Governing Report 2023

Work my office completed this year

Work Completed

• Initiated Plan for HERC Closure

  I co-authored a Resolution with Commissioners Conley and Lunde, with edits and support from all commissioners, which directs county staff to create a closure plan for the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) between 2028 and 2040.

  How it affects you. As a North Minneapolis resident, I have advocated for closure of the HERC long before I was in elected office. I am deeply committed to environmental justice and promise work towards a closure on the soonest timeline. I believe there is a path to stop burning trash as soon as 2028.

• Concluded First Round of Community Engagement and Anti-Displacement Work for the Blue Line Extension

  The County has conducted a 1.5 year engagement process with the communities surrounding the planned Blue Line extension to prevent displacement. The Anti-Displacement Work Group came up with 17 recommended policies for the Blue Line extension agencies to consider, build upon, and implement.

  How it affects you. The Blue Line Extension project should be designed to benefit residents and businesses currently living in these communities. We need to make sure current neighbors can remain in the community to experience the transformative benefits and community prosperity this project can bring now and into the future.

• Funded Future of Blue Line Extension Project

  The Board approved $75M for the Blue Line Extension project to keep work moving ahead on this critical project through 2024 and beyond.

  How it affects you. Hennepin has demonstrated a commitment around the Blue Line Extension that centers residents, prioritizes those with the most needs, and invests in a manner that allows the people and businesses who are already in the corridor to thrive.

• Fully Expanded the 911 Social Worker Program

  This year the Hennepin County 911 Embedded Social Worker program expanded to include all cities in the county. The program was initially started in six suburban cities in 2019 and has been very effective.

  How it affects you. The integration of social workers into emergency response reduces unnecessary law enforcement contacts and raises quality of life for individuals through ongoing stability in their community.

• Expanded Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Options

  Hennepin County continued to lead in expanding single room occupancy (SRO) housing into our communities. So far, the County has acquired five properties and assisted a partner in purchasing a sixth.

  How it affects you. We first purchased hotels during the pandemic to provide shelter that aligned with public health guidance. We have since rehabbed and converted them to SRO units and are now at the stage of selling to trusted property managers to launch the properties as SRO Housing.

• Assisted in Increasing Homeownership for Populations Who Experience Barriers

  Hennepin launched its first designated fund for homeownership assistance to more easily support first-time homebuyers, especially those who face systemic barriers to ownership.

  How it affects you. The Twin Cities area has one of the widest racial gaps in homeownership across the country and this program provides capital funding and down payment assistance to facilitate home-buying for populations disproportionately impacted by systemic barriers to homeownership.

• Expanded the Scope of the Workforce Leadership Council and Elevate Hennepin

  The Workforce Leadership Council and Elevate Hennepin continue to provide Hennepin County businesses a full range of support opportunities, tools and resources to help strengthen their organizations and take the next step.

  How it affects you. The program connects business leaders with human resources experts to develop a custom approach to their hiring and retention strategies and connects their employees with financial wellness coaching and resources to succeed in the workforce.

• Implemented Automatic Voter Registration and Restore the Vote Changes

  I worked with Elections staff and County Administration to implement historic changes to voter registration that were passed at the legislature this year, including notifying residents who have had their vote restored and implementing automatic registration.

  How it affects you. The Restore the Vote bill returned voting rights to individuals convicted of felony charges immediately after serving out their prison or jail sentences. Further, residents can also be automatically registered to vote when applying for other forms of registration with the state.

• Expanded Access to NARCAN (naloxone) to County Employees

  I ensured that all first responders and necessary county employees have access to overdose-reversing naloxone, and the training to administer it. This includes our Sheriff’s department officers and staff at all the Hennepin County libraries.

  How it affects you. Addressing the ongoing opioid crisis continues to be a priority for Hennepin County, and our response includes prevention, treatment, recovery. The goal is to eliminate disparities in opioid use and deaths.

• Invested in a Culturally Responsive Mental Health Campaign

  Hennepin executed “See Mental Health”, a year-long multimedia campaign designed to advance the importance of mental wellness in our diverse communities.

  How it affects you. The initiative was funded as a response to a quadrupling of anxiety and depression disorders, particularly to reach individuals under the age of 24. To date the campaign has reached 161 million total impressions across traditional and digital media.

• Implemented Anti-Racism Initiative

  Hennepin County implemented an anti-racism initiative led by Commissioner Conley that dedicated $300K to support ongoing community building, healing, and anti-racism work.

  How it affects you. The workshops had over 100 participants, the community dinners averaged 40+ individuals per dinner, and the community outreach teams door-knocked over 400 homes throughout four neighborhoods and had over 500 conversations with neighbors about creating an anti-racist community.

• Initiated Student Loan Repayment Assistance For Hennepin Employees

  As an employer, Hennepin will offer a new benefit that will assist Hennepin employees in navigating the student loan forgiveness process available to public employees.

  How it affects you. This concierge service will support the significant number of Hennepin employees who have some form of student debt, aiming to limit the growing financial burdens for our workforce.

• Initiated a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program

  I worked with County Administration to launch a pilot program to raise the income floor for 200 Hennepin families disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, beginning in September 2023.

  How it affects you. This 15-month direct payment program will allow families to make spending decisions that will meet their basic needs in the most meaningful way possible. Families will also be offered services, such as financial and budget counseling, and job training resources.

What we got passed

Legislative Advocacy

• In support of the Protect Reproductive Options Act (HF 1/SF 1)

  Every Minnesotan now has a fundamental right to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the right to use or refuse reproductive health care, to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and to obtain an abortion.

• In support of Restore The Vote (HF 28/SF 26)

  Minnesotans who are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction can now vote, strengthening our society by reintegrating people who have completed their sentences.

• In support of Hennepin’s anaerobic digestion facility bonding request (HF 64/SF 822)

  This provides capital funding for Hennepin to pursue an anaerobic digestion facility, a facility that processes compostable and organic matter for the purpose of waste management, and produces a biofuel that can be repurposed as an energy utility.

• In support of the Metro Affordable Housing Sales Tax (HF 2763/SF 2844)

  An additional .25% sales tax will boost housing solutions like affordable development, homelessness prevention, homeownership, rental assistance, and public housing.

• In support of Blue Line Extension appropriation (HF 1984/SF 1707)

  The Blue Line Extension Corridor is an important project that furthers our region’s transit backbone, connecting Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Robbinsdale, and North Minneapolis to downtown Minneapolis.

• In support of Driver’s Licenses for All Bill (HF 4/SF 27)

  This law allows undocumented residents to obtain a driver’s license.

• In support of an Out of State Conversion Therapy Ban (HF 146/SF 63)

  Minnesota is now a legal refuge for transgender people, their families, and their healthcare providers.

• In support of Hennepin Avenue Bridge (HF 1216/SF 767)

  $3.5 million will go towards repairing the iconic Hennepin Avenue Bridge.

• In support of the Northside Services Center becoming a full-service deputy registrar’s office (SF 2983/HF 2857)

  The Northside Service Center is now a full-service operation where residents can complete all motor vehicle transactions, driver’s license applications, and vital records processing all in one place.

2023 appointments & District 2 team

Appointments and team

Appointees and representatives

• 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