidisciplinary on-site presence toward a more targeted model that is centering on coordinated outreach and resident by resident transition planning. This approach allows the county to remain engaged while using staff and public resources a bit more intentionally.

I wanted to speak just briefly of our shelter capacity emergency. A I mentioned, that a previous meeting, emergency shelter capacity and Ramsey County was insufficient even before the planned closure of pigs. I can't. And the county had a ready prioritize investments to expand this capacity that was presented to you all from Director Wilkins as part of our presentations as part of what is in heading Home. Ramsey Strategic plan. During the most recent reporting week of where probably traction shelter entry. Our shed team handled 600 and a cause that week, including 380 requests for shelter, reservations. And we were still seeing that adult shelters operating at or near capacity before the additional beds. So while we're adding additional capacity now, you know, those could or could not be May or may not be immediately utilized by those connected to encampment. The newly expanded shelter capacity will actually help us address the immediate demand while also creating a more sustainable and 5 fiscally responsible winter response.

In my opinion, Ramsey County anticipates leveraging these additional bags as part of an updated warming space mdel this winter as the temperatures drop. So using the existing shelter, infrastructure will reduce our reliance on temporary operations and recurring costs that have been associated with standing up winter warming spaces each winter. So I just want to make sure that folks know that these investments our for a year and they're going to help a substantially as we go through the winter months. This so the strategy certainly ensure that we're maximizing those and that investments and we're going to reduce duplicate Kate of costs and strengthens our connections between emergency shelter, support of services and pathways to more stable housing. I want to speak this real quickly about Randolph and Shepherd Road. And Assistant mayor said Rick Baker spoke to the city Council last Wednesday and people can watch that as he gave more of the city's account of that conditions Shepherd Road.

I'm not repeat those as conditions at Randolph encampment, though, have change. Our on-site team has reassessed how the county safely and effectively continue to provide services. I want to just thank executive sponsors, care, friends Ladarrius Rabia. They have worked diligently over the past couple weeks on and on a site assessment effort that I asked them believe they have leveraged our counties risks team as well as other leaders. And we have a better understanding of the safety concerns, the evironmental and health hazards, the site and physical conditions to ensure that we have the best sight lines that we can to ensure we can effectively deliver services actually effort in Randolph. So based on that assessment, the county is moving toward a smaller, more coordinated presidents with an increased emphasis on individualized transition planning rather than the broad outreach that we were doing. So the county will, as of next week continue do outreach 2 days a week at that encampment.

We will cordinator visits with the city's heart team whenever possible. So city county staff to be coordinating information and reduce duplication. We will deploy financial assistance, housing, stability, social services, public health and other specialized county supports like veterans based on identified residents needs while maintaining a full multidisciplinary team. We will then and we have been shifting toward a resident by resident transition planning. And I'll talk about that in a minute that really addresses the barriers related to shelter and housing benefits. Around ientification, documentation, healthcare barriers, treatment, transportation that actually prevent residents from leaving the site. So instead of just, you know, offering hand out and sort of building a trust for say we're moving toward those folks that now we have some information about and really trying to work through their barriers. We also are going to maintain safety protocols, you know, and work closely with our our Crams County Sheriff's Department. Also, they've been supporting us as well you know, in conversations with the city.

We want to make sure we have clear exit entry protective equipment and other things should conditions change. I want to talk just a minute about the lower Ian Site, which near the Kmart facilities used to be that's owned by the Port Authority there, the Cayman site, the county is also will be spending a 3rd day each week. Our Matthew an encampment that initial work would be more of an assessment phase rather than and then media establishment of full county operation at that site were focusing on the number of residents at the site existing outreach. We're doing a lot of language work at that site, particularly with monkey population resident and then try to do initial assessment. So we can kind of figure out what is the best way for county to continue to deliver services there. We're trying to be responsive. The conditions constantly are changing and we want to be respective of of those changes and be able to be but nimble as we need.

Want to talk a little bit about in that this kind of a transition from operations to individual event, individualized support. We have been moving from abroad outreach for this individual allies, transition planning the question then we want to solve is no longer whether resident has been contacted or offered a service. But what are the barriers that might be need to be addressed for an individual to be able to be moved to a safer and more stable setting. additional shelter capacity gives outreach teams another important tool to support these transitions shelter, however, remains only has one part of the solution.

