15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
July 2, 2024 - 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, Moran, Reinhardt, Xiong and Chair Martinson. Commissioner  
Ortega was absent. Also present was Johanna Berg, County Manager, and Jada Lewis, Civil Division  
Director, Ramsey County Attorney's Office.  
ROLL CALL  
Present:  
Absent:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Ortega  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Read by Commissioner Reinhardt  
Agenda of July 2, 2024 is Presented for Approval  
2024-243  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of July 2, 2024.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
Minutes from June 25, 2024 are Presented for Approval  
2024-242  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the June 25, 2024 Minutes.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Grant Agreement with the Metropolitan Council and Acceptance of Federal  
2024-234  
3.  
Funds for the Phase 1 Bruce Vento Regional Trail Project  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
1. Accept the grant award and approve the grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council  
for Phase 1 Bruce Vento Regional Trail project upon execution in the amount of  
$5,000,000.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.  
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute a Land Declaration Waiver Certification  
form as a component of the Metropolitan Council State Bond Grant Agreement for the  
Phase 1 Bruce Vento Regional Trail project.  
4. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Metropolitan Council Transportation  
Advisory Board Regional for Phase 1 Bruce Vento Trail Regional project.  
5. Accept federal funds from Minnesota Department of Transportation for the Phase 1  
Bruce Vento Regional Trail project in the amount of $4,000,000.  
6. Accept the amended budget project of 10,000,000 to account for both state and federal  
funding.  
7. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and amendments to  
agreements, in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures,  
provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.  
Motion by Reinhardt, seconded by Frethem. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
Resolution: B2024-119  
Amendments to Administrative Code - Chapter 5, Acceptance of Gifts Policy  
2024-235  
4.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
1. Approve the amendments to Administrative Code, Chapter 5.40.03, Acceptance of Gifts  
Policy.  
2. Direct the Chief Clerk to amend the Administrative Code to reflect the approved  
amendments.  
3. Rescind Resolution 85-549, to withdraw authority from the Trustees of the Ramsey  
County Public Library to accept gifts to the Library.  
4. Rescind Resolution 88-554, to withdraw authority from the Parks and Recreation  
director to accept gifts of cash or personal property up to $500 in value.  
Motion by Reinhardt, seconded by Frethem. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
Resolution: B2024-120  
POLICY ITEM  
Acceptance of Resignation of Commissioner Trista Martinson  
2024-300  
5.  
Sponsors: Board of Commissioners  
Accept the resignation of Commissioner Trista Martinson from the duties as Ramsey County  
Commissioner for District 3 effective end of business day on August 1, 2024.  
Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Frethem, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
Resolution: B2024-121  
ORDINANCE PROCEDURES  
Proposed Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department  
2024-287  
6.  
Ordinance - Waive First Reading and Set Public Hearing Date  
Sponsors: Emergency Management & Homeland Security  
1. Waive the First Reading of the proposed Emergency Management and Homeland  
Security Ordinance.  
2. Set the Public Hearing date of July 23, 2024, at 9 a.m. or as soon as possible  
thereafter, in the Council Chambers, third floor of Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West  
Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN, to afford the public an opportunity to comment on  
the proposed Emergency Management and Homeland Security Ordinance  
Motion by Reinhardt, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Ortega  
Resolution: B2024-122  
PRESENTATION  
Presentation: The Ramsey County Parks & Recreation 2023-2024 State of the  
Parks Report  
2024-223  
7.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
None. For information and discussion only.  
Presented by Director, Mark McCabe - Parks and Recreation Department and Chair Greg  
Williams - Parks and Recreation Commission.  
COUNTY CONNECTIONS  
Presented by County Manager, Johanna Berg. 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.  
OUTGOING DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER REMARKS  
Remarks by outgoing Deputy County Manager, Kathy Hedin. Discussion can be found on archived  
video.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Martinson declared the meeting adjourned at 10:46 a.m.  
CLOSED MEETING  
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 13D.05 subdivision 3(b) in order to discuss Michael Torrey-White v  
Ramsey County, et al., the Ramsey County Board met in a closed meeting, which is not open to the  
public.  
In Re Michael Torrey-White v Ramsey County, et al.  
The Closed Meeting was called to order at 10:55 a.m. with the following members present:  
Commissioners Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Reinhardt, Xiong and Chair Martinson. Also present:  
Johanna Berg, County Manager; Jada Lewis, Director of Civil Division, Office of the Ramsey County  
Attorney; Marcelo Neblett, Assistant County Attorney, Office of the Ramsey County Attorney; Kevin  
Plaisance, Assistant County Attorney, Office of the Ramsey County Attorney; Alex Kotze, Chief  
Finance Officer, Finance; David Metusalem, Chief Deputy Sheriff, Office of the Ramsey County  
Sheriff; Mandy Malecek, Enterprise Risk Manager, Compliance & Ethics Office; Jason Patten, Claims  
Analyst, Compliance & Ethics Office; Gloria Reyes, Deputy County Manager, Safety and Justice  
Service Team; and Mee Cheng, Chief Clerk - County Board, County Manager’s Office.  
The Board of Ramsey County Commissioners authorized the Office of the Ramsey County staff to  
proceed as discussed in this closed meeting.  
The closed meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.