Sponsor: Finance
Title
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Reimbursement for 2020 Civil Unrest Activities
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Recommendation
recommendation
Authorize the County Manager to transfer $727,031.35 from the General Contingency Account to reimburse departments for costs associated with civil unrest incurred between May 25 and June 30, 2020.
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Background
background
On May 25, 2020, Mr. George Floyd was tragically and publicly killed in Minneapolis while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. On May 28, 2020, following several days of peaceful protest and social unrest in Minneapolis in response to the killing and the systemic racial inequities that the killing represented, peaceful protests became interspersed with violence, theft and property damage in Ramsey County and some of its cities including Saint Paul, Maplewood, North Saint Paul and Roseville. On May 29, 2020, the Chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners declared Ramsey County to be in a Local State of Emergency effective May 28, 2020 due to the continued response to and recovery from violence, theft and property damage. The local state of emergency declaration was further extended by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on June 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020.
During the month that followed, departments incurred expenses directly related to civil unrest which were not originally budgeted in their respective 2020 approved budgets. The driving factors for the additional costs were for overtime and associated benefits incurred by departments to address our residents needs in the amount of $596,000; hotel charges to ensure the safety of our homeless residents for $59,000; and community engagement and outreach activities for $45,000. Outreach activities funded included programs from organizations such as: Black Civic Network, Healing Streets, and Project Restore Minnesota. These organizations were available to aid our most vulnerable and racially diverse communities.
Ramsey County does not have funding sources to alleviate these additional costs and departments are unable to absorb them; therefore, funding from the General Contingency Account to pay for these costs is being requested.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The killing of Mr. Floyd is a tragic example of the racism and disparate treatment experienced by Black, Indigenous and other Communities of Color in Minnesota and across the United States. Recognizing that Black, Indigenous and other Communities of Color have historically not been effectively served during emergencies, the expenses incurred throughout Ramsey County directly affected our residents and were needed to specifically address and overcome issues of existing inequality based on race, ethnicity, class and culture. Efforts were concentrated in areas where residents are currently living in poverty. The areas most affected are the Sun Ray and Midway areas. One-third of residents in these areas are members of the BIPOC community. Providing resources in an area where the resources are lacking especially during a time of crisis has a direct impact on racial equity and helps Ramsey County advance racial equity.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Ramsey County partnered with many community organizations to address the needs of residents during the civil unrest. This partnership enabled the county to provide housing for individuals most affected, partnerships with trusted messengers to reach the residents most affected, and additional law enforcement services to continue to protect residents.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The funding from the general contingency account will alleviate the negative affect on the 2020 departmental budgets. The balance in the general contingency account is $1.8M. Although the County Board dedicated that funding to the housing response in March, since that time Ramsey County received alternative funding for the housing response and those funds were returned to the General Contingency Account in August.
County Manager Comments
County Board approval is required to use funds from the General Contingency Account.
Last Previous Action
On March 17, 2020 the County Board declared a Local State of Emergency in Ramsey County (Resolution B2020-95)
Attachments
1.None.