Residents may also need, you know, all those other things that I talked about before. And so we want to make sure the county showing up to help with those other support. So the way that we're doing that is. That initiated what's called up by name List case consultation. This strengthens coordination between the on-site team, our housing stability team. We have contract the case management providers. Now we also have housing providers and also other partners, including the city. They all sit together a weekly basis and are talking through the people we know and each other would know and talking about how to coordinate next. Step develop. Housing plans, prioritizing who needs case management who needs wrap-around services. So that has been very effective. We have identified currently. I think housing work has included 120 on-site engagement and we have identified 28 individuals active housing referrals 8 have been moved to housing 6 additional individuals that completing their housing intake and required paperwork.

I know those numbers don't sound like a lot, but the work is difficult and it takes time and we continue to make progress and we can't do it alone. So while the county may not control the timing or execution of a particular encampment, closure County staff and partners are working to try to reduce disruption and connect affected residents. However, we can. I'm looking ahead. We continue to work with the city aiming to try to improve coordination and improve these transitions as they make their next decisions around these encampments. Significant work is also happening across the continuum every day. I want to recognize commissioner and for her leadership as the chair of heading home Ramsey. There's not a day that goes by that retire or not talking about housing. So that is wonderful. But that work brings together a broad range of prtners, you know, along the whole continuum and she's continuing to lead important conversations with philanthropic partners to broaden our collective response.

Ensure that housing is not only a response to encampment, but also we're also focusing on the different populations that we know also have an emergency need, including families, including our young people. We had a good conversation about that yesterday. at the same time, I think I just want to end by being very transparent about our capacity. Resources are finite and they need a significant. We have been trying to leverage as much as possible. What are grant dollars? The law funds which are state sales tax dollars. We are. We are working on our metro sales tax. We're trying to use leverage every resource we can. But we cannot invest everywhere at once, which makes it essential that we really deliver it about where and how the county will direct its resources. And that has to be done. You know, under a plan that has been informed by team of care. And that has to be kind o where we center what our decision making.

And so in a couple weeks or a few weeks, housing stability Department, which is the administrative entity for the continuum of care, will bring a board workshop to all of you. So you can better understand that strategic plan. we need to make sure that the impact that investments we are making are having a sustainable impact. And that's something that commissioner and has continually pushed us on. with that, that's my update. I'm happy take some questions. I do know Director Wiins is on online. If yu have something more specific aout housing, stability i particular. And questions. Discussion. Thank U next. big i much time. You want to start us off. And outside committee points for committee for Mayor back. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Well to start off with this morning, there was a back-to-school workshop for the a Roseville area, schools district. It was was lucky to be at the very beginning of it. had to leave a little early to come to this board meeting, but it's just a just a kudos sinking and congratulations and gratitude to all of our our teachers our schools that starting a new school year. It was a it was a great welcome. superintendent, Jenny Lake and school board is

Out there. elected officials, but just the faculty and the students and the that were there for their workshops. We also saw video of to a student speech team that were national champions and they did an amazing and really important issues and and so just thanks, tour schools that are doing such such great work. Also, of course, it's a state fair and I was lucky to be at the fair yesterday and that was mental health day and at the fair. And so at a pitched park there with all tabling done and men, Ramsey County Human Services was there. I was very grateful that they were there with a number of tables that we're just really reaching out to people with their resources for. For people mental health. So thank you to have written to county human services for being for being there for that I also there was the Race Creek Boulevard Open now. So we talked about that.

That was a week ago. But then we had a Race Creek Boulevard webinar last week where the plans for the boulevard where discussed and so people can find that webinar on our website and they can watch it whenever they want. So that taped. Also at this is very exciting. We had a groundbreaking for Twin Lakes Technology Center last week in Roseville. This was a a we we provided 500,000 in funding through te environmental response. Fun. This is a formerly a trucking terminal. It's taken years to redevelop this property. This was the last piece of this huge trucking area. That I grew you know, driving by. it's just been so exciting that they're redeveloped. It put all that land most of that land on the tax rolls. It's it's staggering to know that it's going from a 5.4 million dollar property value to a 26.6 million property die. So that's really going increase our tax base.

So all this great development, kudos to element chill. And Josh Olson and our economic development for their great work and getting this to happen. And it was just an exciting groundbreaking for check out to center in most out. that was fun. We also.

