Governing Report · 2025

Governing Report 2025

I am Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando, but you can call me Commish! This year, I continued to serve as Chair of the Board and extend gratitude to my colleagues for their trust and partnership. I’m proud of all we have been able to achieve together. I also know how much more our communities need from governments, as our nation’s democracy escalates in crisis and our federal leadership plunges deeper into fascism. Local governments providing a last line of defense for our residents is more important than ever. This report outlines the ways my office delivered results by promoting shared humanity and implementing imaginative solutions in the wake of heightening contradictions. I am grateful to residents, community partners, County staff, and my colleagues for their work and dedication—and I look forward to continuing to work hard on your behalf to achieve a more equitable County.

Dr. Irene Fernando, Hennepin County Commissioner, District 2 · Chair, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners

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The year in figures

2025 in numbers

Commish Irene’s 2025 In Numbers

  • 600+Hennepin resolutions voted on
  • 160+hours in District 2 and across Hennepin County with over 93 events attended
  • ~100 hoursin MN legislative-related meetings and events
  • 1Embassy invitation (Embassy of Kosovo)
  • >200young people introduced to local government and encouraged to pursue public sector work
  • ~30tours of Hennepin County Government Center’s 24th Floor and Board Room led for youth, community members, and elected leaders
  • 4Humphrey International Fellows hosted (representing Colombia, Ghana, Pakistan, and South Korea)

Hennepin’s 2025 In Numbers As Presented to the County Board in October

On disparity elimination

  • 70,540square feet converted to urban agriculture with over 900 people planting, harvesting, and receiving food
  • 1,930estimated adult clients to be served in 2026 collaboration between Digital Innovation and the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • 10,490residents served across all workforce programs including employment, coaching, training, workshops, and more

On law, safety, and justice

  • 8,656referrals to the Be at School program, representing 6,500 students being supported
  • 66%increase in prevention services with Adult Representation Services, a County department that provides civil legal advice and counsel on behalf of residents
  • 9,000referrals made via the Embedded Social Worker model leading to more than 7,600 connections to services when residents called 911

On public works

  • 1,000+complete and green streets improvements made including ADA ramps, crossing improvements, bikeways, transit lanes, and green infrastructure
  • 7.5Mpounds of household hazardous waste, problem materials and recycling at county drop-off facilities and collection event by 143,788 people
  • 576,000trees planted since 2020, more than halfway to our goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030

On resident services

  • 2,400+early learning programs across 39 library locations
  • 4.5Mvisits and 11.8 million check-outs at Hennepin County Libraries, and 579,000 active library cardholders
  • 314,860service center transactions just between January and August

On operations

  • $75Min grant funding distributed supporting climate action and culturally responsive services to eliminate disparities
  • $33.5Min contracts awarded to support small and emerging businesses
  • 942units of affordable rental housing were opened or reopened with improvement thanks to county investments

On human services

  • 446families exited homelessness to permanent housing, reducing the family shelter census by 50%
  • 7,000K-12 students received mental healthcare in their schools from 230 licensed therapists in 220 schools, in every district in the county
  • 133shelter beds added for single adults 18+, bringing us to more than 1,000 beds for single adults

On health

  • 29,500people received healthcare through Hennepin Health
  • 5,150+patients treated at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center for diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity
  • 99%+arrivals in under one hour by the Medical Examiner’s office when needed on-scene

Work my office completed this year

Work Completed

  • Brought Stability to Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS or HCMC) through Bold and Responsive Governance Action

    Hennepin County worked closely with Hennepin Healthcare System to ensure it remains a strong, continuously operating, and sustainable institution, so that it remains a critical safety net for all people.

    How it affects you. Our subsidiary hospital was at risk of closing this year. The County Board voted to regain more direct oversight to ensure the only safety-net hospital in the upper Midwest region will remain open and is in stable financial condition.

  • Advanced the Blue Line Extension Project through Federal Environmental Review

    Successfully supported the Met Council in advancing the Blue Line Extension project alongside community and agency partners; completing the federal environment review process and achieving the 60% design milestone.

    How it affects you. Hennepin continues our commitment around the Blue Line Extension project 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.

  • Transitioned Executive Leadership to Hennepin’s 9th County Administrator

    The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Ms. Jodi Wentland as County Administrator because of her deep operational knowledge, strategic insight, and a steadfast commitment to public service. We thank David Hough for his incredible leadership as the 8th Administrator.

    How it affects you. Jodi smoothly transitioned to leading over 9,000 employees, serving residents across 104 service locations and work sites. This action ensured continued leadership and prioritization of the county’s strong focus on workforce well-being, community-centered services, and innovation in government.

