Ramsey County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ramsey County approves $2.4M Arden Hills drain project, appoints emergency director

The Ramsey County Board approved a $2.4 million budget and financing plan for the Arden Hills Subsurface Drain Restoration project and appointed Kendall Bobula as Director of Emergency Management at its Aug. 11 meeting. Both items passed 6-0.

Board of Commissioners actions

The board also voted 6-0 to expand the Parks & Recreation Commission from seven to nine members with staggered terms, appoint Samantha Wicks to the Personnel Review Board, reappoint three members to the Capitol Region Watershed District Board, and reappoint three members to the Capital Improvement Program Advisory Committee. In closed session, the board authorized staff to proceed on real property matters regarding 97 Moore Street.

Other recent meetings

On Aug. 18, the board held workshops on the Minnesota African American Family Preservation & Child Welfare Disproportionality Act and on 2026 election preparations. These were discussion items; no decisions were published.

The board also met Aug. 18 with an agenda that included a capital grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council for the engineering phase of the METRO Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit project, a joint powers agreement for election recount services through Dec. 31, 2026, and a personnel increase of 16.5 FTE Eligibility Specialists and 1 Supervisor in Financial Assistance Services, with a transfer of up to $363,263 from General Contingency. Minutes have not yet been published.

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority met Aug. 18 and was scheduled to approve amendments to the 2022-2025 CDBG-HOME Annual Action Plans, obligating $879,000 in HOME funds for affordable homeownership construction and preservation, and authorize the County Manager to execute related agreements.

The Regional Railroad Authority also met Aug. 18, with agenda items including a capital grant agreement for the METRO Bronze Line BRT engineering phase, a transfer of up to $2,500,000 from fund balance for the RiversEdge project, and a $30,000 expenditure for the Transit Impacts Research Program 2026.

Coming up

The Board of Commissioners will meet Aug. 25 to consider a $150,000 settlement in Felicia Marie Wilson v. Ramsey County (Court File No. 23-cv-01309), receive a presentation on the 2027 Supplemental Budget and Performance Measures, and approve the agenda and minutes from Aug. 18.

Also on Aug. 25, the board will hold a workshop on the projected impact of 2027 taxes payable.

The Budget Committee of the Whole will review 2027 supplemental budgets and performance measures for the Community Services & Supports Service Team on Aug. 27, for County Operations on Aug. 28, for Health and Wellness on Sept. 1, and for Economic Growth and Community Investment on Sept. 3. All are discussion items.

Ramsey County Board approves $8.6M in housing aid, adopts homelessness resolution

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 approved $8.6 million in affordable housing aid and adopted a resolution directing the county manager to expand homelessness outreach and shelter capacity. All votes were unanimous among the six commissioners present; Commissioner McMurtrey was excused.

Affordable housing and homelessness

The board obligated $436,475 in state and $8,194,000 in local affordable housing aid for preservation and construction projects. It also approved a $5,281,093 amendment for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program.

In a separate action, the board adopted a resolution affirming support for people experiencing homelessness and directing the County Manager to expand outreach, shelter capacity, and housing stability efforts, including coordination with Saint Paul on encampment closures.

Other board actions

• Approved a $500,000 budget for the Teams Rooms Technology project.
• Approved changes to Social Services fees for Mental Health and Guardianship services.
• Approved an amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Master Plan.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled for Aug. 18:

• **Board Workshop / Discussion** – Update on 2026 election preparations, presented by Property Tax, Records & Election Services. Discussion only.
• **Housing and Redevelopment Authority** – Consider approving amended 2022–2025 CDBG-HOME Annual Action Plans to obligate $879,000 in HOME funds for affordable owner-occupied housing, and authorize the County Manager to execute related agreements.
• **Board of Commissioners** – Consider a capital grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council for the METRO Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit engineering phase, a joint powers agreement for election recount services, a 16.5 FTE increase in Financial Assistance Services staff, and a transfer of up to $363,263 from General Contingency. Also includes workshops on Elections 2.0 and the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act.
• **Board Workshop / Discussion** – Workshop on the Minnesota African American Family Preservation & Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, focusing on implementation.
• **Regional Railroad Authority** – Consider a capital grant agreement for the METRO Bronze Line BRT engineering phase, a $2.5 million fund balance transfer for the RiversEdge project, and a $30,000 expenditure for a transit research program.

All meetings are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are available on the county website.

Ramsey County Board approves shelter agreement, detention center staffing boost

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, meeting July 28, approved a joint powers agreement with the City of Saint Paul for emergency shelters and authorized a staffing increase at the Adult Detention Center. Both measures passed 7-0.

Emergency shelter agreement

The board approved a joint powers agreement with Saint Paul for emergency shelters, including $1,080,000 in reimbursement to the county. The vote was unanimous.

Adult Detention Center staffing

The board authorized an increase of 23.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Correctional Officers, 1.0 FTE Community Service Officer, and 8.0 FTE Unfunded Correctional Officers at the Adult Detention Center. It also authorized a transfer of up to $1 million from the General Contingency Account to the Sheriff's Office 2026 operating budget. Both actions passed 7-0.

Other actions July 28

The board also:

• Approved the 2026 Cooperative Deer Management Plan (7-0).
• Authorized the County Manager to accept Operations and Maintenance funding from the Metropolitan Council (7-0).
• Appointed Tami Cybulski, Ethel Garcia, Jennifer Germain, Fidelity Goodlaxson, and John Perlich to the Workforce Innovation Board (7-0).