Head of anti-Washington, Recycling Energy Board meeting where we a firm that 10 year contract XL for our feet Stack, which is the the waste that we have that we've pulled out of our recyclables unusable as out of. So that's a 10 years to allow us time to continue keep forward thinking on our our waste. also heard from our intern from Germany we and in turn to the climate smart municipalities and counties. She gave a great presentation on how we're managing our ways and the savings that we have by doing some of things that we're looking forward to doing in the future. And then we did our a review of our executive director our second year already that that executive director Tristen Martin sent from earlier Cali has been the executive director there. And we did there and review many thanks to my colleagues, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Ortega for being a part of am sick Washington, recycling and Energy board.

And then we had a haulers picnic. And we're we're you know, in gratitude for all of people that work in our in our buildings and the holler that that deliver waste to us. also and let's see this Saturday. Commissioner and I are going to be on WCCO talking about our biz. cycling program at the fair. So that's going to be great to a great time to really promote the great work that recycling energy and our work that we're doing with our bsinesses. In getting them to be as environmentally. conscious as they can be. So on Saturday. So with that and thank you, Mr. Chair. Emissions saying. I'm going to give more of a broader, a broader message today. Last week. I as part of my direct as part of the work with the direct Care and Treatment Advisory Committee. I represent the association, Minnesota counties in that we're part. It was the second of 3 tours.

We went to the Minnesota offender program facility last week. Christie, Peter, the teir forensics facility and then will be heading to the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. This is part of fraud work that is continually part of my my work day. Whether that is meeting with our staff level staff were working. Our our programs, directors who are thinking of our strict strategizing, how best to serve our community's needs and then working with our community partners with a NAMI, Minnesota and others. Just to say that this work goes on quietly every single day and there's a couple of national days of awareness that our our book ending this week that I wanted to highlight yesterday ws overdose Awareness Day. I just want to say that after its peak opioid overdoses and Ramsey counties coming down. Thanks to the opioid response efforts are public health, our partners on education and distribution of naproxen and other activities to to bring that down.

But also just to let people know tat their underlying causes of some of these of these issues and tat in times of stress where we are right now when their concerns around affordability, food and housing, stability, encampment closures direct care and outreach that we've been doing there. There's also a lot of concern over medical assistance eligibility and ability to maintain that for individuals living with mental There's some reality shunned issues at the state that are making some of the providers to community vulnerable and all that's going on as far as and the social outrage machine with elections in the war in all of these things can be really stressful for individuals living with mental illness and those who are caring for them and for anyone and everyone who is paying attention, feeling a little on edge. And so I just want to remind people that next week, September. Is 9, 8, 8, day remind people the 9, 8, 9, 8, call.

Program is free, confidential and help is available. 24 hours, 7 days a week. We also have resources that Ramsey County U. S. children are going back to school. Many schools have school built based mntal health referral systems. We also have the Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative which has a a wealth of online resources for families and just to remind all of us to do what we can normalize conversations around mental health and all of our personal professional spheres of influence. just remind folks that asking for help is a sign of strength. You are not alone and it doesn't have to be an emergency to ask for help. So I encourage everybody to check in with yourself. Check in with the people you love and the people you work with and make sure that people feel as if they have a space to get the resources that they need. Thank commissioner. Make most think that you're just want to highlight a couple of things from last week.

Last Tuesday had a chance to participate in a town hall at the at the Care Center in my district a coma Park neighborhood, myself, Baden and Councilmember Malik home, award provided updates. Residents as well as answer the questions. A lot of great conversation and questions around a lot of the decisions and and topics that we've been dealing with here at the county, including questions around Medicaid and SNAP and how this will impact the residents there as well as and election security. So a lot of great great insights from the residents at Bloom staying but also an opportunity for me to really share out more of the things that the county is doing and hopefully giving them connected to resources where they need it. the last thing I want to highlight is that I had a chance to attend the annual community picnic of the. The Rams County Judges, women's group and and men's The women's group sponsored by a judge a grueling star and Mitchell and Judge Steven Sund over the men's group.

