15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
December 2, 2025 - 9 a.m.  
Council Chambers - Courthouse Room 300  
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:03 a.m. with the following  
members present: Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong and Chair Ortega. Commissioner  
McGuire was excused. Also present were Ling Becker, County Manager, and Jada Lewis, Civil  
Division Director, Ramsey County Attorney's Office.  
ROLL CALL  
Present:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Presented by Commissioner McMurtrey.  
Agenda of December 2, 2025 is Presented for Approval  
2025-461  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of December 2, 2025.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Minutes from November 25, 2025 are Presented for Approval  
2025-462  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the November 25, 2025 Minutes.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Gift Acceptance for the 2025 Commissioner Travel Expenses  
2025-474  
3.  
Sponsors: Board of Commissioners  
Accept the monetary gift of the approximate total amount of $5069.66 for 2025 travel related  
expenses for Commissioner Garrison McMurtrey and Commissioner Rena Moran.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-219  
Property Tax Abatements  
2025-489  
4.  
Sponsors: County Assessor's Office  
Approve the property tax abatements, and any penalty and interest, with a reduction of  
$10,000 or more for:  
·
·
06-28-22-21-0006, 489 St Peter Street, Saint Paul, MN  
06-28-22-21-0007, 485 St Peter Street, Saint Paul, MN  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye: Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-220  
Agreement with Hennepin County for CEO Next Business Institute and CEO  
Now Programming  
2025-504  
6.  
Sponsors: Community & Economic Development  
1. Authorize the County Manager to execut an agreement with Hennepin County for CEO  
Next Business Institute and CEO Now Programming for the period of December 2025  
through December 2026 in accordance with the rates established in the agreement.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the agreement in accordance  
with the county’s procurement policies and procedures in a form approved by the  
County Attorney’s Office.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget of $95,000 for the and  
CEO Now Programming in the Community and Economic Development budget.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-221  
Appointment to the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County  
Sponsors: Workforce Solutions  
2025-451  
7.  
Appoint the following individual to serve on the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County  
for a term beginning December 2, 2025, and ending July 31, 2027:  
•
Sharon Blomgren Education  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye: Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-222  
Appointments to the Ramsey County Library Advisory Board  
Sponsors: Library  
2025-486  
8.  
Appoint the following individuals to the Ramsey County Library Advisory Board for a three-year  
term beginning January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.  
1. Marissa Kirbey-Stofferahn  
2. Kami Miller  
3. Andrea West  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye: Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-223  
Memorandum of Understanding, and Perpetual and Temporary Construction  
Easements with the City of Saint Paul for 402 University Avenue East Road  
Improvements  
2025-493  
9.  
Sponsors: Property Management  
1. Approve the easements and memorandum of understanding with the city of Saint Paul,  
15 West Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102, for a perpetual right-of-way, sidewalk,  
drainage and utility easement, and temporary construction easement, at 402 University  
Avenue East, for an amount of $35,000.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the easements and memorandum of  
understanding.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-224  
Sale of Vacant Lot to Capital Real Estate Inc.  
Sponsors: Property Management, Public Works  
2025-497  
10.  
1. Approve the sale of and purchase agreement with Capital Real Estate, Inc., 7650  
Edinborough Way, Suite 200, Edina, MN 55435, for the disposition of Parcel  
#363023410006, in the amount of $57,510.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to approve and execute settlements, closing documents,  
and other related real estate documentation associated with the disposition of Parcel  
#363023410006, in a form approved by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments that do not have a financial  
impact on the disposition of Parcel #363023410006.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-225  
Right of Entry Agreement and Amendment to Existing Permanent Easement  
with Xcel Energy for Battle Creek Regional Park  
2025-490  
11.  
Sponsors: Parks & Recreation  
1. Approve a Right of Entry Agreement with the Northern States Power Company, d/b/a  
Xcel Energy located at 414 Nicolette Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 for the Pig’s Eye  
section of Battle Creek Regional Park to maintain its existing infrastructure.  
2. Approve the Temporary Construction easement with Xcel Energy for the proposed  
construction project.  
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the temporary construction easement.  
4. Approve the amendment of the permanent easement for the Xcel Energy infrastructure  
maintenance.  
5. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and amendments in  
accordance with the county's procurement policies and procedures, provided the  
amounts are consistent with compensation requirements within the compensation  
section of the Right of Entry Agreement.  
