Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting - November 3, 2026

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met on November 3, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers, Courthouse Room 300, Saint Paul, MN. Six commissioners were present and Commissioner Ortega was excused. The board approved routine items, held two ordinance public hearings with no testimony, postponed two watershed district appointments, approved a road operations and maintenance agreement, reconsidered and approved an amended tax-forfeited property sale agreement, and received county operations and commissioner updates.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the November 3, 2026 agenda (2026-433) and the October 27, 2026 minutes (2026-434) by roll call vote.
• Approved the appointment of Stephan Makie, District 7, to the Ramsey County Library Advisory Board for a three-year term beginning November 3, 2026 (2026-219).
• Approved appointments to the Capital Improvement Program Advisory Committee (2026-413) for terms beginning November 3, 2026 and ending August 30, 2028: Tim David (District 1), Mark Houge (District 1), Erica Leversedge (District 3), Robert McClain (District 4), and Natalie Parsons (At-Large).

Public Comments & Testimony

• The board opened a public hearing on the proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance and a public hearing on the proposed ordinance abolishing the Enterprise and Administrative Services Department. No members of the public testified at either hearing, and both hearings were declared closed.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance procedures: The board waived the second reading and held a public hearing for the proposed Environmental Services Department Ordinance (2026-429), and did the same for the ordinance abolishing the Enterprise and Administrative Services Department (2026-405). No ordinance adoption vote was taken during these hearings.
• Postponement of watershed district appointments: Commissioner McGuire pulled items 2026-397 and 2026-407, the appointments of Val Eisele to the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and Brian Strub to the Rice Creek Watershed District. County Manager Becker stated that additional clarity on the selection process was needed, including recent legislative changes, and that staff would work with the parks department, county attorney's office, and chief clerk to return the items. The board voted to postpone both appointments.
• Operations & Maintenance Agreement for Primer Tracer access road (2026-418): Deputy County Manager Carrie Collins explained that SPQR Arden Hills, LLC acquired the former Primer Tracer site and needed to be added as a party to the county's blanket easement with the Army for the Rice Creek North Regional Trail corridor. The O&M agreement covering roadway, utilities, and stormwater facilities is a required easement step and is not an endorsement of any future development on the site. The board approved the agreement and authorized the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute it.
• Reconsideration of amended MOU for 1179 Seminary Avenue West (2026-411): Commissioner Moran requested reconsideration after the item was initially approved, to understand the tax-forfeited property sale process. Staff explained the county's ongoing tax-forfeited property sale program, including the move to online auctions in 2024, and County Manager Becker noted that the amendment changes the affordable housing development partner from CAP RW to Dayton Danes Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services. The board then approved the amended MOU.

County Connections and Commissioner Updates

• County Manager's Office reported that Operation Greenlight will illuminate county buildings green from November 4 through November 11, 2026, in support of veterans.
• The county manager reported that more than 80,000 voters had cast absentee, mail, or early ballots through the day before the election, compared with 55,000 at the same point four years earlier and 102,000 in the 2024 presidential cycle. Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with 2,000 election judges deployed at more than 165 polling places. Unofficial results were expected between 10 p.m. and midnight.
• Commissioner McGuire thanked election workers and highlighted recycling and energy board work, including 1.3 million pounds of waste diverted since 2020 through reduce, reuse, and recycle programs.
• Commissioner Miller noted that across Ramsey County there are more than 2,090 multi-unit properties and approximately 42% of housing units are in multi-unit buildings, underscoring the importance of expanding food scrap recycling. Miller also expressed concern about ensuring supportive services are funded along with new supportive housing, citing a tour of Prior Crossing.
• Commissioner Moran reported on youth homelessness meetings, the Prior Crossing youth housing tour, and selection to a National Association of Counties youth housing and homelessness task force.
• Commissioner McMurtry announced the Rice Street Phase 2 completion celebration on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North End Community Center.
• Other commissioner updates covered community events, workforce and business programs, watershed engagement, and youth civic engagement.

Key Outcomes

• Approved agenda and minutes.
• Waived second readings and held public hearings for two ordinances; no public testimony was received.
• Postponed appointments to the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and Rice Creek Watershed District.
• Approved the Library Advisory Board and Capital Improvement Program Advisory Committee appointments.
• Approved the Operations & Maintenance Agreement with SPQR Arden Hills, LLC.
• Reconsidered and approved the first amendment to the memorandum of understanding for the sale of the tax-forfeited property at 1179 Seminary Avenue West.