Ramsey County HRA Meeting Summary – October 20, 2026

The Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) met on the morning of October 20, 2026. The board unanimously approved routine administrative items before focusing on a presentation and vote on the Fall 2026 obligation of the HRA levy, approving $478,988 in funding for Critical Corridors projects. (Note: The agenda states the meeting began at 10 a.m. CT, while the system metadata records a timestamp of 17:00 UTC for this session).

Consent Calendar

• Agenda & Minutes: The agenda for October 20, 2026 and the minutes from the September 22, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously. The full text of the September minutes was not included in the provided material.

Discussion Items

• Fall 2026 Critical Corridors Levy Obligation ($478,988):
  • Program Presentation: Ella Mitchell, Redevelopment Manager in Community and Economic Development (CED), presented the fifth round of the Critical Corridors program. The program supports efficient land use, dense development, and transit connections. The Commercial Corridor Initiative was expanded this round to include downtown St. Paul. Of 17 applications received, 10 were recommended for funding.
  • Funding Balance: Commissioner Miller inquired about the funding split between suburban areas and Saint Paul. Ms. Mitchell stated the program aims for a 50/50 balance, but this round leaned more heavily toward Saint Paul due to a higher volume of competitive applications from the city.
  • Suburban Engagement: Commissioner McMurtry asked about barriers to suburban participation. Ms. Mitchell cited limited staff capacity in smaller cities and highlighted the department's quarterly economic development summit as an outreach mechanism.
  • Program Support: Commissioner McGuire expressed strong support for the program, commending the City of Little Canada for their successful application for wayfinding funds. Commissioner Jeb Singh noted how data from Urban Three supports investments in mixed-use downtowns like White Bear Lake to increase tax capacity.
  • Program Details: Commissioner Moran asked what "wayfinding" entails; Ms. Mitchell explained it involves signage and banners to direct people to local businesses. Commissioner Miller asked if cities partially within Ramsey County (e.g., St. Anthony) are eligible; a county official confirmed they are, noting the program's origin in addressing multi-jurisdictional corridor issues.
  • Future Programming: A question regarding the program's future under the Economic Development Authority was deferred to a planned workshop in November.

Key Outcomes

• Funding Approved: The board unanimously approved the recommended projects and funding totaling $478,988.
• Agreements Authorized: The County Manager was authorized to execute the necessary grant, loan, and other agreements.
• Next Steps: Staff will coordinate the downtown St. Paul wayfinding projects with the city. A workshop on the program's integration with the Economic Development Authority is scheduled for November.