  • Invested in Long-Term Solutions for Youth by Opening the Youth Stabilization Center

    Just 13 months ago, the Board of Commissioners approved two board actions to construct and develop this new space and service for youth who have significant needs and difficulty accessing appropriate care due to multiple compounding factors. This service is needed for youth with some of the most complex needs.

    How it affects you. Hennepin created a new physical environment, specific to the needs of these youth in crisis. The County invested in a program co-developed between the county and community providers, informed by national best practices, staff expertise, community voice, and youth decision-making because our youth need more from us.

  • Assessment of Domestic Violence Services

    Alongside Commissioner Conley, I authored a resolution that directed staff to produce a report that outlines Hennepin’s current efforts to address Domestic Violence.

    How it affects you. Hennepin County is focused on long-term strategies for preventing, reducing, and mitigating the impact of Domestic Violence on survivors, their families, bystanders, and our community-at-large.

  • Invested in Reproductive Justice and Gender-Affirming Care

    Hennepin County invested $500K in public money towards reproductive justice and gender-affirming care.

    How it affects you. These funds allowed a 172% increase in non-MN patients seeking gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare in MN, and 0 individuals on a waitlist for gender-affirming care in the state.

  • Evolved Goals from “Disparity Reduction” to “Disparity Elimination”

    Throughout this year, there has been an evolution in how Hennepin County approaches equity. The County is no longer focused solely on reducing disparities—instead the County is committed to eliminating them.

    How it affects you. This shift is more than just language. It’s a reflection and continued extension of our values and our actions. Many of the highlights shared within my Governing Report demonstrate that commitment in motion: practical and measurable steps that are rooted in strong data that point us toward a more equitable future.

  • Invested in Response to the Opioid Crisis

    In 2025, the County has invested $3.9 million dollars towards opioid response work, including contracts with 39 community providers to help reach our community where they are at. Hennepin has seen a 31% decrease in opioid overdose deaths.

    How it affects you. Our Opioid response team distributed over 75,000 Naloxone doses through county programs, community contracts, and naloxone vending machines, to ensure robust community access to this life-saving medication.

  • Administered First in the Nation Anti-Displacement Initiative

    Situated among the Blue Line Extension project and the community-led Anti-displacement Community Prosperity Program (ACPP) Board, Hennepin administered $2 million to support housing stability, land acquisition, and economic development—ensuring that residents can remain and thrive in the communities they call home.

    How it affects you. ACPP is a community-led Board, established by law. Hennepin County is working with residents, business owners, people with lived experience of displacement, people from the nonprofit and philanthropic communities, and local government agencies to make sure people can benefit from investment in the community.

  • Continued to Lead on Homelessness Response and Shelter Funding

    In 2025, Hennepin County helped to house 352 families, reducing the family shelter census by 15%, from January of this year. This is a 62% reduction from 529 families in shelter in January 2024.

    How it affects you. Hennepin County is the only local government in the state to consistently fund shelter operations, investing $37M in 2025.

  • Advanced Efforts Toward Achieving a Zero-Waste Future

    In 2025, the county advanced our zero-waste policy by setting a target to cut the amount of edible food discarded in half and finalizing a Wasted Food Prevention Plan.

    How it affects you. As our communities continue to create waste and continue to grow in population, it will be increasingly important to reduce waste, increase reuse, and establish practical and sustainable solutions for the waste residents and businesses create.

  • Continued Elevate Hennepin & Small Business Support

    In 2025, Hennepin County continued to support our local business community through our Elevate Hennepin program, which offers no-cost consulting to entrepreneurs and organizational leaders.

    How it affects you. To date, Elevate Hennepin has served 4,080 entrepreneurs, launching 263 new businesses, with 68% led by entrepreneurs of color. Elevate’s impact extends beyond business ownership. Elevate businesses have created more than 900 jobs. 82% of those jobs are in BIPOC-owned businesses.

  • Promoting Safety through Prevention

    Hennepin’s Adult Representation Services (ARS) saw a 66% increase in prevention services this year, ensuring equitable outcomes for clients through early and expanded access to holistic legal services.

    How it affects you. ARS provides civil legal advice and counsel on behalf of residents. By providing prevention services, ARS is reducing barriers to stability and success for those experiencing extreme poverty in Hennepin County.

  • Responding to Federal Funding Cuts

    The Federal Government is drastically cutting local government funding. Hennepin County is dedicated to ensuring a continuity of services by investing in creative solutions and eliminating disparities by supporting vulnerable populations through unique programs and purposeful funding.

