Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting - April 7, 2026

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on April 7, 2026, with all seven commissioners present (Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong, and Chair Ortega). The meeting had a light agenda, including approval of the previous meeting's minutes, a proclamation for National County Government Month, approval of two administrative items, a legislative update, a county connections report featuring an update on a single mumps case, and outside board and committee reports. All formal actions were passed unanimously. Commissioner Xiong left at 9:42 a.m. after presenting her reports. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda of April 7, 2026: Approved (motion by Xiong, seconded by McGuire; all voted aye).
• Minutes from March 17, 2026: Approved (motion by Miller, seconded by McGuire; all voted aye).
• Charitable Gambling License with White Bear Township for White Bear Lake Hockey Association and Cooper's (Item 4): Approved to authorize a premises permit for Cooper’s at 1190 County RD J, Suite 700, White Bear Township, for lawful gambling activity supporting the White Bear Lake Hockey Association. Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh; all voted aye. Resolution B2026-039.
• First Amendment to the Single Source Agreement with Children's HealthCare Corporation (Item 5): Approved to amend the agreement for intervention services through Midwest Children’s Resource Center (2525 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis) for January 13, 2026 through March 31, 2030. Motion by Miller, seconded by Jebens-Singh; all voted aye. Resolution B2026-040.

Proclamation

• National County Government Month: Commissioner Miller presented the proclamation declaring April 2026 as National County Government Month in Ramsey County. The proclamation highlighted county services including 293 miles of roads, 67 bridges, over 30,000 traffic signs, 10,000 drainage structures, 360 traffic signals, the largest 911 center in Minnesota (handling nearly one million calls annually), elections across 148 polling places with over 1,200 election judges, libraries welcoming 1.4 million in-person and 10 million online visitors annually, and service centers supporting 65,360 residents in 2025. The board encouraged residents and employees to learn about county government and expressed appreciation to county employees.

Legislative Update

• Commissioner McGuire provided the legislative update. State update: The Minnesota Legislature returned from Easter/Passover break with a May 18 deadline. Key themes included fraud prevention, response to Operation Metro Surge (emergency rental assistance and business loans), transforming human services administration, and modernizing county IT systems for social services. A Senate bill (with bipartisan support) would establish a steering committee for human services IT. A bill related to SNAP changes due to HR1 would require the state to cover costs passed down to counties; bipartisan support has not yet been secured.
• Federal update: The president's FY2027 budget request includes a 42% increase in military funding with steep cuts in domestic spending, which the board opposes. The administration intends to use reconciliation to pass budget priorities. The Save America Act (restricting voting) is being followed with concern. The partial shutdown of the Department of Human Services has not been resolved, and negotiations over immigration enforcement operations are ongoing. The board expressed gratitude for support from federal delegation.

County Connections

• No Kings March (March 28, 2026): County Manager Ling Becker reported that over 100,000 people participated in the march through St. Paul, ending at the state capitol. The Ramsey County team coordinated with the city, state, sheriff’s office, and other agencies, providing snow plows (used as barriers), deputies, and emergency operations center support. Thanks were extended to staff including Alex Kutza (acting county manager), Judd Freed, Christy Staffer, Phil Bainbroth, Brian Isaacson, Rich Pulfhaser, Jean Kruger, and Rose Lindsay.
• First Mumps Case in Five Years: Dr. Lynne Ogawa, Medical Director of St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, reported a single case of mumps in Ramsey County (not an outbreak). She explained the reportable disease process: clinics notify Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), which refers the case to the local county. For mumps, epidemiologists must contact the patient within 24 hours, conduct a contact investigation, and recommend vaccination or booster for exposed individuals. The patient was isolated for 25 days. Dr. Ogawa noted that mumps vaccine (MMR) is 97% effective after two doses, and boosters are recommended for close contacts. The county uses multiple outreach methods (texts, social media, WIC, home visitors, media spots on Hmong TV) to promote vaccinations and address vaccine hesitancy. Commissioner questions addressed the impact of Operation Metro Surge on preventative care, partnerships with schools, and the importance of explaining the reasons for vaccination. The case did not expand into an outbreak.

Outside Board and Committee Reports

• Commissioner Xiong (left at 9:42 a.m.): Thanked colleagues and staff for coordinating advisory board interviews; reported on MELSA board (metropolitan libraries annual report), Ramsey County League of Local Governments (strategic plan, chloride reduction, housing instability forum this Friday), and upcoming Northland Cup hockey fundraiser for domestic violence prevention on April 12 at 12:30 p.m. at TRIA Rink.
• Commissioner McMurtrey: Spoke at Metro Regional Parks and Trails bonding request (includes Tamarack Nature Center, Long Lake, Snail Lake, Bald Eagle Regional Parks); attended Twin Cities North Chamber public policy forum (Dr. David Schultz on polarization); met with ISAIAH members; visited Vadnais Heights community gathering on mutual aid (noting that ICE enforcement remains high); attended youth violence prevention network event; met with local elected officials (White Bear Township Supervisor Artner, Shoreview Councilmember Gardner); reported JDA advisory committee near recommendation on hybrid development for Rice Creek Commons; attended Land O’Lakes event at Second Harvest (40,000 pounds of mac and cheese donated); discussed HR1 impacts on mental health providers (Vail Communities Clubhouse facing tough decisions); participated in NAMI Day at the Hill; continued direct care and treatment advisory committee work.
• Commissioner Jebens-Singh: Volunteered at Zion Community Commons in Hamline Midway (free food and meals); attended GIP tech joint property tax advisory committee (three jurisdictions' legislative priorities); spoke at Capitol Region Watershed District recognition awards; keynoted Micah policy breakfast on affordable housing; attended Generation Next event (data on achievement gap).
• Commissioner Miller: Attended Ramsey County Sport Green Construction Training Cohort (Learn and Earn initiative, 45-hour HVAC training in partnership with St. Paul College); attended Association of Minnesota Counties Leadership Summit in Nisswa (keynote by Scott Dane Miller, focus on leading through change and trust-building); recognized workforce innovation board awardees Nardos Tesfay (Right Track program, Legacy Award) and Hal Reynolds (Rising Star Award for gaming initiative); announced in-district hours for April.
• Commissioner Moran: Serves on work groups for Minnesota African-American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act; testified on Senate File 4335 (modifications to the act) – passed Senate but not House; serves on Metropolitan Mosquito Control Board (mosquito-borne disease prevention); received Black Women Our Divine Minnesota Award; opened account at Independence Bank (first Black-owned bank, new St. Paul location on University Avenue); noted Iftar gatherings; attended Benjamin May's School (transitioning to Afrocentric learning model, fall 2026); participated in Cultural Awareness Center's cultural conclave (retreat for reflection on leadership and equity).

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and minutes approved.
• Proclamation declared April 2026 as National County Government Month.
• Administrative items approved (resolutions B2026-039 and B2026-040) with unanimous votes.
• Legislative and county connections updates received; no formal action taken.
• Outside board and committee reports received; no formal action.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m. Following the meeting were two workshops: Ice Arena Portfolio Overview (chaired by Commissioner Moran) at 10:30 a.m., and Human Resources Transformation: A Look Back and a Look Forward (chaired by Commissioner Jebens-Singh) at 1:30 p.m.