15 West Kellogg Blvd.  
Saint Paul, MN 55102  
651-266-9200  
Board of Commissioners  
Minutes  
October 3, 2023 - 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: McGuire, Moran, 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  
Present:  
Absent:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Frethem  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
Read by Commissioner Xiong.  
Agenda of October 3, 2023 is Presented for Approval  
2023-273  
1.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the agenda of October 3, 2023.  
Motion by McGuire, seconded by Ortega. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Minutes from September 26, 2023 are Presented for Approval  
2023-289  
2.  
Sponsors: County Manager's Office  
Approve the September 26, 2023 Minutes.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
PROCLAMATION  
Proclamation: Licensed Family Child Care Provider Recognition Day  
2023-424  
2023-422  
3.  
Sponsors: Social Services  
Presented by Commissioner Moran. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS  
Sale of a Tax-forfeited Property Located at 735 Margaret Street to the  
4.  
Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota  
Sponsors: Property Tax, Records & Election Services  
1. Approve the sale of the tax-forfeited property located at 735 Margaret Street (32-29-22-  
11-0017) to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the County of Ramsey,  
Minnesota for $88,750, plus maintenance costs and recording fees, with a deed  
restriction and/or restrictive covenant limiting purchases of the property for the next  
seven years to parties qualifying for affordable housing.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to  
agreements in a manner consistent with local regulations and requirements as  
approved by the County Attorney’s Office.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-167  
Emergency Communications Dispatch Center Remodel  
2023-393  
5.  
Sponsors: Emergency Communications  
1. Approve the use of $800,000 from the Emergency Communications Center Equipment  
Fund Balance to remodel the Emergency Communications Dispatch Center.  
2. Authorize the County Manager to establish Emergency Communications Dispatch  
Center Remodel as a project account in the Emergency Communications Center  
budget.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to  
the agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures,  
provide the amounts are within the limits of available funding.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-168  
Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Driving  
While Impaired and Traffic Safety Enforcement  
2023-398  
6.  
Sponsors: Sheriff's Office  
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to Minnesota Department of Public Safety,  
Office of Traffic Safety in the amount of $150,000 for Driving While Impaired and Traffic  
Safety Enforcement.  
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department  
of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, for the period of October 1, 2023 to  
September 30, 2024 in the amount of $150,000.  
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk 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 Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-169  
Status Report on Projects and Closure of Select Projects  
2023-419  
7.  
Sponsors: Finance  
Approve the closure of the projects and release appropriations per attached document.  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-170  
Bonding Project Prioritization  
2023-414  
8.  
Sponsors: Policy & Planning  
Support the 2024 bonding requests in the priority order as follows:  
1. Rice Creek Commons ($25 million)  
2. Park at RiversEdge ($20 million)  
3. Aldrich Arena & Community Event Center ($12.835 million)  
4. Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Facility ($10.5 million)  
5. Rice Creek North Regional Trail ($5 million)  
6. Youth Detention Facility ($16 million)  
Motion by Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-171  
Agreement with WEX for Flexible Spending Accounts Reimbursement and  
Health Savings Account Services  
2023-377  
9.  
Sponsors: Human Resources  
1. Approve the Agreement with WEX Health Inc., 82 Hopmeadow Street, Suite 220,  
Simsbury, CT 06089 to administer Reimbursement and Health Savings Account  
Services for the period of September 27, 2023 through December 31, 2026 with the  
option for two one-year renewals.  
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.  
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and 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 Xiong, seconded by Reinhardt. Motion passed.  
Aye:  
Martinson, McGuire, Moran, Ortega, Reinhardt, and Xiong  
Absent:  
Frethem  
Resolution: B2023-172  
POLICY ITEM  
Presentation: Environmental Services Center  
2023-423  
10.  
Sponsors: Public Health  
None. For information and discussion only.  
Presented by Sara Hollie, Director, Public Health and Rae Frank, Deputy Diretor, Public  
Health. 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 Chair Martinson. Discussion can be found on archived video.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Martinson declared the meeting adjourned at 10:22 a.m.