    How it affects you. Hennepin County is working to keep property taxes manageable while ensuring no change in the level of service residents receive. Through legal action, the county has obtained court orders that currently protect approximately $170M in federal grants. We are actively working with local, state, and national partners to ensure service continuity on behalf of our mission.

  • Protecting Residents from ICE Raids

    The Constitution asserts the right to due process for all people in this country. The Federal government is using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target vulnerable populations through unethical raids, arrests, and overt kidnapping.

    How it affects you. Hennepin made operational changes to make it clear to ICE that Hennepin will fight for the safety of our residents and that Hennepin property may only be used for county purposes and cannot be used as a staging ground for civil immigration activities, particularly in County parking lots.

What we got passed or protected from cuts

Legislative advocacy

It would be remiss of me to speak about the state legislature and not mention the shootings of our state legislators that happened in June. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was killed in her home alongside her husband, Mark; Senator John Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter were also shot in their home.

Hennepin County also lost two Senators. About a year ago, former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic and Nordeaster passed away. As Majority Leader, Senator Dziedzic oversaw a historically productive legislative session in 2023, and as a former county staffer, she always had the best interests of Hennepin in her work. Senator Bruce Anderson, who represented a small portion of Hennepin County, passed away unexpectedly this past fall.

It was also a difficult year politically, with ties in both the House and Senate at various points in the year. Our focus shifted to protecting past legislative wins and safeguarding against federal cuts. Major cost shifts to counties were proposed at the beginning of the legislative session, but counties came together to prevent those shifts which would have resulted in higher property taxes.

Housing Stability

  • Increased funding for Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program and preserved investment in Emergency Services Program.
  • Protected veteran homelessness funding against cuts.

Elections

  • Sample ballots and other campaign materials that come from third parties will now be required to have disclaimers that they are not official government documents.
  • Protected and strengthened election security and integrity measures, particularly for election workers and storage and counting of absentee ballots.

Law, Safety, Justice

  • Established the new Minnesota Victims of Crime Account (VOCA) to strengthen support for victims of crime.

General Government

  • Updated and modernized marriage license application procedures and made permanent the ability for people to remotely apply for marriage licenses.
  • Restored property tax breaks for residents who put their land into conservation easements.

Public Health and Human Services

  • Protected essential county human service programs by preventing large-scale cost shifts onto counties.
  • Passed licensure of Certified Midwives.
  • Protected community-based HIV/AIDS funding.
  • Secured investments in Federally Qualified Health Centers in the wake of state and federal legislative changes that will increase the number of uninsured Minnesotans.

2025 appointments & District 2 team

Appointments and team

Leadership roles

  • Chair, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
  • Board of Directors, Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS)
  • Board of Directors, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center
  • Executive Committee, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board
  • Chair, Municipal Building Commission
  • Co-Chair, Workforce Leadership Council 2.0
  • Co-Chair, Blue Line Community Works Steering Committee
  • Co-Chair, Blue Line Extension Project Decisions Board
  • Vice Chair, National Association of County’s Human Services and Education Policy Committee
  • Vice Chair, Association of Minnesota Counties General Government Policy Committee
  • Vice Chair, Economic Development Workforce and Housing Subcommittee within Association of Minnesota Counties
  • Executive Committee, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board
  • Liaison, Better Together Hennepin Advisory Group
  • Liaison, School Superintendent Annual Meeting

Member

  • Blue Line Extension Corridor Management Committee
  • City of Minneapolis Stable Homes Stable Schools
  • Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit Community Works Steering Committee
  • Health Insurance, Benefits and Employee Wellness Advisory Board
  • Hennepin County Audit Committee
  • Joint Committee on Community Corrections (Bench/Board)
  • St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board

Appointees and representatives

  • Shelby Couch, Board of Appeal and Equalization
  • Elise Wehrman, Capital Budgeting Task Force
  • Seth Stattmiller, Active Transportation Committee
  • Lyssa Washington, Designer Selection Committee

District 2 team in 2025

Akhi Menawat, Communications and Policy Aide
akhi.menawat@hennepin.us | 612-348-5335

Bill Emory, Constituent Services and Policy Aide
bill.emory@hennepin.us | 612-348-3526

LyLy Vang-Yang, Board Specialist (housed within County Administration)

Makena Fitzpatrick, Communications Intern

This and past Governing Reports are published at hennepind2.com/reports. For the full eight-year record across fifteen policy areas, see Eight Years of Results.