6. Authorize the County Manager to accept compensation funds from Xcel Energy to be  
given to the Parks & Recreation department to complete work identified within the  
compensation section of the Right of Entry Agreement.  
7. Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget of $$66,108 for Pig’s Eye  
Restoration in the Parks budget.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-226  
Use of Solid Waste Fund for Seven County-Operated Yard Waste Sites  
Sponsors: Public Health  
2025-465  
12.  
13.  
5.  
Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget of $4,000,000 for the Capital  
Improvements at the County Yard Waste sites in the Solid Waste Fund.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-227  
Use of Solid Waste Fund for Capital Equipment Purchase  
Sponsors: Public Health  
2025-466  
Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget of $2,000,000 in the Solid Waste  
Fund for wood processing equipment.  
Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-228  
Ramsey County Economic Development Authority Implementation  
2025-491  
Sponsors: Community & Economic Development  
1. Create the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority.  
2. Direct the Chief Clerk to execute the certificate and file a copy with the Minnesota  
Secretary of State.  
Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-229  
Social Services Department Annual Authority for Procurement Requests  
Sponsors: Social Services  
2025-481  
14.  
Authorize the County Manager, subject to review by the County Attorney’s Office and Finance  
to do the following:  
1. Enter into the following expenditure agreements without solicitation through  
December 31, 2026, and execute future amendments to the agreements in  
accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the  
amounts are within the budget for the services listed below:  
A. Contracts in which the county currently provides services and receives  
payments from external sources, such as health plans, the Courts, other  
counties, and other parties, including payments for services already  
provided.  
B. Community support programs, culturally specific African American  
community support programs and culturally specific American Indian /  
Indigenous community support programs if there is an urgent need for  
specific services for a target population that was not previously identified  
through a prior competitive solicitation process.  
C. Providers of psychiatric, psychosexual, and psychological services; to  
conduct  
evaluations, consultations, therapy and treatment, as long as funds are  
available, the need exceeds the supply of providers, and the providers are  
registered or licensed.  
D. Providers when the Minnesota Department of Human Services or the  
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families has issued the  
solicitation for an existing service in the county and selected the contractor or  
when the Minnesota Department of Human Services has approved the  
contractor through a certification process.  
E. Providers of foster care emergency shelter, respite care, and emergency  
shelter; as long as funds are available, the need exceeds the supply of  
providers, and the providers are registered or licensed.  
F. Providers of adult day services, individualized home support services,  
prevocational services, day support services, employment services, and  
semi- independent living skills services, when that service has been selected  
by the consumer, or his or her guardian, in accordance with Minnesota  
Statutes, section 256B.49.  
G. Providers of out-of-state residential treatment for children, as long as funds  
are available, no in- state treatment provider can be identified that meets the  
needs of the children to be placed, the selected provider is licensed by a  
state authority and accredited by the Joint Commission, the Commission on  
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or the Council on Accreditation.  
H. Medical directors for Social Services detoxification services, the Mental  
Health Center, and for Social Services in county correctional programs, as  
long as funds are available, the need exceeds the supply of providers, and  
the providers are licensed.  
I. Providers of intensive residential treatment services when the Minnesota  
Department of Human Services has approved the contractor through a  
certification process.  
J. Providers of accreditation training services for mental health professionals in  
accordance with Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic requirements.  
K. Culturally specific liaisons to prevent education neglect and child protection  
involvement, culturally specific services for American Indian families involved  
in child protection, culturally specific services to prevent out of home  
placement, culturally specific guardianship and culturally specific parent  
mentoring by peers if there is an urgent need for specific services for a  
target population that was not previously identified through a prior  
competitive solicitation process.  
2. Approve actions deemed necessary for the orderly administration of expenditure  
agreements through December 31, 2026:  
A. Acceptance of supplementary awards or rate adjustments the county may receive  
from funding sources other than county levy; and approve related county budget  
adjustments and execute amendments with funders and contractors.  
This item was tabled.  
Presented by Alex Kotze, Chief Financial Officer, Finance. Discussion can be found on  
archived video.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Excused: McGuire  
Abstain: Moran  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-240  
Community Corrections Department Annual Authority for Procurement  
Requests  
2025-475  
15.  