They have this annual just get together torch and the farmer. And we've all the, you know, interacted with with the They do amazing work to ensure that those who are just as involved get the support and the mentorship they need Nolen to navigate the legal system, but to really help rebuild their lives. And so it was great to see so many flks out there Park celebrating one another, lifting each other up and really being in the midst of community and myself and come in and Commissioner Moore and what they are big. Thank you to our entire team who are out I know. So we saw that the mental health bt bus that was director Thompson, D Ray is number of different staffers were also there. So just amazing program that I'm glad that we're able to be a part of to see the work that these judges and these women and men have been doing to take a moment celebrate each other was really great to see.

Mr. right. Last week I had the opportunity to represent Ramsey County and speak at the groundbreaking for the 4th incinerator at the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant. that's just want to note that this is critical. Public health infrastructure serves about 1.8 million people across our region. Including nearly all of Ramsey as our region continues to grow and existing incinerators approach. Pasadena mean this investment. is important to ensuring our wastewater system can continue safely. I just want to note, too, that in remarks, I also emphasize that while this infrastructure serves an entire rgions, its impacts are experiencing directly by surrounded the east side community. So I Ramsey County, we've been engaged throughout the process just, you know, we remain committed answering questions. So I do think it would be helpful. We were there was an open invitation if we as a board ongoing tour, the wastewater plant, I was unable to do the tour. But Kathleen didn't used to quite a while.

I will tell Thank goodness. It was a windy day because that smell what's it was us? Yeah, it was the I also attended the Metropolitan soil and water conservation area Joint Powers Board on Wednesday evening. We received updates from the engineering and technical Assistance program. The Minnesota Agricultural Quality Certification program, the 2026 2027 capital and equipment plan and several ad approve some joint powers agreement supporting shared work across the metro area. Conservation districts. I did attend the are any. I had that on my update. I do just want to know one thing Mary Jo did. If Abbott Commissioner McGuire did a fabulous job highlighting but I just kind want t go that we did receive the first stage of feasibility report examining the former Steel Mill property adjacent to the Army Center. The study is intended to help us understand opportunities risks cost additional information. This was information only it does not represent a decision or commitment made by the board to do any type of requiring the property or even pursuing specific technologies that just wanted make that note.

And that with that. I'm Dan, thank you. Thank you. I missed I'm going to speak to one. Issue or concern or party. And want to thank county manager Becker for talking about to give an update on the work around encampment work that we're doing across the continuum. I a great opportunity yesterday to go visit of evil. Dislocated Minneapolis. Hennepin County, which is 100 tiny homes. And we're going to be doing more of that around hitting home grant the county visiting which is another location where they Well, they have created community of tiny homes, but opportunity to to

Visit of evil, which is located it Washington, in Minneapolis, is the homes are. Inside of a former warehouse. And I'm the one of teens That surprise me that you would never know that there. It's will maintain Pete when you go into the front door. The only persons there are allowed inside that the building are for those who live there. are visitors who come to PSI only for those who live there. The place very quiet,

Very clean. And his security. But dad, the individuals at the front door, they wore T-shirts that say it protective agent pro take agent. They have no guns. Very, very Environment. And once you go into the day is a lot interest. Once you go in you at the signing in right. And so what you're going it as open space. It was like a community space with community room for a TV chairs with games that they can play in

And they spent an abundance of time that that front entrance just learning about the program and the services that are provided by individuals and what stuck out. Really. For me, Manatee. they break into those spaces. They is no rules around. Yu can't really you can't get highs like if you have your own apartment, you coming in as you are a wrap-around services for you. I to take care of your needs. But very, very low barriers to access to be a part, The program that they have there for them. They talk in

Extensively around. Just missed that they did it before and it came out of the pandemic in 2020 2021, they had like 3 months to find a location because part a home park in Minneapolis was inundated with tent tense and it was during the pandemic. So they had to do something. And they found that warehouse in within 3 months, right to fx that space to move in, cost a hit to move. And before the end of the year bfore that in the year it was done. 100 tiny homes. I was provided. And they did it because like in here in Ramsey County, we have according it. Folks who go out with the speaking to to the end of users in the park. what you want and what do you need, right? And you like to see? and all of that is like including in how they are engaging with individuals. You know, I've heard conversations here is that we want to make sure that we have shelters in a bit for everyone.

