15 West Kellogg Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55102

651-266-9200

Board of Commissioners

Minutes

March 18, 2025 - 9 a.m.

Council Chambers - Courthouse Room 300

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 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 McMurtrey

Agenda of March 18, 2025 is Presented for Approval

2024-547

2024-560

Sponsors: County Manager's Office

Approve the agenda of March 18, 2025.

Motion by Moran, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Minutes from March 11, 2025 are Presented for Approval

Sponsors: County Manager's Office

Approve the March 11, 2025 Minutes.

Motion by Miller, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.

Aye:

PROCLAMATION

Proclamation: Transgender Day of Visibility

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

2025-070

Sponsors: Human Resources

Presented by Commissioner Jebens-Singh. Discussion can be found in archived video.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD

Presentation: Ramsey County Employee Achievement Award: Beks Syler,

Diversity, Inclusion and Organizational Development

2025-089

Sponsors: Human Resources

None. For information and discussion only.

Presented by Commissioner McGuire. Discussion can be found in archived video.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

Approval of 2025 Ramsey County Minnesota Hazard Mitigation Plan

2025-088

Sponsors: Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Approve the 2025 Ramsey County, Minnesota Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Resolution: B2025-055

Resolution to Support Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Grant

Application

2025-098

Sponsors: Parks & Recreation

1. Adopt a resolution to support and authorize the Parks & Recreation department

application to the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Grant Program for

$450,000.

2. Authorize the Ramsey 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 McMurtrey, seconded by McGuire. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Resolution: B2025-056

Personnel Complement Increase in the Social Services Department.

2025-052

Sponsors: Social Services

Approve an increase in the personnel complement of the Aging & Disability Services and

MnCHOICES Division, within the Social Services Department, by 80.0 Full Time Equivalent

Discussion can be found in archived video.

Motion by Jebens-Singh, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Resolution: B2025-057

Allocate Local Affordable Housing Aid for the Support and Stabilization of

Affordable Housing

2025-097

Sponsors: Community & Economic Development

1. Approve recommended projects and funding amounts up to $5,011,049 for the

stabilization and preservation of existing affordable housing.

2. Authorize the County Manager to enter into the necessary loan or other agreements

and execute amendments to loan or other agreements, in a form approved by the

County Attorney’s Office.

Discussion can be found in archived video.

Motion by McMurtrey, seconded by Xiong. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Resolution: B2025-058

Allocate Local Affordable Housing Aid for Joint Property Acquisition

2025-114

Sponsors: Housing Stability

Authorize the County Manager to transfer $1,000,000 from 2024 Local Affordable Housing Aid

fund to the 2025 joint property acquisition with the Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul in

partnership with the state of Minnesota.

Commissioner Xiong made a motion, seconded by Moran, to insert two recommendations as

follows:

2. Authorize the County Manager to enter into the necessary loan or other agreements and

execute amendments to loan or other agreements, in a form approved by the County

Attorney’s Office with a forgivable loan term of 10 years.

3. Authorize the County Manager to 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 McMurtrey. Motion passed.

Aye:

Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Ortega, and Xiong

Resolution: B2025-059

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Presented by Commissioner McGuire. 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 10:22 a.m.

CLOSED MEETING

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 13D.05, Subdivision 3(c)(3), to develop or consider offers or

counteroffers for the purchase or sale of real property, the Ramsey County Board will meet in a closed

meeting, which is not open to the public.

In Re: Rice Creek Commons - Outlot A of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Site.

The Closed Meeting was called to order at 12:11 p.m.

Present: Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong and Chair

Ortega.

Also present: Ling Becker, County Manager; Kathleen Ritter, Assistant County Attorney, Office of the

Ramsey County Attorney, Kari Collins, Deputy County Manager - Economic Growth and

Community Investment Service Team; Josh Olson, Director, Community and Economic

Development; Ella Mitchell, Redevelopment Manager, Community and Economic

Development; Ann Schwartz, Economic Development Specialist, Community and

Economic Development; Alex Kotze, Chief Finance Officer, Finance; John Mazzitello,

Deputy Director, Public Works; Deanna Pesik, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer,

Compliance and Ethics, Mandy Malecek, Enterprise Risk Manager, Compliance and

Ethics, Jason Patten, Risk Specialist, and Jason Yang, Chief Clerk - County Board,

County Manager’s Office.

The closed meeting was adjourned at 1:31 p.m.

CLOSED MEETING

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13D.05, subdivision 3(b) in order to discuss the Bakke matter, the

Ramsey County Board will meet in a closed meeting, which is not open to the public.

In Re Bakke Matter

The Closed Meeting was called to order at 1:46 pm

Present: Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong, and Chair

Ortega.

Also present: Ling Becker, County Manager; Jada Lewis, Civil Division Director, Ramsey County

Attorney’s Office, Jason Hiveley, Outside Counsel, Iverson Reuvers; Gloria Reyes,

Deputy County Manager, Safety and Justice Service Team, Alex Kotze, Deputy County

Manager, Health and Wellness Service Team, Kyle Mestad, Undersheriff & Chief of

Staff, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Amy Caron, Director, Public Health, Deanna

Pesik, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer, Compliance and Ethics, Mandy Malecek,

Enterprise Risk Manager, Compliance and Ethics, Jason Patten, Risk Specialist,

Compliance and Ethics, Jason Yang, Chief Clerk, County Manager’s Office.

Motioned by Jebens-Singh, seconded by Xiong. Unanimously approved. Now, Therefore, Be It

Resolved, the Board of Ramsey County Commissioners authorized the Ramsey County staff to

proceed as discussed in this closed meeting (Resolution B2025-060).

The closed meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.