Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:02 a.m. in Council Chambers, Courthouse Room 300, Saint Paul, MN. All seven commissioners were present: Chair Ortega and Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, and Xiong. The board unanimously approved consent items, two law enforcement joint powers agreements, and the 2026 capital improvement bond sale; received a strategic plan presentation; and heard the County Manager's update on federal actions and Operation Metro Surge. Chair Ortega adjourned the public meeting at 10:48 a.m., followed by two closed meetings.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda of February 10, 2026 approved unanimously.
• Minutes of February 3, 2026 approved unanimously.
• Item 3, the Eighth Amended Joint Powers Agreement of the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team (Resolution B2026-026), approved unanimously.
• Item 5, the Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for participation in the Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force (Resolution B2026-027), approved unanimously. The agreement runs through five years from full execution.

Administrative Items Discussed

• Violent Crime Reduction Unit JPA (Item 4, Resolution B2026-028): Commissioner Jebens-Singh moved and Commissioner McGuire seconded. Undersheriff Mike Martin explained that one Ramsey County deputy is assigned to the BCA-led multi-jurisdictional task force focused on the most violent offenders in the Twin Cities; the grant offsets the deputy's cost and provides a vehicle and equipment. Martin stated the unit does not do immigration enforcement, and staff are instructed to immediately report any request to participate in immigration-related activities. Asked about investigating unlawful acts by federal agents, Martin said that has not been requested, but deputies are assisting on at least one case, and the BCA Force Unit is handling officer-involved investigations, including two Minneapolis shootings. Approved 7-0.
• 2026 Capital Improvement Program Bond Sale (Item 6, Resolution B2026-029): Finance Division Director Jeanette Boit-Kania and Baker Tilly advisor Elizabeth Bergman reported that Ramsey County maintained its Triple A ratings from S&P and Moody's. The sale attracted 13 bids and achieved a true interest rate of 3.04%, well below the anticipated 3.5% and revised estimate of 3.25%. Estimated savings are roughly $100,000 per year. Only about 50 U.S. counties hold two Triple A ratings out of roughly 3,069 counties. Motion by McGuire, seconded by Jebens-Singh, approved 7-0.

Policy Presentation: 2026-2027 Countywide Strategic Plan

Michael Soto, Director of Policy and Administrative Strategy, presented the update. The strategic priorities for 2026-2027 are: operational excellence at the center, surrounded by resident-centered holistic supports, justice transformation, intergenerational wealth and economic justice, with racial and health equity and shared community power woven throughout. Commissioner assignments were shared for each priority. Quarterly meetings between assigned commissioners and executive sponsors begin in Q1 2026 (likely March); the full plan will be published in April 2026; the supplemental budget process begins in April 2026; and budget presentations occur in September. County Manager Ling Becker noted that operational excellence emerged from the board retreat and budget process, that strategic priority funding was eliminated but the work is embedded in all county budgets, and that staff will more explicitly link priorities to RBAs, workshops, and the open data portal. Commissioner McMurtrey requested a six-month touch-base on how the framework is working. Commissioner Xiong asked whether Operation Metro Surge changes priorities; County Manager Becker responded that the county will pivot operations within the existing priorities while maintaining core values.

County Manager's County Connections Update

• Federal affairs: The U.S. House passed the 2026 appropriation package, avoiding a partial shutdown; Department of Homeland Security funding was extended to February 13. The county sent a letter opposing the SAVE Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and impose new unfunded administrative requirements on counties.
• Operation Metro Surge: Signage was added at Ramsey County parks and recreation facilities restricting parking to employees, patrons, and vendors and prohibiting staging or operations without a permit. Additional field training for employees, titled 'Navigating an Encounter with Immigration Enforcement', is being offered; several hundred employees have completed it. Fairview Health Services is partnering with the county to provide psychological first aid to staff. The East Side Funders Group and Latino Economic Development Center launched a Latino and Immigrant Business Emergency Relief Fund.
• Community impact data: Housing assistance requests were up 59% and rental assistance requests were up 118% statewide. Spanish-language contacts to United Way 211 were nearly 10 times typical levels. Nearly half of housing referrals were concentrated in 10 zip codes, including 55119 in Ramsey County.
• Utilities: Xcel Energy suspended disconnections through the end of February for customers in the seven-county metro area.
• Emergency assistance: Scott Helmkey, Human Services Manager, explained the emergency assistance and emergency general assistance programs, which provide one-time help for crises like eviction, deposits, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs and are available once in an 18-month period. Current processing was described as about 10 days once a worker touches an application, with up to 30 days total depending on verifications, and cases can remain open for up to 60 days. County Manager Becker requested a plain-language one-pager with timelines and residency/status information.

Outside Board and Committee Reports

Commissioners reported on recent activities: Commissioner Xiong and Commissioner Moran attended the Atlanta Housing Learning Exchange, where the 'Our Home State' pilot was highlighted with a $20 million philanthropic investment. Commissioner Xiong also shared that the Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative redirected funds to community-based, assessment-free supports. Commissioner Jebens-Singh promoted the upcoming Ramsey County League of Local Governments legislative exchange and thanked first responders. Commissioner McMurtrey attended the Capital Area Community Vitality Project community hub, the White Bear Area Food Shelf 'Barely Open' fundraiser, and NACO Health Policy Steering Committee preparations. Commissioner Miller highlighted the Midway Chamber annual gala, the upcoming CVS demolition near Snelling and University, a small business roundtable on Operation Metro Surge impacts, and gave a Black History Month presentation on the Black Panther Party. Commissioner Moran reported the Workforce Innovation Board approved its 2026 budget and aligned with Minnesota workforce advocacy priorities.

Key Outcomes

• All public agenda items passed unanimously (7-0).
• Resolutions adopted: B2026-026, B2026-027, B2026-028, and B2026-029.
• The board held a closed meeting at 10:57 a.m. for the 2025 Litigation Report and authorized staff to proceed as discussed; it adjourned at 12:08 p.m.
• The board held a closed meeting at 3:14 p.m. for the Federal Action Lawsuit Summary, with Commissioner Miller excused; it authorized staff to proceed and adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
• Upcoming meetings: February 17, 2026 board meeting; no board meetings February 24 and March 3 due to NACo and AMC legislative conferences; next regular meeting March 10, 2026.