15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
November 21, 2023 - 9 a.m.  
Council Chambers - Courthouse Room 300  
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:02 a.m. with the following  
members present: Frethem, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, Xiong and Chair Martinson. Also present  
were Ryan O’Connor, County Manager, and Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, Ramsey County  
Attorney's Office.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Xiong was absent during Roll Call, approval of the November 21, 2023 agenda, and  
approval of the November 14, 2023 minutes. She arrived at 9:06 a.m. during the voting of the  
Administrative Items and was present for the rest of the board meeting.  
Present:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Read by Commissioner Reinhardt.  
Agenda of November 21, 2023 is Presented for Approval  
2023-278  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of November 21, 2023.  
Commissioner Xiong was absent during Roll Call, approval of the November 21, 2023 agenda,  
and approval of the November 14, 2023 minutes. She arrived at 9:06 a.m. during the voting of  
the Administrative Items and was present for the rest of the board meeting.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Ortega. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Minutes from November 14, 2023 are Presented for Approval  
2023-295  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the November 14, 2023 Minutes.  
Commissioner Xiong was absent during Roll Call, approval of the November 21, 2023 agenda,  
and approval of the November 14, 2023 minutes. She arrived at 9:06 a.m. during the voting of  
the Administrative Items and was present for the rest of the board meeting.  
Motion by Ortega, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Increase to Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Operating Budget  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
2023-508  
3.  
Authorize the county manager to transfer $150,000 from the unallocated general account to  
the county board operating budget account in 2023.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-201  
Transfer from General Fund Balance to Tort Liability Self-Insurance Fund  
2023-485  
4.  
Sponsors: Finance  
Authorize the County Manager to transfer $3,000,000 of General Fund Balance to the Tort  
Liability Self Insurance Fund to provide adequate funding and reserve balance for potential  
future claim settlements and Court awards related to county liabilities.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-202  
Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Office of  
Economic Opportunity for Direct Emergency Services  
2023-504  
5.  
Sponsors: Housing Stability  
1. Accept a grant award and approve the grant agreement with the Minnesota Department  
of Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity, PO Box 64951, Saint Paul, MN,  
55164 for Direct Emergency Services for the period of execution through June 30,  
2025, in the amount of $2,248,000.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant contract.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to  
agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures  
provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.  
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into expenditure grant agreements and execute  
amendments to agreements in a form approved by Finance and the County Attorney’s  
Office provided the amounts of funding are within the limits of the approved expenditure  
grant agreement program budget.  
5. Approve extension of ten Full Time Equivalent unclassified limited duration positions  
from December 31, 2024, through April 30, 2025.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-203  
Extension of a Tax Increment Financing District for the Minnesota Event  
District in the City of Saint Paul  
2023-499  
6.  
Sponsors: Property Tax, Records & Election Services  
1. Approve the Minnesota Laws 2023, Chapter 64, Article 8, Section 4 which amends the  
authorized expenditures of the tax increments during the extended term and authorizes  
the Housing Redevelopment Authority of the city of Saint Paul to extend the duration of  
the Downtown and Seventh Place Tax Increment Financing District by 10 years to  
December 31, 2033.  
2. Approve the Amended Agreement with the city of Saint Paul and the Housing and  
Redevelopment Authority of the city of Saint Paul for a period upon execution through  
December 31, 2033.  
3. Authorize the Board Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Amended Agreement.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-204  
Amendment to the Capital Grant Agreement with Metropolitan Council and  
Ramsey County for the Project Development Phase of the METRO Purple  
Line Bus Rapid Transit Project  
2023-506  
8.  
Sponsors: Public Works  
1. Approve the Amendment to the Capital Grant Agreement for the Project Development  
Phase by and among the Metropolitan Council, Ramsey County, and the Ramsey  
County Regional Railroad Authority for the METRO Purple Line Bus Rapid Transit  
Project.  
2. Authorize the Chair to execute the Agreement.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and contracts and execute  
amendments to agreements and contracts in accordance with procurement policies and  
procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of funding.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-205  
Grant Award from Minnesota Department of Human Services for  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training  
2023-439  
9.  
Sponsors: Workforce Solutions  
1. Ratify the submittal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and  
Training Workplan and grant application to the Minnesota Department of Human  
Services for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training.  
2. Authorize the acceptance and expenditure of grant awarded funds of $105,623 from the  
Minnesota Department of Human Services for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  
Program Employment and Training for the period of October 1, 2023 through  
September 30, 2024.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute the Grant Allocation Award.  
4. Authorize the County Manager to apply for and accept additional Supplemental  
Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training grant funds from the Minnesota  
Department of Human Services for the period of October 1, 2023 through September  
30, 2024.  
5. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the agreement in accordance  
with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within  
the limits of available funding.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-206  
2025 Contract Extension with Minnesota Family Investment Program  
Employment Services Providers  
2023-494  
10.  
Sponsors: Workforce Solutions  
1. Extend the term of the Minnesota Family Investment Program Employment Service  
provider agreements for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the agreements in  
accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the  
amounts are within the limits of available funding.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to make temporary transfers, as needed, from the  
County General Fund to Workforce Solutions to cover program expenses until program  
funds are received, with repayment to be made upon receipt of the funds.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-207  
Charitable Gambling License with White Bear Township for Lake Region  
Hockey Association and Applebee's Neighborhood Grill Bar  
2023-500  
7.  
Sponsors: Property Tax, Records & Election Services  
1. Approve the application requesting a premises permit for Applebee's Neighborhood  
Grill Bar in White Bear Township for lawful pull-tab gambling activity for Lake Region  
Hockey Association.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to sign the application.  
Commissioner Frethem made an amendment motion, seconded by Reinhardt, to correct the  
name of the hockey association in the RBA from White Bear Lake Hockey Association to Lake  
Region Hockey Association.  
Motion by Frethem, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Moran  
Resolution: B2023-208  
COUNTY CONNECTIONS  
Presented by County Manager, Ryan O'Connor. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
OUTSIDE BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS  
Discussion can be found on archived video.  
BOARD CHAIR UPDATE  
Presented by Chair Martinson. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Martinson declared the meeting adjourned at 9:39 a.m.