Workshops (discussion only)

Two board workshops were held July 28, both discussion-only with no votes scheduled. One covered "Workforce Forward: The Evolution of Talent Attraction, Retention and Promotion," sponsored by Human Resources. The other addressed the Community Health Improvement Plan and Community Health Assessment for 2026-27, sponsored by Public Health.

August 4 meeting: agenda items, minutes pending

The Board of Commissioners met August 4, but minutes have not yet been published. The agenda included:

• Obligation of $8,194,000 in Local Affordable Housing Aid and $436,475 in State Affordable Housing Aid.
• A budget and financing plan for a Teams Rooms Technology project up to $500,000.
• An amendment to an agreement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for $5,281,093.
• Proposed rate changes for Mental Health services and a new fee schedule for Guardianship services.
• Approval of the amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Master Plan.

A board workshop on the Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit project, sponsored by Public Works, was also held August 4. No decisions from that session have been reported.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next two weeks.

Ramsey County Board eyed $1 million detention center transfer; affordable housing vote set for Aug. 4

Ramsey County's Board of Commissioners met July 28 to consider a $1 million budget transfer for the Adult Detention Center, staffing increases, and a deer management plan. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed. The board's next regular meeting, scheduled for Aug. 4, includes votes on more than $8 million in affordable housing aid and proposed changes to social service fees.

Adult Detention Center staffing and funding

The July 28 agenda listed a request to transfer up to $1 million from the General Contingency Account to the Sheriff's Office 2026 operating budget. The same agenda proposed increasing Adult Detention Center staff by 23.0 FTE Correctional Officers, 1.0 FTE Community Service Officer, and 8.0 FTE Unfunded Correctional Officers. Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed whether these items were approved.

Other July 28 agenda items

The board was scheduled to act on several additional items:

• Approval of the 2026 Cooperative Deer Management Plan.
• Acceptance of annual Operations and Maintenance funding from the Metropolitan Council.
• Appointments of five individuals to the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County.

Two workshops were also held July 28, both discussion-only with no votes scheduled. One covered "Workforce Forward: The Evolution of Talent Attraction, Retention and Promotion," sponsored by Human Resources. The other addressed the Community Health Improvement Plan and Community Health Assessment for 2026-27, sponsored by Public Health.

Aug. 4: Affordable housing and social service fees

The board's Aug. 4 agenda includes a vote on obligating $8,194,000 in Local Affordable Housing Aid and $436,475 in State Affordable Housing Aid. A separate item would amend the agreement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for $5,281,093.

The same meeting includes proposed rate changes for Mental Health services and a new fee schedule for Guardianship services, as well as approval of the amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Master Plan.

A technology item is also on the agenda: a budget and financing plan for a Teams Rooms Technology project of up to $500,000.

Aug. 4 workshop: Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit

A workshop on the Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit project is scheduled for Aug. 4, sponsored by Public Works. No votes are listed for this session.

Coming up

• **Aug. 4 — Board of Commissioners:** Votes on more than $8.6 million in affordable housing aid, social service fee changes, the TCAAP Master Plan amendment, and a Teams Rooms technology project up to $500,000.
• **Aug. 4 — Board Workshop:** Bronze Line Bus Rapid Transit discussion, sponsored by Public Works.

Note: Outcomes from the July 28 meetings will be confirmed when minutes are published. Readers can verify details through the official Ramsey County agenda documents.

Ramsey County Board sets County Manager salary at $283,550; housing and public safety items await action

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 7, 2026 to raise the County Manager's annual salary to $283,550, effective August 1, 2026. The 7-0 vote amended the County Manager's employment agreement and was the most consequential dollar decision recorded in official minutes from the past two weeks.

County Manager salary and administrative actions

At its July 7 meeting, the Board approved its agenda (7-0) and the June 23, 2026 minutes (7-0). It then took four additional unanimous votes:

• Released a storm sewer easement at 1644 Larpenteur Avenue West (7-0).
• Approved an amendment to the City of Saint Paul joint powers agreement for the Byrne Grant (7-0).
• Accepted a $28,000 gift in Minnesota State Fair tickets for Social Services (7-0).
• Approved the County Manager salary increase to $283,550 (7-0).

All six items passed 7-0.

Workshops held July 7

The Board held two workshops on July 7 for which minutes have not yet been published, so no formal actions are confirmed:

• A discussion of the Minnesota Resource Management Draft Report 2026-245, sponsored by Public Health.
• A discussion of the Opioid Response Initiative 2026-165, also sponsored by Public Health.

Both items are listed as discussion only; no votes are recorded in the available data.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority met July 7 with an agenda that included a $1,300,000 obligation under the Pathways to Reducing Obstacles to Housing funding program. The agenda also listed authorization for the County Manager to enter loan or agreement amendments for the housing project, plus routine approval of the meeting agenda and the June 23, 2026 minutes.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so the outcome of the $1.3 million housing obligation is not confirmed in the available record.

July 14 Board agenda

The Board of Commissioners scheduled a July 14, 2026 meeting with several significant items. Minutes have not yet been published, so these items are listed as proposed for action, not decided:

• Accept two crime prevention grants from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety totaling $675,000, listed as $250,000 and $425,000.
• Accept a $125,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for illicit drug toxicology testing and surveillance.
• Approve a joint powers agreement with the BCA for a criminal justice data network, listed at $261,600.
• Approve an amended Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Master Plan.
• Approve additions and changes to Public Health fees, including a telehealth fee and a vaccine fee.

Because minutes are not available, vote tallies and final outcomes for the July 14 meeting are not reported here.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the available data for the next 14 days. Readers should check the Ramsey County website for any newly posted meetings or schedule changes.