Sponsor: Economic Growth and Community Investment
Title
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Adopt the Proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance
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Recommendation
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Adopt the Environmental Services Department Ordinance.
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Background and Rationale
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Environmental Health has functioned as a division of the Ramsey County Public Health department within the Health and Wellness Service Team, since the 1980’s.
In September 2025, as part of broad countywide Organizational Alignment efforts, it was proposed to the Board of Commissioners in the Ramsey County Manager’s 2026-27 Recommended Budget that Environmental Health would be moved to the Economic Growth and Community Investment (EGCI) service team in 2027. This move helps to achieve the goal of balancing service teams and supports the Operational Excellence Strategic Priority. With the move to EGCI, Environmental Health will be established as a standalone department, and the name will be changed to Environmental Services. This ordinance is necessary to establish and structure the Environmental Services department as part of EGCI.
The Ramsey County Home Rule Charter section 5.01.A.1 requires that certain acts of the Ramsey County Board shall be by ordinance, including: “Establish, structure, merge or abolish any county department, office, agenda, board or commissions, except as provided for in this charter.”
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
There is no specific racial equity impact associated with the proposed action.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This proposed action was approved as part of the 2026-27 recommended Budget, which included
opportunities for community input. On November 3, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners also held a public hearing to receive testimonies regarding the adoption of the Proposed Environmental Services Department.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Management of the Environmental Charge and Solid Waste Fund are moving from the Public Health Department to the Environmental Services Department starting on January 1, 2027. All positions and programs funded by the Solid Waste Fund in the 2027 budget will remain the same. The direct fiscal impact will be to fund a newly created Environmental Services Director position and funding of an existing Planning Manager position to be transferred from Public Health to Environmental Services. Both positions will be funded from the Solid Waste Fund and will have no impact on the county’s general levy.
Last Previous Action
On November 3, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners waived the second reading and held the public hearing for the proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance (Resolution B2026-140).
On October 13, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners waived the first reading and set the public hearing date on the proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance (Resolution B2026-135).
On December 16, 2025, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Ramsey County 2026-2027 operating budget (Resolution B2025-246).
Attachments
1. Proposed Ordinance
2. Proposed Schedule of Events