Sponsors: Community Corrections  
Authorize the County Manager, subject to review by the County Attorney’s Office and the  
Finance Department, to do the following:  
1. Enter into the following expenditure agreements without solicitation through December  
31, 2026, and execute future amendments to the agreements and contracts in  
accordance with the county's procurement policies and procedures, provided the  
amounts are within the budget for the services listed below:  
A. Contracts in which the county currently provides services and receives  
payments from external sources, such as health plans, the Courts, other  
counties, and other parties, including payments for services already provided.  
B. Community support programs, culturally specific African American community  
support programs and culturally specific American Indian / Indigenous  
community support programs if there is an urgent need for specific services for  
a target population that was not previously identified through a prior competitive  
solicitation process.  
C. Providers of psychiatric, psychosexual, and psychological services; to conduct  
evaluations, consultations, therapy, and treatment, as long as the need exceeds  
the supply of providers, and the providers are registered or licensed.  
2. Approve actions deemed necessary for the orderly administration of expenditure  
agreements through December 31, 2026.  
A. Acceptance of supplementary awards or rate adjustments the county may receive from  
funding sources other than county levy; and approve related county budget adjustments  
and execute amendments with funders and contractors.  
This item was tabled. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Excused: McGuire  
Abstain: Moran  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-239  
Financial Assistance Services Annual Authority for Procurement Requests  
2025-495  
16.  
Sponsors: Financial Assistance Services  
1. Authorize the County Manager, subject to review by the County Attorney’s Office and  
Finance to do the following:  
A. Enter into the following expenditure agreements without solicitation through  
December 31, 2026, and execute future amendments to the agreements in  
accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the  
amounts are within the budget for the services listed below:  
B. Contracts in which the county currently provides services and receives  
payments from external sources, such as health plans, the Courts, other  
counties, and other parties, including payments for services already provided.  
C. Community support programs, culturally specific African American community  
support programs and culturally specific American Indian / Indigenous  
community support programs if there is an urgent need for specific services for  
a target population that was not previously identified through a prior competitive  
solicitation process.  
D. Providers when the Minnesota Department of Human Services or the Minnesota  
Department of Children, Youth and Families has issued the solicitation for an  
existing service in the county and selected the contractor or when the Minnesota  
Department of Human Services has approved the contractor through a  
certification process.  
2. Approve actions deemed necessary for the orderly administration of expenditure  
agreements through December 31, 2026:  
A. Acceptance of supplementary awards or rate adjustments the county may receive from  
funding sources other than county levy; and approve related county budget adjustments  
and execute amendments with funders and contractors.  
This item was tabled. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Excused: McGuire  
Abstain: Moran  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-244  
2025 Budget Adjustment for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office  
2025-499  
17.  
Sponsors: Sheriff's Office  
1. Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $1,500,000 from the 2025 General  
Contingent Account to the Sheriff’s Office 2025 operating budget for increased overtime  
costs associated with the Adult Detention Center and other personnel services deficits.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $2,400,000 from the general fund fund  
balance to the Sheriff’s Office 2025 operating budget for increased overtime costs  
associated with the Adult Detention Center.  
Presented by Sheriff Bob Fletcher. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Jebens-Singh, seconded by Moran. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Excused: McGuire  
Resolution: B2025-230  
PROCLAMATION  
Proclamation: Johanna Berg’s Retirement  
2025-487  
18.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Presented by Commissioner Miller. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
COUNTY CONNECTIONS  
Presented by County Manager, Ling Becker. 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 Ortega. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Ortega declared the meeting adjourned at 10:36 a.m.  
CLOSED MEETING  
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13D.05, subdivision 3(b) in order to discuss Kirchman v. Ramsey  
County matter. The Ramsey County Board met in a closed meeting, which is not open to the public.  
In Re Kirchman v. Ramsey County matter  
The Closed Meeting was called to order at 10:45 am.  
Present: Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Xiong, and Chair Ortega.  
Also present: Ling Becker, Ramsey County Manager; Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, County  
Attorney’s Office; Kristine Nogosek, Assistant County Attorney; County Attorney’s  
Office; Alex Kotze, Chief Financial Officer, Finance; Jason Patten, Claims  
Administrator, Compliance and Ethics Office; Jason Yang, Chief Clerk, County  
Manager’s Office.  
Motion: Miller Second: Jebens-Singh. Unanimously approved.  
The Board of Ramsey County Commissioners authorized the Ramsey County staff to proceed as  
discussed in this closed meeting.  
The closed meeting was adjourned at 11:34 am.