Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on October 13, 2026, at 9:03 a.m. in the Council Chambers of the Ramsey County Courthouse, Saint Paul, MN. Commissioners Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Xiong, and Chair Ortega were present. Commissioner Moran was excused. The meeting included a youth justice proclamation, organizational restructuring ordinances, a major ERP systems update, and committee reports. (Meeting date based on source timestamp 2026-10-13T15:15:00+00:00)

Consent Calendar

• Agenda of October 13, 2026 approved (Motion by McGuire, Miller). Passed 6-0.
• Minutes of October 6, 2026 approved (Motion by Jebens-Singh, Miller). Passed 6-0.
• Appointment to Workforce Innovation Board: Dillon Donnelly was appointed for a term ending July 31, 2028 (Motion by McMurtrey, Jebens-Singh). Passed 6-0. Resolution B2026-133.

Proclamation: Youth Justice Action Month

• Commissioner Xiong presented the proclamation declaring October 2026 as Youth Justice Action Month.
• The effort was highlighted as a decades-long transformation of the youth justice system, noting a recent report of only one young person in the Juvenile Detention Center. Commissioner Xiong stated, "That speaks volumes to the work that we are doing together and in community."
• Strong, sustained partnerships with the judiciary, county attorney’s office, sheriff’s office, public defenders, and community organizations were credited.
• County Attorney John Choi asserted, "Ramsey County is really leading the way in the state of Minnesota around our work around transforming our youth justice system... to become a justice system that is for all families and kids."
• Elijah Norris Holliday, Youth Justice Transformation Manager, remarked "the work's not done," a sentiment echoed by numerous other speakers.

Ordinance Procedures & Discussion Items

Note: The agenda listed the Proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance (Item 5) before the Abolish Ordinance (Item 6). The meeting proceeded with Item 6 first, followed by Item 5.

• Item 6: Abolish the Enterprise and Administrative Services Department Ordinance

  • County Manager Ling Becker described this as budget cleanup resulting from the FY 2026-27 budget process. No FTEs remain in the department. The first reading was waived, and a public hearing was set for November 3, 2026 (Motion by Miller, Xiong). Passed 6-0. Resolution B2026-134.

• Item 5: Proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance

  • County Manager Becker provided context, emphasizing this is the final step in organizational alignment. The ordinance will establish an Environmental Services Department within the Economic Growth and Community Investment (EGCI) service team, effective January 1, 2027.
  • Becker stressed that "very little will change in their day-to-day work... the transition is about organizational structure" to build on environmental health expertise and strengthen collaboration with public works, parks, and climate initiatives. The move is intended to be budget neutral.
  • Commissioner Miller noted the team is "building on a strong foundation" and expressed support for the transition.
  • The first reading was waived, and a public hearing was set for November 3, 2026 (Motion by Miller, Xiong). Passed 6-0. Resolution B2026-135.

• Item 7: Presentation: Update on Project Northstar (Workday)

  • Deputy County Manager Alex Kotze, Chief HR Officer Patience Ferguson, and CIO Chetan Ganatra presented the update on the replacement of the legacy Aspen and Summit systems with the cloud-based Workday ERP system.
  • The project is a $20 million investment and is currently under budget. The go-live target is January 1, 2027, with time entry in Workday starting December 19, 2026.
  • Benefits emphasized include a single integrated HR/financial system, real-time budget data, monthly closes, mobile app functionality (e.g., photographing receipts), and tools for managers to monitor budgets and overtime. Patience Ferguson highlighted the intuitive interface and total rewards visibility for employees.
  • Commissioner Xiong noted, "this is something that residents are actually excited about... having more controls and oversight." Commissioner Jebens-Singh inquired about year-end reconciliation, and Alex Kotze confirmed the monthly close process will significantly improve budget management and reporting.
  • County Manager Becker praised the hundreds of staff involved in the multi-year implementation, stating, "This has been a major investment for the county, both from a time and human perspective and also from a financial perspective."

County Connections & Committee Reports

• County Manager Becker: Announced the ECC's "Refining Safety" series launch and the introduction of live YouTube streaming of board meetings beginning October 20, 2026, to increase public transparency.
• Young Adult Career Academy (YACA): Eight participants from the 8th cohort were introduced. Catrice Davis (Workforce Solutions) noted the program is a paid 20-week career exploration internship for ages 18-25, with 63 graduates since 2021. Interns shared their backgrounds and career interests in fields from medical examination to public works.
• Commissioner Xiong: Expressed strong condemnation of the Department of Justice's investigations into political opponents, calling it an "abuse of power" and affirming support for Somali American and immigrant communities.
• Commissioner McGuire & Jebens-Singh: Reported on the grand opening of Microcontrol at the Rice Creek Commons development, which has already generated over 300 jobs. Additional updates were provided on active living initiatives, the Community Corrections Act Conference, and the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center tour highlighting acute mental health capacity.
• Commissioner Miller: Reported on the Safe & Strong green line initiative, the CEO Next business graduation (7 out of 20 graduates from Ramsey County), and a commissioner exchange with Kandiyohi County Commissioner Steve Gardner.
• Commissioner McMurtrey: Reported on the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility and the Indigenous People's Day Proclamation at the American Indian Magnet School.

Key Outcomes

• Public Hearings Set: Public hearings for the Environmental Services Department creation and abolishment of the Enterprise and Administrative Services Department were set for November 3, 2026.
• Workday Implementation Update: The board received the Project Northstar update; the system is on track for go-live on January 1, 2027, with a significant training and transition plan for all county employees.
• New Transparency Tool Approved: The board endorsed the live streaming of its meetings on YouTube, starting with the October 20, 2026 meeting.
• Adjournment: Chair Ortega adjourned the regular meeting at 10:33 a.m. A Board Workshop on the Dynamic Downtown Strategy was scheduled immediately following the meeting.