But what they really wanted was a place that they can call home. A place that is status, a place where they can go in and made a hit and be in peace. And, know, most of them dealing with mental health uses order alcoholism, addiction. Those are real tings that they feeling. Well, but what they all want, it was a place they can lead a hand in peace. Right, that they can bring this stuff, some of the things they had to remove and say you can't bring everything that you have. So there's a storage unit in another place where they can store some of the things. You know, they can bring their pets that they have and all they could bring the dog that they have a partner. department's can come with them and they both their own space It's very low barrier, but very nice. Maine type of environment that recognized the difficulties that people are being challenged.

12th. And in to allow all the support service to do what they do. The the eye and the number of days that they are Sometimes more sometimes lss. They have very low having to remove people. That number like. And if I'd I think over the 5 years, 6 years that they've been there. It's 190 days. have 190 days before they moved to supportive housing. And so my question how do you do that? How do you like move in? 90 days, these individuals to have I level needs and they say, well, we just work with our community partners. We work really, really close. We have our community partners to to, to do this. When they move in, they don't move on. They don't put him out. they work with them. And, you know, I was really,

So price with a view to do that over the time of evil has been in that location, they have placed over 300 people into supportive housing. And 300 strong. Supporting them in a supportive housing. Ryan Hughes, he wants leave of evil and move to supportive housing. They use the arts exporting from 3 to 6 months to a coordinated effort around Nissan to dig into what independents, but they're able to take care of themselves to pay the rent going to do the things that they need to do because also given the support and give them some tools that they need to be self-sufficient, too. They have done it one of big U. S.. may have pots so that the space is not a really big space right? I thought of me was that to my team. But the space is 8, So it's a There is a guess in the chair, Guest here in a bit I seen hangar wreck with a cane to close right.

If they want to bring a TV and it can do that in area. The point is it belongs to them. And they take care of it watching as they dry. A here. They feed them up 3 meals day. All that happens. But the interesting piece that they shared with me was that they are also not just in Minneapolis. He was over at PA Guy. Working with the folks over in pain and they from Minneapolis only in Saint Paul with a to place a few of residents into Campbell courts. this a portion of what the housing here? In Saint Paul? And I am mentioning that intentionally at this moment in time because that's the type of report that I want to hear from Saint Paul. That's the type of support I want to hear from the heart teen. That's the type of support that I want to hear from us in Ramsey County of the work that we hve to place people and stabilize the imminent lies in repsonse around there.

And my thought was how did he do all the way from Minneapolis? you guys in the same because we have our team are out teen. It is constantly out there with these individuals and it takes trust tonight because interest Bill is not a given, but we keep showing up because showing that we keep listening, repeat learning from them. We keep listening. We can learn from them. And because of that. Of evil has come a play sets. People now trust and it's not of the vote trying to share with them that a good place for them to be. But it's the residents run and they've been active. Come to mess it up. The message of the Knesset about this place called the vote. That is transitioning people from. Homelessness from living on the street to a tiny home to supportive housing. And so. You know, we have to move away and be more innovative to be more creative, include more solution base.

When I talked to people here in Saint Paul and that how we doing how many people have we house them from the streets? 2. That transition. And I'm sure we do want work, but I need to you the story. I haven't heard a good story. That I can share here today. About what and how and why we are doing what we And that is concerning to me. We just spent in gaze over

Emergency of an enclosure invested one point. Million dollar U. S.. Ad I'm still not sure get that 8.0. One mean out what impact they What difference is going come out of that? They spent 4 million dollars. To rectify that building. million dollar U. S. and it still stands talking yesterday over. Hit. can't do this work free before million dollars get 100 tiny homes. What are we getting for that money at chess? In an emergency? In can se without a plan. do we get from that? And so I share that because the big at al, we got to do some evidence base work here. We got to have some results here. We have a B. Trauma informed. We got to move people. People want to feel safe they deserve to be treat it with manatee. The user to be treated with some humanity. When I walked past Catholic charity, it's a mess out there. I'm saying it out now. It's a mess. It's a little scary. What we see. We can do better and they can do better. And I hear a lot of the money that we're spending is fr security. It's 100 people living in that building. Not one guy. That one guy. They have expectations, though.

They have expectations, individuals that come into building. And some time and expect a son doesn't happen immediately. to something you have to learn because live in a certain way, you know, but it happens. happening. So look forward to the rest of the team going out to of evil to visit September 14 in on the reason why early is because I'm going to be at the impact on town of 14. But I wanted to make sure that I did my diligence cause we can learn from other OK learning from You kow, we also going to of saddle wat we have our was working and find a way we don't have to study again. Started along the way. There's there's some good practices out there that we can using implement and follow in. Get a return for our investment in. I think a return for my investment really, really important at this moment in time. We cannot continue to do this work the all we certainly cannot be reactionary.

