15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
February 6, 2024 - 9 a.m.  
Council Chambers - Courthouse Room 300  
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:01 a.m. with the following  
members present: Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Xiong and Vice-Chair Reinhardt. Also present  
were Ryan O’Connor, County Manager, and Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, Ramsey County  
Attorney's Office.  
ROLL CALL  
Present:  
Absent:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Martinson  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Read by Commissioner Moran.  
Agenda of February 6, 2024 is Presented for Approval  
2023-651  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of February 6, 2024.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by Frethem. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Minutes January 23, 2024 are Presented for Approval  
2023-673  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the January 23, 2024 Minutes.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Moran. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
PROCLAMATION  
Presented by Commissioners Moran and Xiong. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Proclamation: Black History Month  
Sponsors: Public Health  
2024-026  
2024-019  
3.  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Allocation of Funding for the Park at RiversEdge  
4.  
Sponsors: Community & Economic Development  
Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $1.8 million of interest earnings to complete an  
acquisition, predesign, and design project for the Park at RiversEdge.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-020  
U.S. Small Business Administration Funds for the Small Business  
Reimagination Center  
2024-023  
5.  
Sponsors: Community & Economic Development  
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the U.S. Small Business Administration in  
the amount of $1,500,000 for the Small Business Reimagination Center.  
2. Accept $1,500,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to invest in the  
Ramsey County small business ecosystem by creating the Small Business  
Reimagination Center.  
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 agreement 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 an increase in the personal complement of the Community & Economic  
Development department by 1.0 Full Time Equivalent.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-021  
2024 Parks Capital Project Accounting  
2024-005  
6.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
Authorize the County Manager to establish project budgets for the following in the Parks and  
Recreation Department:  
a. Battle Creek Waterworks Remodel  
b. Bruce Vento Trail Phase 1 Design & Construction  
c. Bruce Vento Trail Phase 2 Design  
d. Highland Arena Roofing  
e. Aldrich Arena Strategic Renovation  
f. Arena & Admin Guaranteed Energy Savings Project  
g. Long Lake Culvert Repair  
h. Arena Capital Maintenance  
i. Tuj Lub Renovation - Keller Regional Park  
j. Battle Creek Stormwater  
k. Boat Launches - Long Lake & Turtle Lake  
l. 2024 Comprehensive Capital Asset Management Preservation Plan Projects  
m. 2024 Regional Rehabilitation Projects  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-022  
Grant Awards from the Metropolitan Council for Legacy Amendment Parks  
and Trails Fund Projects  
2024-021  
7.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
1. Accept grant awards from and approve grant agreements with the Metropolitan Council  
for Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fund Projects for the periods of July 1, 2023,  
through June 30, 2027, in the total amounts of $2,320,762 for State Fiscal Year 2024,  
and $2,073,188 for State Fiscal Year 2025.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute State Fiscal Year 2024 grant  
agreements.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute State Fiscal Year 2025 grant agreements in a  
form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.  
4. 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.  
5. Authorized the County Manager to make temporary cash loans, as needed, from the  
General Fund to the Parks and Recreation Department to implement these projects  
until funds are received, with repayment to be made when funds are available.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-023  
Resolution to Support Mighty Ducks Grant Program Application  
2024-034  
8.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
Adopt a resolution to support Parks & Recreation’s application to the Mighty Ducks Grant  
Program for grant funding.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-024  
Phase 1 Bruce Vento Regional Trail Extension Local Match to State Bond  
Construction Funding  
2024-024  
9.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
1. Accept and approve the Bruce Vento Phase 1 extension estimated construction budget  
and financing plan in the amount of $1 million.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to allocate county funds in the amount of $496,071 from  
the Capital Project Fund balance for a local funding match for the Phase 1 Bruce Vento  
Regional Trail Extension construction project.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to account for the Phase 1 Bruce Vento Regional Trail  
construction project as a budgeted project in Parks & Recreation.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-025  
Seventh Amendment to Lease Agreement with State of Minnesota for Space  
at Metro Square  
2024-030  
10.  
Sponsors: Property Management  
1. Approve the seventh lease amendment to the lease agreement with the state of  
Minnesota, 50 Sherburne Avenue, #309, Saint Paul, MN, for space at Metro Square,  
121 7th Place East, Saint Paul, MN, for the period from February 1, 2024, through  
February 29, 2024, for the total amount of $143,678, with all other material terms  
remaining in effect and unchanged.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the lease amendment.  
3. Increase Property Management’s 2024 Revenue and Expenditure Budget by $143,678.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-026  
Joint Powers Agreement with Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of  
Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services and the City of Minneapolis  
for HIV Prevention Projects.  
2024-016  
11.  
Sponsors: Public Health  
1. Approve the Joint Powers Agreement for HIV Prevention Projects with the following  
entities for the period upon execution:  
a. Hennepin County - 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415.  
b. Minnesota Department of Health - 625 Robert Street, North, Saint Paul, MN  
55164.  
c. Minnesota Department of Human Services - 540 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, MN  
55415.  
d. City of Minneapolis - 505 South 4th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Joint Powers Agreement.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-027  
Agreement with the City of Falcon Heights for Law Enforcement and Public  
Safety Services  
2024-017  
12.  
Sponsors: Sheriff's Office  
1. Approve the Law Enforcement Services Agreement with the city of Falcon Heights for  
law enforcement and public safety services for the one-year period of January 1, 2024  
through December 31, 2024.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-028  
Joint Powers Agreement with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau  
of Criminal Apprehension for Participation in the Violent Crime Reduction Unit  
2024-018  
13.  
Sponsors: Sheriff's Office  
1. Approve the Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety,  
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, 1430 Maryland Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55106 for  
participation in the Violent Crime Reduction Unit upon execution through three (3) years  
from the fully executed agreement.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Joint Powers Agreement.  
3. Approve an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office by 1.0 Full  
Time Equivalent Deputy Sheriff.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-029  
2024 Capital Improvement Program Bond Ordinance Series 2024A -  
Parameters Resolution  
2023-604  
14.  
Sponsors: Finance  
1. Approve the attached Resolution authorizing the sale of General Obligation Capital  
Improvement Plan Bonds, Series 2024A including the terms and parameters for the  
general obligation bonds Series 2024A.  
2. Establish the Pricing Committee, which consists of the County Board Chair (County  
Board Vice-Chair as alternate), County Manager and Chief Financial Officer.  
3. Authorize the Pricing Committee to see the 2024A general obligation bonds if all  
parameters are met.  
Motion by Frethem, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Frethem, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Martinson  
Resolution: B2024-030  
POLICY ITEM  
Countywide Strategic Plan Update  
2024-027  
15.  
Sponsors: Policy & Planning  
None. For information and discussion only.  
Presented by interim Policy & Planning Director, Lidiya Girma. Discussion can be found on  
archived video.  
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 Vice Chair Reinhardt. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Vice Chair Reinhardt declared the meeting adjourned at 10:54 a.m.