15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
September 23, 2025 - 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: Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong and Chair Ortega. Also  
present were Ling Becker, County Manager, and Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, Ramsey County  
Attorney's Office.  
ROLL CALL  
Present:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Presented by Commissioner Miller.  
Agenda of September 23, 2025 is Presented for Approval  
2025-379  
2025-380  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of September 23, 2025.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Miller. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Minutes from September 16, 2025 are Presented for Approval  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the September 16, 2025 Minutes.  
Motion by Moran, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Capital Improvement Program Contingent Fund Request for Metro Square  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
2025-365  
3.  
Renovation Project  
Sponsors: Finance  
Authorize the County Manager to allocate and transfer up to $2.5 million from the Capital  
Improvement Program Contingent Account to the Metro Square Renovation Project budget for  
project activities.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-175  
Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services,  
2025-351  
4.  
Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the Community  
Living Infrastructure Grant  
Sponsors: Housing Stability  
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Human  
Services, Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the Community  
Living Infrastructure Grant for $1,006,810.  
2. Accept a grant and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of  
Human Services, Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Division for the  
Community Living Infrastructure Grant upon execution of the grant through June 30,  
2027, in the amount of $400,000.  
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.  
4. 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.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-176  
Grant Agreement with the Metropolitan Council for Pierce Butler Route Tree  
Canopy Improvement Project  
2025-361  
5.  
Sponsors: Public Works  
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Metropolitan Council in the amount of  
$171,050 for the 2025 Community Tree Planting Grant.  
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council for  
2025 Community Tree Planting Grants for the period of May 1, 2025, through June 30,  
2027, in the amount of $171,050.  
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.  
4. 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.  
5. Authorize the County Manager to establish a grant budget of $171,050 for the Pierce  
Butler Route Tree Canopy Improvement Project in the Public Works budget.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-177  
State Aid Variance Request for New Brighton Road Improvements  
2025-362  
6.  
Sponsors: Public Works  
1. Request a variance from the Minnesota Department of Transportation State Aid  
Operations Rules Parts 8820.9926 (Minimum Design Standards: Rural Suburban  
Undivided; Reconditioning Projects) and 8820.9956 (Minimum Vertical Clearances for  
Underpasses), to allow a combined lane (paved) and shoulder width of 9 feet 11 inches  
at the railroad bridge crossing (Bridge Number 90407), station 56+00 to station 58+50,  
on New Brighton Road in lieu of a combined lane (paved) and shoulder width of 12 feet,  
and to allow a vertical clearance of 14 feet 3 inches for the bridge, station 56+00 to  
station 58+50, on New Brighton Road in lieu of the required 16 feet 4 inches, for State  
Aid Project 062-674-002.  
2. Indemnify, save and hold harmless the State of Minnesota and its agents and  
employees of and from claims, demands, actions, or causes of action arising out of or  
by reason of the granting of the variance, and further agree to defend at its sole cost  
and expense any action or proceeding begun for asserting any claim arising as a  
result of the granting of this variance.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-178  
Property Tax Abatements  
2025-366  
7.  
Sponsors: County Assessor's Office  
Approve the property tax abatements, and any penalty and interest, with a reduction of  
$10,000 or more for:  
28-29-22-31-0113, 0 Jenks Ave, Saint Paul, MN  
32-29-23-11-0015, 2227 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN  
32-30-23-43-0014, 641 Old Hwy 8 SW, New Brighton, MN  
14-29-22-33-0014, 1706 White Bear Ave N, Maplewood, MN  
34-29-23-32-0029, 0 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN  
34-29-23-32-0034, 0 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN  
20-28-23-14-0006, 1353 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN  
01-911807, 0 4th St E, Saint Paul, MN  
30-29-22-33-0242, 60 Sycamore St W, Saint Paul, MN  
30-29-22-33-0251, 0 Sycamore St W, Saint Paul, MN  
12-30-23-21-0031, 5516 Turtle Lake Rd, North Oaks, MN  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-179  
Local Option Disaster Tax Abatements  
2025-368  
8.  
Sponsors: County Assessor's Office  
Approve the property tax abatements, and any penalty and interest, with a reduction of  
$10,000 or more for:  
35-29-23-13-0217, 799 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN  
21-28-23-12-0033, 1372 St Paul Ave, Saint Paul, MN  
Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-180  
PRESENTATION  
Guaranteed Energy Savings Project with inBYLT, LLC  
2025-377  
9.  
Sponsors: Property Management  
None. For information and discussion only.  
Presented by Jean Krueger, Director, Property Management; and John Felipe, Senior Building  
Services Manager, Property Management. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
POLICY ITEM  
Certification of the Maximum Tax Levy for the Proposed 2026 Property Tax  
2025-373  
10.  
Notices  
Sponsors: Finance  
Approve the proposed maximum tax levy to finance the 2026 budget in the amount of  
$434,565,563. The breakdown between the General County and Library levy is as follows:  
General County  
Library  
Total  
$417,062,635  
$17,502,928  
$434,565,563  
Discussion can be found on archived video.  
Motion by Miller, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong  
Resolution: B2025-181  
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  
No updates.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Ortega declared the meeting adjourned at 10:02 a.m.  
CLOSED MEETING  
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13D.05 subdivision 3(d) to discuss security deficiencies in or  
recommendations regarding public services, infrastructure and facilities, limited to topics where disclosure of  
the information discussed would pose a danger to public safety or compromise security procedures or  
responses, the Ramsey County Board met in a closed meeting, which is not open to the public.  
In Re: Public Safety Discussion  
The Closed Meeting was called to order at 10:50 a.m.  
Present: Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McMurtrey, McGuire, Miller, Moran, Xiong, and Chair Ortega.  
Also present: Ling Becker, County Manager; Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, Office of the Ramsey County  
Attorney; Gloria Reyes, Deputy County Manager, Safey and Justice Service Team; Bob Fletcher, County Sheriff,  
Sheriff’s Office; David Metusalem, Chief Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff’s Office; Phil Baebenroth, Undersheriff, Sheriff’s  
Office; Deanna Pesik, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer, Compliance and Ethics Office; Mandy Malecek, Risk  
Manager, Compliance and Ethics Office; Jason Patten, Risk Specialist, Compliance and Ethics Office; Judd Freed,  
Director, Emergency Management and Homeland Security; Alex Kotze, Chief Financial Officer, Finance; Maria  
Sarabia, Chief of Staff, County Manager’s Office; and Jason Yang, Chief Clerk - County Manager’s Office.  
The closed meeting was adjourned at 12:12 p.m.