We have to have a plan. We have to create plants. And You know, not trying to be not turning to target specifically. That's the work that we all do. Each and every one of us needs to do it, including myself and figure out how we can do just bettering differently. You know, but that's the work of Where we have found people moving from one spot to another spot. One lane and that is contaminated. We had to do something better here. I want to thank the staff over at of evil. Took over our 2 guests. Walk me through what they do and having to one how they get their money had to get the support County village off it nonprofit people all working together on behalf of bringing some dignity into this can be around homelessness. We can be not so much for update. It. So I just want to say thank you to. I'm getting it would need to down and names.

But Iwant to you know who you are. I just want to say thank you for the work that you do leadership that you do in out of evil homes in not to say that everything is perfect everything having issues. But you know that didn't make dress it up flat. You know, there was people walking around with people live in they aren't, you know, and but the piece that was was a deafening. Really good to see work and how to do It's great to see. We have some work to do here It's not easy working. That scene easy work. But it can be difference. Would do it say. The move is a those homes and the homes in the first over to they're being And if I quite frankly, I they very close But the I think the critical pieces the chair of homeland, that's really the table when we need to bring all city and the community.

Well, good shuns think outside the box. more creative. Is saying repeating the same over and over. chairing the table now that to where we should be doing this said always will be all that different. Morgan the government organizations are going to be acting on their own and that's going to get it. So. I I think the hopefully those folks are

Going to. To give the same reason place. Your, you know, heading home and see, we start thinking outside the box want to thank you feel Mr Charge is going I think Saint Cloud is on the verge of opening. There's and just for context, they received almost 8 million dollars the state. And then they had a small amount of their own city county contribution. So just so, you know, if you have a legislative thanks in that, yes, they are opening one sync with a lot of lessons that can from the yes, that they have the second but it has large state investment. Yeah, We'll have to add that to our legislative package to get 8 million dollars from the You something. Do you continue that? Yeah. And we share that committee so we can work on that. shouldn't be a little. And then those is one of question is what you do in history. And wise.

And those just that a number on a piece of paper Thank you for that. was just going to say, commissioner, and not Ramsey County has their number one issue they've been doing research and and a lot of sight visits around the supportive housing, including Saint Cloud. And I know the new Minnesota executive director, comes from supportive housing background. So I'm guessing there are a number of partners in this along meeting that continuum of care making sure we're inviting all of stakeholders to the table because I think you've made a compelling case, a great organization, too. Thank you. Mister Chair. So last week has been all about transit for me. And so I've been meeting with Bulls residents who live near the bridge, a job to parkway Salem Boulevard. The real-life co-op that as well as residents who want to see U. S. advance transit and Ramsey County. So on top of that, I recently met the Met Council Transportation Councilmember Reeva Chambliss, because she also received a lot of public testimony about this and she was doing her due diligence as well and meeting with the project team.

So I was I participated in the meeting. And what I've learned and for all of us here as we get questions about this bridge that's in my district is that we are back at 0% designed for the bridge. And that I thought that we are much further along. But we are actually a 0% because the Met Council head had identified a sewer line. We are in was identified with some of the original rendering. So it will have to be moved and conversations are opening up with Saint Paul because Singh Paul is the a part. And so there will be s - conversations about it and also just received really good feedback from the project team that because this is a locally funded project. You know, we're able open up those conversations. More with of our partners. But what we can do to problem solve in that area. And finally, with a brush line Russian line initially a party like Rush lined in that part of purple.

But we are still we did a special meeting to talk about policy ING the call that the coalition wrk because, you know, there is no rush lne project. It's a Bronze Line project that only includes Ramsey County and so we we will be meeting again to do a second reading also vote on finalizing that. But the pause it just means funding partners and also some of our city partners will not be regularly as required by the by laws, but just meeting the U. S. needed to in the future. thank you. We'll take a five-minute break with only a little bit behind schedule at S than 30 now. But we have a closed meeting. gun didn't he can't write And then at 1 o'clock we have a come the budget Committee of whole and we'll be looking at health and wellness service teams Commissioner that right?

One of with some added begin We