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Record of Proceedings

Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Meeting - December 16, 2025

Board of Commissioners & Authorities — Tuesday, December 16, 2025
BodyRamsey County, Minnesota
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Authorities
DateTuesday, December 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:19

Okay, let's like to call to order the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority roll call.

1:27

Chapin Singh here.

1:29

McGuire.

1:30

Here.

1:31

McMurtry.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Miller.

1:33

Here.

1:34

Moran here.

1:35

Zhang.

1:36

Here.

1:36

And Ortega.

1:40

I'll entertain a motion on the agenda of December 16th, 2025.

1:44

So moved.

1:46

Second.

1:47

Any discussion?

1:48

Roll call.

1:50

McGuire.

1:51

Aye.

1:51

McMurtry.

1:52

Aye.

1:52

Miller.

1:53

Aye.

1:54

Moran.

1:54

Aye.

1:55

Zhong.

1:55

Aye.

1:56

Jeffin Singh.

1:57

Aye.

1:57

And Ortega.

1:58

I'll entertain a motion on the uh minutes of November twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-five.

2:06

Some second.

2:09

See no discussion.

2:11

Roll call.

2:12

McGuire.

2:13

Aye.

2:13

McMurtry.

2:14

Aye.

2:15

Miller.

2:15

Aye.

2:16

Moran.

2:16

Aye.

2:17

Zhang.

2:17

Aye.

2:18

Jeffin Singh?

2:19

Aye.

2:19

And Ortega.

2:21

Aye.

2:22

We have item number three administrative item lease agreement with Delta Golf Enterprises for Retail Spaces at the Union Depot.

2:33

Se for some move.

2:34

Second.

2:35

Any discussion?

2:38

Roll call.

2:39

Maguire.

2:40

Aye.

2:40

McMurtry.

2:41

Aye.

2:42

Miller.

2:42

Aye.

2:43

Moran.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████29%
Transportation Safety███████████████████21%
Summary of Proceedings

Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority met in regular session on December 16, 2025, at 11:03 a.m. (agenda called for 10 a.m.) in Council Chambers, Courthouse Room 300. All seven commissioners were present: Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong, and Chair Ortega. The meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m. Key actions included approval of routine items, a lease agreement, and a significant amendment to the 2026 tax levy.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda of December 16, 2025: Approved by unanimous vote (Motion by Miller, seconded by Xiong; all ayes).
  • Minutes of November 25, 2025: Approved by unanimous vote (Motion by Xiong, seconded by Jebens-Singh; all ayes).

Administrative Items

  • Lease Agreement with Delta Golf Enterprises dba DG Pilot, LLC for Retail Space at Union Depot: Approved unanimously (Resolution R2025-018). The agreement covers 2,432 usable square feet at a negotiated rate of $2,432 per month, from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, with two two-year renewal options at an increased rate. The Chair is authorized to execute the lease, and the County Manager may execute future amendments with no financial impact.

Policy Item: 2026-27 Budget and 2026 Tax Levy

  • Original proposal: Approve a 2026 budget of $18,813,407, a 2027 budget of $18,788,290, and a 2026 tax levy of $37,285,643 (a 2.94% increase over 2025).
  • Amendment offered by Chair Ortega, seconded by McMurtrey: Change Recommendation #2 to a 0% increase, setting the 2026 tax levy at $36,219,703. Chair Ortega explained that after consulting with staff and hearing from constituents at the Truth in Taxation hearing, the financial impact of holding the levy was "very minimal" given long-term project funding projections. Commissioner Xiong thanked Ortega for being responsive to residents who testified about the overall levy, noting every bit helps keep money in people's pockets. Commissioner Miller added context that the decision aligned with earlier levy reductions in the general fund and library levy, noting that retaining library service hours would have caused a 3.5% increase in the suburban library levy. All members voted aye on the amendment. The main motion as amended then passed unanimously (Resolution R2025-019).

Corridor Updates

  • Commissioner Xiong reported on a meeting with the Eastside Funders Group attended by Chief of Staff Maria Sarabia. Updates included the name change of the Purple Line to the Bronze Line, anticipation of full road reconstruction on Maryland and White Bear Avenues in Saint Paul, and lessons from construction mitigation funds for businesses (e.g., on Arcade and East 7th). The Funders Group asked about studies of business impacts, current rents, business cycles, and the number of businesses affected. Construction is expected to begin in four to five years, providing lead time for outreach.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of the meeting agenda and previous minutes.
  • Unanimous approval of the lease agreement with Delta Golf Enterprises.
  • Unanimous approval of the 2026-27 budgets ($18,813,407 and $18,788,290) and the amended 2026 tax levy ($36,219,703, a 0% increase from 2025).
  • No other motions or votes; corridor updates were informational.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, let's like to call to order the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority roll call. Chapin Singh here. McGuire. Here. McMurtry. Here. Miller. Here. Moran here. Zhang. Here. And Ortega. I'll entertain a motion on the agenda of December 16th, 2025. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call. McGuire. Aye. McMurtry. Aye. Miller. Aye. Moran. Aye. Zhong. Aye. Jeffin Singh. Aye. And Ortega. I'll entertain a motion on the uh minutes of November twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-five. Some second. See no discussion. Roll call. McGuire. Aye. McMurtry. Aye. Miller. Aye. Moran. Aye. Zhang. Aye. Jeffin Singh? Aye. And Ortega. Aye. We have item number three administrative item lease agreement with Delta Golf Enterprises for Retail Spaces at the Union Depot. Se for some move.

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