Governing Report 2022

Work I Led this Year

Championed

• Announced a New Route Recommendation for Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit (BLRT) Project

  The new proposed route for the BLRT project will bring transformational benefits to residents from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, connecting students to education, workers to jobs, patients to healthcare, and families to resources, while connecting the corridor to the broader transit network. The route will serve more Northside residents and will make North Minneapolis a regional destination. This project will ignite economic development, result in more affordable housing, increase access to education, and build wealth for working families.

• Funded Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care

  This amendment, brought forward by myself, Commissioner Conley, and Commissioner Greene, creates a one-time $500K fund accessible to organizations by RFP that provide reproductive health care and/or gender-affirming health care in Hennepin County. Hennepin will commit to outreach and application assistance for culturally-specific providers who serve marginalized identities.

• Authored and Passed Gender-Affirming Board Action

  This resolution renewed and codified Hennepin’s responsibility to affirm the gender identity and expression of residents, workers, and clients receiving county services. This resolution also initiated a review and revision of policies to ensure contract partners affirm gender identity and expression, because all people should be able to receive services in ways that recognize and uplift their humanity.

• Created a Code of Conduct for Hennepin County Elected Officials

  Drafted and passed the Code of Conduct for Hennepin County Elected Officials. Since Hennepin County elected officials cannot be fired nor can compensation be adjusted due to absence or lack of performance outcomes, this policy outlines appropriate conduct and a process for action under certain circumstances. This policy is in line with State Statute and Hennepin policy, and outlines a process for the Board to act and inform the public of any collective stances on specific actions or conduct by a fellow Hennepin elected official.

• Recognized Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)

  TDOR is an annual observance in November that honors the memory of transgender people around the world whose lives were lost due to anti-trans violence. By observing TDOR, Hennepin County recognizes, admires, and celebrates transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people in all their joy and resilience.

• Funded a Study of Food Availability and Food Access on the Northside

  Authored an amendment that allocates $75K to produce a report that includes method and assessment, as well as recommendations on how to resolve the food desert issue in North Minneapolis. This is a long recognized disparity in North Minneapolis, and the report will include recommendations for action. Further, learnings may be applicable to broader Hennepin.

• Funded Outreach for Existing Economic Development Programs in the Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit (BLRT) Corridor

  Co-authored a budget amendment with Commissioner Lunde to allocate $30K to connect BLRT corridor businesses with existing Hennepin programs, such as CEO Next Institute or Elevate Business. These funds will be deployed in coordination with Community Engagement resources to support business along the corridor.

• Initiated Homestead Outreach to Ensure Broader and Focused Property Tax Relief

  Worked with Hennepin staff to reach out to 25,000 homeowners who might be eligible for homesteading, which would significantly reduce their property taxes. To date, over 3,000 new homes are now homesteaded. This initiative included multilingual translation and phone assistance, resulting in homeowner savings of up to $1,500 per year on their property taxes, depending on the owner’s income.

• Funded Community Investment Initiative for the Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit (BLRT) Corridor

  Co-authored a budget amendment with Commissioner Lunde to place $500K into the Community Investment Initiative to fund economic development, stimulate investment, and advance anti-displacement initiatives along the BLRT corridor. The communities served by the proposed route are transit-reliant, racially diverse, and have experienced historical disinvestment. This funding seeks to prevent and mitigate residential, economic, and cultural displacement.

• Replenished 2023 Contingency from ARPA Funds

  Authored an amendment to transfer $300K of unspent ARPA federal relief funds into the 2023 Contingency budget to allow Hennepin more leeway to fund essential projects as they come up next year. Hennepin will have funds set aside for 2023 to fund emergency or urgent projects that were not previously budgeted for.

Work I Advanced this Year

Supported

• Increased Parental Leave

  Supported Commissioner Greene’s action in extending parental leave for Hennepin employees to 12 weeks.

• Established a Multi-Year Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot

  Allocated $4M to establish a multi-year, evidence-focused Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program to support residents disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Expanded Family Shelter Capacity

  Invested $3.5M into expanding Family Shelter options in Hennepin County to meet a growing need.

• Expanded the 911/Embedded Social Worker Program

  Further expanded this initiative by allowing Hennepin cities to opt-in and join this program to reduce unnecessary law enforcement interactions with residents in crisis.

• Expanded Family Based Recovery Services

  Supported the allocation of $1M to Family Based Recovery services to provide early intervention and diversion services for families with parental substance abuse.

• Invested in our Watershed

  Supported the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission investments in important water quality and climate resilience projects from Medicine Lake to the Mississippi River.

• Implemented Blue Line Extension Anti-Displacement Working Group Sessions

  Partnered with the Metropolitan Council and the U of M’s CURA to lead a community based Anti-Displacement Working Group to find solutions that will mitigate residential, business, and cultural displacement along the Blue Line Extension corridor.

• Invested in Youth Employment

  Supported Commissioner Conley’s budget amendment to allocate $400K for youth employment.

• Changed MN Statute to Allow Members of Every Hennepin Advisory Committee to be Paid

  Supported efforts by Commissioner Conley and our Intergovernmental Relations team to change state statute to ensure Hennepin’s Race Equity Advisory Committee members and other Community Advisory Board members can receive eligible reimbursement, stipends, or per diem for their work.

• Funded Pandemic Relief via the Community Investment Initiative

  Granted $10M in investments to business incubators and nonprofits across Hennepin County, including in District 2.

• Expanded Veterans Housing

  Partnered with Commissioner Anderson to expand supportive housing options for veterans across the county, through partnership with MAC-V.

2022 appointments & District 2 team

Appointments and team

Appointees and representatives

• Amani Stumme-Berry, Race Equity Advisory Council
• Shelby Couch, Board of Appeal and Equalization
• PeggySue Imihy Bean, Capital Budgeting Task Force
• Jenny Ackerson and Billy Binder, Active Transportation Committee
• Lyssa Washington, Designer Selection Committee